“So daft a son, and mine?”
With his hair cropped short, Wang Shuang’s features stood out, moulded as if from the same mould as Madam Wang in her youth; she could scarce deny he was her own flesh and blood.
Madam Wang fretted.
That little lass Li Mengjiao had been Madam Wang’s eyed reserve daughter-in-law for years.
Regardless of whether Wang Shuang liked her or not, Madam Wang herself was most fond.
Li Mengjiao was guileless, a trait others deemed foolish, but Madam Wang saw as magnanimity, a breadth of spirit in the girl!
Simple of character, generous of heart, exceedingly cute to boot, and ever chasing after Wang Shuang’s heels; Madam Wang simply adored Li Mengjiao to bits.
Such a fine young miss; Wang Shuang had no cause not to like her.
Madam Wang had even planned that, should Wang Shuang remain obtuse in a few years, she would not pin hopes on Li Mengjiao as daughter-in-law; taking her as goddaughter would be more practical.
To Madam Wang’s relief, her daft son seemed to slowly come round in his second year of senior high, discovering Li Mengjiao’s worth.
Pity that by then, Li Mengjiao had debuted as a star through a talent show.
And not the small-time sort in entertainment circles; she starred in a drama and blazed through it, drama hot, person hotter; in a mere two or three years, she became one of the mainland’s most scorching stars!
Oh dear.
Forcing her daft son upon Li Mengjiao now would smack of opportunism, of taking advantage of the Li family.
Having money at home did not mean Wang Shuang had money; with Li Mengjiao famous, Wang Shuang must achieve something to match such a young miss.
Should Madam Wang wash her hands of it, to let a prospective daughter-in-law watched for years go to another; she could not bear it.
Fretting that her daft son might not grow in time, that the girl he liked would suddenly become one he must look up to, their childhood sweetheart romance withering before it bloomed; Madam Wang ended her full-time housewife lounging and threw herself vigorously into Tianjiao as a career woman.
Striving so in her work; was it reluctance to forgo Tianjiao’s monthly pay?
No; reluctance to lose this prospective daughter-in-law!
With her daft son yet unable to grow to shield his would-be wife, no matter; Madam Wang, future mother-in-law, rolled up her sleeves and stepped up herself!
Pity Madam Wang’s great sacrifice, yet still someone sought to poach her corner.
This would not do!
Though Wang Shuang held the edge of childhood sweethearts with Li Mengjiao, a deep emotional foundation between the two young ones, it could not withstand Wang Shuang entering university in the magic city a year ahead; Rong City and the magic city lay over a thousand kilometres apart; texts and calls paled against true companionship; now, the one tutoring daily with Li Mengjiao was Peng Guoqing… with but half a year left, what if Peng Guoqing slipped in through the gap?!
Peng Guoqing not only set his heart on it, but mobilised his family for support.
Madam Wang, tongue blistered with worry, uncomprehended by her husband Wang Jun, quietly sounded out Wen Ying on Peng Guoqing’s daily conduct.
Wen Ying at first grasped not Madam Wang’s intent, only marvelling at how Madam Peng’s remote gifting struck so powerfully; now even unrelated Madam Wang grew concerned for Peng Guoqing.
Slowly, Wen Ying sensed something amiss.
“Auntie Dong, do you suspect Peng Guoqing fancies…”
“Oh dear, speak not so bluntly; what fancy or no, at your age, appreciating fine peers is altogether normal.”
Madam Wang’s words set Wen Ying chuckling: “I know it normal, but Peng Guoqing cannot possibly fancy Mengjiao!”
Who did Peng Guoqing fancy?
A slag student, what right had he to speak of fancy!
Fancying someone meant unconsciously orbiting them.
Peng Guoqing, in settings with Li Mengjiao present, fixed his gaze ever on Xie Qian!
“He must enter a magic city 211 university, shedding three layers of skin in the toil; I fancy Peng Guoqing has no mind for puppy love.”
Madam Wang trusted Wen Ying’s judgement well, so Madam Wang grew all the more baffled: “Then why send such gifts?”
The rhinestone-encrusted microphone was not overly dear; it was the thought that counted precious.
Wen Ying spread her hands: “Gifting is Madam Zhu’s way, treating all alike; she sent Wang Shuang signed shoes, me a spot in the young writers’ programme. If measuring value, the gift to Xie Qian ranks highest; truly, I think Madam Zhu meant to gift him, and we are mere add-ons!”
Wen Ying had been dazed by the young writers’ programme at first, but sobered upon returning home.
Wen Ying claimed scant aid to Peng Guoqing; the slag’s transformation was Xie Qian’s doing; to be deemed an add-on irked her not a whit; rather, she found Madam Peng most adept at conduct.
Even without the programme spot, Wen Ying held no dislike for Peng Guoqing; with the gift accepted, she would naturally repay in kind, minding him more hereafter.
This was human nature.
Gifts were no offence in plenty; soft mouths from eating, short hands from taking; human dealings rested not wholly on such surface frippery, yet could not wholly depart it.
When ties were not so close, apt gifts broke the ice.
As now; Wen Ying could not help but speak well of Madam Peng!
Madam Wang’s teeth ached at the hearing.
In the end, another binding herself to Xie Qian!
Though her daft son’s corner held firm for now, Madam Wang’s own teetered!
Madam Wang thought: was she, “Auntie Dong”, not enough; what need for “Auntie Zhu” to flaunt existence!
Madam Wang’s eyes turned; she ran to Madam Li and poured forth a tirade; Madam Li sighed faintly: “Come to think, I first befriended Xie Qian’s mother; then you poached my new friend.”
Madam Wang: …
“Oh come, what ours or yours; befriending Xie Qian’s mother yields the same, does it not? Right, Wang Shuang entered magic city’s 211 with Xie Qian’s aid; Mengjiao was not left behind either. By current form, Mengjiao’s university will outshine Wang Shuang’s; your family loses not a jot; we call it meat rotting in the pot, no sides drawn; outsiders differ, like as not to carry off the pot of stew too!”
At Madam Wang’s words, Madam Li felt crisis too.
Towards Xie Qian, Madam Li felt gratitude, but unlike Madam Wang and Madam Peng, who pinned hopes on him to watch over daft sons, Madam Li cared more for Wen Ying.
Xie Qian’s influence on Li Mengjiao was not so great!
Wen Ying differed; from Li Mengjiao’s talent show to now, every step bore Wen Ying’s imprint.
Madam Li deemed Wen Ying a girl of upright heart; with Wen Ying watching, Li Mengjiao would not lose herself in entertainment circles.
“Then shall I inquire for you?”
Zou Weijun had returned to the capital; Madam Li and the others kept contact, phoning now and then for updates.
Madam Li naturally picked up the phone and dialled; after pleasantries, she sounded out on Madam Peng.
Through the receiver, Zou Weijun’s voice carried laughter: “How come you ask of her? We lunched together today; she said the Pengs head to Rong City for the new year; seems true. Zhu Xu has a fine nature; you will surely like her.”
Madam Li knew not if she would like Zhu Xu, but she heard Zou Weijun did.
The call on speaker, Madam Wang heard clear as day and murmured: “This truly is a case of ill intent in arrival!”
