Chapter 203: 90: A Family by the Spring, Chapter 203: That Longing Little Glance Made Even Her Biological Father Sour

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"This is too absurd."

Wu's mother said in disbelief: "Don't the relevant departments care? Just let them speculate in houses? House prices have risen so high that ordinary people can't afford them, won't everything fall into chaos?"

"Mom, we ordinary folks shouldn't worry about that."

Wu Meng said with a mix of laughter and exasperation: "We're telling you this because we want you to make a decision quickly, buy while house prices haven't risen yet, seize the time to buy, don't wait until prices go up to regret it."

"Buying a house isn't a matter of one or two hundred, or a few dozen yuan?"

Wu's mother, feeling the pinch of money, spoke vaguely: "Spending tens of thousands all at once, I can't decide on my own, I have to discuss it with your dad."

"Once you start discussing it, who knows when you'll finish discussing it."

Wu Meng saw her mother's hesitation, didn't want to waste more breath, and cheerfully sidled up to Lin Xiyu: "My mom isn't buying, I'll buy, let's buy a house together in Jinan, buy one right next door, be neighbors."

"You want to buy a house?"

Lin Xiyu was rarely surprised.

"Li Liang and I got our marriage certificate, his family didn't prepare a new house for us, and we just got married in a muddle."

Wu Meng said as a matter of course: "If the husband's family doesn't buy one, can't I buy one myself?"

"I didn't say you couldn't buy..."

Lin Xiyu explained with a smile: "I mean, you work in Shanghai, why buy a house in Jinan?"

"How expensive are houses in Shanghai?"

Wu Meng said as a matter of course: "The little bit of money Liangzi and I saved, added together, isn't even enough to buy a toilet, it's more cost-effective to buy in Jinan, for less than one hundred thousand you can buy a set near Daming Lake, the scenery is good, and it's a prosperous area, even if we don't live there ourselves, it's easy to rent out."

"Houses in Jinan are cheap, but the appreciation space is also small."

Lin Xiyu had a different view: "I think, with the same amount of money, it's better to buy in Shanghai, pay a thirty percent down payment first, and pay off the rest in ten years. You two don't have children, with your combined salaries, paying two thousand or so a month, the pressure isn't too great."

"Ah?!"

Wu Meng wailed with a bitter face: "Then wouldn't I become a house slave?"

"You have to think this through..."

Lin Xiyu analyzed rationally: "Do you want to stay in Shanghai to develop, or return to Jinan? If you stay in Shanghai, I suggest you'd better buy a house. Renting all the time isn't a long-term solution. Looking at the trend of Shanghai real estate prices rising, rental prices will also rise with the tide. In the future, one month's rent could catch up with the mortgage payment. Renting is definitely not suitable."

"You're in Shanghai, I'll definitely stay in Shanghai."

Wu Meng spoke very nicely, but in her heart she was silently thinking: where her behind-the-scenes financial backer is, she must be there too!

Otherwise where would she earn extra income? Relying on that little bit of money from working, wanting to buy a house and pay off the mortgage, she'd starve to death.

"If you really want to stay in Shanghai, then listen to me..."

Lin Xiyu didn't know her true thoughts, a trace of emotion flashed in her eyes.

"Okay, deal."

Wu Meng nodded, pretending to be hesitant.

"Mengmeng, come out with me for a moment."

Wu's mother saw that the two had reached an agreement, and gave her daughter a look.

"Coming."

Wu Meng didn't think much of it, and followed her to the outer room.

——

"Don't meddle in Xiyu's family matters."

Wu's mother put down the curtain and scolded her daughter in a low voice: "How can you incite someone to quarrel with her own mother? If it's really about returning the betrothal gifts and forcing her mom to vacate the house, that's not just turning faces, it's creating a feud."

"Her mom is too infuriating. Who talks about their daughter like that? What 'just bear with it and it'll pass'? That someone is willing to go on a blind date with you is already like burning high incense..."

Wu Meng muttered in dissatisfaction: "I just can't stand that kind of talk, as if Xiyu is so shameful? Even if she once dated Guben, so what? Does that mean women who have been engaged are all withered flowers and inferior?"

"Some men are indeed old-fashioned and care about this..."

Wu's mother lowered her voice and said softly: "Otherwise, some families put a white handkerchief on the bed on their wedding day, just to verify whether the daughter-in-law they married is chaste."

"I spit..."

Wu Meng spat disdainfully: "If you care, don't go on blind dates. It's not like she has to marry him. Why put on airs? Wanting to be a prostitute and also set up a memorial archway—doesn't she know her own worth?"

"You child..."

Wu's mother darkened her face: "You speak so rudely, like a shrew, not at all refined."

"I work in a foreign company, what refinement do I need?"

Wu Meng sneered: "If I weren't tough, I'd have been bullied to death long ago. A colleague who was recruited with me was fired because she saw the supervisor and secretary doing improper things in the office, and the two of them deliberately found fault to dismiss her. In that kind of work environment, talking about refinement with them is simply laughable."

"Sigh."

Wu's mother regretted it again and again: "I shouldn't have agreed to let you go to Shanghai. Come back to Jinan, find a stable job, how good would that be? You had to go to a foreign company to struggle. You haven't made much money, your temper has grown, and you won't even listen to your parents."

"They say big cities temper a person."

Wu Meng said righteously: "Besides, it was you who said to follow Xiyu and hang out with her. She's in Shanghai, so naturally I'll stay in Shanghai too..."

"Xiyu is at least a teacher, works in a public institution, stable job, with security..."

Wu's mother was furious: "Unlike you, changing jobs all the time, jumping from one place to another, jumping around but not achieving anything, still treading water."

"Just quit if the work isn't going well."

Wu Meng didn't care: "Anyway, I'm still young, I have plenty of time to squander."

"You..."

Wu Meng's mother was furious: "What can I even say about you?"

"If you've got nothing to say, don't say it."

Wu Meng didn't want to listen to her old lady's nagging, quickly turned around, and ran back to her own room.

"Sigh."

Wu Meng's mother sighed deeply, and because there was an outsider present, gave up the idea of chasing after her.

—

Military District Compound.

The old master passed away, and the children and grandchildren all rushed back from various places; the whole family was more complete than during the New Year.

Fu Zheng had rarely taken leave and also returned from Nanjiang to Jinan.

Xiao Ruirui saw her father, staring with innocent big eyes, timidly glancing at him; under Fu Nainai's encouragement, she was stunned for a good while before toddling over on her short little legs.

Fu Zheng squatted down, picked up his son, looking at the small face that resembled his beloved wife, and his eye sockets turned red again uncontrollably.

"Xiao Zheng..."

Fu Nainai followed by wiping away tears: "Ruiruui's mother has been gone for many years now, Ruirui is almost four years old, you should let it go; continuing like this is no way to live. Ruirui is small and needs someone to take care of her. Squad Leader Zhu's daughter, Zhu Li, do you still remember her? That child still hasn't married to this day, always waiting for you..."

"I won't remarry..."

Fu Zheng heard the implication in his grandmother's words and decisively refused: "I plan to live like this for the rest of my life. Grandma, if you have a chance to see her, please tell her clearly for me that I'm not worth her wasting her youth on, and she shouldn't keep waiting..."

"Whether it's worth it or not, I know in my own heart."

Behind the two of them, a female voice suddenly rang out.

"Zhu Li?"

Fu Nainai was so startled her heart and liver trembled; she turned around to see the visitor clearly, and a trace of guilt flashed in her eyes.

"Fu Nainai, can you let me speak with him alone for a few words?"

Zhu Li spoke pleadingly, but her eyes stared unblinkingly at Fu Zheng.

"Whatever you have to say, say it clearly."

Fu Nainai smiled helplessly, reached out her hand, wanting to take little Ruirui from Fu Zheng's arms and carry him away together.

Little Ruirui nestled in her father's arms like a quail, hugging his neck tightly and refusing to let go.

"Sigh."

Fu Nainai had no choice but to sigh deeply and leave with a dejected turn.

—

"Will Xiao Zheng agree to Zhu Li?"

"I don't think so; the sons and grandsons of the Fu Family are all men of deep emotion."

"I actually hope he can agree; life is still long, and if he really ends up alone and desolate, it would be too pitiful..."

"Brother Zheng wouldn't think himself pitiful; he's a training fanatic, his flying skills are superb, he has already passed the selection for special stunt pilots, and this time he's on the flight formation list for the National Day Parade."

"Good fellow, this kid is impressive; participating in the parade, the first one among our Fu Family descendants."

"This can be considered the glory of bringing honor to the ancestors."

"It's a pity the old master couldn't hear this good news."

"......."

The younger generation of the Fu Family hid to one side whispering; mentioning the old master, their mood of eating melons and watching the show vanished instantly, and they all lowered their heads, showing sorrowful expressions.

—

Zhu Li didn't get her wish; in a short while she ran out of the memorial hall wiping away tears.

Those with discerning eyes knew what was going on, and no one was offensive at this time.

The memorial hall was silent; everyone was of one mind, silently lowering their heads, pretending not to see.

"Eldest Brother, you're too cold; there's no need to be so heartless, making her cry from anger."

Guben was the only exception, relying on being the younger brother, he took the lead in breaking the silence.

"Xiao Bin?!"

Indeed, Fu Zheng saw him, not only showing no displeasure, but instead revealing an expression of extreme surprise and joy.

—

Outside the memorial hall.

In a flash, five years passed; the two brothers met again, the old friend had passed away, and things were no longer as they were.

"Mother always doted on me, saying I was the son who made her proud."

"However, her most beloved son betrayed her when she was in the most pain."

【110 "Instead, it was the son she considered disobedient and unruly who didn't abandon her and went with her to the United States..."

"Instead, she believed that her disobedient, unruly son had not abandoned her, accompanying her to the United States..."

Fu Zheng thought of his deceased mother, his eyes full of self-blame and grief.

"Thinking about it this way, being a bit rebellious isn't a bad thing."

Guben smiled with relief: "If I hadn't been rebellious since childhood, I wouldn't have had the courage to go all out, give up everything in that situation, and go abroad to study..."

"Fortunately, you didn't give up your pursuit..."

Fu Zheng smiled with relief: "You can achieve academic success in a foreign land and carve out your own piece of sky."

"It's not that successful."

Guben felt ashamed: "I just won a few lawsuits and have a little fame in the legal profession; unlike you, who is already a special stunt pilot, qualified to participate in the parade, flying a plane over Tiananmen Square..."

"I can only use this method to prove that Mother's judgment was not wrong..."

Fu Zheng looked up at the sky, eyes full of hope: "Her son is indeed worthy of her pride; I hope she can see it from the heavens."

"With your words, she can die with no regrets."

Guben's eyes turned red: "Actually, we both owe her. For your future, she signed her name on the divorce agreement; to avoid dragging me down, she gave up her own life. Although she was not a gentle and virtuous mother while she lived, she protected her son in the most decisive way."

"Where are Mom's ashes buried?"

Fu Zheng couldn't help but shed tears.

"They haven't been buried..."

Guben had his own plans: "Temporarily placed in a memorial hall in Los Angeles. Once Grandfather's affairs are settled, I'll go there once more to bring the urn back."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Fu Zheng's gaze showed guilt: "I can only stay home for two days. After seeing Grandfather off, I have to go to BJ for training."

"You go do your thing..."

Guben patted his shoulder, expressing comfort as a younger brother: "You don't need to worry about the burial. I've already thought it through. We'll bury Mom next to Grandfather's grave, so they can keep each other company, and Grandfather won't worry about her even on his deathbed."

"Sigh."

Fu Zheng thought of Grandfather and felt equally guilty and uneasy.

"Don't think about it anymore. People are dead; thinking more only tortures yourself."

Guben's words had a double meaning, using this as a lead to comfort him.

"I don't want to be affected..."

Fu Zheng smiled bitterly and wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve: "Sand got in my eye, and I can't stop the tears."

"That excuse is too lame..."

Guben couldn't help but smile: "It reminds me of when Xiyu first met you. Back then, she also used that line as an excuse to hide her feelings."

"You mean when filming the documentary at Wangfu Pool..."

Reminded by him, Fu Zheng remembered that there was indeed such a thing.

"Mm."

Guben nodded: "Back then, you really made a splash, riding a motorcycle and looking cool for a while, which made Sister Yan look at you differently."

"I was young back then..."

Fu Zheng sighed faintly: "Even if you asked me to ride now, I'm not in the mood for it."

"You're not old now."

Guben wanted to comfort him: "Don't talk like such an old fogey. 'One life is just like this,' 'dying alone'—give yourself a chance. If there's someone suitable, you should still consider it. Don't let down someone's feelings for you."

"For Ruirui, I don't want to remarry."

Fu Zheng lowered his head and glanced at the little one nestled in his arms, who seemed asleep but was actually pricking up his ears to listen to the two brothers talking; the corner of his mouth curved slightly upward.

"Ruirui, you don't need to worry..."

Guben also noticed the little one was eavesdropping, and deliberately played on emotions: "Xiyu and I both like him very much. We've already told Grandma to let him come back to Shanghai with us, and we two will take care of him from now on."

Little Ruirui's ears twitched, and indeed he took his words to heart.

"You two will take care of him?"

Fu Zheng was extremely surprised: "Can that work? Ruirui has been raised by Grandma since he was little and can't be apart from her for a moment. He won't even let others hold him..."

"That was before. It's not like that now."

Guben continued to play on emotions, coaxing the little cutie: "When we were in Shanghai, we got along very happily. Especially Xiyu—she doted on Ruirui from the bottom of her heart, made him all sorts of delicious food, bought him a pile of toys, and at night she would hold him while he slept and tell him bedtime stories..."

"Is that so?"

Fu Zheng was half-believing, half-doubting, seeming to ask Guben, but his eyes were actually on his son.

Little Ruirui indeed reacted, lifting his eyelids and sneakily glancing at Guben.

That little gaze was so full of longing that it made even his biological father feel sour.