"Do you think Shixiu wanted me, as his uncle, to butter up the Su Family?"
Qian Guoliang chuckled, "This kid always knows when to stop talking and doing things. He never planned on mentioning Bai Fengmao at first. But when we took out those two ginsengs and said they’re for his father-in-law and mother-in-law, if they don’t accept, it would offend us; but if they do, it carries a great favor for his in-laws."
"His little wife isn’t one to flaunt or be vain. Seeing those two ginsengs, she realized how valuable they were. That’s when he brought up Bai Fengmao.
"On one hand, he’s telling his wife that accepting this gift means they can reciprocate with a bigger and more desirable gift when we visit Beijing, and on the other hand, he’s telling us that these two ginsengs aren’t too valuable for Xiao Meng’s parents to accept."
Mrs. Qian took a deep breath and glanced at Qian Guoliang, "I can’t stand you political and economical men, always speaking in such a roundabout way... Isn’t that exhausting?"
Qian Guoliang wrapped his arm around Mrs. Qian’s shoulders and laughed, "The world is treacherous, and speaking alone is quite the art!"
"Yeah, yeah, just an excuse."
"Haha!"
"What were you two talking about earlier?"
"Oh, you noticed?"
Mrs. Qian rolled her eyes at her husband again, "Hurry up and tell me."
So Qian Guoliang roughly explained the matter regarding Su Jianyi...
Mrs. Qian thought for a moment, then looked at her husband, "I remember you saying once that Su Jianyi’s character has room for improvement, but he sure is efficient."
"He has to have some redeeming qualities; you can’t get to his position solely by flattering people."
"Are you planning to get involved?"
Qian Guoliang patted his wife’s hand, "Your husband may not be that idle, but... he does find time to say a few words."
Mrs. Qian disdainfully glared at her husband again, always with the roundabout words.
Yin Shixiu ultimately didn’t let Su Xiaomeng know that he had wasted quite a bit of effort on his uncle.
But he knew Su’s mother could probably guess quite accurately, as for Su’s father, he wasn’t sure.
The year still has to be celebrated, and when they return to the Su Family Village on New Year’s Day, they’ll have to meet Su Jianyi’s family...
Actually, Su Jianyi isn’t completely clueless. If his capability is decent and he’s good at forming connections within the official scene, he might still climb a few more steps.
Unfortunately, he married a wife who’s indeed clueless, it’s truly a hindrance.
Su Xiaomeng doesn’t really grasp the stakes involved here. If she lets slip and ruins a good year’s celebration, or unwittingly causes resentment towards her in-laws, it would be a loss.
Upon returning home, Su Xiaomeng put Shuangshuang on the bed and started political education, "Where did you learn to howl like a wolf? Speak!"
"Hehe..."
"Still laughing, Shuangshuang, it’s not nice for a girl to make such noises, it doesn’t look good!"
"Xiao Meng, don’t worry, this girl is exactly like you when you were young."
"Dad, stop talking nonsense, will you? I wasn’t like this when I was young!"
Su Xiaomeng immediately retorted.
Su Chengji saw she didn’t remember and promptly reminded her, "From the moment you were born, you loved to cry, like wailing ghosts and howling wolves!"
"Really?"
Yin Shixiu changed into casual clothes, sat by the bedside, and asked with a light laugh.
"Dad! I didn’t!"
Su Xiaomeng refuted even more strongly when she saw Yin Shixiu sit beside her.
Su Chengji held a small rabbit and teased Shuangshuang.
Then today, he was determined to expose all his daughter’s little secrets, exclaiming, "Xiao Yin, wait, I’ll get the album."
Su Xiaomeng’s head suddenly exploded, and she hurriedly tried to catch up to stop her dad, who knew she’d be intercepted by Yin Shixiu, "Ah, what are you doing?"
"The album... the one from your childhood?"
"No, my dad just loves to trick people."
"What are you afraid of, you were so cute growing up, didn’t Uncle Qian and Aunt praise you today?"
Su Xiaomeng gave him a sideways glance and saw her father grinning ominously with a large album, realizing there was no turning back...
She was cute as a child, chubby like a ball, of course, she was cute...
As for this album, at times she feels like burning it to ashes when she flips through it herself...
Dad really has no sense, showing his daughter’s embarrassing past to the son-in-law, is he not worried about ruining their marital harmony?
Su Chengji and Yin Shixiu sat together at the foot of the bed, Yin Shixiu holding the heavy album...
Su Xiaomeng initially thought about leaving but then reconsidered. Who knows how much her dad might tease her, staying and listening nearby was more reassuring.
Shuangshuang’s little eyes suddenly shifted from the little rabbit held by Su Xiaomeng to the two men sitting at the foot of the bed.
Perhaps thinking dad and grandpa were secretly eating something, or simply disliking them having their backs to her, she swiftly crawled to the two men with her little arms and legs, her small head squeezing through the middle...
Su Chengji was amused by Shuangshuang, decided to hold her on his leg.
Su Xiaomeng felt exasperated, it’s one thing for Yin Shixiu to see, but now even her daughter...
"The little girl was born, her face was as wide as a basin, haha."
Su Chengji laughed.
"She looks a lot like Shuangshuang and Huanghuang."
"Is that so?"
Su Chengji laughed and pointed at another photo, "When she turned one, during the fortune-telling ceremony, others grabbed pens, money, rulers, etc., but look at Xiao Meng, clutching the little brother’s hand and wouldn’t let go, haha."
Yin Shixiu looked at the photo, roughly showing a boy two or three years old sitting in a stroller, held tight by Su Xiaomeng’s little hand.