Chapter 322: Chapter 317: Phoenix Man
Ye Mei’s face flushed with anger when Granny Liu spoke, and she felt extremely indignant inside. She knew her mother had always favored boys over girls, and now that Ye Qiu was successful, what was wrong with helping her own sister?
Ye Mei was dissatisfied because she still remembered the scolding Ye Qiu gave her last time. And Zhang Meng’s father too, she was, after all, Ye Qiu’s sister, couldn’t he show some sympathy? Why should he care so much when he wasn’t the victim? If he hadn’t interfered, relying on her identity as Ye Qiu’s sister would have been enough to keep the person from daring to say anything.
As soon as Granny Liu saw Ye Mei’s ambiguous expression, she knew she was displeased and snorted coldly, feeling annoyed.
It must be said that she made the right choice with this in-law family, not only did they raise such an excellent daughter like Mengmeng, but they also stopped their daughter and son-in-law from harming Ye Qiu’s reputation.
The closure of this couple’s shop was well-deserved. If they were allowed to continue deceiving people, what if it led others to believe it was instigated by Ye Qiu? They could not let their son’s hard-earned reputation be destroyed like that.
"Here they come, here they come." What was once a secluded path had now become wide and flat, and two cars were approaching from a distance. As expected, it must be Ye Qiu’s family arriving. Granny Liu hurriedly stood at the intersection to welcome them, with Ye Mei and Zhao Yang shamelessly following.
"Mengmeng, tired from the ride? It must have been tough, come on out." After several years of persuasion from Ye Qiu, Granny Liu now held Ye Qiu in the highest regard, but Zhang Meng wasn’t far behind.
Moreover, without troublesome people deliberately driving a wedge, Granny Liu was actually easy to please, and over the years, Zhang Meng had already mastered the knack of handling her.
"Mom, didn’t I call and tell you to wait at home? Why did you come down in person?" Zhang Meng’s tone seemed to scold but was actually showing care. Although there were some elements of cajoling, Zhang Meng’s concern for Granny Liu was genuine, otherwise, Granny Liu wouldn’t be this happy.
"It’s alright, my legs are strong. I just wanted to see you all sooner. Where’s dad? Didn’t he say he was coming too?"
"He’s in the car behind."
As they spoke, Zhang Changfeng’s car also stopped. Liu Sanying, full of gratitude, said to Zhang Changfeng who just got out of the car: "My in-law, I really appreciate what you did last time. If you hadn’t discovered it on time, I, just an old lady from the countryside, wouldn’t have known what to do."
"We’re all family, it was only right. Besides, it was partly for the sake of Ye Qiu’s face," Zhang Changfeng said cheerfully, very different from his usual aloof demeanor when facing Ye Qiu. He sneered inwardly, thinking this youngster always played tricks; it was clearly his own discovery, but for some reason, they had to say it was due to his own kindness. The cheeky kid was really cunning. If it wasn’t for the sake of his daughter, he wouldn’t have agreed!
Though Ye Qiu had made something of himself now, Zhang Changfeng was still the chairman of a large conglomerate and the dean of a major hospital, and in Granny Liu’s eyes, those were capable people. Seeing him being so approachable and without pretense, Granny Liu was extremely pleased. Mengmeng, his daughter-in-law made such a good choice, where else could she find such a perfect daughter in every aspect?
Ye Mei and Zhao Yang felt uneasy upon seeing Zhang Changfeng, yet at the same time somewhat intimidated. Both had previously flaunted their modest earnings, looking down on everyone. Now with their shop sealed due to issues with their products, they were constantly anxious, fearing the police would show up any day to arrest them.
Having gone through this ordeal, Ye Mei and Zhao Yang dared not deal in counterfeit goods anymore. However, thinking that their brother was, after all, serving the country, hitching a ride on his coattails for a comeback shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Thinking about how Ye Qiu foolishly gave away the patent rights for free, Ye Mei felt a pang of heartache. How much money was that worth? Wouldn’t just a bit of it ensure a lifetime without any financial worries?
"Come in and have a seat, family. Ye Qiu, pour some tea for your father-in-law." Granny Liu was beaming with joy; she had waited many years for this day, and now her son was finally getting married.
Once Mengmeng was pregnant again, regardless of the child’s gender, she would finally feel she had honored her deceased husband properly.
Ye Qiu and Zhang Meng had registered their marriage a month ago, and had returned to their hometown for the wedding banquet to fulfill Granny Liu’s wish. On the day of the wedding, both wore traditional Chinese outfits, kowtowed to Granny Liu and Zhang Changfeng, and then toasted all the guests. The next morning, they went to Ye Qiu’s father’s grave to burn paper money, thus concluding the ceremonies.
Just a few days after the wedding banquet came New Year’s Eve, marking a grand reunion year. In the past, the couple would travel between two homes during Chinese New Year—this year at her place, and the third day at his, alternating each year, all very harmonious.
Granny Liu was not an unenlightened mother; she was just too easily persuaded by others, listening to whatever was said. Her previous dislike for Zhang Meng stemmed from the slander by Liu Er Ying and Ye Mei, as well as Ye Qiu’s inaction.
Now, with Ye Qiu’s strong persuasion, neither Liu Er Ying nor Ye Mei could stir up trouble, so even when Ye Qiu visited his father-in-law’s home for the New Year, it didn’t bother her at all.
After the New Year, Ye Qiu and Zhang Meng returned to City F, and this time, Granny Liu went with them.
Ye Qiu bought two apartments in the neighborhood next to where Zhang Changfeng lived, one of which was for Granny Liu. She would stay there for a few months each year, but due to not knowing many people in the city and the busy schedule of both Ye Qiu and Zhang Meng, she would only stay for a few days before returning to the countryside.
Only back in the countryside did she feel comfortable; the big city might be more developed, but was it as cozy as her small villa? Her old friends in the village provided companionship and everyone pampered her—life was much better there than in the city.
And the vegetables in the city, so expensive and yet so tasteless, made her worry they were poisoned! She also worried that too much of it wasn’t good for Ye Qiu and Zhang Meng, so once back in the countryside, she would send vegetables every few days. With the courier industry booming, she didn’t mind the shipping costs; all things considered, Granny Liu was reluctant to live in the city.
Only when Ye Qiu insisted that she come to the city for medical check-ups would she stay for a few days; if not for the official wedding being held in the city, Granny Liu really didn’t want to come—it was too much hassle.
Even when staying in the city, Granny Liu deliberately stayed alone in her apartment. Jokingly, she thought, with her son and daughter-in-law so busy, if she kept disturbing them, when would her grandchildren come along?
The wedding was set for March, by which time the weather had already warmed up, and Zhang Meng in her wedding dress didn’t feel cold. The only regret was that she had recently found out she was pregnant and could no longer wear the high heels she had prepared for a long time.
Zhang Meng, twenty-eight this year, wasn’t considered an elderly pregnant woman, but the family still took extra care of her. High heels were absolutely forbidden, and even her makeup underwent rigorous screening by Zhang Changfeng and Granny Liu to ensure no harmful substances were included.
With both adults being so cautious, it made Zhang Meng nervous as well, but Ye Qiu was not worried at all. Zhang Meng drank Spiritual Spring Water daily, ensuring her health was far superior to most people’s.