Chapter 265
Wang Yue had never bowed to anyone in her life. Naturally, she would not be persuaded by just a few words from her own son either. "What's wrong with me saying a couple of words to her? Pei JianGuo, don't forget that I'm your mother. Your father insisted on divorcing me because he thought I was scheming, but wasn't I scheming for your sake? If only you could have achieved something, I wouldn't keep thinking about the bit of money in the old man's hands. And you, now that you're all grown up with a mind of your own..."
Pei JianGuo felt extremely annoyed, but still sat there patiently and listened to her finish before getting up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Wang Yue asked angrily.
"Out for a walk," he said. He wanted to go find Guo Momo. Although they had gotten past the hurdle posed by his grandfather, Wang Yue still did not agree. And the neighborhood committee on Guo Momo's side was urging them impatiently. Pei JianGuo had been exceptionally stressed these past few days.
"Are you going to see that vixen again? I forbid it!" Wang Yue went forward to grab Pei JianGuo. "I've already talked it over with your Aunt Wang. She has a niece who's very pretty and comes from an official's family. She'd be ten thousand times better than that Guo Momo. Take a day off tomorrow and go to your Aunt Wang's place at noon to take a look. You're not young anymore either. If you find her suitable, hurry up and settle down. Then I can hold my grandchild early..."
Rather than let An ZhiXia be the only one giving birth and stealing all the limelight.
"I'm not going. I only want Momo. Mom, if you don't agree to me marrying Momo, I won't get married for the rest of my life," said Pei JianGuo.
"Don't even think about it! Pei JianGuo, what's so good about that vixen Guo Momo? She's not even that pretty, and she doesn't even have a job. And there's a whole pile of stuff going on in her family. Are you trying to find a wife or lift someone out of poverty?"
Wang Yue cursed and swore. She and her son had fought frequently these past few days because of his desire to marry Guo Momo. This only made Wang Yue more determined that she absolutely could not let this Guo Momo into her house.
Her good son used to be so obedient. But ever since getting to know Guo Momo, it was as if he had become bewitched. Now he even threatened her! How could she tolerate this?
Pei JianGuo couldn't persuade Wang Yue. He had really tried his best. But if Wang Yue's mindset could be changed that easily, she and Pei Yong wouldn't have ended up in their current situation.
With Wang Yue unwilling to compromise and the neighborhood committee on Guo Momo's side urging them impatiently, they really had no other choice. Pei JianGuo had liked Gao Meiyun before, although everyone else said she wasn't good. But she had been gentle and affectionate towards him.
It was just that she didn't like him back. And because of family reasons, Pei JianGuo only wanted to find someone who reciprocated his feelings. So he wouldn't force someone who didn't like him.
After Gao Meiyun died, he had also been in pain for a period of time. He thought he would never fall in love with someone else again in his life.
Not until he met Guo Momo.
That bump at the street corner was the beginning of their destiny.
Living under Wang Yue's oppression for a long time, Pei JianGuo looked cheerful and optimistic on the outside but was actually extremely insecure inside.
Guo Momo's family practiced son preference and daughter discrimination. Her father also had the habit of domestic violence. She had also lived under long-term repression from her parents and older brother. The two could be said to share the same plight and sympathize with each other, allowing them to better understand one another.
Although her rounded little face was not very pretty, her smile was quite endearing. She also had an adorable and generous personality. But Pei JianGuo realized his feelings were different when she talked about her family affairs and encouraged him not to distance himself from Old Pei and the others just because of what Wang Yue said.
Pei JianGuo also felt that his grandfather was not as dismissive of him as his mother claimed, even if that were truly so. Besides, he was already grown up. Did he still have to compete for his grandfather's affection with his newborn cousin?
He didn't want to become estranged from his relatives either. But Wang Yue always said bad things about his grandfather and his younger uncle, calling his second uncle a turncoat, and clinging onto his younger uncle now that he had a son...
Over time, although he didn't have strong opinions of his own, Pei JianGuo inevitably felt some wavering in his heart. Yet he also felt that such thoughts were wrong, which made him feel very conflicted.
It wasn't until getting to know Guo Momo that she was always able to understand him, agree with him, and encourage him, making him feel that he actually wasn't so pathetic.
Gradually, he felt that this girl was quite good. She was cheerful and passionate, and understood him. If he could marry her and bring her home, she definitely wouldn't just nag and scheme like his mother in the future.
When An ZhiXia heard Pei JianGuo's voice outside, she saw him walk in with Guo Momo.
"Sis-in-law, we've come to see grandpa," said Pei JianGuo. His current state was like when An ZhiXia first returned and saw him - gentle and refined, like the boy next door, and not the caustic gloominess after Gao Meiyun's death.
That Guo Momo could make him become like this, based on this alone, he had burned tall incense.
"Your grandpa's in the backyard right now. Go on," An ZhiXia also smiled and greeted Guo Momo. The path in the yard was very smooth. With the cool evening air, An ZhiXia spread out a mat in the yard and brought out her triplets to play.
Sister Zhang was nearby plucking green beans, saying she would go ask Pei JianGuo and the others if they wanted to stay for dinner later. The answer she got back was yes.
Fortunately there were plenty of vegetables planted in the backyard. So she went to pick some more.
Pei JianGuo carried a watermelon in from the backyard. Old Pei had planted two vines right next to the wall. The vines happened to cover the area where the body was buried.
But it wasn't fully ripe when cut open, though the pink flesh could still be eaten.
Guo Momo brought a piece over to An ZhiXia. "Grandpa said they're not fully ripe yet. He couldn't resist his craving. What a waste. If only they could grow for two more days."
"It's fine. When they get completely ripe, there won't be much water content left. There are quite a few melons on those two vines. When they're ripe in a couple days, let JianGuo bring you back here to pick them," said An ZhiXia with a smile as she accepted it. Seeing her eat the melon, the triplets also wanted some but she kept it away from them.
"But wouldn't that be too bad? Grandpa worked hard to grow them," said Guo Momo. It wasn't that she was afraid Old Pei would begrudge them. After all, Pei JianGuo was his beloved grandson.
But Old Pei lived with the third branch of the family. She was afraid An ZhiXia would feel uncomfortable if she took them.
"The old man worked hard to grow them and runs back and forth to the backyard several times a day. Isn't it for his grandkids and their wives to eat?" Of course An ZhiXia understood her thoughts. There weren't many families in the city who lived in houses with courtyards. To be able to eat free watermelon in the summer without having to pay for it wasn't easy. Every family that bought some would hide it away and eat it secretly.
She definitely didn't mind. Many of the ripe fruits in her storage space had already been fed to the chickens and ducks. She wouldn't be so stingy over a couple melons.
Moreover, Guo Momo was quite sensible and tactful. If she and Pei JianGuo really ended up together, as long as Old Pei lived, they would inevitably have to interact with him often. It would be best for everyone to get along well without arguing.
Guo Momo blushed slightly at An ZhiXia words, then smiled wryly.
An ZhiXia saw it but didn't pry by asking.
She could guess there must be opposition from Wang Yue towards their marriage. Even if she asked, she wouldn't be able to interfere.
Old Pei also came over from the backyard. His hands were still muddy. After washing them clean, the filial Pei JianGuo handed him a slice of watermelon.
But before he could eat it, Pei Jian Guo spoke: "Grandpa, Momo and I got our marriage certificate today. Mom doesn't agree to me marrying Momo, but there's urgent pressure on Momo's side. It's either get married or get a job, otherwise she'd have to be sent down to the countryside. We really had no choice but to secretly get the certificate."
Although getting the certificate required certification from the neighborhood committee, under normal procedures it would be impossible to hide it from Wang Yue. But Pei JianGuo worked in the government. Over the past few years he had gotten to know some people who could help bend the rules.