GBP Chapter 548 Is this the official meeting with the parents?
Chapter 548 Is this the official meeting with the parents?
It was past 7 p.m. when I got back to Xiaoliang Village. I could see the lights on in my yard from afar.
As soon as Li Xiangyang pushed open the courtyard gate, Li Wangchen ran out of the house and threw himself into his arms: "Dad!"
"Did you miss your dad?" Li Xiangyang picked up his son and kissed him on the cheek.
"I've thought about it!"
Li Xiangyang smiled. At that moment, Li Xiaoyun came out of the side room, still holding her needlework: "How did it go? Is the matter resolved?"
"It's solved." Li Xiangyang put his arm around his wife. "Not only did we solve the problem, but we also closed a big deal."
"That's good." Li Xiaoyun breathed a sigh of relief. "Come inside quickly, I've kept the food warm."
During dinner, Li Xiangyang briefly recounted his trip to the provincial capital, omitting the thrilling parts, of course.
"Will Zhao Jianhua cause trouble again in the future?" Li Xiaoyun asked with some concern.
"Not for a while," Li Xiangyang said, placing a piece of meat on his son's plate. "But we still need to be careful."
After reaching a cooperation agreement with Zhao Jianhua, everything in the factory returned to normal.
The workers were working with great enthusiasm, and Zhao Jianhua's orders were progressing steadily; everything seemed to be in good order.
Li Xiangyang, however, felt rather idle.
That morning, he was inspecting the quality of goods in the factory when Li Xiaohua suddenly appeared at the factory gate.
"Brother!" Li Xiaohua called out from afar.
Li Xiangyang looked up and saw his younger sister wearing a new wool coat, her face slightly flushed, looking like she was in a good mood.
"Xiaohua? What brings you here?" Li Xiangyang put down the goods he was carrying and went to greet her. "Didn't you say you were busy at work?"
"I took half a day off," Li Xiaohua said somewhat embarrassedly. "Brother, I have something I want to talk to you about."
Seeing his sister's expression, Li Xiangyang immediately understood and couldn't help but smile: "Is it about that male colleague?"
Li Xiaohua's face turned even redder: "Brother, how did you know?"
"Silly girl, I wanted to meet him after you mentioned him during the New Year, but I didn't because I was afraid you'd be shy." Li Xiangyang ruffled his sister's hair. "Come on, let's go inside and talk."
In the factory office, Li Xiaohua sat in a chair with her hands on her knees, looking somewhat nervous.
“He…he wants to see you,” Li Xiaohua said, her head bowed.
"Oh?" Li Xiangyang's interest was piqued. "Is this a formal meeting with the parents?"
"What do you mean, 'meet the parents'!" Li Xiaohua hurriedly waved her hand. "It's just... I just wanted to get to know you, after all, you're my brother."
Looking at his younger sister's shy demeanor, Li Xiangyang felt both gratified and a little reluctant. Xiaohua had grown up and reached the age where she should be thinking about marriage.
"Then tell me, what do you think of this person?" Li Xiangyang asked seriously.
Li Xiaohua's eyes lit up instantly: "His name is Chen Zhiming, he's three years older than me, he's an engineer in our company's technical department, and he's a really nice person. He's from the local area, his parents are honest people, and he has a younger brother who's in university."
When Chen Zhiming is mentioned, Li Xiaohua becomes very talkative, covering everything from his work ability and character to his family background and personal hobbies.
Li Xiangyang listened quietly, nodding occasionally. Judging from his sister's description, Chen Zhiming seemed to be a good person.
"What stage are you at now?" Li Xiangyang asked.
"We're...we're not officially dating yet." Li Xiaohua's face turned as red as a ripe apple. "But he said that if his family agrees, he wants to officially pursue me."
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Alright, I'll go see him. But let me make this clear beforehand: if I don't think he's suitable, you can't throw a tantrum."
"Okay, brother." Li Xiaohua nodded obediently.
In the afternoon, Li Xiangyang drove a minivan, carrying Li Xiaohua, to the county town.
On the bus, Li Xiaohua kept fixing her hair, looking very nervous.
"Xiaohua, relax," Li Xiangyang said as he drove. "I've met a lot of people, and I can tell a good person from a bad one at a glance."
"I'm just a little nervous," Li Xiaohua took a deep breath. "What if you don't like him?"
“That means he’s not right for you,” Li Xiangyang said calmly. “Xiaohua, you can’t settle for just anyone when it comes to relationships. It’s better to wait a few more years than to just settle for someone casually.”
Li Xiaohua nodded seriously.
Upon arriving in the county town, Li Xiaohua led Li Xiangyang to a newly opened coffee shop.
Chen Zhiming was already waiting inside.
Li Xiangyang spotted him from afar. He was in his early twenties, of medium build, wearing glasses and a neat Zhongshan suit, and looked quite refined.
"Brother Zhiming!" Li Xiaohua walked over quickly. "This is my brother, Li Xiangyang."
Chen Zhiming immediately stood up, extending his hand with slight nervousness: "Brother Li, hello, I'm Chen Zhiming. Xiaohua often mentions you."
Li Xiangyang shook his hand, secretly observing the man. His palm was somewhat soft, clearly indicating long-term mental labor, but the handshake was firm, showing sincerity.
"Please sit down," Li Xiangyang gestured for everyone to sit.
The waiter came over to take orders, and everyone ordered a cup of coffee.
"Where is Comrade Chen from?" Li Xiangyang asked bluntly.
"I'm a local, from Yangzhuang, east of the county seat," Chen Zhiming answered earnestly. "My parents are farmers, and our family's circumstances are average."
Li Xiangyang nodded. The fact that he dared to admit his family's modest means he was honest.
How did you and Xiaohua meet?
“We work in the same company, so we see each other often,” Chen Zhiming said, glancing at Li Xiaohua. “Xiaohua is very hardworking, and everyone likes her.”
What's your impression of Xiaohua?
Chen Zhiming thought for a moment: "Xiaohua is very smart, kind, and filial. She often mentions you and your sister-in-law, saying that you treat her very well."
These words struck a chord with Li Xiangyang. Regardless of Chen Zhiming's other qualities, he at least recognized the most precious quality in Li Xiaohua.
"Do your family members know about this?" Li Xiangyang continued to ask.
“I know,” Chen Zhiming nodded. “My parents really like Xiaohua; they say she’s a good girl. If… if you agree, I’d like to officially date Xiaohua.”
Li Xiangyang remained silent for a while.
During this time, Li Xiaohua's palms were sweating with nervousness, and Chen Zhiming also seemed a little uneasy.
"Xiao Chen, I have a few questions for you," Li Xiangyang finally spoke.
"Please speak."
"First, what are your plans for Xiaohua?"
Without hesitation, Chen Zhiming replied, "I will dedicate my life to loving her, protecting her, and making her happy."
"Secondly, what will you do if you encounter any difficulties in the future?"
"I will try my best to resolve this and will never let Xiaohua suffer any injustice. If it really can't be resolved, I believe Xiaohua will face it with me."
Third, what do you think is the most important thing in marriage?
This question made Chen Zhiming think for a while: "I think it's about mutual understanding and support. Being together requires not only love, but also responsibility."