1987 My Era

Chapter 679, Heart-to-Heart Dissection on the Balcony

After passing through Hui County and Liuduzhai, by the time we arrived at Qianzhen, it was already late and the sun had set.

Li Heng is driving now.

Looking out the car window at the street scene, Yu Shuheng suddenly asked, "When you came back, did you go to the Xiao family's house?"

I wonder what she's up to?

Li Heng glanced at her, "I'm going on the 29th."

Yu Shuheng asked, "Is Xiao Han's father still in this town?"

Li Heng hummed in agreement.

Yu Shuheng asked, "How old are you?"

Li Heng did the math and replied, "Born in 45, I'm 44 this year."

Upon hearing this, Yu Shuheng didn't ask any further questions, knowing that Xiao Han's father had little room for advancement.

As Yu Shuheng turned onto the country road leading back to Shangwan Village from the town, she remembered something and asked, "How is Zhang Zhiyong's family doing?"

Li Heng asked, "You want to know the whereabouts of the wonton shop owner, right?"

Yu Shuheng said, "Yes, I have a vivid memory of her wontons; they were quite delicious."

Li Heng said, "His mentally challenged parents divorced. His father is now with the owner of a wonton shop, and they've opened a new shop on Hongqi Road in Shaoyang City."

Yu Shuheng asked, "Didn't the boss's husband cause trouble?"

Li Heng said, "We did make a fuss, but it was no use. In the end, we were scared into not daring to make a fuss. After all, the dim-witted father has connections in both the legal and illegal worlds, and the boss's wife has husbands, parents, and children, so she has concerns."

Yu Shuheng frowned, then changed the subject to the new principal of Shaoyang No. 1 Middle School: "I heard Runwen is being targeted?"

Li Heng countered, "How did you know?"

Yu Shuheng said, "I asked Zeng Yun to ask Dr. Shen."

Li Hengming understood.

Yu Shuheng turned her head to look at him and asked, "Do you want me to help your concubine get revenge?"

Li Heng: "..."

Faced with a situation where there were pitfalls all around him, he kept his eyes on the road ahead, drove carefully, and avoided stepping on any landmines.

After waiting a while, seeing that he didn't dare to answer, Yu Shuheng smiled elegantly and said, "Runwen, I can bully you, you can bully him, but no one else can bully him."

Li Heng nodded after listening, but still didn't speak.

In matters like this, someone without power doesn't need to offer much advice. Because with Professor Yu's competence, he naturally knows what to do and to what extent.

As dusk settled, Yu Shuheng drove slowly along the rural mountain road. With the intersection drawing ever closer, she felt inexplicably nervous.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "How should I address your parents now that I'm back?"

Li Heng laughed and said, "This is the first time I've seen you scared."

Yu Shuheng glanced at him with sparkling eyes, "How about calling them Mom and Dad?"

This was a test for her.

She was testing his attitude and assessing her current position in the Li family.

Li Heng didn't hesitate at all: "Okay, it's bound to happen sooner or later anyway."

Yu Shuheng's smile almost overflowed from her eyes, "Really shout?"

Li Heng nodded. "They're probably hoping you'll change your tune. If you don't believe me, just wait and see; they'll probably have the red envelopes ready in advance."

Upon hearing this, Yu Shuheng's eyes lit up, as if she were weighing something in her mind.

During the conversation, the car finally arrived at the intersection.

At that moment, Tian Run'e and Li Jianguo were chatting with a group of neighbors at the convenience store across the street when they saw the Mercedes-Benz. The couple immediately rushed home, opened the gate of their courtyard, and warmly greeted the passenger in the front seat.

As soon as the car pulled into the courtyard and came to a stop, Yu Shuheng got out and called out to the elderly couple who were walking over, "Dad, Mom, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Li Jianguo and Tian Run'e exchanged a glance and became even more enthusiastic. Tian Run'e took Yu Shuheng's hand and said, "We didn't have to wait long. We just finished cooking. You must be hungry after traveling all day, Shuheng. Go wash your hands and let's eat."

Yu Shuheng smiled and agreed.

The four exchanged a few pleasantries and then moved from the courtyard into the house.

As soon as they entered the door, the elderly couple skillfully took out a red envelope from their pockets and handed it to Yu Shuheng: "Shuheng, this is a custom in our hometown. New brides are required to receive red envelopes when they change their address. It represents good luck and we wish you two a long and lasting relationship, and that you grow old together."

To everyone's surprise, they actually prepared red envelopes. Yu Shuheng glanced at Li Heng meaningfully, then happily accepted the envelopes: "Thank you, Mom and Dad."

While receiving the red envelope, Yu Shuheng suddenly had a thought: Why didn't the newlyweds' blessing include "May you have a son soon"?

Normally, couples would grow old together and have children soon.

Or is it that the couple also couldn't control Li Heng's decisions? They were unable to interfere with his choices?
With these thoughts in mind, Yu Shuheng became even more determined to hold onto Li Heng.

After a quick wash, the four of them sat down at the dining table.

The table was set with six dishes and a soup, including wild game, seasonal vegetables, blood duck, and fresh mushrooms.

Li Heng asked, "Mom, were these mushrooms picked today?"

Tian Run'e said kindly, "I remember Shuheng loves to eat wild mushrooms, so your father and I went to the mountains today and spent half an hour picking a basketful."

Li Heng asked, "One basket every half hour, that many?"

Li Jianguo interjected, "This year is a bumper year. Mushrooms are everywhere in the mountains. Many people go up the mountain to pick them, but they can't possibly pick them all. If you and Shuheng are interested, you can go into the mountains to take a look. You don't have to go far; there are some right behind our mountain."

Tian Run'e placed a piece of mushroom on Yu Shuheng's plate and greeted her warmly, "Shuheng, this was cooked by Jianguo himself. Why don't you try it and see how it tastes?"

The family of three looked expectantly at Yu Shuheng.

Yu Shuheng, with her refined scholarly air, was not shy at all. She boldly picked up a small round-capped mushroom, put it in her mouth, and savored it carefully before saying, "It's very fresh. It tastes just like the first time I ate it. My dad's cooking is excellent. It's delicious."

Li Jianguo was all smiles, very pleased to be praised.

Tian Run'e said, "Eat as much as you like. Your father and I were just saying today that Shuheng has eaten all kinds of delicacies. We are just a small family and don't have anything good to offer you. We can only use local specialties from our hometown to show our appreciation. Please don't be offended."

Yu Shuheng was very sensible. She took a new pair of chopsticks and personally served food to the elderly couple, saying, "Mom and Dad, you've worked hard. Please eat while it's hot."

"Yes." The elderly couple were flattered and responded in unison.

Whether it's Chen Zijin, Xiao Han, or Huang Zhaoyi, at the same table in their hometown, only Yu Shuheng has taken the initiative to serve food to the elderly couple.

What is Yu Shuheng's identity? What is the status of the Yu family? Yu Shuheng's actions clearly indicate her willingness to genuinely become the Li family's daughter-in-law.

Tian Run'e and Li Jianguo exchanged another glance, then lowered their heads and began to eat.

While eating, Li Heng asked her, "Are you going mushroom picking in the mountains tomorrow?"

Yu Shuheng readily agreed: "Okay."

Picking mushrooms was only one aspect for her; her main desire was to be with Li Heng, making the experience particularly meaningful. She came last year, and she came again this year. Last year, he embraced her in the mountains, and their relationship progressed rapidly from then on. This year, she had similar expectations.

After a lively meal, a somewhat tired Yu Shuheng went to take a shower. When she came out, more than 20 minutes had passed. She carried the freshly washed clothes to the second-floor balcony to hang them out to dry.

Tian Run'e quietly crept over to her and asked, "Shuheng, I have a question for you."

Yu Shuheng stopped what she was doing to show respect: "Please go ahead."

Tian Run'e glanced at the father and son chatting and laughing with their neighbors on the street outside, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "Have you and Manzai taken the last step?"

These were words that were originally difficult to say, but Tian Run'e noticed that she had changed her tune, so she made a point of asking her about them.

Yu Shuheng wondered what her future mother-in-law's purpose was, hesitated for a long time, and then shook her head.

Tian Run'e frowned, looking particularly surprised. "Not yet?"

To be honest, this topic has long since gone beyond the scope of normal mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conversations.

But Yu Shuheng discerned something from her expression, and immediately felt enlightened. Instead of being disgusted, she shook her head again.

Tian Run'e pressed further, "Is it because he doesn't want to touch you? Or..."

Yu Shuheng thought about Xiao Xu and said, "He probably wants to wait until graduation."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at each other. Although they didn't say everything explicitly, the message they needed to convey was clearly communicated.

Tian Run'e tried asking, "Do you know the reason?"

Yu Shuheng didn't pretend to be confused: "I can guess some of it."

Tian Run'e clasped her hands together unconsciously, and after a while said, "Shuheng, do you know about all his female confidantes outside?"

Yu Shuheng nodded thoughtfully.

Tian Run'e asked, "Where is Consort Huang?"

Yu Shuheng said she knew.

Tian Run'e then asked, "I heard that you have a good relationship with Wang Runwen, a teacher at Shaoyang No. 1 Middle School. What is her relationship with Li Heng?"

Yu Shuheng said, "Runwen resigned today."

Tian Run'e was taken aback: "Resigned from your teaching position? You're no longer a teacher?"

Yu Shuheng nodded.

Why would the other party resign from their teaching position? Tian Run'e wasn't stupid. She was so angry she almost stomped her foot. It took her a full two minutes to process this shocking news. She asked again, "Shuheng, I want to know, since you knew all this, why didn't you stop them?"

Yu Shuheng remained silent for a long while before finally saying, "Mom, how should I stop her?"

Now it was Tian Run'e's turn to fall silent.

Yes, Manzai was wary of the Yu family. Even someone as fond of women as him could refrain from touching such a well-educated and reasonable teacher as Teacher Yu, which is enough to prove a lot.

Without a physical relationship and without a clear definition of their relationship, Shuheng might find it difficult to stop them. Otherwise, it could easily damage their feelings.

Tian Run'e asked, "Do you know Song Yu?"

Yu Shuheng replied, "I know."

Tian Run'e thought for a moment and asked, "You haven't put any pressure on him, is it because of Song Yu?"

Yu Shuheng was impressed by her future mother-in-law's ability to ask such a question, and honestly replied, "That's largely the reason."

Tian Run'ewei started by counting on her fingers; there were seven.

Looking at the seven bent fingers, Yu Shuheng understood the meaning behind them.

Tian Run'e asked, "Is there anything else?"

Yu Shuheng said, "Zhou Shihe."

Upon hearing the name "Zhou Shihe," which terrified her the most, Tian Run'e's heart exploded. Although she tried her best to suppress it, her tone couldn't help but rise a few degrees: "Did he really offend Miss Zhou?"

Yu Shuheng said, "Mm."

Tian Run'e asked worriedly, "Do the Zhou family know about this?"

Yu Shuheng played a trick for the first time: "They may not know yet."

She surmised that Zhou's mother most likely knew. After all, on her birthday during the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhou Shihe had made her intentions very clear; no one present was stupid enough to understand what she meant.

Hearing that the Zhou family might not know the truth, Tian Run'e clapped her hands again and said, "Shuheng, now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore. I hope you can help me keep his heart, otherwise, if this continues, he will become lawless. The reason I'm telling you this is because I can't rely on anyone else for the time being, and I haven't even met Song Yu, so I can only rely on you."

Yu Shuheng remained silent, watching her quietly.

Tian Run'e took a step closer: "We are very excited that you can call me and Jianguo's parents today. What I mean is, you should take the initiative and endure some grievances. I can tell that Manzai can't refuse your request. If you get pregnant, give birth to the baby, and Mom will take care of the child for you."

Hearing that even Wang Runwen had resigned, Tian Run'e was truly anxious. With the alluring Mai Sui and the sexy Wang Runwen, either of these two women could easily kill Manzai. If he didn't restrain himself, he would surely end up like Li Ran and her daughter.

Yu Shuheng felt very appreciated after hearing her future mother-in-law's heartfelt words. She felt that her trip to Shangwan Village was well worth it.

But when she thought of her gentleman's agreement with Song Yu, Yu Shuheng hesitated slightly.

Besides, she could tell that the old couple couldn't control Li Heng. In that case, Li Heng was her only core, and she couldn't go against his wishes, otherwise it would be a loss.

However, she couldn't directly reject her future mother-in-law.

Under Tian Run'e's earnest gaze, Yu Shuheng said, "Mom, I'll try my best."

“Hey, I’m waiting for your good news,” Tian Run’e said.

She had originally hoped that Zijing would give birth to the first child for the Li family, but given the current situation, how could she delay any longer?
If this drags on for another two years, all those pretty girls from Fudan University might end up as his daughters-in-law.

Of course, Tian Run'e also had a plan: to get Yu Shuheng pregnant as soon as possible while the Zhou family was still unaware, thus settling Manzai's marriage and effectively blocking Zhou Shihe's path forward.

She couldn't believe that the powerful Zhou family would allow their daughter to be someone else's lover.

Similarly, Tian Run'e felt that the Li family was no match for the Yu family. Now that Yu Shuheng genuinely wanted to marry into the Li family, she simply went along with it and followed the trend of Yu Shuheng calling her parents "Mom and Dad" to try to restrain Manzai's wild heart as soon as possible.

She only has one son. Just thinking about Mai Sui and Wang Runwen's ruthless and heartless nature makes her tremble. She is terrified that her son will die before he turns 30.

What is the greatest tragedy in life?
It is naturally a case of the elderly burying their children.

Tian Run'e did not want to see such a tragedy happen.

On the balcony, Yu Shuheng made an unexpected discovery. As a result, her relationship with her future mother-in-law took a significant step forward without her even realizing it.

That night, as they were going to bed, Tian Run'e told her husband everything that had happened, and before she finished, she asked, "What do you think?"

Li Jianguo nodded, then shook his head.

Tian Run'e asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Jianguo said, "Shuheng's magnanimity and tolerance are beyond your imagination, but your son's stubbornness is also beyond your imagination. I think Shuheng may not be able to control him."

Tian Run'e retorted, "If she can't even do this, how can she be a first wife in the future?"

Li Jianguo was speechless.

P.S.: I got home at 7 pm, that's all for now, time for bed.

(End of this chapter)