When Yin Shixiu and his family arrived, it was three o’clock in the afternoon.
Qian Guoliang had just finished his afternoon nap. Knowing that Yin Shixiu would bring his family over, he had already asked someone to prepare tea and snacks early on.
After Su Xiaomeng greeted Qian Guoliang and Mrs. Qian, she went inside with Yin Shixiu and herself.
The Qian Family home was just a standalone small villa, not as big as the one Yin Shixiu bought for the Su Family.
But Yin Shixiu knew that Qian Guoliang’s family was wealthy.
His son had entered the National Science Academy at a young age, and just the few patents he developed during his doctoral studies were enough for his parents to live in an upscale garden house and drive luxury cars.
But Qian Guoliang is a relatively cautious person.
For someone in a national public office, a lavish lifestyle only brings danger. Moreover, both husband and wife are simple people, especially Qian Guoliang himself, who came from a rural area to the city.
As the saying goes, it’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
"Uncle Yin said you married a particularly cute young wife. I wondered if he was joshing me, but seeing it today..."
Qian Guoliang said as he looked at Su Xiaomeng and laughed, "Shixiu, you have a keen eye. Young lady, don’t get shortchanged by following him?"
Su Xiaomeng could hear the compliment hidden in Qian Guoliang’s playful words.
She blushed slightly and made a small joke in response, "It’s okay, Uncle Qian, he doesn’t dare to let me lose out..."
"Oh? Hahaha! Shixiu is afraid of his wife too?"
Yin Shixiu didn’t say a word, just took a sip from his teacup...
Qian Guoliang then immediately remarked, "That’s good, that’s good! No matter how formidable a man is outside, at home, he’s just a husband and a father."
Mrs. Qian brought out the snacks and light refreshments.
"Auntie, no need to be so formal. Xiao Meng and I will stay for just a bit and then leave."
"Leave for what?" Qian Guoliang immediately said when he heard this, "Stay for dinner, no debate."
Su Xiaomeng pressed her lips and looked at Yin Shixiu...
It wasn’t that she was unwilling to have dinner at the Qian Family’s home, but Shuangshuang and Huang Huang would get sleepy and lethargic when out for too long, and on top of that, they needed diaper changes and feeding...
"With the kids around, my in-laws at home would also be uneasy. Uncle Qian, next time, next time we will definitely stay for dinner."
In the end, Yin Shixiu politely declined.
Qian Guoliang understood that as the Spring Festival approached, every household was very busy, so he didn’t insist but made sure to have Yin Shixiu play a few games of chess with him while he was there.
After Yin Shixiu agreed, Su Xiaomeng and Mrs. Qian took the children to the small villa’s yard.
Mrs. Qian was good at gardening, and upon hearing that Su Xiaomeng’s father was a gardener, the two of them started chatting in the yard.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Yin Shixiu and Qian Guoliang were intensely engaged in a chess match, with the game being quite heated, but Qian Guoliang was slightly ahead.
Despite Yin Shixiu’s cautious moves, Qian Guoliang’s frown deepened, but ultimately, even with the advantage, he sighed heavily, "You rascal, you’re competent now...you even know how to go easy on Uncle Qian."
Yin Shixiu quickly said, "No, no, I wouldn’t hold back."
Qian Guoliang glanced at him, placed his piece on the board, and leaned back on the sofa...
"Not playing anymore, it’s boring."
Yin Shixiu felt a bit awkward, "...Then I won’t go easy."
"Haha...see, you admitted it, right?"
Yin Shixiu saw Qian Guoliang laughing heartily and boldly, and he knew that he didn’t mind him holding back.
"Have some tea. This tea was personally picked in Yunnan by your Aunt Qian and then made according to the tea-making process she learned."
Yin Shixiu nodded, then took a sip and praised it...
Qian Guoliang looked out the sliding door leading to the yard and could see the silhouettes of his wife and Su Xiaomeng.
"If I hadn’t run into you outside Su Family Village, who knows when your Uncle Qian would finally learn that you’re already married with kids."
"We haven’t held the wedding yet, but when we do, I will definitely invite you, Uncle Qian."
Yin Shixiu said this, but Qian Guoliang remained skeptical, glancing at him, "Such pretty words now. But this young lady is quite simple...even without a proper wedding, she still followed you."
Speaking of this, Yin Shixiu indeed felt quite gratified...
Gratified and guilty.
He owed Su Xiaomeng a proper wedding, yet Su Xiaomeng never mentioned it.
Perhaps she was just that silly, not seeking extravagance or vanity, perhaps raising children and studying kept her too busy to think about it, or perhaps there were too many public opinions and pressures weighing on her heart.