Kang Wei was pitiful – while others celebrated Spring Festival, he too celebrated it, but lying in bed.
Yet Kang Wei was also fortunate – the car accident, as it turned out, hadn’t left him with major aftereffects, and instead promoted family harmony. Without this accident, the misunderstanding between Kang Wei and Kang Lianming wouldn’t have been resolved.
Without this accident, Xie Yun wouldn’t have suddenly awakened from her self-pity to face real life positively.
Though Kang Wei complained about his mother’s excessive care, why did he sound so happy?
His mother now had a spark of life, no longer a clay statue – beautiful but soulless as before.
During dinner at Kang Wei’s home, Guan Hui’e suddenly asked:
“Is your store opening in Beijing soon? Can Aunt Xie and I wear the clothes you’ll be selling at our age?”
Xie Yun was quite curious, “Xiaolan, you’re opening a store in Beijing?”
Xia Xiaolan immediately understood that Guan Hui’e was advertising for her.
“We should open in mid-March. You and Aunt Xie can come browse then, see if there are styles you like.”
Guan Hui’e thought that just two people visiting wasn’t enough – she needed to spread the word at work and tell people like Zhan Aiqun. Word would spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, bringing business to Xia Xiaolan’s store.
Guan Hui’e had another concern. When Zhou Guobin returned home from work, she told her husband:
“From what I understand, Xiaolan’s mother will be living in Beijing from now on. When they were living elsewhere, we didn’t mention it, but now that they’re permanent residents in Beijing, isn’t it inappropriate for our families not to interact?”
Guan Hui’e was deeply worried.
Xia Xiaolan was very sensible, and the girl was personally excellent – things like her rural household registration didn’t affect Xia Xiaolan at all.
Now Xia Xiaolan wasn’t even registered as rural anymore, having escaped that status by entering university.
Guan Hui’e wasn’t ashamed of having a rural woman as an in-law; she just didn’t know how to interact with Liu Fen. Could they communicate effectively?
Zhou Guobin also took this issue seriously, not treating it casually. “Ask Xiaolan if we can visit.”
Xia Xiaolan couldn’t separate from her birth mother, and the Zhou family wasn’t so thick-skinned.
But Guan Hui’e’s concerns were valid – they needed to find the right way to interact with Xia Xiaolan’s mother. From what Guan Hui’e knew, Xia Xiaolan’s father Xia Dajun was quite a terrible person. Zhou Guobin couldn’t understand how someone could love another’s child more than their own.
Must be mentally ill!
Fortunately, they were divorced. If they weren’t divorced and had to associate as in-laws, he would have been uncomfortable too.
Being poor wasn’t an issue; being foolish was the problem.
Earlier that day, Xia Xiaolan had brought things home, which Guan Hui’e hadn’t examined yet. Now finally having time to open them, she naturally discovered similar red envelopes.
“Look, your son’s filial gift.”
Zhou Guobin snorted, “His salary isn’t that much, this money I-“
Before Zhou Guobin could finish, Guan Hui’e took away his red envelope.
“You don’t want this money, right? Then both are mine!”
Zhou Guobin opened his mouth – when had he said he didn’t want it? Before finishing his sentence, the red envelope was taken. Zhou Guobin called out twice: “You took the money, but at least return my tea! Where did you hide my previous tea?”
Why couldn’t he drink the tea? It was from his future daughter-in-law; he should drink it!
…
After returning to Beijing, Xia Xiaolan was busy, Grandmother Yu had been assigned tasks, leaving only Liu Fen to clean up at home.
Short stays and permanent residence were different; everything inside and out needed to be furnished.
Xia Xiaolan said to buy simple, practical furniture since the house would be renovated later – buying expensive pieces now would be wasteful when they wouldn’t look good later, but appliances could be used for several years.
Grandmother Yu also returned home in the evening. The old lady had been fierce today, serving as an etiquette teacher and making two young women cry.
“Slouching with hunched shoulders, terrible posture. First practice against the wall for two days, then practice balancing bowls.”
Xia Xiaolan broke into a cold sweat, “Take it easy, this isn’t the era of selecting palace maids anymore.”
“Who am I working so hard for? With these standards, palace maids? My family used to… tsk tsk tsk, I almost made a mistake again. Their posture is poor, and this practice isn’t just helping you – they’ll be grateful to me later.”
Hearing the store would open in mid-March, with 20 days remaining, Grandmother Yu felt she could at least train these shop assistants into some semblance of proper form.
Xia Xiaolan was right – they weren’t preparing to serve an emperor; feudal dynasty standards were long outdated. Grandmother Yu could only train them to approximate standards. She wasn’t boasting – if not for Xia Xiaolan’s store needing staff, who would give them etiquette lessons for no reason? Whether it was Grandmother Yu teaching etiquette and deportment, or Xia Xiaolan’s planned sales technique lessons, they should be secretly happy someone was willing to teach them!
“Yes, you’re right. Not only should they be grateful to you, but I am too! Are you tired after teaching all day?”
Xia Xiaolan’s flattery worked; Grandmother Yu’s stern expression had been the real exhaustion. Her mouth softened: “What’s there to be tired about? Your mother’s the tired one, cleaning the house these past days. Haven’t you noticed how different the house looks?”
All three family members were busy.
When Xia Xiaolan suggested going out for hot pot tomorrow, Liu Fen disagreed, “Let’s cook at home. When school starts, we can invite your classmates to visit too.”
Without a presentable house before, Liu Fen had feared embarrassing her daughter.
Now things were different; with mother and daughter settled in Beijing, Liu Fen had gained confidence.
Xia Xiaolan nodded, “We’ll see then. We’ll be busy with the store, might not have time.”
Grandmother Yu remained silent, pondering another matter – with Liu Fen moving to Beijing permanently, the Zhou family should show sincerity by taking the initiative to visit. Grandmother Yu strongly disapproved of the woman’s family visiting the man’s first; some Chinese traditions made sense.
Grandmother Yu wanted to ask Xia Xiaolan if the Zhou family had such plans, but seeing how tired Xia Xiaolan was, she kept quiet.
Indeed, what visits now? Xia Xiaolan could barely manage her schedule; who had time to entertain the Zhou family?
The next morning, the home phone rang – it was Guan Hui’e, proactively asking Xia Xiaolan if they could visit.
Grandmother Yu immediately changed her tune:
“The parents should meet, and you and Zhou Cheng have such a good relationship.”
Xia Xiaolan considered her busy schedule and set it for the weekend.
Liu Fen checked the calendar, “Four days from now?”
What should she say when meeting Zhou Cheng’s parents?
With Zhou Cheng’s good family background, would his parents not be picky about Xiaolan?
Liu Fen was very nervous.
Although she had dealt with officials like Mayor Tang, Liu Fen wasn’t sure if other cadres would be like Mayor Tang.
“What are you nervous about? Whether Zhou Cheng can marry your daughter still needs your approval. If anyone should be nervous, it’s his family. Have some confidence!”