Chapter 236: Chapter 236: The Forty-Year-Old Man Introduced to Cheng Zhiyin

Cheng Zhiwei had sent a message to Cheng Zhiyin yesterday, informing her of her return and asking her to keep it a secret, for she wanted to surprise their parents.

It was Cheng Zhiyin who came to pick her up at the airport. It had been almost half a year since they last saw each other, and upon seeing each other, both had teary eyes, "Zhiwei, are you okay?"

Cheng Zhiwei whispered a soft "Hmm" and buried her face in Cheng Zhiyin’s shoulder, sniffing, "Sis, I’ve missed you so much."

Cheng Zhiyin tried to muster a smiling face, "Let’s go home first."

"Okay."

After another half-hour drive, they arrived at Cheng Zhiwei’s old home. The small county town couldn’t compare with the big city, but it was brimming with life.

Although Cheng Shang and his wife taught in Yucheng, they never planned to spend their lives there, so they had bought a house in their hometown early on. Now, having lived here for half a year, it really felt like home.

The house wasn’t as large as the one in Yucheng, but it was more than enough for the family.

The bodyguard wheeled the luggage in and left, and Cheng Zhiwei didn’t ask any questions, knowing Zhou Lin must have arranged everything.

Wang Mei pushed the luggage into the bedroom and started unpacking.

Cheng Zhiwei and Cheng Zhiyin talked in the living room.

"Is he treating you well now?" Cheng Zhiyin brought up the past with a guilty conscience. If it hadn’t been for her being deceived by Meng Qiancheng, so many things wouldn’t have happened.

Cheng Zhiwei, having just returned, didn’t want to talk about Zhou Lin and didn’t want to worry Cheng Zhiyin either. She gave a noncommittal response and quickly changed the subject, "When will Mom and Dad be back?"

Cheng Zhiyin glanced at the time, "They went to a wedding banquet, probably will be back in an hour or two."

Cheng Zhiwei said tiredly, "Okay, I’m going to sleep for a bit."

She slept for over three hours, and by the time she woke up, it was already eleven o’clock, and Guo Cuihua and Cheng Shang had returned home.

Wang Mei, knowing Cheng Zhiwei wanted to surprise Guo Cuihua, had been staying in the room watching over her sleep, not venturing out.

Now seeing Cheng Zhiwei awake, she quickly helped her up and whispered, "There are guests at home, and it’s quite noisy outside. You better rest in the room."

Cheng Zhiwei tidied her long hair and frowned, "Are they fighting?"

"It’s not exactly a fight, just seems like they’re discussing a marriage proposal for Miss Zhiyin."

Cheng Zhiwei was taken aback, quickly got dressed, and freshened up, preparing to go out. After a moment of hesitation, she only cracked the door open a bit, deciding to listen in first.

As the door opened, the previously muffled voices became clear.

A woman’s sharp and critical voice sounded somewhat familiar, "I’m not being mean, but Zhiyin is, after all, divorced, with the ex-husband in prison. Putting this out there, what decent man would want her?"

Cheng Zhiwei frowned. Was this supposed to be matchmaking?

Wasn’t this plainly an insult to Cheng Zhiyin?

The woman spoke quickly and densely, making it difficult for others to interject, "Lin Jun, even though he’s already forty years old and a bit older, he’s a caring person, hardworking and willing to endure hardship, an absolute good man indeed."

Cheng Zhiwei was startled. Forty years old?

Guo Cuihua’s voice came through, "Thank you for your kindness, big sister, but Zhiyin and I have no plans to get married just yet."

The woman sneered, "Look here, third sister-in-law, what are you on about? What woman doesn’t get married?"

She slapped her thigh and said sarcastically, "I know you and your husband are both university professors, and Zhiyin is also a teacher at an elementary school. A family of intellectuals, you look down on us ordinary people."

"Big sister, what are you talking about?" Guo Cuihua responded with a polite smile.

The woman shifted her tone, full of disdain, "But that was before. I’ve heard that Zhiyin was transferred back here because she stole something, and there’s your daughter Cheng Zhiwei, who they say deliberately killed someone. Who would dare to take your daughters with your family’s scandalous background? Only our Lin Jun is kind-hearted enough not to mind your family’s dark cloud."

Her tone was high and mighty, as though introducing Cheng Zhiyin to a forty-year-old man was a great favor.

Guo Cuihua immediately spoke with a cold voice, "Big sister, don’t spout nonsense here."

"Am I spouting nonsense? You two come back to this hole instead of living the good life in the big city, if not because these two sisters did something shameful out there?" The woman mocked contemptuously, "If it weren’t for Lin Jun taking a liking to Zhiyin, I wouldn’t set foot in your house, dirtying my shoes."

"Big cousin, no one invited you here," Cheng Zhiyin spoke up angrily, "please leave now."

"Cheng Zhiyin, is that how you talk to your elders?" Aunt Cheng Can glared at her, "Let me tell you, Lin Jun’s prospects are among the best in the entire Yucheng. It’s only because he’s been busy with business that he’s delayed looking for a partner; otherwise, it wouldn’t be your turn, with your second marriage."

"You..."

"What about me? Don’t bite the hand that feeds you." Cheng Can sneered, looking at Cheng Shang, "I’m saying, third brother, if you agree to this marriage, then we are still family. Our houses can come and go like before."

Because of the incident in Yucheng, Cheng Can held Cheng Shang’s family in contempt. This Spring Festival, when Cheng Shang invited him over for dinner, he didn’t come, as if afraid of being associated with them.

"Who wants to associate with you?" Cheng Zhiwei opened the door and walked out, sneering as she sized up Cheng Can, "This is our big cousin, right? I haven’t seen you in years, and you still manage to think too highly of yourself."

"Zhiwei?" Guo Cuihua stood up happily, walking over quickly to grab her arm, "When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell the family ahead of time?"

Cheng Zhiwei simply called out "Mom?" then looked at Cheng Shang and said, "Dad?"

Cheng Shang kept a stern face and didn’t respond, showing no sign of happiness. But the fact that he didn’t scold Cheng Zhiwei in front of Cheng Can was already the utmost restraint he could manage.

Cheng Zhiwei acted as if she didn’t see his cold demeanor, hugged Guo Cuihua, and said coquettishly, "I wanted to surprise you all, but I found out you had gone out to drink, so I rested for a while."

Cheng Can scrutinized Cheng Zhiwei. From top to bottom, whether her dress or hair, Cheng Zhiwei exuded an exquisite and noble air. The overwhelming sense of disparity irritated Cheng Can, so she deliberately mocked Cheng Shang, "You and your wife are college professors, but how did you raise such a lazy child? Sleeping in broad daylight at home, aren’t you afraid of becoming the talk of the town?"

And she pressed her point even further.

Cheng Zhiwei lifted her chin in pride and contempt, "Big cousin, with all your industriousness, have you bought a house in the city yet?"

With just one sentence, Cheng Zhiwei made Cheng Can furious, for even to this day, Cheng Can’s family was renting someone else’s house.

It wasn’t that Cheng Zhiwei looked down on renting, she was simply baiting Cheng Can.

Well, she did invite it with her prattling.

"Cheng Zhiwei, shut up," Cheng Shang scolded, "How can you talk to your big cousin like that? Apologize."

Cheng Zhiwei laughed softly, apologized smoothly, "I’m sorry, big cousin. I shouldn’t have spoken the truth, did I hit a sore spot?"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read