Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 232: Preparations Before Attending the Wedding Banquet

The father and daughter returned to Nanyu, and as soon as they entered the house, Lin Yi came running out with a spatula, looking Chen Xinyue up and down with concern, "You’ve lost weight, and you look worn out! You must have suffered abroad! Poor thing, your parents are really ruthless, how could they bear to let you go all alone to those foreign places, not worried at all, it’s really infuriating!

Quick, quick, come in, Grandpa has prepared a big watermelon for you, and there’s ice cream, oh, and a cake, your mom made it before she left this morning, it’s in the fridge, smells great, go eat!"

Lin Yi kept talking non-stop, not giving Chen Xinyue a chance to get a word in.

It wasn’t until they entered the living room that Chen Xinyue said, half-amused, "Grandpa, I want to eat your steamed cod, braised prawns, braised pork, mushroom chicken soup, boiled pork belly, and fried rice with eggs!"

As soon as Lin Yi heard this, he immediately called the wholesale store to have them deliver some ingredients.

Then he turned to rinse the rice and start cooking.

Chen Ruiyu, Chen Ruiming, and Xu Xinyi returned from the gym and saw Chen Xinyue in the kitchen helping Lin Yi, all gathering around her.

The two younger ones embraced Chen Xinyue affectionately, bombarding her with questions.

Chen Xinyue patiently answered.

Lin Yi, seeing the kids laughing and getting along, didn’t say a word, but was overjoyed inside, urging the kids to help out, "Tonight Grandpa is making a feast for you all, hurry and help out."

The kids cheered in unison, circling around the kitchen.

When Lin Qin came home from work, the meal was almost ready, and she and her daughter embraced warmly for a while before sitting down at the table together.

During the meal, Lin Yi kept putting food on Chen Xinyue’s plate, smiling as he said, "It’s good to have you back. Have you thought about where you want to work? Whether to take a public service or teaching exam like others, or if you don’t like that, you could go to your mom’s company, or your dad’s side, or even open your own store. Over the years, Grandpa has bought each of you a storefront, so even if you do nothing, you won’t starve."

This was Lin Yi’s pride and joy.

Seeing Lin Yi so happy, Chen Xinyue couldn’t bring herself to reveal her plans, simply smiling vaguely, "Grandpa, I’m not in a hurry. As you said, we have resources, we won’t go hungry. Besides, I’ve studied abroad and have my own dreams and aspirations!"

Her haughty little expression made everyone burst into laughter.

Chen Wenjun timely changed the subject, "Dad, Xinyue is still young, she’s been studying all these years and hasn’t had a proper break. Now that she’s just graduated, we should let her relax for a few years. As long as she’s in the country, she can do whatever she wants."

Instead of worrying about her, you should be concerned about Ah Jian. The boy is almost twenty-seven years old according to virtual age. He’s been thriving in Guangdong Province these years, but he’s not coming back, nor is he finding a partner, and my sister and Dahai are about to go crazy. Every time they call, they talk about it for half the day."

Lin Yi thought about it and agreed that Chen Wenjun made sense, "That kid Ah Jian is indeed not behaving well. Being the oldest of this generation, he hasn’t set a good example! I’ll call him later and ask him properly. If he doesn’t have a girlfriend, Yaya can see if she has any good sisters to introduce to him. I think your friends are all pretty good."

The conversation then turned back to Chen Xinyue.

She quickly offered a smile, agreeing first before saying more.

After the meal, Chen Xinyue and Chen Ruiyu went for a walk in the fields to digest their food.

The summer evening river breeze dispersed the heat of the day; on the horizon, a cluster of evening clouds lingered until they faded, signaling the nightfall.

Around them, the sound of cicadas, birds, frogs, and insects buzzed lively.

Following behind Chen Ruiyu, Chen Xinyue casually asked, "Brother, all these years going to college and abroad, you haven’t had a girlfriend?"

"Why are you suddenly nosy about my affairs?" Chen Ruiyu turned around, amused, looking at his tall and graceful sister. Seeing her curious and persistent eyes, he helplessly smiled, "I’m rather low-profile, and due to health reasons, most girls’ first reaction when they see me is pity. Once I spot that kind of look, I instinctively keep my distance from them.

Plus, due to my biological mother’s situation, honestly, I don’t enjoy casually approaching the opposite sex, so isn’t it normal not to date?"

"No, no..." Chen Xinyue walked up beside Chen Ruiyu, "Brother, not all girls are like that! Like Mom, I vaguely remember when she married Dad, our family was so poor. We could only squeeze into the cabin and couldn’t even lift our heads. That time, Mom was very good to Dad and you; they supported each other to get where we are today.

Even now, their relationship is particularly good; Mom can share joys and sorrows. You are their son, and the love they have, you can surely have too!"

Chen Xinyue spoke with great certainty.

Chen Ruiyu was indeed encouraged by her, smiling brightly, "Great! I’ll take your good word for it. By the way, when Grandpa asked about your next move earlier, why didn’t you say anything? Are you planning not to stay in An City?"

Feeling guilty, Chen Xinyue nodded, "I want to return to the capital. Dad and Mom have both bought us houses there, and our household registration is still there. There’s no reason to come back and do nothing; otherwise, what would my hard work all these years have been for?

One must strive to prove one’s value in life; my requirements aren’t high, just give me a few years to see how far I can go, so I won’t have regrets in the future."

Chen Ruiyu genuinely supported her idea, deliberately lowering his voice to offer a reminder, "Talk to Mom and let her help; at least she should first persuade Grandpa."

When people get old, they long for their children and grandchildren to be around. Lin Yi raised them, so the bond is anything but ordinary. He absolutely won’t want to part with Chen Xinyue, letting her go to the capital alone.

Chen Xinyue nodded distressfully.

In the following days, she stayed home to accompany Lin Yi, occasionally going out shopping with Lin Qin for pretty clothes, bags, shoes, and jewelry.

All in preparation for attending the wedding banquets. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Soon, it was the day of Xue and Zhang families’ marriage alliance. The wedding was held at the An City Hotel. Chen Xinyue donned a custom-made champagne-colored fitted mermaid dress by Lin Qin, with her hair styled into big, voluminous waves by a hairstylist who came to the house, wearing a delicate diamond headband, small pearl earrings, paired with a set of pink gemstone jewelry, she looked like a young socialite heiress.

Lin Qin was full of one hundred satisfactions, "Young girls should dress like this, so youthful and beautiful!"

Lin Yi echoed repeatedly, "Yes, yes, your mom has a good eye, this whole set looks so charming!"

Chen Xinyue laughed helplessly, "Mom, Grandpa, I’m not the one getting married, why dress me up like this? Besides, I don’t like this color of the dress, I prefer that black velvet one, I want to wear that."

"Hey! The champagne color suits you, black doesn’t look good!" Lin Yi hurriedly persuaded her.

Chen Xinyue insisted on changing, and the two couldn’t persuade her, so they had to compromise.