"Your brother Zhenghao's marriage application has already been submitted. Unlike you guys who haven't even shown a hint of progress yet."
Shen Xianjun spoke with a hint of envious frustration.
"Zhenghao is moving that fast?"
Li Wu was shocked.
"It's not really that fast. Zhenghao has waited for Yaoyao for three years. Now that Yaoyao's career is stable, their marriage is just a natural next step."
Hu Zhenghao hadn’t been quick to figure things out either. Having spent most of his time in the military, his mind had been solely focused on building a career.
It wasn’t until three years ago, when he was severely injured during a mission and had to recuperate, that Zhou Ang realized her eldest son wasn’t getting any younger. He had always been too busy, never showing any special interest in any girl around him, so she arranged a blind date for him.
As luck would have it, Yaoyao had also reached the age where marriage was expected. Fang Fen, seeing her daughter reluctant to settle down, had also pushed her into a blind date.
Having grown up in the same compound and living close by, there were only a few suitable places nearby for such meetings.
Both of them, eager to end the awkward encounter quickly, tried to leave at the same time—only to bump into each other. Yaoyao recognized Hu Zhenghao immediately.
"Zhenghao, you’re back in Beijing! Let’s grab a meal together."
Yaoyao extended the invitation, and Hu Zhenghao froze for a long moment before nodding in agreement.
The little sister he used to play with had grown up—and she was stunning, poised and graceful.
When he learned that she, too, had been forced into a blind date, an idea flashed in his mind.
"What do you think of me, Yaoyao? We grew up together, and you know my family well. We’re practically familiar with each other’s roots."
Yaoyao studied Hu Zhenghao. He wasn’t bad-looking, and his military bearing gave him a reassuring presence.
"Zhenghao, of course you’re a good match. But I don’t want to marry so soon—I only came today to appease my mom."
"Then isn’t this perfect? We can get engaged first to settle our parents’ worries. Marriage is a lifelong commitment—we can take this time to evaluate each other and see how things go."
His priority was securing his claim first.
Over the next three years, Hu Zhenghao spent every leave accompanying Yaoyao to various events (as long as they didn’t violate military discipline), making sure any man who showed interest in her knew she was taken.
"What about Wang Xing?" Li Wu thought for a moment. Zhenghao really was at the right age.
"Wang Xing got together with Jiabao—she made the first move."
"Wang Xing is training to be a diplomat. Jiabao loves traveling abroad—won’t that be a hassle later?"
"Last time Jiabao was traveling overseas, her belongings got stolen. The local police were useless, so she went to the embassy. Wang Xing was there, and they hit it off."
Plus, Wang Xing had the refined, scholarly look that Qian Jiabao adored.
"Your sister Qingqing is also settling down soon. Among all of you who grew up together, by age, you two are already adults. Next in line are Miaomiao, Zhengran, and Xingxing—Xingxing is the youngest, so no rush yet."
Qin Nian added a comment.
"The state encourages late marriage and childbirth. Mom, you and Dad were busy back then too. Arranged child marriages are outdated customs—you guys didn’t marry that early either."
Li Wu considered it. If he couldn’t take inspiration from his friends, he might as well turn the argument back on his parents.
Shen Xianjun had nothing to say. When the kids were little, their grandmother had helped raise them. As they grew older and excelled in school, they became the kind of children others envied.
But when both sons enlisted in the military, he and his wife had assumed Li Wen wouldn’t join—after all, he loved studying information technology and could easily enter a lab with their family’s resources.
Yet their expectations were shattered. Both sons chose the navy, spending most of the year at sea. How were they supposed to find partners? If something happened on the same ship…
But their younger son had always been strong-willed, even as a child. Now, as an adult, he was even more unyielding.
Middle-aged, Shen Xianjun found himself gripped by regret and longing for the days when his mother was still alive.
If he had stood by her more as a child, would his grandmother have treated her so harshly? If he hadn’t resented her control and tried to escape it as an adult, would she have worked herself so hard?
If he had consulted her before marriage, would things have turned out better? Looking back, he saw too many mistakes—so many that he couldn’t forgive his younger self.
His mother had been so healthy, yet she hadn’t outlived Aunt Guixiang. Even Uncle had lasted until last year, despite their family’s endless troubles.
Regret was useless now. Outside of work, Shen Xianjun devoted more attention to his sons.
He had only brought it up casually, not insisting on anything—but he couldn’t help feeling envious of his brother-in-law Hu Jun, who had shamelessly flaunted his son’s success.
Hu Zhenghao and Wang Xing’s positions were special, so their weddings were grand yet low-key, attended only by close friends and family.
Qingqing, now a designer, had a much livelier celebration. Following the principle of "keeping good things within the family," Qian Jiabao’s younger cousin had long had his eye on Qingqing. They met often, and with Qingqing’s design talent gaining international recognition, he wasn’t about to let her slip away.
With so many sons in the family, letting one marry into another household wasn’t a big deal—especially since both sides agreed that one child would take the father’s surname, the other the mother’s.
Qingqing had made her requirements clear early on. What could the groom’s family say? Their son was practically throwing himself at her, eager to be polished and perfumed before being handed over. There was no stopping him—so why bother trying?
"Your old man told you to work hard enough to get into the same school as them. But you went above and beyond—you just brought the whole family home instead. Quite the unconventional approach."
Boss Qian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"Dad, just tell me—are you satisfied with this son-in-law or not?"
"Satisfied? Of course I’m satisfied! Our ancestors must have blessed us for you to pull this off."
No question about it—Boss Qian was beyond pleased with this son-in-law.
"Nian, marrying you in this lifetime is my greatest fortune."
Shen Xianjun clasped Qin Nian’s hand tightly.
"Having a mother-in-law like yours is mine."
The End
