Movie/TV series: Starting with Ode to Joy, I opened my own private kitchen.

Page 68

"Brother Su Chang, come in quickly and put your things down. The box is so heavy."

Mr. Guan clutched his chest, looking at his daughter fawning over Su Chang. He felt like a little cabbage had been eaten by a pig, thinking, "Oh dear! This little cotton-padded jacket is leaking the wind. It's not even as good as someone else's leather jacket."

Su Chang smiled shyly at Guan's father, and then Guan Juer pulled her into the house.

After Su Chang put his things away, Guan Juer handed him her handkerchief to wipe away non-existent sweat. But Guan's mother, who had just finished showing off her gifts and was beaming with pride, came over at that moment, took Su Chang's hand and said, "Little Su, really, you came all this way, why did you bring so many expensive gifts? Don't do that next time, understand?"

"Auntie, this isn't my first time visiting, so I had to bring some gifts. I just didn't know what you liked, so I bought a little of everything. I hope you and Uncle will like it." Su Chang didn't believe Guan's mother's polite words; she was just as effusive as Xue Sumei, perhaps even more so.

"I like it, I like it, how could I not like it?" Thinking of the gift, Guan's mother couldn't suppress her smugness. She had just been the envy of all the relatives: "Come, come, Xiao Su, this is your first time here, let me introduce you to our family."

"Oh, okay, Auntie." Su Chang replied and followed Guan's mother into the living room. Guan Juer accompanied her, though she disliked her mother's attitude, she didn't want to embarrass Su Chang for the time being, so she held back.

The three of them first went to the opposite side of the sofa in the middle, where two elderly couples were sitting. Although they were quite old, the four elderly people were still in good spirits and had very kind faces.

"Xiao Su, these are Guan Guan's grandparents and maternal grandparents."

"Hello, Grandpa and Grandma! Hello, Grandpa and Grandma on the other side!" Su Chang quickly bowed and greeted them. Then, she took out four thick red envelopes from her inner pocket and handed them to the elderly people: "Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa and Grandma on the other side, I didn't know you were all here before I came, so I didn't prepare anything. This is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you can accept it."

Grandpa Guan smiled and pushed away Su Chang's red envelope.

"Xiao Su, there's no need for the red envelope. You young people have it tough too. We all have pensions. As long as you treat Guan Guan well, we'll be at ease."

"Yes, Xiao Su, as long as you and Guan Guan are doing well, that's more important than anything else," Guan Wai Gong chimed in.

Su Chang took Guan Juer's hand. Although Guan Juer was a little shy, she also felt a little happy and did not object.

"Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa and Grandma on the other hand, don't worry, I will definitely treat Guan Guan well. Guan Guan knows my situation. It's relatively easy for me to earn money. Guan Guan has always wanted to be filial to you, but she's just started her internship and her abilities are limited. Consider this money as a way for Guan Guan and me to be filial to you together."

"Oh? Okay, then we'll accept it." Seeing Su Chang say that, Grandpa Guan and Grandpa Guan exchanged a glance, and finally nodded and accepted it. Grandma Guan and Grandma Guan were also very satisfied with Su Chang's handsome appearance and gentle demeanor. Their smiles never stopped. However, the Guan family rules were quite strict, and it wasn't the women's turn to speak yet.

Next, Guan's mother led the two to Guan's grandfather's side, where three middle-aged couples were sitting.

"Xiao Su, these are Guan Guan's eldest uncle and aunt, second uncle and aunt, and aunt and uncle."

"Hello, Uncle! Hello, Aunt!"

Next, Guan's mother took the two of them to meet Guan Guan's uncles, aunts, and a group of her cousins. Su Chang greeted them all and then brought out the gifts, giving one to each person. The relatives were all very happy, but Su Chang felt a little dizzy.

Guan Juer acted like a proud little princess today, taking the initiative to link arms with Su Chang, her head held high, as if to say, "Look, isn't my boyfriend amazing?"

After these formalities were finally completed, Su Chang was pulled by Guan's mother to the balcony. At that moment, Guan's grandfather and Guan Waigong were playing chess, while Guan Juer's uncles and aunts stood behind their respective fathers to watch. The Chu River and Han Street were clearly separated.

After bringing the person here, Guan's mother took Guan Juer to the bedroom, clearly to explain something, while Su Chang was handed over to Guan's father.

Guan's father said in a low voice, "Little Su, do you usually play chess?"

Su Chang shook her head: "Uncle, I grew up in the United States. Nobody plays chess there, and I spend most of my time studying, so..."

Mr. Guan nodded in sudden realization.

"Oh, right, I forgot. Look at my memory. But our Chinese culture has a long history, and there are many things worth learning. You can learn them if you have the chance in the future."

"Okay, Uncle." Su Chang understood the thoughts of these old people very well. To put it nicely, they wanted to create a cultural atmosphere and improve their own cultivation. To put it bluntly, they wanted to be pretentious and show off.

Su Chang thought of the Tan family's fields and the large tea mugs they used for tea. Perhaps that was the true master, returning to simplicity and embracing the tranquility of picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence and leisurely gazing at the southern mountains. However, at this moment, he had no choice but to agree and join the others in watching the two elders play chess.

·· ··Requesting flowers··· ········

After lunch, everyone left with their elderly and children, and Guan Juer breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Finally gone."

Su Chang just smiled calmly after hearing this, but it was true that such a large family was quite stressful, especially with so many rules, which made people feel very oppressed. He finally understood why Guan Juer was so well-behaved and polite at the beginning; it was because of the family atmosphere.

"Guan Guan, how can you speak like that?" Guan's father frowned and rarely said anything to Guan Juer. He usually doted on Guan Juer and couldn't bear to say a harsh word to her, which was completely different from Guan's mother.

"Dad, that's true. With so many people crammed into the house, it's suffocating." Guan Juer wasn't afraid of her father and clung to his arm, acting coquettishly.

"You, you..." Seeing his daughter acting cute, Guan's father had no way to deal with her. He could only smile and tap her forehead, then said nothing more.

....... ....

"Alright, you two have had enough." The father and daughter were enjoying a warm moment when Guan's mother came to spoil things: "Xiao Su, go sit in the living room, your aunt and uncle have something to tell you."

"Oh, okay, Auntie."

After Mrs. Guan spoke, the four of them sat back down on the sofa. Mrs. Guan winked at Mr. Guan, signaling him to speak first, but Mr. Guan glanced out the window, pretending not to see anything. Mrs. Guan pinched him playfully, then looked at Su Chang with a smile and said, "Little Su, your auntie is straightforward and doesn't mince words. You've met Guan Guan's relatives today, so I'd like to ask, when are you planning to get married?"

Su Chang thought to herself, "Fine, the pressure to get married has begun."

Before Su Chang could speak, Guan Juer interrupted, "Mom, we're still young, and Su Chang is only 21. He's not even of legal marriage age yet. It's too early for him to get married."

Guan's mother had forgotten Su Chang's age. After all, her daughter Guan Guan always talked about Su Chang-ge (Brother Su Chang), so who would have thought that Su Chang was younger than Guan Ju'er? She coughed awkwardly twice.

"Then it's fine not to get married for now, but an engagement is fine too. But Xiao Su, don't worry, no matter how much dowry you give, Guan Guan's father and I will give you double the dowry. Although we know you don't lack anything, this is our heartfelt gift. After all, your uncle and I only have this one daughter, and everything we have will eventually go to you."

Guan Juer couldn't stop him now. She stared at Su Chang nervously. She knew that Su Chang couldn't marry her, but an engagement would be nice.

"Um... Auntie, let's forget about the double. When would be a good time for the engagement? I'd like someone to make arrangements in advance." Su Chang looked at Guan Juer's expectant eyes and ultimately couldn't bring herself to refuse.

"Little Su, although I'm a woman, I'm a woman of my word. If I say double, then double is double..."

"Mom!" Seeing that her mother was about to continue, Guan Juer quickly grabbed her mother. She knew how extravagant Su Chang was. After moving into the villa, Su Chang had a card with 1 billion yuan in his hand, and 2 million yuan in pocket money every month. Her family's little money might not be enough to pay double that.

Chapter 130 Comforting Guan Guan

So Guan Juer whispered that Su Chang had given her 1 billion yuan and 2 million yuan in pocket money every month, which made Guan's mother scream.

"What did you say? Xiao Su gave you a billion, plus two million in pocket money every month?"

The scene immediately became awkward. Su Chang didn't care, but Guan's parents were stunned, and Guan Ju'er was embarrassed by her parents' sudden outburst.

"Um... Xiao Su, I'm sorry, you can stay here and have some tea with your uncle. Guan Guan and I have something to do and need to go to the bedroom."

"Oh, Auntie, it's alright. I just remembered I left something in the car. I'll go get it." Su Chang knew exactly what the group was going to talk about. Judging from the look in Guan's father's eyes, she might as well just slip away.

"Oh, okay, I'm sorry, Xiao Su."

"It's alright, Auntie." Su Chang said before leaving the house and heading downstairs.

After the door closed, Guan's father frowned and stared intently at Guan Ju'er, while Guan's mother directly questioned, "Guan Ju'er, what's going on? How could you not tell your parents about something so important? What do you take us for?"

"No, I didn't want that card, so I didn't touch a single penny in it. I was thinking of returning it to Brother Su Chang sometime later, or saving it for him so he could have money when he needed it. That's why I didn't tell you. Who knew you would insist on giving double the bride price? I had no choice but to tell you." Guan Juer said with a wronged expression.

Mr. Guan nodded and said, “Guan Guan, your decision is right. Dad supports you. It’s really not appropriate for us to keep so much money. I don’t think Su Chang would accept it even if you returned it to him. So you can keep it for him.”

"No, Lao Guan, is that the point? Guan Guan didn't even tell us about such a big thing, and she dared to make the decision on her own, making me lose face in front of Su Chang. How am I supposed to face Su Chang after this?" Guan's mother was not happy to hear that Guan's father actually supported Guan Ju'er.

"Mom, do you think I should tell you this, or do you think I made you lose face?" Guan Juer looked at her mother with a serious expression.

"Shouldn't you tell Mom and Dad and let us help you decide? That way I won't be embarrassed. Do you still think you're right?"

"Mom, first of all, I'm all grown up now. I have my own thoughts and I can make my own decisions. Secondly, I don't think it's a good thing for you to make promises without fully understanding the situation, so you're only reaping what you sowed." Guan Juer was going all out today; she hated the feeling of being controlled by her mother forever.

"Guan Juer, you..." Guan's mother clutched her chest in anger upon hearing Guan Juer's words, roaring, "I'm only doing this for your own good! If you weren't my daughter, do you think I would meddle in such trivial matters?"

"From childhood to adulthood, you've always said you're doing it for my own good. I like music, and you said it would affect my grades; I want to paint, and you said I should read more books; I want to venture out on my own, and you said I should follow your arrangements. Fine, I've listened to you. Now that I'm grown up, can't I make my own decisions? Is this what you call being good to me?..."

"Guan Guan, you can't say that about your mother." Seeing Guan's mother crying uncontrollably and looking heartbroken, Guan's father quickly stopped Guan Ju'er from continuing and hugged her tightly: "Go downstairs and accompany Su Chang for a stroll."

"Dad, you..." Guan Juer wanted to say something, but seeing her father's stern gaze, she finally turned and left home.

"Old Guan, how did Guan Guan turn out like this? She was so obedient when she was little," Guan's mother said, wiping away tears as she lay on Guan's father's chest.

Mr. Guan patted Mrs. Guan's back gently and said softly, "Wife, Guan Guan has grown up and is no longer a little child. We need to learn to adapt as well."

"But I was only doing it for her own good, was I wrong?"

Mr. Guan sighed, not knowing what to say, and simply hugged Mrs. Guan tightly.

Ultimately, neither of them was really wrong. Guan Juer has grown up and developed her own ideas, which is the first step towards maturity. As for Guan's mother, as a mother, she wants to give her daughter the best of everything. Who is wrong? It's just a difference in perspective.

But he couldn't say it yet. He was caught in the middle, and no matter who he reasoned with, he felt like he hadn't stood by her side. Being a man was so hard, especially for a man with a daughter.

Guan Juer rushed downstairs and saw Su Chang standing by the car smoking. Her eyes immediately reddened, and she rushed into Su Chang's arms, hugging him tightly and crying.

Su Chang was also taken aback, then realized what was wrong and asked anxiously, "Guan Guan, what's wrong? Did someone bully you?"

"Brother Su Chang, my mom is so mean, boohoo..." Guan Juer started crying again as she spoke.

Hearing Guan Juer's words, Su Chang breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Guan Juer and her mother had had a conflict. So she patted her head and said gently, "Okay, Guan Guan, let's stop crying. Let's go to the car and warm up. Then tell me what happened, okay?"

"Yes, Brother Su Chang." Guan Juer nestled close to Su Chang and nodded obediently.

Su Chang was originally going to the front desk, but Guan Juer clung to him and wouldn't let go. Su Chang had no choice but to carry her to the back row.

"Okay, Guan Guan, stop crying. If you cry any more, you'll look like a little kitten, and you won't look pretty anymore. Tell Brother Su Chang how Auntie went too far," Su Chang said while wiping away Guan Ju'er's tears.

"Brother Su Chang, you're so annoying. Nobody else has turned into a little kitten." Guan Juer blushed and said coquettishly when she heard Su Chang's words, but she still couldn't bear to leave Su Chang's embrace. This place had become the warmest harbor for her.

“Brother Su Chang, let me tell you, when I was little I liked music and drawing, but my mom always said I should study more and wouldn’t let me learn them. Later, when I did my internship in college, I said I wanted to go out and explore on my own, but she took it upon herself to arrange an internship for me at Yixin. Today I made a fool of myself, and she blamed me for not telling her beforehand. Don’t you think she’s being really unreasonable?”

After hearing Guan Juer's words, Su Chang felt a pang of envy. Having been an orphan for two lifetimes, she had never experienced parental love since childhood. Perhaps what others don't want is exactly what she longs for.

"Guan Guan, if Su Chang told you that he envies you, would you believe him?"

"Why?" Guan Juer immediately stopped crying and looked at Su Chang with a puzzled expression.

Su Chang sighed and said, "Guan Guan, you should know that I am an orphan."

"Mm." Guan Juer nodded.

“When I was a child, I lived alone in an orphanage in the United States. Most of the people there were Black, and I was an Asian. They were taller and stronger than me, and I was an outcast among them, so I was easily bullied. Therefore, I had to work much harder than others to get food or anything else.”

"I so wished my parents would come and take me away, but they didn't. I could only try harder to live. And you? You've had your parents by your side since you were little, and you have a mother who wants the best for you. Don't you think I should envy you?"

After listening to Su Chang's words, Guan Juer fell into deep thought, leaning against Su Chang's chest without saying a word. Su Chang did not disturb her, but simply held her quietly.

"Brother Su Chang, was I wrong?" After some time, Guan Juer suddenly looked up at Su Chang and asked.

Su Chang gently patted Guan Juer's head: "Guan Guan, actually neither you nor your mother did anything wrong in this matter. It's just that you are in different positions. That's why we often say that we should learn to put ourselves in others' shoes. If you put yourself in your mother's shoes, do you think your mother did anything too excessive?"

Guan Juer nodded thoughtfully: "Hmm, Su Chang, I think I understand. It means that my mother and I need to communicate more, is that right?"

Su Chang looked at Guan Juer with a face full of satisfaction: "Our Guan Guan is so smart, she can even apply what she's learned to other situations..."

"Brother Su Chang, you're so annoying. I'm not as good as you say." Guan Juer blushed and hid in Su Chang's arms, not daring to look up.

Su Chang found Guan Juer's appearance so adorable that he couldn't help but pinch her cheeks.

"Oh dear! Brother Su Chang." Guan Juer exclaimed coquettishly, then adjusted herself to a more comfortable position. "Then... Brother Su Chang, should I go apologize to my mother now?"

"Well, you'll have to make the decision yourself. I can only give you an analysis. Your aunt is angry right now, so it's hard for her to talk to you calmly. But if you sincerely apologize, she will eventually forgive you. If you wait until she calms down before going back to apologize, she will be calmer and you will be able to have a better conversation."

"Hey! Su Chang, just tell me to let my mom calm down, why are you beating around the bush like this?" Guan Juer thought to herself, Su Chang is just teasing us, even a fool would know which option to choose.