Chapter 401: Sour Words
Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Sour Words
Suddenly, Hua Yusen remembered his clumsy attempts the previous day had made Zhao Nuanyue suffer. He had no choice but to swallow his embarrassment and ask Sun Haoran about some "difficult problems."
With the benevolent heart of a physician, Sun Haoran carefully explained things to Hua Yusen, who learned a great deal from the discussion.
’So that’s how it is!’
From Hua Yusen’s questions, Sun Haoran could tell that despite his age, he was actually a complete novice with no prior experience. That would be even harder on the woman.
To prevent his beloved disciple from suffering, Sun Haoran took out a treasured item from the bottom of his chest, handed it to Hua Yusen, and said, "Take this back, have a look, and study hard."
Hua Yusen was confused. He opened it, and his expression immediately turned peculiar, but he still took a second look.
’Good heavens, you can do it in that position?’
’That’s a real eye-opener!’
Hua Yusen quickly put the little booklet away. His face was slightly flushed as he cleared his throat and said, "AHEM, thank you, Uncle Sun!"
"No need to thank me." Sun Haoran nodded. "But young people must also know restraint. Let Nuanyue rest for at least the next couple of days. You can’t ruin your health for the sake of carnal pleasure."
"Yes, Uncle Sun," Hua Yusen agreed.
By the time Hua Yusen and Zhao Nuanyue left Immortal Grass Hall, both of their faces were bright red.
They glanced at each other shyly before bursting into laughter.
Hua Yusen squeezed Zhao Nuanyue’s hand tightly and said happily, "Your Master and his wife... they’re truly wonderful!"
"Yes, they’ve thought of everything," Zhao Nuanyue said in a small voice. "I have to repay their kindness in the future, so all their generosity toward us isn’t in vain."
"Heh, me too," Hua Yusen nodded.
Zhao Nuanyue and Hua Yusen went to pick up Little Red Carp and Zhao Nuan Yang, then headed to the Hua family home together.
It wasn’t until they were at work that Hua Zhiqiang and Feng Wanru learned their son had returned from his assignment. But he hadn’t come home to the Hua family; after leaving Elder Gu’s place, he had gone straight to Zhao Nuanyue’s.
Although they understood, they still felt a bit sour and put out.
’A son is no longer his mother’s when he grows up. Once he’s a man, his wife is all that matters.’
That evening, after Feng Wanru and Hua Zhiqiang got home from work, she started sighing with emotion.
"Sigh, our son is all grown up and only has eyes for his wife. He comes back from a mission and doesn’t even think to come home and see us two old folks," Feng Wanru said plaintively. "No wonder you always hear people sing that song: ’A magpie’s tail is long, marry a wife and you’ll forget your mom!’"
Hua Yulin, who had just gotten home from work, walked in to hear his mother’s words. He recalled the news he’d heard that day—his older brother was back, but he still hadn’t come home, and now their mother was starting to make sour remarks.
’Sister-in-law is so wonderful, but because she and Mom both care about the same man, Mom’s words have a sour edge to them!’
Hua Yulin didn’t want his mother to develop a prejudice against his sister-in-law, Zhao Nuanyue. He wanted his brother and sister-in-law to be happy, so instead of going straight upstairs, he sat down on a sofa near his parents and smiled. "Mom, Big Brother is already twenty-six. He’s spent years working hard for the family with no time for romance. Now he’s finally married, about to have a wedding, and then he had to leave for an urgent mission. He already feels guilty toward Sister-in-law, so it’s understandable that he’d go straight to her place now that he’s back. Don’t be upset. Big Brother is so filial; he’d never forget his mother just because he got married. Besides, if you keep him cooped up at home all day, when am I ever going to get a little nephew or niece?"
The first half of Hua Yulin’s speech had already dispelled Feng Wanru’s discomfort, but the second half gave her a complete epiphany.
’That’s right! Who cares about her son anymore? He’s not the important one now.’
’With a daughter-in-law comes grandsons and granddaughters. *They* are what’s most important!’
"Yes, yes, Yu Lin, you’re right." Feng Wanru nodded. "Your big brother did the right thing! Old Hua, you can’t be so petty, trying to tie our son down at home all the time. I bet our daughter-in-law isn’t used to living with us, and she has her younger siblings at home—especially since her sister is so little, she must be worried. She probably wants to live over at Qingya Lake."
Hua Zhiqiang, who was reading the newspaper, was left speechless. She was the one who had been chattering on and on about their son forgetting his mother ever since she got home from work; he hadn’t said a word. But now, she was turning it all around and blaming him.
"Heh, whatever makes you happy." Countless past experiences had taught Hua Zhiqiang that in situations like this, the best course of action was to simply agree. Arguing would only provoke more counterarguments and complaints from his wife.
Feng Wanru thought for a moment, then said, "Of course I’m happy. Yu Sen and Nuanyue can’t have their wedding ceremony right away, but they already have their marriage certificate. We can’t have them living separately. When would I get my grandson and granddaughter then? No, this won’t do. I have to think of a way to get them to live together permanently."
"Mom, you’re not in *that* much of a hurry, are you?" Hua Yulin was dumbfounded. He had only been trying to placate her, but his mother was already planning to take action.
"How can I not be in a hurry? Look at the Liu family next door! Their grandson is already seven or eight years old," Feng Wanru retorted. "My grandson and granddaughter are nowhere in sight. Of course I’m anxious! I can’t be like your father, who just eats his fill and doesn’t care about a thing."
Hua Zhiqiang was speechless. He’d been innocently dragged into it again.
"Everything should happen naturally. You can’t force it," Hua Zhiqiang said irritably. "Being this pushy will just put pressure on Yu Sen and Nuanyue, and it’ll likely backfire!"
"Let nature take its course, that’s all you ever say," Feng Wanru shot back, just as irritated. "What era are we living in? You have no ambition! If the conditions don’t exist, we’ll create them!"
Feng Wanru thought for a moment, then stood up and prepared to go upstairs.
"Mom, what are you going upstairs for?" Hua Yulin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His mother’s fighting spirit was in high gear today, and her impulsive nature—acting on a whim—was more apparent than ever.
Without turning back, Feng Wanru replied as she walked up the stairs, "I’m going to pack your brother’s clothes. When he gets here, he can take them straight to Nuanyue’s place to live with her. That way, we might be able to hold our grandchildren a little sooner."
Before Hua Yulin could say another word, Feng Wanru had already disappeared around the bend in the staircase, on her way to pack Hua Yusen’s clothes and move him in with Zhao Nuanyue.