Chapter Sixty-Five: A Blessing in Disguise
I took two days off to stay with Chu Zhen. Seeing that he was recovering well in all aspects, I went back to work at the newspaper. Every day after get off work, I went straight to the hospital. Chu Zhen asked me not to tell anyone, and I respected his wishes, so I didn't say anything. Xiao Ai would deliver breakfast and lunch to him regularly. In the evening, I would go to have dinner with him and then clean him up. Chu Zhen is very clean and cleans himself every day. I was worried that he would aggravate his wounds.
Chu Zhen was in good physical condition and was discharged from the hospital after only half a month. He treated himself and me completely differently. He went to work the day after he was discharged, unlike when I twisted my ankle and was forced to stay at home for more than a month.
I'm a little worried about him, so now I drive him to his workplace and then go to the newspaper office. Luckily, the newspaper office and the TV station aren't far apart. Because of his health, he's temporarily handing over the night interviews to other colleagues, so we've had a lot more time together. Chu Zhen says this is a blessing in disguise, but I scold him, saying I can't handle such a blessing.
After more than a month, Chu Zhen was back to his energetic self. It just so happened to be the May Day holiday. We had originally planned to interview social workers, but Xiao Ai felt guilty and volunteered to take on the interview task instead. So we took advantage of the holiday to go back to City B.
Actually, I had hinted to my parents beforehand that I was bringing my boyfriend to meet them this time, and it was someone they knew well. My parents didn't ask any questions, so they probably already knew. I understand my parents; they know I'm a sensible person. They won't interfere with my decisions or the person I want to marry. It's just that Chu Zhen is very nervous and has been preparing gifts for the past few days.
"Lin Dang, do you think your parents will be as enthusiastic as before?" This was my first time driving a long distance, and Chu Zhen kept asking me questions, which annoyed me.
"You're really good at winning over the elders; didn't you have them all wrapped around your little finger before?"
"But if we are separated for a period of time, our parents will definitely feel uneasy about it."
"That's your own fault. Don't bother me, I'm driving." I really can't do two things at once, there are only two of us in this car, me and Chu Zhen.
Chu Zhen noticed I was nervous, so he stopped talking and focused on instructing me on how to drive and how to accelerate. What should have been a one-hour drive took me almost two hours. Thankfully, I arrived home safely.
"Mom and Dad, I'm home!" As I entered the house, I saw my dear parents. Since I started teaching in the rural area, I've rarely seen them. And another thing, and most importantly, is that whenever I come home, I'm met with a barrage of pressure to get married. Although my parents always say it's up to me, coincidentally, every time I come back, there's always an aunt or maternal aunt there, subtly reminding me that I'm not getting any younger and it's time to find someone to settle down with.
"Uncle, Auntie~" Chu Zhen seemed a little shy today, carrying large and small bags in his hands. His mother glanced at them and responded. His father took the things from Chu Zhen's hands and led him to the living room.
"Let's go to a restaurant for dinner today. Your uncle knows you're back and he's treating you to a meal." Mom's tone was indifferent, even a little unsettling.
"Oh, Mom, this is the medicinal wine Chu Zhen bought for you. Your shoulder bones have been hurting a lot lately, right? This can soothe the nerves and improve blood circulation, which will be very helpful for your shoulder." I quickly tried to curry favor with my mother. Even though my household registration book was with me, I didn't want to secretly get the marriage certificate. Chu Zhen was right; marriage needs the blessing of parents.
"Thank you, that's kind of you!" It meant he appreciated the gesture, but his tone was still somewhat dismissive.
"Come on, Xiao Chu, I just brewed some tea, have a taste~" Dad was so helpful, easing the tense atmosphere.
"Thank you, Uncle!" Chu Zhen sat down somewhat awkwardly, completely unlike before.
"He seems to have lost a lot of weight, and his complexion isn't as good as before," Dad said, glancing at Chu Zhen. Since Chu Zhen was hospitalized, although I've been adjusting his diet, there's really not much I can do, and Chu Zhen has indeed lost quite a bit of weight during this time.
"I've been quite busy with work lately, and my eating habits haven't been very regular."
"You can't just focus on work; your health comes first. How can you take care of others if you don't have a healthy body?" Mom suddenly said. On the surface, her words had a hidden meaning, but she was also worried about Chu Zhen. Later, Mom told me that she noticed a lot of changes in Chu Zhen from the moment he walked in the door.
After chatting for a while, my uncle called and asked us to go to a restaurant. I breathed a sigh of relief, at least when there were many people, my mother wouldn't be too dissatisfied with Chu Zhen.
The restaurant we booked was one that was quite characteristic of City B. Actually, City A and City B aren't far apart, and their cuisines are similar, but there are still differences in taste. The food in City A tends to be sweeter, while the food in City B is lighter. Luckily, Chu Zhen also prefers lighter flavors.
Everyone was happy about Chu Zhen's arrival. My mother's gloomy face disappeared, and she accepted the relatives' praise for Chu Zhen with a smile. However, everyone felt sorry for us, as we were both getting thinner and thinner.
Chu Zhen said he wasn't sure if he had lost weight or not, but I was really too thin, and he was determined to fatten me up before the wedding.
"Chu Zhen, how did you two break up?" My aunt really knows how to bring up the most sensitive topics.
"It's my fault. I'm going to teach in a rural area, so I broke up with him." I quickly came up with an excuse. If Chu Zhen were to answer, I don't know how he would respond.
“Silly child, are you worried that Chu Zhen won’t be able to wait? From the first time I met Chu Zhen, I knew that he was a rare good man. Don’t say that he will wait for two years, even if it is twenty years, he will definitely wait for you.”
"It's my fault, it has nothing to do with Lin Dang." Chu Zhen suddenly stood up, holding a wine glass in her hand. "I'm sorry, uncles and aunts, all my aunts and uncles. Three years ago, because of my own pride, I missed Lin Dang, which led to Lin Dang going to teach in a rural area for two years. I have been working hard these past few years. I thank Lin Dang for forgiving me. Today, everyone is here, and I promise you that I will never let Lin Dang down in the future. I will do everything I can to be good to Lin Dang. You can all be my witnesses~" After saying that, Chu Zhen drank it all in one gulp.
"Child, you can't drink so fast, it'll hurt your stomach~" The mother was probably moved by Chu Zhen's words, or perhaps she had never blamed Chu Zhen in the first place.
"Auntie, I love Lin Dang. I came here today to get your permission."
If I hadn't just had a drink, I would have really thought he was just talking nonsense while drunk.
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