Xu Musen planned to give his parents a surprise today, and he hadn't been in touch with them.
He drove straight to his mother's flower shop.
Now the financial pressure on the family was not so great. It was getting dark, and Mother Xu was preparing to close up for the day.
Mother Xu organized the flowers that hadn't sold, so of which had a short shelf life and had to be sold at a low price to so public facilities to put on a show if they weren't sold in a day.
"Sigh, if it had been before, that brat would've picked these flowers to give to Ming Yue."
Looking at the still-fresh flowers, Mother Xu couldn't help but let out a sigh.
In the past, Musen would always sneak flowers from ho to give to Yao Mingyue, thinking he was being stealthy and unnoticed.
In truth, Mother Xu permitted it, and she would even specially arrange so flowers at tis, to make the bouquet Musen was giving look even nicer.
They had hoped the two kids would end up together before.
Thinking of the past, Mother Xu couldn't help but smile, which then turned into another sigh.
"That rascal, I don't know what kind of girlfriend he's found, and what will beco of Ming Yue..."
She muttered to herself, viewing Yao Mingyue, who she had watched grow up since she was a child, as the most suitable daughter-in-law.
However, as parents, they fundantally hoped their child would have an even better life; if there were a more suitable match, of course, they wouldn't stand in their way.
It all ca down to their own fate, after all.
"Boss, are you still open for business?"
Right then, soone walked in through the door, dressed in down clothing, complete with a hat and sunglasses, wrapped up as if they were the mummy from the "Detective Conan" episode "The Bandaged Man Case" in the snowy castle, with no face visible.
The voice was a bit strange too, and oddly familiar.
Mother Xu turned her head and was a little startled, but still responded, "What would you like?"
The custor looked at the flowers in the room and then pointed to the carnations on the counter nearby.
"This one."
"Carnations, they're very suitable for giving to elders."
"Yes, I'm giving it to my mother."
The heavily wrapped figure was naturally Xu Musen; he looked at his mother through his sunglasses, holding back laughter and speaking in a pinched voice.
Mother Xu found the person before her a bit odd, but then, what bad person cos to show filial piety to their mother?
She smiled and asked, "Alright, how many would you like?"
"Can you sell just one?"
"One flower?"
Mother Xu paused for a mont, realizing that a single flower could hardly be wrapped; the cost of packaging would not even be covered.
"Just one. I don't have much money, but I don't want to give my mother sothing too shabby."
Musen kept his voice low, his tone slightly embarrassed.
Mother Xu took only a brief pause then smiled softly, "No problem, I'll wrap it for you."
"Actually, as parents, we don't care whether it's one flower or a bunch, it's the thought that counts, and that alone makes us happy."
While wrapping the flower carefully, Mother Xu spoke.
Musen sat down to one side while listening to his mother's comforting tone and sighed, "Sigh, it's been more than half a year since I left ho, and I have achieved nothing; I just fear that mom and dad will not be happy."
"How could that be? The only people in the world who wish you well unconditionally, without expecting anything in return, are your parents, and no matter what, you're always their dearest child."
Mother Xu said consolingly, which prompted her to think of Musen.
When the family's circumstances were tough, Musen also doubted himself and almost beca reclusive.
"Actually, my family introduced to a very wealthy girl, but she wants to marry into her family. What do you think, boss, should I accept?"
The subject changed abruptly.
Mother Xu was taken aback; in all honesty, arranging for n to marry into the bride's family wasn't so rare these days.
Many local families in Zheng City have only daughters, possessing several properties, and conditions for a good life, the demands they place on potential sons-in-law are similar to marrying into the wife's family.
"This... in truth, it depends on the choices of both parties, but marrying a good wife can indeed save you ten years of struggle, or even a lifeti."
Mother Xu thought reflexively of her rascal son, Musen.
In truth, when their family was facing its toughest tis, they hadn't ruled out the possibility that if the company completely failed, or if Musen's father were to beco truly disabled, they would take on all the debts.
They would let Musen follow Yao Mingyue's family, even if it ant marrying into her family in the future.
Better to live poorly than to die, especially since the two of them had been childhood sweethearts and were deeply attached to each other. Marrying in or not, it surely beat living a life where you go hungry three days out of the week.
After one's youthful pride fades, one realizes that dignity isn't worth forsaking even for money.
"Actually, no parents truly want their son to marry into another family; that's always a last resort. Staying alive is better than starving to death. Besides, marrying... moving in with the girl's family doesn't necessarily an living a bad life. Sotis adults have to be realistic, and both sides need to understand each other. Who doesn't want the best for their child, after all..."
Mother Xu sighed, saying these things that reflected her inner thoughts, her voice tinged with bitterness and helplessness.
True, though Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were childhood sweethearts with a strong mutual affection, Ming Yue's temperant was admittedly a bit arrogant.
Any average young man would probably feel sowhat aggrieved following her lead.
If the two families had always been in equal circumstances, Musen could still take his ti to find common ground with her slowly. But given how things had been over the years, there was bound to be inequality between them.
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