novelraw Chapter 900: 608: Understanding Does Not Mean Closeness
Chapter 900: 608: Understanding Does Not Mean Closeness
Chapter 900: Chapter 608: Understanding Does Not Mean Closeness
The first watch has arrived.
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“Chuxia, does this way of doing things make you feel uncomfortable?” Grandpa Lin asked Chuxia with a smile.
“Yes.” Without hesitation, Chuxia added, “However, I understand why Grandpa and Grandma are doing this.”
“Do you really understand?”
“Yes.”
“Silly child, you actually don’t understand.” The old man sighed and turned his gaze to Zhou Mikang, “Xiao Zhou, do you understand?”
“I understand, but I can’t accept it.” Zhou Mikang looked at him calmly, “All the reasons are from your perspective, you haven’t considered the feelings of my father-in-law and mother-in-law.
As a prominent family in the Capital City, it’s not unreasonable for you to do so, but my father-in-law and mother-in-law weren’t raised in such a family, so it’s hard for them to truly understand these actions.
There’s nothing wrong with maximizing benefits, but when you think about it, it’s a bit disheartening. This time your attitude is clearly different from the last time.
No matter the reason, you wavered, that’s the fact I see. I don’t want to say more, it’s not appropriate to say too much from my standpoint.”
“Ah!” With a heavy sigh, Grandpa Lin smiled bitterly, “I understand, if it were me, I couldn’t accept it either. However, it’s not easy for Baohe to acknowledge his roots and ancestors. It’s necessary for him to stay a few more days, interact with relatives, stay calmly. I owe you an explanation, and I will provide one, but not now.”
“Lin Lao, it’s actually unnecessary to make it this way, whatever the difficulties, feel free to speak out. If you can all use this method during the New Year to test my father-in-law’s family, what can’t be said?
They are reasonable people. As long as reason is on their side, they will definitely understand. Furthermore, by not saying anything, you make them feel more uncomfortable. Speaking out is better for everyone.
Of course, I’m not forcing you to say it, just discussing the matter. Sometimes you think it’s for their good, but it might not be.
No matter what happens with the Lin Family of the Capital, my father-in-law and mother-in-law won’t be too implicated, nor will they gain much benefit. So, why not let them know?
If it’s inconvenient because of my presence, I can step aside. Rest assured, I won’t have any undue opinion of the Lin Family of the Capital because of this issue.”
Chuxia looked gratefully at Zhou Mikang. She knew too well how sparing he was with words, and now, saying such a long discourse is just for the sake of making her parents feel a bit more comfortable.
It is almost foreseeable that after this, Lin Baohe probably won’t come to the Lin Family of the Capital again.
However, if Grandpa’s family is doing this for Lin Baohe’s good, once the truth comes out, Lin Baohe will surely regret it.
Grandpa Lin hesitated for a moment, looked at Lin Zhiling, and seeing her face also filled with hesitation, he sighed: “Let’s leave it at that for now, alright?”
He was speaking to Lin Baohe.
“Uncle, you decide.” Lin Baohe said.
Relationships between people are like this, once there’s a rift, the interaction becomes less comfortable. The group that had become familiar last time, this time there was obviously more distance.
At lunch, unlike the previous joyful laughter, everyone forced a smile.
Chuxia understood that the Lin Family of the Capital must have encountered something, or else everyone’s attitude wouldn’t be like this, or maybe her previous words were hurtful?
But she couldn’t explain until the matter was clarified.
So, she simply remained silent.
But such interaction was tasteless, making Chuxia want to go home. These matters were inconvenient for Zhou Mikang to express opinions, so she went to discuss with Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan.
The two returned to their room for a nap, but couldn’t sleep, sitting there daydreaming when they heard a knock at the door. Zhao Yulan quickly went to open it, and seeing it was her daughter, she unconsciously smiled, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“Mom, I want to go home.” Chuxia then looked at Lin Baohe, “Dad, let’s go back, okay?”
“Chuxia, can you hold on for two more days?”
Chuxia knew her dad would answer like this, “Dad, why hold on?”
“The ceremony for acknowledging our roots and ancestors was so grand, everyone knows your grandpa found the Lin family’s long-lost bloodline, if we leave, they’ll surely wonder. Your grandpa has his difficulties, even if we can’t help him, we shouldn’t add to his troubles. Listen to your dad, we’ll leave in two days for sure. If by then there’s still no explanation, Dad promises you that we won’t come to the Lin Family of the Capital again.”
“Alright.” Chuxia was actually quite upset at first, which made her so eager to persuade her father to go back. The thought had already faded a bit when she came over, and Lin Baohe’s words made her realize she had been too impulsive.
If it really was because Grandpa Lin was in trouble, given her father’s character, he would be feeling guilty his whole life and unable to forgive himself. Forget it, it’s only two days, just hang in there a bit longer.
“Dad, Mom, since you’ve decided, don’t overthink it. Take a good nap now. You’ll need to meet a bunch of relatives this afternoon, and you probably don’t remember many of them, right?”
Zhao Yulan gave a wry smile, “It’s easy for them to recognize us, but for us to recognize so many of them at once, how is that easy? If we get the names wrong, they’ll laugh at us, sigh!”
“Don’t worry, they’re not dumb. They wouldn’t be unreasonable like that. If they don’t believe it, let them stay at our village for two days and see if they can remember everyone the next time they visit.”
“Pfft!” Chuxia burst out laughing. Her father’s calm demeanor had a distinctly grand air to it.
Zhao Yulan gave her husband a helpless look, “If only everyone thought like you, it would be nice. Forget it; I vaguely remember some, and besides, Eldest Uncle should remind us.”
“I believe you. Eldest Uncle is truly close with us. The Eldest Uncle’s Wife might have her own thoughts, but let’s just drop it. No family is perfect. Don’t overthink it. Summer, go to sleep, will you? Call us when you wake up.”
“Mm, you both sleep too.” Chuxia waved her hand and turned to leave the room, just in time to see Lin Wenjie walking around the corner. When they were face to face, her cheeks blushed involuntarily, “Chuxia, haven’t slept yet?”
Chuxia smiled at him, “Not yet, why haven’t you slept?”
“Not sleepy.” The boy’s face turned even redder.
Chuxia nodded and then walked past him towards her room.
“Chu… Chuxia.” Lin Wenjie hesitated and called out.
“What’s up?” Chuxia turned back to look at him, “Got something to say? Third Brother, just say it directly.”
“Um… it’s nothing much.” After hesitating, Lin Wenjie added, “Just a little something. Can we go to the courtyard for a chat?”
“Sure.” Chuxia readily agreed and followed him downstairs to the greenhouse in the courtyard.
This was a glass room built on the left side of the courtyard, with some beautiful flowers planted inside. Despite it being winter, the flowers were blooming in vibrant colors.
The two had no interest in appreciating the scenery and went straight to a small table in the right corner of the greenhouse to sit down. A servant immediately brought over tea, and Lin Wenjie waved her off, “Auntie Li, you go rest; we can handle it ourselves.”
“Yes, Third Young Master.” The woman, referred to as Auntie Li, took two steps back and then turned to leave the greenhouse.
“Usually, we brothers like to drink tea and chat here, but normally, it’s just Wenxiu and me listening to Big Brother and Second Brother bicker. That’s how they’ve communicated since childhood.”
“Are you trying to explain it to me again?” Chuxia looked at him, “I believe you, really. Third Brother doesn’t need to explain it anymore.”
“But you and Second Uncle and Second Aunt seem unhappy, and that Regimental Commander Zhou of yours probably isn’t too happy either.” Lin Wenjie appeared to be somewhat wronged as he said this.
“If you were in his shoes, would you be happy?”
“I…” After a moment, Lin Wenjie shook his head, “I don’t know, but I guess I wouldn’t be very happy either.”
“There you go. It’s the New Year, and we just arrived and encountered this situation. It wouldn’t be as big of a deal usually, but we’re all Chinese, and we should know that causing a scene on the third day of the New Year isn’t liked by anyone, right? Especially for a family like ours, it’s even easier to overthink. Don’t you think?”
“Yes.”
“My dad and mom grew up in the countryside and never received any kind of large family education. Moreover, my dad never thought he had such an identity, nor did he ever think he’d have to face such a life one day.
Everything came so suddenly. He finally accepted it and tried to blend into this family. However, when he joyfully arrived here, what greeted him was completely different from what he imagined.
What do you think he’s thinking right now? No matter how perfect the explanation, he can’t possibly be genuinely happy. If his previous environment was better than here, maybe he wouldn’t overthink it, but it’s the exact opposite, two extremes. So, do you think he won’t overthink it?
If you can’t figure it out, try putting yourself in his shoes. Suppose you found a girlfriend whose family is better off than ours, and when you went to her house, you weren’t valued by her family, what would you think?”
“My girlfriend’s family is not as well-off as ours, and when I went there, everyone was especially enthusiastic.” Lin Wenjie explained with a flushed face.
Chuxia looked helpless, “I was asking you to imagine, not saying your girlfriend’s family is actually not as well-off as ours. Oh, you seem quite clever, so why is communicating with you so difficult?”
“Are you mad?” Lin Wenjie looked at her cautiously, “I… I’m a bit nervous talking to you, so I might understand slowly. Don’t be mad, okay?”
“What’s there to be nervous about? I don’t bite.” Chuxia felt a sense of powerlessness; communicating on different wavelengths was truly exhausting, wasn’t it? (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)