Chapter 203: My Daughter-in-Law, My Rules

The Spring Festival Gala played on the living room TV. Dumplings boiled in the kitchen pot. Outside the window, lights twinkled as snow fluttered and fell in the night.

Jiang Qin carried bowls of steaming hot dumplings to the dining table, wiped his hands and sat down beside his best friend.

Feng Nanshu held her chopsticks, sitting properly, cheeks puffed out, eyes shining bright.

Yuan Youqin looked at the two of them in the lamplight, not sure why, but the more she looked the more content she felt. She turned and started conspiring with Jiang Zhenghong who was stewing dishes.

“Old Jiang, your son brought someone home to me.”

“He really brought someone back?”

“Yeah, she’s sitting right out there. You keep cooking, I’ll go to the bedroom and prepare a red envelope for her.”

Jiang Zhenghong held up a spoon and glanced at her, “Aren’t you being a bit too eager? Isn’t she just a good friend?”

Yuan Youqin thought for a moment after hearing this, “It’s the New Year, even if she’s not a girlfriend, giving a red envelope isn’t too much. Seeing how well-behaved she is makes me happy, can’t I give her one?”

“I get it, you want to stake your claim first?” Jiang Zhenghong hit the nail on the head.

“What claim, she calls me auntie, so no matter what I’m her elder.”

“Everyone says mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law don’t get along, but you’re the opposite, seeing one and wanting to pull her into the family. This time you got your wish.”

Yuan Youqin couldn’t help but sigh, “Raising a son this old and suddenly he brings a girl home, on New Year’s Eve no less. My feelings are both complex and joyful, don’t you feel the same?”

Jiang Zhenghong added some water to the pot and put the lid on, “It is a bit complicated, but I suggest you clarify things, don’t get your hopes up for nothing in the end.”

“Ask who? Ask Jiang Qin? Is there ever any truth in that brat’s mouth?”

“That’s true, but he’s always been secretive before, how come he’s so open about bringing her back today?”

Yuan Youqin lowered her voice, “Says her family isn’t home for the New Year, eating New Year’s Eve dinner alone feels too lonely.”

Jiang Zhenghong found this very reasonable after hearing it, “Since it’s because her family isn’t around, that means it’s not time for an official introduction to us yet. I suggest you don’t meddle too much.”

“The daughter-in-law I want is for me to decide, what say does Jiang Qin have?”

“…”

Madam Yuan wiped her hands, turned and went to the bedroom. She took out the red envelope prepared for Jiang Qin, returned to the dining room and handed it to Feng Nanshu.

“Nanshu, Happy New Year. Auntie is giving you a red envelope, wishing you peace and happiness every year.”

“Auntie is such a good person.”

Feng Nanshu took the red envelope, glanced at Jiang Qin, then carefully put it in her pocket and patted it twice.

Jiang Qin bit into a dumpling without vinegar, thinking Guo Zihang ah Guo Zihang, your roasted chickens before were really misdirected huh?

We’re all pretty much best friends right?

Plus the two of us have known each other since elementary school, we barely count as childhood friends so no problem at all.

Then why is it that little rich girl gets a red envelope on her first visit, while you come often but can’t even get red envelope paper?

You ah, need to seriously reflect on this issue.

After a while, the stewed dishes were ready. Yuan Youqin and Jiang Zhenghong came to the table and announced dinner with beaming faces.

Although this year’s New Year’s Eve dumplings had no vinegar, the happiness wasn’t any less than when dipping in vinegar.

“Zhao Benshan is still in this year’s Spring Festival Gala?”

“What year’s Gala doesn’t have him, could it even be called the Spring Festival Gala then?” Jiang Zhenghong took a sip from his cup.

Jiang Qin ate dumplings while watching the skit “Not Short of Money” on TV, and couldn’t help feeling emotional, “Maybe in a year or two we won’t see him anymore.”

“The Spring Festival Gala has gotten more and more boring in recent years. If Zhao Benshan’s skits are gone too, there will be no point in watching.”

“Nanshu, eat more dishes.” Yuan Youqin paid no attention to the Gala, only to Feng Nanshu.

Although still unsure if she was her daughter-in-law, she couldn’t help but give the little rich girl food again and again.

She really wanted a daughter. Parents with only a son at home probably all have this thought, feeling daughters are obedient and adorable, while boys are too mischievous. It’s just a pity Jiang Qin was the first born so this wish couldn’t be realized.

Right now, Feng Nanshu truly fulfilled all of Yuan Youqin’s fantasies about a well-behaved daughter. She ate whatever was given, looking very easy to care for.

Jiang Qin shifted his gaze from the TV and glanced at the little rich girl, “You didn’t used to eat in such tiny bites right? Why so ladylike today?”

“I’ve always eaten like this.” Feng Nanshu said solemnly.

“Impossible, you’re a little glutton, you even dare to eat chili peppers in big mouthfuls.”

“Jiang Qin, you’re a villain.”

Yuan Youqin angrily pounded the table, “Jiang Qin, are you not satisfied being full? Why do you keep bullying her?”

“?????”

Should I leave then?

Seems I’m the only outsider in this family.

Jiang Qin silently complained in his heart, but didn’t dare say it out loud, afraid to make himself unhappy during the New Year. So he very wisely shut up and silently ate dumplings with his head down.

Feng Nanshu pursed her little mouth, eyes full of delight, like a silly cat being petted comfortably, the warm lamplight reflected in her beautiful eyes.

The following chatter was quite interesting.

Yuan Youqin asked how the two met. The little rich girl answered very honestly, saying Jiang Qin kicked me. Yuan Youqin’s five word comment – break his dog legs.

Jiang Qin sat on the side, sipping tea and listening, feeling his knees go cold, fearing old frostbite was flaring up again.

Actually Yuan Youqin had quite a few more probing questions she wanted to ask Feng Nanshu, but Jiang Zhenghong had already analyzed things for her before the meal.

This little girl is visiting for the first time, and they aren’t officially in a clear relationship yet. Asking too much is inappropriate, better to let things unfold naturally.

If she’s yours, no need to stake a claim early, she won’t run away.

Yuan Youqin felt this made sense, so she didn’t pry more.

Late at night, Uncle Gong came to pick up Feng Nanshu in his car, waving nonstop from beside the flower bed downstairs. So Jiang Qin escorted the little rich girl down.

Although she was reluctant to part, there was no way to have her stay overnight.

Yuan Youqin was still standing on the balcony at this time, watching Feng Nanshu’s back as she got into the car, also feeling an empty loss in her heart. How nice would it be if this big daughter-in-law could stay at home, then she could show her off to visiting relatives and friends tomorrow morning.

“Young Master Jiang, we’ll be going then.”

“Wait a moment Uncle Gong, let me take a few minutes of your time, there’s something I want to ask you.” Jiang Qin stopped Uncle Gong.

Uncle Gong turned his head, “What is it?”

“I’m very curious, why isn’t anyone accompanying Feng Nanshu for the New Year?”

“Actually, the master wanted her to spend the New Year in Shanghai, but the young miss doesn’t want to go. It’s been four years now, she’s spent every New Year alone.”

Jiang Qin recalled the information form, “I saw the registration form, the little rich girl doesn’t have a mother anymore?”

Uncle Gong pursed his lips and nodded, “Yes, Young Master Jiang.”

“She has a stepmother now?”

“Yes, Young Master Jiang.”

“The ones currently spending the New Year in Shanghai are her dad, stepmother and that family?”

“Yes, Young Master Jiang.”

“Feng Nanshu’s stepmother is a very formidable woman?”

“…”

Uncle Gong froze for a moment, lowering his head and staying silent.

Jiang Qin also knew that with the questioning reaching this point, it was already very difficult for Uncle Gong to continue answering. Because as a driver, he definitely could not casually use his own subjective views to comment on his boss’s family matters and relatives.

But this kind of silence was also a form of answer, there was no need to ask more.

“When are you going to Shanghai?”

“We leave first thing tomorrow morning. Secretary Liang and I will be accompanying her the whole way. Young Master Jiang needn’t worry.”

Jiang Qin looked at Feng Nanshu through the glass, and found that she was also looking at him with her face pressed against the window, “Uncle Gong, is the little rich girl… going to pay New Year’s greetings of her own free will?”

Uncle Gong nodded after hearing this, “The young miss isn’t just going to pay respects to the master, but also to her grandparents, uncle and aunt. Especially the young miss’s aunt, who misses her terribly every year, clamoring to see the miss as soon as the twelfth lunar month starts.”

“Alright, I have no more questions.”

“Young Master Jiang really can’t bear to see our family’s young miss suffer the slightest grievance.”

Uncle Gong muttered merrily in his heart, then drove off into the endless night.

Just then, a burst of firecrackers suddenly sounded, instantly pushing the festive atmosphere to a peak.

Jiang Qin glanced at the time and found it was already past midnight. That notice banning fireworks and firecrackers, looked like it could control the first half of the night but not the second half.

Early the next morning, the snowfall stopped, all of Jizhou covered in pure white.

Starting from 7 AM, after breakfast the Jiang home received quite a few visitors coming to give New Year’s greetings. The whole house was packed, looking extremely lively.

Hongrong Homes was a resettlement area. Although the infrastructure was average, the good thing was that relatives and friends all lived nearby, making New Year visits very convenient.

Yuan Youqin was exceptionally happy this year. Hearing others talk about daughters-in-law this, grandsons that, she actually didn’t feel the slightest unpleasantness. Sometimes she would even join in, offering her own views.

You should know, ever since Sister Li had a grandson and went around annoying people, Yuan Youqin had always avoided this kind of topic like the plague. But today, her sense of participation was unexpectedly strong.

“I think a daughter-in-law must be obedient.”

“I think a daughter-in-law must be tall.”

“I think a daughter-in-law must be fair-skinned.”

Some of the friends and relatives who didn’t get along with their daughters-in-law would laugh and say Youqin, you’re really dreaming. You must have drunk a lot last night and still haven’t sobered up.

“Jiang Qin, how are your studies lately? Went off to college, haven’t been causing mischief right?”

“Mom, mom, where are my trophies? Quick, take them out, open uncle’s eyes and let him witness the star student!”

Jiang Qin poured tea while shouting into the house, more smug than ever.

The relatives gathered in the room passed around the trophy, each giving a thumbs up and singing praises, making the star student look extremely pleased.

“There’s also the newspaper, mom, bring out the Linchuan Youth Daily!”