1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 203: That adoring look in her eyes made even her own father jealous.

"This is outrageous."

Wu's mother was incredulous: "Aren't the relevant departments doing anything? Are they just letting them speculate on houses? House prices are rising so high that ordinary people can't afford them, and things will get out of control."

"Mom, we ordinary folks shouldn't worry about this."

Wu Meng was both amused and exasperated: "We told you this so you could make a decision quickly, buy now before prices go up, and not regret it later."

"Buying a house isn't a matter of a hundred or two hundred dollars, or even just a few dozen dollars."

Wu's mother was worried about the money and said vaguely, "It costs tens of thousands of yuan at once. I can't decide on my own. I have to discuss it with your father."

"If you keep discussing this, who knows when it will take?"

Seeing her mother's hesitation, Wu Meng didn't want to waste any more words and happily moved closer to Lin Xiyu: "If my mom won't buy, I will. Let's buy a house together in Jinan, across from each other, and be neighbors."

"You want to buy a house?"

Lin Xiyu was unusually surprised.

"When Li Liang and I got our marriage certificate, his family didn't prepare a new house for us. We got married in a daze."

Wu Meng said matter-of-factly, "If my in-laws won't let me buy it, does that mean I can't buy it myself?"

I didn't say you can't buy it.

Lin Xiyu explained with a smile, "What I mean is, if you work in Shanghai, why would you buy a house in Jinan?"

How expensive are houses in Shanghai?

Wu Meng said matter-of-factly, "The little money Liangzi and I have saved up isn't even enough to buy a toilet. It's much more cost-effective to buy a house in Jinan. You can buy one near Daming Lake for less than 100,000 yuan. The scenery is good, and it's in a bustling area. If you don't live there yourself, it's easy to rent it out."

"Houses in Jinan are cheap, but their appreciation potential is small."

Lin Xiyu had a different opinion: "I think that with the same amount of money, it would be better to buy in Shanghai. You can pay a 30% down payment first, and pay off the rest in ten years. Since you two don't have children, your combined salaries would only amount to about 2,000 yuan per month, which wouldn't be too much of a burden."

"what?!"

Wu Meng wailed with a bitter face, "Then I'll become a mortgage slave?"

You need to think this through.

Lin Xiyu analyzed rationally: "Do you want to stay in Shanghai to develop your career, or go back to Jinan? If you stay in Shanghai, I suggest you buy a house. It's not a long-term solution to keep renting. Given the rising trend of Shanghai real estate prices, rental prices will also rise accordingly. In the future, a month's rent will be enough to cover the mortgage payment. Renting is definitely not suitable."

"If you're in Shanghai, I'll definitely stay in Shanghai."

Wu Meng spoke eloquently, but in her heart she was thinking that wherever her backer was, that's where she had to be!

Otherwise, how can I earn extra money? With the little money I make from my job, I'd starve if I tried to buy a house and pay off the mortgage.

"If you really want to stay in Shanghai, then listen to me."

Lin Xiyu was unaware of her true thoughts, and a hint of emotion flashed in her eyes.

"Okay, go ahead."

Wu Meng nodded, feigning difficulty.

"Mengmeng, come out with me for a moment."

Seeing that the two had reached an agreement, Wu's mother gave her daughter a wink.

"coming."

Wu Meng didn't think much of it and followed her to the outer room.

-

"Don't meddle in Xi Yu's family affairs."

Wu's mother lowered the curtain and scolded her daughter in a low voice: "How can you incite someone to quarrel with their own mother? If you really force her mother to vacate the house just to get the bride price back, that's not just falling out, that's making enemies."

"Her mother is infuriating! How can she talk to her daughter like that? 'Just bear with it and it'll pass.' The fact that she even agreed to a blind date with you is already a blessing."

Wu Meng grumbled unhappily, "I just can't stand hearing this kind of talk. It's like Xi Yu is something shameful. So what if she dated Gu Bin? Does that mean all women who have been engaged are used up and inferior?"

"Some men are indeed old-fashioned and mind this."

Wu's mother lowered her voice and whispered, "Otherwise, some families would put a white handkerchief on the bed on the wedding day to verify whether the bride is innocent."

"I bother."

Wu Meng spat disdainfully: "If you mind, then don't come to blind dates. It's not like she has to marry him. What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? You want to be a prostitute but also want to have a virtuous image. Don't you know what kind of person you are?"

"You kid."

Wu's mother's face darkened: "You speak so rudely, like a shrew, not elegant at all."

"Why should I need to be refined when I work in a foreign company?"

Wu Meng scoffed: "If you weren't sassy, ​​you would have been bullied to death long ago. The colleague who was hired with me was fired because he saw his supervisor and secretary doing indecent things in the office. In that kind of work environment, talking about being polite to them is just laughable."

"Ugh."

Wu's mother was filled with regret: "I shouldn't have agreed to let you go to Shanghai. It would have been so much better if you had come back to Jinan and found a more stable job. You insisted on working for some foreign company. You haven't earned much money, and your temper has grown. You don't even want to listen to your parents anymore."

"That's why they say big cities toughen you up."

Wu Meng retorted confidently, "Besides, didn't you say I should follow Xi Yu? She's in Shanghai, so naturally I'm going to stay in Shanghai."

"At least Xi Yu is a teacher, working in a public institution, with a stable and secure job."

Wu's mother was furious: "Unlike you, you're always changing jobs, jumping from one place to another, but you've never made a name for yourself. You're still stuck in the same place."

"If you're not happy with your job, just quit."

Wu Meng didn't care: "Anyway, I'm still young and have plenty of time to squander."

"You"

Wu's mother was exasperated: "What am I supposed to say to you?"

"If you have nothing to say, then don't say anything."

Wu Meng didn't want to listen to her mother's nagging, so she quickly turned around and ran back to her room.

"Ugh."

Wu's mother sighed deeply, and because there were outsiders present, she gave up her plan to chase after them.

-

Military compound.

When the old man passed away, his children and grandchildren all rushed back from all over the country. The whole family was even more complete than during the Chinese New Year.

Fu Zheng took a rare leave of absence and returned to Jinan from southern Xinjiang.

When little Rui Rui saw her father, she stared at him with innocent, big eyes, looking at him timidly. Encouraged by Grandma Fu, she was stunned for a long time before running over with her short legs.

Fu Zheng squatted down, picked up his son, and looked at the little face that looked so much like his beloved wife, his eyes involuntarily reddened again.

"Xiao Zheng"

Grandma Fu wiped away her tears: "Rui Rui's mother has been gone for many years. Rui Rui is almost four years old now. You should think about it. This can't go on like this. Rui Rui is still young and needs someone to take care of him. Do you remember Commander Zhu's daughter, Julie? That girl is still unmarried and is waiting for you."

I will not remarry.

Fu Zheng understood the implication in his grandmother's words and resolutely refused: "I'm planning to live like this for the rest of my life. If Grandma has the chance to see her, please tell her for me that I'm not worth her wasting her youth and continuing to wait."

Whether it's worth it or not, I know in my heart.

A woman's voice suddenly rang out behind the two of them.

"Julie?"

Grandma Fu was so startled that her heart skipped a beat. She turned around and saw who it was, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.

"Grandma Fu, could you let me speak to him alone for a few minutes?"

Julie spoke earnestly, but her eyes remained fixed on Fu Zheng.

"It's good to have things said clearly." Grandma Fu smiled helplessly, reached out, and wanted to take Xiao Rui Rui from Fu Zheng's arms and carry him with her.

Little Rui Rui nestled in her father's arms like a little quail, hugging his neck tightly and refusing to let go.

"Ugh."

Grandma Fu had no choice but to sigh deeply and turn away sadly.

-

Will Xiao Zheng say yes to Julie?

"I don't think so. The Fu family's children and grandchildren are all romantics."

"I do hope he'll agree. Life is long, and it would be too pitiful to die alone."

“Zheng Ge doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He’s a training fanatic with excellent flying skills. He has already passed the selection for aerobatic pilots and is on the flight formation list for this National Day parade.”

"Wow, this kid's something else! He's participated in the military parade. He's the first one among the Fu family's descendants to do so."

"This is a great honor that can bring glory to one's ancestors."

"It's a pity that the old man didn't get to hear this good news."

"."

The younger generation of the Fu family were whispering to each other. When they talked about the old man, their mood for watching the drama vanished instantly, and they all lowered their heads, revealing expressions of grief.

-

Julie's wish was not fulfilled, and she soon ran out of the funeral hall, wiping away her tears.

Anyone with eyes can see what's going on, and nobody wants to be disliked at this time.

The mourning hall was silent. Everyone was of one mind, silently bowing their heads and pretending not to see anything.

"Big brother, you're too cold-hearted. There's no need to be so ruthless. You made someone cry."

Gu Bin was the only exception; taking advantage of being the younger brother, he broke the silence first.

"Xiao Bin?!"

As expected, when Fu Zheng saw him, he showed no displeasure but instead revealed an expression of extreme surprise.

-

Outside the mourning hall.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye, and the two brothers met again, but their old friends had passed away, and everything had changed.

“My mother has always loved me very much and said that I am the son she is proud of.”

"However, her beloved son betrayed her during her most painful time."

"On the contrary, it was her son, whom she considered disobedient and unruly, who didn't abandon her and accompanied her to America."

Fu Zheng thought of his deceased mother, his eyes filled with self-blame and grief.

"Thinking about it this way, being a little rebellious isn't such a bad thing."

Gu Bin smiled with relief: "If I hadn't been rebellious since childhood, I wouldn't have had the courage to take such a gamble and give up everything to study abroad under those circumstances."

Fortunately, you didn't give up on your pursuit.

Fu Zheng smiled with satisfaction: "You can achieve academic success in a foreign country and carve out your own niche."

"It wasn't that successful."

Gu Bin said with embarrassment, "I've only won a few cases and am somewhat well-known in the legal profession. Unlike you, you're already a stunt pilot, qualified to participate in the military parade and fly your plane over Tiananmen Square."

"This is the only way I can prove that Mom's judgment was correct."

Fu Zheng looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with anticipation: "Her son is indeed something she should be proud of. I hope she can see this in heaven."

"With your words, she can die in peace."

Gu Bin's eyes reddened: "Actually, we both feel guilty towards her. For your future, she signed her name on the divorce agreement. To avoid dragging me down, she gave up her life. Although she wasn't a gentle and virtuous mother when she was alive, she protected her son in the most resolute way."

"Where are Mom's ashes buried?"

Fu Zheng couldn't hold back his tears.

"He was not buried."

Gu Bin had his own plans: "I'll temporarily place him in a funeral parlor in Los Angeles. Once I've finished dealing with Grandpa's affairs, I'll go there again and bring the urn back."

"Thanks a lot."

Fu Zheng looked guilty: "I can only stay at home for two days. After my grandfather's funeral, I have to go to Beijing for training."

"You go about your business."

Gu Bin patted his shoulder, offering comfort in a younger brother's manner: "You don't need to worry about the burial. I've already decided to bury Mom next to Grandpa's grave, so that the father and daughter can keep each other company, and so that Grandpa won't be worried and still thinking about her before he dies."

"Ugh."

Fu Zheng felt guilty and uneasy when he thought of his grandfather.

"Don't think about it anymore. The person is dead. Thinking about it will only torture you."

Gu Bin used a double entendre to comfort him, using the pretext as a starting point.

"I don't want to be pretentious."

Fu Zheng smiled wryly and wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve: "I got sand in my eye, and I can't stop the tears from flowing."

That's a really lame reason.

Gu Bin couldn't help but laugh: "It reminds me of the first time Xi Yu met you. Back then, she also used this sentence as an excuse to cover up her feelings."

"You mean, filming a documentary at Wangfu Pond?"

Fu Zheng remembered that such a thing had happened after being reminded by him.

"Ah."

Gu Bin nodded: "Back then you really made a name for yourself, riding your motorcycle and showing off, which made Sister Yan look at you differently."

"We were young back then."

Fu Zheng sighed softly, "Even if you asked me to ride it now, I wouldn't be in the mood."

"You're not old now."

Gu Bin tried to comfort him: "Don't talk so old-fashionedly, like saying that's how your life will be, and that you'll grow old alone. Give yourself a chance. If someone is suitable, you should consider it. Don't let down the person who has put so much effort into you."

"For Rui Rui's sake, I don't want to remarry."

Fu Zheng lowered his head and glanced at the little guy who was curled up in his arms, seemingly asleep but actually listening intently to the two brothers' conversation. The corners of his lips turned up slightly.

"Rui Rui, don't worry."

Gu Bin also noticed that the little guy was eavesdropping, and deliberately tried to be sentimental: "Xi Yu and I both like him very much. We've already talked to Grandma about letting him come back to Shanghai with us, and we'll take care of him from now on."

Little Rui Rui's ears twitched; she had indeed taken his words to heart.

"You two are taking care of him?"

Fu Zheng was extremely surprised: "Can this really work? Rui Rui has been raised by his grandmother since he was little, and he can't be separated from her for a moment. He won't even let anyone else hold him."

"That was before, not now."

Gu Bin continued to appeal to the child's emotions, coaxing him: "We had a very pleasant time together in Shanghai, especially Xi Yu, who doted on Rui Rui from the bottom of her heart. She made him all sorts of delicious food, bought him a lot of toys, and would cuddle him and tell him bedtime stories at night."

"Is that right?"

Fu Zheng was half-believing and half-doubting. He seemed to be asking Gu Bin, but his eyes were actually on his son.

As expected, Xiao Rui Rui reacted, lifting her eyelids and secretly glancing at Gu Bin.

The way she looked at him with such affection made even her own father envious.