You're my wife, don't doubt it!

“I know a little,” Xiao Yao said.

“When the big sheep was still in the womb, its father wanted to leave on his own. At that time, my father was still in charge of the Yu family, and he decided to get rid of him.” Yu Te said in a calm tone.

How to handle it? Is this how you rich people do things?

“Neither Paul nor Bobo approved,” Yu Texuan said. “In the end, it was Paul who came forward and persuaded him to turn over a new leaf, be baptized, and marry Li Hua.”

Xiao Yao boldly speculated that it was mostly about persuading (physicists).

“If it were me, I wouldn’t agree to my daughter marrying him—even if she got pregnant.” Xiao Yao said, “So—so, logically speaking, as an outsider, I shouldn’t ask, but Aunt Lihua said you enforced family rules and kicked her out of the house, is that actually not true?”

“Yes, there have been,” Yu Texuan shook his head and said, “but after my father passed away peacefully, I still couldn’t bear to part with my own flesh and blood, so I provided them with a lot of help and never mistreated them, mother and daughter.”

Xiao Yao recalled that Yu Luying had said that when she was a child, she would still go to her maternal grandfather's house during festivals, but her "father" would not allow her to go. Therefore, he felt that although the two sides' accounts were not exactly the same, the general direction was still consistent.

The mention of "my father resting in the Lord's embrace" is clearly an implication that it was not she who drove her out of the house, but the previous generation—is this an attempt to shirk responsibility?

“However,” Xiao Yao cautiously pointed out, “their living conditions are indeed a bit… average.”

“That is indeed the case,” Yu Texuan sighed. “As you know, if I were to give Lihua any property, half of it would legally belong to her husband. Since I know this man is untrustworthy, I am doing this to protect Lihua; I have no other choice…”

"It sounds better when you talk than you sing," Xiao Yao thought.

“As expected,” Yu Baolu continued, picking up where his father left off: “After failing to extract any money from the Yu family, Da Yang’s father eventually vanished without a trace and could not be found again.”

"Disappeared into thin air?" Xiao Yao blurted out, "I always thought they were just getting a normal divorce by agreement or litigation. Last time I heard you guys... I heard them say that they hadn't actually gone through the divorce procedures yet, and I was secretly wondering about it, but I was too embarrassed to ask them in detail."

The thought that he had almost let slip that he had been eavesdropping on the elderly couple's conversation in the bathroom sent a chill down Xiao Yao's spine.

"Maybe that kid knew we wouldn't let him go if we followed the normal procedures, so he ran away." Yu Baolu clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.

“So that’s how it is…” Xiao Yao said.

“After her father disappeared, it completely proved the family’s foresight,” Yu Texuan continued. “Perhaps out of shame, Lihua no longer had any contact with us and became completely self-reliant. Only Da Yang and Xiao Yang occasionally had contact with her.”

"I understand," Xiao Yao thought.

It was your father who kicked your daughter out of the house. Later, after Yu Luying's trashy father ran away, it was Yu Luying's mother who was so ashamed that she cut herself off from the people. You are just a hypocrite.

But why tell me all this? Xiao Yao wondered.

Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes. Do you really care about my judgment as an outsider?

As if seeing through Xiao Yao's thoughts, Yu Texuan said, "You must be thinking right now that family scandals shouldn't be aired in public, so why should I tell you these things?"

“I…” Xiao Yao said, “I am very grateful to you… for your trust in me, and I am also very sorry that such a thing happened.”

“Young friend, you’re a sensible person,” Yu Texuan said. “You should know what I mean by saying all this. You’re seriously considering your future with Da Yang, aren’t you?”

It was indeed a case of using the past to satirize the present, and speaking indirectly to criticize the present.

Xiao Yao felt a little guilty, but he could only bite the bullet and say, "Of course."

“But, I heard from the logistics team that…” Yu Texuan changed the subject: “Last night when you participated in the group activity, you didn’t follow the rules and insisted on going into people’s rooms to point fingers. Why was that?”

It's here; it's bound to happen.

"To be honest," Xiao Yao said, avoiding the main point, "I'm not very satisfied with this event. Having strangers hold hands... I originally thought the church would be more conservative..."

"Is this really true?" Yu Texuan turned to Yu Baolu and said, "Baolu, talk to the logistics team."

"Understood." Yu Baolu nodded.

“Alas, times have changed. The evil winds of modernism and liberalism are like a plague, penetrating everywhere,” Yu Texuan lamented. “Even the Holy Church cannot completely resist its influence.”

“I originally thought the church should be a pure land,” Xiao Yao said honestly.

“Leftists are everywhere,” Yu Texuan shook his head. “They think they’re advanced and enlightened, putting on all this nonsense, thinking young people should just follow this kind of thing. What’s wrong with young people? We’ve all been young before! Young people should be playing guitar and drums in Mass, young people should be hugging and kissing even if they’re not in a relationship, and that’ll bring them closer to God? That will cultivate their piety? Is the Church attracting young people through entertainment?”

"Dad, please don't get agitated," Yu Baolu quickly advised.

"Uh, actually I didn't want to play this guitar," Xiao Yao quickly tried to distance himself, "I've always felt it wasn't formal enough, but they just needed someone to ask me..."

That's the truth, Xiao Yao thought.

“Alas, times have changed. Many priests nowadays are also liberals,” Yu Texuan said, ignoring Xiao Yao’s words. “Or they just dare not speak out, dare not interfere, and go along with the world.”

“That’s how it is.” Xiao Yao didn’t know many priests, but he still said it.

“Times have changed. Our old priest back then was so good, he hated evil as if it were his enemy,” Yu Texuan said. “Back then, my father was blinded by the bad example of the foreign priests and wanted to take a concubine. When the old priest of the parish found out, he came straight to our house and beat us with a bamboo stick…”

He heard the old man bringing up "concubinage" and other such nonsense again, and knew that this topic was going to be dropped.

"Brother Bo can hit people too." Xiao Yao forced a smile and said, "And then what happened?"

"After that, no one ever mentioned the matter of taking a concubine again..." Yu Texuan asked, "What do you think, young friend?"

“Okay, very good,” Xiao Yao nodded.

"Which passage in the Bible do you like the most?" Yu Texuan asked.

“The Teachings,” Xiao Yao replied, “are empty and utterly empty; all things are empty.”

“What I like most are actually stories of prodigal sons returning home,” Yu Texuan said.

“I like that one too,” Xiao Yao quickly said.

“If you sincerely desire a future, young friend, I am willing to give you a chance to turn over a new leaf,” Yu Texuan said calmly.

Xiao Yao: "?!"

“I don’t want to ask you how you convinced Da Yang to accept this…state,” Yu Texuan said casually, “Why don’t you break up with Xu Qingwei…ah, to be precise, Shen Hongsheng’s daughter?”

"Huh? Huh?"

Xiao Yao glanced at the two bald men, and lost all will to argue or deny it.

“There are many things in this world that cannot be had at the same time. Just like God and the God of Wealth, you can only choose to serve one,” Yu Texuan said calmly. “If you bring a young girl out, her parents will also be anxious.”

I think God has become your God of Wealth.

Xiao Yao remained silent.

“Of course, you can also choose to go back to being an ordinary church member with Da Yang,” Yu Texuan said. “I will not tell Shen Hongsheng this.”

"Grandpa Yu, I understand." Xiao Yao had no choice but to stand at attention and take the beating.

“Normally, having your cake and eat it too is a disqualifying offense—but since you haven’t been deceiving anyone here, you must have some skill. I’ve observed you for so long and I still believe that you’re not a bad person at heart, and you’re definitely not the same kind of person as Da Yang’s father,” Yu Texuan said sincerely. “Although I don’t know why you would do such a thing, I still want to invite you here to explain things clearly and give you a chance to make a clear choice.”

"Thank you."

"There's another matter I hope you can help me with," Yu Texuan changed the subject again.

"Please speak," Xiao Yao said quickly.

“Look, Da Yang is all grown up now, almost an adult, and I’m getting old too. But each generation has its own mission and responsibility, and I don’t want to leave the problems to the next generation like my father did.”

"What do you mean?" Xiao Yao had no idea what the old man was up to.

Yu Texuan said, "Now that you and Da Yang are in love, and it's even more precious that Li Hua approves of you, I hope you can mediate between me and Da Yang and her mother, communicate with Da Yang more often, and it would be best if her mother could go home and admit her mistakes, giving each other a way out, so that we, father and daughter, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren, can reconcile."

"Ah this..."

“I urge you not to refuse, my young friend,” said Yates. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Hearing that the old man didn't press Shen Jie's issue further, nor did he directly order him to break up with Yu Luying, but instead entrusted him with a very private family matter, Xiao Yao felt a surge of emotion at being trusted and valued.

“Actually, I’ve always been here—” Xiao Yao began, “Uh, I mean, I will definitely do my best to help. However, at most I can only whisper sweet nothings to Da Yang in bed—uh, whisper some breezes, after all, her mother is an elder, and has a strong personality, so I, as a junior, am afraid it will be difficult for her…”

“I understand, I understand. Just do what you can, young friend.” Yu Texuan nodded.

Yu Baolu pushed over a bulging envelope.

Yu Texuan continued, "This is just a small token of my appreciation, to make your expenses easier. And once the matter is settled, I'll offer even greater assistance—"

Xiao Yao jumped up immediately, as if he had received a hot potato, and pushed the envelope back: "No, no, no, absolutely not, you're making this junior feel too bad."

“Young friend, there’s no need to be so polite,” Yu Texuan said, taking a sip of tea. “Consider it a gift from your grandfather.”

Xiao Yao hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Grandpa Yu, in principle, this is a family matter of your Yu family. As an outsider, there's not much I can do, and I shouldn't interfere. But I'm honored that you think highly of me and recognize my worth—"

At this point, the boy saw Yu Baolu sneer and curl his lip.

"So I'm willing to do my part to promote peace and harmony, treating it as my own family's business—" Xiao Yao said, "but firstly, I'm just a junior and my words carry little weight, so I might not be able to really make any difference; secondly, I really can't accept this money, otherwise you'd be slapping me in the face; and thirdly..."

“Alright,” Yu Texuan didn’t insist any further, and gestured for a bald man to take back the envelope: “Then I’ll leave it all to you, young friend. If you need anything, you can contact Paul at any time.”

"..." Xiao Yao did not respond.

The more he thought about it, the more something felt off, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong. He needed to catch his breath.

"I... I need to use the restroom," Xiao Yao requested.

Chapter 311 Yesterday Reappears

2023-08-28

Watching Xiao Yao leave the banquet hall, Yu Baolu turned slightly to Old Master Yu Texuan and asked, "There's clearly a restroom in this private room, why did he go out to use it?"

“It’s alright,” Old Master Yu chuckled, stroking his white beard. “Young people need time to adjust; don’t push them too hard.”

"Dad," Yu Baolu hesitated, "about Lihua and Dayang..."

Speaking of this big sheep—Yu Luying slept straight through until dusk, only to be awakened by the smell of meat in her mouth.

Seriously, it's Friday, what are you sneaking food for?