Chapter 135: 90: Quancheng Water Family Chapter 135 Making Qipao, the Bride Must Be Beautiful

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Xiyu's female cousin can be arranged a Vice Store Manager position......"

Guben thought carefully: "Let her be your spy, keeping you informed of everything here at all times, and any abnormalities can be discovered promptly."

"Fine, let's do that......"

Wang Fan's eyes lit up: "I also think she's quite sharp and trustworthy."

"She's ambitious, wants to start her own company."

Guben glanced at him, smiling meaningfully: "Before accumulating enough capital, she won't have divided loyalties, but once her wings harden, it's not certain—she won't just oppose you, she might even poach your workers......."

"Hmph."

Wang Fan was slapped in the face on the spot, feeling a bit unable to save face: "Her ambition isn't small, wanting to start her own company, does she think doing business is playing house? Without strong capital and connections, with just that little ability of hers, won't she be cheated to death?"

"Sister Yan is here."

Li Liang couldn't stand his complaining: "In front of her, you dare to look down on women?"

"Hey hey, you two talk your talk, don't drag me into it."

Li Yan was a person of influence, decisively distancing herself; the other staff of the Program Group packed up their equipment, and she also took her leave on that pretext, getting into the car with the main force and leaving Wangfu Pool.

——

Courtyard, Xigengdao Street

Since the well in Wu Meng's small courtyard, after expert appraisal, became one of the new Qi Shi Er Ming Quan, the Neighborhood Committee also took it to heart, taking advantage of the Old City District renovation opportunity to have people build a fence around the spring water and plant lotus flowers.

Lin Xiyu followed Wu Meng into the small courtyard, and at a glance saw the lush green lotus leaves, showing vibrant vitality under the early autumn sunlight.

"So pretty, are these lotus flowers planted by your family?"

"No, they were planted by the Neighborhood Committee......"

Wu Meng looked a bit proud: "Especially many people have come to my house to draw water these days, all saying this courtyard has good feng shui and the water has spirit, and even more people have come to ask my mom to make clothes."

"Only the spring water has spirit?"

Lin Xiyu smiled and scolded playfully: "No credit for the Program Group? They specially filmed a special episode at your house to help your mom advertise."

"Hahaha."

Wu Meng laughed out loud happily: "Your expression, and your words, are exactly the same as when Sister Yan came to my house to change clothes earlier."

"Cough cough."

Lin Xiyu's ears turned red, and she explained to herself: "Then it shows great minds think alike, Sister Yan and I share the same view."

"Yes yes yes, both of you are right."

Wu Meng smiled and echoed: "I sincerely thank you both; later when making clothes, let my mom give you a discount, okay?"

"That's more like it."

Lin Xiyu was satisfied, and nodded in a tsundere manner.

"Xiyu is here? Come in quickly."

Wu Meng's mother heard the laughter and talking outside, lifted the curtain, and waved to her.

"Auntie, hello."

Lin Xiyu and Wu Meng were good friends, often visiting each other's homes; at her house she was just like at her own, not at all reserved.

"Your Uncle Wu caught some river shrimp from the river ditch at Nan Shan; Auntie fried them, I'll get them for you to try."

Wu Ma saw the lovely and cute young maiden, full of affection, put down the curtain, and brought back a plate of fried river shrimp from the kitchen.

"Wow, smells so good."

Lin Xiyu smelled the fragrance, sniffing intoxicatedly: "Every time I come I get to eat delicious food, so happy, thank you Auntie."

"Thank what."

Wu Ma gave each of the two children a pair of chopsticks: "Auntie hasn't thanked you yet either; these three years Wu Meng has been in high school, fortunately you've helped her, otherwise this silly girl would have been bullied to death."

"Mom, why bring this up again?"

Wu Meng choked, the fried shrimp in her mouth no longer tasted good.

"What did I say, you glare at me......"

Wu Ma's face sank, dissatisfiedly scolding: "I'm not doing this for your own good, wanting Xiyu to put in more effort, so she can help you more in the future......"

"Auntie, don't worry, I will......"

Lin Xiyu, softened by food, curried favor and acted cute: "Mengmeng and I are good friends; if I don't help her, who do I help......"

"Are the fried shrimp delicious?"

Wu Ma was satisfied, smiling even more kindly and amiably.

"Delicious."

Lin Xiyu smiled and echoed.

"Delicious, eat more."

Wu Ma snatched the chopsticks from her own daughter's hand and personally picked up a fried shrimp for her.

The river shrimp were only one-third the size of an adult finger, coated in batter, sprinkled with salt, fried until crispy and crunchy, leaving fragrance in the mouth, so delicious it need not be said.

Lin Xiyu chewed with relish, smiling with narrowed eyes.

"Mom, who is your real daughter?"

Wu Meng looked at the snatched chopsticks, feeling utterly speechless.

"Your dad's fried river shrimp, and you've eaten plenty."

Wu Ma said as a matter of course: "Xiyu rarely comes once, what's wrong with letting her eat something?"

"She's getting engaged soon."

Wu Meng couldn't argue with her mother, so she played her trump card: "Letting her eat now isn't being good to her, it's harming her; if she gets fat, her clothes won't look good."

Lin Xiyu: "......."

A mouthful of crispy, peppery tender small river shrimp instantly lost its flavor.

"Xiyu is getting engaged?"

Wu Ma's eyes lit up at the words, feeling even more surprised and delighted.

"Mm..."

Lin Xiyu's ear root turned red, taking on a flush.

"With Gu Lao's grandson?"

Wu Ma asked tentatively: "The one who came to our house last time, called Guben?"

"Mm."

Lin Xiyu nodded shyly.

"That's really great."

Wu Ma was genuinely happy for her: "Xiyu is truly blessed to marry Gu Lao's grandson; among all the unmarried girls in this area, who isn't staring longingly, all wanting to climb a high branch, turning a sparrow into a phoenix?"

"Cough cough."

Hearing "climb a high branch," Lin Xiyu didn't know why, but a figure suddenly flashed before her eyes.

Thinking of Guben's mother, who still hadn't agreed.

Her heart felt stifled, as if a large stone was pressing down, making her very uncomfortable.

"Mom, what are you saying?"

Wu Meng saw her expression was off and looked displeased: "What sparrow turning into a phoenix? If you can't speak properly, don't say anything. Everything was fine, but you've made it so even the fried shrimp isn't fragrant anymore."

"I didn't say Xiyu."

Wu Ma glared, displeased: "I'm talking about the neighbors near our home."

"Xiyu came this time to make a qipao."

Wu Meng didn't want to argue with her mother, using this as a lead to liven the atmosphere: "This is your specialty; whether the bride can shine at the engagement banquet depends on you."

"Making a qipao is good."

Hearing about making clothes, Wu Ma instantly became spirited: "Why didn't you say so earlier..."

"Did you give me a chance to speak?"

Wu Meng complained with a bitter face: "As soon as you get home, you revolve around Xiyu, not even giving me a proper look."

"You speak with your mouth, not your eyes."

Wu Ma teased her with a smile: "If I don't look at you, you won't speak?"

"I was wrong, alright?"

Wu Meng was speechless at her mother's tyranny: "Stop teasing me, hurry up and measure Xiyu for clothes; Guben and Li Liang are still waiting outside."

"What are they standing outside for?"

Wu Ma's eyes lit up, beaming: "It's so hot, it would be great to come inside; there's an electric fan in the room, cool."

"Xiyu needs to try on clothes."

Wu Meng taught from her own experience: "Why let those men in? If the engagement gift clothes are seen beforehand, there's no freshness; you have to hide it from him, and make a dazzling appearance on that day, so he'll find her especially stunning."

"Makes sense."

Lin Xiyu smiled and agreed: "Truly someone who's already engaged; no wonder Li Liang was infatuated on the engagement day; so this is the trick."

"You saw through me?"

Wu Meng raised her eyebrow, smug: "This is my personal experience; I wouldn't tell just anyone."

"This girl..."

Wu Ma laughed and scolded: "Since getting engaged, you've become more and more shameless."

"Hehe."

Wu Meng didn't care about her mother's teasing, covering her mouth and laughing stupidly happily.

"That's Li Liang's doing."

Lin Xiyu had her own view: "They say love is like flower dew, most nourishing; whether a woman is happy or not, you don't need to look at anything else, just see if she loves to smile; a woman who loves to smile definitely has someone dote on her, otherwise she wouldn't smile so happily."

"Listen, listen, how well Xiyu speaks."

These words truly reached Wu Ma's heart; she was one hundred and twenty percent satisfied with this son-in-law Li Liang, and hearing outsiders praise the son-in-law for being good to her daughter made her happy from the bottom of her heart.

"Xiyu speaks so well, praising you so happily..."

Wu Meng imitated Wang Fan's funny manner, pinching her voice to sound shaky: "Aren't you going to show some appreciation, give her a discount?"

"What discount?"

Wu Ma waved her hand generously: "The qipao counts as Auntie Zhao's gift to you, no money."

"Ah?"

Lin Xiyu hurriedly declined: "Making a qipao is very expensive, no no..."

"What's wrong with that?"

Wu Ma pretended to be displeased: "Being polite with Auntie Zhao? You're practically raised by Auntie Zhao, no different from her own daughter; this qipao counts as Auntie Zhao's engagement gift to you; as long as you wear it and get engaged beautifully, Auntie Zhao will be satisfied."

"This gift is too precious..."

Lin Xiyu's eyes flashed with emotion; just as she was about to decline, Wu Meng interrupted her.

「My mom is giving it to you, you just take it. She's a real Iron Rooster—she doesn't pluck a feather easily. It's only you who could make her willingly give away her clothes... 」

「Cough, cough. 」

Lin Xiyu was amused by her calling her an Iron Rooster; the hot tears that had almost surged forth vanished in an instant, her heart full of emotion.

「What on earth are you talking about, you child? 」

Wu Ma laughed in anger: 「Do you badmouth your own mother like that? It's all your father's fault for spoiling you into this, never serious all day. 」

「Iron Rooster is what my dad calls her... 」

Wu Meng accidentally let it slip.

「Hey, you two father and daughter, do you want to anger me to death? 」

Wu Ma, upon hearing this, exploded like a firecracker being lit.

「Achoo. 」

Wu Ba, who was cooking at the Hotel, inexplicably sneezed.

——

「Auntie, Mengmeng was just joking... 」

Lin Xiyu laughed and cried at the same time: 「Please don't take it seriously... 」

「No way. 」

Wu Ma refused to let up, casually grabbing a feather duster: 「Today she must explain herself clearly. What tongues have those two father and daughter been wagging behind my back? Apparently, in their hearts, I'm just a stingy Iron Rooster who won't part with a single hair. 」

「Someone help, save me, my mom is going to beat me... 」

How could Wu Meng wait to be beaten? She howled and ran out of the room.

「What's going on? Why are they making a fuss again out of nowhere... 」

Li Liang heard the commotion at the Yard entrance, strode in with his long legs, crossing several steps at once.

Wu Meng hid behind Li Liang, pouting as she complained: 「My mom is biased. She says Xiyu is her own daughter, only dotes on her and not me. 」

「That's it? 」

Li Liang didn't believe her.

「And... 」

Wu Meng guiltily averted her gaze: 「My dad says my mom is too stingy, holds onto money too tightly. His pockets are so clean he doesn't even have money to buy a Cigarette. 」

Li Liang sharply caught the key point: 「Your dad said that, so how would your mom know? 」

「Cough, cough. 」

Wu Meng coughed embarrassedly twice: 「I just muttered a sentence quietly. I didn't expect my mom's ears to be so good that she actually heard it. 」

Li Liang: 「....... 」

Truly speechless at such a trouble-causing daughter.

——

For the sake of her son-in-law, Wu Ma, for once, held back her anger and didn't chase people around the Yard with a feather duster to beat them.

Wu Meng luckily escaped the disaster and secretly rejoiced.

「You, what can I say about you? 」

Li Liang saw her laughing without a care, sighed helplessly: 「Arguing with your mom, you had to drag your dad into it. Your dad is in for it now; who knows how much suffering he'll endure when he gets home. 」

「No way. 」

Wu Meng said firmly: 「Don't look at how loudly my mom yells. She's actually sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. My dad has complained about her being too controlling for more than a day or two. If she really cared, she would have fought with him countless times already. 」

「Is your mom really that strict? 」

Li Liang spoke up for his father-in-law.

Not even having money to buy a Cigarette in his pocket—truly, it was too pitiful.

「This isn't me talking nonsense... 」

Wu Meng raised her hand to swear: 「It was really my dad who got drunk and complained to me, said it himself? 」

「Can you believe what a drunk says? 」

Li Liang blinked his eyes, showing doubt.

「Why can't it be believed? 」

Wu Meng said righteously: 「Don't they say 'drunken words are sober thoughts'? Anyway, it's not something I made up. 」

「I don't believe it. 」

Li Liang smiled black-belliedly: 「Unless you get him drunk again and let me hear it with my own ears. 」

Wu Meng: 「...... 」

Coaxing her to get her father-in-law drunk.

He really dared to do it!

——

Lin Xiyu found it hard to refuse her kindness and finally agreed to accept the betrothal gift Wu Ma gave her.

Choosing fabric, patterns, and styles took quite a lot of time.

Once everything was settled, the Clock already pointed to twelve noon.

「At this hour, your Grandma and the others should have already eaten Rice. 」

Guben glanced at his watch, estimating the time: 「Don't go back. Come home with me. 」

「Go where? 」

Lin Xiyu didn't hear clearly and asked again.

「My home... 」

Guben pointed toward Wangfu Pool West Street: "My family eats dinner late; Grandmother only cooks after Grandfather returns from training at Jiefang Pavilion."

"Ah?"

Lin Xiyu panicked inside, instinctively wanting to refuse: "So sudden, I haven't prepared at all."

"It's just a simple home-cooked meal, what's there to prepare?"

"At least buy a gift for the first visit?"

"When you went to my grandfather's house, you didn't bring a gift either."

"That's different."

"How is it different?"

"Anyway, it's just different."

Lin Xiyu nervously broke out in a cold sweat.

"You wouldn't be......."

Guben saw through her worry and asked tentatively: "Still worried that Grandfather and Grandmother will interfere with us being together?"