“Yes, you are right. I will correct this,” Song Mian answered humbly.
Yun Xiangxiang rubbed her forehead. She didn’t want her father to keep on being so critical. She couldn’t imagine his face if he knew Song Mian started research because he was already a grandmaster in medicine.
However, if she stopped Yun Zhibin now, he would mistake it as her bias toward her boyfriend. She turned to her mother for help.
“He’s your daughter’s boyfriend, not your student. Can’t even shake the habit of lecturing even on vacation, can you?” Su Xiuling stepped up as mediator.
Yun Zhibin was even more upset. But he still wanted to look good before his wife and daughter, “Where are you working now?”
He should have a place he belongs to even if he’s doing research.
“My family runs a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic. I work there as well,” Song Mian answered honestly.
“What are you researching about?” Yun Zhibin’s curiosity was piqued. He was interested in the spread of Chinese medicine.
“I’m researching leukemia right now,” Song Mian looked at Yun Xiangxiang. “It’s not about Chinese medicine. We are researching the cases that have a relatively higher rate of death and outbreak among patients.”
“You’re saying that you guys are treating it objectively,” Yun Zhibin had a change in attitude.
“That is correct.”
“Then what do you think about Western medicine?” Yun Zhibin continued.
“One of our old maxims can explain both types of medicines: everyone has their shortcomings and merits…”
“Your family is spreading TCM, but they acknowledge Western medicine too. Not bad…”
The two of them started chatting. Yun Zhibin was a teacher and he loved to read. He was no professional, but he was knowledgeable. Song Mian had unfathomable levels of knowledge himself.
As they chatted, Yun Zhibin raised his voice in agreement with some of Song Mian’s thoughts that were in line with his.
“There’s more than meets the eye about your boyfriend,” Su Xiuling was a woman with a keen eye.
“He’s passable,” Yun Xiangxiang smiled, but stayed humble.
Looking at her daughter’s broad smile, Su Xiuling pinched Yun Xiangxiang’s face. “Knowledgeable, gentlemanly, great taste, polite, and handsome too.”
Yun Xiangxiang was stunned, “Handsome?”
She thought her parents never asked for great looks from their children’s partners.
“Why look for a normal one if you can land a handsome one,” Su Xiuling smiled at her daughter. Having him at home is soothing to the eyes too.
Naturally she didn’t care about looks. Normal was fine with her, as long as they were not wretched, and her children liked them.
But of course having great looks was a bonus. Everyone loved beauty, right?
“Mom, aren’t you worried that he’s too attractive?” Yun Xiangxiang was shocked.
“If an ugly guy wants to cheat, forget about him being a good guy. On the other hand, no matter how handsome he is, he won’t cheat as long as he keeps himself in line,” Su Xiuling thought of men this way.
As Yun Xiangxiang nodded, she stretched her neck to look at her father. “Mom, why did you marry dad back then?”
“In our time, being a teacher was secure and honorable work. Your dad looked fine back then, and he listened to me too,” Su Xiuling answered simply.
“Wasn’t it for love?” Yun Xiangxiang found it different from what she thought.
“Most couples married each other when they were of age back then. Your father and I liked each other coincidentally. We didn’t have as much time to build our feelings like you kids do.” Su Xiuling couldn’t say there was no love between her and Yun Zhibin before marriage.
But of course they had affection for each other, and they thought their lover more or less met their expectations. Naturally they became a couple.
As for their married life, they had to work together. Love hits hard, then it slowly fades. A marriage and family needed patience to work
A marriage that worked would age like fine wine, even if it started ordinarily.
A marriage that failed would flow away like the sand, even if it had an explosive start.
Now that her daughter had started dating, Su Xiuling could share these with her. How far away in the future Yun Xiangxiang’s family lay didn’t stop her from talking.
“It’s the family’s blessing to have a mother who knows how to work it.” When she thought of herself, Yun Lin, Yun Ting, how warm and happy this family was, she knew Su Xiuling was behind it.
She didn’t have a job or provided for them materially, but the spiritual provisions she gave to them and Yun Zhibin were priceless.
“Everyone’s different. Their thoughts are different too. You don’t have to follow my path. You have your own colorful life too,” Su Xiuling smiled at her daughter before taking the dish to the dining hall.
After the table was set up, Su Xiuling called Yun Zhibin and Song Mian. Yun Zhibin had something in mind. He asked Su Xiuling to get some alcohol. He and Song Mian downed a lot of liquor. Since Yun Zhibin didn’t stop, Song Mian had to drink with him.
Yun Xiangxiang knew Yun Zhibin was upset. She sat there, quiet as a mouse as she looked at both of them drinking.
“Dad can drink,” Yun Xiangxiang didn’t know why she couldn’t take any alcohol.
“But not me,” Su Xiuling answered Yun Xiangxiang’s question.
When Yun Xiangxiang thought about it, Su Xiuling never drank in public events. She avoided alcohol like the plague in public. “Mom, you aren’t like me when you’re drunk, right…?”
“Can’t even be quiet when you’re eating, can you?” Su Xiuling put a slice of beef in Yun Xiangxiang’s mouth.
Yun Xiangxiang ate it as she chuckled. So I took after mom. She was curious whether Yun Zhibin ever saw a drunk Su Xiuling.
Yun Zhibin and Song Mian finished a bottle of liquor. Both lay drunkenly on the table. Poor Wang Yong had to bring them to their rooms one by one.
Naturally, Yun Zhibin was sent to Yun Lin’s room. They couldn’t leave Song Mian in the living room nor send him to Ai Li and Song Qian’s room. Just his luck, he was sent to Yun Xiangxiang’s room.
While Su Xiuling brought some warm water to wipe Yun Zhibin’s face, Yun Xiangxiang went to see Song Mian.
Song Mian who looked like he was quietly sleeping pulled Yun Xiangxiang into his embrace the moment she leaned down. After turning around, he had Yun Xiangxiang tightly in his embrace.
“You were not drunk!” Yun Xiangxiang glared at the man who smelled like liquor.
“Father-in-law would be embarrassed if I didn’t pretend to be,” Song Mian chuckled. His breath was still filled with the smell of liquor.
“Let me go. You’ll get it if my mother sees this,” Yun Xiangxiang whispered a warning.
“Just let me hug you for a bit. Don’t worry. I’ll hear it if someone comes in,” Song Mian hugged Yun Xiangxiang tightly.