Times have changed now, Xu Qinghe gives Xu Zhong twenty dollars a month for meat and smoking money, and Xu Zhong looks at him with extra affection in his eyes.
Liu Sanmei, their stepmother, keeps calling him "Qinghe" in an even more intimate way than before they separated households.
"My grandson and granddaughter are indeed exceptional, especially my grandson, Yicheng, an architect. Although he is just a junior in college, his design has already won the bidding for the Ningbei Xiyue Hotel project," Du Chang said with exceptional pride—this was his grandson!
"Won the bid?" Xu Qinghe wasn’t very clear about construction matters, but he somewhat understood—and yet did not fully understand—Du Chang’s words.
Du Chang explained, "It means that a few years from now, the Xiyue Hotel designed by Yicheng will be built."
Xu Qinghe gave him a thumbs-up and glanced again at Pei Yicheng, who was speaking beside him. Handsome and young, yet so talented, he really was a promising young man.
"Also, the hand cream recipe he got from me has been selling exceptionally well." After praising his own grandson, Du Chang began to praise the Xu family members, saying, "Your family’s Nianji is also impressive, hardworking, unafraid of fatigue, serious, and responsible. Nian’an is my apprentice, and his talent goes without saying. And then there’s Nianhua, who will also be talented in the future."
"Nianhua is good-natured, pretty, and talented. I’ve heard that she always ranks first in her school," Du Chang said, heaping praises on Xu Nianhua.
Xu Qinghe humbly smiled and said, "Your Yicheng and Yining aren’t bad either. The photos sent back last time were really good. I heard Yining took them."
"Compared with Nianhua, Yining’s are just hobbies," Du Chang hinted with meaningful praise, "Qinghe, with such a good girl as Nianhua, I wonder which lucky boy will benefit from her in the future."
As he spoke, Du Chang’s gaze fell on Pei Yicheng.
Xu Qinghe paused. He wasn’t stupid; Du Chang’s subtle hint made Xu Qinghe speculate further. He smiled and skillfully changed the subject.
That evening, when only Xu Qinghe and his wife Ji Ying were left, Xu Qinghe mumbled, "Yingzi, do you think Uncle Du is trying to match Yicheng with Nianhua?"
"What?" Ji Ying was making the bed, and when she heard Xu Qinghe’s words, she almost dropped the blanket in her hands. She gave him a glare and said, "Are you overthinking this?"
"How could I be? Uncle Du kept praising our Nianhua today and said that she is so good, he didn’t know which stinking boy would benefit. He even deliberately looked at Yicheng; I definitely didn’t see it wrong," Xu Qinghe was as earnest as if he was swearing an oath to the heavens.
Ji Ying looked at him doubtfully and asked, "Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?"
"No." Xu Qinghe said with utter certainty, "Even though Uncle Du didn’t say it outright, I’m sure I didn’t misinterpret his meaning."
"Does Uncle Du think highly of our Nianhua?" Ji Ying seriously considered the possibility. Pei Yicheng and their daughter did indeed make a good match, but Nianhua was only a freshman, wasn’t she?
"Why couldn’t he?" Xu Qinghe adored his daughter the most. Hearing Ji Ying’s words, he immediately got displeased and said, "Nianhua has good looks, she’s self-motivated, and she always ranks first at school. Why wouldn’t she be good enough for Yicheng?"
Sitting on the bed, Ji Ying looked at him and asked, "So, you mean you agree with Yicheng and Nianhua being together?"