The Cheng family's residence is located in a prime area of Beijing, where land is extremely valuable, and the surrounding environment naturally creates a solemn atmosphere.
Leaning out of the car, Jiang Wanqing wasn't particularly drawn to this place; she simply felt that the gap between people in every era was beyond imagination, and indeed, beyond reality.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Ran asked, noticing her staring blankly outside.
She shook her head: "It's nothing. Where do you live?"
"It's just ahead."
He gestured in the direction the car was heading. Although the houses in this area didn't look too different from each other, their locations and layouts were quite sophisticated, or rather, clearly distinguished by social status...
The car stopped at the entrance and honked twice. A moment later, a woman dressed in elegant attire walked out, with a very high-quality shawl draped over her shoulders.
"You're back."
The woman patted Cheng Ran on the shoulder, her eyes full of pride and affection. Upon closer inspection, the two men looked quite similar, and Jiang Wanqing had already guessed their relationship. She wore a smile that was neither distant nor overly affectionate.
She didn't address him by his title first, because calling him "Mom" would be too deliberate to establish a closer relationship, and calling him "Auntie" would seem too impolite, especially since she was already married to Cheng Ran.
"Mom, this is Wanqing," Cheng Ran said, putting his arm around her shoulder.
"Hello."
Jiang Wanqing greeted her with a smile. Cheng's mother looked her up and down, unable to discern whether she was satisfied or disliked her, and simply nodded indifferently.
"Alright, come inside. Cheng Ran's dad has been waiting for you for a long time. You've been married for more than half a year and you haven't thought of coming back for a visit. People who don't know better might think that our Cheng family doesn't recognize our daughter-in-law. But you young people have your own plans, so we won't interfere too much. It's good that you're back."
Cheng's mother walked in front of them, waving her hand behind her. Her words seemed to be a soliloquy, yet they were directed at them. They sounded like a reproach, but were also full of an elder's understanding. She was not one to show her emotions, and even her speech was convoluted and complex.
Jiang Wanqing's eyes flickered; she was prepared to face a test today...
As soon as she entered, Mr. Cheng greeted her with a kind smile and nodded to Jiang Wanqing.
"You must be Wanqing. You do resemble your grandmother, Old Madam Zeng, somewhat. I met her once when I was very young, and I've never forgotten her. Today, I see her charm in you, hahaha..."
The person immediately compared her to her grandmother, leaving Jiang Wanqing unsure whether it was a compliment or a sarcastic remark.
"You flatter me. I've never met my grandmother, but from what you've said, I realize I'm still a long way from her."
"Hey... don't say that. Xueyun told me you took the college entrance exam and even visited Professor Xue at Huada University. You must have some extraordinary abilities. Come, come, sit down and let's talk slowly."
Guo Xueyun? She knows how to say nice things?
Jiang Wanqing sensed a hidden malice beneath the surface. Just as she was pondering this, Guo Xueyun walked in, carrying several bags.
"Uncle and Aunt, I'm not late, am I?"
"You've come at the right time, Xueyun." Cheng's mother waved to the door.
He didn't show much more affection for her than he did for Jiang Wanqing.
"Cheng Ran and Wan Qing are here too, so you young people have something to say."
"Oh, Wanqing is here too? Didn't you say before that you came to the capital only for yourself? I thought... Ah, sorry, I was just being nosy."
She had almost finished speaking when she pretended to cover her mouth, and in just a few words, she portrayed Jiang Wanqing as selfish and disrespectful to her elders.
Immediately, both elders' eyes fell on her, and Cheng Ran frowned.
"Guo Xueyun!"
Jiang Wanqing tugged at his sleeve, telling him to calm down and not to act impulsively. At this moment, his hasty intervention to stand up for her would only backfire.
“She’s right, I did come to Beijing for my own sake.”
Upon hearing this, the two elders of the Cheng family frowned in unison and exchanged glances.
“We all know that Cheng Ran’s work is special. My dependence on him will not be an aid to him, but only a burden. In order to ensure that he has no worries at home, my first task is of course to take care of myself. For example, I can come to Beijing to see Professor Xue and become a woman who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him as soon as possible.” She said this half-jokingly.
After hearing her words without finding fault, Cheng's mother's expression softened slightly, and her smile became more genuine.
“That’s right. We parents think similarly to Wanqing. Not being a burden to Cheng Ran is the greatest help we can give him.”
“Auntie, you…” Guo Xueyun’s face darkened: “That’s because you don’t know, she’s arrogant and conceited, and has unrealistic ambitions. What kind of person is Professor Xue? If it weren’t for Cheng Ran and the Cheng family, why would he treat her differently!”
"Hmph, I don't have that much influence. You're getting more and more skilled at twisting the truth!" Cheng Ran retorted immediately.
The atmosphere was awkward. Neither of the two elders intended to take sides, but they both looked at Jiang Wanqing.
"We watched Xueyun grow up. Wanqing, is there some misunderstanding between you and her?"
Hearing a seemingly fair statement that was full of bias, Cheng Ran walked up to Jiang Wanqing.
He glanced at Guo Xueyun, then said to Cheng's father, "The past twenty years have been enough for you to watch a person grow up, and the next twenty years will also be enough for you to see a person's true character. Why don't you give it a try?"
"Cheng Ran, how could you say that to me?"
Being belittled to nothing by the person she liked, Guo Xueyun felt not only anger but also humiliation, and she attributed all of this to Jiang Wanqing!
"Alright, alright, stop arguing. No one is wrong. Xueyun, calm down. Wanqing won't stoop to your level. She's Cheng Ran's wife, and it's only right for a husband to protect his wife."
If it were Jiang Wanqing from her previous life, she would definitely think that Cheng's mother was excellent, impartial and unbiased, but in reality, she was punishing both sides equally, and incidentally turning her unreasonable situation into a reasonable one.
She raised an eyebrow slightly, not intending to swallow her anger, and looked up at Cheng's mother.
"Since you two have a good relationship with Professor Xue, and he's willing to give you face, Comrade Xueyun must have received a lot of help from him at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, right? Professor Xue said in his letter that he would be leading an interdisciplinary research project in the new semester. I'm sure Comrade Xueyun has received that news, hasn't she?"
"I...of course I know!"
Guo Xueyun blushed, quickly suppressing her embarrassment, and then changed the subject.
"You should worry about yourself first. A Hua University acceptance letter isn't easy to get. We look forward to hearing good news from you in the spring!" Her pupils contracted fiercely.
"Stop talking. You two are at each other's throats. Don't you plan to see each other again?" Cheng's mother pulled them apart.
"Auntie, it's definitely her..."
Guo Xueyun wanted to argue, but Cheng's mother nudged her.
"Go to the backyard and water the flowers for me."
"I……"
"Go quickly! When did you become so insensible?" Cheng's mother gave her a look, which was a way of giving her a way out.
She turned around angrily and went to the backyard, glaring fiercely at Jiang Wanqing...
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