"I won't go," He Qianqian glared at Shi Tian, her face clearly spelling out four characters.
I! Won't! Go!
Shi Tian, facing rejection by He Qianqian, showed an awkward expression and pointed at her, saying, "Fine, you still look down on . Just wait, I'll make you talk later."
Shi Tian slamd the car door harshly and stepped on the gas. The car seed to fly off into the distance, stirring up a cloud of dust that made Lin Tian choke.
"This guy has impure intentions toward you. From his tone, he might cause you trouble," Lin Tian said, watching the car's departing silhouette.
With a helpless expression and a face full of annoyance, He Qianqian spoke, "This Shi Tian, he was my high school classmate, just like Zhang Li. Back in high school, Zhang Li liked Shi Tian, and Shi Tian liked . So Zhang Li always troubled . I rejected Shi Tian, and later, he beca a lackey for others, got involved in managing two hills, and made so money. Since then, he has incessantly bothered ."
"He has so underlings. We are a family of honest people who can't compete with him. Having no choice, I transferred to Wu'an City to escape from his harassnt. To avoid him, I haven't been ho for more than a year. I spent the Lunar New Year alone."
"I see," Lin Tian murmured with a gloomy expression.
But just then, the scene changed, Lin Tian jokingly hugged He Qianqian's waist and said, "Based on what you're saying, I should actually thank this Shi Tian."
He Qianqian gritted her teeth and fiercely pinched Lin Tian's waist, shouting, "He bullied your wife like that, and you won't beat him up yet you dare to thank him?"
Lin Tian hurriedly explained, "If he hadn't troubled you, you wouldn't have gone to Wu'an City. If you hadn't gone there, how could you have t ?"
"Smooth talker," He Qianqian retorted.
They continued chatting as they walked further inside. It was the middle of a hot day, and they saw no one else around.
Arriving at an unassuming courtyard,
He Qianqian called out happily, "Dad, Mom, little brother, I'm back!"
A middle-aged woman quickly erged from the house. Seeing He Qianqian, she ran to her side with joy.
"Qianqian, is that really you? Why did you co back? Didn't I tell you not to return? That guy Shi Tian is getting richer and expanding his business. If he finds out you're back, he'll definitely co to harass you again," she said.
This middle-aged woman, Xu Cuiping, saw He Qianqian and felt a mix of joy and worry, afraid that Shi Tian might trouble her daughter again.
He Qianqian, not wanting to worry her mother, did not tell her that Shi Tian had already encountered her.
Next, Xu Liping's gaze fixed on Lin Tian, examining him from head to toe, which made Lin Tian's skin crawl.
He Qianqian quickly introduced, "Mom, this is my boyfriend, Lin Tian."
"Hello, auntie, my na is Lin Tian," Lin Tian quickly greeted her.
Xu Liping scrutinized Lin Tian for a few seconds, and finally nodded, appearing fairly satisfied with her first impression of him.
Lin Tian sighed in relief. Being approved by his mother-in-law felt more exhilarating than earning a hundred billion.
"Co in, co in, let's sit inside," Xu Liping urged.
Entering the house, which was not large and furnished simply, it was overall very clean and tidy.
"Sis, you're finally back, I've missed you," a robust young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old ran out from another room, joyfully lifting He Qianqian in a hug.
He was He Qianqian's younger brother, He Dong.
Soon, a man of about fifty with dark skin and a simple farr's look ca out.
He was He Qianqian's father, He Wenqing.
"Young lady, it's been months since you called ho, and we couldn't even reach you on your phone. Do you know how worried we were?" He Wenqing, unlike Xu Liping who was warm and caring, began with a questioning tone.
He Qianqian felt sowhat ashad and couldn't look up; in recent tis, she had been virtually in a vegetative state, and being alive was fortunate enough, let alone calling.
However, she had her own sorrows which she dared not disclose, for ntioning her vegetative state would surely implicate Lin Tian, jeopardizing his chances of being her husband.
As He Qianqian stood awkwardly, not knowing how to explain, thankfully her mother intervened.
"Old man, stop that. Hurry and buy so delicacies. This is our daughter's boyfriend, visiting us for the first ti—we mustn't be stingy," she said.
Lin Tian stepped forward, presented the gifts he was holding, and said, "Uncle, my na is Lin Tian. These are gifts I brought for you, auntie, and my brother-in-law."
As he spoke, his deanor was refined and polite, akin to a white-collar executive. Even He Qianqian looked at him anew, thinking to herself how well he could pose.
Only then did He Wenqing take notice of Lin Tian. After giving Lin Tian a thorough once-over, as Xu Liping had done, he smiled brightly.
"Young man, co on in. I'll head to the town to buy so groceries, and ask your auntie to cook for you," he said.
He Wenqing seed to have a good impression of Lin Tian too; he was practically overjoyed. Having passed the mother-in-law and father-in-law's approval, he considered it a 90% success. As for the brother-in-law, finding a wife for him would surely win him over.
The first impression is based on looks, but to satisfy a mother-in-law completely, looks alone were not enough.
Right after, Xu Liping switched on her mother-in-law mode, prying into everything.
"Lin Tian, how old are you this year?"
"20."
"20, a bit young, huh? Qianqian turned 23 this year, three years older, but no worries—older won, golden future, as they say!" Xu Liping muttered to herself.
"Lin Tian, what do you do for a living?"
"Oh, I run a pharmaceutical factory; it's developing quite well," Lin Tian said modestly.
This was how Qianqian instructed him to respond since her parents were quite conservative, as were people from the village. If they knew Lin Tian was a billionaire, they would definitely criticize Qianqian for gold-digging, earning her their scorn.
Xu Liping nodded, seemingly very satisfied with Lin Tian's profession.
"Lin Tian, what about your academic qualifications?"
Education—it was Lin Tian's first year in college, and he didn't finish, so obviously, he didn't have a diploma. If forced to state his highest level of education, he would have to say high school.
In an era where everyone and their dog had a college degree, ntioning only a high school diploma might upset his mother-in-law. He looked at Qianqian, wondering how he should respond.
Qianqian, not daring to speak aloud, mouthed the words, "Aim high."
Aim high, huh? You're the one asking for it!
"Ahem," Lin Tian cleared his throat purposefully and stated, "I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Studies from MIT, a Doctorate in Architecture from Harvard University, and I also serve as a professor in the Mathematics Departnt at Tsinghua University."
The mother-in-law listened for a while. Terms like MIT and Harvard might have been beyond her, but she understood Tsinghua University well enough.
When Lin Tian said he was a professor at Tsinghua University, his mother-in-law was so overjoyed she could hardly contain herself, looking at him even more fondly than she did her own son.
"Wow, Tsinghua University, impressive! My daughter has such good taste!"
Lin Tian nodded awkwardly, while Qianqian glared at him, as if to say, "You really do exaggerate. You're going to make our cows fly too."
After the father-in-law bought the restaurant, the mother-in-law and Qianqian were cooking, and Lin Tian, having nothing much to say to his father-in-law, ended up discussing life and dreams with his brother-in-law instead.
Lin Tian asked, "How old are you, and what are you up to now?"
"I'm 17, working at a quarry. Typically just chiseling stone blocks, doing physical work," He Dong replied, simple and naive.
He was one of those genuine, rural young n who probably didn't earn much, but was definitely honest and dependable.
"At 17, you should be studying. Why are you working?" Lin Tian asked.
"We only have one high school here. If you can't get in, you have to drop out and work. It's actually quite good this way; I can earn so money to help my parents, so they aren't so tired."
"Good kid," Lin Tian exclaid.
"He Dong, don't work at the quarry anymore. Co to my company. I just happen to need a trustworthy person to handle our finances. Don't worry; you'll definitely earn more than what you're making now. And, our company deals in pharmaceuticals; lots of young nurses around."
At the ntion of young nurses, He Dong's eyes lit up. At the ripe age of 17, his heart was just beginning to experience the flush of youth. Anyone claiming not to want a girlfriend at this age was surely deluding themselves. He Dong's unguarded expression also proved his sincerity.
He Dong was thrilled inside but shyly unsure how to broach it, "I've actually been wanting to leave the quarry for a long ti; it's too exhausting and offers no prospects. I too want to try my luck in the big city, but my parents won't let . They say I'm too young and might easily be deceived."
"No worries, co to my company. Would I deceive you?"
"But I don't know anything except how to exert myself. I have no special skills. What can I do at your company?"
"Didn't I just say? I need soone I trust to manage finances. You don't need to know much, just how to count money and use a calculator," Lin Tian said.
Then, leaning close to He Dong's ear and covering his face with his hand, he whispered, "The most important thing is, the finance departnt is full of young, pretty college girls. If you join my company, I'll give you a small position. Whenever you like soone, just tell , and I'll help you out."
He Dong looked at Lin Tian as if he were his savior, practically drooling, and gratefully uttered two words, "Thank you, bro."
"You rascal," Lin Tian gave the back of his head a playful slap, "Who are you calling bro, who's your bro? Change it."
He Dong, clutching his head, asked sowhat wronged, "If not bro, what should I call you?"
"Hey!" Lin Tian sighed deeply, thinking, this kid's really slow.
"Think about it yourself. If you don't get it right, forget about introducing you to any girls."
He Dong thought hard, really hard, and finally had a realization.
"Brother-in-law."
"Ah, there you go! From now on, wherever you are, you need to call brother-in-law. Keep calling 'brother-in-law,' and soon enough, a wife will follow."
Reviews
All reviews (0)