Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Going to the Xi Family

Before, Su Meixi had already deleted Li Shirui’s WeChat, but she remembered her phone number.

At that moment, she felt a bit bewildered.

Although it had been a while since she saw Li Shirui, perhaps because everyone was in Yun City, she always felt like the distance between them wasn’t far, as if they were right beside her.

It was like some married women who, after moving out, could come back home anytime they wished as long as they wanted to.

After so much time had passed, Su Meixi had come to terms with it. Why hold a grudge and refuse to interact? It wouldn’t hurt to treat them as relatives.

She replied to Li Shirui’s message: What’s up?

I got a new batch of mushrooms here, want to come over and try?

I’m at work right now.

Come over after work. Isn’t Gu Wei now working at the same place as Old Xi? I’ll have him come over for dinner after he gets off work. What do you think?

After pondering for a while, Su Meixi responded: Okay.

…

After work, Su Meixi took a taxi to the Xi Family’s home.

She arrived early, and Xi Wanfen was also there.

Seeing her, Xi Wanfen couldn’t hide her delight, grabbing her hand at once.

“Sister Su, why didn’t you come over during the New Year? We went back to our hometown, and all the elders in the clan were waiting to see you.”

Su Meixi felt a bit embarrassed and said, “I’ve been too busy.”

“Sister Su, take a look at this.” Xi Wanfen pulled up a photo of herself with Liang Zhanbai on her phone to show Su Meixi.

Their faces were pressed together, both smiling sweetly.

“Wow, you’re quite impressive, snagging Dr. Liang like that. Aren’t you afraid of becoming public enemy number one at Chinese Hospital? What if those nurses and female doctors who secretly adore Dr. Liang come for you?”

Xi Wanfen replied proudly, “Why should I be afraid of them? Don’t I have the support of my parents and my sister and brother-in-law?”

“Show-off!” Su Meixi poked her in the forehead.

Li Shirui, who was busy cooking in the kitchen, came out and, seeing the affectionate scene between Su Meixi and Xi Wanfen, urged Xi Wanfen, “Xiao Fen, hurry and wash some fruit for Sister Su.”

In Yun City, springtime brought fragrant fruits. Loquats were ripe, cherries were not yet out of season, and strawberries were in their prime. The Xi family’s coffee table was laden with fruits.

Upon hearing Li Shirui’s words, Xi Wanfen washed a big basket of them for Su Meixi to eat.

Su Meixi said with a laugh, “Eating so much, I won’t have room for dinner later.”

Xi Wanfen picked out the biggest cherries for Su Meixi: “Try these, a wealthy person sent them. You can’t get cherries this big and crisp anywhere else.”

After tasting a couple, Su Meixi found them to be delicious.

She took a large, milk-flavored strawberry and Xi Wanfen reminded her, “Sister Su, don’t eat the green part, just the tip; it’s sweeter that way.”

“Can you really do that?” asked Su Meixi.

“At our house, you can do anything you want,” Xi Wanfen said with a mischievous smile.

Amidst the laughter, Xi Huarong and Gu Wei also came in.

At that moment, Su Meixi’s eyes suddenly filled with scenes reminiscent of TV dramas: a family eating dinner together.

The mother busily cooking in the kitchen, the kids chatting in the living room, the men just home from work, changing their shoes, then exchanging a few words of greeting with the family before sitting down to eat together.

This scene, commonplace in an ordinary family, had only ever been witnessed by Su Meixi on a television screen.

“Xiao Xi came over too?” Xi Huarong greeted her.

Su Meixi nodded and then said, “They’re here.”

Xi Wanfen ran over to help Xi Huarong with his briefcase, and Su Meixi noticed that Gu Wei was carrying one too.

It was somewhat comedic, yet somewhat formal; overall, it felt different from before.

She didn’t go to greet Gu Wei; instead, it was Gu Wei who greeted her with a smile, “When did you get here?”

“Been here for a while.”

Li Shirui, hearing the commotion, came out hurriedly. Seeing Xi Huarong didn’t stir much emotion, but she was very enthusiastic about Gu Wei: “Gu Wei’s here? Take a seat for a moment, have some fruit with Xiao Xi, dinner will be ready soon.”

There was a sense of a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, the more she looked, the more she liked.

Afterward, they all sat down together and had a very normal dinner.

During the meal, Li Shirui inquired about Gu Wei’s work and then asked Su Meixi about her recent situation, mentioned Li City, and asked them which hotel they stayed at and which tourist spots they visited.

It was as if the awkwardness that had been there before no longer existed; they were just an ordinary family.

Xi Wanfen probably felt that they were already family, so she didn’t avoid talking in front of her sister and brother-in-law, and said to Li Shirui, “Mom, in a few days I want to invite someone over for dinner.”

Her tone was tinged with shyness; anyone listening would understand her meaning–that she wanted to bring her boyfriend home to meet her parents!

Xi Huarong and Li Shirui exchanged glances.

Xi Wanfen didn’t know that her parents had already checked into Liang Zhanbai’s background.

Liang Zhanbai was from out of town, not to say they looked down on people from out of town. To be strict, Xi Huarong was an outsider himself.

They were just somewhat dissatisfied with Liang Zhanbai’s family background; Liang Zhanbai had a few older sisters and was spoiled by them; they were unsure whether Liang Zhanbai would be caring after marriage.

Xi Huarong said, “We’ve been quite busy these days; let’s talk about this matter later.”

Xi Wanfen couldn’t help feeling a little aggrieved, but she held back.

After the meal, Su Meixi also helped clean up.

Li Shirui clearly treated her as a dear daughter-in-law, “Xiao Xi, do you know about Xiao Fen’s boyfriend?”

Su Meixi said, “I’ve only met him; he looks quite good, and his temperament is not bad either.”

People who have been spoiled since childhood generally have a good temperament; at least they are very confident and know to fight for their own rights without excessively sacrificing themselves.

Li Shirui said, “Your father thinks he has too many sisters; he’s afraid that he won’t know how to take care of others after marriage.”

Su Meixi said, “They are still young, at the age where they only understand enjoying life; give them some more time, and they will understand.”

“Yes, we can’t encourage them but also can’t oppose them. The more we oppose, the more they want to be together. It’s really tough to deal with.”

Perhaps this is what it’s like to be a parent; you have to worry about everything.

Su Meixi said, “Just let them go with the flow; after all, you have already made your stance clear.”

Li Shirui then asked Su Meixi, “You and Gu Wei aren’t young anymore, when do you plan to have kids?”

Su Meixi smiled, “Let nature take its course.”

She had no plans to discuss these specifics with Li Shirui. Being able to come back for a meal together was already a big improvement in their relationship.

…

No sooner had Su Meixi left than, Xi Wanfen sent her a WeChat message asking: [Sister Su, do you know why mom and dad won’t let Zhan Bai come over for dinner?]

Xi Wanfen was shrewd; she knew that since Su Meixi had gone in to help, Li Shirui would surely have brought up the subject.

Su Meixi replied directly: [They’re probably afraid he’s been spoiled too much by his many sisters; that he might turn out to be a ‘sister-controlled’ man in the future, and they’re worried you can’t cope with so many sisters.]