ebookslot Chapter 115 Song Che is a Good Kid
Chapter 115 Song Che is a Good Kid
Chapter 116 Song Che is a Good Kid
"Some are my relatives, some are other people, and some are just people from the same village who came out to eat at the banquet." Song Che's head was throbbing from the noise around him.
He doesn't even recognize his own relatives.
The first thing they said was, "Is this Song Che? He's grown taller, he looks different, and he's thinner than last time. Who's next to him?"
"Xia Li, my girlfriend."
After that, he was showered with praise: "You've really made something of yourself! You've already found a partner. How are your grades? Are you taking the college entrance exam?"
Song Che felt like they were NPCs; every time they talked, they would trigger a mini-combo attack, leaving him bewildered.
He got up, wanting to find a normal dining table.
There are tricks to finding a normal dining table.
Asking relatives won't work, or anyone you know won't work either. You have to ask strangers. Strangers will just politely ask you a couple of questions, and then everyone will eat separately.
Unless you're extremely unlucky and encounter a social terrorist who makes it impossible for you to even eat in peace.
Song Che searched back and forth, but couldn't confirm.
It seems his childhood friend didn't come. If he did, they could chat, and he wouldn't have to deal with anyone else.
His childhood friend shared the same surname as him, and his full name was Song Buming. Song Che remembered him vividly because he was older than Song Che and had been like an older brother to him since childhood. Whether as a playmate or an older brother, he had a significant influence on Song Che's personality.
Unable to find Song Buming, Song Che gave up on finding a spot and got up to look for his parents at the door.
Mom and Dad also seemed to be having a problem.
People kept walking past the door, and Song Jianguo was just responding to their conversations.
Song Che discovered something.
Visiting relatives is just not very interesting.
When you eat together, unless you have a really good relationship, those relatives will either ignore you or come to show off and belittle you.
The things discussed at the banquet were full of hidden agendas and ulterior motives.
In short, it's all about saving face.
Everyone wants to save face—so belittling others makes them feel more respected.
Song Che felt extremely bored.
When Song Jianguo saw Song Che, he pulled the two of them to a table and said, "Just come and eat. If you don't like talking, let your dad do it."
Song Che nodded; he could actually respond with words as well.
After walking around, many people were looking at Xia Li.
There was nothing that could be done about it; Xia Li's silver hair was like that of an elf, and her face was also very striking.
She didn't like to talk, and Song Che didn't explain much to others.
Once I explain, things will get complicated again.
Song Che finally understood what it meant for a beautiful woman to be a source of trouble.
He knew what those people were talking about without even listening.
It's nothing more than the argument that Xia Li's silver hair is dyed, and that girls who dye their hair are disreputable, or that they're just jealous of Xia Li's beauty, and that Song Jian's family isn't well-off, so how could they find such a beautiful girl—they must be blind, and so on.
Song Che got a headache just thinking about it.
He and Xia Li sat in the far corner, each grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds to eat.
Xia Li leaned against Song Che, silently listening to the discussions of the people around her.
She didn't like hearing these things, but Song Che had warned her beforehand that this would happen, so Xia Li accepted it and ignored them. She just kept eating sunflower seeds.
After discussing it for a while, the people around them went on to talk about other things. They weren't malicious; they were just gossipy and would chat with anyone they met.
Xia Li tilted her head and asked, "Song Che, what do they mean by saying my bride price will definitely be high?"
"Literally, it means that because you're good-looking, I think you're blind to have chosen my woman—or you're the kind who's here to rip me off."
"But wasn't I the one giving you the betrothal gifts?"
"Nonsense, how could I let you give it to me? Then I'd become a live-in son-in-law." Song Che disagreed. He had heard Xia Li say this before, but he hadn't paid attention. It turned out that Xia's idea hadn't changed. She was dirt poor; what kind of dowry could she possibly give?
"I'm not making this up. I am His Highness, and my first priority is to have a sense of responsibility."
"This is about who marries whom. If you marry, I will give you the betrothal gifts, and you can bring your own dowry. The dowry is entirely up to you—it's different from what they said."
"Then I'll marry you, and you can marry me."
"I'd rather die than marry a nobody—" Song Che paused, then used more polite language, "Men should marry when they're of age, and women should marry when they're of age. It's really you who's going to give me a dowry—people really look down on me. I look down on myself, let alone how much dowry I'd give you—"
I have to give it to you at least.
"I don't want to," Xia Li said firmly.
"You have to take it whether you want it or not."
"I don't want it!"
"You're such an idiot!"
The two of them raised their voices, attracting several people nearby to come and watch the commotion.
After listening for a while, the people who had come to join the fun turned away dejectedly and went back to their own homes.
It turns out it's not a classic storyline.
Shouldn't it be the woman demanding a bride price, the man being unable to afford it, and then they breaking up?
How come it's the woman who gives the bride price, but the man doesn't want it and even calls her an idiot?
They suspected Song Che was bluffing, but they had no evidence.
Song Che explained a lot to Xia Li, but she just wouldn't get it. Her attitude towards who should marry whom was still that she should marry Song Che.
Song Che was speechless.
I'd marry you, you twisted dough stick!
Do you really think that just because you're a prince, you can look down on me like this?
Song Che stopped eating his melon seeds and started chatting with Xia Li, "You can think like that, but I want a dowry of 688,000 yuan, a car paid for in full, a house, savings, and money for baby formula after we have a baby, and then—"
He didn't finish speaking, but seeing that Xia Li suddenly stopped arguing with him, she pursed her lips and said, "You—how many children do you want to have? I think the most—"
She paused, then remained silent.
"I can't have children, it's up to you. If you don't want to, then don't. Have as many as you want." Song Che knew that childbirth was very harmful to women, and even if she wanted children, Song Che felt that one was enough.
But that's all in the future; whether or not to have children is still uncertain.
Xia Li nodded, "I don't know yet, but the money you mentioned—if I find the lost gold coins, I can give them to you."
"That's great." Song Che continued eating sunflower seeds. "You mean—you can't give it to me, right?"
"I will give it to you."
"But you can't give it to me."
"I'll give it to you once I find it. A thousand gold coins will amount to ten million."
"Alright then." Seeing her seriousness, Song Che went along with it. "If you can't give it, I won't agree to marry you. You give the bride price, and I'll marry you. After the bride price is given, I'll take your surname, listen to everything you say, and you'll be in charge of all household matters, okay?"
Xia Li thought for a moment, then nodded. "I think—okay, but why do you want to take my surname?"
"Fine, fine. Give it to me. Whether it takes your surname or not is up to you. If you're happy, it can take your surname." Song Che knew Xia Li definitely couldn't give it to him, so he was too lazy to argue with this idiot.
After arguing for a long time, Song Che finally gave in.
No, I'm seriously impressed.
Song Che lowered his head and cracked sunflower seeds. He had no choice but to eat obediently. He had been led by the nose by Xia Li before, and this was the umpteenth time.
Song Jianguo listened to the two bickering while smiling and talking to Zhang Shushu.
After she finished speaking, Zhang Shushu also laughed.
However, neither of them interrupted, letting the two children chat on their own.
After the two finished talking, Zhang Shushu poured Xia Li a drink. It would be lunchtime soon, and some appetizers were already being served near the door.
Xia Li also noticed that the dishes were being served.
My sitting posture immediately changed.
Just like in Hitt, she always maintained a princess-like demeanor when attending banquets—but on this occasion, Song Che felt she was like a little fool.
This little fool eats the most.
It's lunchtime.
Zhang Shushu would occasionally observe Xia Li.
She felt there might be something wrong with the child.
I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong, but for orphans who grew up in a welfare home—eating isn't supposed to be this elegant, is it?
Moreover, Xia Li's temperament is truly exceptional.
She is no ordinary person—in Song Jianguo's words, Xia Li is not something that can stay in a pond; she transforms into a dragon when she encounters water.
However, although Xia Li is elegant, she is not pretentious. She gives people the feeling of a well-bred lady who is also very down-to-earth.
What surprised Zhang Shushu most was Xia Li's appetite.
From the moment the food was served, the little one kept talking.
She finished the food Song Che put on her plate in no time, and she ate all the food that others couldn't finish.
Xia Li kept chewing loudly, making a "crunching" sound. Zhang Shushu suspected that Song Che didn't usually feed Xia Li.
Why is this girl so hungry?
This person eats like a child at the same table; wouldn't that make the child cry?
She had her doubts.
Humans—can they really eat that much?
Even after finishing her meal, Zhang Shushu couldn't recall anyone who could compare to Xia Li's appetite, until she changed her comparison from humans to the big yellow ox raised in her hometown.
The big yellow ox ate more than Xia Li.
The girl didn't seem hungry while eating; she was simply enjoying the food and the taste.
With this appetite, you have to eat at a buffet.
The conversation at the banquet grew louder. The men, having drunk their fill, started boasting loudly. The meal lasted for over an hour and was nearing its end. Children carried gift boxes out, while the elderly gathered food for their dogs and searched for leftovers at each table. When they reached Song Che's table, they found only plates left.
Besides the plate, there were also sunflower seed shells.
Xia Li ate with a rosy complexion, her little mouth still glistening with oil—she was extremely satisfied.
I'm so full!
I walked home and took a stroll along the way.
A walk after a meal is always very pleasant.
Zhang Shushu and Xia Li walked together, and the two women seemed to have a lot to talk about.
Song Jianguo then discussed some serious matters with Song Che.
"Xiao Che, where do you think would be a good place to buy a house? Where would you like to live with Xia Li?"
Song Che thought for a moment, then shook his head. "It's too early. Buying a house is too expensive. I should wait until I graduate from university."
"It's getting late. People need to have a home. It's not that you have to own a house to have a home, but having a house means you don't have a problem with where to live."
"Does Dad have a lot of hidden money?"
"No, your mother and I have saved up quite a bit of money, enough for you to get married," Song Jianguo said generously. "Whichever you want to buy, we'll buy it there."
"Come on, that's enough to drain you dry."
"You're questioning your dad's capabilities. Your mom and I have worked hard for so many years, we still have money."
"I'm not in a hurry. You two can keep this money and enjoy yourselves. I'll figure something out myself." Song Che felt that his parents should treat him better. They had lived most of their lives and hadn't gained anything, just a lot of hard work.
That's how the old-fashioned mindset is; it makes people so tired they can't even stand up straight. If you earn money your whole life but never think about happiness, Song Che feels sorry for his parents who haven't enjoyed a good life.
He was born into his parents' home in an ordinary environment.
To put it mildly, he started from a low point—if he were a rich kid, he wouldn't have to worry about so much.
But my parents aren't from wealthy families, so this is all my grandfather's fault.
Was my grandfather a second-generation rich kid?
It doesn't seem to be either.
That means continuing to be strange upwards.
It's all weird and pointless.
It's more meaningful to cherish the happiness you have right now.
His parents love him very much.
He also loves his parents.
Song Jianguo looked at Song Che in silence, then at his furrowed brows, which slowly relaxed.
He felt the child was too precocious.
If a child is precocious, it's the parents' fault.
There was still too little concern for Song Che.
This child is thoughtful, sensible, and hardworking—his recent drop in grades is rather strange, but Song Jianguo sensed he had his reasons, so he didn't say a word against Song Che.
Song Jianguo felt that he needed to have a good talk with Song Che.
This child doesn't want to spend his parents' money.
Is this a good thing?
This is not a good thing at all.
This is a huge problem.
Song Jianguo believes that if Song Che is being sensible, considerate, mature, and wants his parents to enjoy life, then he thinks he has failed as a father.
His initial intention in going out to work with Zhang Shushu was to make up for Song Che's shortcomings.
It's ridiculous to have things backwards now.
Seeing that Song Che was still thinking, Song Jianguo didn't disturb him. Song Jianguo himself was also thinking.
When he was about the same age as Song Che, he also met a girl.
It's Zhang Shushu.
Song Jianguo wasn't very enlightened at the time. Like many others, he was young and impetuous, and especially vain. When he got together with Zhang Shushu, he was very hardworking, but it was his vain effort.
He smiled involuntarily when he thought about it back then.
It's not about mocking, it's just a feeling of nostalgia.
At that time, he wanted to appear as a hardworking man so that others would see him as a good man and Zhang Shushu would see him as a good husband.
After having Song Che, he worked even harder, so that in other people's eyes, he was a hardworking and good father.
That's exactly what he thought at the time.
The initial effort was driven by vanity—perhaps some emotions were mixed in, but that was about it; the essence was still about saving face.
People are all about saving face, fighting for face, and living for face.
But the more money he made, the harder it became to earn. He couldn't find a trend, and there was little chance of turning his life around.
Back then, you had to go to school to have a way out.
However, the family was poor and could only afford to send one person to school.
So, by fate, he, as the eldest son, became the one who earned tuition fees for his younger siblings.
Once he entered society, with no one to guide him or help him, he had to figure things out on his own. He was cheated many times during this period, and even his high spirits were worn down and he lost his composure.
Earning those eight coins is damn hard.
His youthful arrogance was gone.
Over the years, people have come to say that he is steady and reliable.
But what's the use of being steady?
He used to earn money to support his younger siblings' education, but now his younger siblings don't offer him any help.
They have their own families.
It's impossible to give money to that useless older brother of his for no reason.
Song Jianguo — also wants to go to school.
At least her son wouldn't be so sensible, so sensible that it breaks your heart. Zhang Shushu could also buy whatever she wanted.
Fortunately, he is no longer vain.
He no longer does these things because he cares about saving face.
He wanted to be good to his son; he simply wanted to be good to his son.
He didn't want Song Che to repeat the path he had walked and the hardships he had endured.
He didn't want Song Che to become like he was back then.
That clueless young man, lost and helpless, groping his way forward on his own.
Song Che — is a good boy.