Chapter 104: Chapter 101: Only Emotions, Not Ruled by Reason 1
"Yes, someone always bears the burden of suffering."
Su’s mother agreed with this, but...
"I’ve never met someone as optimistic as him, so optimistic it was almost as if he was carefree. You couldn’t see a hint of the distress life imposed on him. So naive, so happy... You couldn’t tell what his happiness was based on, but he was just very happy. Later, I thought, maybe... his happiness simply came from seeing the flowers he planted blooming beautifully."
"...Xiao Meng is like him."
Yin Shixiu’s eyes revealed a trace of gentleness.
"Yes, Xiao Meng’s temperament is very much like his, easy to manage, yet easy to lose control."
Su’s mother tore the cut gauze into a thin layer again.
"I was only eighteen years old at the time, the summer after the college entrance exams, that’s when we met."
She took a deep breath and then secretly smiled, "He might not know even now, maybe I was the one who fell in love with him at first sight."
"It’s just that I didn’t dare to say, someone with no background and no education, why would I have the courage to believe in this love? Liking someone is an individual matter, but mutual affection isn’t just about two people."
Su’s mother pressed the thin layer of gauze onto Yin Shixiu’s face, securing it with small medical tape.
"Though it looks a bit unsightly, after a few days, it shouldn’t leave a scar."
"Thank you."
Su’s mother sat next to Yin Shixiu, hands folded, looking very relaxed, "Love can make people lose their minds, that’s the truth. If anyone says they’ve never lost their mind over love, they surely haven’t loved deeply. Think about it, if I hadn’t lost my mind, how could I have given up my bright future to come to Chengdu with him to become a teacher?"
"Shixiu, you’re a rational person, and so am I, but in this world, only feelings aren’t ruled by rationality."
Su’s mother looked at him, "Being with Xiao Meng was the most irrational decision."
"Yes, irrational, but I’m very happy."
Yin Shixiu admitted frankly.
Su’s mother laughed, evidently finding comfort in Yin Shixiu’s response.
"Yes, irrational, but very happy. Xiao Meng, like her dad, can bring happiness to others. No great skills, no profound knowledge, no grand aspirations, but very reassuring."
"After I got pregnant with Xiao Meng, I cut off contact with my family. It was okay in the countryside; even back then, having children early wasn’t unusual. My biggest fear was... that Su Chengji would feel inferior."
"But fortunately, I overthought it."
Su’s mother shook her head, now reflecting deeply, still finding the encounter with Meng Meng’s father a very magical thing.
Just like Meng Meng’s father.
"In his world, there’s no high or low class. He never felt unworthy of me, nor could he understand why a gardener couldn’t like a rich young lady in others’ eyes."
"Of course, I didn’t want to see him feel inferior, but seeing him unabashedly confident, I was also very curious, so one day I tentatively talked to him about it..."
Su’s mother recalled that scene...
At the time, she was cradling Xiao Meng, breastfeeding, leaning against the kitchen door, watching him make pastries, meticulously performing each step.
"Honey, who gave you the courage back then to pursue me?"
"Huh?"
He focused on shaping the pastries into flowers, then placed them one by one into the baking tray, glanced at her, and said very matter-of-factly, "I liked you. If I didn’t pursue you, wouldn’t you end up with someone else? Thinking like that, why would I need anyone else to give me courage?"
"That’s one way to put it... but, you see, my education is better than yours, my family background is better, not to mention temperament. Didn’t you feel even a bit uneasy?"
He hummed a tune as he put the baking tray into the oven, took off his gloves, and looked at her with a face full of pride, "What about you? I’m taller than you, stronger than you, I can grow flowers, pick locks, run small businesses, while you couldn’t do anything but read books... wife, didn’t you feel even a bit uneasy?"
At the time, she was truly at a loss for words.
How to say it? Clearly, she didn’t quite agree with him, clearly felt it all seemed so unjustified, yet couldn’t find a point to argue against.
For a moment, she was a bit angry.
Words like "How can you compare your little skills with my high education?" almost slipped out.
Fortunately, that certain cheeky man wasn’t completely oblivious to what she really wanted to ask.
He teased the little Meng Meng in her arms.
"Everyone has their strengths, if my parents didn’t live in the countryside and instead had high education and studied abroad like your parents during the founding of the country, I would’ve had the chance too, to become that educated and well-backgrounded person you speak of."
"But wife... you’re so well-mannered, you can’t compare your strengths with my weaknesses, right?"
"Tch... as if you have strengths."
"Hmm... I think that’s what your dad said about me back then too..."
"...That’s not what I meant."
"Don’t overthink, okay?" Su Chengji patted her head, "Back then, I pursued you simply because I liked you, liked you and went for it. What’s there to think about? I wasn’t trying to force you, so what’s there to be afraid of?"
"Force you my foot! What kind of metaphor is that?"
"An uneducated person can only make such metaphors..."
He shrugged, his thick skin was truly... thicker than a city wall.
"Chasing you was just my wishful effort, what’s wrong with a toad wanting to eat swan meat? If the swan doesn’t respond, it’s fine!"
"Geez..."
"Well then! I guess Father-in-law never expected that the swan wanting to eat toad meat could be more urgent than the toad wanting to eat swan meat! What should we do about that?"
"Su Chengji, could you say that again?"
"Hey! I’m saying you’re a swan, eh!"
"Who the hell wants to eat your meat?"
"Honey, educated people, educated people should be cultured..."
Yin Shixiu listened to Su’s mother’s story, his gaze becoming more gentle.
"He never thought he wasn’t worthy of me, but he clearly understood that I sacrificed a lot for him, gave up a lot."
"He never asked me if I regretted it; he just treated me better so I wouldn’t regret."
"Breaking ties with your family for the sake of your father must have taken courage, right?"
"Yes, it took courage. But I think it was worth it. The world I grew up in has no rules that constrain Su Chengji. He completely overturned my world view, my outlook on life, and my views on love... He’s a very remarkable person, and I truly think it was worth it."
Su’s mother looked at Yin Shixiu, who had a gauze bandage on his handsome face.
A son-in-law scratched by a crazy woman was indeed distressing.
"If your family saw this injury when you go home, it would probably raise quite a few questions, right?"
"I’ll leave the day before the Lantern Festival; by then, it should be almost healed."
Yin Shixiu said.
Su’s mother smiled, then said, "Xiao Meng marrying you seems like a mismatched union to outsiders, but it’s your choice, and it’s Xiao Meng’s choice; I don’t object. I know the road will be long and challenging for both of you..."
Yin Shixiu didn’t speak, just pressed his thin lips together, his expression somewhat dark, but very calm.
"But no matter what, you can’t expect Xiao Meng to change for you. Of course, if she wants to do something for you herself, I have no objections."
"...I understand."
Yin Shixiu responded.
"I’m somewhat a successful example of a mismatched union myself, but I can’t rule out the possibility that this ’non-opposition’ I speak of now might someday harm my precious one... I can’t be sure of anything, because whether Xiao Meng’s happiness can last depends entirely on you."
"Rest assured... The moment I decided to marry her, I was fully aware of all the difficulties."
"Knowing isn’t enough; you have to solve them."
"...I get it."
Su’s mother took a deep breath, "I’ve said all the good things I can, now let me say something unpleasant..."
Yin Shixiu lifted his eyes to meet Su’s mother’s cold gaze...
"The only promise I can make to you is, if someday Xiao Meng comes to me and says you wronged her, I will have a way to turn your Yin family into a ghost house, never to find peace again."
This didn’t really scare Yin Shixiu, but it definitely frightened Su Xiaomeng, who had been eavesdropping just outside the door for a short while!
She widened her eyes, then tugged at Su Chengji’s sleeve and whispered, "Dad... Isn’t mom’s words a bit too harsh? Is she planning to annihilate the whole clan?"
Su Chengji blinked his eyes, his voice a bit shaky, "Sh-shouldn’t be, right?"
"She did say from Yin Mansion to Ghost House!"
Su Chengji scratched his head, reflecting on how his wife’s sometimes ’all or nothing’ nature could indeed be worrisome...
But seeing how stunned Xiao Meng looked, he quickly patted her head, "As long as Xiao Yin doesn’t do anything wrong to you, everything should be fine, right?"
Su Xiaomeng sniffed, somehow feeling super worried...
The door opened from the inside.
Su Xiaomeng and Su Chengji immediately stood straight.
Su’s mother gave them a cold glance.
Su Chengji immediately saluted, "Report, chief! I have apologized to Brother Su Jianyi! I have received Sister-in-law Wenxiu’s forgiveness! I have pacified Third Grandpa!"
Su Xiaomeng quickly followed, widening her eyes and saluting, "Report, chief! The fire has ceased, we surrendered, but we destroyed an enemy mink coat! It’s reportedly worth 120,000 yuan!"
Su’s mother was amused by the father and daughter’s antics and didn’t pursue their eavesdropping.
She glanced at Yin Shixiu, and he gave an understanding smile.
"Not a bad result! Extra meal tomorrow!"
Su’s mother said!
Su Xiaomeng and Su’s father high-fived, looking thrilled.
"Ah! Right, Mom, will Uncle’s face scar?"
"Apply some medicine for a few days, and it shouldn’t scar."
"But I’m afraid there might be poison under her fingernail..."
Su’s mother didn’t want to acknowledge her and walked past with a speechless expression, while Su’s father happily followed his wife.
Yin Shixiu rubbed Su Xiaomeng’s head and bent down slightly, "Are you worried?"
"...Mmh."
Su Xiaomeng nodded honestly.