Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Meanwhile, in the living room of the Wu family's small building.

Zhang Ying watched as her daughter, Wu Na, walked back in, hung up her coat, and then silently went to the kitchen to pour water.

At this point, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and lowered her voice to complain to Wu Zhenghua, who was calmly drinking tea beside her, "Old Wu, are you just going to let him go like that?"

Her tone was full of anxiety and confusion: "Look at you, you laid so much groundwork, gave pointers, and provided opportunities. The time was almost right, so why did you pull back at the last minute?"

"Isn't this just a waste of time? What if he goes back, gets a few sweet words from his girlfriend, and then forgets about today's events in a moment of passion?"

Wu Zhenghua slowly put down his teacup, glanced at his wife, and smiled slightly.

"You're still so impatient."

"How can I not be anxious?" Zhang Ying glared at him. "How old is Nana? It's not easy to find someone so outstanding in every way, and you're still taking your time with me."

Wu Zhenghua shook his head, gesturing for his wife to sit down, before speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Do you think you can deal with a young man like Li Feng using the same methods you use with ordinary people? If you corner him and force him to make a decision on the spot, what will he choose?"

Zhang Ying paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked, "What else can he choose? On one side is our family, and on the other is an ordinary doctor. Is there even a question?"

“On the contrary.” Wu Zhenghua’s gaze deepened. “If I really push him to that point today, there’s a 90% chance he’ll reject me on the spot.”

"Why?" Zhang Ying was even more puzzled.

“Because he is a smart man, and more importantly, a man who values ​​loyalty and has pride.” Wu Zhenghua analyzed word by word: “If you push him too far, for the sake of so-called ‘loyalty,’ and to uphold his bottom line and dignity, he would never choose to abandon his current girlfriend in front of me.”

“In that case, there would be absolutely no room for maneuver, and the relationship between our two families would plummet to its lowest point.”

He picked up his teacup and gently blew on the floating tea leaves.

"I've said enough today. I've given him all the hints, the pressure, and the blueprint I needed to draw up."

"Now, what I need to do is not to force him, but to give him time to think for himself and make his own comparisons."

"This process of 'considering' is the most agonizing, but it's also the one that allows him to see reality more clearly."

Then, Wu Zhenghua smiled knowingly and comforted his wife Zhang Ying, saying, "Don't worry, as long as he has ambition and wants to climb higher, this choice will be like a needle pricking his heart at all times. He won't forget it."

As Zhang Ying listened to her husband's analysis, the impatience on her face gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

Just as Zhang Ying was thinking, Wu Zhenghua's voice came from beside her.

"Moreover," Wu Zhenghua changed the subject, looking at his daughter's back in the kitchen, a hint of pride in his eyes: "I have a lot of confidence in our daughter. In terms of family background, appearance, and ability, what does Nana lack? Li Feng is a smart man, he will know how to choose what is most beneficial to him."

He paused, then continued, "In today's society, it's really hard to find a young person like Li Feng who holds a high position at such a young age, has outstanding abilities, and most importantly, has impeccable character."

“Think about his background again. It’s very simple. His parents were ordinary workers before they passed away. There were no complicated family relationships.”

“Only someone like that, once they enter our family, will have a pure heart and won’t be entangled in any messy interests. This is the best choice for Nana’s future and for our entire family.” Wu Zhenghua’s words completely enlightened Zhang Ying.

She had only been thinking about how to settle things quickly, but she never imagined that her husband's seemingly "retreating to advance" was actually based on such profound considerations.

"But... he does have a girlfriend." Zhang Ying was still a little worried.

"It's normal to have a partner." Wu Zhenghua's answer surprised her once again.

He looked at his wife with sharp and clear eyes: "Think about it from another angle. At his age, so young and promising, it would be strange if he didn't even have a partner. Either his standards are too high, or... there's something wrong with him in some way."

“If he had seized the opportunity I gave him and immediately claimed to be single, or promised to break up with his girlfriend as soon as he got back, I would have questioned his character.”

"A man who can easily abandon his feelings for his future, would you dare entrust Nana to him? Today he can abandon others for our family, tomorrow he can abandon our family and Nana for greater interests."

“But he didn’t.” Wu Zhenghua’s tone carried a hint of approval. “He was very honest and also very protective of his current girlfriend, which precisely shows that he is a man who values ​​relationships and has principles.”

"Such people are more reliable and worthy of our trust once they make a choice."

“I made my point clear to let him know our attitude. Giving him the choice was a test of his character. Now it seems I didn’t misjudge him. Only someone like him can I entrust my daughter to.”

After he finished speaking, the living room fell into a brief silence.

Zhang Ying stared blankly at her husband for a long time before letting out a long sigh of relief and a smile of sudden realization appeared on her face.

"Old Wu, you're so thoughtful and far-sighted," she exclaimed sincerely. "My mind is so narrow-minded; compared to you, I'm far inferior."

She now fully understood her husband's intentions.

This is not about holding back; it's about playing a much bigger game.

Instead of coercion, they used open strategies; instead of commands, they used tests; they used a huge, tempting choice to tip the scales in Li Feng's heart.

Having figured this out, Zhang Ying felt completely relieved.

Yes, her daughter is so outstanding, her family background is what it is, and her husband has personally paved the way for her, offering her an olive branch that is almost like "rising to the top in one step".

On the other hand? A doctor from an ordinary family, and a relationship that may be sweet but does nothing to help the future.

For any rational and ambitious man, the answer to this multiple-choice question is almost obvious.

She glanced at Wu Na, who was washing cups in the kitchen. Her daughter's figure looked so graceful and outstanding under the light.

An incredibly confident smile involuntarily appeared on Zhang Ying's face.

She believed that Li Feng would make the "right" choice. (End of Chapter)