"Uncle Ning, rest assured. I will!" Yan Ye was someone who valued and cherished talent, especially since he regarded An Hao so highly.
Ning Yibin nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this.
Yan Ye was an excellent child, possessing a great sense of propriety in both his personal conduct and in handling matters. He was far more mature than his sister, Yan Huan.
Having settled everything, Yan Ye prepared to leave.
Zhang Yun urged him to stay for dinner.
Yan Ye politely declined since his own house was just next door.
Ning Yibin didn’t insist on keeping him. As Yan Ye was about to depart, An Hao took out two bottles of wine, a local specialty from the Northwest, from her luggage to give to him to take home.
Upon his return home, Yan Ye found that the dinner dishes had already been laid out on the table.
Yan Luquan noticed the two bottles of wine in Yan Ye’s hands and asked, "Did Old Ning give you those? That old fellow has quite a collection of fine wines. What a pity he can’t drink much anymore due to his bad heart."
"No, these are from An Hao," said Yan Ye indifferently.
"Ning Yibin’s daughter-in-law?" Feng Yuzhi emerged from the kitchen. Hearing that the wine was from An Hao, she felt somewhat uneasy, "You should visit the Ning family less. At school, too, keep your distance from that young wife. Look at how it’s affected your reputation. She’s already married, and you? Do you ever want to find a wife in the future?"
Yan Ye frowned upon hearing his mother’s disparagement of An Hao, "If anyone is being burdensome, it’s me burdening her! After all, I am a man, and she’s a woman! Besides, she has always been true to her principles..."
"Enough, no more," his mother cut in sharply, not liking to hear such talk, "Just look at you and your sister; both of you have fallen for Qin Jian and his wife."
"What are you saying? Your son and daughter fancy someone, and now it’s their fault?" Yan Luquan didn’t like his wife speaking in this way.
"Old Yan, your revolutionary stance is questionable," Feng Yuzhi glared at him. They had agreed to fight together in the same trench.
Why was he starting to defect at a critical moment?
"In our home, I will always stand by your side, but we still need to speak some reason," Yan Luquan said with a smile.
"I can’t be bothered with you." Feng Yuzhi sat down, picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks, and placed them in Yan Ye’s bowl. She then thought for a moment and said, "Yan Ye, you’re not getting any younger. Guan Kexin seems like a nice girl too. Why don’t you two..."
Yan Ye knew immediately what she was going to say, "Get married?"
"Sure," Yan Ye replied nonchalantly while eating a mouthful of food, "If you’re keen on not having peaceful days ahead, I can marry her right now and bring her home."
"This child..." Feng Yuzhi said, clearly irked.
"Let it be, don’t push him. Our children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. No matter what, she was his first love, and that is something beautiful," reflected Yan Luquan.
"Seems like you’re thinking about your own first love again," Feng Yuzhi shot him a sharp look, "You may have fancied Zhang Yun, but she never cared for you!"
"Enough, enough! Don’t talk nonsense," Yan Luquan waved his hand impatiently, "You’re always harping on others’ faults, never letting go. Besides, that’s all in the past. I met Zhang Yun first, then you."
Seeing Yan Luquan’s attitude, Feng Yuzhi’s temper flared and she slammed her chopsticks onto the table, "Yan Luquan, don’t go too far. I’ve tolerated enough from you twice already. Tell me, is there a rekindled romance between you and Zhang Yun?"
Yan Luquan had planned to enjoy a peaceful meal but upon hearing Feng Yuzhi’s words, he too set his chopsticks down and with a stern face said, "Feng Yuzhi, what are you implying?"