Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo left Liangshan Prefecture and traveled tirelessly, switching between vehicles until they finally arrived in Rongcheng.
Passing by a specialty supermarket near the train station, Chen Hansheng went in and picked out a pretty bracelet, clearly meant for a young girl.
"For Xiao Yu'er?" Wang Zibo asked.
Chen Hansheng nodded and also chose two horn combs. As he paid, he said to Wang Zibo, "One comb for my mom and one for your mom. Women, no matter their age, always love small surprises."
Wang Zibo glanced at the inconspicuous combs that looked a bit like jade and said, "I feel like these are pretty useless. The effects shown in TV ads for horn combs are always exaggerated."
Chen Hansheng rolled his eyes. "Do you think this is about health benefits? The main point is to please our families' queens. Trust me, when you give your mom this comb, your trip with me to Sichuan and Chongqing will be smoothed over, and you'll even avoid a scolding."
Wang Zibo spat jokingly, "My mom hasn't scolded me in ages. Don't talk nonsense."
They took a hard sleeper for their return journey. Once on the train, they mostly slept or occasionally stared out the window at the scenery. Over twenty hours passed quickly.
Around 7 p.m., they finally arrived in their familiar port city. Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo divided up the chili peppers they had brought back and went their separate ways.
However, standing at his doorstep, Chen Hansheng hesitated.
School had let out on the 14th, but he only left on the 17th, and then he spent time escorting Shen Youchu home. The whole process had taken about ten days.
He had been texting Xiao Rongyu a lot during the trip but had only sent his mom a few updates on his location. He wasn't sure if Liang Meijuan was angry.
He quietly unlocked the door and entered. Inside, Chen Zhaojun was watching the news on the sofa, while Liang Meijuan was in the kitchen cooking. Hearing the noise, she peeked out but didn't say anything.
"Dad, did you and Mom have a fight today?" Chen Hansheng asked quietly.
Old Chen raised his hand as if to hit him. "Can't you hope for something good? No, we didn't fight!"
Chen Hansheng felt slightly relieved and walked into the kitchen with a cheeky grin. "Mom, I'm back."
Liang Meijuan ignored him, focusing on deveining shrimp. "Oh, you still know how to come home? Why not just move in with someone else?"
"How could I?"
Chen Hansheng quickly took out the horn combs and even helped comb her hair. "I got these just for you. Traveled so far to get them. Isn't your son thoughtful?"
Liang Meijuan snorted coldly. "Other people's kids show their thoughtfulness by studying hard at university. What have you done?"
"What do you mean I haven't studied hard?"
Chen Hansheng began spinning tales. "This semester's final exams? I wouldn't say I aced everything, but getting 90+ in every subject isn't a problem. I even think I'll get a school-level Excellent Student award. I'll send the certificate home so you can show it off to Grandma and Grandpa."
Half-true and half-false, his claim about the award was real, but not because of his grades. Still, anyone who didn't know the details would be fooled.
Liang Meijuan glanced at her son and suddenly smiled. "Go sit on the sofa. I have something to tell you."
Chen Hansheng thought the matter was settled. He grabbed a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth before cheerfully sitting down on the sofa.
Old Chen, who was smoking, asked, "What did you two talk about?"
Chen Hansheng repeated the conversation, mostly bragging about his exam results. Old Chen stayed silent after hearing it.
"What's wrong?" Chen Hansheng sensed something was off.
"Nothing," Old Chen said, stubbing out his cigarette. "But when your mom hits you later, bear it quietly. Don't disturb the neighbors upstairs or downstairs."
Chen Hansheng immediately looked up to see Liang Meijuan approaching with a rolling pin.
"Mom, it's the holidays—don't start wielding weapons!"
Chen Hansheng quickly ran behind the sofa.
Liang Meijuan ignored him and continued chasing him.
As he dodged, Chen Hansheng asked, "What's the reason this time? You agreed to let me take Shen Youchu home, didn't you?"
Liang Meijuan stopped and tossed an envelope at him. "Excellent Student Award? Take a look."
Chen Hansheng recognized the envelope from his college and knew something was wrong. Opening it, even he couldn't help laughing.
**Chen Hansheng's final exam results:**
- Western Economics: 46
- Principles of Management: 37
- Organizational Behavior: 60
- Applied Statistics: 51
- Marxist Theory: 60
- Advanced Mathematics: 12
After laughing, Chen Hansheng cursed the school for sending grades home during the holidays, deliberately ruining family harmony.
He tried to salvage the situation, saying earnestly, "It's probably a mistake. Maybe they sent the results of someone with the same name."
Hearing this, Liang Meijuan, who saw he was still trying to dodge responsibility, raised her hand to strike again. Chen Hansheng had no choice but to give in. "At least let me finish eating first! I didn't have a proper meal on the train."
This excuse worked, as Liang Meijuan softened, feeling sorry for him. She set the rolling pin down and said, "Fine. Eat first, then I'll have the strength to deal with you."
…
Chen Hansheng was genuinely hungry and ate nonstop. Nothing on the train compared to home-cooked food.
Liang Meijuan, still fuming, pushed the fish and shrimp toward him and asked, "How's Xiao Shen's family?"
"Poor and cold," Chen Hansheng said truthfully in front of his parents. "There's a 60-something grandmother and a six-year-old sister. Let me put it this way—even an egg pancake is a luxury."
Liang Meijuan and Chen Zhaojun exchanged glances. Liang Meijuan didn't react much, but Old Chen shook his head slightly.
Chen Hansheng thought, *What's going on with Dad? Does he really think I need to marry someone of equal status?* Remembering that Liang Meijuan had nearly hit him while Chen Zhaojun didn't intervene, he coughed and said, "Mom, the difference between our family and hers is about the same as when Dad married you."
Sure enough, this shifted Liang Meijuan's anger.
She slammed her chopsticks down. "Chen Zhaojun, your family wasn't exactly wealthy back then either! The house we got married in was built with help from my brothers. Why don't you tell the kid that?"
Old Chen, flustered, thought, *I was just quietly eating. How did this turn on me?*
But after 20+ years of marriage, everyone has ammunition for an argument. Liang Meijuan kept going and soon completely forgot about Chen Hansheng's 12 in Advanced Mathematics.
After dinner, Chen Hansheng returned to his room and messaged Xiao Rongyu.
**Chen Hansheng**: I'm home and done eating.
**Xiao Rongyu**: That was quick. Didn't you just say you arrived at the train station? I went to a relative's place for dinner today.
**Chen Hansheng**: Take your time eating. I'm resting tonight. Got you a bracelet; I'll bring it over tomorrow if I get the chance. Is your dad home?
**Xiao Rongyu**: Are you planning to talk to him? There are lots of relatives at my place these days.
**Chen Hansheng**: Don't worry. Just want him to help with getting a driver's license. Might speed things up.
But after typing this, he deleted it and sent a different message instead.
**Chen Hansheng**: What's there to be scared of? Meeting the parents isn't a big deal.
**Xiao Rongyu**: Hmph, the way you're talking, it sounds like you've met other girls' parents before.
**Chen Hansheng**: Haha, you've got jokes.