Parents meeting each other was just like a blind date between a man and a woman. Once the first impression was good, everything else became easier to discuss.

Whether conflicts would arise in the future was beyond current concern – at least for now, Liu Fen and both Guan Hui’e and her husband left good impressions on each other.

Xia Xiaolan formally introduced Grandmother Yu, and from her attitude alone, Guan Hui’e could tell that both mother and daughter regarded the elderly woman as family. Relationships between people were about fate, and blood ties weren’t everything – this was simply the destiny between the mother-daughter pair and Grandmother Yu.

“Thank you so much for taking care of Xiaolan and her mother,” Guan Hui’e said.

Grandmother Yu wouldn’t slip up at such a crucial moment and responded politely, “I’m the one who should thank them.”

When all the dishes were served, Guan Hui’e could tell how much thought had gone into them – who would normally serve abalone and sea cucumber at home? These dishes were quite troublesome to prepare at home, and Guan Hui’e praised every dish: “I don’t have such culinary skills. I’m quite ashamed – Zhou Cheng rarely ate my cooking when he was young.”

Guan Hui’e openly admitted her shortcomings – since she couldn’t cook, she certainly wouldn’t criticize Xia Xiaolan. Some women were natural housewives, while others focused mainly on their careers. A rare few could manage both, but Guan Hui’e admitted she wasn’t among those few – investing energy in work meant less energy for domestic life.

Initially, she had worried Xia Xiaolan was a calculating girl who wouldn’t let go of Zhou Cheng. Later, she thought Xia Xiaolan was too strong-willed, knowing career-driven women couldn’t be expected to be homemakers. Guan Hui’e’s psychological journey was quite interesting.

And now? Now she couldn’t control the situation. She couldn’t control her son, barely controlled herself, and honestly speaking, even she couldn’t help but like Xia Xiaolan – no wonder her son did too.

Liu Fen remembered when Zhou Cheng cooked during his visit to Shangdu. She had been nervous then, thinking Zhou Cheng shouldn’t cook… but after being influenced by Grandmother Yu for so long, Liu Fen had forgotten her initial thoughts! Though she hadn’t agreed with Tang Hong’en, she remembered his words about women cooking and men washing dishes.

Hearing Guan Hui’e praise her cooking, Liu Fen didn’t try to claim credit for her daughter, instead following Guan Hui’e’s lead: “Xiaolan can do everything except cook well. I worry about how she’ll manage in the future.”

Were Xia Xiaolan’s hands meant for holding spatulas? Liu Fen couldn’t bear the thought. She wanted to wash even her daughter’s undergarments!

Guan Hui’e caught the meaning – she had thought Liu Fen was without guile, but there was some subtle cleverness there. This straightforward cleverness made Guan Hui’e both amused and touched.

“Given Xiaolan’s profession, she’ll be busy with work in the future, as will Zhou Cheng. Perhaps they should hire someone to help take care of them?”

At the dining table, Liu Fen and Guan Hui’e discussed not only Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng’s married life but even planned when they should have children. Xia Xiaolan kept her head down, eating silently regardless of what they discussed.

She’d wait until she was full before contradicting these two instantly-bonded middle-aged mothers – she wasn’t eager to draw their attention!

As for wedding plans, Xia Xiaolan would naturally discuss those with Zhou Cheng. Children… that wasn’t even in her life plan yet. Everything needed to happen step by step – why try running before learning to walk?

“Uncle Zhou, please eat.”

She could only secretly talk with Zhou Guobin, who wasn’t interested in gossip.

After 3 PM, Guan Hui’e and Zhou Guobin said their goodbyes. Xia Xiaolan and her mother saw them out. Once they were out of sight, Liu Fen nearly collapsed: “Xiaolan, how did I do today?”

Had she said something wrong? She had boldly admitted her daughter couldn’t cook – had Zhou Cheng’s parents been angry?

Xia Xiaolan supported her mother and gave a thumbs up: “You deserve praise – you performed excellently, being polite yet maintaining boundaries, without selling your daughter short.”

Grandmother Yu also thought Liu Fen had exceeded expectations. Compared to when Liu Fen first came to the city, when her social skills were terrible, Grandmother Yu doubted she could do anything besides farmwork.

Today’s performance was noteworthy – she hadn’t constantly flattered Zhou Cheng’s parents yet showed warmth. Of course, Zhou Cheng’s parents seemed quite approachable today. Zhou Guobin appeared uninvolved in household matters, focusing mainly on work and leaving domestic decisions to his wife.

Guan Hui’e also had her career and couldn’t always be home when busy.

“Everyone did well.”

Coming from the critical Grandmother Yu, this was high praise.

Liu Fen didn’t understand who Grandmother Yu meant, and Xia Xiaolan pondered: “Grandmother Yu means all of you did well. Different viewpoints aren’t a problem as long as people can reason together.”

Xia Xiaolan believed people shouldn’t be prejudiced and should be more tolerant, as truly difficult people were rare. Even Guan Hui’e, who had initially opposed her relationship with Zhou Cheng, changed her attitude after Xia Xiaolan made changes, showed commitment to Zhou Cheng, and was willing to communicate with Guan Hui’e!

It helped that Guan Hui’e was a career woman who could better understand Xia Xiaolan’s ambition. Besides, a housewife mother-in-law with a limited perspective focused only on housework and scrutinizing others, would find fault in everything and, reluctant to trouble her son or husband, would naturally pick on her daughter-in-law.

After Guan Hui’e left, Xia Xiaolan sent her mother and Grandmother Yu to rest while she cleaned the kitchen and washed dishes. Grandmother Yu tossed her a pair of rubber gloves: “Modern technology has advanced – even housework can protect your hands now, though it’s best not to do it at all.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t mind the old lady’s comment – it was good that Grandmother Yu could joke.

When Xia Xiaolan took out the kitchen garbage, Neighbor Old Zhao stopped her with his birdcage: “Xiaolan, you had guests today? I saw cars parked at the lane entrance. Were they relatives?”

Zhou Cheng’s parents – they could be considered relatives, right?

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “Grandfather Zhao, your bird looks very spirited.”

This comment hit Old Zhao’s pride, and he spent half an hour sharing his bird-raising expertise while criticizing another bird-keeper at the lane entrance, only releasing Xia Xiaolan after talking himself hoarse.

After Xia Xiaolan went inside, Old Zhao realized he had meant to get information from her but ended up talking about birds instead!

However, few young people in the lane would patiently listen to his bird-keeping lectures. Muttering “clever girl” while holding his birdcage, he was ultimately in good spirits.

Back home, the clever Xia Xiaolan thought about their permanent move to Beijing and how she hadn’t met all the neighbors yet. Old Zhao’s conversation reminded her – perhaps they should arrange a meal with the neighbors.

Close neighbors were better than distant relatives, and with only women in the house, they might need neighbors’ help sometimes.