Chapter 161: Arguing with Mother

When mother brought up those past events again, her tone was nonchalant.

But only Lin Qingyan could feel how great a grievance and insult that was for her already proud mother.

Seeing her daughter silent, Yu Wanrong brushed her daughter's hair while gently comforting her.

"It's fine, it's all in the past. Look, my life with your dad is going well now. By the way, how did you find your way here?"

Lin Qingyan forced a smile, after all it was a reunion day, not a time to stay sad.

Just as she was about to speak, Yu Wanrong clapped her hands suddenly: "I know who helped you; it must have been your Qin Bobo who lent a hand."

When she heard her mother mention Qin Zhaochun, Lin Qingyan's face showed a helpless expression.

Not to mention helping; they wouldn't even take a letter.

"Mom, it was Grandpa Lei Zhan'ge who found out for me and even gave me an Introduction Letter."

Yu Wanrong recalled: "Lei Zhan'ge? I think I've heard that name, but he's neither kin nor close to our family; why would he help us?"

If anyone should help, it should be Director Qin; you're his future daughter-in-law, hey, by the way Yan Yan, and that Shou Sheng, you all…

"Mom!" Lin Qingyan stood up: "Don't mention him, I don't want to talk about their family."

"Look, what's wrong with you? I didn't say anything."

Lin Qingyan took a gentle breath; she didn't want to argue with her mother on this reunion day.

After sitting down again, she hugged Yu Wanrong's arm: "Mom, I won't stay here for more than two days; I have to rush back. I just want to learn more about your life here."

Yu Wanrong smiled, snuggling affectionately against her daughter's head: "Alright, you coming here—no idea how happy Mom is. These past years, your dad and I have missed you every moment."

"I miss Mom too; it's not just about seeing you, I also brought you many things."

Lin Qingyan opened the bundle she brought; besides some pastries, there were also torn fabrics.

"Mom, keep this money and grain tickets safe; the New Year is coming, don't let things get too tight."

There were also some Meat Tickets; on the train, she exchanged them for braised pork and gave it to Da Kui and the others.

Yu Wanrong, seeing she held over a dozen coins, asked puzzled: "Yan Yan, where did you get so much money?"

Lin Qingyan patted her mother's hand, telling her to keep it: "This is the salary I earned."

"Earned salary? That can't be possible!"

Although they hadn't heard any news about their daughter these years, she and her husband could imagine that a daughter alone in the Capital City must be living very frugally.

Moreover, because of Lin Zhenfeng's influence, no one would refer her daughter for a job.

"Be honest with Mom, are you now sent down to the countryside for a labor team?"

On sleepless nights, she and her husband had discussed countless times that for their daughter to survive, the only possibility was to become an Educated Youth.

Lin Qingyan, holding her mother's arm, said: "Mom, at first I planned to become an Educated Youth, but later things changed. I first worked at a Tea Stall, and these past few days I transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a translator."

"Ministry of Foreign Affairs?" Yu Wanrong opened her mouth in surprise, then shook her head: "Impossible! You must be trying to spare Mom's feelings. I know you care about Mom and don't want us to worry…"

"Mom! I really went to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I'm not lying to you."

"Who went to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?" Lin Zhenfeng, who had just been out for a while, returned and busied himself at the stove for a bit before walking over to speak.

"Yan Yan, you're starving, right? Dad made a tasty stew for you."

"Hmm, I've been wanting to eat Dad's cooking for a long time." Lin Qingyan pulled her father over to sit with them.

At this moment, Yu Wanrong continued: "Your daughter, your beloved daughter, got a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"Huh? Really?" Lin Zhenfeng wore a look of disbelief.

"It's true, Dad."

"Oh, that's great! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs isn't a place ordinary people can enter; my daughter has the ability, she's better than Dad."

Yu Wanrong glared at him: "Why can't you grasp the point?"

"What point? The point is my daughter went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing glory to our family."

Yu Wanrong rolled her eyes: "Whether it adds glory is another matter; first ask her how she got into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Being reminded by Yu Wanrong, Lin Zhenfeng realized something was off.

"Yes, Yan Yan, with Dad like this, you're certainly affected; first, the political vetting means you couldn't possibly work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Yu Wanrong, unable to wait, took over: "Yan Yan, this time finding you a job must have been thanks to Qin Bobo's help, right?"

"Oh, it's not, Mom…"

Anyway, there was plenty of time, so Lin Qingyan recounted the whole story of buying a warship, becoming a translator, and the events before and after.

Having ruled for so many years, Lin Zhenfeng keenly spotted a key figure from these events.

"Lu Cheng? The third son of the old Lu family? He was the one who gave you the opportunity?"

"Yes, Dad, I can stay in the Capital City because Lu Cheng helped me a lot."

Lin Zhenfeng nodded happily: "That kid, I know, has been clever and quick-witted since he was little…"

Lin Qingyan stared eagerly, waiting for her father to continue praising, so she could seize the chance of his approval to reveal that she and Lu Cheng were already married.

But Lin Zhenfeng, after recalling for a while, could only come up with the four words "clever and quick-witted" to describe his impression of Lu Cheng.

Seeing her father truly at a loss for praise, Lin Qingyan gave a slightly disappointed pout.

At this point, Yu Wanrong said: "So it's the old Lu family. I remember you used to get along especially well with Ying Ying from their family. Our family hasn't been short of helping them, so finding you a job is only natural."

Lin Qingyan, displeased, replied: "Mom, how can you say that? Uncle Lu's family has been very kind to me; just because they're willing to help, how does it become a given?"

Yu Wanrong, seeing her daughter angry, loosened up: "Alright, alright, I admit I was wrong; I thank them then."

"You're so perfunctory! Not sincere at all."

Lin Qingyan, dissatisfied, continued: "There's something I never told you—about that Qin Shousheng you keep thinking of. I wrote a letter to his father, hoping Qin Bobo would inquire about you, but they didn't even look at the letter and returned it."

Yu Wanrong didn't think it was a big deal: "Since your dad is like this now, people are surely afraid of the repercussions; that's understandable."

Lin Qingyan argued logically: "So Lu Uncle's family aren't afraid of any impact?"

Yu Wanrong replied: "Look at you, child, can it be the same? Your Qin Bobo is an agency official in a high position; old Lu is just an ordinary worker. Helping our family is his honor."

Yu Wanrong thought that saying this was fine, with no problem at all; back when her husband was employed, whenever there was any little matter at home, many people would rush to volunteer to help.

But Lin Qingyan was not happy at all hearing this: "Mom, how can you say that? Dad is like this now; go ask around— is there anyone willing to step up?"

Seeing the mother and daughter about to argue again just like before, after only a couple of sentences, Lin Zhenfeng hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

All right, all right, today is a day for our family to reunite; let's not talk about unhappy things— first eat, Dad stewed two pieces of spare ribs for you, especially fragrant…

Lin Qingyan took a breath, she had decided; when they ate later, she would tell her parents about her marriage to Lu Cheng.