Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Biological Parents-in-Law

Unable to win the argument against Xie Changning, Mr. Han grew red in the face with anger.

"You don’t act like a junior at all!"

"And you don’t act like a senior at all!"

"Hmph!"

Standing behind him, Han Mother smacked him on the back of the head. "You should be grateful. If I were Changning, I’d kick you out and make you spend the night outside!"

Mr. Han instantly deflated.

Xie Changning knew she was just trying to smooth things over for Mr. Han.

She was afraid Xie Changning would misunderstand him.

But Xie Changning wouldn’t. It wasn’t a real argument; in her eyes, it was more like a discussion between the older and younger generations that had revealed a difference of opinion.

Situations like this usually only brought the two generations closer.

She wasn’t angry.

"It’s true, I can’t do that. But I have backup now, so you’d better be careful, or you might get another smack," Xie Changning said with a grin, letting Han Mother know she hadn’t taken the earlier words to heart.

Seeing how reasonable and understanding Xie Changning was, Han Mother was deeply touched.

’The wife my youngest son married is truly the most outstanding of all my daughters-in-law and sons-in-law!’

"It’s getting late. You two should get some rest." Xie Changning’s relationship with Mr. Han and Han Mother had improved greatly, so she spoke much more casually with them now.

They were both older and couldn’t stay up late anymore.

Not like when they were young.

"Hmph! Back when I was young, I fought the foreign devils for three days and three nights without any sleep... OW, OW, OW, OW!" Before Mr. Han could finish, Han Mother grabbed his ear and twisted it.

He was forced to his feet.

"Back in my day, I carried a satchel charge..."

"Yes, yes, the great Mr. Han who carried a satchel charge to blow up the enemy’s pillbox. It’s time for you to go to bed!" Xie Changning watched with amusement as the two elders went back to their room to sleep.

Only after the two elders closed their door did Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang emerge from the kitchen.

The two of them peeked and peered at the closed door.

Huo Xiaoqian had an impatient nature. She came up to Xie Changning, leaned in close, and asked in a low voice, "Director, I heard that grandpa and grandma are your biological parents-in-law!"

Her face was filled with shock.

If Aunt Wang hadn’t told her, she never would have known that her Director’s husband had had such a difficult life!

She used to think the Director’s husband wasn’t a good man. Now it seemed that aside from not having much time to spend with the Director because of his military service, he was an outstanding person in his own right.

To become a regiment commander at such a young age spoke volumes about his abilities.

"Yes, that’s right." Xie Changning didn’t deny it.

Yue Yang’s mouth also formed an "O," a hint of pity coloring her expression. "Without parents-in-law to help look after the kids, it must have been especially hard for you, Director."

Hearing Yue Yang’s words, Xie Changning felt a wave of complicated emotions.

’As expected of my troops, their first instinct is to feel sorry for me.’

’It wasn’t a waste to support their education.’

"Alright, it’s late. Hurry up and get to bed. You have to be at the lab tomorrow!" Xie Changning shooed them away, not wanting them to keep asking about her biological parents-in-law.

The two reluctantly got up.

「A dreamless night passed.」

When Xie Changning got up, Mr. Han and Han Mother were in the courtyard practicing Tai Chi. Behind them were a few "little tails."

They were the children of nearby workers, along with Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang, who were diligently copying their movements.

"Director, breakfast isn’t ready yet! Come learn Tai Chi with Uncle Han! They say it’s great for your health!"

Huo Xiaoqian called out to Xie Changning enthusiastically.

Xie Changning was silent for a moment before shaking her head. "I do manual labor at the factory every day. I don’t need any special exercise to stay healthy." With that, she went to the kitchen to help.

All so she could eat breakfast sooner.

She was so hungry her stomach felt like it was stuck to her spine.

When Yue Yihan returned, he was greeted by the lively scene in his own courtyard.

"Brother Yue!" The children who knew Yue Yihan greeted him.

It was the first time Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang had seen him. They exchanged a glance, unsure of what to call him. Then, on a whim, one of them blurted out, "Director’s partner, hello!"

Their greeting was met with collective silence.

"Hello." Yue Yihan smiled, walked past the people in the courtyard, and went into the house to look for Xie Changning and the children.

He saw Xie Changning being more of a hindrance than a help in the kitchen and getting shooed out by Aunt Wang. He quickly found an apron and entered the kitchen. "I’ll do it."

Having not seen him for a while, Xie Changning looked at the man, who was now a shade darker, and slowly nodded.

’He’s gotten darker. Did he go to Africa for special training?’

With Yue Yihan’s help, breakfast was indeed ready in no time.

By the time Xie Changning called everyone to eat, the children had all run off. They did this every day—come practice Tai Chi for a while, then run home for breakfast.

Seeing they were all gone, Xie Changning didn’t bother calling for them individually and just told the people still in the courtyard to come in and eat.

"I never thought that in my lifetime, I’d get to eat a meal cooked by my own son."

As Mr. Han spoke, he kept stealing glances at Yue Yihan out of the corner of his eye.

Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang kept their heads down as they ate, occasionally lifting their gazes to sneak a peek at Yue Yihan’s expression.

As for Yue Yihan—

He acted as if nothing was amiss, putting food on Xie Changning’s plate and filling her rice bowl.

"You have so many sons. Has none of them ever cooked for you?" Aunt Wang asked curiously. She knew about Mr. Han’s status and that he had several children in the Han Family.

She just hadn’t expected that none of his children had ever personally cooked a meal for him.

But on second thought, it made sense. In a family like the Han Family, the young masters wouldn’t be expected to cook.

As soon as she asked, Aunt Wang regretted it.

"Han Yuanzhong called the base yesterday, asking when you two were coming back." Only after seeing that Xie Changning had enough food in her bowl did Yue Yihan turn to look at Mr. Han and Han Mother.

He always had this same cold and detached demeanor when facing his biological parents.

But despite his appearance, Xie Changning could tell that he was gradually starting to accept the two elders in his heart.

"Hmph! Before they left, I already told him we’re not going back! We’re going to retire here! We’ve worked ourselves to the bone for those children our whole lives, and now we can’t even retire elsewhere in peace!"

"A bunch of clueless fools!"

Han Mother also frowned. "Don’t pay him any mind. If he contacts you again, just tell him to write me a letter. I’ll reply to him!"

She didn’t like her eldest son’s way of handling things.

’He’s clearly using his status to pressure my youngest son!’

"No need. I’ll call him today. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out he’s got some other trouble over there that he needs me to solve." Thinking of this, Mr. Han subconsciously glanced at Yue Yihan.

’What a troublesome son!’

’How did I end up raising such an inconsiderate child!’

"I’ll join you on the call. We need to make things clear." When the old couple had decided to stay, their other children had disagreed. They claimed it was because they felt Yue Yihan had no emotional attachment to his parents.

That he wouldn’t take care of them.

Of course, that was just their excuse.

Han Mother knew their true motives very well.

With the two of them away from Beijing, even if some people might give the children preferential treatment out of respect for their parents’ name, it was a far cry from the benefits of having them physically present in the capital.

They were trying every trick in the book to lure them back.

But she refused to give in.