Han's mother paused, the vegetables on her chopsticks falling back into the plate. "Really?" Her voice brightened immediately. "When are you going? Should we prepare a gift?"
"We'll go to Wan Tang's house first tomorrow," Han Feng said, carefully choosing his words. "The day after tomorrow, we'll go to Meng Ran's house. Both of their families are ancient martial arts families, so there might be more rules and regulations there. Wan Wan's situation might be a bit more complicated."
Mother Han had already forgotten about eating, counting on her fingers: "The Dongfang family needs to prepare a generous gift, and I still have a piece of old jade... What does Old Master Liu like? Tea? The Four Treasures of the Study? Oh, and what about that girl Wanwan...?"
"It's alright, you all know her situation, so it's not a big problem," Han Feng replied.
Seeing his mother's renewed vitality, Han Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He then offered a second reassurance: "Wang Hao's parents are also coming to Kyoto these next few days and have already been arranged to stay in our neighborhood. That way, you and Dad will have some company."
"Haozi's parents are coming?" Han's mother clapped her hands in surprise. "That's wonderful! It's been so long since I've seen them!" Suddenly remembering something, she glared at her husband. "Did you hear me? Stop staying home all day fixing your lousy flowers, go fishing with Old Wang!"
Mr. Han took a sip of his drink in silence, but a subtle smile crept onto his lips: "Hmm."
Moonlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting long shadows of the three men on the wall. The bottle of liquor was soon empty, and Han's father began to talk more, recounting stories of Han Feng falling and injuring his head while climbing a tree as a child, and how he was dragged into the river the first time he took Han Feng fishing.
While scolding her husband for being "talkative after drinking too much," Han's mother secretly checked "precautions for meeting the in-laws" on her phone. Looking at his parents, Han Feng suddenly felt as if time had flown back ten years—back then, his father didn't have so much gray hair, and his mother wouldn't be rubbing her back and complaining of leg pain.
"...So when you're looking for a wife, you have to find someone reliable," Mr. Han suddenly concluded, patting his son's shoulder forcefully. "All three girls are good, but you can't bully them in the future!"
Han Feng was both amused and exasperated: "Dad, what are you talking about...?"
"Your dad's right!" Han's mother suddenly looked up, her phone screen still lit up with "The Complete Guide to Etiquette for Meeting Your Future In-Laws for the First Time," "Especially that child, Wan Tang, she's so adorable..."
A few insects chirped outside the window, and the moon rose above the treetops of the sycamore trees. Han Feng watched his parents arguing heatedly over their "future daughter-in-law," and suddenly felt that those heavy responsibilities and distant threats were no longer important at this moment.
What he has to protect are nights like this.
"Oh, right." Mother Han suddenly lowered her voice, "Three girls... when do you plan to...?" She made a gesture as if she were holding a grandson.
Han Feng choked on his drink, coughing until his face turned red. His father laughed heartily, patting his son on the back: "What's the rush! Let's have the wedding first! Our Han family needs to have a grand and glorious ceremony..."
The moonlight flowed silently, enveloping the laughter at the dining table like amber. On this ordinary autumn night, no one mentioned the impending separation, nor did anyone speak of those dangerous missions. They simply discussed marriage and debated names for their grandchildren, like any ordinary family, as if countless nights like this would follow tomorrow.
The next morning, Han Feng watched his parents fussing in the dressing room for a full hour. Han's father finally chose the dark Zhongshan suit that he had kept at the bottom of his trunk, while Han's mother changed into three cheongsams before deciding on the dark green one that "most suited her temperament."
"It's just a regular meal." Han Feng leaned against the doorframe, amused, watching his parents who looked on like they were facing a major crisis. "It's not like we're going to a UN meeting."
"What do you know!" Mother Han adjusted her pearl brooch in front of the mirror. "The Dongfang family is an ancient and prominent family in China; we cannot be impolite."
Han Feng silently swallowed the words he was about to say, and casually straightened his father's collar. The faint scars visible beneath the collar reminded him—this seemingly ordinary man had once been a sharp blade of Longyuan.
The Dongfang family's old house was nestled at the foot of the Western Hills, its blue tiles and white walls exuding elegance. When Dongfang Lin personally came to greet them at the door, Han Feng clearly felt his parents' breath catch in their throats.
"Is this Mr. Dongfang?" Han's mother muttered softly, "He's even more imposing than those scholars on TV..."
Dongfang Lin had deliberately worn a simple Chinese-style jacket today, but his aura as someone who had held a high position for many years was still undeniable. Just as he was about to bow in greeting, Han Feng coughed in time.
"Greetings, Patriarch Dongfang." Han Feng spoke first, while simultaneously giving him a warning look.
Dongfang Lin immediately understood, and his smile became much warmer: "Welcome, welcome! This must be your father? I've often heard Xiaofeng mention you."
Mr. Han shook hands nervously, completely unaware that the other person had used the affectionate term "Xiao Feng." Only Mrs. Han raised an eyebrow astutely, giving her son a thoughtful look.
The banquet was held in the flower hall by the water. The women of the Dongfang family were dressed elegantly, yet their speech and manners exuded the refinement of a thousand-year-old family. The "precautions for meeting the in-laws" prepared by Han's mother were completely useless—the other party did not mention any sensitive topics at all, and only talked about garden maintenance and seasonal food.
until......
"Xiao Feng has been helping us solve a lot of troubles lately," Dongfang Lin said casually.
"Cough cough!" Han Feng choked on his tea.
"...Such good young people are rare these days." Dongfang Lin smoothly recovered, "They're better than us."
Dongfang Wantang then said sweetly, "Grandpa, look where you've gone off on a tangent again."
Dongfang Lin then realized that he might have said too much. When he saw Han Feng's cold look, he broke out in a cold sweat.
Han's mother patted her son's back with a smile, saying, "That's about all he's good for."
Han Feng: "......"
As he left, Dongfang Lin secretly slipped Han Feng a brocade box: "A small jade pendant carved from starlight stone, a gift for my in-laws. It's said to calm the mind."
Han Feng opened it and almost trembled with anger—this was no ordinary jade pendant; it was clearly a jade stone capable of withstanding mental attacks! This Dongfang family head was afraid that his parents wouldn't know his identity.
Han Feng secretly sent a message to Dongfang Wantang, telling her to go home now to keep Wanwan company, so that the girl wouldn't be bored at home alone. Then he and his parents prepared to go to the Liu family.
On the way to the Liu family's house, Han's father was still remarking, "Mr. Dongfang is so approachable, he doesn't seem like an important person at all."
Han Feng was speechless. He wondered what his parents would think if they knew that the other person was usually very respectful to him.
Compared to the Dongfang family, the Liu family's style was completely different. As soon as the car stopped, Liu Xiaoran came out of the backyard carrying a sheep: "Uncle and Aunt! We're roasting a whole lamb tonight!"
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