Accountant Xu was so angry that he couldn’t even sit still. His face turned red with rage, and his voice trembled as he pointed at the family standing before him—his own blood, now united against him.
“Fine, you’re all so capable now, huh? My words mean nothing anymore!” he shouted, clutching his chest dramatically like a wounded hero in a tragedy. “I raised you, fed you, sacrificed everything just so you could all turn around and stab me in the heart!”
His voice cracked with bitterness. “If I had known you’d all become so disobedient and ungrateful, I would’ve saved myself the trouble. Why did I bother at all?!”
As he finished his tirade, his chest heaved up and down, his face pale with exaggerated grief. “Back then, your mother had no job. I bore the burden of this family all by myself, scraping by, doing everything I could to raise you children! And this is how you repay me? What sin did I commit in my past life, , to deserve such a fate? Two children, both born only to defy me!”
Qiuye’s mother was startled. She rushed to his side, her face full of panic and guilt. “Old Xu, the child and I didn’t mean to upset you like this,” she said, voice soft and trembling. “Wenbing is right. The two children are in love. Why should we, as their parents, stand in their way? Besides… I think Shengcai is a good boy too.”
She hesitated, then gently reminded him, “You agreed, didn’t you? You said that if Shengcai got admitted as a teacher in the county seat within a year, you’d allow them to be together. But now, not even a year has passed, and you’re already setting Qiuye up on blind dates. If Shengcai finds out, how hurt will that child be?”
Xu Wenbing also chimed in, his tone firm: “Dad, a promise is a promise. You said that if Brother Shengcai passed the exam, you’d let him and my sister be together. He’s already done half of it—why go back on your word now?”
“And think about it,” he added with persuasion, “once Brother Shengcai becomes a teacher in the county seat, not only will his salary double, but he’ll also be able to stay nearby and look after you and Mom. Wouldn’t that be the best outcome? And if, by any chance, he doesn’t pass the exam, my sister is beautiful and has a stable job—do you really think she won’t be able to find someone good?”
Hearing this, Accountant Xu finally looked a little appeased. Indeed, his daughter was excellent—he never doubted that.
But this wasn’t just about love.
No, his opposition wasn’t baseless. He had his reasons—solid, calculated reasons. The boy from the blind date worked as a driver for the transportation team, one of the most lucrative and respected jobs these days. He traveled across the country, had seen the world, and most importantly—he was the only son. That meant his mother’s earnings would eventually go to Qiuye too.
Unlike Shengcai’s family… Oh, what a mess that was.
Three sons, a shrewish mother, and a household where favoritism reigned like an unchecked storm. If Qiuye married into that family, she’d be destined to suffer. There’d be no peace, no fairness. But with the driver’s family—it would be different. His mother was a factory worker with a good temperament, not one to cause trouble. There would be no bitter competition between brothers or scheming mothers-in-law. Peace. Simplicity. Prosperity.
That was the kind of life Accountant Xu wanted for his daughter.
So he laid everything out, calmly and rationally explaining the pros and cons. But none of them agreed. Especially not Qiuye.
She stood there, her eyes red behind her glasses, caught in the storm between the man who had cherished her since childhood and the boy who had stolen her heart. Her voice was soft but resolute: “Dad, don’t worry. Shengcai will pass. He promised me. I believe in him.”
Meanwhile, in another part of the village, the man in question was happily riding his bicycle home, humming a cheerful tune, unaware of the storm brewing back at Qiuye’s house.
“I’m home, Mom, Little Sister!” Xu Shengcai called out as he wheeled his bicycle into the courtyard.
He didn’t come empty-handed. With a grin, he carefully brought out the items like they were priceless treasures. “These clothes are for Mom—Qiuye picked them. And this hairpin is for you, Little Sis.”
Mother Xu’s face lit up the moment she saw the new clothes. “Oh my! Why buy clothes for me? That Qiuye really is a good girl—so filial!”
Her tone suddenly turned cold and sarcastic as she added, “Unlike some people who, after getting married, don’t even know how to show respect to their mother-in-law.”
Xu Ying quickly tugged on her mother’s sleeve and laughed awkwardly. “Mom, my sister-in-law gives me all the good stuff, and I buy things for you too. Isn’t that the same as her being filial?”
She muttered under her breath, “It’s not like her salary even goes to her… If you didn’t make her hand over all her earnings, she’d probably buy you more.”
Her eldest brother didn’t even have a proper job, and her sister-in-law barely made ten yuan a month—all of which went straight to their mother. If her mother were a character in one of those dramatic novels, she’d definitely be the legendary villainous mother-in-law—but thankfully, she doted on her, the daughter.
Mother Xu scoffed and waved her hand dismissively, pretending not to care. Shengcai chuckled and pulled out more gifts, this time for his sister-in-law and two little nephews. Nothing fancy—just small tokens—but filled with sincerity.
His sister-in-law beamed. She’d always been worried that a city girl like Qiuye would be hard to get along with. But now? Now she realized she had been overthinking it.
“Qiuye is so generous,” she said warmly.
Hearing this, Shengcai’s heart warmed. Qiuye hadn’t just accepted his family—she had embraced them.
But he didn’t linger in the courtyard. After the gift-giving was done, he went straight to his room and buried himself in his books.
Becoming a county teacher wasn’t just a dream for him—it was his mission, his answer to everyone’s doubts.
Meanwhile, Xu Ying admired her new hairpin in the mirror.
“Mom, does it look good?” she asked playfully.
Mother Xu’s eyes twinkled. “My daughter looks like a fairy with that pin. When your third brother comes back, I’ll have him buy you a new dress and some leather shoes to match.”
Leather shoes were no small luxury. Most families could barely afford them, but Xu Ying already had two pairs—one from her third brother, and one from her mother. She used to wear them every day to chase after that boy, Dong Wenzhong. But now, working in a greasy kitchen, she hadn’t worn them once.
“Take tomorrow off,” Mother Xu said. “Put on your pretty shoes and skirt. I’ll take you out to town.”
Xu Ying’s eyes sparkled. “Okay! I’m going to bed now then. Tomorrow, we’re going out like city ladies!”
Her mother nodded in satisfaction, still lovingly stroking the new clothes gifted by Qiuye.
The next morning, Xu Ying woke up naturally, sunlight spilling across her bed. She stretched lazily, savoring the rare luxury of sleeping in.
Everyone else in the Xu family had already gone to work—except Mother Xu and the two little nephews.
As soon as she got up, the boys rushed over excitedly.
“Auntie ! You’re awake!”
“I’ll go get your breakfast!”
“Auntie , here’s your towel—wash your face!”
Xu Ying giggled as she pinched Huzi’s chubby cheeks. The little guy had grown quite round lately, his cheeks squishy and soft. She couldn’t resist—pinching him was her guilty pleasure.
“Huzi is the best!” she declared with a smile.
By the time she finished washing up, Shitou had already set the table with warm porridge, multigrain buns, and scrambled eggs.
Mother Xu returned from her morning stroll just then, still dressed in her new clothes and glowing with contentment.
Seeing her daughter still in yesterday’s clothes, she raised a brow. “Why haven’t you changed yet?”
Her tone was light, but there was a clear hint of anticipation.
After all, what Mother Xu loved most wasn’t just the idea of going out—but going out with her daughter dressed beautifully at her side.
It was her pride. Her joy. Her little moment of glory in a world that didn’t offer many.