Chapter 169: Chapter 167: Wang Mu Relents

Wang Mu’s words betrayed no emotion, but Wang Xinxin knew her mother.

If she really disliked him, she would have driven Chen Zhengnian away long ago.

The weight on her heart finally lifted—at least halfway.

’It looks like Mom is finally starting to give in.’

Chen Zhengnian reacted in a flash, immediately replying in a clear voice, “Thank you, Auntie. I appreciate you letting me impose for the next few days.”

His face showed no particular expression. He maintained his usual steady and composed look.

But the hand holding Wang Xinxin’s quietly tightened.

Wang Xinxin could feel Chen Zhengnian’s excitement, and she gently tickled his palm with her fingertips.

Chen Zhengnian looked down at her, the corners of his lips pulling into a faint smile.

Wang Mu said no more. She stood up, walked to the kitchen, and started preparing lunch.

Wang Xinxin’s guess was right. Her mother was tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

She had known they were coming back, so she had gone to the market first thing in the morning to buy a nice, plump fish.

The clatter of pots and pans echoed from the kitchen, sounding very busy.

Chen Zhengnian wanted to go in and help, but he was afraid the gesture might displease Wang Mu.

Wang Xinxin quickly pulled Chen Zhengnian back down and whispered, “I think… this means my mom agrees.”

“It’s a good sign.”

Chen Zhengnian replied in a low voice, his gaze sweeping across the small living room.

Although it was old and cramped, it was kept spotlessly clean. A few pots of lush green garlic shoots grew on the windowsill.

“Auntie is softening, but she still needs time.”

’I came here this time to open Wang Mu’s heart. I’m sure I can get her to accept me.’

Before long, lunch was ready. The meal was simple, but it was prepared with care.

During the meal, Wang Mu didn’t say much, only occasionally glancing up at Chen Zhengnian.

Chen Zhengnian ate quickly, but his movements weren’t coarse.

It was a habit from his years in the military that he hadn’t yet managed to break.

He had a healthy appetite and earnestly praised Wang Mu’s cooking.

“Auntie, this braised pork is fantastic. It’s so rich but not greasy at all.”

The corner of Wang Mu’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. She didn’t reply, simply adding another spoonful of soup to his bowl.

Wang Xinxin took it all in, her heart filled with joy.

In the afternoon, Wang Xinxin took Chen Zhengnian for a walk around the neighborhood.

The old alleys were narrow, with houses packed closely together. Many neighbors, seeing Chen Zhengnian in his military uniform, cast curious glances their way.

Wang Xinxin felt a little self-conscious, but Chen Zhengnian was perfectly at ease, nodding and smiling politely to any elders they passed.

“Is this Xinxin’s young man? He looks so sharp!” a smiling elderly woman asked, sitting by her door and trimming vegetables.

“Oh, hi, Grandma Zhang.”

Wang Xinxin replied, her face blushing.

Chen Zhengnian also gave a slight nod. “Hello, Grandma.”

On their way back, Wang Xinxin said to Chen Zhengnian, “Actually, our family used to live in the countryside, just like my aunt’s family.”

“My mom felt people in the countryside would gossip about us, so she moved us here.”

“When I was little, I loved staying at my aunt’s house. I was very close with her and my cousin.”

As Chen Zhengnian listened to Wang Xinxin talk about her childhood, he could almost picture what she was like back then.

His upbringing had been vastly different from Wang Xinxin’s.

Because of his family situation, he was taught from a young age to be obedient and sensible.

As he grew up, he became the very person his family had always wanted him to be.

His career progressed smoothly, and his promotions came easily.

But along this path, Chen Zhengnian only felt a certain emptiness.

It was as if he had lost the most important thing from the very beginning.

What that was, exactly, Chen Zhengnian himself couldn’t say.

It wasn’t until he met Wang Xinxin that Chen Zhengnian had a sudden realization.

What he had lost was his family.

Because he had never truly received love and affection, he was so hesitant when confronted with it.

“Brother Chen, actually, you don’t have to leave the military. I like the Northwest, and I’m willing to stay there.”

“I went to the Northwest in the first place to help develop the region, to fulfill a dream of mine.”

Wang Xinxin pulled Chen Zhengnian to a stop by the side of the path, then slowly spoke.

“For me, what’s more important is that we can be happy together.”

“Besides, my mom is retiring in a few years. When that time comes, we can bring her to the Northwest. Let her have a change of scenery, experience a different kind of place.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhengnian shook his head.

“No, Xinxin, you can’t look at it that way. Auntie would only be willing to go to the Northwest because of you, but we can’t ask that of her. It’s our duty as the younger generation to support her.”

“You heard her yourself. She said *I* couldn’t adapt to life in Shanghai, so how could *she* adapt to life in the Northwest?”

Chen Zhengnian squeezed Wang Xinxin’s hand and said softly.

“I’m not leaving the military entirely because of you.”

“I’ve spent nearly half my life in the Northwest. Of course, I also want to go somewhere else and experience a different way of life.”

He thought Wang Xinxin was only saying these things for his sake, but in reality, everything she had just said came from the bottom of her heart.

Each of them was only thinking of the other.

Chen Zhengnian didn’t see Wang Mu behind him. She had been about to go out but had hidden in the shadows and heard every word he said.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved.

It was truly rare to find someone so completely devoted to her daughter.

In that instant, all the worries in Wang Mu’s heart seemed to vanish into thin air at Chen Zhengnian’s words.

Back in front of the small building, Chen Zhengnian noticed a few loose tiles near the second-floor window and said to Wang Xinxin.

“Those tiles on your second-floor roof look a little loose. Do you have a ladder? I’ll go up and take a look.”

Wang Xinxin was taken aback. “Huh? You don’t have to. When the weather clears up, my mom will find someone to…”

“It’s no trouble.”

Chen Zhengnian had already spotted an old bamboo ladder leaning in the corner. “Can I use this?”

Wang Mu happened to be in the yard hanging laundry. Hearing the commotion, she said nothing, merely watching as Chen Zhengnian deftly inspected the ladder, set it up securely, and climbed it with practiced ease.

Wang Xinxin held the ladder from below, her heart in her throat. “Be careful!”

Chen Zhengnian carefully inspected the loose tiles, tapped the surrounding area, and then carefully shifted the loose ones back into place, pressing them down firmly.

Sunlight fell on his focused profile as sweat trickled down from his temples, dampening his collar.

After hanging the last piece of laundry, Wang Mu stood in the yard holding the empty basin, watching him quietly.

Before, without a man in the house, she always had to find someone else to handle this sort of thing.

Now, watching Chen Zhengnian, Wang Mu suddenly thought, ’This man really is dependable.’

’Maybe my Xinxin really could be happy with him.’

The excuses she had made before were nothing more than an attempt to break the two of them up.

“All done.”

Once he confirmed everything was secure, Chen Zhengnian deftly climbed down and dusted off his hands.

“That should hold. We can check it again the next time it rains.”

He had just gotten his footing when Wang Mu’s voice rang out. It sounded a bit awkward, but her concern was clear. “You’re covered in dust. Go wash your face. There’s hot water in the kitchen.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep