TL: Etude
Upon hearing her sister say this, Lin Wanqiu wanted to tell her what had happened earlier, but since they had already walked into the house, Xue Chunli briskly came up to greet them.
"My girl, you're back! Old Lin, why are you standing there like a log?! Aren't you going to the kitchen to serve the dishes? Wanqing must be starving!"
Seeing her eldest daughter return, Xue Chunli's face beamed with joy.
Lin Jianguo, hearing this, didn't say anything and turned to head for the kitchen.
His daughter's return genuinely delighted him.
Chen Jianghai, after placing the suitcase in the living room, also followed Lin Jianguo to the kitchen to help with the dishes.
Catching sight of Chen Jianghai, a flash of disgust swept across Xue Chunli's eyes.
All of this did not escape Lin Wanqing's observation.
Her brother-in-law, at least, was not the lazy and freeloading man he had been described as before.
And his temperament seemed to have improved a great deal.
The dishes were served, and the table was filled with chicken, duck, fish, and meat; it was a spread that could match a New Year's feast.
In the early nineties, it was not an everyday occurrence to enjoy such meals.
To have such a lavish lunch meant either the family was very wealthy or it was a special occasion.
This meal at the Lin's was specially arranged in honor of Lin Wanqing's return.
Chen Jianghai discreetly observed Lin Wanqing for a while and found her to be very diligent.
Even though she wore expensive clothes, she helped serve dishes and set bowls without any pretense.
Chen Jianghai couldn't help but steal a glance at Lin Jianguo, inwardly curious.
How did this somewhat henpecked father-in-law manage to raise such excellent daughters?
Xue Chunli waved her hand and said, "Alright, let's eat!"
The family took their seats, with Xue Chunli and Lin Jianguo at the head, Lin Wanqing on the left, and Chen Jianghai and Lin Wanqiu on the right.
The daughters' bowls were filled with a variety of dishes, but Chen Jianghai's plight seemed rather pitiful by comparison; aside from a plate of green vegetables, he had nothing else.
Lin Wanqiu noticed this and quickly added some meat to Chen Jianghai's bowl, giving him a smile.
Chen Jianghai returned the smile, then began to eat earnestly, not minding these details.
Lin Wanqing kept a covert watch over Chen Jianghai, realizing that her brother-in-law was very composed, nothing like the hotheaded and useless man her mother had described.
A person with such a demeanor could not possibly be a failure.
"Daughter, you've worked hard outside, eat more," Xue Chunli urged.
Lin Wanqing responded with a smile, "Mom, Dad, it's you who have worked hard at home."
"It's our daughter who cares for your dad," Lin Jianguo said with a beaming smile.
Xue Chunli shot a cold glance at Chen Jianghai, then said, "Wanqing is good indeed, obedient and filial, not like your sister who has given us endless worry."
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu's expression shifted subtly, and Chen Jianghai's brow furrowed slightly.
"Mom, let's not talk about this at the table," Lin Wanqing said with a smile, attempting to ease the tension.
But Xue Chunli would not have it, raising an eyebrow, "Why can't we talk about this? It's good that you're here today to give your sister some advice, so she doesn't continue down the wrong path."
"Mom, how have I gone down the wrong path?"
At this point, Lin Wanqiu was also starting to get angry.
"How have you not?!" Xue Chunli's voice suddenly rose, her chopsticks pointing at Chen Jianghai, "You refuse to divorce him, do you want to suffer with him for the rest of your life?"
Lin Wanqiu protested, "Didn't the matchmaker just say? Jianghai is capable now, he can make money, he's not like he used to be, why are we still talking about divorce?"
"Matchmaker? Humph!"
Xue Chunli snorted coldly, "I think that person was just bought off by his money. It's only because you're too young that you were so easily deceived."
Chen Jianghai hadn't expected Xue Chunli's imagination to be so rich; her assumptions could match the plot of a melodramatic TV drama from a future era.
Lin Wanqiu put down her bowl, helplessly saying, "Mom, you've really misunderstood Jianghai. He wouldn't do such a thing."
"When will my foolish daughter come to her senses?" Xue Chunli looked at her daughter with an exasperated sigh.
Chen Jianghai knew all too well that prejudices weren't something that could be eliminated in an instant.
Xue Chunli's bias against him was too deep. No matter what Chen Jianghai said or did, she would likely misinterpret it or even ignore it completely.
He simply couldn't be bothered to argue further, opting instead for silence is golden.
Xue Chunli turned her head to Lin Wanqing and said, "Eldest girl, you tell me, isn't our second girl too naive? Insisting on suffering with such a man?"
Lin Wanqing pondered for a moment before asking, "Mom, what exactly happened with the situation sister just mentioned?"
Hearing her sister ask, Lin Wanqiu quickly recounted the recent events.
She had wanted to talk to Lin Wanqing from the beginning, but there hadn't been a chance until now.
After hearing her sister's story, Lin Wanqing looked at Xue Chunli with a furrowed brow, asking somewhat sternly, "Mom, is what sister said true?"
"How could it be true!"
Xue Chunli shook her head vehemently, "I'm sure that matchmaker must have been bribed by Chen Jianghai!"
Hearing this, Lin Wanqing, who understood her mother well, couldn't help but reveal a wry smile.
She knew that this was probably just her mother's speculation.
"Mom, are your earlier statements just your speculation, or did you actually see your son-in-law do this?" Lin Wanqing's tone was as serious as ever.
Xue Chunli was momentarily stunned, rendered speechless.
This was indeed a wishful thought of hers.
"This... this... Anyway, he's up to no good. It definitely won't be a mistake to leave him." Xue Chunli still stubbornly insisted.
Lin Wanqing advised with heartfelt concern, "Mom, you shouldn't spread baseless claims. As for Wanqiu's marriage... I will talk to her about it later."
Having said that, Lin Wanqing glanced at Chen Jianghai, her eyes carrying a probing gaze.
Chen Jianghai didn't mind at all, meeting Lin Wanqing's eyes with an open and calm demeanor, without a hint of evasion.
This piqued Lin Wanqing's curiosity even more.
In the past two years, she too had her share of experiences, and now she had a bit of confidence.
Under her were dozens of people, some of whom were older and more experienced than her, yet they all behaved respectfully and cautiously around her.
But Chen Jianghai, calm as a still pond, showed no ripples; he seemed like an unfathomable old hand.
This brother-in-law was quite interesting.
Lin Wanqiu couldn't quite figure out whether Lin Wanqing was helping her or their mother, furrowing her brow in worry.
Xue Chunli was equally confused, and instantly displeased.
"Girl, what's there to discuss about this matter? The kind of life your sister has been living these past few years has been too hard!"
Lin Wanqing patiently explained, "Mom, I just got back, and there's a lot I don't understand. Plus, I've only met my brother-in-law once a few years ago."
"Years have passed, and I'm not clear on what he's like now. People can change, after all. Moreover, Wanqiu is defending him so, naturally, she has her reasons. We should also respect Wanqiu's views, right?"
Lin Wanqing reasoned convincingly, and Chen Jianghai inwardly nodded, also beginning to regard his elder sister-in-law with newfound respect.
But Xue Chunli wouldn't listen, "You don't understand, do you? Then let your father tell you what kind of person he really is!"
At this, everyone's gaze turned to Lin Jianguo.