"I heard Xiao Yang’s girlfriend is a prospective college student, and she’s from Yanbei. When she cos to a small place like ours, we’ll definitely need to give her a proper reception. Otherwise, what do we do if she refuses to co back next ti?"
Xue Yuanxia snorted. "Is she planning on bringing her big-city airs here? Surely we can’t have the entire family catering to her, an outsider. Since she’s with Xiao Yang, it’s like the saying goes, ’When in Ro, do as the Romans do.’ She’ll have to follow our local customs."
Standing nearby, Chen Fang heard her future mother-in-law’s words and subconsciously placed a hand on her still-flat belly.
What does my future mother-in-law an by that? Is she making an indirect jab at ?
Lately, she had been suffering from severe morning sickness. Staying at Yang Xiaozhi’s ho was uncomfortable. She couldn’t get used to the food, so she had suggested returning to her own parents’ ho to rest during her pregnancy.
But Xue Yuanxia had insisted that since Chen Fang was already their daughter-in-law, it was absurd for her to live at her parents’ house instead of with her in-laws. If people saw, they might think the family couldn’t afford to care for their daughter-in-law and grandchild, or even that they were mistreating her. She absolutely forbade Chen Fang from returning to her parents’ house.
Yet, Xue Yuanxia seed to forget that she herself went back to her own mother’s house every day.
Besides, she and Yang Xiaozhi hadn’t even had a wedding. The bride price hadn’t been discussed, let alone a marriage certificate. Technically, she was still her mother’s daughter, not soone else’s daughter-in-law.
But Xue Yuanxia simply wouldn’t listen. And Yang Xiaozhi, tired of the constant argunts between his mother and Chen Fang over the issue, chose to play dumb.
Liu Jiao spoke up. "I heard Xiao Fang has had a rough ti with her pregnancy."
"Auntie, it has been quite rough."
"Your face is so pale. If you’re tired, you should go sit on the sofa and rest. You don’t have to wait here with everyone. Your cousin and his girlfriend will surely understand."
Chen Fang shot her aunt a grateful look. She was just about to move when Xue Yuanxia cut in.
"It’s just a pregnancy. It’s sothing all won go through. Why, back when I was pregnant with Xiao Zhi, I was still working in the fields. I was pulling peanuts right up until an hour before he was born. When the labor pains started, I had his father take ho, and I gave birth not long after. If you ask , pregnant won need to exercise more. It makes for an easier birth. And you absolutely cannot have a C-section; it’s bad for the baby. A natural birth is much better. It’s cheaper, better for the baby, and the recovery is faster."
Hearing this, Chen Fang’s already pale face turned a shade paler.
How could this be happening already? Her mother-in-law was already dictating that she must have a natural birth. Childbirth wasn’t sothing you could decide with a few simple words. Xue Yuanxia was clearly trying to assert her dominance.
Her gaze shifted to her husband, but Yang Xiaozhi didn’t want to argue, not on the big day his cousin was bringing his girlfriend ho. He averted his eyes.
Chen Fang lowered her head, unable to stop the overwhelming disappointnt she felt.
"Quiet down, the car has stopped," Liu Jiao’s voice cut through the air.
All eyes imdiately focused on the BMW. Chen Fang’s gaze followed the others.
She wanted to see what kind of magic this girl possessed, the one who had won out over her cousin. Was it simply because she was from a big city? She refused to believe it. Xue Yang had loved her cousin for six years; she didn’t think he would abandon that love for such a shallow reason.
Xue Yuanxia’s relentless mouth finally paused, her eyes fixed on the passenger seat. She could already see the silhouette of a young girl.
She’d see for herself what was so different about a girl from the big city. It wasn’t as if she could be a goddess descended from heaven.
The driver’s door opened, and a handso Xue Yang stepped out. He was followed by Xue Yuanqing and Zhong Hailan, who got out from the back.
The passenger door, however, remained shut.
Xue Yuanxia snorted again. "We’re already at the door. Why is she still putting on airs?"
Xue Yuanchao glared back at his older sister. "Can’t you just keep quiet for a mont? It’s Yuanqing’s son bringing his girlfriend ho, not yours. There’s no need for you to stand here nitpicking. Everyone saw how much effort Xue Yuanqing and his wife put into preparing for their future daughter-in-law. If you scare her away, just see if they don’t co after you."
Xue Yuanxia was taken aback. She wanted to retort, but thinking of her brother’s temper, she held her tongue.
"I was just... worried that Yuanqing and Hailan won’t be able to handle a daughter-in-law from the big city and will end up being mistreated, that’s all," she muttered defensively.
Xue Yang walked around to the passenger side and opened the door.
Sitting inside, Lin Xi saw the crowd of people standing at the entrance and beca extrely nervous.
She had faced situations countless tis larger than this, but she was still extrely nervous. She was nervous because she cared. Because she cared, she worried she wouldn’t make a good impression on Xue Yang’s family.
"Don’t be nervous," he reassured her. "Just treat it as a normal eting. My family is very open-minded."
Lin Xi clutched her dress, looking up at Xue Yang with a pitifully charming expression. "But I’m still nervous."
Xue Yang extended his hand to her. "Don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand the entire ti. I won’t let you face this alone."
Lin Xi placed her hand in his. In that instant, she felt a wave of strength transfer from his palm to hers, and her fear seed to subside.
Xue Yang led his girl slowly out of the car.
Everyone’s gaze followed his every move.
The mont they saw the person stepping out of the car, they all stared, their eyes wide, holding their breath. It was as if a single heavy sigh might cause the vision before them to disappear.
Today, Lin Xi had specifically worn a slightly conservative, white, button-front dress that hugged her figure, making her look both beautiful and demure. Though it was an ordinary dress, on her, it was elevated to a level it shouldn’t have possessed, as if it were custom-made just for her.
No parent could possibly reject such a pretty and well-behaved girl. No wonder Xue Yuanqing and his wife were taking this so seriously; if she were their daughter-in-law, they might have been even more extravagant. And that BMW, which had seed like a luxury car, was now reduced to scrap tal in her presence. She deserved to arrive in sothing far more opulent.
Although Xue Yang had warned her that his family was large, Lin Xi was still shocked by the sheer size of the welcoming party.
"Hello, everyone. I’m Xue Yang’s girlfriend."
Standing in the middle of the crowd, Grandma Xue’s face broke into a kind smile. "Is this really Xiao Yang’s wife?"
Xue Yang gently squeezed Lin Xi’s palm, leading her over to his grandmother. "Grandma, she’s my girlfriend," he said with a smile. "We aren’t married yet."
"Not married? Then you’d better hurry up and get married! With a girl this pretty, you can’t let soone else snatch her away."
The old lady’s words made everyone break into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly beca more relaxed and friendly.
Lin Xi didn’t feel as nervous as before.
It seed Xue Yang’s family really was as open-minded as he had said.
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