Capítulo 781: Chapter 524: The Meeting
There’s a way!
Zhou Hanliang felt a secret joy in his heart. Although Lan Ailian still showed him a cold face, he could tell from her tone that she was not as firmly opposed to his relationship with Yun Doudou as she was initially.
Yun Doudou obviously heard it too, and she changed her previous stubbornness, sitting beside Lan Ailian and holding her hand: “Mom, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault for making you angry.”
This confession didn’t help, and Lan Ailian’s tears burst out as she flung her daughter’s hand away: “How can you have the nerve to say that? Do you know how much your sister has missed you during this time? Every day at the end of work, she stands at the door looking out for you, but what did you do? For a man, you can heartlessly abandon your parents and sister. I have no daughter like you!”
Yun Guoguo sniffed, pouting, “Mom was crying too, crying quietly. I saw it, and she was holding Doudou’s photo.”
Lan Ailian wiped her tears and glared at her eldest daughter, “When did Mom hold Doudou’s photo crying? Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Mom said good kids shouldn’t lie. I clearly saw it. Why won’t you admit it, Mom?” Yun Guoguo said while shaking Yun Doudou’s arm, “Doudou, I’m not lying. I truly saw it.”
“Mom, I’m sorry.” Yun Doudou once again took Lan Ailian’s hand, “If I knew you missed me too, I would’ve come back earlier.”
“Don’t just say nice words. If I didn’t agree for you to be with him, would you have come back?” As she spoke, Lan Ailian nodded in Zhou Hanliang’s direction.
“Mom…” Yun Doudou’s face turned red with embarrassment, rendering her speechless. Yes, she couldn’t give up on Zhou Hanliang, but she also deeply cared about her parents’ feelings. Ever since she left, she felt like her parents were closer to Guoguo than to her. Although she understood that this closeness was to compensate Guoguo for the pain she endured, she still felt like the one unjustly neglected.
So, when Lan Ailian interfered with her marriage, she instinctively resisted, feeling that Lan Ailian’s interference was not for her well-being but to use her to gain more benefits.
This is why, no matter how much Yun Fengshan persuaded her, she refused to come back.
“Cat got your tongue, huh?” Lan Ailian shook her head in disappointment, “In your heart, have you never considered this place your home? In your eyes, none of my strictness is right, is it not?”
Yun Doudou kept her head down and said nothing, silently acknowledging.
Lan Ailian sighed and looked at Zhou Hanliang: “Do you also think my opposition to your relationship is a particularly selfish act?”
“No.” Zhou Hanliang quickly shook his head, “Auntie, I know my own conditions: not very tall, old-looking, and my family background isn’t good. With Doudou’s conditions, finding a man better than me is very easy. I am truly touched that she insists on being with me.
I only hope Auntie gives me this opportunity to take good care of Doudou. In this life, I will always treat her as my most precious person and never let her suffer any grievances. No matter who’s right or wrong, she’s right, and I’m wrong.
Regardless of whether I’m worthy of her now, I promise I’ll prove through my own actions that being with me is the most suitable and happiest choice she could make.”
“Anyone can make empty promises,” Lan Ailian glanced at him indifferently, “Why should I trust you? A lifetime is long, so why should I believe what you’re saying now will hold true?”
“Auntie, today in front of the regiment leader, I promise if I ever do anything to wrong Doudou in this life, he will immediately discharge me from the military. To me, that would be more painful than death. Can this promise convince you?”
Lan Ailian looked towards Zhou Mikang: “Are you willing to vouch for him?”
Zhou Mikang nodded: “Yes.”
“Alright.” Lan Ailian sighed again, “I’ll give you this chance. You’ve made a promise today in front of so many people; I hope you truly mean what you say.
Previously, I had another candidate in mind and really didn’t want Doudou to marry you, but for me, her happiness is important, and her joy is also important. If I don’t agree, perhaps no matter how happy she is in this life, she won’t feel true happiness. Therefore, I’m giving you both a chance.
But you must also agree to marry Doudou only after your mission is completely over. You should understand why I say this; can you comply with that?”
“I understand.” Zhou Hanliang nodded solemnly, “I promise to only bring up marriage after the mission ends…” With that, he pointed towards Huang Suai and Lin Wenhang, “I’m not familiar with these two, but I speak before them to show Auntie my determination.”
“Okay.” Lan Ailian looked towards Yun Doudou, “You must also promise me not to cross the line before marriage, or else I won’t have you as my daughter!”
“Mom, aren’t you overthinking…” Yun Doudou’s face turned bright red, “With so many people here, what are you talking about?”
“It’s precisely because there are so many people that I must say it. If you don’t agree, I won’t agree to you two being together either.”
“Alright, alright, I agree, isn’t that enough?” Yun Doudou said helplessly, “I’ve lost face entirely. How will I face people in the future?”
“If you’re afraid of losing face, you wouldn’t have run away from home for a man, no matter how nice you make it sound,” Lan Ailian gave her a sideways glance, “From now on, you must come home every weekend to spend time with Guoguo. You know how much she relies on you, yet you were so heartless to say you wouldn’t come back.”
“Guoguo, I’ll take you out to play every weekend,” Yun Doudou affectionately put her arm around her sister, “During the New Year, I’ll set off firecrackers with you, okay?”
“Okay.” Yun Guoguo nodded vigorously, “I like it when Doudou stays at home to play with me, but Mom says Doudou has to work. I really want to work too, but Mom says I can’t. Doudou, when can I work like you?”
Yun Doudou held her sister’s hand and gently coaxed her, “You often get lost when you go out now. Once you don’t get lost anymore, you can work.”
“I can work as long as I don’t get lost?” Yun Guoguo shook her head with a smile, “Doudou, don’t lie to me. I know my mind doesn’t work well. No place would want me.”
“Guoguo…” Lan Ailian wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and said, “Mom guarantees that in a few years, we’ll definitely let you work.”
“Really?” Yun Guoguo looked at Lan Ailian in disbelief, “But the aunties in the courtyard said I’m mentally challenged, that I’m foolish, and I’ll never have a job or a family in this lifetime.”
“Who said that?” Lan Ailian’s voice sharpened suddenly.
Yun Guoguo twisted the hem of her clothes and said, “Aunt Qin.”
Lan Ailian’s brows furrowed tightly, “That damn Qin Xiangyi! If I don’t tear her mouth off the next time I see her, I won’t carry the surname Lan!”
Qin Xiangyi? Chuxia looked at Zhou Mikang, who nodded, confirming her suspicion that this Qin Xiangyi was indeed that Qin Xiangyi.
Her father-in-law had said last time that he would make this woman taste some hardship to regain face for her mother-in-law, yet until now, that woman was still fully intact. She really found it puzzling. Although there’s a saying about casting a long line to catch a big fish, isn’t this line being cast a bit too long?
Seeing what she was thinking, Zhou Mikang said, “Don’t worry. Dad’s not someone who doesn’t keep his word. It’s probably something that’ll happen in the next few days. Just wait and see.”
Chuxia nodded but remained silent. Vindictive by nature, she only felt at ease if Qin Xiangyi paid a price.
Seeing things were more or less resolved, Huang Suai looked at Yun Fengshan, “Vice-Commander Yun, we have something we’d like to discuss with you. Is now a convenient time?”
“Sure.” Yun Fengshan nodded, got up, and headed toward the study. Lin Wenhang and Huang Suai quickly followed.
The issues between Zhou Hanliang and Yun Doudou were basically settled, so Zhou Mikang, Chuxia, Luo Xiaoqiong, and Zhao Qiliang all got up to leave.
“Have a meal before you go,” Yun Doudou held Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong back, “It’s not right for you to come all this way and leave just like that. Even the emperor doesn’t starve his soldiers.”
“You’re not the emperor, so we have to leave hungry,” Chuxia said jokingly, but then her demeanor grew serious, “My parents know that my cousin is coming back today. If I’m late, they’ll worry.”
“Alright then.” Yun Doudou sighed helplessly, “I won’t bother with formalities. I’ll remember that I owe you a favor.”
“What’s there to talk about between friends?” Chuxia punched her playfully and led the way out.
After everyone left, Lan Ailian looked at Zhou Hanliang, “It’s not that I’m unreasonable. Since I’ve agreed, I won’t make things difficult for you. In the next couple of days, we’ve arranged to meet your parents. You and Doudou should also meet her grandparents. After the New Year, we’ll finalize your marriage.
This way, your relationship won’t be subject to gossip. As for the future, it depends on the fate between you two. Zhou Hanliang, this is my limit, and you can’t push it.”
“Thank you, Auntie!” Zhou Hanliang stood and bowed, “Auntie, you’ve considered everything for me. I’m too grateful to even think of overstepping. You can rest assured; taking good care of Doudou is my responsibility. However, before marriage, I will certainly not harm her.”
What Lan Ailian wanted was this promise. Hearing Zhou Hanliang say this, she finally smiled and ruffled the hair of her eldest daughter, who was gazing at her eagerly, “Alright, go play with Doudou.”
“Doudou, I made clothes for you, hurry, hurry…” Yun Guoguo pulled Yun Doudou up with excitement.
“Don’t worry, I won’t eat him,” seeing her daughter sneaking peeks at her, Lan Ailian glared, “Honestly, I wonder why I even gave birth to you!”
“No, I was just worried he’d say something wrong and make Mom angry,” Yun Doudou grinned wryly as she got up and followed Yun Guoguo upstairs.
Only Lan Ailian and Zhou Hanliang were left in the hall.
Zhou Hanliang was a bit nervous. He didn’t know if Lan Ailian would say one thing to his face and do another behind his back. If that were the case, what would he do? (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit to read.)