Song Ziwen might sound casual, but he knew perfectly well that if he didn't speak his mind, his wife might harbor resentment. Whenever Tao Tao played with his toys, if Song Ziwen mentioned they were from his sister-in-law, Yang Jing's expression would falter slightly. It wasn't that they couldn't afford such things, but one time, while Yang Jing was resting in bed, she had murmured, "QiQi is so good to Tao Tao, buying him so many things. I wonder if she'll be the same when our son is born..."

Though Yang Jing said it softly, Song Ziwen overheard. At that moment, he wanted to say that when their son arrived, QiQi absolutely would be just as generous. While QiQi was close with Song Yao, simply because he was Song Yao's younger brother, Wang QiQi would maintain impartiality, at least outwardly. His older uncle and aunt were masters of this balance, so there was no reason their daughter, Wang QiQi, wouldn't understand the principle.

It was this certainty that allowed Song Ziwen to speak so frankly in front of his wife and sister. When Wang QiQi heard Song Ziwen’s unrestrained demands, though her eyes didn't dart toward Yang Jing, she noticed Yang Jing's posture straighten slightly from her peripheral vision. "Brother, you truly aren't modest. I'm the one giving the gifts," Wang QiQi said with a laugh.

Hearing Wang QiQi say this, Yang Jing's heart sank. Alas, her relationship with QiQi just wasn't as close as her sister Song Yao’s. But upon further thought, she understood. Her older sister was adept at interpersonal relations and often mailed things to Wang QiQi; naturally, Yang Jing would do the same, but work and pregnancy consumed so much of her energy. She admitted she often failed to consider these finer points, so it was only natural that Wang QiQi treated them with two different standards.

"But since my brother rarely asks, I will manage it, no matter how difficult. Isn't it just a crib and a bassinet? I, as the aunt, will cover both," Wang QiQi spoke up only after waiting long enough to see Song Ziwen’s face start to turn grim. "Moreover, for these two items, I’ll ask Han Tao to look into which models are best when he goes to the States and have them shipped back." While she didn't know the current quality of domestic products, Wang QiQi felt that purchasing these items from the US, though a bit more troublesome, carried significant prestige in many people's eyes. As she spoke, Wang QiQi cast an apologetic glance at Song Yao; after all, the baby crib she had gifted Tao Tao previously was domestic, which seemed a tier below one bought from America.

The significant pause Wang QiQi created almost made Song Ziwen’s heart stop. Luckily, QiQi delivered with force, giving him an answer that meant he’d not just meet expectations but wildly exceed them. "American goods? QiQi, your brother adores you!" If not for his wife standing nearby and Tao Tao nestled on Wang QiQi’s lap, he would have happily swept her up and spun her around three times. "Last time your sister-in-law had a baby shower for a distant relative’s child, they bragged endlessly over a stroller made in that little island nation, just because it was imported. Now, I can finally show off! It’s just a stroller, and a Japanese one at that, hmph! My sister is gifting me a crib, and it’s from the States..."

Yang Jing's mouth hung open, completely forgetting about composure. She hadn't expected Wang QiQi to be so spectacularly generous. "QiQi, that must be very expensive. Just one item is enough; we can use Tao Tao's stroller." American goods sounded inexpensive, but when converted to Renminbi, they were costly.

Wang QiQi waved her hand dismissively. "I gave Tao Tao two things initially. There’s no reason to only give one for my nephew’s birth; otherwise, people might think my circumstances have worsened or I don't favor you all." Wang QiQi was certain that if she only gave one item later, it would lead to trouble again. "We used to operate domestically, but things are different now. The child's uncle-in-law is earning US dollars; naturally, we need things from America." Wang QiQi resolved to strictly instruct Han Tao to inspect the purchases carefully, lest they end up with something marked MADE IN CHINA, which would be utterly humiliating. "Don't be polite with me; your brother-in-law is paying for this."

Song Ziwen knew his sister and brother-in-law had shared a bed, but he hadn't expected the young man to hand over the financial reins so quickly. The problem was, didn't Han Tao's mother still live with them? Did his future mother-in-law have no objections? Song Ziwen himself hadn't surrendered control of the finances yet. Although he harbored no ill intentions or secrets, he believed a man shouldn't be without money or personal funds, as it only led to embarrassment. Song Ziwen felt that as the older cousin, he needed to offer some guidance to his younger cousin-in-law; he couldn't be that naive. "Brother-in-law, how about the three of us men go out for a drink sometime soon?" Hmph, his own brother-in-law was a good man, and he hadn't expected his younger cousin-in-law to be the same way. This put a lot of pressure on Song Ziwen, and he would certainly educate his own wife about it.

Han Tao certainly had no reason to refuse his brother-in-law's invitation. "Sounds great. I'm free anytime."

"When are you going to the States?" Song Ziwen had assumed Han Tao wouldn't be traveling this time, but he was still going. "Is QiQi going with you?" Song Ziwen increasingly felt he was growing distant from Wang QiQi. He once thought she was just living comfortably off the money left by her parents, but then she found a boyfriend like Han Tao. At the time, Song Ziwen thought his sister had lost her mind; with so many excellent bachelors around, why choose such an apparently penniless man? Now, it seemed his sister was the lucky one. "Oh, by the way, did you know? I heard Wang Rui found herself a rich guy near the university."

While Wang QiQi was slightly surprised by the news, knowing Wang Rui and her envy toward her, Wang QiQi understood that she would definitely seek out a wealthy boyfriend. Before she could comment, Song Yao snorted beside her. "Hmph. Last time, they also said he was rich, and look how miserably that ended up. And she didn't even show sisterly loyalty. I hope this time she really found someone wealthy," she said. If Song Yao hadn't known how Gao Kai had been cunningly manipulated into Wang Rui’s life, she might have just scoffed, warning her not to choose another fake rich man. But now, her tone implied suspicion about whether this new wealthy boyfriend was acquired through immoral means again.

"Rich or not, life goes on the same way. When I started dating Han Tao, how could I have known what today would bring?" Wang QiQi took Han Tao's hand, knowing he had absolutely no positive feelings toward Gao Kai, and Song Yao had spoken unintentionally. "For instance, Sister, when you first met Brother-in-law, you couldn't have foreseen this day, right?"

Song Yao enjoyed hearing Wang QiQi say that and puffed up with pride. "That’s right! So many people gossiped behind my back, wondering if I was crazy for choosing your brother-in-law. But look how wonderfully comfortable our lives are now." She thought of her in-laws and younger brother-in-law's couple—they were infuriated but had to flatter her, purely hoping to gain some advantage from her. Especially regarding the house back home, if QiQi hadn't insisted on having the agreement notarized and maintaining good relations with the village elders and the village chief, who knew what schemes they would have cooked up to seize the property. Oh, right, that house might be slated for demolition soon; she immediately felt a headache coming on at the thought of what schemes the in-laws might devise next. Compared to Wang QiQi, she had far fewer future complications. Most of her assets were built through the hard work of the young couple; who would be envious enough to try and steal it? Furthermore, Han Tao’s mother was a simple, honest person who only wanted her son and daughter-in-law to be happy.

"I know Brother-in-law is successful, Sister, stop flaunting your affection in front of us," Wang QiQi didn't mind adding a few more compliments to Gong Peixing by following Song Yao's lead. "Sister, you have good judgment, and Sister-in-law has good judgment too. Of course, my judgment is excellent as well. It's just that my brother is a bit underhanded. Are you planning to take Brother-in-law and my Han Tao out for drinks to discuss how to deal with the three of us women?" Wang QiQi said this half-jokingly, half-seriously. She knew that despite being married for so long, Song Ziwen had only given Yang Jing his main salary card. He only mentioned other income streams to Yang Jing, certainly never handing them over. As for his salary, Yang Jing’s salary, and the money earned from her proxy shopping business—Yang Jing could spend it as she pleased, and Song Ziwen never interfered. Initially, Yang Jing might have been happy, as the combined income seemed substantial, and Song Ziwen covered all household expenses separately. But human desires grow, especially now that she was pregnant and planning for the child. From a woman’s perspective, Wang QiQi felt Yang Jing wasn't wrong, but from Song Ziwen’s angle, he wasn't wrong either. However, in front of Yang Jing, Wang QiQi felt the need to subtly guide Song Ziwen.

Song Ziwen hadn't expected his sister to see through his intentions before the dinner even began; his face flushed slightly. "No, QiQi, I think your suspicious nature has gotten worse lately. Haven't we been apart for a long time? I just thought we could find time for the three of us men to have a drink and strengthen our bond. Why do you worry I'll get Han Tao drunk?"

Wang QiQi gave him a look that said, I know what you mean. "Fine, the more you say that, the more I worry you'll get Han Tao drunk. Sister, Sister-in-law, while they go out drinking, we should go shopping. There’s no reason for the men to be out having fun while we stay home guarding the empty rooms. Sister-in-law, what do you think?"

Since her pregnancy advanced, Yang Jing had been exceptionally careful. However, Wang QiQi was visiting, and with her elder sister-in-law present, she knew they would look out for her. "Sounds perfect. But it will be a bother to ask Sister to drive me." Yang Jing had initially felt Song Ziwen’s suggestion to buy a car was a bit flashy, but now she realized having a car at home was quite convenient. Besides, she wasn't paying for it, so why argue with Song Ziwen and make him unhappy? It was also inconvenient for her to travel alone; although she could always call her elder sister-in-law, who never complained, doing so too often felt wrong.

《Wife Takes Husband for a Fortune》: A dynasty bustling with extended family, and the brilliant life of one woman. RS