Volume 14
Chapter 9: The Family Dinner
Chu Xiaodong sat in the second seat, and Old Master Chu sat in the head seat. The vast dining table only had the father and son, which seemed a little desolate. Chu Xiaodong was used to it. When he was young, his cousins would still gather for meals. After he got older, this main table was only left with him, his wife, and his parents. Occasionally, his in-laws would come to visit, but after his mother, Chu Jingyi’s grandmother, passed away, this main table was rarely used. He would eat in the cabinet’s cafeteria. To be setting the table again today, he felt a little nostalgic in his heart.
While Lu Li and Chu Jingyi had not yet arrived, Chu Xiaodong planned to discuss his daughter’s matter with the old master. “You knew it would be like this all along?” Old Master Chu, his craving for alcohol kicking in, couldn’t help but pour himself a small cup of white wine. “Of course it would be like this. Women, on the surface, they look soft and weak, but their hearts are very strong. You must never underestimate them. Xiaodong, I’ve always said you live too tastelessly. Look at your dad. When I was young, I was just like Little Lu. Whichever girl was famous, I would find a way to show off in front of her. But look, did I ever mistreat your mother in the end, or mistreat you? Do you think you were unhappy when you were a child? Was your mother unhappy before she passed away?”
Chu Xiaodong thought silently.
“So, don’t think that just because a man is sentimental, he can’t be a good husband. You can’t say for sure, you can’t say for sure.” Under the influence of alcohol, Old Master Chu couldn’t help but say a few more words to his son. “You should know that back then, I had an older brother. His ability, character, and appearance were all better than mine, and he was also the eldest son, so it was only natural that he would be the heir. I, on the other hand, justifiably spent my time in debauchery as a profligate son. Later, I met your mother. Your maternal grandfather looked down on me to no end, insisting that I was the black sheep of the Chu family… Heh, your mother went behind her family’s back, secretly came to find me, and we planned to elope. You know what happened after that. My older brother fell ill. Before he passed away, he wrote a long letter to me, hoping that I would study hard and manage the family business after I returned. I also brought your mother back to the country.” As he spoke, the old master’s eyes reddened. Old people are most afraid of reminiscing about the past, especially reminiscing about their dearest relatives.
“So, when you said you wanted Yibao to hide behind the screen, I knew you were definitely going to fall flat on your face today. For Lu Li to be chosen by Yibao, it means his own character is solid. You were being prejudiced, underestimating his character.”
Chu Xiaodong said quickly, “Dad, drink less. Dr. Chen said you’d better not drink anymore.”
“Today is a good day. My granddaughter has a sweetheart, the little couple is finally together, and holding a grandson is just around the corner. Of course I have to drink!” Old Master Chu, seeing that his son was still a little sullen, tried to persuade him again. “This person, Little Lu, I haven’t met him, but I’ve heard a lot about him. In my opinion, his family background is clean, his character is frank and open, and he’s also a sentimental person. As the son-in-law of the Chu family, he couldn’t be more suitable. Or do you want some young master from who knows where to marry into the Chu family and steal our Chu family’s foundation?”
“I know. It’s just that, sigh, I just feel a little frustrated in my heart.” Chu Xiaodong revealed his true feelings. “I’ve watched Yibao grow up. This child suddenly ran off with a young man, her elbow turning out to Europe. This heart of mine feels a little empty.”
Old Master Chu smiled. “Fathers-in-law are all like this. Back then, when your mother and I had our wedding, your maternal grandfather was crying and scolding me at the same time. I thought at that time, I must never have a daughter in the future, or I’d be afraid of crying even harder when my daughter gets married. It’s a good thing you were promising and were born with a handle. And, Little Lu is not bad. He has no father and no mother. Once he marries Yibao, in the end, he’s still a member of the Chu family…”
Thinking of it this way, Chu Xiaodong felt a little better in his heart. He had just poured himself a cup of white wine when he saw Lu Li and Chu Jingyi walk over. He poured the white wine out again and resumed his stern demeanor. “Sit.”
Lu Li saw the old man with a smiling face at the head of the table, then looked at the unhappy Chu Xiaodong, and was still a little apprehensive. Lu Li had met his in-laws once before. That was in his first life, when he married Hupo. He had gone to the Amber family once, but he had met her adoptive parents. Perhaps it was a cultural difference, but Hupo’s adoptive parents were very enthusiastic toward him, as approachable as if they were receiving a friend. This was the first time he had met a father-in-law under the traditional patriarchal culture of Shenzhou.
“Hello, Grandpa. Dad, is it just the four of us?” Lu Li said shamelessly.
Chu Xiaodong was so angry he laughed. “Who told you to call me Grandpa and Dad? Marrying a daughter of the Chu family requires four steps: engagement, announcement, banquet, and marriage. You have to wait until after the marriage to call me Dad!”
Old Master Chu said quickly, “Hey, those are the old rules. Don’t young people these days just want to get married early? In my opinion, we can just skip the engagement part, and go straight to the announcement, banquet, and wedding all at once. And the sooner the better. We can start preparing after the New Year…”
Jingyi’s face turned red. “Grandpa! What are you saying!” Although her heart had been completely given to Lu Li, marriage was still too early and too abrupt for a little girl of her age. She wasn’t ready to be a wife yet.
Lu Li quietly squeezed the Silly Goose’s palm and said in a small voice, “The old man wants to hold a grandson soon.” Perhaps there’s more to it than that. They are hoping to have the next generation of the Chu family’s direct line as soon as possible.
Old Master Chu beckoned. “Little Lu, come, come, come. Sit next to me. Let me have a good look at my grandson-in-law.”
The moment Lu Li sat down, the old master praised him. “Sure enough, a man of striking appearance. He and my granddaughter are truly a talented man and a beautiful woman! Good! Good! Little Lu, I heard you started from scratch and opened a big company in Mulan? Good, you have ability too! Very good!”
Lu Li obediently agreed. At a time like this, the great Saint Lu became obedient and didn’t mess around at all.
“Little Lu, do you want to work overtime in the government in the future? I remember…” The old master was a little drunk.
Chu Xiaodong said quickly, “I have an agreement with Little Lu.”
The old master glared at him. “You’re so petty! You’re even on guard against your own family? Aren’t Little Lu and Jingyi a family? You even have to have a three-point agreement?”
Lu Li was inexplicably moved. Compared to the old fox, the old master was more of a person of true sentiment. Of course, he didn’t know that the Chu family’s old master had been left to his own devices by the Chu family when he was young, and had a free-spirited personality. It was only after his older brother fell ill that he was forced to come back and take over.
Just then, the servants began to bring out the dishes. Chu Xiaodong sighed. “Let’s eat first, let’s eat first.”
And so, Lu Li had his first family dinner at the Chu family. At the dinner table, on one side was Old Master Chu asking about Lu Li’s situation, on the other was Chu Xiaodong reminding him of some important matters, and on another was having to take care of the Silly Goose, who was quietly moving her chair closer to his seat. Lu Li was so busy he didn’t know what to do.
It was only after they had finished eating that Lu Li suddenly slapped his head. It was over. He had been too happy just now and had forgotten about Zhu Xi! Taking advantage of a trip to the bathroom, Lu Li gave Zhu Xi a call. The moment the call connected, he heard Zhu Xi’s cautious voice. “You scum—Lu Li, are you okay?” She had wanted to call him a scumbag man, but had changed her words. Perhaps she was afraid of affecting Lu Li’s mood.
It was rare to see Zhu Xi in such a cautious state. Lu Li, with a wicked sense of humor, deliberately said in a heavy tone, “Zhu Xi… what I’m about to say, you have to be mentally prepared.”
He heard Zhu Xi suck in a sharp breath on the other end. She only spoke after a long while. “It’s okay, Lu Li. I’ll go abroad with you…”
