Chapter 400 New House
Feng Xuemei suppressed her joy and, feigning composure, gestured with her hand, "Sit down and talk, sit down and speak slowly."
After Zhou Xingzhi sat back down next to Zhang Yueran, Feng Xuemei picked up her teacup and took a sip: "Comrade Zhou, have you and Yueyue discussed your marriage plans? As parents, we should always listen to your thoughts first..."
"Uncle and Aunt, just call me Xingzhi," Zhou Xingzhi said with a slight bow. "Yueyue and I... although we love each other, we still need your consent for this important matter of marriage. We dare not make decisions on our own."
Zhang Yueran felt elated after hearing his words.
She softly echoed, "I'll listen to my parents..."
Zhou Xingzhi nervously squeezed her hand, his eyes questioning, as if she had never considered their future.
Zhang Yueran immediately understood and softly added, "Mom and Dad, we...we're serious."
Feng Xuemei then inquired in detail about Zhou Xingzhi's family background and livelihood.
When he learned that besides his antique business, he also owned several shops in the south of the city and a three-courtyard house in the east, Zhang Jianguo couldn't help but interject, "So where do you live now?"
"I run a studio on the antique street, mainly engaged in the restoration and collection of antique furniture. I usually live on the second floor of the studio."
Zhou Xingzhi replied gently, "I have a courtyard house near Peking University, which I'm currently having renovated. It will be ready as a new home for Yueyue when she starts school, and it will also be cheaper for her to attend school."
As he spoke, his gaze would occasionally drift to Zhang Yueran, noticing her flushed cheeks and her head bowed.
Feng Xuemei is now like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, becoming more and more satisfied with him.
"Since you've all made up your minds..." Feng Xuemei was interrupted by her husband before she could finish speaking.
"etc!"
Zhang Jianguo stood up and paced around the living room. "We can't rush the marriage! We have to...we have to see how things go first!"
Zhang Yueran, somewhat disgruntled, tried to coax her father in a roundabout way, "Dad~~"
When Zhang Jianguo saw his daughter, he almost cried. "My dear daughter, we've only been here for two days!" He hadn't seen his daughter for months, and the moment they met, the topic of marriage jumped to him. He just couldn't accept it.
Zhou Xingzhi immediately stood up, his expression solemn: "Uncle is right. If the two elders agree, I would like to first arrange a marriage between Yueyue and me..."
He turned to look at Zhang Yueran, "What do you think?"
Zhang Yueran subconsciously pouted and looked at her mother.
She hadn't thought about marriage carefully before, but hearing him bring it up so seriously now, a strong sense of anticipation welled up inside her. How wonderful it would be to be with him every day.
Looking at her daughter's eagerness to get married, Feng Xuemei felt a mix of emotions.
One moment she felt that this son-in-law was truly rare, and the next she was reluctant to let her daughter get married too early.
But then she remembered that Zhou Xingzhi was already thirty, and finally relented: "Since you two are so in love... then let's get engaged first."
"This...this is too hasty!" Zhang Jianguo suddenly stood up. "How old is Yueyue? Besides, late marriage is encouraged these days..."
"Dad!" Zhang Yueran stamped her foot, "I'm already twenty-five!"
Zhou Xingzhi bowed respectfully to Zhang Jianguo: "Uncle, rest assured, whether it's an engagement or marriage, Yueyue will continue her studies, and I will fully support her research."
...
Nan Zhiyi listened quietly the whole time.
She noticed that Zhou Xingzhi's gaze was always following Zhang Yueran, and his focused expression reminded her of Qin Fen's comment: "When an old house catches fire, it burns exceptionally brightly."
She then looked at Aunt Feng and her husband. Feng Xuemei looked completely satisfied, but Uncle Zhang was restless.
"Uncle Zhang," Nan Zhiyi gently advised, "this is just an engagement; the formal wedding is still a long way off." She got up and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll go check on lunch preparations. You two chat first."
In the kitchen, Sister Zhang was busy at the stove.
"Is everything settled?" Sister Zhang asked in a low voice.
"They're discussing the engagement," Nan Zhiyi said, lifting the lid of the casserole dish, releasing the aroma of stewed chicken and ham. "Aunt Feng is increasingly satisfied with it, but Uncle Zhang is still a bit hesitant."
"That's how all fathers are," Sister Zhang said deftly as she sliced ​​scallions. "When I got married, my father hid in his room and smoked his pipe all night."
Nan Zhiyi casually cut a fruit platter, arranging the juicy watermelon slices in the shape of a lotus flower. Just as she was about to take it out, she suddenly heard Zhang Jianguo's hearty laughter coming from the living room.
It seems that this prospective brother-in-law has gradually broken down his father-in-law's defenses.
When she placed the fruit platter on the coffee table, she invited Gu Zhao, who was watching TV, to come and eat watermelon.
She heard the familiar sound of military boots clicking outside the screen door and immediately went out to greet them.
Gu Xiao strode into the entrance hall under the blazing sun, his military jacket casually draped over his arm, and the collar of his white shirt damp with sweat.
Upon seeing Nan Zhiyi, a smile flickered in his eyes, and he lowered his voice to ask, "How was it?"
"You missed a good show," Nan Zhiyi whispered a few witty remarks into his ear.
Gu Xiao chuckled, squeezed her fingers, and turned to walk into the living room.
"Comrade Zhou, it's been a long time."
"Minister Gu."
He patted Zhou Xingzhi on the shoulder.
Then, turning to Feng Xuemei and Zhang Jianguo, he said, "Aunt Feng, Uncle Zhang, you two chat first, I'll go change my clothes."
Nan Zhiyi winked at Zhang Yueran and followed Gu Xiao upstairs like a little tail.
In the second-floor bathroom, Gu Xiao unbuttoned his collar in front of the mirror and wiped himself with a towel.
Nan Zhiyi held a clean shirt in her hand, waiting for him. "You didn't see it. Just now, the scene jumped straight from a formal visit to discussing marriage. Comrade Zhou, you really moved fast."
She recounted the conversation in the living room in a soft, gentle voice.
Gu Xiao turned around and gently pinched her cheek with his wet fingers: "So happy?"
"Of course I'm happy," Nan Zhiyi said, unfolding his shirt to help him change. "Zhou Xingzhi is even better than I imagined; he even considered the convenience of Yueran's schooling for the wedding house..."
Gu Xiao cooperated, letting his wife straighten his shirt collar.
Her hair brushed gently against his arm, carrying the familiar scent of jasmine.
"Wife..." his voice was low, "When will you ever start to worry about your own man?"
Nan Zhiyi deliberately tightened the hem of her shirt, causing him to groan.
"Is Minister Gu jealous?"
"No, no, I wouldn't dare."
He kissed Nan Zhiyi's forehead, put his arm around her waist, and walked downstairs. "Now it's perfect, Aunt Feng and the others can finally rest easy."
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