Chapter 159: Chapter 155: Heart-to-Heart Talk

Lin Changyou said slowly, “A family should help each other out. When everyone’s doing well, that’s when getting together is truly lively. You’re the people closest to one another, so you should look out for each other, not fight amongst yourselves.

It’s good that you’re all this way. I can’t stand people who bully their own family and get jealous when their relatives do better than them. People like that are the most pathetic.”

Yang Liqun thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right. People like that really do exist—they’d rather see their own siblings begging on the streets as long as they get to look good themselves.”

Yang Liying thought, ’Isn’t my second sister, Yang Lirong, exactly that kind of person?’

When Zhang Xiuqing got home, Lin Guoliang and his brother had also returned, carrying fish creels.

Lin Changyou went to the kitchen and told Wu Shufen, “I’ll take the boy over to the in-laws’ place first and let the two young ones meet. If they hit it off, I’ll have the in-laws come over too, so we can all celebrate together.”

Wu Shufen smiled and nodded. “All right. If it seems like a match, have our eldest ride his bike back and tell me, so I can start preparing.”

Lin Changyou agreed and went to the main hall. He smiled and patted Wang Zhixue on the back. “Young man, just be natural and confident later. Pretend you’re talking to customers at your black market stall, and you’ll be fine.”

Wang Zhixue stood up, his face flushed. He glanced nervously at his mother. “Grandpa, I’ll remember.”

Lin Changyou had Zhang Xiuqing, Lin Lan, and the others head to the Zhang family’s home.

Lin Guoliang carried a backpack containing the gifts Lin Lan and her group had brought. The party then set off for the Zhang family’s home.

After a half-hour walk, they reached a cluster of houses. Zhang Xiuqing hurried ahead to the Zhang residence. Inside, she found Zhang Yuru had changed into new clothes. Her jet-black braids were combed until they were sleek and glossy. She was wearing a police-blue Lenin suit, the collar of her white Dacron shirt folded neatly over the top.

She wore matching straight-leg trousers, black cloth shoes, and white cotton socks. The vanishing cream on her face exuded a sweet fragrance.

Zhang Xiuqing looked at her with delight. “Yuru, you look so beautiful today!”

“Aunt! You’re teasing me again!” Zhang Yuru exclaimed shyly.

Zhang Xiuqing patted her hand, smiling from ear to ear. “Go make some tea. We’ll bring our guests inside.”

“Okay!” Zhang Yuru headed for the main hall.

Lin Guoliang led Lin Lan and the others to the front of a large courtyard, where Yu Xiufang, her husband, and Zhang Xiuqing were waiting at the gate with big smiles. After a few pleasantries, they ushered the group into the main hall.

Lin Lan made the introductions, and everyone exchanged polite greetings.

Yu Xiufang smiled. “Little Lan, I haven’t seen you in years! You’re as pretty as ever.” Her gaze shifted to Wang Zhixue, who was sitting upright and proper off to the side. She took a liking to him instantly. It was a classic case of a mother-in-law sizing up a potential son-in-law—the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw. Her attitude toward the visitors grew even warmer.

“Sister Xiufang, you haven’t changed a bit either,” Lin Lan said with a smile.

Zhang Yuru entered the main hall with a tea tray. Face flushed with shyness, she placed the teacups on the large, square table and gracefully invited everyone to have some tea.

“Yuru, come sit next to your aunt,” Zhang Xiuqing said with a smile, pulling the girl down to sit beside her.

Lin Lan noticed Wang Zhixue and Zhang Yuru steal a quick glance at each other before immediately looking away. That single look was enough to make both of their ears turn red.

Zhang Xiuqing and Lin Lan exchanged a knowing look. Then, Zhang Xiuqing smiled and said, “Yuru, why don’t you take Zhixue to the backyard to pick some oranges for everyone?”

Yuru nodded shyly. “Okay!”

Wang Zhixue got up and followed her, walking so stiffly it looked like his arms and legs were moving in unison. The two of them left the main hall and headed for the backyard.

The adults in the main hall tried to suppress their smiles. Only after the young pair was out of sight did everyone start to talk freely.

Since both families knew each other’s backgrounds inside and out, there were no secrets. After a round of discussion, both sets of parents were quite satisfied. The next step was to see if the two young people got along and if their personalities were compatible. They would talk about everything else after that.

When the pair returned from the backyard with the oranges they had picked, they both signaled to their parents their willingness to get to know each other better. Now that they had clearly taken a liking to one another, the marriage was halfway arranged.

Only then did Zhang Xiuqing and Lin Guoliang invite them over to the Lin family home, saying that a meal with drinks had been prepared for a gathering.

Yuru’s uncle, Zhang Guangming, cheerfully agreed. He went to the pig farm to fetch his parents, the elder Mr. and Mrs. Zhang, and the whole group set off for the Lin family’s home.

After the meal, while Yang Liqun was chatting with the Zhang family, Lin Lan pulled her parents, Wu Shufen and Lin Changyou, into a private room to tell them about Li Xiangyang.

Wu Shufen had met Li Xiangyang before and thought he would be a wonderful match. But on second thought, a worry crept in. “Xiangyang is a fine young man, but will his family agree to this?”

“The day before yesterday, Uncle Li came to my stall. He didn’t say much, but… I’d like to see where things go with him,” Lin Lan confessed.

Lin Changyou frowned in thought for a moment before looking up at her. “My only fear is that he’s young and impulsive. He might marry you in the heat of the moment, but then after some time passes, he’ll start to resent that you’ve been married before and have a child.”

“What’s there to be afraid of!” Wu Shufen cut in. “Little Lan is capable in her own right, Little Douzi is a very well-behaved boy, and it’s not like she needs the Li family’s help to raise him.” She turned to Lin Lan. “You two give it a try. If he’s serious about building a family with you, then after the one-year anniversary of your husband’s passing, have him get a matchmaker and formally meet with your father, your brother, and your sister-in-law.”

Lin Lan nodded. “Okay.”

Wu Shufen took her hand and said in a grave, heartfelt tone, “Little Lan, even though this would be a second marriage for you, you must still respect yourself. Don’t do anything inappropriate before the wedding and give people a reason to gossip, do you understand?”

Lin Changyou chimed in, “You’re much more sensible than you used to be, but you must remember: good deeds go unnoticed, while scandal spreads like wildfire. Your reputation is in your own hands.”

Lin Lan replied with great seriousness, “Mom, Dad, don’t worry. I know what’s appropriate. I’ll never again do anything to bring you shame.”

Her parents nodded, relieved. Lin Changyou took out some money he had hidden away. “Since there’s a group of you traveling back, take this money with you and return it to Li Xiangyang. Until you’re officially family, you shouldn’t be using another person’s money.”

“I know. I won’t just spend someone else’s money,” Lin Lan said, smiling as she took the money pouch. “Once you’re not so busy, come stay at my place for a few days. Little Douzi really misses you.”

Lin Changyou smiled and shook his head. “We just had a new litter of piglets at the farm. We need to raise them at least until the gelder comes to castrate the boars. After we’ve raised them a bit longer, we can bring some of the piglets over to you.”

He was gratified that all the children in the family had turned out so well. But it was Lin Lan’s transformation that pleased him the most. Sometimes, thinking about it felt like a dream.

Wu Shufen then took several bolts of printed cotton fabric from a chest. “Little Lan, take a look. Isn’t this calico print pretty?”

Lin Lan examined it. The fabric had a dark blue base with a small, dark red floral pattern. It looked a little busy, but it was soft to the touch. It would probably be perfect for underclothes.

“It’s a little busy. Who are you planning to make something for?”

Wu Shufen held a piece of the fabric up against Lin Lan. “I was thinking of making padded winter jackets for you all.”

Lin Lan smiled and shook her head. “Mom, you don’t have to. Those padded jackets are too bulky and make it hard to work.”

“They won’t be made with cotton. I went to the in-laws’ place and bought some cocoons. I processed them into silk floss to make you silk-padded jackets,” Wu Shufen said, opening the chest again to pull out a bag of silk batting. “Look, see how fine this silk is? A jacket with a thin layer of this padding will be incredibly warm.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep