Chapter 31 The Terrible Monster During the Rainy Season.
Lin Fei guessed who the woman was.
After all, Liang Yanzhe and his sister's features and facial features bear her resemblance; it's obvious to anyone with eyes that she is the rumored mother.
"Hello." Lin Fei was unsure of the woman's attitude, so he simply greeted her in a friendly manner.
Liang Yanzhe stepped forward promptly: "This is my mother and Xiao Yi's mother."
"Can I call you Mom?" Lin Fei asked bluntly.
As soon as she asked the question, everyone present looked over.
Did I... say something wrong?
The woman took a sip of coffee and smiled slightly: "Yes, that's fine."
“Hello, Mom. My name is Lin Fei. You can just call me Fei.” Lin Fei introduced himself. “I’m 25 years old. My sun sign is Pisces and my rising sign is Taurus. I graduated from Jiangdu University with a bachelor’s degree in history. I currently run a Zhuang brocade intangible cultural heritage shop.”
After Lin Fei finished speaking, he took out the latest brooch he had made from his canvas bag and handed it over: "This is a new product I made recently. It's for Mom. I hope you like it."
The brooches were made by Aunt Ruo herself and they were quite pretty, so Lin Fei took two. The other three were displayed at the cashier. They haven't been put into mass production yet, and each one has a different style and pattern, making them unique.
The one that was given as a gift has a light blue and dark blue double swallow pattern, which is quite versatile and also suitable for formal occasions.
Zhou Hui's eyes widened. Lin Fei's visit didn't seem like a daughter-in-law meeting her mother-in-law; it looked more like a business meeting.
Liang Yanzhe, with his hand still on Lin Fei's back, coughed lightly.
Lin Fei had never met his mother before and didn't know how their family got along, so he couldn't understand what his light cough meant.
Since no one said anything openly, she assumed that there was nothing wrong with what she did.
Ruan Huilin stood up and took it, smiling faintly, "Thank you, that's thoughtful of you."
"I'm glad you like it." Lin Fei hadn't forgotten the snacks in his hand. "Luckily, I bought a lot, so consider it an extra dish for tonight."
Liang Yanzhe took the snack: "I'll take it."
As soon as Lin Fei was free to do his business, Zhou Hui immediately stepped forward: "I forgot to buy groceries, sister-in-law, come on, come with me, I'm not familiar with the area."
Lin Fei was dragged away without even having a chance to sit down and drink some hot water.
The moment the two entered the elevator, Zhou Hui became wary: "Oh no, how am I going to get you out here? We can't leave the three of them in one room!"
“We’re already out, it’s not a good time to go back.” Lin Fei grabbed Zhou Hui. “What’s going on? Why do all three of you look like you’re constipated?”
Zhou Hui: ...
That little mouth of hers seems to be poisoned; the metaphor is far too crude.
Lin Fei sensed something was wrong as soon as she entered the room. She didn't like awkward atmospheres, so she tried to say something to liven things up; she couldn't have all five of them looking so lifeless.
"Aren't you usually quite talkative? You're a top TV host, can't you even liven up the atmosphere?" She was an "e" among "i" people, but essentially still an "i" person. Now, recalling the scene just now, she also felt uncomfortable and rubbed her arms.
If she had to do it again, she probably wouldn't have the courage to say that string of self-introductions.
Zhou Hui sighed, "This isn't something I can salvage by trying to liven things up; the three of them can't get things going."
No matter how much he talks, in the end he'll just be laughing and joking by himself, making him seem like a lunatic.
However, it seems that they will have allies in the future.
"Is their relationship... bad?" Lin Fei wondered. "Is it because Liang Sheng and Xiao Yi are fighting for power, and Mom is just standing by?"
“Stop, this is getting more and more melodramatic,” Zhou Hui said. “My older brother and Xiao Yi were raised by their grandmother. Their father-in-law passed away when they were very young. The Liang family has always been ruled by their grandmother. She thinks their mother-in-law spoils the children too much, so she doesn’t allow her to have long-term contact with them and demands that she return to Jiangdu to settle down. They’re actually only slightly better off than strangers. They meet twice a year, have a meal, and then part ways. Oh, I forgot to mention, she’s from Jiangdu.”
“The three of them aren’t close, right?” Lin Fei finally sorted out their relationship.
Zhou Hui couldn't help but recall their past interactions, taking a deep breath: "Not only were we not familiar with each other, we were very distant."
"We'll get used to it if we spend more time together, it's not a big deal." Lin Fei tucked his head into his cotton coat. "After all, what parent in the world doesn't love their child?"
Zhou Hui recalled that every time Liang Yanyi saw her mother, she would lock herself in her room.
Perhaps... there are things he doesn't know?
While shopping at the supermarket, Lin Fei bought a set of daily necessities, including pajamas.
"Do you want to change it?" Zhou Hui asked, puzzled.
Lin Fei shook his head: "I bought it for Mom, in case she wants to stay overnight."
"Are you sure... you want her to stay overnight?" Zhou Hui didn't dare to ask, and could only respectfully see her off each time.
Lin Fei said indifferently, "Whether she stays or not is her choice. It is my duty as a junior to invite her to stay for one night. I don't know what happened between them, and she didn't throw a tantrum or give Liang Sheng and Xiao Yi a hard time. There's no need to be confrontational, and it won't do us any good."
“You’re right.” Zhou Hui admired Lin Fei; she had a clear understanding of human relationships and social dynamics. He could think about it too, but he couldn’t do it. He was very concerned about Liang Yanyi’s reaction.
When they got home, the three of them watched TV in the living room and didn't talk much.
Even after the two entered the house, Liang Yanyi took the initiative to stand up and offer to help Zhou Hui, eager to leave the living room.
Lin Fei sat down in her original seat.
Lin Fei treated Ruan Huilin as an elder; they were both locals from Jiangdu, so they weren't worried about running out of things to talk about.
The atmosphere gradually warmed up and wasn't as dead as before.
"You said the Zhuang brocade was embroidered by your grandmother?" Ruan Huilin asked.
Lin Fei sat down beside her, took the brooch, and explained the craftsmanship to her: "This is a double swallow pattern. Zhuang brocade is woven using a warp and weft technique, with hemp thread as the warp and the weft thread interwoven in a plain weave. It's not embroidered, so the pattern is a rather abstract geometric design. Let me show you how to interpret it. The diamond shape in front is the goose's head, the letter M-like shape represents the goose's wings and body, and the less than sign shape below is the goose's tail. The two geese are facing each other, hence the name 'double swallows.' We can embroider flowers, coins, or various auspicious symbols between the two geese, and the implied meanings will vary. A coin represents the double swallows bringing wealth, while a flower represents the double swallows bringing blessings."
Ruan Huilin listened intently, her gaze occasionally falling on Lin Fei, her smile deepening.
"The brooch is made of silver using Miao ethnic craftsmanship; it's all handmade." Lin Fei placed it on Ruan Huilin's chest. "Mom, if you wear it, it will definitely attract attention."
Liang Yanzhe, who was standing next to him, chuckled softly.
Lin Fei's gaze turned stern as he looked over, and he said angrily, "What are you laughing at!"
Ruan Huilin was also puzzled.
Moreover, it was rare to see his son laugh like this; he was mostly silent, and his emotions were almost imperceptible.
"You... gave a very good introduction." Liang Yanzhe couldn't very well say that he had seen through Lin Fei's purpose. It seemed like he was giving a gift, but in reality, he wanted his mother to wear it when she went out so that it could promote her small shop. This was like having a living advertisement.
He thought of the kiss she gave him, which was also like this.
It seems like they put in a lot of effort, and they really did, but there's also a little bit of selfishness involved.
Ruan Huilin accepted the brooch and said with a smile, "Thank you, I will cherish it."
“Mom, don’t keep it. Beautiful things are meant to be used,” Lin Fei said. “If you like it, I can make you other handicrafts next time.”
Although she had this little ulterior motive, she was truly sincere. She wouldn't normally be willing to give such an expensive handmade item to just anyone!
"Thank you for your trouble." Ruan Huilin pinned the brooch on directly, expressing her appreciation for Lin Fei's gift.
Lin Fei smiled and praised, "As expected of your mother, even an ordinary item looks better when you wear it."
Liang Yanzhe dared not sit down any longer, otherwise he really would burst out laughing.
Ruan Huilin smiled.
I quite like this girl; she speaks confidently and knows how to make people happy.
Zhou Hui called out that dinner was ready, and everyone moved to the kitchen.
Perhaps because Lin Fei was afraid of awkward situations, and Zhou Hui, who never let a word slip out, the meal was relatively harmonious.
After dinner, they sat together for a while longer. The three of them still didn't talk much, but Lin Fei and Zhou Hui chatted enthusiastically.
After all, Zhou Hui was trained in hosting and was familiar with new media. When Lin Fei mentioned that she was worried about the lack of customers for her intangible cultural heritage shop, she gave her a good idea.
Zhou Hui: "Aren't you involved in intangible cultural heritage? The local government should have supportive policies and can definitely provide you with sales channels, such as museum storage and sales. You can use their platform to increase orders."
“That’s right!” Lin Fei was greatly inspired. “I can contact the Ethnic Museum and the Provincial Museum. These places will definitely have tourists from other places during holidays, and many people like to buy souvenirs at museums.”
She is quite confident in her original cultural and creative products, which are in line with the aesthetics of young people, who are the main force in purchasing related merchandise.
"I'll apply as soon as possible." Lin Fei also considered the competition factor; after all, if she could think of it, others certainly could too, so she had to seize the initiative.
While they were chatting animatedly, the three people on the other side watched the television in silence.
After finishing their business discussion, Zhou Hui gave Lin Fei a look, signaling her to say something.
Lin Fei did have something to say: "It's getting late. Are you staying overnight or going home tonight? It's almost New Year's Eve. Where should we eat?"
The first person to look over was Liang Yanyi, and her reaction was rather strong.
Liang Yanzhe remained calm and composed, his eyes flickering slightly, revealing no hint of his true feelings or attitude.
"Staying overnight... here?" Ruan Huilin asked in surprise.
Lin Fei got up and walked over: "Yes, Mom, if you want to stay overnight, you can. I bought you a towel, a toothbrush, and pajamas at the supermarket. I've already put them in the washing machine once and dried them."
Ruan Huilin was momentarily at a loss for words and looked at her son and daughter across from her.
"I'm going back." Liang Yanyi stood up.
This is the first time in the past few days that she has mentioned leaving so early.
Zhou Hui quickly followed, passing by Lin Fei and winking at her, as if using his facial features to say, "Look what you've done."
"It's getting late, I should head back now," Ruan Huilin explained with a smile. "I came here today mainly to see Xiaoyi and Xiaohui. They're newlyweds and visiting Jiangdu, so we should have a meal together."
Lin Fei didn't try to keep them; she had said and done everything she needed to.
After seeing them to the door, Lin Fei peeked out from under the door and asked, "New Year's Eve dinner? What are your plans?"
If Liang Yanyi and Liang Yanzhe hadn't come to Jiangdu for vacation, she might have taken Liang Yanzhe back to Chunxi for New Year's Eve dinner this year and stayed for a couple more days. Since they're here, they'll definitely eat together, so she won't take them to her grandmother's house with her; busying herself preparing and entertaining guests would tire the old lady out.
They exchanged glances, but no one spoke first.
"I'll book the restaurant and take you to eat authentic Jiangdu cuisine," Lin Fei said. "How about it?"
The group exchanged glances once again.
Liang Yanzhe stepped forward to support Lin Fei: "How about we have New Year's Eve dinner together?"
Since her older brother had spoken, Liang Yanyi agreed, "Yes, that's fine."
"I've been craving Jiangdu cuisine for a long time, let's make it!" Zhou Hui said with a grin.
With everyone agreeing, Ruan Huilin nodded and said, "Okay, I have no other plans."
While they were waiting for the elevator, Lin Fei added Ruan Huilin as a WeChat friend.
She accidentally said something that made everyone embarrassed: "From now on, when we interact on social media, we can all see each other's likes and comments."
Everyone fell silent.
"I... I'll add Mom too," Zhou Hui said, taking out his phone to ease the tension.
He tugged at Liang Yanyi's arm, and only then did she take out her phone.
Next up is Liang Yanzhe.
Lin Fei: ...
If Zhou Hui hadn't smoothed things over, she would have made a huge mess!
After finally seeing them off, Lin Fei returned to his room and collapsed onto the sofa, not moving an inch.
Shunshun came over and rubbed against her, begging for petting. She pulled her into her arms and petted the cat to calm down.
"Dr. Liang," Lin Fei sat up and said to the open bedroom door, "Are you angry that I took it upon myself to let Mom stay overnight?"
Liang Yanzhe came out of the bedroom, holding his office laptop in his hand: "You've done all that, and now you're asking me if I'm angry?"
"Although I'm acting first and informing you later, I still need to hear your thoughts. If you don't like it, I won't do it next time." Lin Fei pulled his foot back, making room for him.
Liang Yanzhe sat down, turned on his computer, went into his email to reply to the students' emails, and said, "If you're doing this, it's not surprising."
"Why?" Lin Fei hugged Shunshun and moved closer together.
Liang Yanzhe looked at her and smiled.
The person is completely unaware of their own personal charm.
Perhaps she was afraid the atmosphere would become awkward, so she tried to talk and liven things up, which was a bad habit of always making others feel embarrassed, but it actually balanced everyone's emotions.
She is kind-hearted and cares about her elders. Her idea of letting her mother stay overnight was definitely not to improve the relationship between them, but simply out of politeness and courtesy.
He lowered his head and touched her forehead with his thin lips: "Because you are not ordinary."
"How do you define ordinary and extraordinary?" Lin Fei felt that she was just an ordinary person, occasionally brave enough to hit a wall, but most of the time she would timidly avoid all conflicts. Overall, she was still a furry, ordinary person.
“I probably can’t answer that question,” Liang Yanzhe said with a smile. “We’ll have to ask Ms. Lin Feiwen to answer it.”
Lin Fei laughed and snuggled into his arms, taking up the space where the notebook had been, and looked up at him from below.
"Liang Sheng, you're so good with words, you're not a spoilsport at all." She let go of Shunshun, put her hands around his waist, and hugged him tightly.
“As long as someone is a good person, they won’t spoil the fun, and you’re no exception.” Liang Yanzhe moved the computer toward her knees, making enough comfortable space for her.
Lin Fei closed his eyes, enjoying the quiet moment: "It's so good to live with you. There are no worries, no overeating, and no inexplicable emotional turmoil."
Liang Yanzhe chuckled and focused his attention on the paper on the computer.
Lin Fei took a half-hour nap, then went to his study to work.
She plans to first study the local policies and then call the local and provincial museums tomorrow to ask if she can consign her cultural and creative products there.
After working until past 11 p.m., Lin Fei went back to his bedroom to rest.
She walked to the door and heard Liang Yanzhe talking on the phone.
"Don't overthink it. Mom didn't mean anything by it. Besides, we're all in Jiangdu, so it's only right for the family to have a meal together."
I understand how you feel.
"I don't mean to take sides; we've never been adversaries."
"It's getting late, you should get some rest. See you tomorrow at noon."
“I know you don’t mean to blame your sister-in-law, it’s just your own opinion.”
"Okay, goodbye."
Lin Fei guessed that the person opposite him was Liang Yanyi.
A few seconds later, she knocked on the door.
Liang Yanzhe, who was standing by the window, turned around.
"Does Mom and...Xiao Yi not get along?" Lin Fei asked.
Liang Yanzhe wasn't annoyed that she had overheard the phone call, and replied, "There might be some misunderstanding. She was only three years old when Mom left Hong Kong. She felt abandoned. Although she later learned that it was Grandma's request, she still couldn't forgive Mom for leaving. Moreover... Mom has her own new family now, and her inner conflict has deepened."
"Does she hate Mom?" Lin Fei was worried about the upcoming New Year's Eve dinner.
I kindly put together a table, but I hope it won't cause a fight between the mother and daughter.
Liang Yanzhe: "I don't dislike it, but it's hard to get back to how I used to like it. I feel more uncomfortable and find it hard to reconcile."
"Poor Xiao Yi." Lin Fei slumped onto the sofa at the foot of the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. "How could anyone hate their mother? I just want to love her more than I can ever get enough."
She often wondered what her family of three would be like if her mother were still alive.
“People are different,” Liang Yanzhe said. “Everyone expresses love and care in different ways.”
Lin Fei may have his own feelings, but he won't get involved in their cause and effect.
After taking a shower and going to bed, Lin Fei held his phone and replied to messages in the three-person group chat.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, Tu Xia wanted to invite them to eat roadside barbecue.
Lin Fei wanted to politely decline, but Tu Xia preemptively said: "Ever since you came back from the port, you've been busy with your little shop. Are you abandoning this friendship?"
Liang Yanru: [I'm fine with anything, but can I bring Ji Peiqian? I can't not bring him, otherwise my old folks at home will definitely scold me.]
Tu Xia: [Okay, I'll bring Shi Ge then.]
Lin Fei: […How did this turn into a family gathering?]
Lin Fei hesitated. It wasn't that he didn't want to bring Liang Yanzhe. After all, when friends get together, everyone has to have fun. If they can't fit in, the experience won't be good.
Tu Xia: [You're allowed to bring Dr. Liang. My son, He Jingshi, won't mind. He might even ask Dr. Liang some questions.]
Lin Fei: [...]
Liang Yanru: [...]
Top students can indeed do things like this when they meet.
Lin Fei: [We need to bring two more people.]
Of course, Liang Yanyi and Zhou Hui couldn't be left out. They didn't leave Gangdu until the tenth of the month, and we couldn't let them stay at home during that time. As the host, we had an obligation to enrich their itinerary.
Liang Yanru: [I'm sick tomorrow night, so I won't be going.]
Tu Xia didn't need to ask any questions to know what Liang Yanru's illness was. She said, "You're strong enough to cut a watermelon with your bare hands. Don't pretend. You've probably met one of your older sisters."
Tu Xia: [Forget it, let's reschedule for another time. We originally just wanted to get together once, but it'll end up being a gathering of over ten people; that wouldn't be as enjoyable.]
Liang Yanru was the first to agree; Lin Fei was fine with anything, since his schedule was packed on New Year's Eve anyway. Lin Fei put down his phone, and the room fell into darkness.
She couldn't help but think of Liang Yanyi and Ruan Huilin, and she turned to face Liang Yanzhe.
Even though they were the closest couple in the world, he slept right where she could easily reach him.
But why do I always feel that he has a sense of distance from everyone, while his gentle and refined manner often makes people overlook this and always think that he is easy to approach?
Lin Fei reached out his hand, but before he could touch Liang Yanzhe, Liang grabbed it.
He closed his eyes and said lazily, "Go to sleep."
"Liang Sheng," Lin Fei leaned closer to him, "Now that you've talked about Xiao Yi, what about you? Do you have any issues with Mom?"
Even though it was dark, she could feel a burning gaze on her face.
After a long silence, he chuckled softly, "No."
The signs of the lie are too obvious.
It's safe to say there's something going on between them.
"I can't ask, right?" Lin Fei rarely showed interest in someone's past.
Liang Yanzhe gently brushed the stray hairs from her cheek and smiled, saying, "Feiwen, it's better not to know some things for the rest of your life."
It's not that he doesn't want to talk.
I dare not say it.
If you knew my past, you would definitely think I'm a terrible monster.
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Author's Note: (Non-fiction): Rich people have so many troubles...
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Still 66, please continue to comment and give me nutrient solution [starry eyes]
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