Chapter 31: Record of Moving to the City in the 90s 31

They arrived in Beijing on the afternoon of the sixth day of the New Year¹. Su Huandan didn’t delay at all and called home, saying that she and Yu Zexiu would drive back that evening and stay until after the Lantern Festival before returning to Beijing.

That delighted Su Dakui and Jiang Chunhua to no end.

Su Dakui didn’t even bother holding his son anymore and ran straight to his eldest daughter’s house to find his eldest son-in-law.

“Jianbin, are you busy? If not, bring Old Grandma back to the house. The third girl is bringing her husband home. See about putting together a full table of food and drinks. We may not be as wealthy and distinguished as her husband’s family, but our family isn’t so poor that anyone can look down on us.” Su Dakui was beaming with excitement. After calling out to his eldest son-in-law, he hurried off to his second son-in-law’s place.

His second son-in-law and his grandfather were living over at his second daughter’s place, because the entire top floor had been fixed up for their own use. It was spacious and had a much better layout, unlike the building belonging to his second son-in-law’s family, which had been built entirely as single-room rentals.

After Su Dakui left, Old Grandma finally came out of her bedroom.

“Huanzhu’s maiden family really has prospered. Our family has only managed to earn steady money these past two years because we’ve benefited from Huandan too. Jianbin, don’t dawdle, hurry over there. Since Huandan is formally bringing her husband home, this marriage is settled. Quickly think about what dishes to prepare for the feast and go take a look over there. Huanzhu and I will bring the children over in a bit.” Old Grandma was happy too.

If Su Huandan really could marry Yu Zexiu, then their family would be able to continue working with that big company.

After all, there was still some distance in the relationship, so she wouldn’t think about whether Su Huandan might suffer after marrying into the Yu family. That was reality.

As her biological older sister, Su Huanzhu had a smile on her face, but she was worried inside. This really wasn’t such a good marriage.

Over at Second Sister Su Huanxia’s side, the whole family of three didn’t think much of the match either. Even though many of their tenants had ties to Yu Zexiu’s mother’s company, if they didn’t rent to those people, there would still be others to rent the rooms, so they had no need to fawn over anyone.

Xiao Jianguo’s grandfather took out the bottle of Moutai² he’d hidden under his bed for twenty years and handed it to his grandson. “This marriage has probably had your father-in-law worried sick. In a family like that, how could a girl marry in without suffering some grievances? But since the marriage is settled, you and Huanxia, as her sister and brother-in-law, should help however much you can. Jianguo, there are some things that you, as her brother-in-law, are in a position to say. You hold a public post³, so you’re not afraid to speak up.”

How was Su Huanxia supposed to feel hearing that? Full of gratitude?

She really had chosen the right man in Xiao Jianguo, and the old man was a treasure in the family too.

“Grandpa, we can’t drink this liquor today. The alcohol over at my father-in-law’s place will be enough for the son-in-law. I was thinking that when Su Huandan goes back to Beijing this time, she can take this to my brother-in-law’s father.” Aged liquor like this had more prestige as a gift for an elder.

The old man didn’t care either way. He hadn’t saved up much. These were all given out back when he was named an outstanding worker at the factory, and in those days, how could he bear to drink them?

He had always thought he’d save them to give as gifts someday and use them to get something done.

But the family had always lived smoothly and peacefully. The only thing that hadn’t gone smoothly was his grandson’s health, which made having children difficult. Now that he even had a great-grandson, it made no difference whether the liquor was used by their own family or given to his granddaughter-in-law’s maiden family.

His granddaughter-in-law was the Xiao family’s greatest contributor. What couldn’t be used for her sake?

Su Huanxia’s family hurried over too, and at the front gate they ran into Su Huanzhu holding her youngest son, along with Old Grandma leading her eldest great-grandson.

So they all went in together.

The Su family home instantly became lively. The four little children shouted and played, and just looking at them felt festive.

Old Grandma sat cross-legged on the sofa, peeling garlic.

Looking at the four little brats, she smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits. “I keep telling you two sisters, you’re both still young, and the family can afford the fine. If you can have more, then have more. A home only gets lively when there are lots of children. That’s what real family life looks like, full of bustle and prosperity.”

Su Huanzhu and Su Huanxia were both helping in the kitchen. At that, they exchanged a look and curled their lips in unison.

Neither of them particularly wanted to have another child!

Xiao Jianguo was sitting in the living room helping pick vegetables.

Hearing that, he chuckled and smoothed things over. “Old Grandma, there’s no point urging Huanxia and me. I’ve got a public post, and the rules don’t allow a second child. If I really had one, I’d lose my job.”

Xiao Jianguo didn’t like doing business anyway. The income from the family’s two buildings was already more than enough, and he preferred staying in the system and taking life easy.

He and his wife had already discussed it. Once the child was older and could be sent to school, Su Huanxia wanted to study baking and planned to open a cake shop in Yuanyi Village in the future.

With one of them holding a public post, one running a private business, and a large amount of rental income on top of that, wasn’t that kind of life better than anything else?

Old Grandma opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end said nothing. She truly didn’t understand any of it. She only felt that since the family could afford it, it was a pity not to have more children.

Grandpa Xiao knew his own family’s situation best. Given his grandson’s health, the chances of having another child were far too small. If there really were another one, then his grandson would absolutely keep it.

Wasn’t it simply that his physical condition didn’t allow it?

But Old Grandma and Eldest Brother-in-law Sun Jianbin genuinely didn’t know about Xiao Jianguo’s physical condition.

Otherwise, a shrewd person like Old Grandma wouldn’t keep saying things like that in front of the Xiao family.

By the time Su Huandan and Yu Zexiu drove back, dinner at home was just about ready too, with only a few quick stir-fried dishes left to make.

The two of them drove back with the car packed full of gifts bought by Yu Zexiu. He had even prepared gifts for the Sun family and the Xiao family.

Good cigarettes, good liquor, and good tea were all essential. There were quite a few adult men in the family, so he had bought everything by headcount.

For the women, he had prepared a gold necklace for each of them. They weren’t heavy, just 6 grams⁴ each, meant to symbolize smooth fortune.

Aside from that, there were dried seafood, frozen seafood, freshly butchered fish, chicken, duck, goose, lamb, beef, and pork, as well as fresh fruit.

These gifts were more than presentable.

Jiang Chunhua kept exclaiming that it was too much, too extravagant, but when it came to accepting the gifts, she didn’t hold back in the slightest.

Su Dakui was even more direct, stuffing his youngest son straight into Yu Zexiu’s arms. “We’re family now, so no need to stand on ceremony. This is your little brother-in-law. You didn’t get a good look at him last time you came, so hold him now.”

Holding his tiny little brother-in-law, Yu Zexiu’s face turned stiff. He had never held a child before.

Xiao Jianguo saw his father-in-law busy sorting through the gifts Yu Zexiu had brought and took his little brother-in-law from Yu Zexiu’s arms. It wasn’t because he wanted to rescue Yu Zexiu, but because the little boy was a bit shy around strangers. From the moment he went into Yu Zexiu’s arms, his little brows had been furrowed, his lips were pouty, and there were already two pools of tears in his eyes. He looked about ready to cry.

If he didn’t take him, the kid would really start crying in a minute, and then his father-in-law would inevitably get scolded by his mother-in-law again.

A mother-in-law doting on her son was exactly the same as his own wife doting on theirs. Once that happened, no matter who tried to talk sense into her, she would not listen.

So it was better to avoid that kind of commotion whenever possible.

The whole family enjoyed a lively meal together, and only after the meal did Su Dakui ask what they planned to do about the wedding.

Yu Zexiu took a sip of tea. “My parents said that after the Lantern Festival, they’ll come to formally propose⁵. If your side needs a matchmaker or anything like that, they’ll arrange it. If not, then my parents will just come over so we can discuss the wedding date, and we’ll handle the wedding ourselves.”

Translator’s Notes