Chapter 174 How am I talking nonsense? Didn’t you say they’re interested in you?

K City, 100 kilometers away — Niucheng Village.

That night, the entire village was brightly lit.

Every household had red lanterns hanging at their doors and fresh couplets pasted up, while the air was filled with the aroma of fried meatballs.

At the east end of the village, Old Liu’s courtyard was especially lively.

A massive black pig weighing over 200 jin was hung on a temporary frame, with several strong men busy working around it.

Yin Siyao wore an old cotton jacket, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, squatting on the ground helping collect pig’s blood.

His movements were practiced—once a basin was full, he passed it to someone nearby and grabbed another empty one.

“Xiao Yao, take a break,” Old Liu said, handing him a cigarette.

Yin Siyao waved his hand. “Uncle Liu, I don’t smoke. This work isn’t tiring—much easier than surgery.”

“You city doctors do delicate work,” Old Liu chuckled, tucking the cigarette behind his ear. “Your mother has finally been waiting for you to come back.”

Yin Siyao hummed in response, took another basin of pig’s blood, and carried it into the kitchen.

Inside, several aunties were busy cooking. When they saw him, they all greeted him with smiles.

“Xiao Yao has grown more handsome!”

“The big city really raises people well!”

“Do you have a girlfriend yet? Want me to introduce you to someone?”

Yin Siyao smiled politely.

Mother Yin came over carrying a basin of hot water. Yin Siyao took it from her. “Go rest inside, it’s cold out here.”

“Rest for what? It’s only lively like this once a year.”

She crouched down to help clean the pig’s stomach, then lowered her voice and asked, “How are things going between you and Jingshu? Why haven’t I seen you ask her out?”

Yin Siyao replied, “We’re not together.”

“Not together?”

His voice was calm. “She doesn’t like me.”

Mother Yin frowned. “What do you mean? Does that girl dislike us for being from the countryside?”

Yin Siyao thought back to that day at the mall—how Zhao Jingshu’s eyes lit up as she watched Lu Chen leave.

And how, during their later conversations, she had subtly tried to probe into Leng Keyan’s family background.

He felt nothing about it.

“The president of Lu Group is worth hundreds of billions. I’m just an ordinary doctor—how could I compare?”

Mother Yin’s face immediately darkened. “What kind of talk is that? Isn’t her family from the countryside too? And now she’s looking down on the poor and chasing the rich—she’s forgotten her roots.”

“Mom.”

Yin Siyao sighed helplessly. “People naturally strive for better opportunities. It’s normal.”

“I’m not saying you must be with Jingshu. She seemed so simple before—how did she turn out like this?”

Yin Siyao didn’t respond.

Mother Yin felt a pang of discomfort.

After a long pause, she finally spoke again, her voice tinged with guilt. “It’s all my fault for being incapable. If I had saved more money, you wouldn’t have it so hard.”

Yin Siyao looked up. “Mom, what are you saying?”

Her eyes reddened. “You’re already thirty, and you still don’t have a house or a car—not even a girlfriend. It’s all because I’ve held you back, always making you send money home…”

“You’re my mother. It’s only right for me to earn money for you. Don’t say things like ‘holding me back’ again.”

Mother Yin wiped her eyes. “But it hurts me. Aunt Wang went to the city recently and said houses there cost millions… Our family could never earn that in generations.”

“Siyao, I’ve been thinking… if it really doesn’t work out, you should come back to the countryside. Find a job at the town hospital. It’s closer to home, and housing is cheaper.”

Yin Siyao set down what he was doing, a faint smile appearing on his lips. “Actually… there are people who don’t care about houses, cars, or bride price.”

Mother Yin froze. “What?”

His voice softened. “Some people… value the person, not the conditions.”

Her eyes instantly lit up. “Really? Do you have someone in mind?”

“Mm.”

“What kind of girl is she? How old? What does she do? Is she a doctor too?”

A smile finally appeared on Mother Yin’s face. “Is she pretty? Is her personality good?”

Yin Siyao felt a headache coming on. “It’s the one I mentioned before—still studying.”

Mother Yin relented. “Studying is fine. Younger is good—more pure.”

Then she lowered her voice again. “Is she from the city? What’s her family like? If it’s too good… we might not be worthy.”

Yin Siyao thought of Leng Keyan’s background.

The nephew of the president of Lu Group, with a top celebrity as his uncle—this wasn’t just “too good.”

“His background is quite good.”

There was a trace of gentleness in Yin Siyao’s voice that he himself didn’t notice. “But he’s a good person. Not arrogant, and not someone who looks down on the poor.”

Mother Yin grew even happier. “There are still such good kids these days? Then what are you waiting for? Hurry and pursue her!”

“Try to bring her home soon for me to meet.”

“Mom, he’s still studying,” Yin Siyao said helplessly. “And… quite a lot of people like him.”

“My son has looks and a stable job—he’s even a doctor at a major hospital,” Mother Yin said indignantly. “Sure, our family is a bit poor, but you’re a good person—steady, hardworking, responsible. That’s what matters most.”

Her words warmed Yin Siyao’s heart. “Got it, Mom. I’ll work hard.”

“That’s more like it!”

Mother Yin’s eyes curved into crescents with her smile. “When can you bring her home? Can I meet her this New Year?”

Yin Siyao: “……”

Aunt Li leaned in. “Siyao, what’s going on between you and Jingshu? That girl is quite good—she’s a teacher, stable job.”

Mother Yin, who had followed in, immediately replied, “What’s so good about her? She looks down on us for being from the countryside and has set her sights on some big city boss.”

“Really? That can’t be,” Aunt Li said in surprise. “She seemed quite down-to-earth.”

“You can’t judge a book by its cover!”

Mother Yin snorted. “But our Siyao has someone even better now!”

At that, all the aunties in the kitchen perked up.

“Really? What’s she like?”

“Is she a doctor too?”

“How old is she? Is she pretty?”

Mother Yin said proudly, “Still studying. A really good kid—not after houses or cars, just values our Siyao’s character.”

Yin Siyao felt his scalp tingle and quickly interrupted, “Mom, don’t talk nonsense.”

Mother Yin said confidently, “How am I talking nonsense? Didn’t you say they’re interested in you?”

Yin Siyao: “……”