Chapter 38: Pan Huijuan’s Opposition

Yang Wei pointed at the backpack basket and said, “Doctor Lan, my cousin is still injured, so I helped him carry some things over.”

Looking at the pile of meat and vegetables on the ground, Lan Mo didn’t know what to say. In these times, eating meat was already difficult—where did Gu Yan’an manage to get so much meat and vegetables?

On the ground near the basket were a live chicken, a live duck, a large grass carp, two cuts of pork belly, a rack of ribs, and two pig trotters.

If it weren’t for the fact that these items weren’t wrapped in red paper, Lan Mo would have suspected Gu Yan’an was delivering betrothal gifts.

“Comrade Gu Yan’an, why did you bring so many things?”

Gu Yan’an smiled and said, “The first visit should be a bit more formal. It’s not much—just some food. Xiao Wei, hurry up and take everything out of the basket!”

Lan Mo watched as Yang Wei pulled out two bottles of Wuliangye, two cans of Malt Extract Milk Powder, two jin of White Rabbit candies, and two boxes of pastries from the basket.

“Comrade Gu Yan’an, this is…”

“The liquor is for Uncle Lan and Elder Brother, the malt extract is for Grandfather and Grandmother, the White Rabbit candies are for Xiao Li’er, and the two boxes of pastries are for Auntie and Elder Sister-in-law.”

Well, a formal visit with gifts for everyone in the family—except her, Lan Mo. Dating? What a joke!

Seeing that Lan Mo seemed a bit unhappy, Gu Yan’an immediately pulled an imported fountain pen from his left trouser pocket, then took out a box of face cream from his right pocket.

“Momo, these are the gifts I prepared for you.”

Yang Wei glanced at the fountain pen—a Parker 51. His cousin was really willing to go all out for Doctor Lan.

Lan Mo looked at the fountain pen and felt it was very familiar. Wasn’t this the pen she had seen upstairs in the department store that day?

Out of so many fountain pens, how did he know she liked this one? This man’s taste was really sharp!

Lan Mo didn’t put on any airs and directly accepted the gifts, saying thank you. Seeing Lan Mo accept the gifts, Gu Yan’an felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey.

Because he knew that once a woman accepted a man’s gifts, it definitely wasn’t just for fun.

Su Mei also knew that the fountain pen wasn’t cheap. Since Momo had actively accepted Xiao Gu’s gifts, what else could she say?

This meant Momo had already accepted him. As long as Momo liked him, she naturally wouldn’t object.

And to be honest, this Gu Yan’an was very thorough in his actions. He had thoughtfully considered everyone in the family, giving different gifts to different people.

Su Mei smiled and said to Gu Yan’an, “Xiao Gu, you’re really too polite. Please sit for a while; I’ll go prepare dinner.”

“Alright, thank you for your hard work, Auntie!”

Lan Mo wasn’t afraid at all of accepting these things without the ability to return them. Even if they really broke up someday, she could just take some valuable items from her space and return them.

Seeing Su Mei about to return to the kitchen empty-handed, Lan Mo quickly picked up the large grass carp from the ground and said, “Mom, since Gu Yan’an is now my boyfriend, let’s accept these things. We’ll have fish tonight—I’ll go help you cook.”

“Momo, you should stay and chat with Xiao Gu and the others.”

“Mom, you should ask Elder Brother to keep them company. I’ll go help you cook. Many hands make light work, so we can eat sooner.”

…

All eight of the hearty dishes on the table tonight were made by Lan Mo. Ye Zhen and Su Mei only helped with washing and cutting vegetables, assisting as needed.

Yang Wei ate the soft, chewy braised pig trotters and couldn’t stop praising them. “Auntie, the braised pig trotters you made today are absolutely delicious—even better than my mother’s.”

“Comrade Xiao Yang, all the dishes tonight were made by my Momo.”

“So it was Doctor Lan who made them? Doctor Lan, you’re amazing!”

Flattery never fails, and Yang Wei gave Lan Mo a thumbs-up.

Lan Yuanzhi also picked up a piece of braised pork trotter, chewing as he said, “I was wondering why tonight’s dishes tasted different—it turns out it was my younger sister’s cooking! Hmm…! Every dish here is a feast for the eyes and palate, little sister, you’re truly remarkable.”

Gu Yan’an stole a glance at Lan Mo, secretly thrilled. Had he hit the jackpot? To have found such a capable partner, whose cooking skills were no less than those of a chef at a state-run restaurant.

He really wanted to marry her soon…

Over the next few days, Gu Yan’an would bring something to Lan Mo’s house every time he went for a meal—fruit and pastries one day, meat or seafood the next, never repeating what he brought. It got to the point where Lan Mo started to think this guy genuinely wanted to marry into her family.

Meanwhile, Pan Huijuan, far away in Jingshi, had no idea that her beloved son Gu Yan’an was living such a lavish and carefree life in Haishi, spending money like water.

When Gu Wenlin handed her the telegram Gu Yan’an had sent, she was utterly shocked.

“Wenlin, could this be a mistake?”

Seeing his wife’s furrowed brow and expression as if she’d swallowed a fly, Gu Wenlin grew annoyed.

“What mistake? This is the telegram Yan’an sent. You were worried when Yan’an wasn’t looking for a partner, and now that he’s found one, you’re acting like this? What exactly do you want?”

Pan Huijuan still refused to believe it was true. She picked up the telegram and read it word by word, from beginning to end, carefully and thoroughly, three times.

Finally, she muttered to herself, “Yan’an really found a partner in Haishi?”

“Why would I lie to you? If he hadn’t found someone, he probably would have been back by now. This is great—our Yan’an is finally settling down and starting a family.”

Gu Wenlin was quite happy to learn that his eldest son had finally found a partner.

Pan Huijuan read the words on the telegram once more, only then snapping out of her nightmare. It turned out her beloved son really had found a partner.

The partner was a girl from Haishi, and from what she’d heard, her family conditions were quite good. She herself was a doctor in the Orthopedics Department, and she was very beautiful. But could a girl like that really be easy to care for?

With a worried look, Pan Huijuan said, “Wenlin, could it be that Yan’an has found some delicate young miss? Haishi has plenty of those.”

“You haven’t even met her, so why jump to conclusions? I trust our Yan’an’s judgment. No matter who he chooses, it’s better than him ending up with a girl from the Bai family.”

“I don’t care if Yan’an finds someone from the Bai family or not, but if he’s with a girl from Haishi, I won’t agree to it.

What use is a delicate young miss once she’s married into the family? Besides, Haishi is so far away—would her family even agree?”

Gu Wenlin retorted, “Didn’t your younger sister Huiqiao marry into Haishi? Is her life there really so terrible?”

Mentioning her younger sister always made Pan Huijuan furious. She said angrily, “Do you know how long my mother cried when Huiqiao married into Haishi? I haven’t seen my younger sister in years.

And who would want their daughter to marry so far away? Don’t say any more—I won’t agree to Yan’an marrying a girl from Haishi. Tomorrow, I’ll send Yan’an a telegram and tell him to come back soon for a matchmaking session.”

Gu Wenlin snatched the telegram from Pan Huijuan’s hand and said angrily, “You’re utterly unreasonable. Fine, I won’t interfere with Yan’an’s affairs anymore. Do whatever you want. Let’s see if Yan’an will listen to you in the end, if he’ll even acknowledge you as his mother…”

“…”

Gu Yan’an had never imagined that his mother would oppose him finding a girl from Haishi. Had he known, he would have been deeply hurt.

They say a mother’s kindness begets a son’s filial piety. He could be his mother’s devoted son, but only on the condition that she not arbitrarily interfere with his marriage or prevent him from marrying the one he loved.