Chapter 389: Chapter 390: Talking About Marriage for Zhang Zhiguo

Zhang Zhiguo looked at his own mother, a flash of struggle appearing in his eyes.

Zhang Yuhua saw that her son had been swayed by her words and continued, “If it wasn’t for his mother meddling back then, your father and I wouldn’t have been separated for so many years. This is what Zhou Yuelian owes me.

It’s what she owes you too. Not to mention the house, everything in our family was earned by your father and me. I am your biological mother, not his, so the family property should definitely go to you.

Look at the car he drives; does he lack money? So, Zhiguo, there are some things you should fight for.”

Amidst hesitance, Zhang Zhiguo felt there seemed to be truth in his mother’s words. He had already given up Xu Ying, was he supposed to give up the family’s assets too?

Thinking about that punch, Zhang Zhiguo’s suppressed anger instantly boiled over, and he nodded, “Mom, I understand.”

Zhang Yuhua saw that her son had finally come around and was overjoyed.

Thinking about what the Qu Family had said, she glanced at her son, “You’re not getting any younger. Your older brother is about to have a child.

You should hurry up and get married too. Do you still remember Aunt Qu’s daughter, Huimin? She’s now a college student, pretty too, and these days a college graduate is basically an official. How about you meet her sometime?”

Upon hearing about Qu Huimin, Zhang Zhiguo’s face sullen, “Isn’t she Zhang Wu’s fiancee? It won’t work between us.”

“What fiancee? The engagement was broken off after that incident at Zhang Wu’s family.” After saying this, Zhang Yuhua felt something was amiss.

Zhang Zhiguo couldn’t help but say angrily, “They broke off the engagement as soon as trouble arose, showing how opportunistic Aunt Qu’s family is. I don’t want to marry her daughter at all. Besides, Qu Huimin is arrogant and domineering; I don’t like her one bit.”

“What kind of girl do you like then?” Zhang Yuhua hesitated, then asked.

Zhang Zhiguo thought for a moment, the image of Xu Ying forming in his mind: “I like someone capable, with a clever mouth, protective, has a business mind, looks pretty, gentle and understanding, and preferably filial.”

Zhang Yuhua looked at her son with a smile, “Don’t tell me you’ve got someone in mind?”

Zhang Zhiguo’s face turned inadvertently red, and he quickly shook his head, “Mom, how could that be? I just want someone like that.”

Zhang Yuhua stared intently at her son, seeing that his demeanor wasn’t feigned, and finally let it go, sighing, “You’re dreaming too beautifully. Good-looking, understanding, and a business mind, where on earth can you find such a perfect person?”

Zhang Zhiguo, full of excitement, almost blurted out that there was indeed such a person, but remembering that she was already married to someone else, he somberly closed his mouth.

“I just want to find someone I like. I don’t like Huimin at all; her nature is too selfish. If she were to marry into our family, she’d certainly cause upheaval.”

While chopping vegetables, Zhang Yuhua paused, thinking about Huimin’s nature–it really was spoiled at home and unreasonable outside.

Her nature wasn’t one to back down either. If Huimin really entered their household, the two of them might end up fighting.

It seemed a discussion with Huimin’s mother was needed soon. She could agree to other things, but she couldn’t carelessly agree to something affecting her son’s future happiness.

Inside the house, Zhang Yanlin poured tea for Huo Chen and Xu Ying, his face filled with guilt as he began asking about Huo Chen’s childhood days.

Hearing about the hardships his son had suffered, Zhang Yanlin’s eyes teared up, “Son, you’ve really suffered all these years.

It’s all dad’s fault. If only I had taken a look at you back then, none of this would have happened.”

Huo Chen, looking at him, asked, “Who was the midwife back then? Where is she now?”

Zhang Yanlin, startled by his son’s question about the midwife, responded evasively, “I found the midwife back then. When your mom suddenly went into labor, there just happened to be a midwife passing nearby. I didn’t think too much and just brought her back.

Ah, it’s been so many years, that midwife is probably long gone by now.”

Huo Chen responded nonchalantly and stopped talking.

Zhang Yanlin’s eyelids twitched incessantly. The young man was starting to suspect that Yue Lian’s death wasn’t an accident.

To dispel Huo Chen’s doubts, he continued, “The midwife back then was quite old, with white hair, probably suffering from failing eyesight since you were in your mother’s womb for such a long duration.

She might have mistakenly thought you were gone. Alas, if it weren’t for the incidents involving your maternal grandparents that implicated our family, I wouldn’t have been strained to the point where I couldn’t even afford a doctor.

Doctors would hear it was the Zhou family giving birth, fearing entanglement and simply refused to attend to us.”

Zhang Yanlin softly started sobbing as he spoke.

Zhang Yuhua entered the room holding food, and seeing her husband crying, she curled her lips and her eyes carried a hint of irony.

If she hadn’t shared a bed with this man for so many years, knowing well his character, she might have actually been fooled by his acting.

Yet, to align with her husband, she still empathetically looked at her son and said, “Ah, I’ve been married to your father for so many years and never saw him cry.

Now that your brother has come back, he must feel relieved. Let him cry, let it all out and ease his heart.”

Zhang Zhiguo looked at his father crying, covering his face at the table. He felt uncomfortable. Initially, he was the only child in the family, and now suddenly having a brother was enough.

And his father crying so sorrowfully for his elder brother made it seem like the elder was more important in his father’s heart.

No wonder his mom was so anxious.

Looking at Huo Chen, Zhang Zhiguo’s hostility grew even stronger.

“Dad, it’s dinner time,” he called out coldly.

Zhang Yanlin got up, wiped his tears, and turned to Huo Chen more kindly, “Son, Yingying, come eat, it’s late and you must be hungry. We didn’t know when you would come back.

I was afraid the food might get cold if we cooked early, oh, but your return really makes me happy.”

Zhang Zhiguo felt deeply saddened.

Why should he receive Xu Ying’s love and now even his father was showing favoritism?

“Thank you, Dad.” Huo Chen’s last word sounded a bit stiff, although Zhang Yanlin was showing great affection.

Yet somehow, he always felt a barrier in his heart, blocking him.

Unlike the genuine affection he felt when meeting his maternal grandparents, he couldn’t feel the same with Zhang Yanlin.

As Zhang Yuhua served the last dish and was just taking off her apron, the doorbell rang: “Yuhua, are you home?”

Sun Yan appeared at the door with a beaming smile, her daughter radiating joy on their visit.

Qu Huimin looked displeased, her face full of discontent.

“Well, Yanzi, what brings you here? Come on inside. Have you had your dinner? I’ve just finished cooking and we were about to eat. If you haven’t eaten, join us,” Zhang Yuhua said, a flicker of surprise passing her eyes before she quickly smiled.

Upon hearing this, Sun Yan curiously said, “Why are you having dinner so late? Huimin and I have already eaten.

I heard Zhiguo was back and thought it’d be good for the kids to meet after so many years apart, maybe reignite their bond.”

Sun Yan’s words were quite straightforward, causing Qu Huimin to retort in annoyance, “Mom, what are you saying?”