What He Feared Came to Pass

Yin Zhengchuan said, "Most of the houses here are self-built. Of course it's a village."

All... right.

Wei Zisu was doing his best to accept this fact.

Two middle-aged men and a middle-aged woman dressed as a housekeeper stood outside the entrance to a Suzhou-style courtyard residence. When they saw Yin Zhengchuan and Wei Zisu get out of the car, they hurried over to greet them.

Yin Zhengchuan took the suitcases from the driver and whispered to Wei Zisu, "The pretty one is my omega dad. The other one is my alpha father."

Actually, once he put it that way, Wei Zisu could tell them apart. The middle-aged omega really was good-looking, so much so that "pretty" was the word for him. As for the other one... how should he put it? It wasn't that he wasn't good-looking; he just had a typical northerner's features, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a somewhat rugged look.

It seemed Yin Zhengchuan had happened to inherit the best of both parents: his father's thick eyebrows and large eyes, along with his dad's fair skin and delicate features.

Yin Zhengchuan led Wei Zisu over to meet them.

Wei Zisu greeted them politely. "Dad, Father."

Yin Zhengchuan and his parents all froze. None of them had expected Wei Zisu to address them that way!

Qin Qin was the first to recover. Taking Wei Zisu's hand, he said, "Oh, Zisu, you've had a long journey. Come inside with Dad."

Yin Changjun also spoke in Mandarin with a Shandong accent. "Tha's right, tha's right. You must be plumb worn out from the trip. I heard you came right over after finishin' filming?"

"Ahem." Qin Qin discreetly cleared his throat twice.

Yin Changjun immediately caught on.

Just last night, his wife had given him a two-hour lecture, reminding him over and over that he had to speak Mandarin when Zisu arrived.

If the whole family spoke dialect in front of Zisu, his not understanding was one thing, but more importantly, it would make him uncomfortable, as though he were being excluded and isolated.

So, to help Zisu fit into the family as quickly as possible, starting today, they had to speak Mandarin, anytime and anywhere!

Hadn't what he'd just said been standard enough? Yin Changjun, who had spoken Shandong dialect for over forty years, didn't quite understand.

Just then, Wei Zisu replied, "It wasn't tiring, Father. Yes, I only finished filming yesterday. I really should have visited you both sooner. I'm very sorry work delayed me for so long."

He'd actually understood?!

Yin Changjun thought, Then I reckon my Mandarin just now was mighty standard!

Qin Qin had no time to bother with him. He was still holding on to Wei Zisu's hand. "Your work comes first. You can visit us anytime; there's no rush. Come, Zisu, Dad will show you around the house."

Qin Qin and Yin Changjun warmly ushered Wei Zisu inside, leaving Yin Zhengchuan and the two large suitcases behind.

He was still caught up in Wei Zisu's "Dad" and "Father," his heart pounding with indescribable delight.

Auntie Sun, the housekeeper, kindly came over to help him with the suitcases.

Yin Zhengchuan couldn't resist asking, "Auntie Sun, isn't my wife handsome?"

Auntie Sun was born and raised in Shandong, and was even less able to speak Mandarin.

"Handsome as anything! Stars sure are different, huh? Like a fairy from heaven. You're a lucky lad."

Yin Zhengchuan bobbed his head happily.

He and Auntie Sun headed inside, each pulling a suitcase.

The courtyard was in the classic style of a Suzhou garden: simple and elegant, refined and understated, its architectural elements and design full of the charm of Jiangnan. It was very, very large, with not only rockeries, a lake, and all kinds of plants, but also a winding Nine-Turn Covered Corridor.

It gave Wei Zisu the illusion that he was still in Hengdian Film and Television City.

No, the gardens in the Film and Television City weren't as beautiful as this.

He couldn't help thinking that when Yin Zhengchuan had said his sister wouldn't let him through the gate unless he got an autographed photo, he'd meant a luxurious Guangliang Gate.

Not the sort of... gate Wei Zisu had pictured.

Oh, right, where was his sister? Where was that fan of his?

Wei Zisu asked Qin Qin, who was still holding his hand, "Dad, doesn't Zhengchuan have a younger sister? How come I haven't seen her?"

Qin Qin was just about to speak when Yin Changjun, who hadn't been able to get a word in, answered first. "Gone t' school. Won't be back till dark."

Qin Qin shot him a look, then smiled at Wei Zisu. "She's at school. When she found out this morning that you were coming, she made a fuss and refused to go. She insisted on taking the day off. It took quite a bit of coaxing to get her to go. When she comes home tonight and sees you, that little girl will definitely be jumping for joy."

Wei Zisu smiled at that too.

Yin Zhengchuan thought, Good thing that little brat isn't home, or she'd be trying every trick she could to throw herself into my wife's arms right now. Tonight, I'll have to stay on full alert against Yin Baozhu!

Only Yin Changjun trailed behind in bewilderment, unable to understand just what his wife had meant by that look.

After showing Wei Zisu around their own courtyard, Qin Qin pointed to a moon gate. "Your and Zhengchuan's courtyard is over there. Beyond the little garden, farther inside, is his sister Baozhu's courtyard. After lunch, Zhengchuan can take you over for a look."

"All right."

Qin Qin turned to Auntie Sun. "Auntie Sun, let the kitchen know we're ready to eat."

"Right you are."

Auntie Sun was just about to go to the kitchen when she realized she still had a suitcase in her hand. Looking at the one Yin Zhengchuan was holding, she felt they really ought to put the suitcases away before eating.

So she said, "Mr. Wei, how 'bout I put yer cases in yer room first?"

Wei Zisu said, "Huh?"

Thanks to Yin Zhengchuan's influence, he could understand a little simple Shandong dialect, but when it was as thick as Auntie Sun's, he really couldn't understand a word.

Yin Zhengchuan hurried to translate for him. "Auntie Sun means she'll put your suitcases in the room first."

Wei Zisu understood. "Oh, thank you, Auntie Sun."

"You're welcome, you're welcome."

Auntie Sun took the other suitcase from Yin Zhengchuan. There was a stretch of path paved with small stones up ahead where the suitcases couldn't be rolled along, so she retracted the handles, gripped the carrying handles, and heaved them up.

Wei Zisu's eyes stayed on the two suitcases.

One of them was already rather old. He didn't know whether it could withstand the dozens of jin of weight inside.

Just as he was thinking that, there was a sudden ripping sound!

The old suitcase's zipper burst open, and everything inside tumbled out!

What he feared really had come to pass...

Wei Zisu stared at the wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and rice scattered all over the ground, petrified on the spot.