Chapter 31 Basic Requirements for Choosing a Son-in-Law

During my previous conversation with my future father-in-law, I might have been too absolute in some of my statements.

Our family’s private doctor was specifically assigned by higher authorities to serve my grandfather.

In addition to daily health monitoring for the Old Master, the doctor also develops customized health and rehabilitation plans.

The implementation of this entire process aims to prevent problems before they occur.

After all, the Old Master is advanced in years and retired from military service.

What the higher leadership worries about most is the recurrence of his old battlefield injuries.

They also fear he might endure the pain in silence, which led to the arrangement of a private doctor.

For this reason, not just anyone can utilize the Old Master’s personal physician.

However, if this person were his fiancée, Li Beichen believed his grandfather would absolutely agree.

When the Old Master learned he was coming to Lancheng, he specifically instructed Beichen to demonstrate his strengths in every possible aspect.

Stethoscope, steering wheel.

Personnel cadres, salesclerks.

These were the basic criteria the older generation used when selecting sons-in-law.

Although he didn’t belong to any of these professions, he was among the most rare fighter pilots in the national defense forces.

While the profession carried high risks, the corresponding benefits and treatment were truly exceptional.

His grandfather’s intention was for him to showcase his most impressive qualities as much as possible.

Of course, the associated dangers should also be appropriately mentioned.

If only the positives were highlighted without mentioning the negatives, it would border on deception in marriage matters.

Furthermore, after hearing his description, the Old Master had developed considerable fondness for his future granddaughter-in-law.

Were it not for the great distance between the two places, he would have considered making the trip personally.

Based on all these factors, Li Beichen could guarantee that his grandfather would willingly allow his private doctor to treat his fiancée.

However, there was one prerequisite: the patient must be in Jingshi.

If required to leave his primary service target, even with the Old Master’s approval, the private doctor would absolutely refuse.

Perhaps he should discuss this with the Old Master during his upcoming return?

If this matter could be settled, during his next vacation home, he could bring his fiancée to Jingshi for physical recuperation.

With more time alone together, he believed their lifelong commitment would progress further…

Amidst the swirling thoughts in his mind, Li Beichen, lying in bed, gradually grew drowsy.

Under the bright moon and sparse stars, he soon fell into deep sleep.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

At 6:30 in the morning, Shen Shasha remained the earliest riser in the household as usual.

This wasn’t due to anyone’s deliberate hardship imposition nor the Shen family’s demands, but rather her own ingrained habit.

Before marriage.

Her parental family favored sons over daughters, yet compelled by prevailing trends, they allowed her to complete junior high school.

Continuing to high school was clearly impossible, but she refused to return home solely for household chores.

Instead, she took the Woolen Mill’s employment examination and was accepted due to outstanding performance and excellent results.

After joining the Woolen Mill, she met Deng Yaxin, who served as the women’s director.

Perhaps because their temperaments complemented each other, they gradually grew familiar through repeated interactions, leading to occasional home visits.

These exchanges provided opportunities to become acquainted with the Shen family’s third son, Shen Junyue.

Over time, mutual affection developed between them, and marriage naturally followed.

Later came the birth of their first child, Shen Yi.

After the little one’s arrival, Shen Shasha transferred her position at the Woolen Mill and devoted herself to caring for the child and managing simple household chores at home.

Hardly catching a breath after the child became able to run and jump, their second child Shen Hong arrived right after.

The effort required to care for one child versus two was entirely different.

Adding to that, having been away from work for quite some time had made her skills rusty, which led her to abandon the idea of returning to a job.

She settled peacefully at home, taking care of the children while managing household chores.

The Shen family wasn’t the type to make things difficult for their daughter-in-law.

Whenever they got off work early or had days off, everyone pitched in with some housework.

This left no room for conflicts to arise.

Yesterday was an exception.

She had been in the mood to visit her parents’ home, but her mother ended up saying quite a few negative things about her own daughter.

She decided then that she wouldn’t be going back anytime soon and that it was better to focus on taking care of her own family.

Compared to the chaotic life at her parents’ home, life with her in-laws was clearly more livable.

Lost in these scattered thoughts, Shen Shasha quickly finished washing up and headed into the kitchen.

First, she rinsed an appropriate amount of millet and put it into the pot, adding chopped sweet potato pieces before turning up the heat to let it boil vigorously.

To make the breakfast more nutritious, she also boiled six eggs in a smaller pot and steamed two custard eggs.

The boiled eggs were for the six adults, while the steamed eggs were for Little Shen Yi and Little Shen Hong.

With everything prepared,

Shen Shasha sat by the stove to keep an eye on the pots when the sound of a key turning in the lock came clearly from the door.

Since no one else in the house was up yet, she wondered if Fourth Brother and his wife had come for breakfast. She got up and went to the door to check.

There, she saw Shen Guozhong and Li Beichen entering one after the other.

She was a bit surprised.

“Dad, you’re heading out so early?”

“It seems you left quite early, didn’t you?”

If they hadn’t left early, she would have run into them when she got up.

Seeing her wearing an apron and holding a spatula, Shen Guozhong replied cheerfully.

“Making breakfast?”

“You’ve worked hard, taking care of the kids and us adults too.”

When Shen Shasha shook her head dismissively, he continued answering her earlier question.

“I woke up early and went out for a run, only to find this guy had already finished several laps downstairs.”

“Since we ran into each other, we exercised together for a while before coming back.”

Hearing this explanation, Shen Shasha nodded in understanding.

“Dad, you’re really something, getting up early every day to exercise.”

“Not like Junyue, who was still sound asleep when I got up.”

After a brief exchange, remembering that breakfast was almost ready, she added a couple of reminders before heading back to the kitchen.

“Dad, you and Comrade Li should go wash up first.”

“After that, wake the others. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

“Alright, I’ve got it!” Shen Guozhong responded.

Once Shen Shasha had left, he motioned for Li Beichen to use the bathroom first.

“Xiao Li, you go ahead and wash up.”

“I’ll change my clothes and then join you.”

Watching Shen Guozhong gently push the door open and enter the bedroom, Li Beichen turned and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Breakfast started at eight, and by 8:30, the Shen family members had left for work one after another.

Not wanting to be a third wheel, Shen Shasha took Little Shen Yi and Little Shen Hong back to the bedroom.

Looking at the empty living room, Shen Yi’an thought for a moment and came up with an idea. “I’m thinking of going to the Seed Market. Do you want to come along?”

“The Seed Market?” Li Beichen’s voice held a hint of surprise.

“Isn’t it a bit late in the season for sowing seeds?”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an rolled her eyes in a rather ungraceful manner. “Can’t I just go there to take a look?”

Meeting Li Beichen’s amused expression, she then explained somewhat awkwardly, “The Seed Market in Lancheng is different from the one in Jingshi.”

“Over there, it’s because of the wide variety of items—every stall sells all kinds of seeds.”

“Although we also sell seeds here, the outermost area is a free trade zone.”

“Some vendors sell clothes there, while others sell food.”

“In short, you can find all sorts of good and affordable things in that area.”

Hearing this, Li Beichen guessed her little scheme. “Could it be that a certain little greedy cat is using the Seed Market as an excuse to satisfy her cravings?”

“Not at all!” Shen Yi’an replied quickly and urgently.

“I just want to go and take a look.”

“Besides, the food stalls aren’t necessarily always there.”

Hearing this, Li Beichen stood up with a smile. “Since it’s my first time in Lancheng, An An, as a local, should definitely fulfill her duty as a host.”

“Let’s go. If we wait any longer, the sun will be blazing.”

Glancing at the light outside the window, Shen Yi’an didn’t argue this time. She quickly returned to her bedroom, saying, “I’ll grab my bag!”

When she reappeared, she was carrying a crossbody bag embroidered with simple patterns.

After bidding farewell to Shen Shasha and her child, who had retreated into their room, the two of them left the house one after the other.