Zhou Mingshi was not affected by his father’s words. After all these years, he had long since grown accustomed to it.
After finishing the last document, he got up and went downstairs.
Downstairs, the patients had already finished their treatment and gone home. The gentle melody of 《The Language of the Pipa》 drifted through the antique-style clinic.
Ye Lingzhi was helping prepare lunch in the kitchen, while Lin Yi’an was tidying up the treatment room. Grandma was getting on in years, and after a busy morning, she had gone out for a walk.
After cleaning the treatment room, Lin Yi’an gathered up the white bedsheet and was about to put it into the washing machine when she looked up and saw Zhou Mingshi leaning against the doorframe, watching her.
“Finished with work?”
Zhou Mingshi gave a quiet “Mm,” then asked, “Is that 《The Language of the Pipa》?”
“Mm.”
Following her into the laundry room, Zhou Mingshi asked, “Do you like listening to music?”
“I do. What about you?”
“I do too,” Zhou Mingshi replied with a smile. “Looks like we’ve found another thing we have in common.”
Lin Yi’an smiled as well. “Looks like it.”
At least from now on, when music was playing at home, it would be something they both enjoyed.
After helping chop the vegetables, Ye Lingzhi came out and saw Lin Yi’an doing the laundry. She quickly said, “Sister Yi’an, let me do it.”
Lin Yi’an replied, “It’s just a small chore. Go take care of what you’re doing. It’s fine.”
Ye Lingzhi said, “Then I’ll go back to the kitchen and cook. Later, when it’s time to disinfect the bedsheet, I’ll take care of it.”
Just as they were talking, the sound of a car came from outside. The two who had gone grocery shopping had returned.
Grandma Lin had just returned from her walk when she saw them and asked, “Why did you take so long?”
Lin Shuhe replied, “There wasn’t much worth buying in town, so we drove to the county instead.”
Zhou Mingshi stepped forward to help carry the groceries, but seeing how spotless his clothes were, Lin Shuhe quickly said, “It’s not much. Don’t dirty your clothes.”
Assistant Chen said, “I’ll carry them.”
Grandma Lin looked at Zhou Mingshi. “Let them handle it. Go with Bao’er to Uncle Maodan’s house across the road and let him know we’re buying fish tonight. Ask him to save us some. His fishpond is big, and the fish are raised without feed, so they taste much better.”
Zhou Mingshi looked at Lin Yi’an, who asked in confusion, “Can’t we just call him?”
Grandma Lin replied, “We don’t have his phone number. Besides, the sun’s gone behind the clouds again. Mingshi’s been staying indoors the whole time. It’s good for him to get out, see the scenery around here, and get to know the people in the village.”
Lin Yi’an nodded. “All right, we’ll go now.”
The two of them headed across the road together. In fact, their own family also had a pond. Lin Shuhe had wanted to raise fish in it, but Lin Yi’an had talked him out of it. It was too much trouble. Plenty of families in the village raised fish, so whenever they wanted some, they could simply buy a few. There was no need to make life more exhausting.
Watching the two of them walk away side by side, Grandma Lin’s eyes were full of smiles. She would have to call Yi’an’s biological mother tonight. This grandson-in-law was an excellent choice. The old lady couldn’t have been more satisfied.
After they had walked a few steps, Zhou Mingshi asked, “What kind of decorating style would you like for our marital home?”
Lin Yi’an looked at him in confusion. “Didn’t we agree we’d live at the Zhou family estate after we get married so we could keep Grandpa and Grandma company?”
After they got engaged, he had even sent someone to ask for her opinion on how they should renovate their room there and what kind of décor she preferred.
Zhou Mingshi said, “There are a lot of people at the estate. It gets rather noisy. If we live on our own after we’re married, we can always go back to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma whenever we’re free.”
After a brief pause, he added, “Of course, if you’d rather stay at the estate with Grandpa and Grandma, that’s fine too. Any other issues can be worked out.”
His father’s phone call that morning had changed his mind. His marriage to the Lin family was an alliance between two families, meant to unite them, not turn them into enemies.
He was very satisfied with Lin Yi’an. The two of them would spend the rest of their lives together. They would become each other’s closest companion, and it was his responsibility to make sure she lived comfortably after they were married.
Lin Yi’an said, “I like peace and quiet. It doesn’t matter where we live, as long as it’s peaceful.”
Zhou Mingshi nodded. “We’ll prepare a house first and decorate it according to your preferences. After we’re married, we’ll live wherever it’s most convenient. Although the timing is a little tight, it doesn’t matter. We can stay at the family estate during the newlywed period.”
He already owned a place of his own, but it was not suitable to use as their marital home. Considering Yi’an’s work, he needed to choose a residence that was close to her workplace.
After giving it some thought, Lin Yi’an found nothing inappropriate about the arrangement. She said, “You’ve already considered everything that needed to be considered. I’ll leave it to you.”
Zhou Mingshi turned to look at her. Although her tone was calm, he could tell she was not forcing herself to accept his decision. She genuinely felt that his arrangements matched what she wanted.
He smiled. “This afternoon, I’ll have Assistant Chen send you the locations and floor plans of several houses. Pick one or two that you like, and we’ll start the renovations. After we’re married, if you ever grow tired of living in one place, we can always move to another.”
Lin Yi’an nodded. “That works.”
As they were talking, a motorcycle approached from ahead and stopped in front of them. The rider took off his helmet and said with a smile, “Yi’an, you’re back?”
Recognizing him, Lin Yi’an smiled as well. “Uncle Hu, I got back the day before yesterday.”
Uncle Hu looked at Zhou Mingshi. “And this is?”
Lin Yi’an introduced him. “Uncle Hu, this is my fiancé, Zhou Mingshi.”
“Mingshi, this is Uncle Hu.”
Uncle Hu sized Zhou Mingshi up before praising him. “A fine-looking young man. You and Yi’an make a perfect match.”
Lin Yi’an looked at Zhou Mingshi with a smile. Catching the smile in her eyes, Zhou Mingshi greeted him politely, “Hello, Uncle Hu!”
“Good, good. Hello to you too.” Uncle Hu got off his motorcycle with a broad smile. “I set out some fishing nets in the river today and caught two snakeheads. It’s not often you two come back, so take them home and enjoy them.”
Lin Yi’an leaned over to look at the fish in the bucket. “These two are still quite lively…”
Before she could finish speaking, Uncle Hu had already lifted the bucket down, set it in front of her, climbed back onto his motorcycle, and said, “I’m off. Take the fish home and enjoy them.”
He left as briskly as he had arrived. Picking up the bucket, Lin Yi’an said, “These two fish will last us two days. We don’t need to go to Uncle Maodan’s anymore.”
“I’ll carry it,” Zhou Mingshi said.
So the two of them turned around and walked back together.
“The people in the village are very warm and generous,” Zhou Mingshi remarked.
Lin Yi’an explained, “Uncle Hu makes his living by fishing. Wild snakeheads aren’t easy to catch, and they’re worth more than grass carp or crucian carp. By giving us these two fish, he’s giving up a good part of today’s earnings. If we offered him money, he wouldn’t accept it. He enjoys drinking, though. When we go out for a walk tonight, we’ll bring him a bottle of liquor.”
The liquor at home had all been gifts from her parents, her elder brother and sister, and Zhou Mingshi. They were all good bottles, and Uncle Hu would be delighted to receive one.
Zhou Mingshi nodded. “All right.”
Lin Yi’an said, “My dad makes a pretty good stir-fried sliced fish. We’ll have him cook it for us tonight.”
It was already too late to make it for lunch.
Zhou Mingshi smiled. “Sounds good.”
When they returned home, Assistant Chen looked at them and asked, “President Zhou, have you taken your medicine today?”
Zhou Mingshi ignored him. Lin Yi’an could not help smiling. “He has. Don’t worry, I won’t neglect your President Zhou.”
Assistant Chen looked astonished. “Miss Lin, you actually know how to joke?”
Lin Yi’an: “…..”
Zhou Mingshi looked at him. “Don’t you have anything to do?”
Assistant Chen replied, “Nothing at the moment.”
Zhou Mingshi said, “Then go help out in the kitchen.”
Assistant Chen fell silent for a moment. “…Right away.”
Watching his retreating figure, Zhou Mingshi commented, “He talks too much.”
Lin Yi’an put in a good word for him. “He’s just concerned about your health.”
Zhou Mingshi smiled and gave a quiet nod. “Other than talking too much, he’s excellent in every other way.”