"What are you two chatting about with such excitement?"
"I haven't even entered the room yet, and I could already hear your voices."
Just then, Zhang Weiyang pushed open the door. Good heavens, he'd asked him to take a shower and he looked like a completely different person.
"You rascal, why did you get your hair cut? It's the first month of the lunar new year, aren't you afraid your uncle will come after you with a stick?"
Chen Yang looked at Zhang Weiyang, who had returned to his usual clean and refreshed appearance, and for a moment, he couldn't react. After all, the disheveled image Zhang Weiyang had presented earlier was too unforgettable.
"My uncle passed away long ago, so I'll get a haircut whenever I want in the first month. At most, I'll burn more paper money for him during the Qingming Festival, and he definitely won't blame me."
Zhang Weiyang let out a wry smile. He had listened to Chen Yang's advice, gone back, taken a good hot shower, and changed into new clothes.
Looking in the mirror, he himself wanted to shave off his messy beard, but he couldn't find a razor. Being out and about, what could he do?
He had no choice but to find a barber shop and have the barber cut his hair and shave his beard.
Barbers in those days were true multi-talented professionals. Their services weren't just about haircuts; they also included shaving beards, trimming mustaches, cutting nose hair, and shaping eyebrows.
The whole package was incredibly satisfying!
Once you've experienced a facial shave, you'll definitely want it again. It's like driving a Cadillac to a spa; it's all automatic navigation.
"Let's talk business. What were you two discussing just now? Baoguo, did you upset Comrade Li Jing again and get kicked out?"
Zhang Weiyang glanced at his father on the hospital bed. The old man had finished his IV drip and was now asleep. Looking at his complexion, it seemed to have become a bit more rosy than before.
Zhang Weiyang felt much more at ease, not just because he felt refreshed after his grooming, but also for his father's improved complexion.
"How dare I? I was just telling the boss that my cheap father-in-law is ordering me around and constantly bothering me."
"You two shouldn't be gloating when others are suffering. You both have wives, children, and warm beds, but I haven't even brought my wife home yet."
Lei Baoguo sighed. There was nothing to fault about Li Jing.
Even his future mother-in-law, although she didn't think highly of him initially, had become much more amiable towards him after some interaction.
It was just this cheap father-in-law who was incredibly demanding. His muscular physique, honed from rigorous training in the army, couldn't withstand the way this old man wore him out, leaving his bones aching.
If it weren't for Li Jing, he wouldn't have been able to endure it.
"Wives, children, and warm beds – that's Yang Ge. I haven't even had children yet."
Zhang Weiyang retorted, making the honest and simple Lei Baoguo roll his eyes. His wife was devoted to him, and they had been taking turns caring for his father. Having children was only a matter of time.
"Is it okay if I call you both Big Brother? Two Big Brothers, please impart some of your experience to your little brother."
Lei Baoguo, that honest and simple man, perhaps learned from Li Jing, had become quite eloquent.
However, seeing his sincere plea, Chen Yang and Zhang Weiyang seriously began to consider it. After all, it concerned Lei Baoguo's happiness, and they dared not be careless.
"Baoguo, first of all, I need to update your mindset."
"Money is meant to be spent. If you're saving it for a wedding and buying expensive gifts, you must first be able to get married. If the father doesn't agree, can you elope with his daughter?"
"You need to observe and find out what Li Jing's parents like, cater to their tastes. Also, does Li Jing have any siblings? What do they like?"
"If one path is blocked, then clear out the adjacent paths. Eventually, you'll reach the destination. If Li Jing's father is being stubborn, you can try to persuade others first."
"If her whole family agrees and only her father disagrees, he'll eventually have to compromise."
Chen Yang patiently instructed the rough and simple Lei Baoguo. He had been through it before; his father-in-law hadn't been very welcoming to him either.
Initially, it was all about catering to their preferences and being submissive.
Later on, it depended on his own capabilities. As long as he could show them that he could make his daughter happy and live a good life with her.
No father-in-law would genuinely make things difficult for his son-in-law.
If he truly made things difficult for you, there was only one reason: you weren't treating his daughter well!
"Baoguo, you need to be more resourceful. Getting your father-in-law on your side isn't something that can be done overnight."
"Have a few more drinks with your father-in-law, get him drunk a few times. I'm telling you, drinking is the quickest way for men to deepen their bond."
Zhang Weiyang spoke eloquently, but Chen Yang felt something was slightly off.
Li Jing's father already disliked Zhang Weiyang intensely, and he was already worn out before they even started drinking. If they got drunk, wouldn't he chase them away with a knife?
"Stop, that's enough."
"Baoguo, do you have any thoughts of your own? What aspect of you do you think Li Jing's father dislikes? You've been interacting for so long, you should have some idea."
"If it's about family background, it might have some influence. But how much money do you have in hand? You definitely won't hide it from Li Jing. With this money, it's enough for you to start your lives together."
"What about other aspects? Have you considered them?"
Chen Yang looked at Lei Baoguo. Lei Baoguo, coming from a rural background and without a job, was indeed a significant disadvantage in the eyes of city dwellers.
In this era, even ordinary city girls, if they were unemployed, their families wouldn't agree to them marrying a rural young man.
Not to mention, Li Jing not only had a stable job as a nurse but also came from a family with some background. This made Lei Baoguo's family background seem even more inferior.
However, the five hundred yuan from Chen Yang plus the betrothal gifts from Lei Baoguo's parents gave Lei Baoguo seven to eight hundred yuan. Even ordinary city families might not be able to easily come up with such a sum.
This could offset some of the disadvantages brought by Lei Baoguo's family background. It was clear that Li Jing's father's persistent disagreement couldn't be solely due to this factor.
"It's just that I'm several years older than Li Jing."
"Her dad also dislikes my awkward way of speaking and thinks I'm not smart."
"But I'm not stupid. I know how to treat people well. As long as Li Jing trusts me and marries me, I'll use my whole life to prove that she didn't choose the wrong person. Oh, wait, she didn't misjudge me."
"I'll treat her well for the rest of my life!"
Lei Baoguo said with conviction. Chen Yang looked at him, feeling a bit bewildered. He had finally found the reason.
"She didn't choose the wrong person!"
What a simple and unadorned phrase. Any father would be concerned upon hearing it!