Chapter 116: Chapter 116

The dinner was prepared by Tian Xiang.

Hu Honglian was sulking in the room all the time and didn’t come out, so Tian Weibing took the meal to her room.

Looking at the bowl of dough pieces, Hu Honglian kept sighing, and she almost couldn’t eat.

Tian Weibing advised her, "Some things can’t be rushed. If you keep bottling up your anger, you’re just hurting your body. If you really make yourself sick from it, no one will be able to handle Xiangxiang’s matter."

Hu Honglian didn’t want to be at odds with her daughter, but...

She didn’t know how to express it, but she was very disappointed this time, feeling that her daughter was not close to her anymore because of a man.

Tian Weibing: "Young people, it’s inevitable to have these matters. We were young once too."

Hu Honglian only started working after marrying her husband; before that, the Tian family’s matriarch even looked down on her for not earning money and didn’t agree to their marriage.

But Tian Weibing insisted on marrying her, and that’s how they ended up together.

Thinking about this made Hu Honglian feel a bit better.

Feelings are something that easily cloud one’s mind, and her daughter is presently clouded.

Hu Honglian ate her dinner and at bedtime said to her husband, "I can’t just slack off. Xiangxiang’s mind is hazy and unclear, and the only ones who can help her are us, her family. Tomorrow I’ll go find Granny Liu and see if there’s someone suitable for Xiangxiang."

Still searching, huh!

Tian Weibing thought their daughter had hit a dead end, and this matter needed to cool down first, but Hu Honglian was also stubborn. Tian Weibing knew he couldn’t persuade her, so he didn’t say much to avoid upsetting her.

The next day, Hu Honglian went to the Convenience Store by the bridge while buying groceries.

In the past, whenever she visited, Granny Liu would greet her with a smile, as Tian Xiang was quite a favorite on Red Fifth Street, having a good job at the Mechanical Factory. Everyone loved such a young girl.

But today, Granny Liu looked at Hu Honglian and furrowed her brows.

"Sister Honglian, not to lecture you! Your precious daughter now has a boyfriend, so there’s no reason to continue looking outside. It’s being irresponsible to the young man..."

After being scolded by Granny Liu, Hu Honglian quickly understood the situation.

It turned out that Zhou Ming had come by yesterday and informed Granny Luo about Tian Xiang seeing someone.

Because they hadn’t watched the movie and got ambushed, Zhou Ming was in a bad mood. He came and blamed Granny Liu for not clarifying Tian Xiang’s situation, causing him to lose face.

Actually, Zhou Ming already knew Tian Xiang was seeing someone; he was just there to steal her away. He had kept those matters hidden before, and now that his attempt failed and he got assaulted, he angrily retaliated.

Granny Liu didn’t know about these details and could only blame it on Hu Honglian.

When Hu Honglian first looked for a partner for her daughter, she thought Tian Xiang and Meng Cheng’an merely had an interest in each other, not a relationship.

But now, the two definitely already had a relationship in private.

Knowing that her daughter refused to watch the movie with Zhou Ming outright, causing him to waste his ticket, had Hu Honglian fuming, apologizing to Granny Liu, not buying groceries, and returning home distraught.

Tian Chenhui was off today, not allowed to run around at home, so he slept deeply. Getting up close to noon, he saw Hu Honglian sitting dazedly at the dining table, with the grocery basket beside her empty.

Tian Chenhui was puzzled, "Mom, what’s wrong?"

At her son’s question, Hu Honglian couldn’t hold back, bursting into tears.

After decades of being strong, it was the first time she’d been scolded like that, and she felt terrible.

Tian Chenhui was frightened and hurried over to console her.

Wiping her tears, Hu Honglian recounted the morning’s events.

"Chenhui, do you think that your sister’s heart is now all invested in Meng Cheng’an, to the point that she doesn’t even care about this family or me as her mother?"

Hu Honglian was angry at her daughter for not listening to her because of a man, and also felt that her own importance in her daughter’s heart had diminished.

She used to be the most important person in her daughter’s life; now that position had been taken by some foul man, and it made her upset.

With both his younger sister and mother, Tian Chenhui didn’t know how to advise them.

Hu Honglian also knew that on such matters, her son wasn’t on the same page as her, so she didn’t say much, packing a few clothes and stating she would stay at her maternal home for a few days.

"You guys figure out your meals on your own; I’m tired and need a break."

Tian Chenhui was dumbfounded.

He had seen many women who went back to their parents’ home after quarrelling with their husbands, but he’d never seen someone do it after a spat with their daughter!

"Mom, is that necessary?"

Hu Honglian lamented, "Why isn’t it necessary? I’m going to see whether I’m more important as her mother or that man she’s known for just six months."

Hu Honglian left some cash and food coupons with her son and left.

That afternoon, Tian Xiang biked back, seeing her second brother carrying a grocery basket at the alley entrance.

What was up with him, volunteering to do chores for the family?

Tian Xiang was quite surprised and jokingly exchanged a few words with Tian Chenhui.

But Tian Chenhui couldn’t muster any enthusiasm, looking helplessly at her.

Returning home, Tian Xiang found out her mother had left in anger for her maternal home.

Tian Xiang didn’t know what to say.

Then there was Zhou Ming; he knew she was seeing Meng Cheng’an but insisted on having a matchmaker set them up, even going over to provoke Meng Cheng’an, almost getting grilled.

The matter didn’t work out, fine, she had already clarified with him.

Who knew he would stir things up with Granny Liu like that.

At this moment, Tian Weibing also came back, hearing about Hu Honglian returning to her maternal home, and was left speechless.

The siblings cooked that evening, making cornmeal pancakes and vegetable egg drop soup.

During dinner, Tian Weibing told his daughter, "Take a half day off tomorrow afternoon, bring your mom back."

Only the person who started the problem can solve it; only Tian Xiang could handle this matter.

Tian Xiang nodded sullenly, "I understand."

Next day, Tian Xiang was absentminded at work. During lunch, Meng Cheng’an asked her, "What’s wrong?"

Tian Xiang: "My mom’s having a fit."

She didn’t want to talk about family issues but feared Meng Cheng’an might overthink.

Meng Cheng’an pursed his lips, looking like he’d done something wrong.

Of course, it was indeed his fault; knowing the family didn’t approve, he still absconded with their daughter.

"So what should we do now?"

Meng Cheng’an didn’t want Tian Xiang to have conflicts with her family, but giving up was never an option for him.

Tian Xiang: "It’s nothing. This day would have come sooner or later; I’ll go persuade and bring her back in the afternoon."

Meng Cheng’an: "How about I go with you?"

He wanted to plead with Hu Honglian and gain approval for their relationship.

Tian Xiang waved her hand, "No, no. Better you don’t appear for now, or things will get even more complicated."

"By the way, have there been any news lately about your grandfather? When is he coming back?"