Chapter 176: Chapter 174: Becoming In-laws, Not Enemies

A few days later, Mrs. Chen was discharged from the hospital and was recuperating at home.

Although her face was still a bit pale, she was in much better spirits.

She hadn’t forgotten her invitation to Su Tang, and she was also mulling over the fact that it was time to formally meet Wang Xinxin.

On this day, Mr. and Mrs. Lu, along with Su Tang and Lu Xiao, arrived at the Chen Family’s home as planned, with Wang Xinxin in tow. They brought fruit and nutritional supplements.

Mrs. Chen was sitting in the spotlessly clean main hall, with Mr. Chen and Chen Zhengnian keeping her company.

Wang Xinxin was clearly nervous, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet.

Su Tang smiled to smooth things over. "Auntie, you’re looking much better. It seems you’re recovering well at home. Xinxin heard you like light soups, so she specifically went to ask the cafeteria’s head chef for advice and learned how to make some mushroom soup to bring you."

Mrs. Chen looked at Wang Xinxin, then at the thermos of still-steaming soup. She nodded, her tone gentler than it had been in the hospital. "Hm, that’s very thoughtful. Have a seat. Don’t just stand there."

Wang Xinxin quickly sat down next to Su Tang, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

Mrs. Lu and Su Tang chatted with Mrs. Chen about her recovery, and the topic gradually shifted to Wang Xinxin.

Mrs. Chen asked about Wang Xinxin’s family, if she had gotten used to the Northwest, and whether her work was tiring.

Wang Xinxin carefully answered each question.

As they chatted, Mrs. Chen seemed to make up her mind and turned to Wang Xinxin.

"Xinxin, your mother only has you, her only daughter, and you came all the way out here to the Northwest... My health has improved now, so... why don’t you talk to your mother and ask her to make a trip out here when she has time? It’s about time our two families had a formal meeting."

At these words, Wang Xinxin froze. Then, her eyes lit up, and she was so surprised she could hardly believe it. "Auntie... you, you really mean it?"

Chen Zhengnian also looked at his mother, his eyes filled with immense surprise and emotion.

He hadn’t expected his mother to be the one to suggest it.

Mr. Chen nodded, chuckling at her side. "That’s right! It’s time to meet. We’re family, after all!"

Su Tang also smiled encouragingly at Wang Xinxin. "Xinxin, hurry up and call your mom!"

Wang Xinxin was so excited her face turned red. She nodded repeatedly. "Okay! Okay! I’ll go call her right now!"

By the time the news reached Wang Xinxin’s home, Wang Mu was already on a train to the Northwest.

The day Mrs. Wang arrived, the Chen Family and Wang Xinxin all went to the train station to pick her up.

As soon as Mrs. Wang got off the train, she saw her daughter—a bit tanner but full of energy—and standing beside her was the tall, sturdy, and reliable-looking Chen Zhengnian.

There was also a middle-aged couple whose clothes and bearing suggested they were quite refined.

"Mom!"

Wang Xinxin rushed over to hug her mother.

Mrs. Wang hugged her daughter, her eyes a little red as she looked her up and down. "You’ve lost weight, but you’ve gotten sturdier."

Only then did she turn her gaze to Chen Zhengnian and Mr. and Mrs. Chen.

Chen Zhengnian quickly took a step forward, a bit reserved but very sincere as he said, "Auntie, you must be tired from your journey."

Mr. Chen also smiled. "Welcome, welcome! The trip must have been exhausting, right?"

Mrs. Chen looked at this mother-in-law from the big city, whose clothes were clearly more sophisticated.

’That last bit of lingering awkwardness reared its head again.’

But thinking of her son’s persistence, she forced a smile and also stepped forward. "Hello, Mrs. Wang. I’m Zhengnian’s mother. Come, let’s go home so you can rest and have some water."

Mrs. Wang looked at Mrs. Chen’s welcoming face, then at the way her daughter stood dependently by Chen Zhengnian’s side. Most of her doubts dissipated, and she replied politely, "Hello. I’m sorry to have troubled you all."

"Not at all. Let’s get in the car."

Mr. Chen replied, and the family helped Mrs. Wang into the car.

Back at the Chen family’s home, fruit and tea had already been laid out in the main hall.

The atmosphere was a little distant and formal at first.

Mrs. Wang looked at how clean the Chen family’s home was, at the furnishings in the room, and then at her daughter, an unavoidable pang of bitterness in her heart.

She took her daughter’s hand and couldn’t help but ask, "Xinxin, are you... really used to it here? Is the food okay? Is work tiring?"

Wang Xinxin knew what her mother was worried about and quickly said, "Mom, I’m used to it! The food in the cafeteria is great, and my colleagues are easy to get along with. Zhengnian... he’s very good to me, and Uncle and Auntie are... are very good, too."

As she spoke, she snuck a glance at Mrs. Chen.

Wang Xinxin had never told anyone about the hard time Mrs. Chen had given her before.

To keep her mother from worrying, Wang Xinxin hadn’t even told Mr. and Mrs. Lu, and she had asked Lu Xiao and Su Tang to keep it a secret for her.

Mrs. Chen heard the worry in Mrs. Wang’s words and saw the heartache in her eyes.

She remembered her previous prejudice against Wang Xinxin, took a deep breath, and took the initiative to speak.

"Mrs. Wang, you can rest assured. Xinxin is a good girl."

"I was the one who was prejudiced against her before."

Mrs. Chen’s tone was apologetic, and though still a bit unnatural, it was very sincere.

’After that stint in the hospital, she’d finally figured it out. As long as the children were happy and got along well, that was more important than anything else.’

’As their mother, she shouldn’t stand in their way; she should be happy for them.’

These words stunned Mrs. Wang.

She hadn’t expected Mrs. Chen to be so direct.

Although Mrs. Wang didn’t know what had happened, seeing the Chen Family’s sincerity, she still spoke up.

After all, she had also been prejudiced against Chen Zhengnian before.

"My dear, please don’t say that. Every child is the apple of their parents’ eye. I can put myself in your shoes; I understand how you feel. This child, Xinxin, we spoiled her a bit growing up, so she can be a little delicate and her temper is quite direct. If she does anything wrong, you should just tell her.

"As long as the two of them are sincere about their life together and support each other, what more could we as parents ask for?"

As she spoke, Mrs. Wang also looked at Chen Zhengnian. "Zhengnian, I’m entrusting Xinxin to you from now on. Auntie trusts you."

"Auntie, don’t you worry! I will definitely be good to Xinxin!"

Chen Zhengnian immediately promised, his voice a little emotional.

Mr. Chen was grinning from ear to ear at the side. "Now that’s what I’m talking about! That’s it! A family should be harmonious! Honey, quick, bring out the cured meat we made for Mrs. Wang to try!"

Mrs. Chen smiled too, a much more natural smile this time. "Yes, yes! Mrs. Wang, please try our local specialty!"

Wang Xinxin watched the scene unfold before her: her mother and Mrs. Chen were holding hands, and Mr. Chen was laughing heartily.

And with Chen Zhengnian’s eyes brimming with joy, the weight in her heart was finally lifted.

During the meal, Mrs. Wang and Mr. Chen drank quite a bit.

After her divorce, Mrs. Wang had raised Wang Xinxin all by herself.

She was a strong-willed woman and had always refused matchmaking attempts, fearing her daughter might be treated poorly in a new family.

Now, Wang Xinxin was grown up and would soon be starting a family of her own.

For Mrs. Wang, seeing her daughter happy was the greatest satisfaction she could ask for.

"I only have this one daughter. Everyone said I couldn’t raise her on my own, but look, I’ve raised my child just fine."

"From now on, our Xinxin is in your hands. If you’re not happy with her, don’t scold her. Just give her back to me, and I’ll take her and leave."