Indeed.
Tang Hongen came to Shangdu not only to see Liu Fen but also to check if Grandmother Yu needed any help.
Disliking Xu Zhongyi was one matter, helping Grandmother Yu was another. Tang Hongen was very grateful to Grandmother Yu, knowing she had helped Liu Fen tremendously. Initially, when nobody believed he and Liu Fen could end up together, it was Grandmother Yu who persistently played matchmaker.
Although Old Tang had confessed on his own, Grandmother Yu was essentially the “matchmaker.” Thanks to her phone call to Pengcheng before the Spring Festival two years ago, Tang Hongen had appeared like a divine soldier, rushing to Qijing Village to declare his intentions.
After hearing Zhou Cheng’s words, Xia Xiaolan became thoughtful.
After three years together, she understood Grandmother Yu well.
After leaving Grandmother Yu’s house, on their way to the Municipal Party Committee Guest House, Xia Xiaolan shared her speculation:
“Grandmother Yu doubts Tina’s identity. She’s so clever – wouldn’t it be easy for her to win over a young girl? When something could be done simply, yet Grandmother Yu chooses not to do it, why do you think that is?”
Zhou Cheng couldn’t help but step on the brake.
“Because Grandmother Yu thinks it’s not worth it?”
Why wouldn’t it be worth it?
Grandmother Yu had waited 20 years with such strength for her children and grandchildren to reunite.
Despite beating Xu Zhongyi until he bled, if she didn’t care about her son, she wouldn’t have been disappointed or wasted energy hitting him.
But when Xu Zhongyi wanted Grandmother Yu to develop a close relationship with Tina, she directly refused… The old lady thought it wasn’t worth it. Something that would only require a little effort and wisdom to resolve, yet Grandmother Yu was unwilling to do it.
Even Liu Fen belatedly realized:
“Aunt Yu doesn’t consider Tina her granddaughter?”
Xia Xiaolan nodded, “I’m afraid so.”
If Tina were her granddaughter, Grandmother Yu would care whether Tina felt close to the Xu family. Not considering her a granddaughter, given Grandmother Yu’s personality, she wouldn’t bother about Tina’s feelings.
She had her son and grandson.
And Xia Xiaolan and her daughter.
Grandmother Yu had to care for four people by herself.
Tina had no feelings for the Xu family, and Grandmother Yu showed little affection toward this granddaughter whose background she doubted!
Liu Fen mumbled, “What should we do?”
“Have Tina and Uncle Xu do a DNA test. Only after DNA confirmation would Grandmother Yu probably accept this granddaughter. But I guess Uncle Xu won’t agree to a DNA test.”
Zhou Cheng shared Xia Xiaolan’s view, “Xu Changle wouldn’t agree either.”
From Zhou Cheng’s perspective, he could guess Xu Zhongyi and Xu Changle’s thoughts. One was convinced Tina was his daughter, while the other had been a protective older brother for years. Xu Changle firmly believed Tina was his full sister, and subconsciously still yearned for a complete “family.”
As for Xu Zhongyi… would he admit to being inferior to Zhang Jiadong?
With Cui Yiru and Zhang Jiadong dead, Tina still wouldn’t accept Xu Zhongyi. Testing Tina’s DNA now – if she found out, she would likely never accept Xu Zhongyi. It was like reaching a fork in the road where both left and right led to dead ends – two choices, both wrong!
Liu Fen worried for Grandmother Yu.
Xia Xiaolan comforted her, “Look how well Grandmother Yu is handling it, why worry about this? If you’re unhappy, I think Uncle Tang will get another headache.”
How open-minded Grandmother Yu was.
She refused to go to America to build a relationship with Tina.
What’s losing one granddaughter?
With her son and grandson, Grandmother Yu didn’t need a granddaughter to comfort her in her old age!
As they approached the Municipal Party Committee Guest House, the three dropped the topic.
Tang Hongen had been waiting to have dinner with them.
This was Tang Hongen’s first meal with his wife since arriving in Shangdu two days ago. He had asked the guest house to prepare the food early. With Liu Fen and Xiaolan present, Tang Hongen could barely tolerate Zhou Cheng joining them – no matter how much a future father-in-law dislikes his future son-in-law, he couldn’t show it in front of Liu Fen.
Married men should always remember one point: whatever they do, stay in the same camp as their wives.
Firmly dislike those whom their wife dislikes.
For those their wife likes, even if they don’t… pretend to like them.
Creating marital discord over Zhou Cheng wasn’t worth it to Tang Hongen. He would have plenty of chances to test Zhou Cheng later – he wasn’t that foolish!
“Zhou Cheng, eat more, are there any dishes you like? If not enough, I can order more?”
The sudden care from his future father-in-law didn’t lower Zhou Cheng’s guard; he remained in “battle-ready” mode.
How should he answer?
Was this a trap set by Old Tang?
Zhou Cheng felt he was no match for the old fox, so he could only follow his heart and respond to changes with consistency:
“Uncle Tang, no need for more dishes. I’ve spent quite some time at work, I’m not particular about food. As long as it’s edible, it’s fine. The guest house chef’s cooking is already very good for me. My taste follows Xiaolan’s – whatever she likes, I like!”
Heh.
Such a smooth talker, he had underestimated this kid!
While Xia Xiaolan found Zhou Cheng’s words sweet, Liu Fen felt sympathetic, thinking Zhou Cheng must have suffered at work and kept putting food in his bowl.
Tang Hongen looked at his empty bowl.
What suffering!
Maybe before, but now as Deputy Squadron Leader, would he go hungry? Tang Hongen wouldn’t believe that.
As future in-laws exchanged this light move, someone knocked gently on the door. It was Hu Yongcai leading a server to ask if they wanted additional dishes – this was their first face-to-face meeting, seeing Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen.
Hu Yongcai quickly lowered his head.
Xia Xiaolan recognized him too, “Brother Hu, long time no see, why haven’t you come to Grandmother Yu’s for dinner?”
Hu Yongcai stammered.
A small figure like Hu Yongcai couldn’t possibly know about Liu Fen and Tang Hongen’s marriage registration.
Although he had taken money from Xu Zhongyi before, it didn’t make him Xu Zhongyi’s man. Still hovering on the outskirts of their circle, how would he know Liu Fen had married the mayor of Pengcheng… he didn’t know before, but now he knew!
Mayor Tang had stayed at the guest house for two days.
Today, paying from his pocket, he had the guest house prepare a good meal, saying his wife and daughter would come.
In this private room now were only Mayor Tang, Liu Fen, Xia Xiaolan, and Squadron Leader Zhou whom he had seen before.
It couldn’t be that Xia Xiaolan had married Mayor Tang – how could Zhou Cheng stomach this meal then?
So, it must be Liu Fen!
Liu Fen married a mayor?!
This… Hu Yongcai was completely lost for words.
Yet Xia Xiaolan introduced him to Tang Hongen: “Uncle Tang, Brother Hu Yongcai used to be the procurement officer at the Municipal Party Committee Guest House. When I first came to the provincial capital, Brother Hu helped me a lot.”
Tang Hongen’s gaze fell on Hu Yongcai.
A guest house procurement officer – so he was the one who led Xiaolan and her mother to rent Grandmother Yu’s house for Xu Zhongyi?
As Tang Hongen remained silent, Hu Yongcai’s legs trembled.
Dear heavens, how could someone as insignificant as him deserve such a formal introduction before such leaders? He would rather quietly finish serving the leaders and leave!