Chapter 78

That's quite a bit of a temper.

"What? What are you laughing at? You don't believe me either?" Gu Yinxing glanced at him sideways, her eyes filled with intimidation.

Yan Ren quickly waved his hand, put the bottle aside, and said, "No, no, you're so amazing. I might need your help in the future. I never thought my boyfriend would be so ambitious. You're really amazing. You have to treat me to a meal today."

Gu Yinxing was overjoyed by the flattery.

She muttered "Don't come near me," but the smile on her face wouldn't leave her lips.

During dinner, Gu Yinxing told Yan Ren about her plan: she intended to study hard at home after work for the next two months. After all, although she didn't have to take the college entrance exam, she would still have to learn the things she needed to learn after entering university.

Yan Ren listened to her muttering about how difficult math and English were, his eyes always smiling.

"Grandpa, Grandma, I'm home."

After taking Gu Yinxing home, Yan Ren took the packed dishes back to the military Compound where his parents lived. His parents loved Russian food, especially Grandma Yan's favorite Russian sausages.

Grandpa Yan and Grandma Yan hadn't eaten yet. Hearing the noise, Grandma Yan came out. "Yan Ren, you've come back just in time. We're about to eat. Let me ask Xiao Liu to get you some more chopsticks and a bowl."

"Grandma, I've already eaten out. I also packed a few dishes for you. Please try them and see if they taste good."

Yan Ren put down the lunchbox and asked Xiao Liu to go to the kitchen to get some bowls and plates to serve the food.

Grandma Yan's face was full of kindness. "Okay, okay, you went out to eat with Xiao Gu, right?"

Yan Ren looked somewhat embarrassed.

He coughed, "Grandma."

Grandma Yan smiled and said, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You should go out and have fun more often."

Grandpa was reading the newspaper when he suddenly put it down and said, "I heard something happened to Xiao Gu at the hospital. Did he make a mistake?"

Yan Ren was somewhat taken aback.

He looked at Grandma Yan with a puzzled expression.

Grandma Yan quickly gave Grandpa a meaningful look. Grandpa, with his gray hair and serious expression, shook the newspaper in his hand and said, "What's there to hide? If you've made a mistake, you should admit it. Making a mistake isn't shameful; what's shameful is knowing you're wrong and not correcting it."

Grandma Yan said, "Why are you saying all this, old man? I think Xiao Gu is a fine person. This is probably just that woman talking nonsense."

Grandma Yan is Yan Ren protective of her son. Yan Ren finally has a girlfriend, and their relationship is so good. Liu Yulan is just stirring up trouble, even coming here specifically to say that he made a mistake in the hospital. Isn't she deliberately looking for trouble?

"What do you know? These are matters of character; we need to find out the truth about them."

Grandpa looked serious and his attitude was very firm.

Yan Ren smiled and said, "Grandpa's words make sense, but this is a misunderstanding..."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he recounted the whole story of Gu Yinxing's affair.

"Yin Xing also said that this opportunity to go to university is a rare one for her, and she will study hard and serve the country in the future." Yan Ren looks like a very serious person, but in fact, he can be quite tactful when necessary.

He worried that the two elders would think that Gu Yinxing got the opportunity by luck, so he embellished Gu Yinxing's words.

"I knew Xiao Gu didn't seem like the careless type. See, I was wrong about the young lady!" Grandma Yan rolled her eyes at Grandpa Yan. "If you could believe that woman's words, the sun would rise in the west. Yan Ren, go back and tell the girl to study hard. If she doesn't understand something, she can come and ask me. Although your grandma graduated many years ago, she hasn't fallen behind in her studies. I even helped your Grandma Wu's homework before."

"That's wonderful! Yin Xing was worried about falling behind her classmates in her studies. Grandma, you're so smart, if you could just give her a little guidance," Yan Ren said, "Yin Xing wouldn't have to worry about her studies at all."

Grandpa Yan remained silent, which clearly meant he acquiesced.

Yan Ren stayed in the old couple's courtyard for one night and left the next day. Before leaving, he took with him a bunch of tonics, snacks and candies that the old lady had given him.

The Old Master and woman had many friends and students from the past, especially the old woman, who used to be a university professor. Although she retired early, her students would always visit her whenever they returned to Capital, bringing local specialties from various places with them.

The two elderly people are both well cared for by doctors, so they can't possibly finish all the tonics and snacks. In the past, they would give them to relatives and friends, but now they naturally give them to their grandson and daughter-in-law.

Before heading to work, Yan Ren rushed to the Compound Courtyard, his seven or eight bags of things drawing considerable attention.

He Chunlian felt embarrassed and said, "Xiao Yan, there's really no need to send these things. You always buy so many things for our family," especially when you take her daughter out to eat, drink, and Yan Ren. Ever since she started dating Yan Ren, her daughter's face has gotten noticeably rounder. "Why don't you take these nice things back and give them to your bosses and colleagues?"

"Auntie, these were all specially requested by my grandmother to be given to your family."

Yan Ren said, "If you don't accept it, I won't be able to explain myself."

After saying that, he put his things down without another word, then said "Come over after get off work" and hurried off to work.

Auntie Sun from next door came over, and seeing all the things on the ground, she couldn't help but show envy on her face. "Sister, you've found a good son-in-law! He's so thoughtful! Look at all this stuff."

Although He Chunlian wanted to say that she didn't care about these things, she couldn't help but feel vain. "Oh, you're right, this Xiao Yan is just too honest. He brings me things every few days. I'm getting embarrassed. Auntie, here's a bag of candy for you to sweeten your mouth."

"Oh dear, I can't accept this."

Auntie Sun blushed slightly.

He Chunlian could see her unease, so she insisted on putting the things in her hands, saying, "Why are you being so polite with our family? You've watched Yin Xing and the others grow up since they were little. If we ever have a banquet, we'll have to invite you and your husband to sit at the head table."

Hearing this, Auntie Sun accepted the gift with embarrassment. He Chunlian then brought up the matter of Gu Yinxing being wronged, and Auntie Sun, filled with righteous indignation, gave Lin Fengxian a thorough dressing-down before returning home.

"They're really burning money! They just gave away such a big bag of candy like that!"

From the doorway of the East Wing Room, Huang Xirong's sarcastic voice could be heard.

He Chunlian ignored her completely. She hadn't given away this bag of candy for free. That Auntie Sun was a gossip and a loudmouth. If she gave away a bag of candy, she would definitely tell everyone that Gu Yinxing had been framed. A bag of candy could solve all the gossip in the Compound Courtyard. That was really a good deal.

Auntie Sun had obviously heard Huang Xirong's words, and she was embarrassed. Although she didn't dare to go out and argue with Huang Xirong, she knew that if she didn't argue with him to his face, she would surely berate him behind his back.

In less than half a day, Auntie Sun had spread the word throughout the Compound that Yan Ren had come to deliver gifts and that Gu Yinxing had actually been framed.

While saying this, Auntie Sun didn't forget to put others down, "Oh my, look at what other people's sons-in-law are giving as gifts! These are all foreign candies; we wouldn't even dare to buy them. And look at so-and-so's son-in-law; he's getting married in a few days and hasn't sent anything to his mother-in-law's house. It's infuriating to compare people like this."

"Auntie Sun, didn't we hear that her son-in-law is quite well-off?"

Widow Zhao ate her candy while gesturing towards the backyard, as if to say that it didn't need to be explicitly stated whose house it was.

Auntie Sun snorted, "The terms are good, but even if someone has a hundred, they might not be willing to spend fifty on them. You just wait and see. They invited us to their wedding banquet, right? We'll see what they serve that day."

Song Mei was well aware of the rumors circulating in the Compound.

She had just bought a red dress and was happily admiring herself in the mirror when she heard Huang Xirong say this upon returning, and she immediately burst into tears.

"What do you mean? Are you implying that the man I found is inferior to the one Gu Yinxing found?"

Song Mei sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) wiping away tears, not even wanting to change her clothes.

Huang Xirong said, "You can't blame people for saying that Donglai has been acting dishonestly lately. He used to come to our house all the time, but we haven't seen him much these past few days, and he hasn't brought us anything."

Huang Xirong pulled at her skirt, glancing at her daughter.

Song Mei was proud, and as expected, she felt wronged upon hearing this. "What kind of attitude is this? Does he think our dowry is too small? Why doesn't he go and ask around in other parts of Beijing? Isn't this how it is for everyone? Our family is considered good; we haven't even deducted any from his bride price!"

"Hey, Xiao Mei, these are all minor matters,"

Huang Xirong sighed, "The most important thing is that everyone is looking forward to your wedding banquet. If we hold the banquet according to the menu that the Zhao Family suggested, our family will really become a laughing stock."

Song Mei's lips moved slightly. "Mom, do you want me to Donglai to add a few more main dishes?"

Huang Xirong walked over and patted Song Mei on the shoulder. "Daughter, Mom knows you've had a tough time, but you have to think about it. You only get married once in your life. If you don't do it well, those people outside will laugh at you for the rest of your life. Talk to Donglai about it. They're not short of money or coupons, and they only have one son. If they don't spend it now, when will they?"

Huang Xirong had his own reasons for saying this.

She was determined to compete with He Chunlian. He Chunlian's daughter had found such a well-off and generous son-in-law, Zhao Donglai already at a disadvantage from the start. If his wedding was also lackluster, how could he face people?

Song Mei, on the other hand, was easily influenced but lacked her own opinions. Originally, because of the lack of a dowry, Zhao Family felt somewhat ashamed in front of Zhao Donglai and the Zhao family. But now, after listening to her mother's words, she felt more and more that the Zhao Family had wronged her.

The day before the wedding, Song Mei went to find Zhao Donglai.

Zhao Donglai at work when he heard her coming. He paused for a moment, said a few words to his colleagues, and then came out. He and Song Mei went into the alley. "Xiao Mei, is something wrong? You're getting married tomorrow."

The Zhao Family is quite traditional, and they believe that the engaged couple cannot meet in the days leading up to the wedding. That's why Zhao Donglai hasn't gone to see Song Mei in the past few days.

Song Mei, her eyes red with grievance, said, "Donglai, we're having our wedding tomorrow, and your family really only plans to serve a few dishes, and that's all the cigarettes and alcohol..."

She spoke while sobbing.

Zhao Donglai's heart skipped a beat. He had already guessed Song Mei's purpose. He forced a smile and said, "Xiao Mei, our family has already spent a lot of money on our wedding. The TV, sewing machine, and watch have all cost so much. If the banquet costs even more, my parents won't be happy."

"I'm not happy about it. You're your parents' only child."

Song Mei was incredulous, her voice inevitably a little shrill.

Zhao Donglai saw her contorted and grotesque expression, he subconsciously took a step back, his face showing a dazed look, as if he hadn't expected Song Mei to react this way.

Seeing his expression, Song Mei realized she had been too obvious, so she quickly lowered her head and tidied her hair. "What I mean is, marriage is a lifelong commitment. If it's handled poorly, not only will we be laughed at, but you will be laughed at too."

Song Mei's eyes reddened, and she looked at Zhao Donglai with a pitiful expression. "Donglai, you have no idea how many people are waiting to see us make a fool of ourselves, especially that Gu Yinxing, she... she said..."

"What did she say?!"

Upon hearing the name Gu Yinxing, Zhao Donglai's expression immediately turned sour. Although Zhao Donglai didn't say it aloud, he harbored a deep resentment about Gu Yinxing dumping him and getting together with Yan Ren Gu Yinxing.

Song Mei pouted, "I'd better not tell you, you'll definitely get angry."

Zhao Donglai said, "Tell me, and I promise I won't get angry!"

Song Mei glanced at him, then lowered her head. "She said our wedding banquet will definitely not be as good as hers and Yan Ren's. If I marry you, then I can expect to suffer."

Zhao Donglai was furious.

For a man, the greatest insult is being mocked by his ex-girlfriend.

Song Mei had a good grasp of Zhao Donglai's pride, Zhao Donglai immediately changed his mind, took leave, and went home to discuss how to hold the banquet.

Seeing him storm off in anger, Song Mei knew that the matter was almost certain to succeed.

The next morning, Song Mei got up early.

It's rare for the Song Family to have a happy occasion, so Huang Xirong went out early in the morning to buy breakfast. On her way back, she greeted the neighbors all the way, saying, "My daughter is getting married today, you all have to come!"

"Definitely, definitely." Faced with this, everyone readily agreed.

Huang Xirong even made a special trip to the Gu Family.