Chapter Five: Iron Blood and Tenderness Entwined at the Fingertips (5)

However, no one paid any mind to her little schemes; the Gao family was truly harmonious and joyful.

Gao Dingzhong told his parents everything, including the fact that his future father-in-law had renamed him Gao Dingzhong.

His parents not only had no objections but were very supportive. Their limited education meant that the name "Daguì" was already the best they could come up with.

Now, with an educated, experienced elder giving him such a dignified and elegant name, they were overjoyed.

Fan Sijin greatly admired this simple, genuine elderly couple, as from them one could see how Gao Dingzhong’s character had been shaped.

At noon, Gao’s mother prepared a table full of dishes. Before cooking, she even carefully inquired about Fan Sijin’s dietary preferences and taboos, barely paying attention to her own son.

Gao Dingzhong joked from the side, “Anyone who didn’t know would think A Jin is the real daughter, and I was picked up from outside.”

Gao’s father laughed and playfully tapped Gao Dingzhong with his walking stick. “You, you weren’t picked up from outside either. Come, tell me how your work is going.”

Naturally, Gao’s father cared most about his son’s career. A man without some ability would be unable to support even his wife, which would be laughable.

He inquired in detail about Gao Dingzhong’s work since retiring from the military. Hearing that his son was still studying and had become a leader in a large company, he felt reassured.

Still, Gao’s father repeatedly urged him to work diligently and treat Fan Sijin well, never to disappoint his future father-in-law’s expectations and trust.

Gao Dingzhong nodded one by one. He was a very filial son. Even if he had reservations in his heart, he had agreed to the engagement out of respect for his parents.

In front of the elderly Gao couple, Fan Sijin gave Gao Dingzhong plenty of face, acting demure and obedient.

Gao’s mother looked at her and exclaimed that this girl was so endearing and that she adored her immensely, hardly wanting to let her leave.

Gao Dingzhong chuckled foolishly; no one was happier than him that his wife was loved by his parents.

He understood the truth of “a harmonious family prospers all things.” Although privately, he was often scolded by his wife, that was alright… a man should be content as long as his wife gave him a little face.

Seizing the pleasant atmosphere, Gao Dingzhong took the opportunity to propose bringing the elderly couple to live together with them in the capital.

Gao’s parents had never been to the capital; the furthest they had traveled was the nearby town. They were reluctant to leave their old home and those few acres of land.

Moreover, Fan Sijin was willing to marry their ordinary son, which they already felt very fortunate about. How could they possibly trouble her further?

In fact, it was Fan Jianguo’s idea to bring Gao’s parents to the capital.

He kept Gao Dingzhong close and naturally could not let his parents remain in the countryside all their lives. The home was large but quiet with few people; adding two more residents was no big deal. To raise a son like Gao Dingzhong, the elderly couple must indeed be capable.

After some persuasion, they finally agreed to move only after Gao Dingzhong and Fan Sijin registered their marriage.

The old couple could not bear to leave their house and longtime neighbors, fearing loneliness in the big city.

They had heard that city dwellers didn’t even know the names of the neighbors living right next door and thought it would be stifling.

Fan Sijin was only eighteen, nineteen by East Asian reckoning. Marriage was still several years away, so the elders felt it was fine to stay in the countryside a few more years and then hold the wedding.

Before Gao Dingzhong arrived, there were concerns about Fan Sijin adjusting to rural life; over the past year, he had come to know her delicate nature well.

But to his surprise, she got along very well with his parents, not being picky or causing trouble. Occasionally, she still liked to tug his ear and scold him.

Gao Dingzhong didn’t mind; he was tough-skinned and only worried about hurting his young wife’s hand.

That evening, Gao’s mother prepared a refreshing salad mixed with sun-dried wild vegetables, a dish Fan Sijin loved. Unfortunately, there was no vinegar left, so Gao’s father nudged Gao Dingzhong to go buy some at the village store.

With five yuan in his pocket, Gao Dingzhong stepped out under the moonlight.

The moon was full and bright, illuminating the path clearly.

Humming a tune, Gao Dingzhong walked leisurely toward the store. Their house was at the very end of the village, a two- or three-minute walk from the shop.

The store was run by a childhood friend who had dropped out after elementary school, borrowed money to open the shop, and over the years saved up quite a bit. Two years ago, he had married, had children, renovated his house, and was living a prosperous life.

When Gao Dingzhong came to buy vinegar, his friend refused to accept payment, but neither would Gao Dingzhong relent.

Unable to refuse, Gao Dingzhong secretly slipped the money into the pocket of his friend’s child when the friend wasn’t looking.

Lighting a cigarette, his friend admired, “Daguì, you’ve really made something of yourself. Your wife is so beautiful; ever since my wife saw her, she’s been asking me to buy her new dresses! But judging by the dress your wife wears, it must be hard to find in town and expensive, right?”

Gao Dingzhong smiled helplessly. “She’s young and loves to look good. My father-in-law dotes on her; everything—clothes, food, housing—must be the best. Look at that one dress she’s wearing—that’s it.”

He held up three fingers, indicating a number.

“Three hundred?!” His friend gasped, nearly fainting. That amount was almost his monthly income.

Gao Dingzhong shook his head, “Three thousand.”

His friend nearly passed out in shock and stammered, “You let her spend that much?! That’s so wasteful! How will you live in the future? How much money do you make to support her spending? Daguì, I’m just saying, you need to talk to your wife. You two need to live within your means. You can’t keep spoiling her like this.”

“It’s fine. How much can she really spend? She earns more than she spends. I’m happy to give her money.”

Gao Dingzhong smiled foolishly. He was sincere—he felt pain even throwing away a pair of worn socks, yet buying a dress worth thousands for Fan Sijin didn’t make him blink.

He worked and studied so hard precisely to be able to buy his wife better things.

A man must support his family. She was his future wife; he couldn’t let her spend only her own and her father’s money.

Gao Dingzhong was confident that one day he would let Fan Sijin indulge without restraint.

His friend looked at him with admiration. “Well done, kid… you’ve got big ambitions. Didn’t expect you cared about your wife that much.”

“No choice. She’s young and delicate. I married her; I can’t let her live worse than when she was a girl.”

Gao Dingzhong smiled happily, his doting expression making his friend want to smash the bottle of vinegar on his broad face. A beautiful wife, so what? What was there to be so proud of? Hmph!

“True, if my wife were that pretty, I’d spoil her too, hey hey hey!”