Chapter 57

"He's treating marriage as a joke! They got married on Mid-Autumn Festival and divorced at the end of the year. Hey, even though he's cuckolded, he still has to provide one-stop service to the Qiao family. Did he owe the Qiao family in his previous life? My Zheng family's reputation is about to be ruined by this little bastard! You too, as his mother, how can you just watch him do whatever he wants?" Zheng Dongfang was so angry after hearing what his wife said about Guangzhou that he couldn't sit still. He walked around in circles in the hall with a red face and a thick neck.

"Don't you take marriage lightly? What good deeds have you done? If you have the guts, go teach your precious son a lesson yourself. Who are you to criticize me as a mother? From childhood to adulthood, I have always been the villain. Why can't I play the hero again?!" Mrs. Zheng was also full of resentment. "That's it. It's also true that if the top beam is not straight, the bottom beam will be crooked! Guan Guan is not an outsider. I am not afraid to tell the child. Zheng Dongfang, do you mean to divorce me? My son knows that we can't get to the stage of getting a marriage certificate. But you, you are serious. You are disrespectful to the elderly. How can I have the face to criticize my son!"

Guan Ying was standing by and wanted to try to mediate, but after hearing this, he didn't dare to interrupt for a moment.

Zheng Dongfang paused, his features a worried look, and spread his hands. "Oh, that's totally different. Haven't we made it clear? I told you... it was for your own good! We're an old married couple, why would we care about that certificate? Over three hundred million, are you kidding me? In business, no one can guarantee they won't lose money. If we can't make it back in the future, I, Zheng Dongfang, will take the full responsibility! I can't let you shoulder Xicheng Steel's debt with me. You're already old, how come you can't even see through this little trick?"

Hearing this, Aunt Zheng burst into tears with excitement and grievance: "I don't know which heartless person gave you such bad advice! When Jingxi City restricted the purchase of two houses, how many couples used clever tricks and exploited loopholes in the law, and finally ended up with a fake divorce? We are both old. I have been with you and have enjoyed both happiness and sin. I am half buried in the ground. What should an old woman like me be afraid of? You are divorcing me now. Did you say that I was after your Zheng family's money for the past few decades? You are not doing this for my own good. You are trying to make the old guys in the steel plant spit on me to death... Zheng Dongfang, ask yourself, since you took on this public debt, have I ever blamed you? You old heartless man... I can see that you just want to kill me so that you can replace me with a younger one. You are capable now..."

The couple's quarrel was Aunt Zheng's strong point. After a fit of anger, she regained some of her former energy and spirit.

Zheng Dongfang stamped his feet anxiously. "What are you thinking about all the time? Ask your supervisor. What young man out there would be interested in an old man like me? Are you blind? You're overthinking it. Listen, is this reasonable?"

Aunt Zheng slapped her thigh and said, "Then Qiao Qi has a crush on the guy named Qian!"

Zheng Dongfang was even more angry: "You...who are you comparing me to?"

Guan Ying laughed beside him and couldn't help but chuckle.

Zheng Dongfang had been swamped with decisions about the steel plant's renovation and expansion, and he'd been incredibly busy lately. He'd never expected his son and daughter-in-law to be so troubled. Seeing Guan Ying secretly laughing beside him, he frowned slightly, his mouth drooping, and desperately tried to find a solution: "Guan, tell me, is your aunt talking nonsense? She knows this very well, but she insists on going against me. Please help me persuade her!"

Zheng Juyong was right. How could these old couple be getting a divorce? It was obvious that the more they argued, the more heated the dispute became!

"Well, Aunt, although Qian Shaowei is much older than Qiao Qi, he is still in his prime. He is more than a generation younger than my uncle. They are not comparable. Your worry is really a bit too much!" Guan Ying smiled and winked at Aunt Zheng.

Zheng Dongfang nodded in satisfaction. "Oh, that's right. Listen, you still don't believe what Guan Guan says? I'm busy with the steel mill all day long. I don't have the time for romance like your son. I don't think that kid is anything like me. Even if he is like you, I don't know what kind of mess he's thinking about all day long!"

Guan Ying smiled and spoke to Uncle Zheng again, "But, Uncle, you can't blame Aunt. You're still strong and famous in western Beijing, and you're the most senior male idol in our Xicheng Steel! Who knows? Those older women in the factory have been waiting for you to be single so they can pounce on you. They're not afraid of young girls, but they're also afraid of older women. These days, older women are so unrestrained!"

Aunt Zheng's eyes lit up. "I knew it. When he was young, people at the factory were always stuffing love letters into his office! I caught them several times, and I still have the evidence! He must have become a coquettish old man, and he's fallen in love. He has an old lover at the factory... Oh my, I can't live like this. This is so embarrassing!"

Zheng Dongfang scratched his ears. Guan Ying was such a clever monkey. He deserved to be beaten with fifty sticks each. He didn't want to offend anyone, and he didn't help anyone either!

"You really are such a fool! What are you talking about in front of the child? It happened eight generations ago, and you keep bringing it up. It was just a small sin when I was young, and it wasn't something I committed. Okay, you're holding on to me for the rest of my life, and you're still holding on to me..."

Uncle Zheng used to be the quietest and most reserved person in the family, never reluctant to say a harsh word to his son. But today, it seemed he was so irritated by Zheng Juyong that he couldn't bring himself to speak to his son directly, so he showed unusual bravery and unyielding spirit, actually engaging in several exchanges of words with Aunt Zheng.

Seeing the old couple in this state was rare, Guan Ying was even happier. Holding back her laughter, she handed the tissue box to Aunt Zheng beside her, then looked up and advised Uncle Zheng who was standing in the middle of the hall: "Uncle, I think you shouldn't be too anxious about this matter between you and my aunt. Let's think about it a little longer! What I mean is, it's impossible for the whole family, young and old, to get divorced in the space of half a year. Even if it would cause gossip for the relatives, we can't just throw them all out without distinguishing the elders or the younger ones. Why don't we focus on the younger ones first?" As she spoke, she counted on her fingers, meditating as if possessed by an immortal. When she opened her eyes again, she was startled and said, "Oh, tsk, according to my calculations, you two will have to discuss this matter next year at the latest!"

As he spoke, Guan Ying's face was filled with suppressed laughter.

"Hey, you, you!" Zheng Dongfang was at a loss as to what to do with Guan Ying. He knew that with her meddling, things would become difficult to handle. If he let her continue talking, things might be completely ruined.

Uncle Zheng still felt that he was the rational one and that it was better to get a divorce instead of being emotional like women. But what Guan Ying said made sense, so he turned around a few times and waved his hand, saying, "Forget it, I have to go back to the factory! I've been working overtime these days and living in the factory dormitory, so I won't go home. You've been tired outside these days, so don't think too much. Take care of yourself and don't worry about me!" After that, he called the driver and hurried back to the steel plant.

......

Uncle Zheng was busy with factory matters and no longer pressed for a divorce. Aunt Zheng, inspired by Aunt Lin, took up Ba Duan Jin at home, exercising in the yard daily. Afterward, she learned to tend to the many orchids in her sister-in-law's care, which seemed to cheer her up.

Guan Ying stayed in western Beijing for another four or five days, watching the latest episode of a rap show. The rematch was still going on, just with a different candidate. Netizens were abuzz with the online vote-counting scandal, but the topic only lingered on social media overnight, overshadowed by more prominent celebrity gossip the next day. It was unclear whether Qian Shaowei, Zhang Rong, or Sister Ling were behind this. In short, it seemed everyone was trying to make a big deal out of a small matter, and the outcome was much better than Guan Ying had expected, which reassured her.

When the flight rebooking date arrived, after having a lively farewell dinner at an old hotel in western Beijing, Guan Xiong and his family of three set off for Seattle.

In late summer in Seattle, the days are still long. The sun rises at five in the morning and it's dark at nine in the evening. This gives Guan Ying a lot of time to deal with many delayed matters.

The most crucial thing was to visit her future professor, Dr. Wilson, in advance. Dr. Wilson, a refined and unassuming British man in his fifties, welcomed Guan Ying and was impressed by her essay. He found her work experience and career goals intriguing and relevant to his current research. He not only provided her with plenty of preparatory materials but also warmly invited her and her family to his home.

It was during this visit that Guan Ying learned that Professor Wilson's wife, Judy, was a native of Fujian and had been working as a Chinese real estate agent in Seattle. Upon hearing that the family was searching for a suitable rental, Judy suggested that renting be better than buying. It turned out that in recent years, with the increasing number of foreigners purchasing property in the United States, Seattle, with its convenient transportation, pleasant climate, and culturally inclusive character, has become a popular destination for these influxes, leading to a surge in real estate prices. Guan Xiong, a business savvy and now financially well-off, immediately decided to ask Judy to recommend a property to his daughter, hoping to protect her from future landlords.

Judy juggles numerous clients, and sometimes when she's overwhelmed, she asks her son, Mike, to cover for her. Mike, just twenty years old, dislikes law but loves music. He attends music school in Boston on the East Coast and happened to be back for a short break, running errands for his mother. He inherits most of his father's features: brown hair, deep-set blue eyes, and a high nose bridge. His mouth, however, inherits his mother's broad shape, extending almost ear-to-ear when he smiles, giving him a cheerful, free-spirited look.

In addition to viewing and selecting houses, a series of property purchase procedures also need to be prepared. Mike's help is needed in everything. Guan Xiong and his wife became closer to Mike. Whenever they returned to the hotel after going out, they would brag about Mike's politeness, energy, and fun in front of Guan Ying... The old couple benefited from Judy and Mike's mother and son. Initially, they only wanted to buy an apartment, but now, they have started to look at single-family houses. Of course, their budget has also increased several times.

With her parents sharing chores, Guan Ying had ample time to study in the library. Even visiting scholars for a company still needed to attend classes and take exams, and legal courses were inherently difficult to understand, with reams of textual legislation to digest. Getting started wasn't easy at that point. Between her intense study sessions, listening to her parents share anecdotes about Mike was one of her few pleasant moments of relaxation. So, even though she knew they were aiming for a big deal, she let them do what they wanted.

Seattle has blue skies, clear waters, warm breezes and beautiful sunshine, and beautiful people and things. In just a few days, Guan Xiong and his family have already adapted to the situation and are working together to start a new life in a foreign country.

Guan Ying lingered in the library, her focus and ease unprecedented. Over time, she barely even picked up her phone. Sometimes, during a break from studying, she'd inexplicably think of Zheng Juyong, but only for a fleeting moment before returning to her studies.

The days pass by one by one.

The three members of the Zheng family have been living together for the past few decades. They have never been like now, separated in three places and unable to reunite. They are very much like Guan Xiong's family in the past. The three members of the Guan family have experienced years of separation and now cherish the time they can spend together as a family.

The lives of the two families seemed to be turned upside down without them noticing.