“Nan Nan, it’s a good habit of yours to drink plain water. Nowadays, there are all types of fruit juices and coke, but they are not healthy for the body. Plain water is the best.” Old Master Zhai either drank plain water, tea, or wine. He would not drink other drinks.
“Grandpa, I have the same sentiments. The fruit juices are not a hundred percent pure juices. They are not as good as those that we blend by ourselves. As for coke and soda, they have high sugar content. It is not healthy for the body.” In the previous life, Qiao Nan was too poor to have these drinks. She remembered that these drinks were unhealthy. Hence, she did not have them in this life.
Zhai Hua pulled a long face. “Auntie, please give me a glass of boiled water as well. When I was young, grandpa only allowed me to drink boiled water. I would only drink boiled water when I go to the Qiao family’s residence or at my house.” Wei De was too narrow-minded. Qiao Nan would never be stingy with a child. It was just a glass of juice or coke. It was not an expensive drink.
The child liked it, but the adults did not know how to teach the child and taught him the wrong ways.
Wei De felt embarrassed. He did not know that there were so many stories behind a glass of drink.
When he first came to Ping Cheng, he knew that a small glass of soda would cost a few yuan. Therefore, he could not bear to spend money on soda. He could only have boiled water which was much more hydrating and cheaper.
Who would have expected that these expensive drinks were unhealthy. But everyone kept drinking them.
Qiao Nan was too much. She should have said it directly to avoid causing a misunderstanding. He would not have embarrassed himself in front of the Zhai family.
This must be Qiao Nan’s motive. The more mistakes he committed in front of the Zhai family, the better it would look on Qiao Nan. She was too despicable.
Wei Wei did not understand what was going on between the adults. He only knew to keep his stomach full. Since he was thirsty, he gulped the water down happily. He did not stand on ceremony with them. There was no need for anyone to feed him as well. He was considered a very well-behaved child.
“Are you here to see the old master?” Zhai Yaohui, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up.
“Yes… yes.” Wei De pulled Wei Wei, who had eaten to his heart’s content, to stand beside him. He stopped him from moving around.
Wei De felt somewhat embarrassed and disgraced that the Zhai family witnessed the scene just now. But he had no other choice.
Almost all of the guests who left the Zhai family’s residence saw Wei De with a child, hovering around the doorway as if he was very close to the Zhai family. He would address the guests as ‘uncles’ as if he was their relatives. He also said things that would lead to misunderstandings. For instance, he told them that Hua Hua would mention them to him and he knew that they watched her grow up.
What was worse was that Wei De carried Wei Wei in his arms. Everyone whom Wei De greeted looked awkward and confused. They did not know who Wei De was and what his relationship with Zhai Hua was.
Today was Zhai Sheng’s and Qiao Nan’s engagement ceremony. Zhai Hua was a few years older than Zhai Sheng. If Zhai Hua had plans of marriage, the Zhai family would have told them.
Old Master Zhai and Zhai Yaohui noticed what Wei De was up to. Of course, Zhai Hua was present at the scene as well.
If not, Zhai Hua would not have the guilty look as if she had done something wrong and trailed behind Zhai Yaohui and Old Master Zhai. Zhai Hua could not accept what Wei De had done this time.
She had told Wei De that if he wanted to come to the ceremony, she would not help him, and he had to think of ways by himself. She did not expect that he would really turn up, and with Wei Wei as well. She also did not expect that he would sputter nonsense to the Zhai family’s guests.
Zhai Hua was so angry that she felt like punching Wei De. All the uncles that left just now darted their glances over her and Wei Wei. It was as if Wei Wei was the child of Wei De and her.
She was a decent unmarried young lady. In all the years that she had been with Wei De, she did not do anything that overstepped the boundaries. How would she have such a big son like Wei Wei?
Initially, Zhai Hua had a good impression of Wei Wei. After what happened today, she had no liking for him anymore.
Wei De wanted to make use of the opportunity today so that the friends and relatives of the Zhai family would know of his relationship with Zhai Hua. Once words of their relationship spread-unless the Zhai family did not care about their reputationZhai Hua would have to marry him sooner or later. They might get married earlier than Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan.
Although Zhai Hua was the elder sister, it was a new age now. No one followed the old tradition that the elder sister had to get married before the brother could marry.
However, since Zhai Hua had a boyfriend, they could either hold the marriage ceremony together or for Zhai Hua to marry Wei De first. After all, they were older than Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan.
Wei De wanted to make use of public opinion to force the Zhai family to agree to the marriage.
“Hua Hua, what are your thoughts?” Old Master Zhai had a sullen expression on his face as he stared at Zhai Hua. He did not care what Wei De’s attitude toward this matter was. “Have you thought about how you want to handle this? I will give you a chance. Tell me what you want to do with today’s situation and I will agree to whatever that you say.”
Old Master Zhai was waiting to see if Zhai Hua would take the bait and say that since things had come to such a state, she would go along with it and get married to Wei De. If she really said that, Old Master Zhai would agree to it.
But there was no doubt that after this incident, Old Master Zhai would be very disappointed with Zhai Hua. He would not attend her marriage ceremony. He would take it that he did not spend all those years to nurture and raise her.
Wei De’s eyes lit up. He looked at Zhai Hua with anticipation. He wished that she would say the answer that he had been longing to hear.
Zhai Hua gulped a mouthful of water. She looked at Qiao Nan to calm herself down. “What is there to think about? Things are simple. I am in a relationship, and my boyfriend is here at the Zhai family’s residence with his nephew. It is just a misunderstanding. I am an unmarried young lady. How would I have such a big son? Rumors stop at the wise. It is foolish to waste time and effort to clear up misunderstandings. There is no need to bother about it. Perhaps it will die off after a while. Besides, the guests that came to our house have close relationships with us. We only need to give them a brief explanation at the right time and they will definitely believe us. They will not spread any rumors. Therefore, what happened today is not serious. Just let it be.”
Marriage?
No!
She would never agree to marry Wei De under today’s circumstances.
A few months ago, she really wished to marry Wei De as soon as possible and to bear him a child so that he could answer to his aging parents.
Right now, the more that she was driven into a corner, the more she would not agree to a marriage. She had this unexplainable fear at the thought of marrying Wei De.
Many people would have gamophobia before marriage. Zhai Hua might be emotionally strong, but she had gamophobia as well after what Wei De did.
