That was merely a girl from the courtyard of the Ruicheng Military District, the daughter of an ordinary retired sergeant!
How could she be compared with those from distinguished families with a hundred years of history!
The daughters-in-law and sons-in-law of the Wen Family, none of them came from such a mundane background!
It was mostly luck and connections that made Song Jiayu become mayor, of course, that’s a skill in itself.
But what about Song Lili?
A lieutenant in the Navy Corps?
"Mr. Song, please forgive my previous improper words. I just think that President Wen Nian’s wife should be a top-class lady with virtues, wisdom, physical beauty, and intelligence, coming from a distinguished family with a long history. Wise and beautiful, talented, and not just a female warrior who knows only to carry guns and go to battle."
Wen Liangyu didn’t mince his words at all.
"Elder Wen truly doesn’t know which century’s antique he is."
Song Jiayu’s light retort startled both Song Lili and Miu Lerong.
The others present were also stunned for a couple of seconds.
Mayor Song was always known for his mild temperament; yet, he could spit out such sharp and mocking words.
"Mr. Song, I am just telling the truth. It has always been this way in our Wen Family. Your daughter may be excellent, but to enter the Wen Family’s threshold, she is not qualified yet."
Wen Liangyu said coldly.
As soon as these words fell, Song Jiayu immediately stood up. His movement wasn’t loud, but his nearly 1.8 meters tall frame suddenly rising was quite noticeable,
"Elder Wen Liangyu, our interactions have been minimal, but I have fought alongside Mr. Wen Chou. Firstly, Mr. Wen Chou saved my life and secondly, he has always treated me honorably. I shouldn’t have let you lose face at a Wen Family banquet."
"But, respect between people is mutual. It’s fine to speak harshly if we can lay out our thoughts."
Song Jiayu slightly lifted his chin, he scanned the people seated in the banquet hall. His tone was calm, but his voice was loud,
"Even if the old folks are unwilling to accept it, they don’t acknowledge it, this era is already represented by young people like President Wen Nian and my daughter Lili. They have their individuality, their own views, and they have their own understanding of marriage, kinship, and traditions."
"Elder Wen, even if you list a thousand conditions for what your granddaughter-in-law should be like, the person who ends up marrying her and spending a lifetime with her isn’t you."
"If all you said before was correct, then how come our country’s youngest President Wen Nian didn’t follow through?"
"To judge marriages, to measure relationships by family pillars and classes? Is our society meant to continuously regress?"
"My daughter excels by her capability, forging her path in life, unlike most youths who walk the paths laid out by their parents!"
"My daughter defends her country, fearless and daring in action and in love! With such merits, why should she need to enter your Wen Family’s door?"
Song Jiayu furrowed his brows, puzzled, he looked toward Wen Liangyu, then continued,
"I do hope Elder Wen will remember what you’ve said today, not to let my daughter Song Lili into your Wen Family’s door. All I want is for her to live with the person she loves. Being President Wen Nian’s wife is enough; it’s your own issue if you don’t like her as your daughter-in-law."
Song Jiayu called out to Song Lili.
Song Lili swallowed and responded, "Dad..."
"I hope you’re not upset with Dad for speaking out on his own."
"Dad’s incompetence — if I’d paid more attention to you, to care more, I wouldn’t have only realized now how deep your relationship with Xiaonian is."
"You didn’t come to the wedding that day, dad actually had a lot to say to you, but there was no chance, now... so many words are at the tip of the tongue, but I can’t really say them out loud, but there’s one thing, dad wants to tell you."
"Dad, please tell me."
Song Lili responded hurriedly.
"After being with Wen Nian, you must learn to be a good wife, and also learn to be a good mother in the future, but remember, being a good wife and mother doesn’t mean you have to erase your own personality, it doesn’t mean you have to please or cater to anyone! If the Wen Family doesn’t accept you, then visit them less in the future, do not associate with them, the doors of your family are always open to you! You can come back anytime, anyplace!"
Song Jiayu finished speaking and sat down.
Song Lili sat quietly on the chair, listening, a warm current flowing in her heart, her gaze fixed on her father whose face reddened with annoyance.
Gradually, she showed a slight smile, her eyes brimming with joy and a hint of moisture.
"Yes! I’ll remember, dad!"
She responded loudly, her voice echoing through the entire hall.
"Mr. President, she’s my only biological daughter, I hope you’ll also take what I just said to heart."
"Dad, don’t worry. The president has a term, but your son-in-law doesn’t."
Wen Nian’s transition to calling him "dad" was quite smooth.
Song Lili glanced at him, "You’re quite fluent at that?"
This exchange between Song Jiayu and his daughter colored the faces of Wen Liangyu and Wen Chou with an ashen hue.
Xiao Ziyan, seeing the situation growing tense, quickly smiled and said,
"Mr. Song, please don’t rush, my father was just angered by Ah Nian and Xiao Lili getting married on their own, that’s why he said those things, now that Xiao Lili is already carrying our Wen family’s child, we will accept this marriage no matter what."
Song Jiayu said with displeasure, "I hope so."
Seeing her husband seemed to have something to say, Xiao Ziyan quickly grasped Wen Chou’s hand under the table, stopping him from escalating the situation further.
She looked at Wen Nian and Song Lili with a beaming smile,
"The two of you really... Ah Nian, didn’t you say you wanted to announce two things? What is the second thing?"
Wen Nian pursed his lips, his gaze turning to Tang Xiaocao beside him, his smile gentle,
"The second thing, I want to adopt Tang Xiaocao, the boy next to me."
The hall, already quiet, fell into even deeper silence.
Even Song Lili was startled by Wen Nian’s words.
He... didn’t inform her beforehand!!
"From now on, he’ll take my surname, Wen, and I’ll name him Xun, calling him Wen Xun."
Song Lili slowly turned her gaze to a momentarily bewildered Tang Xiaocao, who was also looking at her blankly...
Wen Liangyu abruptly stood up, knocking over the bowls and cutlery on the table in front of him, the chair pushed back, making an unpleasant noise on the floor, signaling his dissatisfaction and rage!