CHAPTER 203: CHAPTER 203: THE BRIDE MEETS HER IN-LAWS

"Girl, don’t get excited. I don’t mean it like you think. I’m saying, this time when I go back, why don’t you come with me to the Capital City and meet my grandparents! They know we’re engaged, but they haven’t met you yet!" Zhang Yuan explained quickly when he saw Lin Xue seemed a bit upset.

"Go back with you to meet your grandparents?" Lin Xue blankly repeated.

For a moment, she didn’t react and just stared at Zhang Yuan.

"You don’t want to?" Zhang Yuan asked weakly, "If you don’t want to... then... then..."

"It’s okay to go meet the elders. After all, we’ve been engaged for so long and haven’t met them. It’s not good! An ugly daughter-in-law has to meet the in-laws at some point..." Lin Xue lowered her head and said before Zhang Yuan could finish his sentence.

Although she felt a bit embarrassed, she wasn’t too shy and spoke playfully.

"Really? You agree to go to the Capital City with me?" Zhang Yuan asked excitedly.

"Hmm... anyway, I’ve already let Xuehua take care of things at the chicken farm. I’ll just split some of my salary with her, that should be fine. As for home, there’s no major issue, everything’s running accordingly, going on a trip shouldn’t be a problem! I’ll be back in about a month at most," Lin Xue said.

"Great, then I’ll have Li Jianshe buy the tickets tomorrow! Wonderful, then I’ll bring you back afterward and start working!" Zhang Yuan was no longer tangled up about it.

He felt relieved about confirming his wife in front of his grandparents.

So they wouldn’t arrange some matchmaking for him again.

As for his father, he didn’t care. His father couldn’t control his matters anyway.

"You don’t need to send me home, going back and forth is too much hassle! I can come back by myself! It’s not like I’m illiterate, why would I get lost on a trip?" Lin Xue was straightforward after everything was settled, knowing that she had to go sooner or later.

It was a good opportunity to see the Capital City of this era.

Once they clarified everything, there was no more conflict, and they started chatting about other things.

Until Wang Cuihua finished cooking, Li Jianshe returned from work at noon, and the two of them ran over to help serve the dishes and set the table.

At the dining table, Li Jianshe stared at Zhang Yuan with resentment, shoveling rice into his mouth fiercely.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Zhang Yuan asked innocently.

"Brother Yuan, you don’t know how exhausting today was. Carrying buckets of water, I’m dead tired. Watching you chilling inside resting just makes me angry!" Li Jianshe’s face was full of jealousy.

Why is it that Brother Yuan can take leave whenever he wants but I have to keep working hard?

This is so unfair, isn’t it?

Li Jianshe didn’t know Zhang Yuan was going back, taking himself along as well.

He complained about being tired from work and was also scared about the afternoon tasks, fearing he might die on the fields from exhaustion.

"Oh... I forgot to tell you! Starting tomorrow, you don’t have to work! Go to the county to buy tickets back to Capital City tomorrow! We’re returning to the base!" Zhang Yuan swallowed a mouthful of meat and said casually and lightly.

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

Three voices rang out in surprised unison.

Bai Xianglan, Wang Cuihua, and Li Jianshe asked at the same time.

The three had different expressions on their faces, with Li Jianshe’s excitement making his face twist.

The latter two were worriedly looking at Lin Xue.

Lin Xue felt flustered from their gazes and explained:

"Mom, Grandma, Zhang Yuan’s unit called them back. But this time, I’m going to the Capital City with him to see his grandparents, considered my first time meeting his family! We’ve been engaged for so long, it would be inappropriate not to meet his family, but I’ll be back soon!"

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

After Lin Xue said this, the three asked in surprise in unison.

Their expressions were about the same, all having a "are you serious" look.

"Grandma, Aunt, I’ll bring Xiao Xue back safely! Rest assured!" Zhang Yuan promised at this point.

Lin Xue didn’t rebut, knowing that when the time came, she would come back alone without worry, gradually convincing Zhang Yuan. For now, appeasing the family was the most important thing.

"Brother Yuan, is Comrade Xiao Xue going back with us? Then I’ll buy three tickets tomorrow! None of you have to pay for it! I’ll buy the tickets! Just staying here so long without paying back makes me feel embarrassed! But Aunt, Grandma, don’t worry, I’ll ask my mom to send some Capital City specialties over for you to try!" Li Jianshe waved his hand in joy, taking on the responsibility.

Zhang Yuan glared at him. Competing to curry favor with the mother-in-law—shouldn’t sending specialties be something he, as the prospective son-in-law, should do?

Li Jianshe didn’t understand Zhang Yuan’s look, but being glared at by Brother Yuan meant he did something wrong. He chuckled and quickly lowered his head to eat.

"Xiao Xue, going on such a long trip, Mom is worried!" Wang Cuihua said, tears welling up.

"Oh mom, don’t cry! Please don’t cry! I’m just going for a little trip! And when I come back, Zhang Yuan will accompany me! Besides, your daughter is so capable, nothing will happen! Moreover, as a grandson-in-law, I can’t not go visit the elders, right?" Lin Xue tried hard to persuade her mom.

"Yes... I know we have to go! I’m just worried!" Wang Cuihua wiped her face.

"Cuihua, let the kids go out and see the world! It’s good to broaden their experience everywhere! Also, Xiao Yuan’s parents, grandparents can meet their future daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law!" Bai Xianglan wisely persuaded her daughter-in-law.

Lin Xue liked this grandma even more, for her insights, understanding, and clear thinking. She had strong acceptance when facing unavoidable matters.

"Mom, I know. I’ll get the kids ready for it later!" Wang Cuihua nodded.

The matter was settled this way.

"Xiao Xue! You still need to talk to your dad about this. Don’t leave without a word, or he’ll demand his daughter back from me! Your dad sees you as his precious!" Wang Cuihua said half-jokingly.

But there was truth in it, as whenever Lin Daliang couldn’t make a decision, he would look to his elder daughter to decide, and he particularly listened to her suggestions.

It seemed she was his pillar, and he favored this eldest daughter, and whenever he was angry, only the eldest daughter could calm him and ease his anger.

Although Lin Xue sometimes disdained her father’s meek personality, she could still feel his favoritism towards her.

"I know, I’ll talk to my dad about it tomorrow! And with my siblings too, otherwise they’d get mad!" Lin Xue laughed.

The little ones would surely cry if they found out she secretly went to the Capital City.

When she returns, there’d be a lot to explain, and they’d surely give her the cold shoulder.

"They’ve been spoiled by you! Stop indulging them so much!" Wang Cuihua knew Lin Xue had money, even gold bars, and whenever those few had requests, the eldest would satisfy them.

She even set up a workshop for Xiao Yun, making it so nice.

When she visited, she even wanted to learn sewing. That environment, so many beautiful fabrics, threads in various colors, the cabinets looked so good, and all kinds of sewing tools—she was so fond of them.