Anyone could see that Liu Yanbo was a bit overwhelmed. He was sitting stiffly like a prisoner being interrogated.
The atmosphere in the living room was a little awkward for a while. Even Yin Hanruo, who had wanted to show some affection in front of her mother, didn’t speak again.
In terms of appearance alone, Liu Yanbo was indeed unworthy of Yin Hanruo. Even when he wore a fashionable tunic suit today didn’t help him by much.
But for a wealthy marriage, the appearance was unessential. Mother Yin wanted to see what was inside Liu Yanbo and how could he support her daughter, "Liu dear, what do you do?"
Before Liu Yanbo could respond, Yin Hanruo with a dissatisfied look cut in and said, “Mom, you already know what it is!”
"Don't interfere."
Of course, Mother Yin knew. She had seen Liu Yanbo wearing his work clothes in the news. But she wanted to hear it from him.
When someone talked about their work, it was easy to perceive what kind of attitude they had towards their life status.
Would it be dissatisfaction or satisfaction?
Would he be ambitious, eager to progress, or happy at where he was now?
Yin Hanruo was Mother Yin’s only daughter. She wished her daughter could live a happy life.
Before, she couldn’t stop the marriage contract between Yin Hanruo and Liu Fei and watched as her daughter was about to be pushed into a fire pit by her husband.
She hadn’t agreed with this but she was soft-spoken. She could only blame herself secretly for not giving birth to a son. This was probably Mother Yin’s greatest sorrow.
"I’m a taxi driver." When the foreseen “mother-in-law interrogation” started, Liu Yanbo loosened up and answered, "I also work part-time as a valet driver."
Mother Yin gently smiled and asked, "Have you ever thought about changing jobs?"
"No." Liu Yanbo said, "This has been the most satisfying one so far."
Mother Yin nodded and continued as her smile didn’t change, "Liu dear, in every marriage, a couple has responsibilities. Do you understand?"
"My father once said to me a long time ago: marriage isn’t just about living together. You can't just live together and then leave. It is about building a home, one that only belongs to you and her. She can ask to leave, but you cannot. If you leave first, your family will collapse. And a man who lets his family collapse is not a good man. At least, he doesn’t deserve to be my son!” Liu Yanbo was smiling proudly and continued.
“My mother also told me: before marriage, the woman has never taken a bowl of rice from our home, not even a bit of water, so you have no reason to not treat her well. If she gives you children, this was not a duty she owed to you, but a gift. She doesn’t owe you anything, but you will be indebted to her forever because she gave you this incomparable gift.”
Liu Yanbo smiled, his eyes became a little teary. "My parents didn't even finish primary school. These are their truest feelings about marriage, without any cultural rhetoric."
The simple couple did their best to teach their little child so that when he faced a period of loneliness he wouldn’t stray away too far and get lost.
"You have good parents." Mother Yin admired them.
In the world, how many parents actually taught their children without any selfish intentions?
As a mother, she wondered if she could become as open-minded as Liu Yanbo's parents.
Liu Yanbo took a deep breath and closed his eyes slightly, "I know."
"Mom, what the hell are you asking?" Yin Hanruo was a little unhappy.
Liu Yanbo opened his eyes, patted Yin Hanruo's hand, and put on another smile. "Mother, whatever that you ask, I’ll answer truthfully."
“Ah~” Mother Yin knew she shouldn't ask these but she also had to know.
"Liu dear, have you ever had a girlfriend before?" Mother Yin paused, and added: "I mean a kind that had reached the point of talking about marriage."
Liu Yanbo admitted: "Yes, I have."
"Then why did you break up?" Mother Yin asked.
"Because I didn’t have any money," Liu Yanbo answered straightforwardly.
"Have you ever hated her?" Mother Yin’s tone was soft, but her questions were becoming sharper, and sharper.
Talking about past relationships, especially in front of their wife, would make anyone feel uncertain and cautious.
Liu Yanbo didn’t take too long to answer as he had already answered this question multiple times in his heart, he slowly said: "She didn't do anything wrong, it’s not like she was obliged to stay with me. I don't think I have the right to hate her."
There was never a right or wrong when it came to true feelings, nor was there someone not valuing the other.
Everyone wanted to do their best. Everyone had incomparably cherished someone before.
Breaking up was only because of each other's inadequacy. No one was perfect; inadequacy was not wrongdoing.
Mother Yin liked Liu Yanbo’s pure thoughts and began to appreciate the young man a little.
But appreciation did not mean approval.
Mother Yin continued to ask, "How is my daughter better than your previous girlfriend?"
"She’s much more outstanding." Liu Yanbo answered truthfully, he didn’t say that to flatter Mother Yin.
“By appearing, you destroyed the marriage between the Yin and Liu family and annoyed many people. Among them, your father-in-law was the angriest one. He thought of many ways to break up your marriage with Yin Hanruo, but today he didn’t come..." Mother Yin took a pause deliberately, looked at Liu Yanbo's eyes, and asked, "Do you know why?"
Liu Yanbo shook his head.
"A man claiming to be your brother threatened him yesterday afternoon."
Mother Yin wasn’t irritated by this, rather, she was even appreciative.
"Liu dear, you said you understand the responsibilities of a couple. I really do want to believe you." Mother Yin sighed and asked, "But can you really do that with this current situation? Don’t tell me you’ll always rely on your brother to help you?"
It will be hard to maintain this relationship with this situation. Your brother can even help you support it once or twice, but he can’t help for a lifetime.
The years to come will be so long, who knows what’ll happen?
After all, your brother won’t always be able to stay at your side.
This was Mother Yin’s greatest concern.
She didn't say it, but Liu Yanbo understood.
Liu Yanbo didn’t answer Mother Yin straight away, but instead asked, "Mother, what is the purpose of your visit today?"
"I'm not here to break you two up. I’m even thankful that you appeared." Mother Yin suddenly got up and walked towards Liu Yanbo, picked up his and Yin Hanruo’s hand, and pressed them together. "I'm asking you these so I can be more at ease when blessing you.”
This was a respectable mother.
Liu Yanbo stood up and bowed. "Mother, I can support this family."
Mother Yin asked, "How are you so sure?"
"Be an honorable man, this was my mother's last words." Liu Yanbo stood upright, straight like a pillar.
Being honorable doesn't mean you'll be able to support a family
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