“Next week I’m bringing Ruoruo home so she can meet everyone properly.”
At these words, Second Madam Zhan laughed with delight. “Meeting the parents at last?”
“My boy, this is the news Mum has been waiting for. Haha, once you’re married, my job will finally be done. I won’t have anything left to worry about.”
Seventh was her youngest son.
True, Eighth and Ninth were still single, but they were her nephews, not her own children.
The person who had to worry about Eighth and Ninth was her sister-in-law, Third Madam Zhan.
“Ruoruo originally planned to come during the National Day holiday, but I told her the whole family is together right now and all the children are here. She loves little kids, so she changed the date.”
Second Madam Zhan smiled. “Good change, excellent change. During National Day you might not even come back. Right now we’re at our fullest. Bring her home so everyone can meet her and get to know her.”
It would also let the future daughter-in-law become familiar with her nephews’ wives.
“Ruoruo’s parents stayed at our house for two days when they visited. How did they treat you when you went to their place?”
“Mum, relax. Your son is this outstanding. Countless parents dream of having me as their son-in-law. Uncle Lan and Auntie like me a lot, and Grandpa Lan does too.”
Second Madam Zhan laughed again. “Of course. My son is so exceptional, the Lan family would have no reason to look down on you. Ruoruo is outstanding too. Mum likes her immensely and has been longing to meet her in person.”
“If you hadn’t brought her home soon, your dad and I were ready to move to Yangcheng for a while.”
All for the sake of their future youngest daughter-in-law.
“Mum, just prepare properly when the time comes. Make Ruoruo’s meeting gift generous.”
Second Madam Zhan said, “Don’t worry about that. I gave your two sisters-in-law very generous meeting gifts the first time they came. I’ll give Ruoruo exactly the same. I treat all three daughters-in-law equally.”
No favouritism.
They were all her daughters-in-law. She cherished and loved them like her own daughters. The expensive jewellery she had collected over the years was saved precisely for her daughters-in-law.
If she ever had granddaughters…
The lion’s share would go to the granddaughters.
At the moment, Second Madam Zhan felt she might never have a granddaughter of her own, but fortunately there was her great-niece Beibei, who was utterly adorable. She doted on Beibei.
Everyone in the Zhan family adored Beibei.
“First thing tomorrow morning I’ll tell your grandma the good news. Rest assured, no matter when you bring Ruoruo home, we elders will have the meeting gifts ready.”
In truth, she had prepared them long ago.
After her second son married, Second Madam Zhan had started putting together a bride-price fund for her youngest son. She had been preparing for years with no chance to use it.
Now, at last, there was good news.
“I’m completely at ease about you, Mum, and Auntie, and Grandma.”
Zhan Wei knew that even if he hadn’t phoned ahead, the moment Lan Ruoruo stepped through the door the elders would never be remiss in courtesy.
He had simply been too happy to resist ringing his mother and sharing his joy.
To let his mother be happy too.
“Of course. You can trust us to handle things. Last time your eldest brother mentioned you went with Ruoruo on a business trip to Wangcheng. Are you back?”
Zhan Wei gave a soft hum. “We got back to Yangcheng today. It should only have taken a week, but I persuaded Ruoruo to stay and relax in Wangcheng for three extra days. She’s always buried in work and never properly unwinds.”
He had gone partly to look after her, partly to help her relax.
Not to spend every waking moment working and making money.
He believed in balance: earning money was not the most important thing; staying healthy and living happily mattered far more.
Seventh Young Master Zhan was showing off without realising it. If he said that aloud, people would curse him.
Born with a silver spoon, he had possessed considerable wealth since childhood. Naturally he did not place much weight on money.
Taking over Yangtai had simply been to prove his own ability.
