Chapter 16

“Huh?!” Zhao Ruozhu seemed startled, her mouth hanging open. After a while, she suddenly burst into laughter, “My daughter has finally come around!”

Then, she began to list Cheng Jingmo’s virtues.

“Cheng Jingmo is mature and steady, and capable too. Look, he’s the youngest deputy regimental commander in the Army. It’s not impossible for him to rise to your father’s position in the future. Even if you do nothing, you’ll have a good life with him.”

Yu Xiangnian thought of the halo above Cheng Jingmo’s head, similar in color to Yu Jiashun’s.

And indeed, Cheng Jingmo eventually became the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, equivalent to Yu Jiashun’s rank.

So, does this halo represent their fate and outcome? Then what do halos of other colors mean?

Zhao Ruozhu continued, “Cheng Jingmo’s family is far away, so if you marry him, there won’t be mother-in-law or sister-in-law conflicts. Look at your personality, which mother-in-law or sister-in-law could tolerate you!”

“Moreover, Cheng Jingmo has a good conscience. Normally, people would just donate money or goods to the families of martyrs, but he actually adopted Xiao Jie. As an unmarried man, taking care of someone else’s child would greatly affect his chances of finding a wife!”

“And we are all military people in our family, we understand him, support him! Your father picked him out from among tens of thousands…”

“Wait!” Yu Xiangnian interrupted Zhao Ruozhu, “Mom, did you and Dad threaten Cheng Jingmo to marry me initially? Did you tell him that if he didn’t, he couldn’t stay in the army?”

Yu Xiangnian couldn’t understand why Cheng Jingmo abandoned his true love to marry her!

“Hey! How can you say such things? Are your father and I that kind of people? If he didn’t want to marry, could we have killed him?” Zhao Ruozhu said with a serious face.

Since it wasn’t coercion, it must have been enticement!

Yu Xiangnian deduced that Yu Jiashun and Zhao Ruozhu must have painted a rosy picture for Cheng Jingmo!

Such as the benefits of marrying their daughter, helping him to become a military commander, etc.!

Yu Xiangnian lazily said, “Got it, I’ll keep your sermon in mind.”

“Just remember it well, and drop the idea of divorce! Where else can you find a man like Cheng Jingmo? It’s been half a year, and you still haven’t been intimate. Only Cheng Jingmo can put up with you!”

Yu Xiangnian surrendered, “Okay, okay, Mom, it’s getting dark, we should go back.”

Zhao Ruozhu opened the drawer of the desk, took out several large unification tickets and a few bills, and stuffed them into Yu Xiangnian’s hand, “Be more thrifty! Don’t think I don’t know you eat out every day. If you continue to be extravagant like this, I’ll have your father break your legs!”

Yu Xiangnian looked at her own legs, feeling a twinge as if they were really hurting!

She pushed Zhao Ruozhu’s hand away, “I don’t want it, keep it for yourselves.”

Zhao Ruozhu glared at her and pushed the items back to her, “We don’t lack these things at home. Your father and I are counting on you to be good! Remember, everyone wants good things. If you don’t cherish them, they’ll be snatched away, and you’ll regret it later!”

The two walked out of the bedroom, and after a few minutes, Yu Jiashun and Cheng Jingmo also came out of the study.

Both of them had almost the same expression, emotionless!

Needless to say, Yu Jiashun must have also lectured and warned Cheng Jingmo!

As they left, Zhao Ruozhu gave them a freshly fried fish and two pounds of lively shrimp.

“Nian Nian loves shrimp the most. As for the fish, you can braise it or make it sour and spicy. I bought it this afternoon. I had the nanny prepare it together, so you won’t have to bother.”

These shrimp were definitely a special supply from Comrade Yu Jiashun, who didn’t even want to share them during dinner and specially left them for her to take home.

It had to be said that this family really spoiled her!

On the way back, they were still driven by the driver.

Although Cheng Jingmo always maintained a calm demeanor, Yu Xiangnian could feel an aura of coldness and displeasure emanating from him.

Thinking about it, this phoenix man must feel stifled!

His beloved is right by his side, yet they cannot be together, and he’s occasionally warned and lectured by his father-in-law!

Yu Xiangnian felt conflicted at this moment too!

She knew there was no affection between her and Cheng Jingmo, making this marriage truly meaningless.

She was willing to let Cheng Jingmo go, but the thought of him being with Dr. Wu made her uneasy. She didn’t want to let it happen!

Besides, she wanted to keep her legs intact!

In her current state of vulnerability, she could only put up with it.

Everyone was feeling stifled!

On the other hand, Yu Jiashun and Zhao Ruozhu watched the departing car.

Yu Jiashun said discontentedly, “If Nian Nian wants a divorce, let her. She’s my only daughter; I can’t let her be wronged! When we get home, I’ll take care of her for the rest of my life!”

Zhao Ruozhu pinched his arm heavily, “You’ve spoiled your daughter like this! You can take care of her now, but what about after you’re gone?”

Yu Jiashun rubbed his arm in distress, “She still has three brothers, so taking care of her won’t be a problem.”

“Are you being foolish? Those three brothers can provide for her materially, but can they provide happiness?” Zhao Ruozhu asked. “Did you say the things to Cheng Jingmo that I asked you to say?”

“I did,” Yu Jiashun pursed his lips, looking extremely aggrieved. “Why do I always have to do the dirty work? Back then, when Nian Nian ran away abroad and refused to come back, you asked me to threaten her with breaking her legs if she didn’t want to marry. Today, you’ll definitely say again that if she dares to divorce, I should break her legs!”

Yu Jiashun had been a soldier all his life. In front of outsiders, he was upright and resolute, a true tough guy.

At home, he was strict with his three sons, quick to punish them for any mistakes.

But he was a daughter’s man, spoiling her to the heavens, afraid to even speak loudly to her, lest she fly away or melt in his mouth.

When his daughter was born, he was sent on a mission shortly afterward. During that time, he could only think about his soft daughter.

When he returned home, he named his daughter Nian Nian, meaning yearning.

Zhao Ruozhu burst into laughter, “Are you feeling wronged too? You’ve spoiled your daughter like this. If you don’t discipline her, who will? Moreover, for the sake of your daughter’s happiness, one of us has to play the good cop and the other the bad cop!”

Yu Jiashun felt even more aggrieved; even his eyebrows drooped. “But she’s not close to me anymore.”

Thinking of his daughter cuddling in his arms when she was little, kissing him with a soft voice calling him “dad,” he felt wronged!

Zhao Ruozhu patted his shoulder and said with deep meaning, “Old Yu! Nian Nian will grow up eventually and have her own life. You can’t protect her forever. Think about it, you found Cheng Jingmo for her, which should be comforting.”

“But they don’t like each other. I feel sorry for them living like this!” Yu Jiashun complained.

Zhao Ruozhu smiled, “Feelings can be nurtured. Your daughter is so beautiful. If she comes to her senses, winning over Cheng Jingmo won’t be difficult.”

“Cheng Jingmo isn’t someone who only cares about looks!”

Zhao Ruozhu tapped Yu Jiashun’s chest with her fingertip, “Think about yourself!”