Chapter 65
On the 28th day of the 12th lunar month, Jincheng welcomed another snowfall since the beginning of winter. The flakes were small, delicate, and like icing sugar, they silently blanketed the roofs of old residential areas, the bare branches of trees, and the narrow streets, adorning this small northern city in a blanket of silver. The festive atmosphere of the New Year grew even stronger in the chill air.
Xia Wan and Jiang Yu returned two days early. Zhou Wenjuan had already tidied the house, leaving it spotless. The balcony was hung with bacon and sausages, and the kitchen wafted with the rich aroma of fried food and stewed meats. Every corner was filled with the bustle and anticipation of welcoming the New Year.
However, unlike previous years, this year this family will welcome several extremely special guests - Jiang Yu's parents will fly back from abroad and make a special trip to Jincheng to meet with Zhou Wenjuan to discuss the marriage of their two children.
Zhou Wenjuan was delighted by the news, but also a bit nervous. She repeatedly checked the hygiene of her home, carefully considered the menu, and even got a hair perm and bought a brand new dark red coat. She wanted to appear festive, but was also afraid of being too formal and making the other person feel uncomfortable.
"Mom, don't work so hard. Just eat some home-cooked meals. They are not that particular." Xia Wan looked at her mother's busy figure and couldn't help but persuade her.
"How can that be!" Zhou Wenjuan glared at her. "This is our first official meeting, and we're discussing something important. How can we be so casual?" She paused and lowered her voice. "Xiao Jiang's parents... have both seen the world. We can't be careless."
In contrast, Xia Wan seemed much calmer. She trusted Jiang Yu and believed their relationship was strong enough to withstand any differences in family backgrounds. Furthermore, after the coverage and awards at the previous charity dinner, she already had a strong impression in Jiang's mother's mind.
On the afternoon of the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the snow had stopped, but the sky remained gloomy. Jiang Yu drove Xia Wan to Jinzhou International Airport to pick her up. Along the way, Xia Wan could feel Jiang Yu's grip on the steering wheel tightening more than usual. Although he appeared calm, she knew he wasn't entirely calm inside. This was, after all, the first time his parents had officially met her family, and it held special significance.
After waiting for about half an hour at the international arrival exit, I finally saw Jiang Yu's parents.
Jiang's father, dressed in a fine dark gray cashmere coat and gold-rimmed glasses, exuded a refined and calm demeanor. His expression bore a resemblance to Jiang Yu, but with a touch of age-honored dignity. Jiang's mother, meanwhile, wore an elegant, long, light brown down jacket and a Hermès scarf. Her makeup was exquisite, her hair meticulously tied back. Though slightly fatigued from the long flight, she still exuded the artist's noble aura and the detached air of a life of luxury.
"Dad, Mom." Jiang Yu stepped forward and took the small piece of luggage from his father's hand.
"Uncle, aunt, thank you for your hard work along the way." Xia Wan also walked forward, greeted with a smile, and had a generous attitude.
Jiang's mother's gaze lingered on Xia Wan for a few seconds. Compared to her previous appearances in videos and photos, the girl before her was even more beautiful and gentle, her eyes clear and open, without a trace of timidity or flattery. She nodded, a gentle smile on her face. "It's okay, I slept for a while on the plane. Xia Wan, why do you look thinner than before? Did Jiang Yu bully you?"
"Aunt, no." Xia Wan nodded slightly.
"Mom, how could I bully her? It's good enough that she doesn't bully me." Jiang Yu took the suitcase, and Xia Wan glared at him secretly.
Father Jiang also looked at Xia Wan, his eyes scrutinizing but not sharp, and his tone calm: "I often hear Xiaoyu mention you. You are young and promising, not bad."
After a brief greeting, the group boarded the car and headed back to Jincheng. Jiang Yu drove, while his father sat in the passenger seat, occasionally asking about the Jinzhou company and the domestic economy. Xia Wan and Jiang's mother sat in the back seat. Initially quiet, Xia Wan took the initiative to bring up topics about Jincheng's customs and New Year's traditions, speaking naturally. Jiang's mother listened patiently, occasionally responding.
The atmosphere was not very warm, but at least it maintained a superficial harmony and politeness.
When the car drove into the old residential area, Jiang's mother looked at the mottled walls and the narrow passage covered with snow outside the window, and frowned slightly, but soon returned to normal.
Zhou Wenjuan was already waiting downstairs, wearing her new coat and a nervous yet enthusiastic smile. When she saw the car pull up, she hurried over to greet us.
"Oh, father-in-law, mother-in-law, you must have worked hard on the way. Come on, come upstairs and warm up!" Zhou Wenjuan's address made Xia Wan's cheeks slightly hot. Jiang's mother seemed to be stunned for a moment, but she quickly responded politely: "Sister Zhou, you are too polite. Sorry to bother you."
The group went upstairs. The small living room seemed a little crowded with the sudden arrival of several people, but the warm air and the aroma of food quickly dispelled the unfamiliar feeling. Zhou Wenjuan bustled around, pouring tea, serving fruit, and setting out snacks, her enthusiasm almost overwhelming.
Jiang's father and mother sat on an old fabric sofa, their posture still maintaining their usual elegance, but their eyes also revealed a little curiosity about this world that was completely different from their lives and... perhaps an effort to restrain their adaptation.
At this moment, the sound of keys turning came from outside the door, followed by a vibrant young man's voice: "Mom! Sister! I'm back! I'm starving!"
Before he could finish his words, a tall, muscular boy in a blue down jacket, a gray scarf, and a close-cropped hairline rushed in, bringing a gust of cold air from outside. It was Xia Wan's younger brother, Xia Yang. He was working on a project with his master in Shanghai and had just returned today for the Lunar New Year celebrations.
As Xia Yang entered, he saw two middle-aged men and women sitting in the living room, both of whom looked out of place in this home. Next to them sat his sister and...his future brother-in-law, whom he had only seen a few times in videos. He was stunned for a moment, then a bright, innocent smile spread across his face.
"Hey! This is Brother Jiang Yu, right? And uncle and aunt, right? Hello! I'm Xia Yang!" He spoke in a loud voice and quickly took off his coat and scarf, revealing a sweatshirt with cartoon patterns underneath. He walked in front of Jiang Yu in a few steps and extended his hand without any awkwardness. "Brother-in-law! I finally see her alive! My sister was hiding so well!"
The natural "brother-in-law" softened Jiang Yu's stern expression. He stood up, shook hands with Xia Yang vigorously, and smiled slightly: "Hello, Xia Yang, I often hear your sister mention you."
"You're definitely not saying anything good about me!" Xia Yang grinned, then turned to Jiang's father and mother and bowed politely, "Hello, uncle and aunt! Welcome to Jincheng for the New Year!"
Father Jiang looked at the energetic young man with clear eyes and smiled for the first time today. "Hello, Xia Yang, you are a very energetic young man."
Jiang's mother was also infected by Xia Yang's youthful energy and unpretentious enthusiasm. The lines on her face softened a lot and she nodded slightly: "Hello."
Xia Yang's appearance was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, instantly shattering the delicate, slightly restrained atmosphere. He sat down on a stool next to Jiang Yu with a familiar air and began chattering about his own interesting experiences at the Hucheng construction site, complaining about his harsh master, and asking about Jiang Yu's company's business, expressing his curiosity about everything.
Zhou Wenjuan looked at her youngest son's disrespectful behavior and was afraid that he would get into trouble, so she winked at her repeatedly, but Xia Yang was completely unaware, or didn't care at all.
"Brother Jiang Yu," Xia Yang suddenly moved closer to Jiang Yu and lowered his voice, but with his volume, everyone in the living room could actually hear him, "How did you and my sister... get together? Were you the one who pursued her? When my sister was in high school, many boys secretly liked her, but she was very picky and didn't like any of them. So she kept writing in a locked diary every day, so secretive that she wouldn't even let me see it..."
"Xia Yang!" Xia Wan's face flushed instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Embarrassed and anxious, she screamed to stop him, wishing she could cover his mouth. That light blue diary with a lock had been the most secret corner of her entire youth, hiding all her thoughts about Jiang Yu. She had never imagined that in this way, in such a setting, a corner would be suddenly revealed by this outspoken brother!
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu turned his head to look at Xia Wan, whose cheeks were flushed and her eyes were evasive. A complex light flashed across his deep eyes—surprise, understanding, indescribable heartache, and a belated throbbing and tenderness that surged like a tide. So, that diary... did it record such a long time?
He reached out and gently grasped Xia Wan's hand, which was slightly curled up due to nervousness, under the table. His fingertips rubbed the back of her hand soothingly, as if to say, "Don't be afraid, I know."
Xia Yang looked at his sister's flushed face and Jiang Yu's subconscious protective gesture, as if he had discovered a new world. His eyes widened and he spoke in a long voice as if he suddenly realized something: "Oh - I understand! No wonder he read the diary so closely! It turns out..."
"Xia! Yang!" Xia Wan almost squeezed out these two words from between her teeth, her eyes full of the threat of "If you dare to say another word, I will fight you."
Xia Yang shrank his neck and made a gesture as if he was zipping up his mouth, but he couldn't hide the mischievous and complacent smile on his face.
Jiang's mother took in the entire scene. She looked at her son tightly grasping Xia Wan's hand, at Xia Wan's embarrassed yet unconcealed happiness, then at her youngest son's sly expression, a look of "I've discovered a big secret." The corners of her lips, which had been tense until then, finally curved upward, almost imperceptibly. This home, though small and ordinary, held a sense of life she had long missed, a vibrant and warm atmosphere. And the episode about the "diary" seemed to give her a more concrete and touching understanding of the depth of the relationship between Xia Wan and her son.
Although Zhou Wenjuan didn't fully understand the secret of the "diary," seeing Jiang Yu defending his daughter and her mother-in-law not looking displeased, she felt relieved and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, Yangyang, stop messing around! Come on, help bring the dishes over, it's time to eat! I've cooked all my signature dishes today!"
The small restaurant suddenly became even more lively. Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and snowflakes began to fall quietly. Inside, the lights were warm, the aroma of food wafted in the air, and a formal meeting between two families, about a future marriage, was about to unfold, amidst the rich atmosphere of the New Year and a few dramatic interludes.
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