"Little Chen, where are you from?"
Chen Yang followed Xu Jiali, swaying, into the Zhang family's Western-style house. The Zhangs' house was no smaller than the one he had bought, and in terms of location, it was even quieter.
Of course, in terms of future promotion value, Chen Yang's villa was higher, but this small Western-style house of the Zhang family was something that couldn't be bought even with money in the future; some things were simply priceless.
Xu Jiali sized up Chen Yang as she walked. While the "future son-in-law" had a low tolerance for alcohol, his appearance was outstanding. Her daughter's taste in men was clearly inherited from her; Zhang Qun was also a handsome man in his youth.
Xu Jiali openly scrutinized Chen Yang, but he hadn't recovered yet. His head was still swimming, and if he had been his usual clever self, he would have figured out what was going on.
"Jinling."
"Jinling is great. My father is also half a Jinling native; he lived there for almost half his life. I'm very fond of Jinling."
"It's a six-dynasty ancient capital with profound cultural heritage. The plane tree-lined avenue on Zhongshan Mountain was my favorite place when I was young. That's where your Aunt Yingying's father and I met."
"Don't look at Ms. Yingying's father the way he is now. Back then, he was like you, a fresh university graduate, full of vigor."
"He loved Tagore's poetry collection very much. He would recite 'The Crescent Moon' on the plane tree avenue, with the golden sunlight cast on his profile. Decades have passed, and I still remember it."
"When you have time, you can take Yingying to stroll along the plane tree avenue."
A hint of reminiscence flickered in Xu Jiali's eyes. The beauty of young love was the driving force that sustained her life with Zhang Qun.
To be honest, Zhang Qun treated her very well, but this wasn't the love she desired.
Zhang Qun had changed with time, but she hadn't. She remained immersed in the beautiful memories of the past.
She had always been like a pampered princess, never needing to worry about any practical matters. Xu Jiali knew that it was her husband who bore those pressures for her.
So, even though she wasn't as happy as before, she still diligently managed their home, even though her husband was no longer the embodiment of her ideal love.
"Auntie, wait a minute? Why would I take Teacher Zhang to see the plane trees?"
Chen Yang had slightly recovered and was bewildered by Xu Jiali's words.
"Silly boy, still pretending not to understand. Let me tell you, our Yingying has never dated anyone since she was little."
"Don't think you can bully her just because she's naive. Otherwise, I, as her mother, won't stand for it."
Xu Jiali didn't realize that Chen Yang's words carried a hidden meaning. She was now seeing her potential son-in-law, and the more she looked, the more pleased she was.
"Ahem, ahem, Auntie, I think you've misunderstood. Teacher Zhang and I really have nothing going on. I invited Teacher Zhang to dinner today because she did me a great favor."
"As we ate, we had a bit to drink, and I got drunk. I just sobered up and was brought to your house. Teacher Zhang and I really have no other relationship; you've misunderstood."
Chen Yang was now wide awake, scared sober.
At this late hour, a man and a woman alone, both drunk, it was no wonder they would misunderstand. It wasn't just that it was 1979, when people's minds were still very conservative; even in later years, a normal family wouldn't let their daughter go drinking with a man late at night.
"Little Chen, don't feel burdened. Your Aunt Yingying's father can be difficult to deal with, but we two will help you. Don't be intimidated by him."
"Your Uncle and I went through something similar. Yingying's maternal grandfather was much fiercer than her father. If he hadn't been resolute back then, he wouldn't have even been able to enter my family's door. My father's stern look could scare anyone half to death."
Xu Jiali, thinking Chen Yang was worried about Zhang Qun, quickly tried to comfort him.
"Auntie, it's not like that. Teacher Zhang and I really have nothing."
"Um, um, I'm already married. I have a wife, and three children."
Chen Yang said it with a forced smile. He was afraid that if he didn't speak up soon, Xu Jiali would continue to try and set them up.
Setting aside other things, if Chen Yang were indeed single, Xu Jiali, as a potential mother-in-law, would undoubtedly be very pleased with him.
"Wh-what???"
"You, you're already married?"
"You have children too?"
Xu Jiali stared at Chen Yang, her eyes wide.
Her daughter had finally found a boyfriend, and he was already married. This would be destroying someone else's family, and they, the Xu family, wouldn't do such a thing.
"Auntie, Teacher Zhang and I really have nothing at all. I can guarantee that. Today I really just invited Teacher Zhang to dinner, and I drank too much."
"I didn't know Teacher Zhang would bring me home, and cause you and Uncle to misunderstand. Oh, what a situation this is."
"Please don't get agitated. Please explain to Uncle first. Don't let this misunderstanding affect your relationship with Teacher Zhang later. Then I would be truly at fault."
Truth be told, Zhang Yingying was undeniably rare in terms of both her family background and her appearance.
In terms of beauty, she was admired by everyone from teachers to students at East China University of Finance and Economics.
In terms of family background, in the 1970s, her father could live in a Western-style house and had a driver and a car. If Chen Yang hadn't been married, to be favored by someone like this would have been a stroke of incredible luck.
But unfortunately, there were no "ifs."
He wasn't only married but also had a wife and children. Chen Yang had experienced wealth and status in his previous life. For him, prosperity and money were far less important than his wife and children.
Only after losing something does one understand the value of what one possesses.
"I understand. It was my impoliteness, Auntie. Have some tea to sober up, and I'll go talk to Yingying's father."
"Don't worry. You're Yingying's student. It's fine to come over for tea and a chat. Yingying hasn't had many friends since she was little. It's good that she has a student like you whom she can talk to."
Although shocked, Xu Jiali quickly regained her composure.
After all, she wasn't from an insignificant family and had seen her share of storms.
Chen Yang, on the other hand, felt uneasy. He had met Li Yong this time, and unexpectedly learned about Teacher Zhang's family background, leading to this big misunderstanding.
This made Chen Yang fidget uncomfortably. Drinking leads to trouble. He wouldn't dare to drink excessively in the future.
After an unknown period, Zhang Yingying arrived in the reception room, her eyes red.
"Teacher Zhang, your parents didn't misunderstand you, did they?"
Chen Yang looked at Zhang Yingying, her eyes red from crying, and felt a pang of guilt.
If Zhang Yingying hadn't brought him back today, he probably wouldn't have been misunderstood by her parents.