Chapter 80 – Meeting Meng Father
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No matter what excuses Chen Ruo Yu tried to come up with, she was still eventually dragged into the reserved room.

When the door was pushed open, at first glance Chen Ruo Yu saw the slightly smiling Meng Mother seated at the table chatting and next to her was the Dean with a serious face.

Suddenly, Chen Ruo Yu felt that she could not walk.  The more she walked, the more awkward she became. 

Meng Gu patted her head, gave her hand a squeeze and half led her and half dragged her to the table.

“Dad……Mom……”  Meng Gu greeted them in a relaxed manner.

“Ah…..Auntie, Uncle…..”  Chen Ruo Yu followed and greeted them.  After greeting the two people, she cried in anguish in her heart.  She’s finished!  She stuttered! 

Her first impression is not good and she really wanted to do it all over again.

“You’re here.  Sit down.”  Meng Mother smiled and got up to pour tea for them.  “Drink some hot tea to warm up.”

Chen Ruo Yu was overwhelmed with fear and did not dare to drink.  She put it on the table and was afraid she would embarrass herself. 

“Why are you so late?”  The moment Dean Meng opened his mouth, he was nitpicking.  “Your Mom is already hungry.”

“It’s alright, I had eaten something.  What do you want to eat?  Hurry up and order.”

“There was a long queue at the expressway toll stations and there was a traffic jam when we entered the city.”  Meng Gu explained casually and took the menu to order. 

Chen Ruo Yu wanted to move to his side and look at the menu together with him, pretending she was busy but she felt it was impolite.  But like this, sitting there with nothing to do, big eyes looking at small eyes, it was even more embarrassing.

At this time, Meng Mother pulled out a red envelope from her bag and gave it to Chen Ruo Yu.  “Xiao Yu, Happy New Year.  We don’t have anything to give you except for this red envelope to wish you auspicious luck.”

Chen Ruo Yu was a little scared and quickly glanced at Meng Gu.  In her heart, she was shouting ~ Dr. Meng, Dr. Meng…….your parents did not give me a cheque instead they gave me a red envelope.  Can I take it?

Meng Gu looked up from the menu and said.  “Quick, say thank you to Mom.”

“Thank you, Mom.”  After receiving his instructions, Chen Ruo Yu quickly responded.  She took the red envelope and then realized something was wrong and quickly tried to remedy.  “No, I mean, thank you, Auntie.”

Meng Gu threw her a look of disdain and Chen Ruo Yu pretended not to see.

Meng Mother smiled and it seems like Chen Ruo Yu had done something that had made her happy.  She asked about the situation in C-city and also asked about the situation of Chen Ruo Yu’s family.  Every time Meng Mother said something, she would nod and when Meng Mother asked her something, she would answer quickly.  Her submissive look made Meng Gu could not help but caress her head. 

Chen Ruo Yu turned her head to look at him and said in her heart ~ I’m very nervous.  What should I do?

Meng Gu seemed to be able to hear her and said.  “Eat your food.”

Oh, yes.  Eating is a way to keep busy and while eating, the feeling of nervousness should not be so great.

Everyone chatted while they ate and Chen Ruo Yu ate while she answered their questions.  Unconsciously, she ate two bowls of rice.  When she found she could not eat anymore, suddenly she realized she had eaten too much.  Not only had she eaten too much, but she had also eaten too fast.  When others had only eaten half a bowl of rice, she had already finished two bowls.

This is terrible!  Her second impression is also destroyed.

Chen Ruo Yu raised her eyes to secretly look at the pair of Meng parents and then turned her head to look at her family’s Tyrannosaurus.  At this time, if she explained to his parents that she normally doesn’t eat this much and only eat just a bowl of rice, will there still be time?

Meng Gu met her eyes, sighed and stroked her head again.

Chen Ruo Yu felt like crying.  She really wanted to leave a super good impression in front of his parents.   It was all because of him.  Why was this arranged so suddenly and he had also secretly arranged this without telling her.  She was not psychologically prepared!

If she had prepared herself psychologically in advance, she would have worn her most beautiful set of clothes, put on the most beautiful makeup, practiced her walking and practiced for the question and answer session.   Wait, there is more, she would have definitely prepared a ten-page list of topics that she could talk with his parents and she would not be behaving in such a manner now.

“What does Miss Chen’s family do?”

Chen Ruo Yu had not finished her inner complaints when she heard Meng Father’s question.  She gave a shiver and quickly gathered her thoughts.

“My Dad and Mom both work in a textile mill.”

“Um…….”  Meng Father unpredictably answered in a deep voice and did not speak again.

Chen Ruo Yu straightened her back and sat upright. 

Meng Father picked up some vegetables, continued eating and did not ask her again.

Chen Ruo Yu turned her head and looked at him.  She could not stay idle and she had to make herself busy but she could not eat anymore, so she started to drink water.

“How did Miss Chen and Meng Gu got to know each other?”  Meng Father swallowed his last mouthful of rice, drank some tea, wiped his mouth and started to speak again.

She began to feel nervous and looking at Meng Father, it seems he was officially starting to question her. 

“Er…..er……we have mutual friends.  I mean, Dr. Meng’s good friend is my good friend’s boyfriend.  All of us are friends.  So, one day I went to Dr. Meng’s hospital,……er……I mean, the Dr. Meng I’m referring to is Meng Gu, not you.  Of course, Dr. Meng’s hospital is your hospital, I mean……..it’s the hospital that the two of you are working in, so…….er……so, that’s how we got to know each other.”

After Chen Ruo Yu had finished speaking, she went over it in her mind and felt ashamed.  She herself also did not know what she was talking about and wondered whether the Lord Dean would be able to understand.

From the expression on the Lord Dean’s face, he should not have been able to understand and Chen Ruo Yu pursed her lips in sadness. 

Is her third impression also gone?

At this time, she did not know where Meng Gu had magically produced a bottle of grape wine.  Chen Ruo Yu was only concerned about being tensed up and was unaware he had ordered wine.  He poured a glass for her and said.  “To emulsify the fats.”

Chen Ruo Yu felt it was reasonable since her stomach felt uncomfortable which affected her performance.  She should drink a little to steady her nerves.   Chen Ruo Yu picked up the glass and took a sip.  The wine tasted good and she took another sip. 

As she put down her glass, she heard Meng Father asked.  “What do you like about Meng Gu?”

“He is quite good.”  She replied and in exchange, three pairs of eyes stared at her. 

“Er……He……I like everything about him.”  She replied and the three pairs of eyes continued to stare at her.

This is so unfair! !   Chen Ruo Yu wanted to shout.  Obviously, when Meng Gu was in her home, her family had not asked him such questions.  How come when it is her turn, she has to answer?  This question is so naïve, has no technical level, has no wisdom, has no standard answer, it is cheesy and is not something new.  Why then does he have to ask?

Chen Ruo Yu could not help but took another sip of wine and answered.  “He is handsome.”

This time the three people did not stare at her.  Meng Mother covered her mouth and laughed.  Meng Gu’s face had a resentful expression that said she failed to meet his expectations.  And Meng Father’s face had no expression. 

Why can’t I answer this way?

So Chen Ruo Yu added.  “Dr. Meng looks like Dean Meng……honest.”

This time, Meng Mother really laughed aloud.  Meng Gu sighed and stroked her head.  From the expression on Meng Father’s face, it was obvious her answer was not quite right.  This praise was overly done.

She reflected on this for a while, then came to the conclusion that she had not thought thoroughly before indirectly praising this old man.  Although this is a fact, he did not show any happiness, so he definitely was not acceptable to her answer.

Chen Ruo Yu felt a little disheartened and took another sip of the wine.

This wine……the more one drinks, the better it tasted.  She wondered whether this time it is possible for her to pretend to be drunk and fall down unconscious.

“What are your plans for the future, Miss Chen?”

Plans??  This question is really not easy to answer…….

Once again, Chen Ruo Yu could feel the vast difference in the standard of parents on both sides.  Her parents only cared about what Meng Gu already possessed and what had already happened between them. 

Just look at this Dean of the Family who is so far-sighted and he even wants to control the future.

“Er……I will work hard and I aim to be economically independent.”  She was saying what was actually in her heart but thinking over this, she felt it was not right.  Meng Mother is a full-time housewife and did not clamor for economic independence, so Meng Father would like this answer, right? 

When she raised her head, as expected, Meng Father did not give any good reaction.  Chen Ruo Yu bit her lip and took another sip of wine.  She said.  “I will learn to cook and take good care of Dr. Meng.  I……I also don’t have any ability, so I don’t have great plans.  I only think that, if I am married to Dr. Meng, I will manage well the days I will spend with him.”

Meng Father pulled a taut face and did not speak.  Chen Ruo Yu was under a lot of pressure.  Subconsciously, she turned to look at Meng Gu for encouragement and he smiled at her.

Such a brilliant smile!   Chen Ruo Yu felt little ripples in her heart, then suddenly thought of the text message that Meng Gu had sent her. 

That’s right, why didn’t she think of that?  Why is she so afraid of Meng Father?

His son had already lost his heart and his body, so what can he do about it?

The people who should feel troubled and stressed should be both of them, right?  She clearly has the upper hand.

When she thought of this, she straightened her spine.

“Is Miss Chen selling insurance?”

“Not now.”

“Then what do you do now?”

“Business.”

“What business?”

It seems Meng Father is trying to get to the bottom of this.  Chen Ruo Yu took a sip of wine and answered.  “I work in a trading company dealing in the condom sales business.”

Well, it is just one character more than the two characters - ‘insurance’!

(  means insurance and means condom, so there is an extra character at the end of the word condom.)

Chen Ruo Yu looked calmly at Meng Father and felt it did not matter whether there is a character less or a character more, there is nothing shameful about her.

Meng Father met the eyes of Chen Ruo Yu, pondered for a while and asked.  “Miss Chen, do you think you and my son match each other?”

Is this considered as trying to humiliate her?

“Yes!”  Chen Rou Yu nodded her head hard.  “An appropriate match!”

Meng Mother grinned and Meng Gu also laughed aloud.  Only Meng Father was seriously looking at Chen Ruo Yu.

Chen Ruo Yu lifted her chin and asked.  “Dean Meng, how many properties do you have?”

Meng Father was stunned.  She did not wait for him to answer and asked.  “How much fixed-deposits do you have?”

Meng Father was even more surprised and turned to look at Meng Mother.  Meng Mother only smiled and ignored him. 

Chen Ruo Yu did not really want an answer from him and directly said.  “Dean Meng, I have a classmate whose family had a piece of land in C-city and they built two buildings on it.  The family does not have to do any work and their income comes from the rental of the buildings.  His family’s assets and money are definitely more than your family’s.”

She picked the wine glass to take another sip and found it was empty.  Meng Gu refused to refill her wine glass and so she picked up her glass to take a sip of water.  Then she said.  “I have a customer who operates a building materials business in A-city.  He is very rich.  He bought a villa, invested in three houses and four shops.  His business is booming and his assets are certainly more than yours and certainly, he has more money than your family.”

When Meng Gu heard this for the first time and he could not help but ask.  “Did these two men pursue you?  You didn’t choose their money but you chose me this handsome guy?”

“No, don’t mess around.”  Chen Ruo Yu gave him a look and turned back her head to speak to Meng Father.   “Dean Meng, look, you can’t compare with the financial resources of these two families, right?  My family also can’t match up to them, so we are the same.  In this world, there are many people who don’t have enough food to eat, they don’t have enough clothes to keep themselves warm and they don’t have a house to live in.  You are better than them and so is my family.  So we are the same.”

Three pairs of eyes stared at her.  She hiccupped and summed up everything by saying.  “Both our families fall short of the best but better than the worst, therefore, we are right for each other and well-matched!” 

Meng Mother burst into laughter and Meng Gu grinned.  Meng Father looked at her quietly and suddenly said.  “Miss Chen, you are quite good at talking.  I want to ask you if you have become my daughter-in-law and my relatives and friends ask me ~What person is your daughter-in-law? ~ How should I answer?”

“Tell them the truth.”

“Tell them you are selling condoms?”  His tone indicated that her identity would make him lose face.

This indeed is a problem.

Chen Ruo Yu replied without thinking.  “No, you just say, she is a woman.”  His daughter-in-law is a woman and this certainly would not make him lose face.

(The question that Meng Father asked “What person is your daughter-in-law?’ is a bit vague and therefore, the answer he received from CRY was also a bit vague. 

In English, the question would have been more specific like…… ‘What kind of person is your daughter………’  or  ‘What does your daughter-in-law work as.......’. 

I had to translate the question asked to ‘What person is your…..’ which is directly translated from Chinese so that the CRY’s answer  ‘she is a woman……’ can fit in or else the last part will be hanging with no relevance to the question.)

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