After Secretary Wei left, Liu Hui worried for a while, but then he relaxed his mind upon reflection. Firstly, he hadn't done the deed, so his conscience was clear. Secondly, the influential figures backing him were currently holding the upper hand, so he wasn't afraid of deliberate sabotage; with their protection, he was quite safe. Thirdly, he had already prepared a fallback plan; if things turned sour, he could simply leave. As for HanTang Hospital, as long as he was there, that was HanTang Hospital. However, how the situation would evolve was beyond his control right now, so worrying was useless.

Liu Hui's parents were arriving in Bashan that afternoon, and he needed to pick them up at the Bashan Water Transport Dock. The road conditions in Pingding Mountain town were terrible, but fortunately, there was a river, making transportation relatively convenient; his father’s factory relied on river transport for its products. This time, his parents refused the car service Liu Hui offered, choosing instead to arrive with one of the factory’s transport barges.

As the afternoon approached, Liu Hui brought Liang Jingyue to the Bashan Dock to await his parents. Liang Jingyue was extremely nervous beforehand, unsure how she should present herself—whether to dress up elegantly or opt for a simple, natural look. Liu Hui laughed heartily, telling her to just wear whatever suited her usual preference. In the end, Liang Jingyue chose the simple and natural look, appearing utterly pure and unforced, like a girl next door.

At three in the afternoon, the barge from Liu Hui’s father’s factory docked. His mother and father walked down onto the pier together. Liu Hui spotted them from the shore and immediately shouted and waved. His parents noticed him right away and walked towards him, carrying their simple luggage.

Liu Hui strode forward and instantly took his parents’ bags. Then, he pulled Liang Jingyue, who stood beside him, forward to introduce them.

“Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend, Liang Jingyue—the one I told you about last time. Jingyue, these are my father and mother.”

“Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie,” Liang Jingyue greeted them very sweetly and properly.

Liu Hui’s father nodded once and said no more. Liu Hui’s mother immediately took Liang Jingyue’s hand, observed her closely, and praised, “So you’re Jingyue. You are wonderful, beautiful and poised. Our Little Hui is truly lucky.”

“Auntie, you flatter me. I’m not nearly as wonderful as you say,” Liang Jingyue replied shyly.

“Mom, Dad, let’s head home first. You must be tired from the boat ride!” Liu Hui was delighted to see how well his mother and Liang Jingyue were getting along.

“Yes, Uncle and Auntie, you’ve had a long journey. Let’s talk when we get back!” Liang Jingyue suggested as well.

“Fine, we’ll talk later. But son, why did you bring so many cars?” His mother was also pleased, though she found the display of cars a bit flashy.

“Haha, they are all our own cars, nothing ostentatious about it. There are plenty of people in the city with more cars than I have!” Liu Hui chuckled.

Liu Hui asked his father to sit in the front passenger seat, while Liang Jingyue helped his mother sit in the back. He drove himself. Escorted by the two cars, they headed towards Liu Hui’s villa outside Bashan City.

His parents hadn't been to Bashan City for several years. Along the way, they marveled at the towering buildings lining Bashan, repeatedly exclaiming how much the city had changed in just a few years. They said if Liu Hui hadn't guided them, they might have gotten lost.

“Bashan has indeed become very beautiful these past few years, but compared to Bashan’s current transformation, I actually wish Bashan hadn’t changed so much,” Liu Hui remarked from the driver's seat.

“Son, why is that? What’s wrong with it being beautiful?” his mother asked.

“Mom, you shouldn't just look at the surface scenery of Bashan. Look closely: all these new buildings are residential complexes and commercial towers. There are hardly any new factories being built. Of course, factories aren't built in the city center, but I haven’t seen any factories going up in the suburbs either; it’s all residential complexes everywhere.”

“Isn’t building residential complexes and commercial towers a good thing? I find it more comfortable to look at,” his father interjected.

“Oh, my dear father, without factories, there is no industry. Without industry, people have no jobs, and if people have no jobs, where does their income come from? Look at how many tall buildings have been built—do you know the price of these buildings? Let me tell you, an ordinary person cannot afford a single apartment even if they didn't eat or drink for their entire life. To buy a house, they have to beg their parents for help, and then still owe high monthly mortgage payments. Without industrial support, people’s incomes aren't secure, and sooner or later, their houses will be repossessed by the bank. If your son hadn’t been lucky, I’d be worrying about housing issues too!” Liu Hui said with a touch of melancholy.

“The country must have its own methods of management; why are you worrying here?” his father said somewhat stubbornly.

“Son, today we are happy to see each other, let’s not talk about these things. Let’s talk about something cheerful,” his mother suggested after seeing Liu Hui’s expression from the back seat.

“Haha, Mom, when I went home last time, I originally wanted to bring Jingyue, but then Jingyue’s grandmother passed away, so we couldn't. This time, when they heard you were coming to Bashan, Jingyue’s parents were very happy too. They’ve arranged to treat you both to a banquet tonight at Juwei Xuan,” Liu Hui said with a smile.

“Oh, our future in-laws are treating us? That doesn’t seem quite right; shouldn’t we be treating them first?” his mother said hesitantly.

“Auntie, it’s no trouble at all. My parents were very happy to hear you were coming; they kept saying they wanted to meet the parents who raised their son so well,” Liang Jingyue said, linking arms with his mother, subtly giving her a compliment.

“Decheng, then let’s go meet the in-laws tonight. We can treat them another day, how about that?” the mother said to the father.

“Wife, you decide,” the father replied, displaying the consistent nature of a good husband who listens to his wife.

The family chatted casually inside the car. Liang Jingyue introduced the scenery along the way in Bashan to Liu Hui’s parents, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

The cars quickly arrived at Liu Hui’s villa in the suburbs. Upon entering, the father couldn't contain himself and exclaimed in admiration repeatedly, while the mother showed no particular reaction to the luxurious furnishings inside the villa.

Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue settled their parents in. The father chatted casually with Liu Hui in the living room, while the mother took Liang Jingyue into a room for a private conversation. After a while, Liang Jingyue emerged with a beaming smile.

The parents were quite tired from the boat trip, so Liu Hui let them rest a bit longer. At six in the evening, Liu Hui woke them up, and they set off together for Juwei Xuan’s main branch in Bashan. Liang Jingyue had returned to her own home earlier and was traveling with her parents.

At the entrance of Juwei Xuan, Liang Bo and Qiu Yue were waiting with Liang Jingyue. Liu Hui parked his car and led his parents toward Liang Bo’s family.

“Mom and Dad, these are Liang Jingyue’s parents. Uncle and Auntie, these are my parents.” Liu Hui made the introductions.

“In-laws, we finally meet! Little Liu has always spoken so highly of you; I’ve long wanted to meet you,” Qiu Yue said, unexpectedly taking the lead in speaking.

“Haha, we should also thank you for taking such good care of and cherishing Little Hui,” the mother replied modestly.

“Let’s not stand by the door. We should go inside to talk,” Liang Bo said with a smile.

So, the group was led by a waiter into Juwei Xuan’s finest private room. At a long table, Liu Hui and his parents sat on one side, and Liang Jingyue and her parents sat on the other.

The private room was lavishly decorated, appearing noble and elegant. The father seemed a bit uncomfortable being seated inside, but the mother chatted enthusiastically with Liang Bo and the others, looking perfectly composed. Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue occasionally stole glances at each other, experiencing a novel sensation of their hearts quickening.

Liu Hui’s mother and Liang Bo’s family exchanged pleasantries, sharing amusing anecdotes about the two young people’s courtship. The father listened with a smile.

“…and so they fell in love. As parents, we fully approve of their relationship. Now that we have met, let’s settle some matters,” Liang Bo said after chatting with Liu Hui’s parents, moving on to the main point.

“Well, since you don’t object, and we are very pleased with Jingyue, let’s discuss their marriage,” the father stated, demonstrating the demeanor of the head of the household despite his usual brevity.

“In that case, tonight’s gathering shall serve as an engagement banquet for the two children. We generally dislike ostentation, so let’s keep it low-key for now and have a grand celebration when they actually marry?” Qiu Yue suggested.

“I think that sounds perfect. We agree to the engagement today. However, we arrived in such haste, we haven’t prepared any gifts, which feels a bit improper according to custom?” Liu Hui’s mother said with some embarrassment.

“Haha, neither of our families is small-minded. Your coming here shows your sincerity; let’s dispense with the formalities,” Qiu Yue laughed.

“Thank you so much for your understanding. Then, from this moment on, we are in-laws. Do you have any requirements regarding the time, place, and manner of the wedding?” the mother asked with a smile.

“We have no particular requirements; we will follow your customs,” Liang Bo concluded.

“Very well, let’s set the wedding date for May 1st next year,” the mother decided decisively.

“That works. We’ll need to start preparing a lot then,” Qiu Yue said happily.

“Sigh!” Seeing that the wedding date was settled and his daughter was soon to be married, Liang Bo couldn't help but sigh with a touch of sadness.

“Please forgive my husband. He adores this daughter, and seeing her about to leave home makes him a little sentimental,” Qiu Yue explained with a smile.

“We understand. Please rest assured, when Jingyue marries into our family, we will treat her just like our own daughter and never let her suffer any grievance,” the mother promised.

“Ah! My daughter has been pampered since childhood; we’ve spoiled her rotten. If there are any things she does that displease you after she joins your family, please be patient and understanding,” Qiu Yue’s eyes reddened as she spoke.

“Our Xiaohui can be a bit stubborn at times, but we trust that the young couple can resolve their own issues. As for us, their happiness is our primary goal; we will treat them with tolerance,” the mother emphasized.

With the discussion of the wedding date concluded, the food was served. It was indeed the main branch of Juwei Xuan, and the taste was exquisite; the parents ate very happily. The father and Liang Bo even started drinking together, and their bond quickly warmed, leading them to call each other sworn brothers. The mother and Qiu Yue also exchanged thoughts on managing a household; although the mother didn’t live in a major city, her vast knowledge greatly impressed Qiu Yue.

Seeing that both sets of parents approved of their relationship and had even settled the wedding matters, Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue felt a great weight lifted from their chests. Their hands deliberately brushed against each other under the table, deepening their affection. If their parents hadn't been present, perhaps there would have been a sudden spark, a direct blaze between dry tinder and raging fire.

After the meal, both Liu Hui’s parents and Liang Jingyue’s parents were very satisfied. They arranged another meeting time before taking their leave. To Liu Hui’s disappointment, Liang Jingyue went home with her parents, leaving his surging enthusiasm nowhere to be vented.

The preliminary exposition of this volume is concluded; the plot has begun to unfold and is about to enter a major development phase. Dear readers, please continue to pay attention!

Qian Yu has recently had a question: why hasn't anyone given me a tip in a long time? Did I perhaps set something that prevents tipping? Haha, this is all a joke, don't take it seriously!

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