Holding the ledger in his hands, Xu Weiliang stared for a long while, not speaking a single word.
His son had suddenly come to clarity—logically, he should have been happy—but for some reason, he couldn’t feel joy.
His scrutinizing gaze fell on his son.
“Why?”
Xu Qingyan asked calmly, without hesitation.
“What do you mean, ‘why’?”
Setting the ledger down, Xu Weiliang frowned.
“You’re asking knowingly.”
Xu Qingyan simply smiled—lightly, faintly.
“I just wanted to do it. There’s no need for so many whys.”
He wouldn’t say it was for supporting the family.
His Shengsheng (Meng Luosheng) should never have to bear the consequences of any of his decisions.
His Shengsheng deserved the very best.
“I just wanted to do it.”
Xu Weiliang repeated the words, his face showing a profound, inscrutable expression.
“Do you know… what if she doesn’t love you? Or, what if she’s only… using you?”
Xu Qingyan didn’t doubt anything he had said to Meng Luosheng.
A faint sparkle lit up in his eyes.
“I love her—that’s enough.”
“Hah.”
Xu Weiliang could not help but let out a mocking laugh.
“Love? How much is love worth? Don’t tell me—you’d really do anything for her?”
The same question again: how long have they even known each other?
How could one person commit acts that violate their life principles just for another?
He knew very well that his son was not a naïve, weak man who couldn’t survive without romance.
On the contrary, like him, his son could stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
So he did not want, nor wish to see, any child of his get trapped in foolish passion, losing their natural disposition.
Xu Qingyan looked at his father calmly.
“Dad, you never really loved Mom, did you?”
Not a question—an assertion.
Xu Weiliang was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered.
“I had three children with your mother. Talking about ‘love’ is too shallow. We’ve been together for a lifetime—that’s my promise to her, and my responsibility as a man.”
Xu Qingyan shook his head.
“But what Mom wanted wasn’t that. What she wanted was a warm, loving husband, someone who cared for her, who was considerate—not someone like you, cold and ruthless, calculating everything based on profit.”
Xu Weiliang twisted his lips and scoffed.
“Don’t spout nonsense. My greatest care for your mother was protecting her, never letting her suffer a single grievance. Across the entire commune, no one lived more comfortably than she did.”
He was proud, believing from beginning to end that he had never done anything wrong in taking care of his wife.
And in fact, he hadn’t.
But if a person lives too comfortably, they always desire more.
Moreover, he was not unattractive—handsome and capable.
A woman had entrusted her entire life to him.
From her teens until now, giving him children, managing the household.
Her heart had fallen deeply for him.
It was understandable that she wanted his love.
Yet Xu Weiliang did not understand this and had no patience for it.
All he ever thought about was how to get more money.
His entire life was consumed by money.
Either to rise in status and fortune—or die without a burial place.
Xu Qingyan felt a mix of emotions.
On the surface, his parents seemed devoted to each other.
His father would protect his mother; his mother would care for his father.
But in reality, their love was shallow.
More often, he saw his mother staring at his father’s back, a look of loneliness and desolation in her eyes.
When he was young, he used to ask why she did that.
As he grew older, he stopped asking.
The adult world was simple yet complex.
Like or dislike—straightforward.
But sometimes, one could fake liking.
Grandpa had said that his father lacked natural emotion but was extremely responsible.
After marrying his mother, he never strayed, giving all his earnings to her, giving her the utmost respect and dignity.
Sighing, Xu Qingyan felt pity for his mother—but little sadness.
There was no love—but at least she had his father entirely.
In a way, wasn’t that a kind of happiness?
He nodded.
“You’re not wrong. In this respect, you really did well—not letting Mom suffer a bit. But that’s just what you and I think. What Mom actually feels—we don’t know.”
As he pushed the wheelchair and turned, he spoke casually, without much thought.
“I’m not in a hurry for the money; tomorrow is fine.”
Xu Weiliang was momentarily speechless, then finally spoke aloud.
“Stop right there.”
He opened a drawer, took out an envelope, and tossed it on the table.
“There’s fifty yuan in here. Take it for now; if it’s not enough, tell me.”
His son had someone he liked. He didn’t support it—but he wouldn’t oppose it either.
Spending money on a woman was appropriate.
It would be humiliating to try to get something for nothing.
Xu Qingyan obediently stopped the wheelchair, turned his head, and his eyes curved into a smile.
“This should be enough for the short term.”
Taking the envelope, he said helplessly:
“For now, my abilities are limited. The ‘three rounds and one gong’ for the wedding, plus the bride price—you’ll still have to worry about that.”
Xu Weiliang nodded, his expression indifferent.
“I’ve already told your mother—‘three rounds and one gong,’ thirty-six legs, bride price two hundred. Whatever others have, your wife will have too…”
He paused for a moment, then said:
“But I have one condition. Once she comes into the house, she must take care of you properly. If I find out she has even a single selfish thought, I will not tolerate it!”
The last sentence came out cold and merciless, his eyes full of indifference and harshness.
Xu Qingyan frowned, feeling irritated by his father’s words.
“It’s me marrying a wife, not you. Make that clear. When I marry a wife, it’s not for her to serve me. Don’t force your ideas onto me. I find it offensive and extremely annoying.”
Xu Weiliang’s face darkened, and he looked at him with a deep, serious gaze.
“Let me make one thing clear—you think I approve of your marriage, but that doesn’t mean I actually trust her. You may believe her sweet words, but I don’t. If one day she tricks you badly, don’t come crying to me.”
Xu Qingyan’s expression also turned cold. He turned the wheelchair and faced away, showing that he had no intention of talking to his father further.
“You have a prejudice against her. I don’t want you showing her a bad attitude after we’re married. If it really becomes unbearable, I’ll move out. I won’t be in your way.”
“Xu Qingyan!”
Xu Weiliang was furious, slamming his hand on the table.
“Running away from home at the slightest disagreement—who put up with this bad habit of yours?”
Xu Qingyan turned his head slightly.
A child loved and favored is fearless.
“One is my father, the other is my wife. If you two don’t get along, I’m stuck in the middle. It’s hard for me to manage, so I’ll move out to reduce any friction between you.”
In theory, what he said made sense.
But for Xu Weiliang, who considered himself a benevolent father, these words were completely wrong.
He looked at the back of his son’s head, furious, and said:
“In your eyes, am I someone who can’t tolerate others, someone who stirs up trouble?”