His physiological preference

Qin Guobing leaned back in his chair, looking at his son, and he could tell from his son's serious attitude.

It wasn't an impulse, nor a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was something I had thought about, a firm resolve.

Do you know the origin of your name?

Qin Yuzheng nodded. "Diligent in politics, with unity of purpose between superiors and subordinates."

Qin Guobing's gaze did not leave his face.

"It's good that you understand. Your marriage is not just your business, it's also the business of the entire Qin family."

Qin Yuzheng didn't move, but his eyes were firm. "If you want to persuade us to break up, then there's no need to say anything. It's impossible."

"I'm not advising you to break up," Qin Guobing said calmly.

"I'm just reminding you. Do you think you got to where you are today solely by your own efforts? Besides your own hard work, the entire Qin family has been paving the way for you. If you marry her, she won't bring you any help; she might even hold you back."

Qin Yuzheng didn't speak. He was silent for a few seconds, then spoke.

"When you married your wife, she was so stupid. Weren't you afraid she would hold you back?"

Qin Yuzheng calmly countered with a question.

Qin Guobing was speechless at his son's words. "Good lad, he's meddling in his father's business now."

"We're talking about you now. And your mother has the Shen family backing her."

Qin Yuzheng leaned back in his chair, still in a relaxed posture.

"I will either not marry at all, or I will only marry Yang Zhiyan. I believe I can protect her. I also believe that even without other help, I can still rise through the ranks."

Qin Guobing waved his hand.

"Alright, alright, bring him back for dinner tonight."

Qin Guobing paused for a moment, "I'm quite happy that you, a thirty-five-year-old bachelor, can get married."

Qin Yuzheng smiled and stood up. "Just prepare a gift for our meeting tonight. Don't end up like my mother, who didn't prepare anything decent."

"Don't pretend to be innocent after getting the benefit," Qin Guobing's voice came from behind.

"Your mother and your grandmother have swindled so many good things from her, and you're still not satisfied?"

Qin Yuzheng turned his head, leaned against the door frame, and crossed his arms.

"None of these things were prepared sincerely. Do I really need them?"

Qin Guobing looked at him for a few seconds, then lowered his head and picked up the pen on the table.

"Okay, okay, I'll get ready."

Qin Yuzheng nodded. "That's more like it." He turned and took two steps.

"I'm leaving now. Yan Yan should get up."

"Get out of here, you spendthrift."

Qin Guobing's voice was filled with exasperated helplessness.

Qin Yuzheng did not turn around and walked down the stairs.

Grandma Qin sat in the living room, holding a cup of tea. Qin Yuzheng called out, "Grandma!"

Then he walked over and spoke to Grandma Qin in a friendly manner, saying, "Dad said we should have dinner together tonight."

Grandma Qin smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents, her whole face glowing. She was clearly in high spirits because of a happy occasion. "With your dad's temper, I thought he was going to make a scene for days."

Grandma Qin put down her teacup and took Qin Yuzheng's hand.

"When I bring Yan Yan back tonight, I'll ask the kitchen to make a few more of her favorite dishes."

She lowered her voice, "Your mother bled a little last night, so your father will have to bleed a little tonight too."

Qin Yuzheng smiled contentedly; his grandmother was devoted to him. He then recalled Yang Zhiyan's expression last night when she received the gift—her eyes shining brightly.

His money-grubbing attitude was so adorable. He straightened up. "I'll be going now."

Grandma Qin waved her hand. Qin Yuzheng walked out of the old house.

The ground in the yard was covered with fallen ginkgo leaves, a golden expanse that rustled underfoot.

He paused at the door, took out his phone, and glanced at the time. It was almost eleven o'clock.

She should be awake by now. He dialed Yang Zhiyan's number.

"Baby, are you awake yet?"

Yang Zhiyan's voice came through the microphone, still hoarse and soft from just waking up.

"Get up..."

"Let's go to the old house for dinner tonight."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. "To see your father?"

"Hmm." Qin Yuzheng knew she was nervous.

He added, "Grandma is here too."

"That's alright."

Qin Yuzheng went home to pick up Yang Zhiyan.

He drove slowly along the old streets of Beijing.

Yang Zhiyan sat in the passenger seat, looking at the street scene outside the window, still thinking about going to the old house that night.

Qin Yuzheng noticed that she was distracted and gently patted the back of her hand.

"It's still early," he said. "Let me take you somewhere first."

Where to?

You'll know when you get there.

Lunch was at a restaurant converted from a traditional courtyard house. A pomegranate tree stood at the entrance, with several split-open pomegranates hanging from its branches, revealing red agate-like seeds inside.

The two entered the courtyard, which had a blue brick floor and wooden lattice windows. On the windowsill sat a pot of orchids with glossy green leaves.

The waiter led them to a window seat. Outside the window was a small courtyard with a jujube tree. The tree had lost all its leaves, and a few dried jujubes hung on its bare branches.

Qin Yuzheng ordered the dishes. When he closed the menu and handed it to the waiter, Yang Zhiyan only had time to glance at the dishes he had pointed to: braised chicken with chestnuts, braised prawns, Qianlong cabbage, and a dry-pot cauliflower.

When the pot lid of the braised chicken with chestnuts was lifted, the steam carrying the aroma of soy sauce wafted out.

The chicken pieces were stewed until tender, and the chestnuts were thoroughly cooked. Each bite was soft, sweet, and juicy, with the sauce clinging to the chicken skin, glistening with an amber sheen under the light.

Yang Zhiyan picked up a piece of chestnut and put it in her mouth. It was pink and soft, and the sweetness of the chestnut and the freshness of the chicken melted slowly on her tongue.

It was delicious, and Yang Zhiyan liked it very much.

The shells of the braised prawns were fried until crispy, and the prawn meat was firm and chewy. The sauce was salty and sweet, coating the prawn shells. Yang Zhiyan was too lazy to peel the shells, so she put the whole prawn in her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then the shells broke and she swallowed them along with the prawn meat.

Qin Yuzheng watched her eat happily, and his own appetite also increased.

Qianlong cabbage is a cold dish. The cabbage heart is finely chopped and mixed with sesame paste, vinegar, and honey. It is crisp and refreshing, which helps to cut through the greasiness of the previous two dishes.

The dry-pot cauliflower had a few slices of pork belly added. The cauliflower was grilled over charcoal until the edges were slightly charred, giving it a smoky aroma. The pork belly fat seeped into the cauliflower's crevices, making every bite satisfying.

Yang Zhiyan ate her fill.

Halfway through the meal, she put down her chopsticks, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked at Qin Yuzheng.

He was eating, his posture was upright, and he made no noise when picking up food with his chopsticks; the clinking of the bowls and plates was very quiet.

The way he ate, like the man himself, exuded a composed and noble air.

After lunch, Qin Yuzheng took Yang Zhiyan to visit tourist attractions in Beijing.

Our first stop was the Forbidden City. There weren't too many tourists, but there were still quite a few.

The two of them did not join a tour group or hire a guide. Qin Yuzheng knew the area very well, and he led Yang Zhiyan slowly along the central axis.

We walked past the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, one by one.

The two strolled around slowly, stopping for a while in front of each hall to look at the beasts on the eaves, the carvings on the doors and windows, and the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the eaves, casting patches of light on the white marble steps.

Qin Yuzheng walked beside her, holding his phone, stopping every now and then to take a picture of her.

He took a picture of her as she stood in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, looking up at the eaves.

He took a picture when she squatted down to touch the stone lions on the white marble railing;

As she walked through a doorway, sunlight streamed in through the opening, bathing her in a golden glow. He took another picture.

"Why are you taking so many pictures?" Yang Zhiyan turned around and saw him holding up his phone again.

"It looks good." Qin Yuzheng put his phone away, walked over and took her hand.

Inside the Forbidden City, they asked a passing tourist to take a group photo for them.

The person who helped was a middle-aged woman wearing round-framed glasses.

When she took the phone, she first looked at Qin Yuzheng, then at Yang Zhiyan. She had never seen such a perfect couple.