Chapter 45
◎As soon as the sun rose, Xu Huiqiu served white porridge, fermented tofu and boiled eggs on the table.
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As soon as the sun rose, Xu Huiqiu brought white porridge, fermented tofu and boiled eggs to the table.
She set the table and dishes, then raised her voice and called out, "Hurry up, you two, father and son."
Xu Zeli came out from the inner room with his messy hair, yawning and saying, "Mom, is it necessary to come so early?"
Xu Huiqiu scooped out some white porridge for everyone, but without even sitting down to eat, she went to sort out the gifts, which she had counted countless times.
She turned around and glanced at Xu Zeli, urging him, "Why not? Go wash your face and brush your teeth."
After she finished speaking, she continued to mutter, "A bottle of Wuliangye, a bottle of Maotai, two packs of Daqianmen, two bags of White Rabbit candy, two boxes of butterfly cakes, two cans of malted milk, and two bunches of bananas."
As Xu Huiqiu spoke, her heart began to ache again. Bei Bitang was indeed a troublemaker! And Zeng Linlin, her future daughter-in-law, was no easy task either!
The two of them had a quarrel over jealousy, and they wanted me to pay to settle it.
Xu Huiqiu thought about it and consoled herself: this was a good thing, as it showed her son was popular. She would have the confidence to confront Zeng Linlin and ask her to consider her son's intentions. Her son wasn't unwanted; there were plenty of young women waiting for him.
It turned out that the driver reported what Zeng Linlin had done in the small vegetable market that day to her father.
Zeng Linlin's father was furious when he heard this. He thought his daughter had lost her sense and manners. She had gone to a place she was unfamiliar with and had never set foot in to cause trouble for a man, and had failed.
He told this to his ex-wife, Liu Hezhen. They both felt that their daughter cared too much about Xu Zeli, and Xu Zeli was not a pushover, always looking for more.
The marriage couldn't be changed, but I felt like giving Xu Zeli and his parents a warning. Let them know that they were not to be trifled with, and that they shouldn't think of using the same tactics they had used on Bei Bitang on Zeng Linlin.
Zeng Linlin's father called East China Normal University directly and asked for a week's leave for Zeng Linlin.
Xu Zeli couldn't find Zeng Linlin at school. When he asked Zeng Linlin's roommate, she didn't know anything. He didn't dare to just go to Zeng Linlin's house. After hesitating for two days, he finally called Zeng Linlin's home phone.
It was Liu Hezhen who answered the phone. She wasn't polite to Xu Zeli, her future son-in-law, whom she had always despised. She sarcastically mocked Xu Zeli for playing both sides and not fearing drowning in the river.
Liu Hezhen wasn't stupid enough to tell Xu Zeli about Zeng Linlin's stupid behavior when she went to his ex-girlfriend's workplace. She just indirectly told Xu Zeli that she and Zeng Linlin's father already knew about what he had been hiding.
Xu Zeli was in the wrong, unethical, and, more seriously, a marriage fraud. Therefore, the Xu family had to apologize in order for the marriage to proceed.
This led to what happened this morning. The Xu family prepared the largest gift they could afford and went to Zeng Linlin's house to apologize.
After having breakfast, Xu Zeli and his family of three took five buses before arriving at Zeng Linlin's house.
Xu Zhengqing looked up at the sky, it seemed that the sky here was bluer than the sky at his home.
Turning around again, I saw the limestone bricks, red walls, Wutong Road, black iron gates, and white roofs, everything was shining. It was indeed an area that Shanghai people yearned for.
Xiaoze was sure to go to the right university. If they hadn't been in the same university and class, Xiaoze and someone from a family like Zeng Linlin would have had no chance of ever meeting each other, Xu Zhengqing thought to himself.
The courtyard gate was open, but the door to the house was closed.
The three of them looked at each other. After a while, Xu Zeli raised his hand and knocked on the door.
No one came to open the door immediately, so Xu Zeli knocked on the hard wood for a long time, until his fingers turned red, which made Xu Huiqiu feel distressed.
Xu Zeli frowned slightly as he looked at the silent door. The door was probably more than two meters high and wide enough for a small car to drive in. He even doubted that anyone from inside could hear the knocking.
With a creak, the door opened like a huge oil tanker. The nanny came to open the door and stepped aside to let Xu Zeli and others in.
As the nanny brought them slippers, she said in a calm tone, "There's a doorbell on the stone wall next to them."
When the nanny spoke, she didn't even look at any of Xu Zeli and the others.
Xu Zeli and the other two blushed suddenly, feeling half ashamed and half angry.
After changing their shoes and entering the living room, the nanny pointed to the small sofa and asked them to sit down. She didn't ask them what they wanted to drink, but poured them tea directly.
Zeng Linlin and her family were not seen in the living room.
Xu Zhengqing sat on the soft sofa with his hands and feet tied, looking at Xu Zeli for help.
Xu Zeli frowned, then quickly relaxed his brows. He looked up at the nanny and asked, "Comrade, Lin..."
Before he could finish his words, a woman wearing a black ruffled nightgown, with disheveled hair and dark red lipstick, stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor.
The woman looked to be in her early thirties. She looked down at the living room on the first floor and said lightly, "Oh, everyone is here."
Both are mothers, and Liu Hezhen is even nearly ten years older than Xu Huiqiu, yet they look like two generations apart. Liu Hezhen not only looks youthful, but also has smooth, firm skin and a slender figure. She's not only beautiful, but also possesses an aura that can cut through anyone.
The nanny changed her cold expression, smiled sincerely, looked up and said, "Ms. Liu, you are up."
Liu Hezhen said "hmm" softly, and this sound was full of twists and turns.
She walked down the stairs slowly and leisurely.
Xu Huiqiu glanced at Xu Zeli, then at Xu Zhengqing, and muttered softly, "You old witch, you have no shame."
The nanny hurried into the tea room and made Liu Hezhen a cup of her favorite Earl Grey tea.
Liu Hezhen sat down, took the ladies' cigarettes and lighter on the coffee table, and without hesitation, lit a long cigarette in front of Xu Zeli and others, holding it between his fingertips.
No one present spoke first, so the nanny had to make the introduction. She said to Xu Zeli and the other two, "This is about Linlin's mother, Ms. Liu Hezhen."
Liu Hezhen took a puff of his cigarette, exhaled, and through the smoke, his eyes fell on Xu Zeli without weight.
Xu Zeli felt a little uneasy. This was the first time he met Zeng Linlin's mother. He had never expected her to be such a person.
According to Zeng Linlin's description, in his mind, Liu Hezhen should be snobbish and arrogant, but like Zeng Linlin, he is easy to coax and is a paper tiger.
Liu Hezhen should be a middle-aged version of Zeng Linlin. Now it seems that he took it for granted.
She is also a woman, living alone in the UK, and making a lot of money back home. How could she be like those wives of leaders who hold idle positions?
This was definitely a difficult mother-in-law. Xu Zeli sat upright, showing a warm smile and greeting Liu Hezhen. He said, "Hello, Auntie, where is Linlin?"
Is this for reinforcements? Liu Hezhen chuckled, looked at Xu Huiqiu, and said lightly, "Linlin hasn't gotten up yet at this time. Linlin has loved sleeping in since she was a child."
Seeing that Xu Huiqiu didn't respond, Xu Zhengqing next to her quickly nudged her with his elbow.
Xu Huiqiu forced a stiff smile and said reluctantly, "It's good for girls to get more sleep. Don't worry, Mommy Linlin, when Linlin marries into our family, I won't disturb her from sleeping in."
Liu Hezhen was a little unhappy. What do you mean by sleeping in? She said that it was okay for her own children to sleep in, but others couldn't say anything. Besides, when she saw the family of three, she felt like asking for it.
Liu Hezhen raised her hands and stretched lazily. She said indifferently, "What do you mean by marrying in? Marrying out? We don't have that concept in our family. It's two children getting married, not two families marrying each other."
How could this be possible? Xu Huiqiu opened her mouth to retort.
Xu Zhengqing spoke first, "What Linlin's mother said makes sense. You only have one child, and mine only has Xiaoze. If we follow the traditional wedding and funeral arrangements, the in-laws will be at a great disadvantage."
After hearing what Xu Zhengqing said, Liu Hezhen did not show any satisfaction on his face.
Seeing this, Xu Huiqiu pointed to the gift on the coffee table and said with a smile: "Mother Linlin, this is a small token of our sincerity. Let me tell you, this wine is..."
Xu Huiqiu wanted to tell Liu Hezhen how much effort she had put into preparing these cigarettes, alcohol, sugar and tea so that he could feel their sincerity.
But Liu Hezhen interrupted and said, "Okay, don't say any more. Since the gift is so difficult to get, just take it back later."
Xu Huiqiu's words came to an abrupt halt, her expression a pause. Xu Zhengqing's face turned ashen, and Xu Zeli gritted his teeth.
Xu Zhengqing's forehead was tense, and he asked stiffly, "Linlin's mother, where is Linlin's father?"
If his father-in-law were around, Liu Hezhen, a woman, wouldn't have the chance to talk too much. Besides, men are more generous and less fussy, so it would be easier for him to talk to his father-in-law.
Zeng Linlin's father was not easy to talk to. He originally wanted to take action against the Xu family, but was persuaded by Liu Hezhen in order not to lay a big hazard for his daughter's future marriage.
The nanny replied, "Comrade Zeng went to Nanjing on a business trip."
Liu Hezhen said directly: "Leave all the wedding matters to me. Linlin's father has no say in it. Now, let's get down to business and talk about the wedding."
Xu Huiqiu smiled, touched her temples, and said, "Mother Linlin, we are not as knowledgeable as you, so you have to take care of the wedding. We all remember your kindness, and we want Xiaoze to be more filial to you as his mother-in-law."
It wasn't that she didn't want to arrange her only child's wedding, but she had exhausted herself with all the details of the first wedding plan, and she hadn't expected it to be so troublesome now.
The most crucial thing was money. If she was asked to do it, she would have to pay. Liu Hezhen took on the entire task and the entire payment. All he had to do was say a few words of thanks and he was off. It was such a bargain.
Liu Hezhen sneered, looking disdainfully at the gift Xu Huiqiu had brought on the coffee table, and asked contemptuously, "Is this your attitude towards apology?"
Xu Zeli and the other two were completely bewildered. Wasn't an apology enough? What else did they want from them?
Liu Hezhen had a sneer on her face. She said, "I thought that a family that could raise a college student must also be smart. It seems that I was wrong."
After being ignored for so long, Xu Zhengqing was a little angry. He said angrily, "Linlin's mother, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Don't be so sarcastic."
Liu Hezhen bent down, flicking ashes into the crystal ashtray while saying, "I thought I was rich. I only have a precious daughter like Linlin. I'll take care of everything for the wedding. You don't have to worry about anything."
"But after knowing that your son has a girlfriend and is pursuing Linlin, I can't worry about the money and wedding alone. If you don't put in any effort, how can you value our Linlin in the future?"
As he spoke, Liu Hezhen looked directly at Xu Zhengqing and continued without allowing any objection, "So, no matter what aspect of this wedding, our two families must share it equally. This is fair."
Xu Huiqiu's voice nearly broke with anxiety. She shouted at Liu Hezhen, "How could you go back on your word? We already agreed on this!"
Liu Hezhen ignored her and said coldly: "From what you said, you don't have the ability or psychological preparation to become relatives with our family.
Xu Zhengqing clenched his fists, his face heavy, and said, "You are being so disrespectful."
Liu Hezhen asked in return: "Then did your son respect our family by doing this?"
Xu Huiqiu took a deep breath and said calmly, "Mother Linlin, I'm not familiar with the entire wedding process. If I were to take over half of it, I'm afraid the wedding wouldn't go on as scheduled. How would I explain this to my relatives and friends? I'd have to make changes all the time."
Liu Hezhen said firmly, "Anyway, our family is easy to explain. It's up to you."
Xu Huiqiu was choked by her words and almost couldn't breathe.
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