CHAPTER 406: CHAPTER 406: VISITING

Yang Peihua had just said a few warm words when Yang PeiMin rushed him to take a shower.

By the time he came out, everyone was asking him what had happened.

Although Peijun wasn’t usually very particular about cleanliness, he never looked quite like the ragamuffin he did today.

He explained that he simply enjoyed helping others. When he got off the train and saw someone with a lot of luggage, he helped carry it. The baggage was dusty, and after a few trips back and forth, he ended up looking the way he did when he walked in the door.

Seeing the joy and satisfaction between Peijun’s eyebrows, everyone let it be.

After eating, Peijun started looking around the house, constantly clicking his tongue, especially when he saw the television. He was as excited and astonished as if he were seeing a relative.

When they were alone, he secretly approached Yang PeiMin and whispered, "Minmin, have you struck it rich?"

Yang PeiMin just smiled without a word.

Yang Peiying scratched his head and grinned, "I heard Yingzi is also doing well now. Is there anything in the house that I could do?"

Yang PeiMin took the opportunity to ask him to help Yingzi. "Currently, Yingzi is doing everything by herself. Usually, my sister-in-law helps out, but now that you’re here, you can take over her duties."

Peijun was delighted and rubbed his hands together eagerly, ready to work hard. He couldn’t stop agreeing.

Yang PeiMin then called her sister over and spoke, though her approval wasn’t enough. "This business was started by Yingzi alone with her own investment, so I can’t decide everything for her."

Peijun laughed heartily. "We’re family; there’s no need to differentiate so clearly. I’ll help her from now on."

Yang PeiMin nodded, "Helping for a day or two is okay, but if it goes over ten days, it would be awkward. But don’t worry, I’ll ask Yingzi to pay you a salary."

Peijun’s eyes widened in surprise. "You want to pay me a salary? There’s no need, we’re family."

"But we should, even brothers settle accounts," she insisted.

Peijun scratched his head again, feeling that something was off.

Yang PeiMin concluded, "Alright, that’s settled then. Get a good night’s sleep tonight. Wake up early every day and go with Yingzi to buy groceries."

Peijun hadn’t expected to find things to do so quickly. He had felt rather embarrassed before coming, considering his sister was already married with in-laws and a husband. He didn’t know how her in-laws would feel about him moving in. Before he left, his parents had also told him, "Be insightful when you arrive, help out a lot with the chores, Min’s mother-in-law will also be there."

Watching how quickly he had found something to do, Yang Jun happily went to rest.

Yang PeiMin started explaining to her mother-in-law about Peijun’s situation. "... it’s busy at home; there’s a lot happening recently, so I asked him to come over to take a break..."

Chen Guizhi had no objections. They lived in a large house, and she didn’t know many people around, so she thought the more lively it was, the better.

Indeed, the next day Peijun got up early. Usually, Yang Peiying bought a lot of vegetables, needing to rise before six o’clock to get the freshest produce.

Yang PeiMin had already gotten up by the time she no longer saw the two of them.

Shen Yixiang immediately felt relieved and began to dilly-dally at the dining table about her relationship with Lu Haijun, "In a couple of days, his mother and sister are going to head back home. He hopes to come over for a visit in the next two days. Mom, brother, what do you think?"

Chen Guixiao looked at her son, letting him make the decision.

During this time, Shen Yiguang had been observing Lu Haijun more closely and thought he was passable in terms of position and personality, not too terrible, "Let him come over tomorrow. I’m off work tomorrow, and I’ll grant him a day’s leave so he can come by himself first. Then we can discuss further after Mom has seen him."

Shen Yiguang’s easy consent surprised Shen Yixiang so much that she nearly jumped up with joy.

Chen Guixiao looked at his silly daughter and glared at her in annoyance, thinking how she had really forgotten her mother once she had a suitor.

Shen Yixiang also acted cleverly, went over while smiling and grabbed Chen Guizhi’s arm, "Mom, what kind of gifts do you like? I’ll have Lu Haijun buy some to bring."

"Don’t let him waste money. You two aren’t certain about anything yet. If you don’t end up together, it would be awkward to talk about these gifts later."

Shen Yixiang muttered, "How could it not work out? He’s pretty good, and I’m sure you’ll like him, Mom."

Chen Guixiao nodded but said nothing more.

Shen Yixiang looked at Yang PeiMin and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you have the day off tomorrow? Do you have many classes?"

"I’ll try to come back early," Yang PeiMin understood the hint in her words and replied amicably.

Shen Yixiang nodded, "Then come back early."

She knew her sister-in-law was sensible. If her brother had any dissatisfaction, her sister-in-law could still give some good advice.

The next morning, Lu Haijun came over carrying bags of big and small items, which startled Chen Guizhi. Was this not a meeting but rather a dowry presentation?

"These were all brought by my mother from our hometown. They are quite good, and I brought them for my aunt to try," he explained.

Shen Yixiang said to Chen Guizhi, "Mom, there are mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, and dried fish inside. His mother brought several bags over, and he took mostly those."

Chen Guizhi secretly glared at her thoughtless daughter; the man hadn’t even spoken yet, and she was already eagerly speaking for him. What was this about?

"Now go boil some water and entertain Mr. Lu," Chen Guizhi sent her daughter away first as she still had many questions to ask.

A soldier’s spirit is usually strong. Lu Haijun was good-looking with a straight body and about 173-174 cm tall, responding to Chen Guizhi’s words with a proper attitude, which seemed quite steady.

Chen Guizhi was rather impressed with him at first.

When Yang PeiMin returned and saw them conversing happily—though politeness was certainly a part of it—

She went in to greet them before washing her hands, then took her son to breastfeed in the room.

While breastfeeding, she eavesdropped on the conversation outside. They had moved on to discussing matters after marriage. Lu Haijun’s current position didn’t qualify for him to take his spouse along in the military. Chen Guizhi disagreed with the idea of Shen Yixiang staying in their hometown. Not just her daughter, even if it had been her daughter-in-law, she would disagree. A couple living separately couldn’t maintain a good relationship. Knowing her daughter’s character, letting Shen Yixiang deal with an entire fleet of relatives and family gossip in their hometown was something she absolutely couldn’t handle.