Congratulations?

Xia Xiaolan went to work with a new diamond ring on her finger.

She and Zhou Cheng were delighted – after love at first sight and a period of dating and adjustment, engagement was a natural step.

Both were certain the other was the one they wanted to marry.

The Zhou family had long considered Xia Xiaolan their daughter-in-law, but Tang Hongwen hadn’t agreed!

He’d set up eighty-one challenges for Zhou Cheng, and before he could give his approval, Xiaolan had already accepted an engagement ring.

“This doesn’t count!”

Old Tang disagreed.

Liu Fen found it strange. “Why doesn’t it count? They’ve been dating for so long. If Xiaolan’s school allowed marriage, they would have gotten their certificate already.”

For a long time in China, people went straight from matchmaking to marriage, with unions arranged by the organization, skipping the engagement step. In recent years, as people’s lives improved, engagement ceremonies seemed to be coming back into fashion.

Liu Fen thought engagement was normal.

Zhou Cheng and Xiaolan had a good relationship, both families had met – why not let the young people decide when to get engaged and married?

“Anyway… ah!”

Tang Hongwen disagreed with Liu Fen.

His feelings were complicated.

Most people his age had children to worry about. Tang Hongwen had wanted to worry about his son in previous years, but Ji Ya had taken Ji Jiangyuan to America and cut off contact. For many years, Tang Hongwen wanted to care for his son but had no way to do so.

Later, though Ji Jiangyuan returned, they remained distant.

It was with Xia Xiaolan that Tang Hongwen finally experienced feeling like a father. Though Xia Xiaolan called him Uncle, he saw himself in a “father’s” position… what father would be happy about some rascal stealing away his daughter?

Liu Fen didn’t understand his feelings, and he didn’t expect her to.

Tang Hongwen felt Brother-in-law Liu Yong would understand.

He invited Liu Yong out, and when they met, it truly was a big matter!

“Engaged? Nonsense! The adults at home didn’t even know – what engagement? It doesn’t count!”

Tang Hongwen perked up. “You also think it doesn’t count?”

“Of course it doesn’t!”

What’s with copying foreigners – wearing a ring means engagement? Did both sets of parents agree?

Hmph, Zhou Cheng’s family would certainly agree, but he was Xiaolan’s uncle, and he strongly disagreed!

Tang Hongwen and Liu Yong had found common ground.

Truthfully, Liu Yong and Tang Hongwen had never been this close before. Because Old Tang held such a high position and authority, Liu Yong had always been somewhat intimidated. He feared appearing too Ferning before Tang Hongwen would embarrass his sister and niece.

But trying not to be Ferning was difficult – after all, the other was Pengcheng’s mayor. Their status gap was too wide!

There was a balance between Ferning and not Ferning that relatives should maintain, but Liu Yong had never found it.

He couldn’t relax around Tang Hongwen.

But when jointly criticizing Zhou Cheng, status differences vanished. They kept calling him “that rascal,” both feeling the pain of losing Xiaolan.

“That girl Xiaolan, too headstrong, not consulting family about such a big matter! Ah! I should have known – Zhou Cheng just got promoted to Squadron Leader, must be feeling proud, took the chance to propose marriage.”

Liu Yong’s tongue was thick with alcohol.

Tang Hongwen was also tipsy. “You’re such a good uncle to her, why won’t she listen to you? Anyway, I don’t agree either! I’m here—”

I’m her father.

Tang Hongwen couldn’t say it out loud.

A stepfather was still a father.

But it felt awkward to say – he had his pride too.

The brother-in-law and uncle found kinship in their shared target of criticism, truly bringing them closer.

Both were thoroughly drunk.

Little Wang tried to help his leader, but Tang Hongwen pushed him away.

Liu Yong couldn’t tell left from right but tried to support Tang Hongwen. Being shorter, Little Wang watched nervously – these two combined weren’t 100 years old, but must be close to 90?

What if they fell together?

Little Wang didn’t even know why his leader was drinking and was extremely worried.

After finally getting the leader home, Liu Fen looked at the two drunks – one her husband, and one her elder brother.

Ha, she couldn’t throw either one out.

Liu Fen picked up the phone, first calling Li Fengmei to come get her husband.

Liu Fen couldn’t take care of two drunk men herself.

Tang Hongwen already had stomach problems – after drinking so much, he might complain of stomach pain in the middle of the night.

The second call went to Beijing for her daughter.

Ring, ring, ring.

The call connected, and Liu Fen didn’t know what tone to use:

“Xiaolan, maybe you should come back to Pengcheng first.”

Xia Xiaolan had wanted to spend a few more days with Zhou Cheng at his unit.

She was experiencing life as Zhou Cheng’s fiancée among the army families. Near the New Year, the unit was quite lively, and with Leader Li’s wife’s help, she had managed to somewhat integrate into the family circle.

She had told Liu Fen about Zhou Cheng’s proposal by phone. Liu Fen hadn’t said much then, so why was she suddenly calling her back to Pengcheng?

“Are you unhappy? It’s just an engagement – Zhou Cheng and I will seek your approval about when to get married.”

Liu Fen didn’t know how to explain. Looking at the two drunks, she chose honesty:

“What’s there for me to be unhappy about? I’ve always liked Zhou Cheng, you two are so suitable. Zhou Cheng is reliable – I wouldn’t object even if you married him now. But your Uncle Tang and Uncle Liu have objections, and they’ve been drinking heavily.”

Xia Xiaolan suddenly remembered Old Tang making Zhou Cheng sleep on the sofa.

Old Tang guarded against Zhou Cheng like a thief.

Xia Xiaolan hung up and rubbed her temples.

Just then, Zhou Cheng returned. “What’s wrong?”

Xia Xiaolan raised her hand. “The diamond ring is beautiful, I love it, and I’ve been happy about your proposal from the day before until now. But now your two fathers-in-law are unhappy, and my mom’s calling me back to Pengcheng.”

Zhou Cheng felt miserable too.

Fortunately, Xiaolan wasn’t close to Xia Dajun, or he’d have three fathers-in-law to win over!

“Darling, why do I feel like you’re taking pleasure in my misfortune?”

Zhou Cheng was suspicious.

Xia Xiaolan firmly denied it. “I’m not! Don’t make things up. You’re not going back to Pengcheng with me – I have to go calm them down myself. How could I be gloating?”

Though she said this, she knew Tang Hongwen and Liu Yong wouldn’t be angry with her. Zhou Cheng would be the one to suffer.

After all, he was the rascal who had acted first and reported later, putting an engagement ring on her finger.

…

“Zhou Cheng proposed to Xiaolan, and these two got themselves drunk over it?”

Li Fengmei found this reason too absurd.

Liu Yong might have done such a thing because he was unreliable.

But Mayor Tang doing this too?

Li Fengmei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Afen, I’ll take your brother home – you’ll have to take care of your husband yourself… They’re worrying too much!”

She was grateful she’d given Liu Yong a son. If she’d had a daughter, wouldn’t Liu Yong cry himself to death or drink himself to death when the daughter grew up and married?!