After lunch, Yang Jian drove Chen Xiaoli home. According to rural customs, a girl could not stay overnight at a boy's house without a matchmaker's introduction. Otherwise, she would be ridiculed by the villagers, and Chen Xiaoli's parents would not agree. This made the young couple, who had long wanted to taste forbidden fruit, extremely frustrated.
Chen Xiaoli's home was in Chenjiachong, near the eastern mountains, more than forty kilometers from Yang Jian's home. They had to pass through the town center and Songjiacun.
The two bought a large pile of gifts in the town center. Since Chen Xiaoli's father had two brothers, gifts had to be sent to each family, and also to her grandparents, for whom more high-end health products were needed.
Upon arriving at Chenjiachong, Yang Jian discovered that the Chen family's conditions were indeed very good. Three luxurious Western-style houses stood side-by-side at the entrance of the village, forming a stark contrast with the low, flat houses behind the village. It was clear that Chen Xiaoli's family was the wealthiest in the village.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back. This is Yang Jian."
As the car drove into the yard, Chen Xiaoli jumped out and introduced Yang Jian to her parents, who were already waiting.
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt."
Yang Jian was a bit shy and nervous about meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time.
He had learned beforehand that Chen Xiaoli's father, Chen Zhongyun, had just turned sixty and retired as the deputy director of the district commercial bank. Her mother, Wu Yi, was also a retired bank employee. They had a house in town but preferred rural life after retirement to care for their nearly ninety-year-old parents.
Chen Xiaoli had an older brother who worked in a large state-owned bank and was already married with children, living in Hancheng.
Chen Xiaoli's paternal uncle, Chen Mengyun, was a retired government official, and her third uncle was Manager Chen, Chen Jiyun. Each of these three families had two children, but Chen Xiaoli was the only girl, making her the princess of the Chen family.
"Good, good, good. Xiao Yang, you're over 1.8 meters tall, aren't you? You're a handsome young man."
Chen Zhongyun was a bit thin but looked very young and had the demeanor of a leader. He was very enthusiastic towards Yang Jian.
"Yes, Uncle, I'm 1.8 meters tall."
Yang Jian felt a bit embarrassed by the compliment but didn't notice Wu Yi's sullen expression beside him.
"Come inside quickly, it's cold outside."
Chen Zhongyun helped Yang Jian carry the gifts from the trunk into the house. Wu Yi, on the other hand, pulled her daughter inside, not saying a word to Yang Jian from beginning to end.
"Xiaoli, are you out of your mind? You actually listened to your uncle and are dating this rural boy? I told you on the phone that I didn't agree. You still brought him home. Are you deliberately trying to anger me?"
Wu Yi called her daughter into the room and reprimanded her in a low voice.
Chen Xiaoli, however, replied with a giggle, "Mom, Yang Jian is really excellent, and Uncle really appreciates him."
"Excellent my foot! Not only does he have a rural household registration, but he didn't even go to university, and his reputation isn't good. Don't you know he's a hooligan? Wasn't it him who caused such a stir in town in the first half of the year?"
"Mom, I won't allow you to talk about Yang Jian like that. What he did in the first half of the year was because others bullied his sister and brother-in-law, and he had no choice but to retaliate. He's not a hooligan. Besides, what's wrong with a rural household registration? As long as you can make money, you won't live any worse than city people."
"I don't care. I don't agree with your relationship. Your sister-in-law is planning to introduce you to their bank manager's son. After the New Year, you'll go work at your brother and sister-in-law's bank."
Wu Yi looked down on Yang Jian, the rural boy, from the bottom of her heart. For her own dignity and her daughter's happiness, she was determined to break them up.
Chen Xiaoli, however, was not afraid of her. "I don't care either. I just like Yang Jian, and I won't leave him."
"Are you foolish, child? Everyone is flocking to big cities, but you want to marry into the countryside. Xiaoli, Mom is doing this for your own good. Don't be fooled by Yang Jian's looks. There are plenty of better-looking boys. Your sister-in-law sent me the photo of that bank manager's son. He's no worse-looking than Yang Jian, and he's a top student from a prestigious university."
Before Wu Yi could finish speaking, Chen Xiaoli interrupted her, "Oh please, a top student from a prestigious university, the son of a bank manager, a proper rich young master. Would he fancy a junior college student like me? Mom, don't you know your daughter's worth? My looks are average, and I barely managed to get a junior college diploma. With such qualifications, wanting to marry into a wealthy family is just asking for trouble. What status would I have if I married into one? I want to marry Yang Jian. His whole family will dote on me. With Yang Jian's ability, earning a million or so a year is easy. Wouldn't such a life be better than that so-called wealthy family? Do you really think Uncle's judgment is that bad that he would push me into a fire pit?"
Chen Xiaoli's words left Wu Yi speechless. Upon reflection, they did make some sense.
While the mother and daughter were having a heated argument, Yang Jian and Chen Zhongyun were chatting enthusiastically in the living room.
"Xiao Yang, my third brother told me that you started taking on engineering projects at twenty-two and have a good grasp of site management. That shows he really appreciates you."
"Not at all, Uncle. My good site management is also due to your support."
"Don't be modest. He told me that after the current project is finished, he wants to introduce you to projects in Hancheng to manage independently. He also said your cousin is unreliable and will only drag you down. Once you accumulate enough capital, he wants you to take on large-scale contracting. He believes you have the potential to become a big boss."
Chen Zhongyun clearly liked Yang Jian very much and always spoke with a smile.
"Thank you for your praise, Uncle. I do have plans to develop in the construction industry and am preparing for the certified constructor qualification exam."
"Hmm, young people should continuously learn to enrich themselves. No matter what field you're in, you should strive to be a benchmark. Although you only graduated from high school, I have high hopes for you. Xiaoli will not suffer with you."
Yang Jian nodded solemnly. "Uncle, please rest assured. Xiaoli is a princess in the Chen family, and in the Yang family, she will be treated like a treasure, and I won't let her suffer any grievances."
"Good, that's what I want to hear. I hope you keep your word, because Xiaoli has been pampered since she was a child and can be a bit willful. It's rare for her to be so devoted to you. As long as you don't let her down, I will help you grow big and strong in the construction industry. Although I'm retired, I still have some resources in terms of financing."
Chen Zhongyun's words were very direct: my daughter has some flaws, you have to indulge and appease her. As long as you can do that, I can help you turn things around and become a boss. Of course, he also wanted his daughter to live a good life and not be wronged.
Yang Jian was naturally very excited. His father-in-law's words were incredibly encouraging. Someone who had been a bank director had a unique advantage in financing. If he could get his support, he could realize his dream of becoming a general contractor quickly.
This society is very realistic. Without resources and connections, it is too difficult to achieve something, especially in the construction industry, where capital is the most crucial element. Even if you have connections and can get projects, if you don't have money, you can only be an intermediary, earning some referral fees, while others make the big money.