CHAPTER 725: CHAPTER 722: SON-IN-LAW VISITING

"Where have Taozi and the others gotten to?" Qi Huilan asked.

"They just left. Why are you in such a rush?" Jiang Hongtu replied with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

But he seemed more anxious than Qi Huilan, or rather, to be precise, he appeared nervous.

He was clasping his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in the living room, as if he were about to meet an important leader.

Qi Huilan comforted him, saying, "Why are you nervous? You’re meeting your son-in-law, not a leader."

"Who’s nervous? Who’s nervous? What do I have to be nervous about?"

Jiang Hongtu denied it three times in a row.

"Then sit down and take a break; you’re making me dizzy with all that pacing," Qi Huilan said with some displeasure.

Hearing this, Jiang Hongtu also felt that he was overreacting a bit.

So he sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

Then he picked up the cup, intending to take a sip, when suddenly he remembered something.

"Taozi isn’t already living with someone, is she?" he asked.

Instantly, he lost the mood for drinking tea.

"How would I know? But it’s modern times, cohabitation is nothing," Qi Huilan replied.

"You can’t say that. Before marriage, one should maintain their integrity. I believe our Taozi wouldn’t do that," Jiang Hongtu said confidently.

Qi Huilan, however, pursed her lips. The last time Taozi came back, her complexion was telling, and as someone who had been through it, Qi Huilan knew exactly what it meant.

Even if she wasn’t cohabiting, she had likely been with someone.

Though Jiang Hongtu said this, he actually knew it in his heart, so the more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.

He stopped drinking tea, thinking he might take another walk, but remembered Qi Huilan’s words earlier, so he sat down again, feeling uncomfortable all over.

Having been together for years, Qi Huilan knew exactly what he was thinking.

Amused, she said, "Taozi is already grown up. She’s not a little girl anymore, but you’re still worrying."

"Ah, I suppose you’re right..." Jiang Hongtu sighed deeply.

When she didn’t have a boyfriend, he would constantly urge her, always joking and thinking she would never grow up.

But now that she has a boyfriend, it feels like she’s suddenly grown up, and soon she’ll belong to someone else’s family, no longer feeling close to him.

Most fathers experience this kind of conflicting emotion.

"Have you understood the situation in Xiao Shen’s family through Taozi?" Qi Huilan asked to change the topic.

After being warned by the people from the Security Bureau last time, Jiang Hongtu couldn’t investigate further, so his only option was to ask his daughter.

But Taozi said she needed to ask her boyfriend first, leaving Jiang Hongtu with no choice but to agree, yet feeling that her boyfriend’s family must have some impressive background with high-ranking officials as elders.

"She explained it clearly, but I feel like she wasn’t truthful," Jiang Hongtu said rather gloomily.

"What do you mean by that?" Qi Huilan asked curiously.

"She said her boyfriend is from Linjiapo near Bin Hai, his mom is an elementary school teacher, and his dad runs a chicken farm. It’s an ordinary family," Jiang Hongtu explained.

"That... can’t be, right? Maybe Xiao Shen himself is capable?" Qi Huilan was a bit skeptical.

With the Security Bureau personally warning them, how could his background be simple?

"Who knows? When they arrive today, I’ll ask properly," Jiang Hongtu said, eager and ready.

"Help me take down those two bottles of Wuliangye from the cabinet. I want to have a good drink with him at lunch today."

Jiang Hongtu was confident about his drinking capacity, having been tested through his years of work.

Just as they were talking, they heard the sound of the door opening, accompanied by their daughter’s voice.

"Don’t be nervous. My parents are really nice."

The couple jumped to their feet as Qi Huilan headed to the doorway to greet them.

Jiang Hongtu, about to go over, hesitated and quickly sat down again, clearing his throat, and pretended to pour himself tea, only to find his cup already full.

The door opened, and Taozi and Shen Siyuan entered one after the other.

"This is my mom," Taozi introduced.

"Hello, Auntie," Shen Siyuan quickly greeted.

"Welcome, welcome..." Qi Huilan smiled warmly, quickly inviting Shen Siyuan to put down what he was carrying.

"You didn’t have to bring so many things," she said politely.

"It’s my first visit; I couldn’t come empty-handed. They’re not expensive," Shen Siyuan replied.

Indeed, they weren’t costly gifts, just common tobacco, alcohol, and health products. The truly valuable gift was in Taozi’s bag.

"Hongtu, why are you still sitting there? We have guests," Qi Huilan called out.

Jiang Hongtu then stood up and said nonchalantly, "You’re here."

Taozi frowned with displeasure and couldn’t help but pout, "Dad~."

Hearing this, Jiang Hongtu’s expression immediately softened.

"You didn’t have to bring so many gifts; we’re not outsiders," Jiang Hongtu said.

He then gestured, "Come, have a seat."

The couple observed Shen Siyuan, this young man’s handsome appearance and strong build exuded masculine charm, and he had a very distinctive temperament.

They couldn’t quite describe it, but he seemed unlike the young men of today, less rugged, with a bit more softness. This young man, however, seemed to have the youthful vigor of the 70s and 80s, full of vibrant and lively energy.

People often use the sun to describe a smile, and this young man’s smile was truly as warm and radiant as the sun.

"What a spirited young man," Qi Huilan couldn’t help but praise.

Coming from that era, she naturally felt an affinity for such a young man.

Shen Siyuan knew that this was due to the influence of the Sun Observation Method.

Even though that sun only floated in his Sea of Consciousness, it still affected those around him.

Shen Siyuan walked over casually and sat down across from Jiang Hongtu.

"Hello, Uncle," Shen Siyuan greeted.

Jiang Hongtu didn’t speak, but picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea.

Shen Siyuan quickly extended his hands to receive it carefully; despite his current strength, he never developed arrogance, maintaining the decorum that was due.

Taozi plopped down next to Shen Siyuan and unceremoniously asked, "What about mine?"

"Pour it yourself if you want tea," Jiang Hongtu said, but he picked up a cup and poured her a serving.

"Hehe, thank you, Dad."

Taozi giggled and drained the cup in one go.

Jiang Hongtu rolled his eyes at her and then said, "Go help your mom in the kitchen and stop being a nuisance here. I want to chat with Xiao Shen."

"Taozi, come here..." Qi Huilan chimed in timely.

Taozi knew they wanted to talk, so she glanced at Shen Siyuan, who gave her a reassuring look before she got up and left.

"Taozi only told me your name is Shen Siyuan, but I don’t know how old you are?"

"I’m twenty-five this year."

"Oh, then Taozi is three years older than you. Do you mind?"

"I don’t mind. It’s said if she’s three years older, it’s like holding a gold brick; it’s quite nice."

"That’s one way to put it, but our Taozi has been pampered since she was a child. When it comes to real life, I’m not sure who will take care of whom. So, you’d better be prepared mentally."

Jiang Hongtu laid it out directly to see Shen Siyuan’s reaction, also as a kind of test.

"It’s alright, I can take care of her."

Jiang Hongtu said nothing in response but continued, "How did you two meet?"

"Sister Wenxin introduced us."

"What?"

Jiang Hongtu’s eyes widened in surprise.