"Youâre not angry?" Zhao Lanzi asked cautiously. She had actually grown accustomed to her sonâs ways long ago, and her show of anger just now was purely out of concern that Ningning might be mad at Qigang, which is why she had made a point of showing it to her.
They had only just gotten married, and he had already been transferred; any other wife would have gone back to her parentsâ home crying. And since Qigang was transferred while at his in-laws, this made her feel a little guilty as the mother-in-law.
"Thereâs nothing to be angry about, itâs quite normal, and I have to return to the General Union too."
"Why do you have to go back too?" Xu Xianxiong bellowed, "Youâve hardly stayed at home for a few days, and now youâre leaving?"
"Mhm!" Sheng Ning nodded, "Dad, Mom, take good care of yourselves while Qigang and I are not here."
"Donât worry, do well at the General Union," Zhao Lanziâs mood shifted immediately, smiling with understanding, "When are you planning to leave? Weâll see you off personally."
"No need, Iâll go back in my grandfatherâs car."
"Your grandfather?" Zhao Lanzi was confused, nudging Xu Xianxiong and whispering, "When did Ningning get a grandfather?" Werenât they told that her biological mother had abandoned her husband and child? And the stepmother had fled from another region, hadnât she?
How could she have a grandfather?
Xu Xianxiong coughed awkwardlyâhow had he forgotten to mention this to his wife amid the chaos? "Well, the family of the grandfather came looking for us, so we just accepted it." Their son had been there when it happened, so he had mentioned it briefly when he got back. The in-laws didnât hide it either, telling him the very next day.
"Oh! Then you should invite your grandfather over to visit soon, and have him over for a meal, how can you not when an elder pays a visit?" Zhao Lanzi said enthusiastically.
"Uh... letâs not," Sheng Ning hesitated, the senior leader was elderly and had a special status, with strict requirements for his daily life, so she didnât want to trouble her in-laws.
"But how can that be..." Zhao Lanzi was about to speak when Xu Xianxiong pulled her to the side, realizing the situation wasnât simple, she quickly swallowed her words.
"Ningning, weâre at ease with you going back with your grandfather, but once youâre at the General Union, you must take good care of yourself and Qigang. Remember to write to us often."
"Okay! Dad, you and Mom take good care of yourselves too."
"Donât worry! Weâll be in the village every day, and weâll surely take good care of ourselves."
Sheng Ning couldnât help but smile when she thought of the formidable nature of her in-laws.
She had only recently moved in, so Sheng Ning didnât have much to pack, just a small bundle of clothes. What she had most of were various snacks and local specialties, filling three large bags. When they reached the outskirts of the village, Sheng Ning wanted to stop several times and say not to bring so much.
But seeing the look in the elderly coupleâs eyes, she could only delicately say, "Mom, isnât this a bit too much?"
"Not at all, not the slightest bit too much!"
"Thatâs right! You canât carry much with your small frame; Qigang brought back more than this every time he came home."
"..." Sheng Ning was speechless. Was it true that every time Living Yama came home, he carried a lot?
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhao Lanzi couldnât stand her husband bad-mouthing their son and landed a punch on Xu Xianxiong, "Qigang comes home once every three years; is it too much to bring some things back?"
"Not at all, truly not too much, wife, I am wrong, sorry." Xu Xianxiong habitually placated his wife and only when he noticed she was embarrassed to the point of blushing did he remember that his daughter-in-law was still there!
How could he save face in front of his daughter-in-law in the future?
"Cough cough cough... Ningning, you didnât see anything just now, did you?"