"Hehe, stop joking around, sit down, I have something to tell you."
"What's wrong? Is it about me?"
"It's related to you."
Zhang Hongmei stopped smiling, straightened her posture, and sat obediently, waiting for Gu Chuanming to explain.
“Someone secretly told me that Zhou Shixiong wants you and Zhou Jianwei to form a family, and that your trip abroad may be hindered.”
Zhang Hongmei was furious upon hearing this news. What kind of nonsense is this? How could they be so shameful?
Seeing the little girl's face turn pale with anger, Gu Chuanming regretted telling her.
"Alright, don't be angry anymore. Let's talk it over when Shouyi comes back."
"Grandpa, why is life so full of helplessness? Why is it so tiring?"
"Nonsense, you're so young, yet you're acting all old-fashioned. It's alright, Shouyi and I are here. Hongmei, the best way to prevent similar things from happening again is for you to get engaged, and it would be even better if you could get married. The current marriage law allows girls to get married at sixteen, but I won't agree to that early. The earliest would be eighteen."
But ordinary people won't do. Now we're one, father and son. Getting you is like getting everything I have. So I think Shouyi is the most suitable candidate. To put it bluntly, your engagement or marriage now is just a pretense. If you really don't want to later, Grandpa will support you. You can even dump him.
Think about it yourself. Most people can't stand those greedy, ruthless people. You absolutely mustn't ruin them."
"Grandpa, I'm not fourteen years old yet."
“We older folks all use the traditional Chinese age reckoning system. Your birthday is in the first month of the lunar calendar, so you're fifteen years old.”
"No, absolutely not. Engagement has no legal effect either, so neither of those will work." Zhang Hongmei stood up agitatedly, appearing extremely anxious.
"Think about it yourself. Whatever you decide, Grandpa will support you. I'm the one who's caused you trouble," Gu Chuanming said, sounding a little sad.
"Grandpa, don't blame yourself. It's okay, we'll handle it together."
"Fine, who are we afraid of? Go on, take a break. I've finished talking to you, and I feel better now. I need to lie down for a bit too; I was so angry I couldn't even eat properly."
"Alright, Grandpa, you can rest now." Zhang Hongmei said and left, going straight to the kitchen. She took two thermos flasks to the bathroom, and Aunt Li saw this and helped her carry the water that had been drying outside into the bathroom as well.
Zhang Hongmei poured water into the bathtub, but instead of taking a bath, she went into her spatial dimension. No, she was too angry and couldn't control her temper.
After entering the space, he drank a large cup of spiritual spring water, sat on the sofa, and became increasingly angry and aggrieved, sobbing and shedding tears.
Why is it so difficult? What did I do to deserve this? Why are they targeting me?
After a while, Zhang Hongmei finally calmed down. She thought to herself, "Whatever, let it be. Nothing has happened yet, and I've already scared myself."
After taking a shower and eating a bowl of ice cream in the space, I came out, threw my dirty clothes into the bathtub, washed them clean, and then left the bathroom.
It's just past 3 PM, and I'm still focused on reading. I have my second-year textbooks with me, so I'm previewing them to avoid embarrassing myself.
It wasn't until almost seven o'clock that Zhang Hongmei rubbed her eyes, did a set of eye exercises, and then left the study.
Instead of going to the front, she went back to her bedroom, lay on her back on the bed with her eyes closed. Perhaps because she was too tired from reading, or perhaps because she encountered difficulties, Zhang Hongmei soon felt drowsy and half asleep.
When Zhang Shouyi entered, he saw the little girl on the bed, her legs spread wide, seemingly asleep. Looking at the girl's adorable movements, Zhang Shouyi felt a tickle in his heart.
He quietly approached the bedside. He silently watched his little girl, noticing her furrowed brow, and felt a pang of heartache. Should he wait a little longer? Or should he give up? But he was almost there; he hadn't hurt her, he'd only given her a little push, and that would achieve the result he wanted.
Giving up is unbearable; this girl is like a snail, you just have to force her to come out.
Zhang Hongmei suddenly opened her eyes. She was startled to see Zhang Shouyi standing by the bed, staring intently at her.
"Brother Zhang, why didn't you wake me up?"
"No, I've only been here for less than two minutes. Get up, the food is ready. Tonight we're making clam and bean salad, don't you like that? Otherwise, we'll have noodles later."
Zhang Hongmei sat up, shook her head, and felt a little dizzy. After washing up, the two went to the dining room together.
Gu Chuanming had arrived. Zhang Hongmei looked at the green beans and diced meat sauce, the egg and tomato sauce, and a bowl of fried sauce on the table.
"Aunt Li, this is quite a feast. I'm hungry, Grandpa, let's eat."
Although Zhang Hongmei felt hungry, one bowl was enough.
"Eat more food. You keep saying you're hungry, but you've only eaten so little."
"Brother Zhang, don't worry about me. You guys eat your food. I'm already very full."
After dinner, the three of them gathered in Zhang Hongmei's study. Wang Xinyi brought over a pot of tea as usual.
Gu Chuanming told Zhang Shouyi what he had heard that afternoon.
Zhang Shouyi pondered for a moment, "Actually, Da Tou told me last time. I told him that Hongmei was my betrothed since childhood, but I didn't expect him to still be so persistent."
"Shouyi, do you have any ideas? I heard that Hongmei's trip abroad will be subject to restrictions this time."
"No, I'm handling this myself."
“But if he really decides to keep Hongmei, there’s nothing you can do. So let’s think of a solution before things happen.”
"Mr. Gu, I think it's alright."
“How could nothing happen? You should know him better than I do. That’s the kind of person he is. Today we need to come up with a way to silence him and make him swallow his pride.”
Zhang Hongmei sat to the side listening to their conversation. She was much calmer now and no longer angry, but she still felt wronged.
Zhang Shouyi fell silent. After thinking for a moment, he tentatively asked Zhang Hongmei, "Hongmei, do you have any ideas?"
Zhang Hongmei shrugged. "What can I do? Maybe I should become a nun, but I don't know if there are any monks left in temples these days."
Zhang Hongmei's words made both men laugh. How could she be so single?
"You all think my method won't work. I really don't know what to do. If only I could go abroad, I could escape."
"I'm afraid of being blocked. That's what I've heard. He's probably afraid you'll run away."
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