Volume 15
Chapter 19: Three Bowls Won’t Get You Past the Ridge (Part 3)
Now, for Lu Li’s family, going to university was just something to do. The capital behind Mulan University was the Shenzhou Energy Group. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was Zhu Xi’s own university. Sometimes Lu Li would have a strange thought: this university life was a little too smooth. There were no ignorant and sycophantic villains, no arrogant and condescending faculty, no student organizations with impure motives and strange behavior. It was hard to even find a target like Bai Luochuan at Mulan University. Lu Li had been absent a lot this semester, yet his final grades were all excellent.
He suddenly understood why the profligates of old would carry a birdcage and cause trouble on the streets. Otherwise, if life went too smoothly, one’s skin would really start to itch.
Yameng’s shop had opened, but she had only opened a small shop to practice. After a month, with few customers, she had hung up a “for sublease” sign at the door. In the end, the pressure of life was too small. She couldn’t bring herself to run the small shop with all her might like most individual merchants. If Lu Li hadn’t made any money yet, he felt Yameng would definitely be out there under the scorching sun, handing out flyers everywhere to attract customers, trying all sorts of ways to increase the foot traffic. He thought, this is also quite good.
Hupo had held an art exhibition midway through, and foreign fans had come to admire her work. Hupo had a quiet personality and was not good at receiving guests. It was Lu Li who had hosted the art exhibition. He had watched with his own eyes as the base price of Hupo’s paintings rose from four figures to five and six. After this art exhibition, all of Hupo’s stock had been sold. She wouldn’t be holding another one for a long time.
An Baili was at home, trying to improve her cooking skills. She wanted to discover her own irreplaceable “specialty” in this family, so she thought of capturing everyone’s stomachs. However, she might really have some talent in it. After a few days of serious learning, she had actually won the praise of all the girls.
…
June was the time when the first and second halves of the year met, and it was the busiest time for work reports. Zhu Xi had gone back to the Capital City in June. According to her, she had to go to the Yan family during the day, and then rush to the group at noon. On the high-speed rail, she still had to take calls from the Chu family, and in the afternoon, she had to fly to other provinces to inspect key work. On the phone, Zhu Xi had mentioned several times that she wanted Lu Li to come back and continue his post, but they were all brushed off by Lu Li.
After the final exams were over and Lu Li saw that the family’s affairs were on the right track, he and Chen Jianing took a train to Pingxiang County.
For this trip to see his future in-laws, Lu Li had made thorough preparations. Before he had even arrived, he had sent people to deliver boxes of gifts to the Chen family. After arriving in Pingxiang County, Lu Li didn’t immediately go to see the old couple, but stayed at a hotel and had Jianing go back first to give them a heads-up. If the old couple didn’t look happy, Lu Li would have to take a detour and use another method.
He saw the Chen couple again in the only large hot pot restaurant in the small county. The waiter brought out plate after plate of food. The red oil in the hot pot was bubbling, and a unique, smoky smell of hot pot hit his face. The Little Tiger timidly wanted to sit next to Lu Li, but she saw Mother Chen say with a cold face, “Jianing, sit over here.” The old Chinese doctor sighed. “Let her sit over there. Don’t act like we’re enemies.”
The Little Tiger looked at Lu Li helplessly. It seemed her communication with her parents last night hadn’t gone very smoothly. Lu Li was also prepared to fight a hard battle today.
“Little Lu, Mr. Lu, please explain the situation,” Mother Chen said, looking at Lu Li. “Starting three days ago, people have been constantly sending gifts. Not to mention the cigarettes and alcohol, even some precious ingredients have been coming in nonstop. I looked at the labels. The goods were airlifted from Europe at dawn and arrived in my hands in the evening… This is something I wouldn’t even dare to imagine!”
Lu Li braced himself. “Are they still fresh? If they’re not fresh, I’ll have them ship from another place. Europe is indeed too far. If they’re airlifted from within the country, they’ll be here in half a day.” He had basically admitted it was his doing.
Mother Chen was speechless for a long while, seeming to be savoring or guessing Lu Li’s background. “Mr. Lu, I know my own daughter. Jianing’s personality is a bit awkward, and she’s also the shortest in the family. I used to be afraid she wouldn’t find a good husband in the future. Mr. Lu, although I don’t know what kind of noble you are, I know you couldn’t possibly have taken a fancy to Jianing. We only have one daughter. No matter how bad she is, we don’t want to see her get hurt.”
The Little Tiger had never dared to talk back to her parents. Hearing this, she just lowered her head dejectedly.
“On the contrary, I am sincere toward Jianing. We first met online, and later we were trapped together during the Mulan epidemic by a coincidence. It was then that I fell in love with her.” Lu Li noticed the Little Tiger secretly pinching the corner of his shirt with her thumb and forefinger. She didn’t dare to hold Lu Li’s hand in front of her parents, so she could only use this way to express her affection. “In my eyes, she is a smart, flexible, and eloquent girl. And, she also has her own considerate and kind side. She is not as worthless as you two think.” These words were a standard, stable answer, not brilliant, but not wrong either, and were perfectly suitable for this time.
The old couple looked at each other. This time it was Father Chen who spoke. “Then how do you explain that you still have six other women in your home? Are you really devoted to Jianing?”
“Yes.” Chu Xiaodong had asked a similar question before, and Lu Li’s answer had never changed. “I am sincere toward each and every one of them. We have all had unforgettable experiences. I will not abandon or harm any of them. If I could lie for Jianing today, then one day I could also deceive Jianing for someone else. So, after careful consideration, I have decided to be honest with you two! I ask you two to grant your consent!”
The Little Tiger mustered her courage and looked her mother in the eye. “Mom, I’ve already decided. I’m going to be with Lu Li for the rest of my life. If you two don’t agree, I-I’ll go be a nun in the future!”
The old couple remained silent by default. Lu Li didn’t dare to rush them, just quietly waited, watching the beef in the hot pot cook until it changed color and became old. He had heard that beef tasted best seven seconds after it was put in the pot, but he liked it cooked a little older.
The atmosphere was a little heavy. It seemed even breathing had become difficult. The old couple didn’t ask any more questions after these two. It seemed they had already communicated internally last night.
Just as Lu Li thought it was hopeless, Father Chen sighed. “Little Lu, you didn’t order any wine? We should have a couple of glasses of white wine at a time like this.” He had actually quit drinking for years. Today could be considered breaking his vow.
Lu Li’s face lit up. He then heard Mother Chen say, “…I really don’t agree. This girl will probably elope with you. Forget it… We don’t understand the thoughts of you rich people. But if Jianing is bullied in the future, we’ll fight to the death to get justice. Understand?”
She took out a small, U-disk-shaped device. “All of today’s conversations have been recorded. Little Lu, I hope you remember your promise.”
This was a compromise. Lu Li let out a long sigh of relief. Only then did he realize that the soles of his feet were soaked with sweat. Thank goodness, thank goodness he was more promising in this life than before. If he were just an ordinary small boss now, he probably wouldn’t have been able to win the old couple’s compromise. Wealth and power are poison, but sometimes they are also the only antidote.
The Little Tiger, on the side, was so happy she was about to jump up. She suppressed the joy that was about to overflow and sat down beside her mother, diligently serving her parents food. “Dad, Mom, you’re so good~ I’ll serve you~”
The face that Mother Chen had been holding taut for half a day finally relaxed. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Your dad and I discussed it all night last night. You really are a worry!”
“Hehe, it’s my blessing to have you two!”
…
After dinner, Lu Li had someone drive the couple home, while he and the Little Tiger went for a walk on the street to aid digestion. He looked up at the sky and felt that the sky was high and the sea was wide, and the sun was bright. The Little Tiger, on the side, was so proud that even her walking posture was distorted. “Hehe, hehe…”
“You’ve been giggling for an hour!” Lu Li supported her, afraid this little girl would fall.
“Lu Li, when are you going to propose to me?” After the dust had settled, that annoying streak of hers was back.
Lu Li thought for a moment. “That’s about right. I’ll treat you to a candlelight dinner tonight and propose on the side. How about it?”
The Little Tiger jumped up. “No, no! That’s not good enough! You have to invite all my former classmates and teachers and propose in front of them… hmm, forget it. It’s a little embarrassing. Then, then…” She began to rack her brains to come up with a romantic and grand proposal ceremony for herself.
Lu Li patted her head. This little girl was a little dense. Lu Li had also liked to put on a grand show before. Thinking about it now, this was probably what they called a “straight man, straight woman,” right?
Suddenly, Chen Jianing thought of something. “That’s not right. In a harem, it’s always the youngest one who is the most favored. Like in that XX drama, there’s always a young little one who runs rampant in the harem!”
Lu Li rolled his eyes. This girl was starting to push her luck.
“Lu Li, Lu Li, I don’t want to be number five anymore. Can you let me be little number seven?”
“How can it be so childish?”
“I don’t care. I want to be little number seven. I want to be the youngest!”
On the wide street, the Little Tiger’s coquettish shouts echoed. Lu Li felt that in his future life, he would probably not be able to do without earplugs.
