You are my wife, don't doubt it!

In a short while, the crabs that had just been skinned and deboned by the old man were put back together as if they had just been served on the table.

The old man put it aside with satisfaction and picked up another crab.

Since he had no intention of continuing the conversation, Xiao Yao began to deal with the roasted suckling pig in front of him in order to relieve his inner anxiety and calm his tension.

In his 16 years of life, he had only eaten pork and had never seen a pig "crouching". This was the first time he saw a live roasted suckling pig - well, that doesn't seem quite right.

You still remembers that on the first night Shen Jie returned home, he seemed to be having dinner at Yu Luying's house. Shen Jie sent him some photos of her family's welcoming banquet, which included roasted suckling pig. He even jokingly asked her to send some over.

The pig skin is really fragrant and crispy, but the meat is just average. It doesn’t have the legendary “melt-in-the-mouth” softness. It feels like ordinary lean pork…

The essence is still in the dipping sauce, Xiao Yao thought.

"Are the dishes to your liking?" Yu Texuan finally spoke again after he had finished making the third crab figurine. Xiao Yao quickly raised his head and pretended to listen attentively.

"Don't worry about me, I'm old, young people should eat more." Yu Texuan didn't care and picked up the chopsticks again to greet him.

Xiao Yao suddenly realized that he was the only one eating meat and vegetables, while Yu Baolu and the two bald men were only eating seafood, vegetables and stewed eggs. He suddenly blurted out: "Oh! Today is Friday, I forgot!"

It’s so annoying, there is always a loophole, is this another sting operation?

"That's fine," Yu Texuan said with a laugh, "My friend, you haven't been baptized yet, so you don't have the obligation to fast."

But Xiao Yao had no way to continue eating. He wiped his hands and sat up straight.

Yu Texuan then continued, "When I first saw Dayang's father, I also thought he was a talented man, with academic achievements, hard work and a clean family background. If he had good character, he would be a rare candidate for a good son-in-law. My family also fully understands why Lihua fell in love with him, but it's a pity that the final result is like this."

"Is that so?" Xiao Yao agreed, thinking to himself, is it really okay for you to talk to me about your family affairs like this?

"Your Aunt Lihua thinks we objected because he is a foreign teacher, but that's not the case," Yu Texuan continued to peel the crab legs patiently, "This person, the first impression can only be used as a reference, observe for a while, and the disguise will be exposed. Husband and wife are to be together for a lifetime, you can't just look at the moment, and you can't just look at the appearance at the moment - no matter how good-looking or talented a person is, if he has bad intentions, he can't be trusted for life."

"That's natural."

"Dayang's father later agreed to be baptized, which is naturally unlikely to be a sincere act," Yu Texuan looked at Xiao Yao and said, "This is different from you."

"Completely different." So you're comparing me with that person, right?

"Dayang's father attracts women by his good looks and talent," Yu Texuan continued, "Of course, you don't have these qualities either..."

Xiao Yao was a little angry. Are you calling someone ugly and stupid in person?

"So, this also shows from the side that you have other outstanding qualities in Dayang's eyes." Yu Texuan said: "Now it seems that you are the blood of my Yu family after all - maybe it is consistent with the things that I admire about you."

"Dad, you said he was just talking about him. Why is he always comparing himself with other kids?" Yu Baolu spoke up and said something fair.

"Ahem," Yu Texuan said, "But your Aunt Lihua doesn't understand our painstaking efforts. She just thinks we are making things difficult for her and destroying her love. Lihua seems to be a noncompetitive person on the surface, but in fact, she is very stubborn when it comes to the things she really cares about..."

"It's because of you that he was spoiled." Yu Baolu interrupted.

"Is it normal for parents to love their children?" Yu Texuan said stubbornly, and then he continued to talk to himself angrily: "I didn't expect that your Aunt Lihua was entrusted with the wrong person but still insisted on doing it. In order to fight against the family, she actually did something shameful."

"Dad." Yu Baolu shouted.

Yu Texuan didn't say anything else, as if he was waiting for Xiao Yao to speak.

"Well, you are all elders, and as a junior, it is not right for me to make comments without authorization." Xiao Yao spoke cautiously.

"You have heard about what happened later, right?"

"I know a little." Xiao Yao said.

"When Dayang was still in the womb, his father wanted to leave on his own. At that time, my father was still in charge of the Yu family, and he decided to get rid of him right then and there." Yu Te said in a calm tone.

Deal with it? How to deal with it? Is this how you rich people do things?

"I, Paul and Popo all disagreed," Yu Texuan said, "but Paul finally stepped in and persuaded him to turn back, get baptized and marry Lihua."

Xiao Yao made a bold guess, most of which was persuasion (physics).

"If I were in his place, I would not agree to my daughter marrying him - even if she is pregnant." Xiao Yao said: "Well - so, logically speaking, as an outsider, I shouldn't ask. Aunt Lihua said that you enforced the family rules and kicked her out of the house. Is this actually not true?"

"Yes, I did," Yu Texuan shook his head and said, "but after my father passed away, I still couldn't bear to part with my own flesh and blood, so I helped them a lot and never treated them badly."

Xiao Yao recalled that Yu Luying said that when she was a child, she would go to her grandfather's house during the holidays, but her "father" did not allow her to go. He felt that although the two sides' statements were not exactly the same, the general direction was still the same.

Mentioning "after my father passed away" is obviously implying that it was not herself who drove her out of the house, but the previous generation - is this shirking responsibility?

"However," Xiao Yao pointed out cautiously, "their living conditions are indeed a bit... average."

"That's true," Yu Texuan sighed, "You also know that if I give Lihua any property, half of it belongs to her husband according to the law. Since I know that this person cannot be trusted, I have to protect Lihua..."

It sounds better when spoken than when sung, Xiao Yao thought.

"Sure enough," Yu Baolu took over his father's words, "seeing that he couldn't squeeze any money out of the Yu family, Dayang's father eventually disappeared and was never found again."

"Disappeared?" Xiao Yao blurted out, "I always thought they just had a normal divorce agreement or divorce litigation. Last time I heard you... I heard them say that they hadn't even completed the divorce formalities. I was secretly wondering, but I was just too embarrassed to ask in detail."

Xiao Yao broke out in a cold sweat when he thought about how he almost let it slip that he had eavesdropped on the conversation between the two elders in the bathroom.

“Maybe that guy knew that if we follow the normal procedures, we won’t let him go, so he ran away.” Yu Baolu clenched his fists until they made a clattering sound.

"That road...I see." Xiao Yao said.

"After her father disappeared, the family's foresight was fully proven," Yu Texuan continued. "Perhaps out of shame, Lihua no longer had any contact with us and became completely self-reliant. Only the big sheep and the little sheep occasionally had contact."

I understand, Xiao Yao thought.

It was your father who kicked your daughter out of the house. Later, after Yu Luying's scumbag father ran away, it was Yu Luying's mother who was so ashamed that she alienated herself from the people. You, old man, are just a white lotus.

But why are you telling me this? Xiao Yao wondered.

Even a judge cannot judge family affairs. Do you still care about the judgment of an outsider like me?

As if seeing through Xiao Yao's thoughts, Yu Texuan said, "You must be thinking now, family disgrace should not be made public, why am I telling you this?"

"I..." Xiao Yao said, "I am very grateful to you... for your trust in me. I am also very sorry that such a thing happened."

"My friend, you are a wise man," Yu Texuan said, "You should know what I mean by this. You are seriously considering your future with Dayang, right?"

It is indeed a case of using the past to criticize the present and making indirect criticisms.

Xiao Yao felt a little guilty, but he could only bite the bullet and say, "Of course."

"But, I heard from the logistics team..." Yu Texuan changed the subject: "When you participated in the group activity last night, you didn't follow the rules and insisted on running into other people's rooms to give orders. Why was that?"

It’s here. What is supposed to come has finally come.

"To be honest," Xiao Yao said evasively, "I'm not very satisfied with this activity. It allows strangers, men and women, to hold hands. I originally thought that the church should be more conservative..."

"Is this true?" Yu Texuan turned to Yu Baolu and said, "Baolu, please communicate with the people in the logistics team."

"Got it." Yu Baolu nodded.

"Alas, times have changed. The evil tendencies of modernism and liberalism are like a plague that can penetrate everywhere," Yu Texuan lamented. "Even the Holy Church cannot completely resist its influence."

"I originally thought that the church should be a pure land." Xiao Yao told the truth.

"Leftists are everywhere." Yu Texuan shook his head and said, "They think they are advanced and open-minded, and they come up with these nonsense. They think young people should accept this. What's wrong with young people? Who didn't come from youth? Young people should play guitar and drums during mass. Young people should hug each other even if they are not boyfriends or girlfriends. In this way, they can be closer to God? They can cultivate pious qualities? The church attracts young people by relying on entertainment?"

"Dad, don't get excited." Yu Baolu quickly advised.

"Uh, I actually don't want to play the guitar," Xiao Yao hurriedly tried to distance himself from the situation: "I always felt that it was not solemn enough, but they just needed someone to ask me..."

This is the truth, Xiao Yao thought.

"Alas, times have changed. Many priests today are also liberal," Yu Texuan did not respond to Xiao Yao's words, but just said to himself, "Or they just don't dare to speak out, don't dare to intervene, and go along with the secular world."

"That's right." Xiao Yao didn't know many priests, but he still said so.

"Times have changed. The old priests in our time were so good, they hated evil as much as they hated evil," Yu Texuan said, "Back then, my father was overwhelmed by the bad example of foreign believers and wanted to take a concubine. When the old priest in the parish found out, he came to our house and beat him with a bamboo stick..."

When he heard the old man talking about "taking a concubine" again, he knew that there was no way he could get over this issue.

"Brother Bo also beats people." Xiao Yao forced a smile and said, "What happened next?"

"Afterwards, no one mentioned the matter of taking a concubine anymore..." Yu Texuan asked, "What do you think, young friend?"

"Okay, very good." Xiao Yao nodded.

"Which passage in the Bible do you like best?" Yu Texuan asked.

"The Book of Instructions," Xiao Yao replied, "empty and empty, everything is empty."

"My favorite is actually the story of the prodigal son." Yu Te chose.

"I like that one, too." Xiao Yao said quickly.

"If you sincerely want a future, I am willing to give you a chance to turn back." Yu Texuan said calmly.

Xiao Yao: “?!”

"I don't want to ask you how you convinced Dayang to accept this...situation," Yu Texuan said nonchalantly, "Why don't you break up with little Xu Qingwei... ah, to be more precise, the daughter of Shen Hongsheng's family."

"Huh? Huh?"

Xiao Yao glanced at the two bald men and no longer had the mood to argue or deny.

"Many things in this world cannot be achieved at the same time, just like God and the God of Wealth, you can only choose to serve one," Yu Texuan said calmly, "Bring the little girl out, her parents will be anxious too."

I think God has become the God of Wealth for you.

Xiao Yao remained silent.

"Of course, you can also choose to be an ordinary church member with Dayang," Yu Texuan said, "I will not tell Shen Hongsheng about this."

"Grandpa Yu, I understand." Xiao Yao had no choice but to stand at attention and be beaten.

"Normally, two-timing is a veto - but since you didn't cheat here, you must be quite capable. I have observed you for so many days, and I still believe that you are not a bad person, and you are definitely not the same kind of person as Dayang's father," Yu Texuan said sincerely, "Although I don't know why you did such a thing, I still want to ask you to come and talk it out, so that you can have a chance to make a clear choice."

"Thank you."

"There is one more thing I hope you can help with." Yu Texuan changed the subject again.

"Please go ahead." Xiao Yao said quickly.

"Look, Dayang is now grown up and almost an adult, and I am old too. But each generation has its own mission and responsibilities. I don't want to leave conflicts to the next generation like my father did."

"What do you mean?" Xiao Yao didn't know what the old man was up to.

Yu Texuan said, "Now that you and Dayang... are in love, and Lihua also recognizes you, I hope you can mediate between me and their mother and daughter, and communicate more with Dayang on a daily basis. It would be best if her mother could come home and admit her mistakes, so that we can reconcile as father and daughter, brothers and sisters, and grandchildren."

"Ah this..."

"I hope you will not refuse," Yu Texuan said, "Blessed are those who make peace, for they will be called children of God."

Hearing that the old man did not pursue the issue of Shen Jie relentlessly, nor did he directly order him to break up with Yu Luying, but instead entrusted him with a very private family matter, Xiao Yao felt a surge of emotion when he heard that the old man had been trusted and valued.

"Actually, I have always been here..." Xiao Yao said, "Uh, I mean, the younger generation will definitely do their best to help. However, at most I can just talk to Dayang about it - uh, talk about it. After all, her mother is an elder and has a strong personality. I am afraid that it is difficult for me, a younger generation, to..."

"I understand, I understand. Just do what you can." Yu Texuan nodded.

Yu Baolu pushed over a bulging envelope.

Yu Texuan continued, "This is a small gift from me. It will help you to spend money. After the matter is done, there will be more important--"

Xiao Yao jumped up suddenly, and pushed the envelope back as if he had received a hot potato: "No, no, no, no, absolutely not, you are embarrassing me."

"You're welcome, my friend." Yu Texuan took a sip of tea and said, "Just consider it as a gift from grandpa."

Xiao Yao hesitated for a moment and said, "Grandpa Yu, logically speaking, this is your Yu family's family affair. As an outsider, I can't do much and I shouldn't get involved. But I'm grateful that you think highly of me and recognize me——"

At this point, the young man saw Yu Baolu sneer and curled his lips.

"So I am willing to do my best to promote peace and harmony, and treat this as my own business." Xiao Yao said, "But firstly, my influence is not strong enough, so I may not be able to play any role. Secondly, I really can't take the money, otherwise you will be slapping me in the face. Thirdly..."

"Okay," Yu Texuan no longer insisted and signaled a bald man to take back the envelope: "Then I'll leave it all to you, little friend. If you need anything, you can contact Paul at any time."

"..." Xiao Yao did not respond.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong, and he needed to give himself a break.

"I, I'm going to the bathroom." Xiao Yao requested.

Chapter 311 Yesterday Reappears

2023-08-28

Watching Xiao Yao push the door and leave the banquet hall, Yu Baolu slightly leaned towards Mr. Yu Texuan and said, "There is obviously a toilet in this private room, why did he go out to use it?"

"It's okay," said old man Yu Texuan, stroking his white beard, "He's a young man, give him some time to buffer, don't push him too hard."

"Dad," Yu Baolu hesitated, "The matter between Lihua and Dayang..."

Speaking of this big sheep - Yu Luying slept until dusk and was awakened by the smell of meat in her mouth.

Seriously, it’s Big Friday, what are you eating secretly?