Chapter 541: Paying a Visit
Chapter 541: Chapter 522: Paying a Visit
The next day, Dong Liang went to find Xinghua. He didn’t hide anything and told her what was on his mind.
Xinghua understood. After what the Dong family had gone through, they would certainly want to find someone they could build a peaceful life with. It was just like her own family; her mother only hoped she would find someone who would treat her well and live a good life, not that she would become fabulously wealthy. All parents were the same.
“Okay, I’ll go back and tell my parents today. How about the day after tomorrow? Aren’t you off work then? You can come over to my house the day after tomorrow.”
Xinghua nodded in agreement. It would be good for her parents to meet Dong Liang.
Dong Liang was very happy that Xinghua agreed. After leaving the shop, he went to buy a new set of clothes, then looked around and bought some liquor and pastries. He was about to meet his future father-in-law and mother-in-law; he had to dress up for the occasion.
When the day came, Dong Liang got ready, grabbed the things he had bought, and went to the Zheng family’s home.
Upon entering the Zheng family’s home, Dong Liang couldn’t help but feel nervous, even though Zheng Changsheng was very welcoming and Lin Shuying was very kind. The house was just as Aunt Qiao had described—it was huge. There were many things inside he had never seen before. ‘Apartments in this area are expensive,’ he thought. ‘There’s no way I could afford one on my salary. No wonder Aunt Qiao said what she did. Anyone who found out would probably say I’m after her family’s fortune, right?’
But he knew that wasn’t true at all. He had genuinely fallen for Xinghua. She was kind, cheerful, gentle, and adorable. She never looked down on anyone; she was just that good. He truly, truly liked Xinghua. So even if people gossiped, he wouldn’t give up. ‘Time reveals a person’s heart. After a while, people will naturally understand. Besides, I’m not living my life for others. As long as my family and Xinghua understand, that’s all that matters.’
Having sorted through these thoughts, Dong Liang looked at Xinghua, who was also secretly glancing at him. He calmed down and began to answer Zheng Changsheng’s and Lin Shuying’s questions earnestly, looking much more relaxed than when he had first arrived.
Zheng Changsheng nodded to himself. ‘The young man isn’t bad. He’s not pretentious or restless. He speaks sincerely and honestly. He doesn’t seem unpresentable, and he doesn’t seem to have any ulterior motives. A man like that can live a steady life. He’s a decent match for Xinghua.’
Lin Shuying also felt he was acceptable. ‘The young man doesn’t have any major flaws,’ she mused. ‘He’s quite sharp-looking. From the way he looks at our daughter, you can tell he likes her. When he came in, he glanced around the house, but he didn’t have any inappropriate expressions on his face. He speaks properly, too. He should be a reliable person.’ She finally felt a little relieved. Not having met him before had left her feeling uneasy.
All in all, Dong Liang’s visit with the Zheng family went quite pleasantly. At noon, Zheng Changsheng and Lin Shuying had him stay for lunch. Lin Shuying observed him a bit more and could tell from his words and actions that he wasn’t a lazy person, even though this was his first official visit. This made her even more satisfied.
When Dong Liang took his leave, Lin Shuying saw him to the door, and Zheng Changsheng walked him downstairs. Downstairs, Gu’er and Cao Qiu were out for a stroll with Jiji. Marina was also there, holding Dian Dian. Sun Jiaming and Dingzi had gone to the mall.
“Oh, isn’t that Dong Liang? When did you get here?”
Gu’er hadn’t been over to Lin Shuying’s place for the past two days, so she had no idea Dong Liang was visiting. ‘If Dong Liang is already visiting their home,’ she wondered, ‘does that mean things between him and Xinghua are pretty much set?’
“Sister Gu’er, you’re here too.”
Dong Liang was a little surprised to see Gu’er. He knew she and Xinghua were probably relatives, but he had never asked, so he didn’t know that Gu’er and her family also lived here.
“This is Sister Gu’er. My mom is her aunt—her biological aunt. This is Auntie, my sister’s mother-in-law. This is Sister-in-law Marina. This is Jiji, my older sister’s son, and this is Dian Dian, Sister-in-law Marina’s daughter. They all live here, we’re just on different floors.”
Xinghua introduced everyone to Dong Liang, and then introduced Dong Liang to everyone.
Gu’er and the others greeted Dong Liang kindly.
Jiji ran over, hugged Zheng Changsheng’s leg, and called out, “Grand-uncle!”
Jiji could call many people by name now, but only with two-syllable words. He really liked Zheng Changsheng. Every time he visited, Zheng Changsheng would give him lots of things and play with him. He was very good to him, just like a grandpa, which was why Jiji liked him so much.
Zheng Changsheng scooped Jiji up in one motion, his eyes filled with laughter. He was very fond of the little guy. He hoped the child Lin Shuying was expecting would be just as cute as Jiji.
Meanwhile, Dong Liang blushed as he answered questions from Gu’er, Cao Qiu, and Marina. Knowing they were all relatives, he couldn’t just leave right away. But this was his first visit and he was meeting more family members unexpectedly; he was unprepared and a little embarrassed.
However, Dong Liang could sense that they were all very nice, friendly, and straightforward—not quite like the relatives and neighbors back in his hometown. He quite liked this kind of atmosphere, but since it was his first time, he still felt a bit reserved.
Everyone chatted for a little while longer before Gu’er shot Xinghua a meaningful look, signaling her to walk Dong Liang out so the young man wouldn’t feel awkward.
While Xinghua was seeing Dong Liang off, Zheng Changsheng explained the situation to Gu’er, Cao Qiu, and Marina. He would have had to tell them anyway once things were decided.
“I think he’s a decent person, so let’s have them date for a while first,” Gu’er said. “Xinghua’s not in a rush anyway. As for marriage and all that, it’s not too late to talk about it after my aunt gives birth.”
Gu’er had a good impression of Dong Liang.
“I think so too. Dong Liang has very clear eyes,” Marina nodded.
“But his family’s financial situation isn’t great,” Cao Qiu said, a little dissatisfied. “Our Xinghua could find anyone she wants. This young man is good-looking, sure, but what about his lifestyle? Are you really willing to let her go? Aren’t you afraid she’ll suffer?”
Cao Qiu, however, was a little dissatisfied. ‘Being good-looking and a nice person—can that put food on the table?’ she thought.
“Xinghua has her own shop, she can earn her own money,” Gu’er disagreed. “Dong Liang has a job too. As long as he doesn’t have any bad habits, they can live a good life.”
‘It’s not like she and Sun Jiaming had anything when they started out, and they turned out just fine,’ she thought.
“I’m just saying. The young man is a good match for Xinghua looks-wise.”
Seeing Gu’er’s reaction, Cao Qiu didn’t say anything more. After all, it wasn’t her family’s business. She was just voicing an opinion.
Zheng Changsheng played with Jiji for a little while longer before heading back upstairs. Lin Shuying was home alone, and he was worried about her.
Xinghua and Dong Liang agreed that she would visit the Dong family in two days. After Dong Liang left, Xinghua didn’t go back upstairs, instead staying in the complex to play with Gu’er, the others, and the children. She had originally planned to find Gu’er that evening to tell her everything, but now that they’d met, there was no need. She told Gu’er about the Dong family’s concerns.
“That’s normal. Anyone would have those thoughts. In fact, it just proves that the Dong family are good people, not the greedy type. If it were some other family, they’d hear about your good financial situation and latch right on, which would cause no end of trouble later. The Dong family doesn’t want to take advantage of you. Their hesitation and deliberation are only natural. They’re also afraid people will say they only want you for your family’s money, which would be bad for their reputation. But the fact that Dong Liang came today means he’s thought it through. You shouldn’t overthink it.”
Gu’er felt it was normal for the Dong family to have reservations. If they had agreed without a second thought and been overly enthusiastic, that would suggest they had other motives, which would surely lead to trouble down the road.
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Thank you to “Angel’s Sleepless Night” for the peace charm. Thank you all for your support. Merry Christmas Eve.