Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 358 Surpassing the Best
That evening, He Yuxin was planning her trip to Shanghai in her hotel room. Since she was already there, she couldn't leave empty-handed, when the phone suddenly rang.

He answered the phone, and Gong Xue's clear voice came through the receiver: "He Yuxin, I've made up my mind."

He Yuxin held the receiver, not urging anyone, and waited quietly.

"I'm willing." Gong Xue's voice carried a hint of determination, yet also a touch of barely perceptible shyness. "We can give it a try."

He Yuxin's lips curled up slightly: "Okay."

In the days that followed, He Yuxin did stay in Shanghai to handle some group affairs, but he spent most of his free time with Gong Xue.

Gong Xue soon discovered that He Yuxin was very different from the people she had met before.

He has unique insights into the economic situation, a keen appreciation for art and film, and is composed and dignified in his interactions with others.

This is a vision and temperament that someone from an ordinary family who only does trade in the special economic zone could not easily possess.

Once, while watching a dubbed film, He Yuxin casually remarked that it would be better if it were in the original language. It wasn't that the voice actors of that era were bad, but the tone and mannerisms they produced were indeed a bit exaggerated.

Gong Xue couldn't help but ask, "Can you understand the original audio?"

He Yuxin smiled and said, "I still know English."

"What exactly is your educational background? What school did you graduate from?" After the event, Gong Xue finally asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time. Her guess was that He Yuxin was probably one of the first batch of college students after the resumption of the college entrance examination, and that he came to Shanghai for social practice or something similar.

“Hong Kong University,” He Yuxin said.

Gong Xue was stunned. Hong Kong University? She had never heard of mainland students being able to apply to universities there.

"You're not from the mainland?" Gong Xue exclaimed in surprise.

"Please forgive me for hiding this from you. My current identity is indeed from Hong Kong, but I am also a mainlander. I was already ten years old when I went to Hong Kong."

"So your parents are in Hong Kong?"

"No, my parents are in Beijing right now. Why are you in such a hurry to meet my in-laws?"

"Ugh, I never said I wanted to marry you." Gong Xue blushed and punched He Yuxin.

"Didn't you say your father was a cook? Then what about your family?"

“My dad is indeed a master chef, and my mom is a housewife, I’m not lying,” He Yuxin said with a smile. “It’s just that my eldest brother is more capable; he supported all of our siblings through university.”

"Ah, they're all college students!"

"Yes, my fourth brother and I started working for my eldest brother right after graduation, so we didn't continue our studies. My second sister, on the other hand, has a master's degree."

"Fourth brother, is that your twin brother, He Yuyao?"

"Correct."

"Don't they look the same?"

"They're pretty much the same, but their personalities are quite different!"

"Oh, what about your fifth child?"

"I'm currently serving in the military in the country."

"Ah!" Gong Xue exclaimed, then realized the sound was too loud and quickly covered her mouth.

"how?"

"Why doesn't he work for your older brother? How can he serve in the military in mainland China?"

"This kid aspires to a military career and attended a military academy. As for joining the army, naturally his household registration is in the mainland!"

"And you, do you also have a mainland household registration?"

"No, my current status is more suitable for my current job."

"So, if we're together, should we go to Hong Kong?"

"No need, my work is basically in mainland China, and even if I go back to Hong Kong in the future, it will be for business."

"Phew! That's good!" Gong Xue breathed a long sigh of relief and patted her chest.

"What, don't you want to develop your career in Hong Kong?" He Yuxin teased.

"Does your family own a film company?" Gong Xue rolled her eyes at He Yuxin.

"I don't know the specifics, but it should be in the planning stages."

"Really? What does your older brother do?"

"You'll know later."

"We'll have to wait until later!" Gong Xue grabbed He Yuxin's arm and shook it.

"I'm afraid I'll scare you, hahaha!"

After dinner, He Yuxin took Gong Xue home. Once home, Gong Xue became absent-minded, her mind filled with thoughts of He Yuxin. His unexpected excellence made her feel uneasy.

"Xiaoxue, what's wrong with you?" Gong's mother asked as she noticed her daughter's unusual condition.

Gong Xue was deep in thought and didn't hear anything.

"Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue, what are you thinking about so intently?" Gong's mother stepped forward and nudged her daughter.

"Oh, Mom, what did you just say?"

“I asked you what was wrong, and when you came back you just sat there in a daze.”

"Oh, I need to think about something."

"What's up? Is your company shooting a new film again?"

"No."

"No, you've been running around outside every day lately. Tell Mom the truth, are you dating someone?"

"Mom, how did you know?"

“I know my own daughter well enough. Tell me, what kind of talented young man has attracted her?”

After thinking for a moment, Gong Xue told her mother about He Yuxin's situation. The Gong family was actually quite open-minded, because Gong Xue's maternal grandfather was a scholar who studied in Japan, Gong's mother now works at a publishing house, and Gong's father is a fashion designer.

"how did you guys meet?"

Gong Xue then recounted how they met and how they had been corresponding for several years.

"So you two idiots ruined your own lives. Why didn't you take the initiative with such a good young man back then?"

"mom"

So what are you thinking now?

"I want to bring it back so you can see it first."

“Okay, I’ll invite your grandfather too.”

"No need."

"Why not? I want to see if this He Yuxin is really as good as you say, capable of bewitching my precious daughter."

"Mom, I'm not talking to you anymore."

"Haha, I'm not going to talk to you anymore. I'm going to tell your dad that our precious daughter has found her sweetheart." Gong's mother said as she walked out.

Soon after, Gong's father's laughter could be heard from outside; he was worried sick about his daughter's marriage.

The next day, He Yuxin was formally informed that she needed to meet her parents.

He Yuxin was still a little confused.

"What's wrong? You don't want to?" Gong Xue pouted.

"No, no, let me calm down, let me calm down."

"Hehehe, is Mr. He nervous?"

"Of course I'm nervous!" He Yuxin said.

"Then you'd better behave well, or else..."

"I know."

On the weekend, He Yuxin brought carefully prepared gifts to the door.

The Gong family lived in an old-style alleyway, where the wooden stairs creaked.

Gong Xue opened the door; she was wearing a light yellow sweater and had a smile in her eyes.

Mrs. Gong, wearing an apron and with flour still on her hands, came out of the kitchen to greet him. "Little He is here? Come in and sit down! Old Gong, our guest has arrived!"

Mr. Gong came out from the inner room, wearing glasses and holding a newspaper in his hand.

He looked He Yuxin up and down and nodded: "Comrade He, please come in and have a seat."

The living room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. He Yuxin placed the things she brought next to the coffee table: two boxes of Daoxiangcun pastries, a set of Zisha teaware, and several cashmere scarves from Hong Kong.

Gong's mother brought over tea, her gaze sweeping over He Yuxin.

The young man was wearing a wool suit, clean leather shoes, neatly combed hair, and bright eyes; he looked energetic.

"I heard from Xiaoxue that you work in the Special Economic Zone?" Mr. Gong put down his newspaper and began to ask questions.

"Yes, I mainly do import and export trade," He Yuxin answered sincerely.

"How is the situation in the trade industry right now?"

"That's great. The country encourages economic development, and there are many opportunities."

Mr. Gong nodded and asked some more questions about the garment factory, though he was just asking casually.

Unexpectedly, He Yuxin's answer was well-organized and logical.

Do you have a clothing business?

"No, I've visited several garment factories in mainland China. They need equipment like electric sewing machines, and we can provide them."

"I see."

Gong's mother interjected, asking about the family situation: "Are Xiao He's parents doing well?"

"Everything's fine. My father is planning to open a restaurant, and my mother is taking care of the elderly at home," He Yuxin said briefly, without going into too many details. At lunchtime, Gong's mother cooked local Shanghainese dishes herself.

He Yuxin took a bite of the braised pork and nodded in praise: "Auntie's cooking is really good, the taste is very authentic."

Gong's mother smiled broadly: "Eat more if you like! Our Xiaoxue can't even fry a proper poached egg."

"Mom!" Gong Xue glared at her mother reproachfully.

After dinner, Gong Xue went to wash the dishes, and Gong's father called He Yuxin to the balcony for a smoke.

“Xiaoxue is a stubborn child; once she's made up her mind, nothing can change it.” Mr. Gong exhaled a puff of smoke. “She chose to be with you, and we as her parents respect her choice. We just hope you treat her well.”

He Yuxin nodded solemnly: "Uncle, don't worry, I will."

A weight has been lifted from my heart; this can be considered acceptance.

Before leaving, Gong's mother gave He Yuxin a bag of homemade smoked fish: "Take it back and eat it. Next time you come, let Xiaoxue's grandfather meet you too."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

"Don't be so polite, we're family now." Gong's mother's words made Gong Xue blush.

Afterwards, He Yuxin and Gong Xue went to meet her maternal grandparents. The old man also approved of He Yuxin, and the Gong family's relationship was considered settled.

Then He Yuxin pressed her advantage, saying, "Xiaoxue, come back to Beijing with me."

Wow, so fast!

"That's fast? If it were anyone else, they would have already gotten their marriage certificate."

"But I'm not ready to meet my uncle and aunt yet! Are they easy to get along with?"

"They're easy to get along with. My parents are very nice people. You'll see when you get there."

"Oh, then what do I need to prepare?"

"No need, just have the person go."

"."

A few days later, the two boarded a train heading north. Gong Xue's mother prepared a lot of local specialties from Shanghai for her and gave her daughter a lot of instructions before she left.

He Yuxin led Gong Xue out of the train station; someone came to pick them up in a sedan.

A black sedan drove into the alley and stopped in front of the He family's grand and imposing gate, attracting the attention of the neighbors who all craned their necks to look.

Gong Xue got out of the car and looked at the vermilion gate, the shiny door knocker and the high-hanging plaque. Her heart skipped a beat and she subconsciously gripped He Yuxin's sleeve tightly.

This was far removed from her imagined family environment of "cook father and housewife mother".

"Don't be nervous," He Yuxin said softly, "My mother is a very kind person."

Pushing open the gate and entering, I saw Chen Lanxiang sitting under the porch waiting for me in the front yard. When she saw me return, Chen Lanxiang stood up, her face beaming with joy. Her gaze immediately fell on Gong Xue, scrutinizing her from head to toe, her eyes filled with undisguised delight.

"Oh my, we've finally arrived! You must be exhausted from the journey, right? This must be Xiaoxue, even prettier than in the movies!" He said, taking Gong Xue's hand.

He Yuxin smiled and said, "Xiaoxue, this is my mother."

Gong Xue quickly said, "Hello, Auntie, I'm Gong Xue!"

"Good, good, good, I've finally met you in person! You have no idea how much I've thought about you ever since Yuxin called!" Chen Lanxiang pulled her inside.

Gong Xue looked a little lost and looked to He Yuxin for help, but He Yuxin just smiled.

Chen Lanxiang didn't hold back, "I've been asking the third son to bring you back to see us for a long time, but this kid just keeps putting it off! We've been nagging him about it so many times, old man! Old man! He's here! Come out quickly!"

Hearing the sound, He Daqing poked his head out of the kitchen, still holding a spatula in his hand, wearing an apron, and smiling: "You're here, you're here! Come in and have a seat, I'll be done in a minute!"

Gong Xue quickly greeted him, "Hello, Uncle."

"Hey, okay, okay!"

Upon entering the main room, Gong Xue was slightly taken aback by the furnishings.

The furniture is in an elegant Ming style, with porcelain ornaments displayed on the display cabinet and calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, revealing the family's modest wealth.

Chen Lanxiang pressed her down to sit on the sofa, and then busied herself pouring tea and getting snacks, with melon seeds, peanuts, and peach shortbread spread across the coffee table.

"Don't be shy now that we're home. Make yourself at home. Third brother, put your things down. You're taking your girlfriend to wash her hands, what are you standing there for!"

He Yuxin smiled and agreed, then waved to Gong Xue.

Gong Xue followed He Yuxin to the yard to wash her hands as if she were fleeing.

"Is your aunt always this hospitable?"

"Yes! What's wrong?"

"It's fine, it's just that I'm not used to it yet."

"You'll get used to it gradually."

The two washed their hands and returned to the house. As soon as they sat down, Gong Xue was given a bright red peach.

"Eat, this peach is so sweet."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

"I'll go check on the food."

Gong Xue quickly said, "Auntie, I'm not hungry yet, there's no rush!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang decided not to leave. She sat down next to her, still holding her hand, and asked with a smile, "Was the journey smooth? Was Lao San driving safely? Did he bully you? If he did, tell Auntie, and I'll beat him up!"

Gong Xue blushed a little at his straightforward enthusiasm, but her nervousness dissipated considerably: "No, Auntie, he, he's fine."

"What's wrong with him? He's just a greenhorn who only knows how to work hard! You'll have to be more tolerant of him in the future." Chen Lanxiang patted her hand and sighed, "Your work is tough, running around all the time, you have to take care of your health. Look at your slender frame, you need to eat well. Your uncle made some soup for lunch, drink a couple of bowls."

Just then, the old lady and Mr. Chen from the backyard also came over after hearing the news.

After the introductions, Gong Xue quickly stood up to greet them.

The old lady squinted and looked her over again, nodding repeatedly: "Good, good girl, you're pretty and you're a good match for our third son!"

Grandpa Chen was all smiles.

Chen Lanxiang introduced from the side: "This is Yuxin's great-aunt, you can just call her Madam. This is his maternal grandfather."

Gong Xue greeted everyone sweetly.

He Yuxin leaned close to her ear and chuckled, "See? I told you my mom is easy to get along with."

Gong Xue secretly glared at him, but couldn't help but smile.

The family banquet was extremely lavish, and He Daqing showcased his culinary skills, preparing authentic and hearty Shandong cuisine.

The table was piled high with food, and Chen Lanxiang kept serving Gong Xue dishes until the bowls were overflowing.

"Try this, it's your uncle's specialty, braised sea cucumber with scallions. This braised pork intestines are also delicious, not greasy at all. Oh dear, I've been so busy talking that the fish is almost cold. Hurry up and start eating!"

Gong Xue ate with gusto, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

The He family's hospitality was genuine, without a trace of pretense.

My future mother-in-law is a busybody and a bit feisty, but the affection and care in her eyes are genuine.

My future father-in-law doesn't talk much, he just smiles kindly and occasionally urges me to "eat more".

The elderly people were kind, and their questions were full of care.

After dinner, Chen Lanxiang pulled Gong Xue to sit on the sofa and chatted about everyday things, asking about her work and family, and rambling on about embarrassing things He Yuxin did when she was a child, making He Yuxin blush.

Gong Xue listened with a smile, occasionally chiming in with a few words, creating a harmonious and natural atmosphere.

Later, Chen Lanxiang took out a thick photo album and pointed to each page for Gong Xue: "Look, this is the third brother when he was a child, this is his eldest brother, Zhuzi. This is a group photo of all the siblings, and this is a family photo taken last year."

After spending a few days in Beijing, He Yuxin took Gong Xue on a tour of almost half of the city.

They went to the Yellow River Group's office in Beijing.

In the bright and clean office, the staff were busy but organized, and they all respectfully addressed He Yuxin as "General Manager He".

Gong Xue quietly followed beside him, watching him have a brief conversation with the person in charge and listen to the report. The conversation involved import and export data and project progress that she didn't quite understand, but she could feel his composure and control.

She also went to that quiet antique shop in Panjiayuan.

There weren't many customers in the shop. When Manager Li saw He Yuxin, he immediately came out from behind the counter, greeted him with a smile, and nodded to Gong Xue.

He Yuxin didn't say much, just casually looked at the store's furnishings and asked about his recent situation.

Looking at the porcelain and jade artifacts in the display case—the ones whose age she couldn't decipher but whose value she intuitively sensed were immense—and then at He Yuxin beside her with his indifferent expression, Gong Xue gained a new understanding of his "doing some trade."

They went to courtyard number 95, which was still under renovation.

The workers were repainting the eaves. When they saw them arrive, the foreman came over to greet them and report on the progress.

He Yuxin looked around and made some requests regarding several details.

Standing under the newly renovated hanging flower gate, Gong Xue listened to his clear and logical instructions and suddenly felt that this man in a short-sleeved shirt had an indescribable charm.

They also visited the restaurant that He Daqing was preparing to open.

The location is excellent. It is a well-maintained three-story antique-style building. The interior is still undergoing final decoration, but its future grandeur is already evident.

He Daqing was gesturing with the foreman while holding the blueprints. When he saw them, he came over happily and insisted on showing Gong Xue the kitchen he had designed, muttering, "It will be convenient for you to come back and eat in the future."

Every day, Gong Xue felt as if she was getting to know He Yuxin and the He family behind him all over again.

This family possessed an unexpected depth and energy, yet strangely maintained a sense of simplicity and warmth.

Chen Lanxiang's nagging care, He Daqing's silent hard work, and the elderly people's kind acceptance all made her feel at ease.

Even the younger generation, such as Ho Yiu-cho, who had returned from Hong Kong for summer vacation, were polite and considerate, showing good family upbringing.

He Yushui also returned with her daughter, making the house even more lively.

She was straightforward and told Gong Xue a lot of funny and embarrassing stories about He Yuxin when he was a child, which made Gong Xue laugh. The last bit of unfamiliarity and distance melted away in the laughter.

Happy times always pass quickly, and Gong Xue's vacation was coming to an end; she had to return to Shanghai.

(End of this chapter)