28. Meeting the parents?
Fang Shuning had something to do today and needed to go to the city. She thought it would be a good opportunity to go home. She hadn't been home since returning to Xitang. Besides, she hadn't told her family about the cannery.
Although Fang Shuning doesn't consult her family before making decisions, this is Xitang Village after all, so it's necessary to inform them first. Even though Jianhua may have already heard something from her close friends, it's a different story whether Jianhua asks her directly or she asks herself.
However, Fang Shuning glanced at Song Jiuchen sitting in the driver's seat and sighed inwardly. It would indeed be more convenient for Song Jiuchen to take her when going to the Industry and Commerce Bureau, the Market Supervision Administration, and other similar places. But she wondered how to settle him down when they got home.
I figured I wouldn't be here for just a few minutes, and it wouldn't be appropriate to keep people waiting in the car.
Why don't we invite him up for a seat?
No, given Jianhua's temper, he might ask all sorts of random questions.
So, should we make them wait outside?
That won't work either. What if her dad invites her to stay for dinner? That would take too long.
The struggle between the left and right hemispheres of the brain is so annoying! Why do people have so many worries all day long? It's so irritating.
Things were progressing much more smoothly than Fang Shuning had anticipated; she had visited two departments by the end of the morning. She planned to visit two more in the afternoon.
With things progressing so smoothly, Fang Shuning was in an exceptionally good mood.
Song Jiuchen suggested they find a place to have lunch; he knew a small restaurant that was quite good. Then they could go back to the car to rest for a bit and continue in the afternoon.
Fang Shuning refused, then said, "I know a place that's pretty good, and it doesn't cost any money. Come with me."
Free of charge?
Where would you find such a good thing?
Until Fang Shuning led Song Jiuchen to a residential building.
"Opening a restaurant in a residential building? Isn't that against regulations? And wouldn't it pose a safety hazard?" Song Jiuchen's question immediately revealed the truth.
Fang Shuning didn't want to answer him, only saying "Follow me." Then she walked inside without looking back.
Fang Shuning knocked on the door and waited for a while before Fang Linhai opened it. He was surprised for a moment when he saw Fang Shuning. Then a smile bloomed on his face, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes gathered together.
Fang Shuning then realized that Fang Linhai had really gotten old.
"I went into town on business and came back to visit. Where's my mom?"
Fang Linhai didn't answer, but looked at Song Jiuchen at the door. He looked familiar, but he just couldn't remember who he was. "This is?"
"Oh, right, this is our village secretary. It's easy to get things done with him, isn't it? Hey, Dad, could you cook a couple of dishes for him?"
"Oh, it's Secretary Song! I knew you looked familiar, but I just couldn't remember where I'd seen you before. Oh, alright, I'll be right there." He gestured for Secretary Song to come in and sit down, then turned and went into the kitchen.
But why isn't Jianhua home?
Song Jiuchen suddenly became uneasy. He hadn't prepared at all, and had even come to Fang Shuning's house empty-handed. Her elders were still there, and he had come to eat empty-handed. How rude of him!
How about we go buy something and come back?
Song Jiuchen sat on the sofa in an extremely restless state.
"What's wrong? Is your butt itchy?"
"You did say you were coming to my house for dinner, so it's not right for me to come empty-handed. How about I go out and buy something?"
"Why bother? It's not like I'm meeting my mother-in-law."
Fang Shuning is really good at chatting; she's killed off the conversation again.
Fang Shuning, lounging casually on the sofa, and Song Jiuchen, sitting stiffly and formally on the sofa, were the two sights Jianhua saw when he entered the room.
"I went to your sister's house, why didn't you say anything when you came back? You sit and stand all day long without any manners, how can a young lady be like this?" Jianhua was good at changing her expression. One moment she finished talking about Fang Shuning, and the next she was grinning and greeting Song Jiuchen, "You must be Secretary Song, right? I've heard that Secretary Song is young and promising, and handsome. Seeing you today, I can say that seeing is believing."
Song Jiuchen's face visibly flushed red. What should our Secretary Song say in response?
"Well, Secretary Song, please have a seat. I'll go check on how Old Fang's cooking is going."
It seemed that only after Jianhua left did Song Jiuchen dare to breathe. He took a few deep breaths before he finally caught his breath.
Fang Shuning thoughtfully handed her a glass of water. "Sorry, my mom, well, how should I put it, she's a chatterbox, talks a lot, is noisy, and has a loud voice. But she's a really nice person. Just ignore what she says and treat it as nonsense."
Fang Shuning was used to Jianhua's outspokenness and kindly reminded Song Jiuchen.
What is our Secretary Song supposed to do?
Dinner is finally served.
Fang Linhai spoke first, "Secretary Song, your arrival is quite sudden. There's not much food at home, so please make do with lunch for now. I'll go buy some groceries this afternoon and prepare a proper meal for you tonight."
Song Jiuchen: Huh? There's more tonight? He could only give Fang Shuning a meaningful look, but Fang Shuning pretended not to see anything. It was just dinner.
Song Jiuchen had no choice but to make small talk. Fortunately, Lao Fang knew that the two of them had important business to attend to in the afternoon and didn't try to get him to drink.
Jianhua, however, felt a sense of liking for his future son-in-law more and more, like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law. He couldn't help but blurt out, "I heard from the villagers that you two are dating."
Before he could even swallow a mouthful of soup, Song Jiuchen nearly choked. Wait, how did the news get to Jianhua's ears?
Fang Shuning, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, with an expression that suggested she had expected this. It was no surprise that Jianhua also knew about her going back to open the cannery, but he had remained remarkably composed, not asking a single question after all this time.
Jianhua has really improved.
"No, Auntie, we didn't," Song Jiuchen hurriedly explained, afraid that Fang Shuning would think he had spread a rumor.
"Auntie understands. You young people are too embarrassed to say it. But what's there to be embarrassed about? When I was your age, I had already given birth to her older sister."
Fang Shuning neither explained nor refuted. Song Jiuchen was speechless; he was truly in a situation where he couldn't clear his name no matter what.
"Eat, Secretary Song, eat quickly, don't be shy." Fang Linhai still warmly urged Song Jiuchen to eat. However, Song Jiuchen found it difficult to swallow.
This is even more terrifying than the Feast at Hongmen.
The door opened and a person entered. The four looked over, but Song Jiuchen didn't recognize the person; it was Fang Shuyi.
"Why are you here? Aren't you at work?" Jianhua asked.
"I rushed as fast as I could and finally made it. Didn't they say Fang Shuning brought her boyfriend home? How could I not come back to join in the fun? Um, Zhou Yang said I can't leave tonight, he hasn't seen him yet."
Zhou Yang, Fang Shuning's brother-in-law.
"Isn't he out of town?" Fang Shuning finally asked.
"We're on our way back."
No, their whole family are masters of humor.
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