A widower's entertainment

Chapter 340 [Major Life Events] (Please Subscribe)
New Year's Eve is still a day for family reunions and celebrations. Lin Youcheng's family also celebrated the New Year together, and their lives were getting better and better. With the help of several children, the whole courtyard was very lively.

After Lunar New Year's Eve comes the joyous Spring Festival.

Lin Youcheng would naturally inform his elder brother, Lin Youcai, about his relationship with Xie Shuhua.

Lin Youcai, who was far away in Decheng, was naturally very happy to hear from Lin Youcheng that Lin Youcheng was planning to get married. He had always been worried that Lin Youcheng would remain single for the rest of his life. After his younger brother and sister-in-law passed away, Lin Youcheng had stayed by their side for almost eight years, which was not easy for him. He was naturally very excited to hear this news.

"Don't be too happy yet. Youcheng said that the woman's family might not even agree."

Seeing the barely suppressed smile on Lin Youcai's face, Zhao Mei couldn't help but remind him, "Didn't Teacher Xie's father go to the capital and disapprove of their relationship?"

Upon hearing Zhao Mei's words, Lin Youcai frowned. Lin Youcheng had naturally told him about the situation on the phone. Xie Shuhua was fifteen years younger than Lin Youcheng. Given this age gap, and the fact that Lin Youcheng was a widower with six children, it was understandable that the woman's family would disagree. Otherwise, most of the women who had been introduced to Lin Youcheng as matchmakers were either divorced or widows.

To the average person, a widower and a widow seem to be a better match.

It was obvious that Lin Youcai, as the eldest brother, was on the side of his younger brother Lin Youcheng. After hesitating for a moment, he couldn't help but say, "This is no longer the era of feudal arranged marriages. Now it's all about freedom of marriage. As long as the two of them want to be together, even their parents can't stop them."

Zhao Mei nodded; she agreed with Lin Youcai's words.

However, even so, how could such a major life event as marriage be done without the consent of one's parents?

Zhao Mei couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Xie Shuhua's age, saying, "I never thought Youcheng could find someone like that. It's a good thing I didn't act as a matchmaker for him back then."

Lin Youcai was naturally very happy. In any case, Lin Youcheng's matter had finally made progress, and he no longer needed to worry about it. He just hoped that Lin Youcheng could settle the matter as soon as possible. Hearing Zhao Mei's words, he couldn't help but smile and nod, saying, "His standards are exceptionally high. That Teacher Xie must be very outstanding."

As the older brother, he couldn't really say that Teacher Xie must be very good-looking, so he used the word "excellent". But if Lin Youcai knew the word that came later, he would probably know that Lin Youcheng's taste was still based on appearance, and that he was ultimately a looks-obsessed person who was attracted to beauty at first sight.

"Of course, didn't I already say that he graduated from Yenching University?"

"Not only that, that Professor Xie is already a master's student."

Lin Youcai waved his hand, indicating that Zhao Mei was wrong. He also knew that Xie Shuhua was studying in the creative postgraduate class of Lu Xun Academy of Literature. After graduation, he would naturally be considered a master of literature at Beijing Normal University. After thinking for a moment, he added, "However, Youcheng is not bad either. He has taught those people before."

Lin Youcai naturally asked Lin Youcheng how he and Xie Shuhua met. Of course, Lin Youcai didn't know that Lin Youcheng had met Xie Shuhua when he gave his first lecture at Yenching University.

Zhao Mei nodded. Although she was surprised that Lin Youcheng, who had six children, could marry a woman 15 years younger than him, she was also very clear that it was all because Lin Youcheng was capable. He was a famous writer in China and had made a lot of money in Beijing. He owned many houses and was quite talented and wealthy.

Zhao Mei felt that even if Lin Youcheng had several children, it wouldn't be a problem. After all, she knew that one of Lin Youcheng's novels had been bought by the United States, earning him a million dollars in royalties.

That was something that she found terrifying and unbelievable just thinking about it.

Of course, in Zhao Mei's opinion, even without these things, Lin Youcheng's ability to raise those children on his own was quite remarkable and not easy at all. Suddenly thinking of those children, she couldn't help but ask, "Youcheng, have you told Xi'er and the others?"

Lin Youcai understood what Zhao Mei meant, nodded, and said, "I told you, but the children already knew."

“Youcheng has been with someone for almost eight years now; he should have found someone else long ago.”

Although Lin Youcai knew that Lin Youcheng's remarriage would affect the children the most, in his opinion, so many years had passed and the children were all grown up. Lin Youcheng should have found someone long ago, and the children wouldn't be so ignorant.

Lin Youcai felt that Lin Zhaoxi and his siblings probably understood this very well. If it weren't for their siblings, Lin Youcheng would have already found a few more women.

Even if some things were never said, the children might still know that Lin Youcheng, as a father, has remained single for the sake of his children, which outsiders would see as a burden.

Of course, Lin Youcai didn't think that way. As the eldest brother, he was also the eldest uncle. He only hoped that Lin Youcheng's family would be well, whether it was Lin Youcheng or the children.

Zhao Mei looked at Lin Youcai and said, "Then I hope that Teacher Xie will be good to Youcheng and those children."

Hearing this, Lin Youcai thought the same thing. If Teacher Xie were to treat the children badly in the future, he, as their uncle, would definitely not turn a blind eye. He said, "If anything happens, we will stand up for those children."

"He used to tutor kids, so he must be a good person."

Zhao Mei thought so too, but deep down she also felt that being a stepmother was not easy, especially with six children involved. Thinking about it, she felt that Teacher Xie must have made a great decision to be with Lin Youcheng, and it must have been quite difficult. Perhaps she really liked Lin Youcheng.

Otherwise, what young and talented woman would be willing to marry a widower with six children?
Zhao Mei felt that Xie Shuhua's willingness to marry Lin Youcheng might truly be sincere, and added, "Youcheng should treat Teacher Xie well. Being a stepmother to six children is not an easy task."

Lin Youcai nodded, completely agreeing.

Lin Youcai thought about how if this matter really came to fruition, he might have to go to the capital to attend the wedding. He couldn't help but smile and said, "I need to talk to Youfeng about this and tell her."

"Don't worry, this matter hasn't been decided yet. Maybe Youcheng will tell Youfeng himself."

Lin Youcai also knew very well that the most important thing was to see what the woman's family thought.

As Mr. Zhou Shuren once said, people's joys and sorrows are not shared; some people only find it noisy.

Xie Zelin and his wife, who were in Tianjin, were quite disturbed when they heard their daughter, Xie Shuhua, say that she wanted to marry Lin Youcheng. The news made them very uneasy during the New Year. "Shuhua, do you really need to think this through? Being a stepmother is not an easy thing."

Zhang Aiqin wanted to persuade Xie Shuhua to reconsider. As a mother, she naturally didn't want her daughter to become someone else's stepmother. However, she knew that Xie Shuhua had already made up her mind, so all she could do was say these words in the hope that Xie Shuhua would change her mind.

Xie Shuhua reached out and put her arm around Zhang Aiqin's arm, and said, "Mom, I really love him. You and Dad should agree to it."

"We hope to have your and Dad's blessings as we get together."

Zhang Aiqin frowned slightly as she listened to her daughter's words. She knew her daughter's personality; she was truly determined to marry Lin Youcheng. She had previously worried that it was just unrequited love, but Xie Zelin's trip to Beijing last time meant that this matter was not a one-sided affair on her daughter's part.

Therefore, it's even less likely that the daughter will give up on this relationship.

Zhang Aiqin loves her daughter, but she feels sorry for her. No matter how good the other family is, as a mother, she ultimately doesn't want her daughter to become a stepmother and suffer that kind of grievance.

Zhang Aiqin looked at Xie Zelin, clearly indicating that Xie Zelin would ultimately have to make the decision.

Of course, Zhang Aiqin knew very well that even if the two of them disagreed, Xie Shuhua's feelings would not be dispelled.

Xie Zelin looked at Xie Shuhua. He knew his daughter's personality; once she made up her mind, she wouldn't change. He had met Lin Youcheng in Beijing before, and Lin Youcheng had left a good impression on him. Although he was much older than Xie Shuhua, he was not the old man he had imagined. He was full of energy and spirit, and his temperament and appearance were quite good. If Lin Youcheng didn't have six children, even if he had been married before, he might have agreed to the marriage.

In fact, this is something that Lin Youcai understands, and it is also known to outsiders. If Lin Youcheng, this widower, didn't have six children, he wouldn't have remained single even at the age of forty. Lin Youcheng's current conditions are really not bad at all.

So what if I'm older? These days, people are all about late marriage and late childbirth.

But it was precisely because Lin Youcheng had six children that Xie Zelin felt that this matter was not as simple as Xie Shuhua thought. Being a stepmother to six children was really not a simple thing.

“Shuhua, your mother and I know your personality, but we disagree with this matter because we really want what’s best for you.”

Xie Zelin looked at Xie Shuhua and said seriously, "He has six children. You're not just marrying him; you're going to be a stepmother to six children! Being a stepmother is difficult; you can't possibly not understand that."

Xie Shuhua naturally knew that being a stepmother was difficult, but she also knew very well that many things had nothing to do with love, and that love was the most important thing.

“I know, but I love him. None of that matters. The age difference between us, his previous marriage, his children—none of that matters.”

Upon hearing Xie Shuhua's words, Xie Zelin added, "You still don't know what marriage means."

“Dad, I know, I also know that marriage may be like the novel ‘Fortress Besieged’ by Qian Zhongshu, where people outside the city want to get in and people inside want to get out, but these are all my choices.”

Xie Shuhua was well aware that things weren't as simple as she thought. She herself wasn't sure if she could really be a good mother or a stepmother, but all she knew was that she loved Lin Youcheng.

Xie Zelin understood Xie Shuhua's meaning. He knew his daughter well, but he didn't know whether he should continue to stop her, or if he could actually stop her if he did. This was something that Xie Zelin cared about a lot.

Thinking back to when he went to the capital to find Lin Youcheng and saw Lin Youcheng's children calling him "Grandpa," he couldn't accept it for a while.

He genuinely didn't understand why his daughter had to become someone's stepmother.

Even though Xie Zelin wasn't some feudal and stubborn old man, he was a high school math teacher and admired Lin Youcheng. However, he was ultimately unwilling to let his woman marry a widower with six children. But he also knew very well that his unwillingness might not be able to stop his daughter Xie Shuhua's decision.

Now, Xie Shuhua, the daughter, has completely decided that Lin Youcheng is the one.

Xie Zelin had also read Lin Youcheng's novel "The Reader" and knew that the woman in the story was in a relationship with a man more than twenty years her senior. It was a love story with such a huge age gap that it ended with the woman's suicide. Xie Zelin also had concerns and didn't know what would happen if he strongly opposed it.

Xie Zelin frowned as he looked at his daughter. His daughter had grown up and had her own ideas. As her father, he could no longer force Xie Shuhua to stay away from Lin Youcheng. The key issue was that the two of them were planning to get married. He didn't know how to stop them, and even if he could, would it hurt his daughter?

Just as Xie Zelin's family was arguing about the matter, there was a knock on the door.

"Comrade, this is the Xie family's house! Old Xie, someone has come to wish you a Happy New Year!"

Xie Zelin, inside the house, naturally heard the noise outside the door. Somewhat puzzled, wondering who had come to offer New Year's greetings at this hour, he prepared to get up and open the door. Xie Shuhua, however, didn't intend for her father to go out and open the door herself, only to find—

Lin Youcheng has arrived.

Xie Shuhua was overjoyed; her eyes lit up and she asked, "Why are you here?"

Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "Of course I'll come."

Now that he and Xie Shuhua are both in the "walled city" of marriage, he will not let Xie Shuhua face it alone.

Even when the enemy is at the gates of the city, or when they need to storm the city, the two of them will always face it together.

Even if the city was impregnable, with walls a hundred feet high and gates closed for a long time, he would not attack it alone, but with the other two, because it was a major event in their lives.

(End of this chapter)