Suppose Xie Qian has many merits, but his affection for Wen Ying falls short in some way. What do those merits have to do with Chen Ru?
Precisely because Chen Ru could see how much Xie Qian liked Wen Ying, every clumsy word and action the young man displayed on the day of his formal visit became, in Chen Ru’s eyes, merits more important than looks or money.
Her daughter was only dating. She had not brought anyone home announcing marriage. A boy like Xie Qian was, no matter how Chen Ru examined him, impossible to fault. She had no wish to be overly critical.
Because Chen Ru could also see that Wen Ying liked Xie Qian very much.
Two young people who liked each other and were striving together.
What better situation could there be?
Whether it was Wen Ying becoming ever more outstanding, so that Chen Ru felt her daughter’s success or failure in love would not greatly affect her future path, or whether Chen Ru’s own growth had given her the confidence to be her daughter’s safety net, the present Chen Ru truly had become broad-minded.
Her words shocked Wen Dongrong, and they shocked Deng Shangwei just as much.
Was this still the stubborn, domineering elder sister of the past?
“Sis, brother-in-law, I’ve still got something to do, so I’ll head off!”
Deng Shangwei went lightly down the stairs. When he rang his wife Chen Li, he was full of emotion. “Elder sister has really changed a lot. I don’t mean her job or her income, I mean her thinking! In the past I didn’t dare oppose her for fear of making things hard for you. Now I genuinely respect her, and I genuinely admire her insight and generosity.”
On the other end of the line, Chen Li laughed dismissively. “Why are you flattering me? Why don’t you say all this to my sister?”
Deng Shangwei laughed heartily. “Do you think I’m stupid? If I use up all my flattery, what will brother-in-law say?”
He had to leave some room for brother-in-law to shine.
Deng Shangwei felt he was the best brother-in-law in the world, and Chen Li thought the same. The couple praised each other back and forth for a long time.
They saw each other every day and usually only talked about everyday trivialities.
After a period apart in different cities, they had endless fresh things to say. Deng Shangwei felt as though he had rediscovered the feeling of being young and in love.
Deng Shangwei had now been in Shanghai for some time and had truly experienced the “massive social changes” Wen Ying had spoken of.
He was glad he had come. He now had some new ideas that needed time to prove themselves.
“Staying comfortable in one small corner might not be a dead end, but there really isn’t much room for big growth. Right now I feel like I did when I first started the fish stall, unsure whether the path I’ve chosen is right…”
Chen Li understood. “But you still want to try, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then try.”
A light laugh came from the other end. “You’re only in your thirties. What are you afraid of? We have plenty of time to make mistakes. Even if the business in Shanghai doesn’t work out, we can always go back to Chengdu. The family assets we’ve built up over the years are enough to raise the kids!”
…
In the rental flat, only Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong remained.
Wen Ying had said she would see Xie Qian out, and once she left she did not return. Wen Dongrong, inwardly irritated, untied his apron and hung it on the wall.
“Are we really installing a dishwasher?”
On the surface he was asking about the dishwasher, but in reality he was checking once more with Chen Ru whether they should accept Xie Qian.
Chen Ru saw Wen Dongrong frowning like a little old man and secretly found it amusing. “Aren’t you always the progressive one? Why are you now rejecting new things?”
Whether it was a dishwasher or Wen Ying’s boyfriend, both already existed.
Wen Dongrong could keep refusing to install a dishwasher, but could he keep refusing to acknowledge that Wen Ying had a boyfriend?
Technology freed people from labour and changed habits. Time had let Wen Ying grow up and have a boyfriend. Chen Ru hoped Wen Dongrong would face reality soon.
Wen Dongrong slowly sat down on the sofa.
He was not an old fogey.
He simply did not want to admit certain things.
Fine, if the tigress wanted a dishwasher, let her have one.
Wen Dongrong felt he could not stop the dishwasher being installed, nor could he stop Black-Hearted Cotton from bringing a boyfriend home, but he would stay clear-headed. He would not be taken in by Xie Qian’s talk of how convenient dishwashers were, nor by Xie Qian himself.
Clear-headedness was the last bastion of Wen Dongrong, head of the household. Royalties were the confidence that let him hold his head high in front of his wife.
“Who’s not progressive? If you want one, get one. Buy a good model. I’ll pay with my royalties!”
…
“I really didn’t expect this.”
Xie Qian was unusually dazed. Wen Ying wanted to laugh when she saw it. “Didn’t expect what? That my mum is actually quite open-minded?”
Xie Qian nodded frankly. “Before going to your place I hesitated for ages. It was my mistake. I shouldn’t have judged your mother by her past self!”
Everyone can change. Chen Ru’s change was simply more obvious than most.
Thinking back to his performance at Wen Ying’s home, Xie Qian saw pitfalls everywhere. He had no idea how he had managed to hit Chen Ru’s sweet spots… It was all thanks to her tolerance!
Xie Qian checked again with Wen Ying. “So I didn’t mishear. Your mum really did agree to us dating?”
Wen Ying could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing. “Why are you so insecure? When my mum says something in front of everyone, she won’t take it back!”
“But your dad…”
“What my dad thinks doesn’t matter. He doesn’t get the final say.”
Wen Ying was completely unconcerned, and Xie Qian had already sensed that Wen Dongrong’s status in the family was not high.
Having studied in Chengdu for three years, Xie Qian knew the city produced plenty of “hen-pecked husbands”. Wen Dongrong was clearly one of them.
“Your dad actually cares about you a lot. I think he’s always wanted to show closeness, he just uses the wrong methods.”
Wen Dongrong disliked Xie Qian, yet Xie Qian spoke up for him.
Wen Dongrong certainly had his little faults, but in the big things he was fine. Compared with Xie Jinghu, Wen Dongrong was a first-class loving father.
Happiness really does come from comparison. After Xie Qian said this, Wen Ying also felt her old man was actually all right.
Old Wen had been particularly prickly today, but that was a universal father-of-the-bride affliction.
If a father-in-law didn’t find fault with the son-in-law, could he still be called a father-in-law?
Thinking of the terms “father-in-law” and “son-in-law”, Wen Ying’s cheeks grew warm. Only if she and Xie Qian married smoothly would those titles become official!
Xie Qian did not know why Wen Ying was blushing. He just thought his girlfriend looked extremely cute and pressed his advantage. “I’ve already passed muster with your parents in the open. Don’t you need to do the same with my family?”
When two parties sign a business contract, both sides stamp it. A relationship needed official stamps from both sides too!
Wen Ying started to stammer. “Aunt Zou already knows… Wait, do you want to take me to the Xie family home?!”
The hamster’s fur stood on end!
The hamster was nervous.
Xie Qian soothed her gently. “Going to the Xie home isn’t a big deal. My mum already knows. You’re very familiar with my cousin. You also know my uncle. You already know nearly half the Xie family. You just need to meet the other half. No one will make things difficult for you.”
Wen Ying did indeed know quite a few Xies, including the scumbag Xie Jinghu that Xie Qian had not mentioned.
Xie Qian had already visited her home with gifts. Wen Ying felt visiting the Xie home would be fine, probably.
“Mainly my grandmother. Last year when I had the car accident she fell seriously ill. She very much wants to meet you.”
Xie Qian brought out Old Lady Xie, and Wen Ying had no more hesitation. “All right, I’ll go with you to see Grandma. Shall we go to Beijing next weekend?”
