RGL – Chapter 141

Many children gathered around to watch.

“Mr. Wei, maybe you should just stay in the car. Everyone’s really curious, they’ve never seen someone like you before.”

“It looks lively. Can I visit your home? I’ve prepared some gifts,” William said enthusiastically.

Seeing William so eager, Zhang Qingqing couldn’t really refuse.

“Alright then, come to our house and rest for a bit.”

The driver wasn’t too keen on going into someone else’s home, but seeing that William insisted on staying, he had no choice but to say, “Sir, I’ll wait outside the village. I’ll come pick you up after lunch.”

“Alright, thank you.” William smiled and followed Zhang Qingqing, carrying things together as they headed toward the Zhang house.

Zhang Qingqing had brought a foreign son-in-law back home. Instantly, the whole Zhangjia Village was in an uproar.

“Did you hear? That Zhang Qingqing brought back a foreign boyfriend. Is she planning to marry abroad?”

“Who knows, but I’ve heard foreigners are rich. That Zhang family girl must really be something.”

“Isn’t it said that foreigners are loose with relationships? Who knows if he’s just messing around. Zhang Qingqing is too naive. She didn’t like the men in the village before, and now if things fall apart with this foreigner, who’d still want her?”

Zhao Liang’s wife, Zhang Chunhong, had returned to her parents’ home for the Little New Year. Hearing these rumors, she secretly felt a bit pleased.

She knew Zhao Liang had once dated Zhang Qingqing. If it weren’t for Zhang Qingqing’s poor family background, Zhao Liang might not have married her. But Zhao Liang still hadn’t let go of Zhang Qingqing—someone even saw them talking in town last time.

Now that Zhang Qingqing had stirred up this mess, it was going to be quite a spectacle.

Meanwhile, the Zhang family had no idea about all the nasty gossip going around. Facing William, a foreign guest, the entire family felt a bit unsure of how to act. Especially Grandma Zhang, who immediately called Zhang Qingqing inside for a chat. After learning that William was a business partner and had come to see what the countryside was like, she finally felt at ease.

Grandma Zhang was a sensible woman. Knowing it wasn’t appropriate for Zhang Qingqing to spend too much time alone with William, she simply told Zhang Shuisheng to take William on a walk through the village. Then she asked Mother Zhang to slaughter the old hen at home to properly host the guest.

Mother Zhang had originally planned to keep the hen for New Year’s, and felt a bit heartbroken when she heard Grandma’s request. But since it was for hosting a guest, she had no choice. She asked Father Zhang to catch the hen while she boiled water in the kitchen. The couple quickly got the bird cleaned and ready.

“Do foreigners prefer chicken soup or braised chicken?”

Zhang Qingqing shook her head. “I just met him recently, I’m not sure.”

“Then we’ll do both—half for soup, half braised,” Mother Zhang murmured to herself. “We’ll do one leg braised, the other for soup. He can eat whatever he likes.” With that, she busied herself in the kitchen again.

In the village, people loved to drop in for a chat, especially if something exciting was happening. They couldn’t wait to come over and see what was going on. So while Mother Zhang cooked, visitors kept dropping by, trying to figure out who William was and what his relationship with Zhang Qingqing was.

Some even asked outright if they had a foreign son-in-law now.

“Zhang Qingqing? No way, she’s not that lucky. He’s a big boss, one of her company’s clients. He’s just here to see what the countryside is like, have lunch, and then leave.”

Hearing that he wasn’t her boyfriend, some who had felt a little jealous suddenly felt balanced again and said, “Well, you never know. Qingqing does look like someone with good fortune.”

“These people just love to gossip. Sis, don’t pay them any attention,” Zhang Panpan said to Zhang Qingqing while they helped in the kitchen. Her face was scrunched with displeasure at what she heard from the other room.

Seeing Zhang Qingqing stay silent, she continued, “Sis, you should find someone decent soon, or people will keep talking about you. They’re so bored and have nothing better to do.”

“We just finished building our new house, and I haven’t even had a chance to settle in yet, and you already want me to leave?” Zhang Qingqing said with a smile.

“I didn’t mean that!” Zhang Panpan got flustered. “I just don’t want people talking nonsense about you. It’s so annoying. All they do is gossip about girls.”

“It’s fine. We’re used to it. As long as we live our lives well, that’s what matters. Besides, Su Min said the company is recruiting apprentices next year, so I’ll be busy. I don’t have time to think about dating.”

When Zhang Panpan heard that Su Min was hiring apprentices, she realized business must be going well and said, “Su Min is really capable—she’s even doing business with foreigners now.”

Zhang Qingqing nodded. “She really is.” It was her first time meeting someone so confident and capable. She could handle even the wealthiest clients with ease.

Because of William’s arrival, what was supposed to be a simple lunch turned into quite a feast. According to Zhang Shuisheng, it was almost as elaborate as the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Though Zhang’s parents weren’t great at conversation, they treated guests with sincere hospitality—constantly urging them to eat more.

By the end of the meal, William was so full he couldn’t sit up straight and had to get up and walk around.

“Quick, take Mr. Wei for a walk outside. Shuisheng, go with him.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

Zhang Shuisheng quickly took William outside for a stroll.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qingqing and Zhang Panpan smiled as they cleaned up the kitchen. They had just started tidying when they heard someone calling from outside. It was a little boy from next door.

“Sister Qingqing, someone’s looking for you near the bamboo grove.”

“Who is it?”

“Sister Lan Hua.” Zhang Lanhua was Zhang Qingqing’s elementary school classmate.

Zhang Qingqing quickly wiped her hands and headed toward the bamboo grove at the edge of the village.

As she approached, someone stepped out from within.

“Zhao Liang?” Zhang Qingqing looked at him in surprise, then glanced around. “Where’s Lanhua?”

“Qingqing,” Zhao Liang looked a bit emotional. “Lanhua’s not here. I asked someone to call you over. I heard you brought a foreign boyfriend back today? Are you seeing someone?”

“I’m leaving.”

Zhang Qingqing didn’t answer but turned to leave. With their history, meeting like this was just awkward and would only invite gossip.

Seeing her walk away, Zhao Liang quickly grabbed her. “Are you really dating him?” There was sadness in his eyes. “Why would you do this? There are so many men to choose from, why a foreigner? He’s just playing around—you can’t let yourself be fooled.”

“What nonsense are you spouting, Zhao Liang? Stop talking nonsense. I’m leaving. It’s not appropriate for us to meet. Don’t look for me again.” Zhang Qingqing flung his hand off and ran.

Zhao Liang was just about to catch up when he was suddenly pulled back by someone from behind. Turning around, he saw a very tall foreigner.

Zhang Shuisheng ran over from behind William and kicked Zhao Liang directly. “Get lost! Stop pestering my sister, or I’ll beat you to death. Shameless! How dare you come looking for my sister again—do you think there are no men in our family?”

Zhao Liang had come secretly to look for Zhang Qingqing and didn’t dare to cause a scene. He was also a little wary of William, so he could only lower his voice and say to Zhang Shuisheng, “Shuisheng, listen to me. Don’t let your sister get fooled. Foreigners just like to mess around. Don’t let her get taken advantage of.”

After saying that, he quickly turned and left.

“Pah!” Zhang Shuisheng spat disdainfully.

William asked curiously, “What did he just say? I couldn’t quite understand.”

Using his broken Mandarin, Zhang Shuisheng replied, “Nothing. He’s just a bastard. No need to bother with him.”

“I saw him with your sister earlier.”

Zhang Shuisheng huffed, “That’s all in the past. Anyway, that guy wronged my sister. He was dating her before, but when he saw our family was poor, he backed out.”

After saying that, he suddenly realized he had said too much and quickly covered his mouth. “Never mind, never mind. It’s all in the past. Come on, let’s go home.”

William sensibly didn’t press further. He just smiled and nodded, then slung his arm around Zhang Shuisheng’s shoulder as they walked home together.

Just as the two of them reached home, the driver had already arrived to pick William up.

The Zhang family all breathed a sigh of relief as they sent William off. Zhang Shuisheng, on the other hand, was a little reluctant and chatted with William for a bit before finally waving him goodbye.

That afternoon, while Zhang Qingqing was chatting idly with her mother, she brought up the matter of Su Min wanting to take on embroidery apprentices.

“Su Min said, if Grandma’s willing, she can be the head teacher for embroidery and even get paid for it.”

“Your grandma can go too?”

Mother Zhang was visibly surprised. After her father passed away a few years ago, it had just been the old lady living alone. Now, thinking about sending her to the city, she was a bit reluctant.

“Mom, I think Grandma’s been working hard in the countryside all alone. Even though you and Dad take care of her, she still works non-stop every day. If she comes to the city, she won’t have to deal with wind or sun anymore. Besides, she’s the one who taught me this skill. If she doesn’t approve, I don’t feel right teaching others.”

Mother Zhang thought for a moment before replying, “Alright then. When we visit your grandma tomorrow, I’ll talk to her about it.”

The next afternoon, Su Min received a phone call from Zhang Qingqing, who called from the town’s post office.

Zhang Qingqing’s grandma was willing to come to the city to teach embroidery. They asked when Su Min would need her to come.

Considering how cold the weather was at the moment, Su Min didn’t want the elderly woman to travel in the chill, so she simply arranged with Zhang Qingqing to have her come after the Lantern Festival.

After hanging up, Su Min thought to herself—this old lady was a true Jiangnan embroiderer. She had only ever heard about people like her before, never thought she’d get to meet one.

This year, for the first time, Su Changrong didn’t go back to his hometown to have New Year’s dinner. Sun Qiufang decided to move the New Year’s meal to lunchtime, and then in the evening, they just made some dumplings while watching the gala.

Sun Hai’s family also returned home for the holiday, and naturally, the shop was closed. Liao Zhaodi didn’t go to work either and was called over by Sun Qiufang to celebrate New Year’s together.

Although there were only four people, the meal felt very warm and cozy.

Su Changrong took a sip of hot wine and said contentedly, “All these years, this is the most relaxing and peaceful one.”

Sun Qiufang laughed, “Weren’t you the one who insisted on it all those years? Don’t act like a victim now.”

“Wasn’t it tough for all of us? Back then, when your older brother was in a bad place, didn’t you go back home too?”

“Well, at least my mom was a sensible person.”

Seeing the two of them get increasingly animated, Su Min quickly intervened, “Alright, let’s eat. It won’t taste good if it gets cold. We can’t argue during New Year, or the whole year will feel off.”

“Hehe, your mom and I were just messing around. We’ve never even had a real fight, right Qiufang?”

Sun Qiufang blushed and gave him a sideways glance before putting some food into Su Min’s bowl. “Eat more while you’re home. You’ll be back to your lessons in a few days, so use this time to rest and get your strength back.”

Hearing her mention tutoring, Su Changrong remembered that this was his daughter’s final semester. “Minzi, have you really decided to go to an out-of-town university? I mean, the city colleges aren’t bad, and even the provincial capital has decent schools. A university is a university—what difference does it make where you study?”

“What nonsense,” Sun Qiufang gave him a glare. “Not all universities are the same. I’ve looked into it—the school Minzi has her eyes on is one of the top in the country. If she gets in, we won’t have to worry about her job at all. You think running a business is so great? Getting a government job is better!”

Su Changrong argued, “What’s wrong with doing business? We’re not lacking food or clothes. I just want our daughter to stay closer to home. If she goes off and ends up working elsewhere after graduation, how often will she come back? And if she marries someone from out of town after a few years, what then?”

Hearing this, Sun Qiufang also felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

Of course, she wanted her daughter to have a brighter future. But she only had this one daughter. Not being able to keep her close made her feel uneasy. The thought of spending future New Years with just herself and Su Changrong was too bleak.

“Sweetheart, how about you reconsider?”

Seeing how serious her parents were becoming, Su Min smiled. “Mom, Dad, don’t worry. No matter how busy I get, I’ll always come home for the holidays. I just want to explore the world a bit. I haven’t decided where I’ll settle in the future. And wherever I go, I plan to take you both with me. I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“Nonsense! What kind of daughter brings her parents along when she moves out? People will laugh at you. And once you get married, your husband’s family might not be okay with it.”

“What’s the big deal? I earn my own money and spend it on my own parents. Who can say anything? If someone really has a problem with that, then he’s not worth having.”

In this life, no one would ever come before her family. As for love and marriage—those were secondary. What truly mattered was a happy life with her loved ones.

In her past life, she hadn’t fallen in love or gotten married, and she still lived just fine. In this life, those things weren’t a necessity either. When it came down to it, nothing was more important than her parents.

Sun Qiufang didn’t know what was going through Su Min’s mind. She just thought her daughter hadn’t reached that stage of life yet. Once she got married and had her own little family, she likely wouldn’t say these things anymore.

But seeing her daughter’s determination, even though she felt reluctant, she couldn’t hold her back. She just smiled and said, “Alright then, your dad and I were just talking. You go do what you need to. No matter what, your uncle’s family is still here with us. Little Doudou will take care of us in the future—you don’t need to worry.”

Su Changrong also came to his senses and didn’t want to burden his daughter. He smiled and said, “Exactly. Look how many old folks in the countryside don’t live with their kids. Your mom and I can take care of ourselves—no need to worry.”

“I’ve got it all planned.” Su Min smiled.

Liao Zhaodi watched the family of three so full of warmth and couldn’t help feeling envious. Thinking about her own family situation, her eyes dimmed.

After dinner, Liao Zhaodi helped Sun Qiufang clean up.

Seeing her insist on helping, Sun Qiufang quickly pushed her toward the living room. “You’ve got exams coming up—go study with Minzi. Getting into a good university is more important than anything else.”

“It’s fine, Auntie. If you don’t even let me help with this, I’ll feel too embarrassed to keep eating at your place.”

“You child, why so polite?” Sun Qiufang said, a bit helplessly.

“Auntie, you treat me well, so I want to treat you well too,” Liao Zhaodi said, lowering her head.

Seeing her like this, Sun Qiufang couldn’t insist anymore and let her help wash the dishes.

After tidying the kitchen, Liao Zhaodi helped clean up the living room. When Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang started chopping the dumpling filling, she finally went into the room to chat with Su Min.

Su Min was drawing design drafts. When she saw Zhaodi come in, she looked up briefly before going back to work. “Rest for a bit, I’m almost done with this sketch.”