Yan Beiyang placed the gift on the table and said, "Dad, Mom, this is a gift from Shushu for you. Mom, it's the malted milk you like to drink, and Dad, it's the tea you like to drink. Shushu, I've prepared it for you."
Dong Dayun smiled even more happily, "Xiao Jiang, why are you so reserved? Uncle and aunt are very happy that you can come. Why buy a gift? Take it back and drink it later. You young people work hard, so you should drink more malted milk."
"Auntie, you're welcome. It's my duty. I heard from Beiyang that you like to drink malted milk and you like to drink tea. I picked these specially for you. It's my thoughtful gesture." Now that things have come to this, it would be pointless if I pretended to refuse.
"Then uncle and auntie will accept it. Thank you, Xiao Jiang, for the gift."
Yan Weiguo said, "Yes, thank you, Xiao Jiang. The tea you bought is my favorite."
"Uncle, as long as Auntie likes it."
Then the four of them sat down to chat, with Dong Dayun asking most of the questions and Jiang Shushu answering them. The more Yan Weiguo and his wife talked with Jiang Shushu, the more satisfied they became with her.
She is beautiful, well-spoken, has a formal job, and owns a yard.
Dong Dayun: "Xiao Jiang, I've been wanting to meet your parents. How did they raise such a sensible and outstanding child like you? Xiao Jiang, how old are your parents this year?"
"Auntie, I'm an older woman. My dad is 59 and my mom is 57."
Dong Dayun and Yan Weiguo's smiling faces froze immediately.
Yan Weiguo and his wife always thought that based on Jiang Shushu's age, Jiang He and his wife were at most in their 40s and would not cause trouble to their son in the next 20 years. Yan Weiguo and his wife did not expect that Jiang He and his wife were almost 60 years old.
Even if Jiang Shushu's conditions were good, Dong Dayun couldn't be happy right now. The Jiang couple were so old, working in the countryside, facing the earth and back to the sky. They were so toiled every day, they must have some kind of physical weakness. They were almost 60, how many more years could they still work? If Beiyang married Xiao Jiang, wouldn't he have to support the Jiang couple directly in their old age in two years? Without a city hukou, the Jiang couple couldn't buy food, and their medical expenses wouldn't be reimbursed. How much money would that cost? The Jiang family would surely starve Beiyang to death.
Seeing Dong Dayun remained silent, Yan Weiguo quickly intervened, saying, "Xiao Jiang, I'm sorry. Your aunt and I are so surprised. Don't you have only one older brother? Why are your parents so old?" Xiao Jiang's father is 11 years older than me. If he were a few years older, he'd be my dad. He's truly still going strong! He can still have a daughter at 40.
"I understand. Many people are surprised to hear my father's age. He served in the military and only returned home in his 20s. My mother was married for several years before she gave birth to my brother, and another ten years before she gave birth to me."
"So he went to defend his country. I understand, I understand." Although he admired Mr. Jiang very much, he really didn't want a relative of such an old age. He would be a burden to his son.
Jiang Shushu could see that Yan Weiguo and his wife were very concerned about the age of Jiang He and his wife. Although Jiang Shushu was a little unhappy about Yan Weiguo and his wife's reaction, he could understand their reaction because no one likes to be a burden or trouble.
Yan Beiyang was a good person, and Jiang Shushu didn't want to give up easily, so she explained, "Uncle, Auntie, although my parents are a little old, they are in good health and have no illnesses or disasters. They won't cause much trouble in my life. I once mentioned to Beiyang that I will be responsible for my parents' expenses myself. My parents are my responsibility, and I will not put this responsibility on Beiyang's shoulders."
Dong Dayun didn't take Jiang Shushu's words to heart, thinking that Jiang Shushu was too naive: "Husband and wife are one. You only earn a few dozen yuan a month, and you are alone. When your parents are in trouble, how could they not need your husband? My son."
Yan Beiyang wanted to skip the topic and didn't want his parents to discuss it with Jiang Shushu face to face. "Mom, Xiao Jiang and I are grown up enough and we can handle it. You and my dad don't have to worry. Shushu has discussed this with me and we know what to do."
Dong Dayun ignored Yan Beiyang. "Xiao Jiang, filial piety is a must. Auntie also has parents, so I understand. But we should act within our capabilities and not take on everything. Your parents have their own responsibilities, and you and your brother should shoulder the responsibilities that they should shoulder. Otherwise, how can he grow up, become sensible, and understand the difficulties of family and parents?"
"I understand what Auntie said. Although my brother is far away in the provincial capital and won't be back, he will give my parents ten yuan every month for their retirement. It's also true that my parents and my sister-in-law and brother-in-law really don't get along, so my parents will live with me or next to me in the future."
Jiang Shushu glanced at the Yan family and continued, "My father taught me to be honest since I was a child, and I don't think my parents are a burden to me. So before I started dating Beiyang, I told him about my situation. I also asked Beiyang to come back and ask for your opinions. Beiyang said you didn't mind..."
Yan Beiyang interrupted Jiang Shushu: "Shushu, I agree, and my parents agree too. The reason they ask so many questions is that they are worried about our future life."
"Beiyang, thank you for your understanding, but we are sitting here today and have come to the end of this conversation. To show respect to my uncle and aunt, I think it is better to make things clear." After all, he is here to make friends, not to make enemies. If Yan Weiguo and his wife really can't accept it and have a knot in their hearts, then there is no need to continue this relationship.
Providing for Jiang He and his wife in their old age is something that he must, definitely, and must do. No matter who it is and what happens, no one can stop him, because this matter concerns the rest of his life, and may even be his life.
Without bread, without life, where is love? I can live well without love, but without the golden finger, without material things, I will definitely not live well.
"Uncle, aunt, I have a house in my name. My parents paid for it. My brother sends ten yuan every month to support my parents in their old age. My parents have both the house and the money. I don't need to worry too much about their retirement. I'm just worried that they'll be lonely when they're old. I want them to live with me, or live next to me, so that they can have a happy old age."
After Jiang Shushu finished speaking, he didn't say anything else, waiting for what Yan Weiguo and his wife said next. If they agreed, they would continue the conversation; if they disagreed, they would leave.
Yan Beiyang looked at Dong Dayun with a pleading look in his eyes, asking Dong Dayun to promise Jiang Shushu that he could take care of her parents in the future.
Dong Dayun felt a little disappointed with Yan Beiyang, but when he thought about the conditions Jiang Shushu had just mentioned, and that Jiang He and his wife had a house and money, Dong Dayun was not so resistant anymore.
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