Chapter 201: Mom, Is She Well-Behaved?

“Old Jiang, I’m telling you, your son definitely got a girlfriend!”

Jiang Zhenghong arrived home from work on time only to see Yuan Youqin looking stern. His expression couldn’t help but freeze slightly: “How do you know?”

“He sneakily brought a girl home, but our work unit let out early and I ran into them downstairs.” Yuan Youqin described the general situation today in a few words.

“So he admitted it?”

“No, I didn’t react in time. I only felt the girl looked a bit familiar. By the time I realized, they had long run off.”

Jiang Zhenghong changed into slippers and sat on the sofa. He picked up his wife’s tea cup and took a sip, finding it cold: “How do you know it’s his girlfriend? It’s normal for classmates to visit during the New Year holiday.”

Of course Yuan Youqin had evidence: “Remember his phone wallpaper you saw that day at dinner?”

“Wasn’t that a female celebrity?”

“What female celebrity? Would a celebrity be standing at the bottom of our building?”

Jiang Zhenghong instantly understood: “You mean the girl you saw is the same person as on Jiang Qin’s phone wallpaper?”

“Yes, so I feel this matter is almost certain.” Yuan Youqin nodded firmly.

“Let’s eat dinner first. Don’t overthink it. Maybe they aren’t officially dating yet. It’s inappropriate for us to meddle too early.”

“Hey, you’re only thinking of daughter-in-law matters. Dinner isn’t even ready yet.”

Yuan Youqin hurriedly got up from the sofa and rushed into the kitchen in a fluster. She ended up bringing out a bowl of steaming instant noodles.

Jiang Zhenghong sighed helplessly, thinking before anything is set in stone with the daughter-in-law, the husband is starved first. Isn’t that losing on both fronts?

It’s all that damn son’s fault. When he has news he’s evasive, never inheriting a bit of his father’s heroic spirit!

At the same time, Jiang Qin drove to Guanlan Avenue across from Fuzi Lake. After passing an expanse of green space, he stopped in front of a detached garden villa.

He rarely came to this area, only once last year when getting the house. He didn’t expect it was quite close to Feng Nanshu’s home.

A wealthy family, the “big” in big house was truly fitting.

But strangely, although the yard was lit up, not many lights could be seen inside the villa as if no one was there.

Right then, the courtyard gate suddenly opened. A woman dressed in black stood at the entrance quietly waiting without approaching to disturb them.

“Jiang Qin, bye.”

“Bye.”

Jiang Qin watched Feng Nanshu leave, then turned around and returned to Hongrong Homes.

It was already 8pm, the night gradually deepening.

Sparse snowflakes floated in the sky, drifting down in the dim glow of the streetlights, looking dreamy.

Children often darted about on the road, holding lit incense sticks in one hand and a box of opened firecrackers in the other. With a pop, a small pit would burst in the snow, followed by joyous laughter filling the snowy night.

Such a carefree childhood was truly enviable.

Unfortunately, the older Jiang Qin got, the hazier his memories of a happy childhood became.

He only remembered living in the countryside, where a kid two years older than him often led them to set off firecrackers in the grove by the village entrance.

Later while running, the incense stick broke. His unreliable dad directly gave him a lit cigarette, telling him to take a hard puff if it wasn’t catching.

After that, he lost interest in firecrackers but gained interest in cigarettes.

Jiang Qin stepped through the snow into the neighborhood. As soon as he entered the door, he saw his parents sitting on the sofa, both focused on watching TV as if nothing had happened.

“Mom, Dad, have you eaten dinner?”

“We ate. Did you send your girlfriend home?” Yuan Youqin asked in a flat tone.

No matter how naturally seamless this question sounded like normal small talk, Jiang Qin still immediately grew alert. There was a trap!

He calmly changed slippers and drank a glass of water in the kitchen before speaking: “Rest assured Mom, I safely sent all three good friends home.”

“Dating and not even telling Mom?”

Jiang Qin nodded: “Right, Guo Zihang sent over another box of roast chicken.”

Yuan Youqin narrowed her eyes: “What’s your girlfriend’s name?”

“The lamb chops were brought by Yang Shuan. Said it’s Yanchi Tanyang, one of the most delicious lamb.”

“…”

“…”

Yuan Youqin was furious, thinking in the end she still couldn’t get it out of him. The brat was too guarded: “Then I’ll ask directly. Is the girl who came to our home today your girlfriend or not?”

“No, I told you she’s my good friend.” Jiang Qin was unbelievably righteous.

“Then why is her photo your phone wallpaper? You like using good friends’ photos as wallpaper?”

Jiang Zhenghong also sat up straight watching him: “Be honest and you’ll be treated leniently. Resist and you’ll be punished severely. Fess up!”

Jiang Qin coughed: “Dad, during cleaning the other day, I seem to have seen a colorful roll of something in a torn sofa hole. Was it newspaper?”

“Don’t change the subject. But… Youqin, I feel the child is still young. Some things can’t be defined. Making friends should happen naturally. We as parents shouldn’t meddle. It’s too early, inappropriate.”

Jiang Zhenghong always stood on the side of the strong.

“He already brought someone home. As his mom I can’t even take a look? We aren’t insisting on immediately accepting her. Getting to know her should be fine, right?”

Yuan Youqin had her own reasons.

“I’m in university. Dating isn’t anything shameful. No need to lie to you. Good friends are just good friends.”

Jiang Qin changed slippers and sat on the sofa with righteous integrity: “Right now my energy is focused on studying and starting a business to quickly accumulate capital. Then I’ll bring back a few more trophies.”

Yuan Youqin also didn’t insist on interrogating, seamlessly changing tactics: “Then introduce her to me. What’s your good friend’s name?”

“Yang Shuan, his family runs a lamb soup restaurant. The flavor is excellent.”

“I’m talking about that girl!”

Jiang Qin pursed his lips: “Feng Nanshu, went to the same high school as me. Same major in university too. We weren’t close before but got to know each other by chance while studying at the library.”

Yuan Youqin glanced at him: “Is she well-behaved?”

“Yes.”

“Will she come visit for the New Year?” Yuan Youqin had some anticipation.

Jiang Qin directly sighed: “Dad, hurry and control Mom. She’s been bewitched by Granny Li next door. How old am I?”

Jiang Zhenghong coughed: “I agree with Jiang Qin. He’s only a freshman. Studying is still most important. Sister Li’s son didn’t even finish high school. Marrying and having kids early isn’t strange for him, but it’s not at all the same situation as our Jiang Qin.”

“I didn’t say anything else. If she’s not coming then she’s not. I was just asking. If she did come, I could also prepare a red envelope or something.”

“You never gave Guo Zihang red envelopes when he visited before.”

Not getting the answer she wanted, Yuan Youqin was in a bad mood: “So what? I’ll give to whoever I want.”

Jiang Qin couldn’t help laughing but still patiently explained: “Feng Nanshu is a wealthy young lady. Who knows how many activities she has during Spring Festival. No time to visit our home.”

“Spouting nonsense. I don’t believe a single word!”

“Mom, how can you be like this? Every word I said is true!”

“Remember the story I told you when you were little? It was called ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’. You lie too much. I don’t know which sentence is true or false anymore!”

“Then isn’t what I said equivalent to not saying anything? Sleep, sleep!”

Jiang Qin felt he really was telling the full truth. But since his mom had her own unshakable understanding, there was no way. So he got up and entered his room, flopping onto his bed.

Seeing her son return to his room, Yuan Youqin also lost interest for the time being. She called Jiang Zhenghong to go back and sleep, but Jiang Zhenghong still honestly sat on the sofa.

“You sleep first. I’ll clean out the newspapers from the sofa hole then go to bed.”

“Why are you suddenly so diligent today?”

“It’s the New Year. I’m also putting in effort.”

On New Year’s Eve, the whole world was peaceful. Jiang Qin was awakened by the sound of firecrackers outside his window. Taking a sniff, he found the air full of the scent of burning incense.

Opening his phone to check QQ messages, the 208 chat group had already livened up. It seemed people had been sending messages nonstop since 6am.

Su Nai: “Happy New Year!”

Shi Miaomiao: “Happy New Year Sister Su Nai!”

Lu Feiyu: “It’s over. My family found out I was doing part-time work at school. The red envelopes for my younger siblings all have to come out of my pocket this year.”

Dong Wenhao: “You weren’t bragging again, were you?”

Lu Feiyu: “I earned so much money. What’s the point if I don’t show off?”

Wei Lanlan: “Then isn’t it purely your own fault?”

Lu Feiyu: “I just don’t get it. The red envelopes I got as a kid were all swindled by my mom. Now that it’s time to give red envelopes, how is it that I’m the one going broke?”

Tan Qing: “Because you’ve grown up.”

Lu Feiyu: “?????”

Feng Nanshu: “Happy New Year.”

Su Nai: “Boss’s wife Happy New Year. Remember to beat up the boss a few times!”

Feng Nanshu: “I won’t hit him.”

Jiang Qin was lurking in the group when he suddenly got a New Year’s greeting call from He Yijun.

Wanzhong Mall raked it in near the year’s end, sales surged, clearing out most of the inventory. Stabilize this month and reforms could formally begin.

Old He currently had the feeling of an arrow on a bowstring. Besides the urgency of the changing times, there was also the excitement of riding the waves.

Also, He Manqi called out on the phone for Jiang Qin to pass on New Year’s greetings to Sister Feng for her.

“Manqi, you need to understand. Feng Nanshu and I are good friends. We don’t live together. Please call her yourself.”

“Huh?”

After that, the Academy Supermarket’s Jiang Zhihua and other merchants also called one after another to give New Year’s regards. Then it was Lai Cunqing and Ding Qiaona.

When his phone finally quieted down, Jiang Qin called Professor Yan, Zhang Boqing, Lu Guangrong, Hu Maolin, Zhang Mingan as well as the two directors from the University of Technology and Normal University to express sincere well wishes.

That’s how the New Year is. The more courteous the better.

“Son, come out and kowtow to the ancestral tablet six times. Your head needs to touch the ground.”

“Coming.”

Jiang Qin came to the living room and kowtowed to the ancestral tablet six times.

Wishing for the whole family’s safety and health, wishing for the little rich girl to be happy every day, wishing to make a fortune, wishing for eternal world peace.