Chapter 315: A Toast and Reconciliation
Chapter 315: Chapter 315: A Toast and Reconciliation
This time, Hua Zhiqiang didn’t stand up. Instead, he raised his glass, looked toward Zhao Nuanyue, and said, "Nuanyue, I need to apologize. I used to look down on your family background, and in doing so, I forgot that true affection is the rarest thing in this world. I was prejudiced against you, and my attitude hurt you. Thankfully, you’re a filial and sensible young woman who values relationships deeply, so you didn’t hold a grudge against an old fossil like me. That’s the only reason this family can be so warm. This glass is for you. To you!"
Hearing this, Zhao Nuanyue was happy to have Hua Zhiqiang’s approval. She quickly stood up, raised her glass, and said, "Uncle, you were only acting in the Hua family’s best interests, for the good of our home. I understand your position and hold no resentment. I knew the Hua family was a family of integrity, and that as long as I was sincere, I would eventually earn everyone’s affection and acceptance."
"You’re a good kid." Hua Zhiqiang nodded and took a drink. "Now I’m starting to understand why Sun Haoran cares for you so much as his final disciple!"
"Thank you, Uncle," Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. She was a little surprised that Hua Zhiqiang had apologized.
Although she had said before that she didn’t care about the Hua family’s attitude, Zhao Nuanyue was truly overjoyed now that everyone had accepted her.
Her father had passed away early, so she never had a proper family.
Now that she was with Hua Yusen, she naturally hoped for a harmonious and happy family, not one filled with scheming and constant hostility.
Seeing her father say this, Hua Yufen could now leave for her job with peace of mind.
At the dinner table, everyone toasted Hua Yufen one after another, wishing her a safe journey.
As Feng Wanru ate a dish Zhao Nuanyue had made, her eyes lit up. It was delicious. Although the flavor was delicate, it was exceptionally good.
"Nuanyue, did you bring this dish?" Feng Wanru couldn’t help but ask. She particularly loved the Dragon Wisdom Grass salad and realized she didn’t even know what it was.
Little Red Carp was gnawing on a chicken leg. When she heard Feng Wanru’s question, she quickly said, "Aunt Hua, this is Dragon Wisdom Grass! We brought seeds from Nianqiao Village and planted them in Qingya Lake in our backyard. It’s super fresh and yummy."
Everyone’s eyes fell upon Little Red Carp.
Hua Yusen smiled and said, "Mom, that is indeed Dragon Wisdom Grass from Nianqiao Village. This stuff is great! Legend has it that in the years Dragon Wisdom Grass appears in Nianqiao Village, the children born that year are all very smart, which is why this aquatic plant is also called Zhuangyuan Grass. I don’t know if it can help you become a top scholar or pass the imperial exams, but it tastes exceptionally good. In Nianqiao Village, I could eat it from spring all the way to autumn. It saved a lot on food rations."
After hearing Feng Wanru praise it, everyone reached for the dish to try some.
"The flavor really is excellent," Hua Zhiqiang also praised. "Even I, someone who doesn’t normally care for vegetable dishes, think it’s quite good."
"Uncle Hua, if you like it, we have more in our backyard. We can bring some over for everyone often," Little Red Carp said with a smile. "It’s super delicious, and it’s good for you!"
"Then we’ll have to thank Little Red Carp," Hua Zhiqiang said, also smiling. When faced with a child, his usual sternness vanished.
"No need to thank me!" Little Red Carp giggled. "My big sister can also use dried Dragon Wisdom Grass to make steamed buns and savory pastries. Those are even yummier, and also..."
Seeing Little Red Carp heaping praise on her, Zhao Nuanyue started to feel a bit embarrassed.
"Little Red Carp, just eat your food. We should be humble," Zhao Nuanyue reminded her in a low voice, hoping she would stop praising her.
"But I am being humble! And I’m just telling the truth," Little Red Carp said with an innocent expression, a wronged look on her face as if she were being scolded for simply speaking the truth.
Her expression made everyone burst into laughter.
"Old Hua, look how adorable Little Red Carp is. If we had a granddaughter or grandson like her, we’d wake up from our dreams laughing," Feng Wanru said cheerfully. She absolutely adored her.
Hua Zhiqiang had been drinking today and was in high spirits. Having resolved his conflict with Zhao Nuanyue, he was feeling very content.
"Hehe, then let’s get everything ready and arrange the wedding for Yusen and Nuanyue as soon as possible. That way, we can have our grandsons and granddaughters sooner," Hua Zhiqiang said with a laugh. Many of his friends and old acquaintances his age were already holding their grandchildren, some families with more than one.
Sometimes, he was very envious.
"Wonderful! You’ve already set the date anyway. It’s in two months. We’ll make it a big, lively celebration," Feng Wanru said with a smile. She was overjoyed today.
Zhao Nuanyue’s face flushed with shyness, but her heart was racing with excitement.
’Marriage!’
She could finally marry Hua Yusen and become a true husband and wife.
Hua Yusen looked at Zhao Nuanyue, his eyes full of love. His wish was finally coming true—he could be with the woman he loved.
Hua Yufen raised her glass, smiling brightly. "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, I’m leaving tomorrow, so I won’t be able to be at your wedding. Please let me toast you in advance. I wish you a lifetime of happiness, and may you grow old together."
Hua Yusen and Zhao Nuanyue stood up, took a sip from their glasses, and said, "Thank you for your well wishes."
The meal was a joyous occasion for both hosts and guests.
It was not just a farewell dinner for Hua Yufen, but also a chance to grow closer to Zhao Nuanyue.
All minor conflicts slowly dissipated under the principle that "a harmonious family prospers."
Everyone understood that a family’s prosperity is never the result of one person’s effort, but the effort of all. Once a family begins to fight internally, backstabbing and scheming against one another, it is not far from decline and ruin.
After dinner, everyone moved to the living room, where the housekeeper had already brewed tea and placed it on the coffee table.
Zhao Nuanyue took a glass jar out of her bag and said, "Yu Fen, this is a gift for you. I know you don’t lack for anything, but I thought that as a young woman, you probably care a lot about your appearance, so I made this. It’s not jam or anything—it’s a brightening face mask. After you wash and dry your face, just apply a thin layer, and it will make your skin better."
Hearing this, Hua Yufen’s eyes fixed on Zhao Nuanyue’s face. Excited, she asked quickly, "Sister-in-law, is your skin so good because you use this?"
"Yes. I selected some herbs with skincare properties from many different medicinal ingredients, ground them into a powder, and I’ve tested it myself. It works, which is why I’m giving it to you. Why don’t you try it tonight? If it works for you, take it with you. If not, then don’t bother."
Hua Yufen was very interested. She eagerly took the glass jar from Zhao Nuanyue and said with a laugh, "Mom, Dad, Sister-in-law, Big Brother, Second Brother, you all can keep talking. I’m going to go try this face mask."
With that, she zipped upstairs.
"That girl... She’s already so grown up, yet she’s still so impetuous." Feng Wanru shook her head and chuckled. She was quite confident in her daughter’s looks, but her skin was on the darker side, something she got from her father.
For a boy, it was fine. A dark complexion was considered manly and rugged, and girls still pursued them.
But for a girl, dark skin was seen as detracting from her beauty.