Ch 24: A Son-in-law Is Half A Son

The train station was packed with people; Xiao Yao’s family of four, after seeing off Grandmother and Third Uncle’s family, took a car back.

Zhuang Lingyun was driving; Xiao Yao sat in the passenger seat, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror.

Xiao Jianshan kept looking out of the car window, remaining silent the whole time, his eyes red. Jiang Lufang sat beside him, worriedly glanced at him, squeezed his hand, and sighed.

This farewell, across such a great distance, it’s feared that the next time they meet will be their last.

The old woman was already eighty years old, how many years she had left, nobody knew.

Xiao Yao knew why her father was so despondent; she also missed her grandmother, but the old woman was worried about her youngest son and refused to stay at their house for long, insisting on going back with them; nobody could stop her.

“Dad, Mom,” Xiao Yao suddenly turned, saying, “Now that I’m married, you’ve worried about me for half your lives, and now it’s time for you to rest. How about you two go traveling to relax? I hear Xinjiang is vast and sparsely populated, beautiful like a fairyland, and a great place for tourism. I’ll pay for it, as a filial offering to you, go have some fun.”

Jiang Lufang was somewhat moved, nodding repeatedly, “I think it’s a good idea, I’ve been thinking about going traveling somewhere. Now that Yaoyao is taken care of, we can rest easy too. Lao Xiao, shall we go for a stroll?”

Xiao Jianshan was silent for a while before saying, “You don’t need to provide financial support; I have money myself. Now that you’re married and have a family, don’t think you’re still on your own, Little Zhuang gave you all his assets without reservation, it’s not for you to spend recklessly, married life requires carefulness, saving little by little, do you understand?”

Unexpectedly lectured, Xiao Yao was immediately embarrassed, “Who’s spending recklessly? I’m using my own money, what I saved from working before.”

Xiao Jianshan corrected, “Husband and wife are one body, his is yours, and yours is his.”

Xiao Yao couldn’t argue with him, she laughed and nodded repeatedly, “Okay, okay, I understand, Dad.”

Zhuang Lingyun, who had been listening the whole time, had the corners of his mouth raised to his ears.

Although Zhuang Lingyun had given all his assets, she hadn’t touched a single cent. It’s all locked in the home safe; as for real estate, the name change procedures haven’t been done yet, and Xiao Yao didn’t plan to do it.

She didn’t marry for his money, as long as he was sincere and wanted a stable life, she was satisfied.

Xiao Yao wasn’t greedy at all, and she also had her own pride; although she wasn’t from a wealthy family, she lived comfortably and contentedly, never dreaming of living a life of luxury and extravagance.

“Dad, showing filial piety to parents is the duty of children, we are a family, your words are too formal.” Zhuang Lingyun, in the driver’s seat, smiled and said, “I’ll book the plane tickets and hotel, Mom and Dad go back and pack your luggage, we’ll leave tomorrow and arrive in Xinjiang the same day. Afterwards you can go to the train station to pick up Grandma and Third Uncle, give them a surprise, Grandma will surely be very happy.”

Xiao Jianshan listened to Zhuang Lingyun’s description and seemed to see the scene. His complexion immediately cleared, showing a smiling face.

Zhuang Lingyun acted quickly, he said he was booking tickets, but he didn’t seem to make a phone call, when the car arrived at his parents’ residence, he directly informed them that the plane tickets were already booked.

Xiao Jianshan and Jiang Lufang were both surprised, “So fast?”

“I had someone else buy them, I have a friend in Xinjiang, I’ve asked him to pick you up. Then Mom and Dad don’t have to worry about being unfamiliar with the place, he will arrange your accommodation and transportation, and he will take care of you until you pick up Grandma.”

“Oh my, how can we be so impolite, Little Zhuang, you’re so thoughtful.” Jiang Lufang was overjoyed; for the couple who had stayed in one place for a long time, a sudden trip also brought with it apprehension and anxiety.

Perhaps the decision was made now, but after going back and thinking about it carefully, they might change their mind. Now that Zhuang Lingyun had solved their only concern, what else was there to say? Jiang Lufang’s praise for Zhuang Lingyun’s quiet and efficient arrangement was unnecessary.

Xiao Jianshan was also very happy, his gaze towards Zhuang Lingyun became even more satisfied.

There really is no comparison without harm, the previous Shen Mingzhe was a bottomless pit that could never be filled, he tried his best to please her just to get a stable life for his daughter, but what was the result?

Then look at Little Zhuang, mature and stable, successful in his career. He is gentle and considerate to Yaoyao, filial and courteous to his elders, truly a rare good child.

Xiao Jianshan wasn’t good at expressing himself, his countless words were only transformed into a gentle smile, he patted Zhuang Lingyun’s arm and sighed, “Thank you, child.”

“Dad, a son-in-law is half a son.”

Xiao Jianshan was stunned, then smiled, nodded, “Yes, that’s right. I won’t be polite with you in the future, Dad.”

Xiao Yao watched her parents’ excited and moved expressions, and then looked at Zhuang Lingyun’s filial and respectful appearance, it was hard to imagine that he and her biological father had reached the point of irreconcilable conflict.

What kind of conflict could make a biological father and son like enemies?

The matter of traveling was settled; the old couple went home and started packing their luggage, and the next day, because Xiao Yao was at work, Zhuang Lingyun personally drove them to the airport and saw them off onto the plane.

As soon as Xiao Yao got off work in the evening, she received a phone call from her mother reporting that everything had been settled and they would keep in touch by phone.

Zhuang Lingyun’s clothing company had an engagement in the evening, so he called Xiao Yao in the afternoon to inform her that he couldn’t pick her up from work.

The daily pick-ups and drop-offs had become a habit, today, as soon as she left school and didn’t see his familiar figure at the school gate, Xiao Yao felt a little uncomfortable.

“Xiao Yao, your husband isn’t picking you up today?” A female colleague teased jokingly.

Xiao Yao responded indifferently, “He has an engagement, I’ll go first.”

Even the most perfunctory response was absent; Xiao Yao, upon seeing them, remembered the things they said behind her back that day.

Whether they called her fragile or sentimental, Xiao Yao just felt that wearing a mask and interacting with people every day was so hypocritical and tiring.

Alone, she decided to take the subway home, carrying her bag, walking towards the subway station along the sidewalk.

The winter wind was biting; people hurried their steps, burying their heads in thick scarves, quickly passing through the cold streets.

Suddenly, an unlicensed business car braked sharply beside Xiao Yao; the sudden event startled her; the car door opened, and two tall, burly men got out, reaching for her.

“What are you doing?”

Xiao Yao was startled and instinctively retreated. She instantly thought of the kidnapping scenes in TV dramas, the endings were either ransoming or killing; in the past, she was far removed from such things, but suddenly marrying a wealthy husband made it uncertain.

Xiao Yao’s mind raced, but helpless and unable to resist, she was grabbed and pulled into the car.

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