HPDBC Chapter 354: Everyone Has Their Own Life
Chapter 354: Everyone Has Their Own Life
The world depicted by Sijiucai (a pseudonym) can be found in "1990 I'm Back".
Two days later, Yue Zhiyuan arrived as promised.
This was Yue Zhiyuan's first visit, and he made it quite a formal affair.
Carrying a lot of things, he greeted Lao Yu and Zheng Aiying as soon as he entered the door.
"Hello, Uncle! Hello, Auntie!"
Old Yu looked at his future second son-in-law with a scrutinizing gaze, while Zheng Aiying politely said, "You're welcome to come! Why bring so much stuff?"
"Auntie, my parents said that since this is our first visit, we must be polite. These things represent the respect that my parents and I have for you, Uncle and Auntie."
These words warmed Zheng Aiying's heart immensely. Old Yu then called out, "Xiao Yue! Come and sit down!"
Zheng Aiying nudged Yu Min, who was standing next to her, looking radiant and full of life: "Go make some tea! Don't you have any manners?"
Yu Min pouted angrily and went to the kitchen to boil water and make tea. Yu Xiang smiled and said, "I'll help you!"
Yue Zhiyuan quickly stood up and politely said, "No, no, I don't drink tea!"
Huang Xiaochuan pressed him down into a seat: "You can't refuse this tea! That's the rule!"
Old Yu took out a cigarette and handed it to Yue Zhiyuan: "Little Yue, do you smoke?"
Yue Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand: "Thank you, Uncle, I don't smoke."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Aiying thought it was a good idea and added points.
"Oh!" Old Yu put the cigarette away and took one for himself, lit it, and started smoking.
At this point, Zheng Aiying started chatting with Yue Zhiyuan and learned about his family situation.
In fact, Huang Xiaochuan knew that his mother-in-law had already asked around and knew everything about her family. Today was just a formality, mainly to see what kind of person this son-in-law was.
In the evening, as was customary, the Yu family invited Yue Zhiyuan to stay and entertain him. Huang Xiaochuan, as the eldest son-in-law of the Yu family, naturally had to accompany him.
After dinner, Zheng Aiying prepared a generous return gift for Yue Zhiyuan to take back.
At first, Yue Zhiyuan refused to accept it, but Huang Xiaochuan persuaded him from the side, "It's a matter of courtesy, you must accept it."
Only after this did Yue Zhiyuan accept it.
Before leaving, Lao Yu reminded him, "Please give my regards to your parents when you get back."
Yue Zhiyuan replied respectfully, "Understood, I will definitely convey your words to Uncle and Aunt."
Yu Min escorted Yue Zhiyuan downstairs.
After the two left, Lao Yu commented, "His alcohol tolerance is decent, and his drinking manners are good."
Zheng Aiying rolled her eyes at Lao Yu: "All you know is drinking!"
Old Yu said smugly, "You don't understand, do you? A person's drinking habits reflect their character. You can tell a lot about a person's character just by how they drink. Xiao Yue is pretty good."
Huang Xiaochuan drank quite a bit that night, and returned to his room with a flushed face. Yu Xiang immediately handed him a change of clothes that she had prepared.
"Go take a shower! I'll get you a glass of cool boiled water, and make sure you drink plenty of water later."
"My wife is the best!" he said, trying to get close to Yu Xiang.
Yu Xiang gently pushed him: "Alright! You talk too much. Go take a shower, you smell like alcohol."
At Fan Yingrong's repeated urging, Huang Erhe took her back to Shanxi Province ahead of schedule. They only stayed in Qingjiang for four days at most, while Huang Erhe's family visit leave was a month long.
The mother had a strong premonition. After seeing Huang Erhe and Fan Yingrong off, Zeng Lijuan sighed, "I've raised this son for nothing. He's obsessed with his wife. I, his mother, have been completely forgotten."
Old Huang, who was flipping through a newspaper, heard this and advised, "Try to think positively. The kids will grow up and have their own lives. When we're old, it'll be just the two of us relying on each other!"
Zeng Lijuan's eyes reddened: "I'm not worried about the eldest and third sons, I'm just worried that our second son will be mistreated at his father-in-law's house in the future."
Old Huang slammed the newspaper on the table, his face displeased, and said, "He brought it on himself. There are so many good women in the world, but he just happens to like this one. That's his fate. Don't shed tears for him; it's not worth it."
Before long, Old Huang softened again; after all, they were his sons! As a father, he still loved his sons very much from the bottom of his heart.
"You have money, right? You can give some to your second son in the future. If he has money in his pocket, he can stand a little more confident."
Zeng Lijuan wiped her eyes and nodded.
Old Huang then asked, "Have you told your second son about buying a house in Shanghai?"
"I didn't say, I need to think about it."
Old Huang sighed and said, "Let's just buy it! Since we've already bought it for the boss, if we don't buy it for him, he'll blame us later. Besides, it's not like we can't afford it now."
Zeng Lijuan stubbornly said, "I'm not willing to buy it just thinking about my second son's wife."
"Alright! Just think of it as something you bought for your son."
Zeng Lijuan was unhappy: "You've done all the good work."
"What do you mean I've done all the good work? You're the one who actually handled it! Your son and daughter-in-law are thanking you, aren't they? But I suggest that the houses you buy for your eldest and second sons' families be far apart, not in the same new village, but preferably in different districts! And far away from where we'll live in the future."
"Hmph! Don't you understand the saying 'familiarity breeds contempt'? Can't you see that the eldest son's wife and the third son's wife don't like the second son's wife at all?"
When Zeng Lijuan heard Lao Huang mention this, her brows furrowed again. Parents really hope for harmony and prosperity in the family. A harmonious family is the greatest wish of parents, but unfortunately, it is almost impossible.
"You!" Zeng Lijuan pointed at Lao Huang with her finger, dissatisfied.
However, Zeng Lijuan still thought that Lao Huang's words made sense, so she called Huang Xiaochuan over for a chat.
"Xiao Chuan! I want to discuss this with you. I'm planning to buy an apartment for your second brother in Shanghai."
Huang Xiaochuan waved his hand: "Mom! You don't need to discuss this with me. I've already given you the money, so just go ahead and buy it."
"After all, you gave me this money, so it's only right and proper that I tell you. I also know that you don't like your sister-in-law, so I need to give you a heads-up beforehand."
Huang Xiaochuan frankly said, "These are two different things. I do not like my second sister-in-law, but that has nothing to do with whether you buy them a house or not. Besides, I gave you the money, so it's yours. You can use it however you like. Furthermore, my second brother and sister-in-law have their own lives. As long as my second brother is happy, that's all that matters."
Hearing Huang Xiaochuan's words, Zeng Lijuan was no longer worried. However, she also understood from her youngest son's words that he would not help his second brother in the future unless she and his father asked him for help.
Zeng Lijuan remained silent, but this was already the best possible outcome. So, getting a wife is really important. It's because the second son found such a woman that the relationship between the three brothers is about to become estranged.
With Yu Xiang's leave about to expire, she and Huang Xiaochuan prepared to return to Shanghai.
"Alright! Mom and Dad, don't bother seeing me off. If you have time, come stay with me or Yu Wei for a while." Yu Xiang was saying goodbye to Lao Yu and Zheng Aiying.
Zeng Lijuan also told Huang Xiaochuan, "Tell the driver to drive slowly and be careful on the road."
Huang Xiaochuan nodded: "Mom, I'll wait for your call. I'll arrange a car to pick you up when you have time."
"Okay! I'll call you when I'm done!"
Around 5 p.m., the two returned to Shanghai and their first stop was Yu Wei's house.
When the two left, it was inconvenient to take Big Stick and Little Stick with them, but there was no one at home, so they entrusted Big Stick and Little Stick to Yu Wei's house. The two were very familiar with Yu Wei, and Huang Xiaochuan felt at ease leaving them with him.
It was Sunday, and Yu Wei and his wife were both at home. When they saw Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang arrive, Yu Wei actually complained that the two of them had come back too early.
"Why did you come back so early? Why didn't you stay a few more days?"
Huang Xiaochuan put the things his mother-in-law Zheng Aiying had given to Yu Wei into his arms, then hugged the big and small sticks that were frolicking and whimpering at him and rubbed them vigorously.
"I came to pick them up while I was at it."
Yu Wei pleaded, "You've just gotten back, why don't you and my sister rest for a few days first? I'll personally deliver the big stick and the small stick to you later."
Huang Xiaochuan guessed what Yu Wei was thinking.
"If you like it, why don't you just get one yourself? You'll feel closer to one you raised yourself."
"The key is that you have to raise them from a young age! It's too much trouble!"
Tang Yuan bluntly exposed Yu Wei's idea: "Brother-in-law, he's been going out with Big Stick and Little Stick these past few days, feeling incredibly cool, getting so many stares. Now that you've taken Big Stick and Little Stick away, he can't go out showing off anymore."
Yu Wei glared at Tang Yuan with displeasure, but Tang Yuan retorted without backing down, "What? I was right, wasn't I?"
"I only exchanged a few words with them, why are you still holding a grudge?"
"Tch! Are you just taking your dog for a walk? I bet you're using that as an excuse to hit on girls."
Seeing that the two were about to clash, Huang Xiaochuan didn't want to get involved in their affairs. Yu Xiang did the same. The two of them each grabbed a rope and left immediately, leaving Yu Wei and Tang Yuan to argue on their own.