Chapter 016: Ripples

  Zuo Quan's ancestral home in the suburbs is a three-story old private house. His parents are very low-key, and they have already purchased several properties and storefronts in the city. In order to take care of Zuo Quan's grandmother, they often accompany her and also temporarily live in the old house for business purposes. Currently, apart from the car transportation company and sales agency for well-known bus brands in the city, they have also spent money to find connections and acquired a large piece of land in the suburbs to open a food processing factory.

  Saturday morning at 10:30, when everyone arrived at Zuo Quan's home, they coincidentally ran into Zuo Quan's father going out to take care of some business. He recognized Wan Chao Hui with one glance: "Aren't you Wan family's grandson, Wan Chao Hui?" Zuo Quan's father had once smiled and said that he and Wan Chao Hui's father were classmates. Wan Chao Hui's father also acknowledged this. Looking at his kind and gentle appearance, not a bit like Wan Chao Hui's own uncles who liked to show off.

  "Hello Uncle! I'm Huihui!" Wan Chao Hui politely greeted.

  "Oh my, you're really growing up! You're getting prettier and more polite. You're a good daughter, Wan Jiancheng!" Wan Jiancheng is Wan Zhaohui's father. Left Quan's father said with a smile. "But unfortunately, I have to go to the company now. Left Quan, take good care of your friends! Let your mom make some delicious food for you!" After saying that, he got into his Santana car. Wan Zhaohui has always liked cars and can recognize the logos of most ordinary sedans. Even the logos of world-famous sports cars she had seen on the calendars her third uncle sent her every year. She hopes to own a genuine Mercedes-Benz through her own hard work in this life, which would be enough for her. As for Rolls-Royce, it doesn't fit her personality - it's too luxurious!

  "Got it, Dad!" Zuo Quan read a hint of understanding and support in his father's eyes, as well as encouragement, which was also a liking and pursuit for Wan Chao Hui.

  Zuo Quan's mother was kind and gentle, she prepared a rich table of dishes according to her husband's request. During the meal, Wan Chao Hui timely and appropriately expressed his appreciation for her culinary skills.

  After lunch, everyone went upstairs to Zuo Quan's room to sit and chat while drinking tea. Seeing the neatly stacked bedding on Zuo Quan's bed, Wan Chao Hui couldn't help but ask with interest: "It's so neatly stacked, did you do it yourself?"

  "Of course it was me who folded them!" Zuo Quan replied, staring intently at Wan Chao Hui as he tried to gauge her thoughts. He thought he was doing something she'd like. But unexpectedly, he didn't see any delight on Wan Chao Hui's face. Wasn't she fond of guys doing domestic chores? So Zuo Quan immediately added: "I'm just kidding, it was my sister who helped me fold them!"

  Wan Chao Hui looked at him calmly, still not saying a word. She understood his intention, he was intentionally trying to probe and cater to her thoughts. Normally, Lin Bo Yang would also say similar things, inconsistent words and deeds, such as when Wan Chao Hui asked if he could cook, he immediately boasted that he could cook and even do household chores. Seeing Wan Chao Hui's non-reaction, he quickly changed his tune, saying he couldn't, just joking to make her happy, saying what kind of big shot would do women's work? Wan Chao Hui remained silent, unsure which words were true and which were false! She didn't want to easily reveal her views on whether men could cook or do household chores. In her opinion, it was all the same, as long as they were virtuous! Of course, if a man could and was willing to do some household chores, that would be even better! It's like showing consideration for his wife and having family affection! On the premise that Wan Chao Hui hoped men would prioritize their careers!

  Zuo Quan saw Wan Chao Hui's silence and expressionless face, unable to discern her true intentions. Was she interested? His heart felt a bit apprehensive, and he dared not say anything out of line for the time being. The dating scene was like the business world - speaking too much would lead to defeat! He needed to calm down and strategize to conquer this "fortress" in front of him!

  For many years, they had not been in contact with each other. The differences in lifestyle and humanistic thoughts caused by the urban and suburban areas made Wan Zhaohui feel that she no longer had common topics to talk about with these former playmates, except for Zuòquán. In order to avoid being too dull and boring when everyone was together, Wan Zhaohui would occasionally tell jokes. She even said half-jokingly, "If I were born in the era of the Anti-Japanese War, I would definitely be a woman like Soong Ching-ling!" The people around her laughed along with her, but no one noticed that there was another meaning behind her words, or rather, no one understood her intentions and expectations for the future. On the other hand, Zuòquán looked at Wan Zhaohui with a smile that was not quite a smile. He liked kind-hearted and beautiful women! His intuition made him believe that Wan Zhaohui was the dream girl he had been waiting for in his life!

  Before leaving, Wan Zhaohui also invited everyone to her home out of courtesy. Although she lived in the city and her house was not as spacious as those in the suburbs, it was still more formal! Moreover, in Wan Zhaohui's heart, she was confident that when facing childhood friends, there were only simple memories and friendship, without any worldly concerns or hypocrisy! Everyone received Wan Zhaohui's invitation and naturally responded with great enthusiasm and alacrity.

  Zuo Quan asked Wan Chao Hui to leave his contact information, and as he looked at Wan Chao Hui's elegant cursive script written with a fountain pen, his eyes showed admiration. "I remember when we practiced calligraphy together, I was practicing running script, you were practicing Liu body, how come your handwriting is also running script now!" Zuo Quan also left his contact information to Wan Chao Hui, and his handwriting still retained the characteristics of running script from his previous practice with brush pen.

  "After all these years, many things will change." Wan Zhaohui said with emotion, speaking from her heart. In Wan Zhaohui's eyes, Zuò Quán was a very good young man, and she didn't mind getting to know him better. He was an excellent student in the computer science department of W University in this city, and from his conversations, Wan Zhaohui could tell that he had his own ideals and ambitions. Just based on these qualities, Wan Zhaohui thought he was a hundred times better than her second sister's husband! Although they were both rich young men, Zuò Quán's upbringing was much better! Facing such an excellent Zuò Quán, Wan Zhaohui didn't feel the slightest bit inferior. She needed time to understand more of his character! Was he a flirt? Could he consistently treat emotions with sincerity?

  Wan Zhaohui's aunt heard that Wan Zhaohui had gone to Zuò Quán's house for dinner and immediately showed a surprised expression: "Zhaohui, with my experience as an elder, Zuò Quán must like you and want to pursue you! If you marry him, you'll be the happiest woman, and we'll also benefit from it!"

  Second uncle didn't need to say anything, smiling and saying: "It seems I underestimated our family's Huihui's vision, being able to be the daughter-in-law of the Zuo family is also very good! My big brother will enjoy blessings!"

  Fourth Aunt said foolishly: "No wonder when Zuo Quan's mother came to our clinic for an injection, she spoke politely and smiled all over her face when mentioning our family's Huihui! It turns out that she has taken a fancy to Huihui as a daughter-in-law!"

  Wan Chao Hui's grandparents smiled with their eyes narrowed when they heard the words of their son and daughter-in-law. Wan Chao Hui looked at these elders around him with contemptuous eyes.

  In private, Mother asked Wan Zhao Hui seriously what was going on. Wan Zhao Hui helplessly said: "The eight characters have not been revealed yet!" This time, Mother changed her usual tone and expressed approval in her words, which made Wan Zhao Hui somewhat surprised: "Mom, you've always opposed marrying into a wealthy family, why did you change your mind at the critical moment? Is it because you're envious of Uncle and Aunt's rich and respectable life?"

  "Am I the kind of person you think I am? Besides, our family is not bad off now. Of course, compared to Zuo Quan's family, we are still far behind! It's all your father's fault for being so incompetent, always losing money at mahjong and losing a lot of the money I earned from the restaurant!"

  "You're saying this, but you're not looking at people with money, are you? You always speak against your heart, die for face, and suffer for life!" Wan Chao Hui looked at her mother impatiently and said in a bad tone.

  "Hui Hui, you misunderstood Mom's meaning! I'm not opposed to you being in contact with Zuo Quan, it's not that I look down on his family's wealth, but rather his father's character is not good. At that time, we hadn't moved to the city yet, and his parents were considered very low-key in the whole village. Unlike your dad and uncles, who have a bit of money and don't recognize themselves anymore! People often say: 'A son is like his father', so I estimate Zuo Quan will be like his father too. And his mom, I know her too, when I was the women's director in the village, I often interacted with them, she's considered a relatively honest and virtuous person. Hui Hui, Mom is really thinking about you, finding a good family to marry into is very important, 'a poor husband brings a hundred worries'! Although Mom advocates for not looking down on the poor, but I don't advocate for you to find a poor guy, can you handle it with your personality?"

  "Mom, don't worry about it anymore, I know what's going on with my own affairs!" Wan Zhao Hui didn't want to listen to her mother's nagging. Her mother had no idea what was really going on in her heart. Wan Zhao Hui had never told her mother about the ugly incident of seeing her father and another woman at home. She was afraid it would trigger a relapse of her mother's heart disease. Now, after following the doctor's orders, taking medicine, and inviting Guanyin Bodhisattva back to worship, burning incense and praying every day, her body had finally improved somewhat. It had been a year since she last stayed in the hospital.

  "Mom is doing it for your own good! Don't be so stubborn!" Mom always liked to say this, imposing her thoughts and will on Wan Chao Hui without deeply understanding his inner thoughts.

  "I know you're doing it for my own good! Emotional matters can't be resolved just because one party wants to, I need to understand and interact with him!" Wan Chao Hui said softly, suppressing his emotions for the sake of his mother's health.

  "Compared to the Lus, although they are wealthy, our family is more influential and you're so pretty. In my opinion, the Lus would be lucky to have you! The key issue lies with you, I'm just worried that you'll be too picky and reject them! Now that you're young and beautiful, you can afford to be choosy, but when time passes and you miss out on a good marriage opportunity, it will be too late for regrets!" Her mother said bluntly.

  "Oh, can't you just say a few less words? You always have no confidence in me! Afraid that I won't be able to get married is it!" Wan Chao Hui heard his mom's tone and suddenly felt annoyed for no reason.

  "Alright, alright, I won't say anything else. Let's see what you'll do!" Mom's face fell, with a displeased expression, and even gave Wan Chao Hui a disdainful glance before walking away.

  Wan Chao Hui helplessly slumped onto the sofa, his heart surging with unceasing waves.