LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 50
Rongcheng, Changyuan.
Shen Youlin was drawing in his study when he suddenly remembered the social media post Yu Shu had shared yesterday. He got so annoyed that he threw down his brush in irritation. Ink splattered across the paper, ruining the nearly finished painting of flowers and birds.
Yu Heting was returning from walking Dou'e when he came in and saw his grandson slouched in his chair with a pouty frown. The potted orchid on the desk had been mangled as if gnawed on by a dog.
Yu Heting's moustache twitched in anger. "If you have nothing better to do then go back to school! What are you ruining my flowers for? Little Qiao was crying to me just yesterday that you're going to fail to graduate again this year!"
"Don't wanna. Boring," mumbled Shen Youlin without even looking up.
Yu Heting glared at him but didn't try persuading further. He picked up his precious orchid and went to complain to his wife.
"Dou'e, come here!"
Dou'e trotted over obediently. Sensing his master was in a bad mood, he put his front paws up on Shen Youlin's knees and beamed an even brighter grin than usual, tongue lolling out.
Seeing him so eager to please, Shen Youlin felt his heart warm. In an unusually gentle tone he said, "Dou'e my boy, the weather's so nice. Let's go get you fix...I mean, let's go get your bits snipped, eh?"
The angel with the smiling face turned solemn, retracting his tongue sharply to stare at his master with serious dark eyes.
Yu Shu didn't know that the photo she took with Zhou Zhengan set off Shen Youlin's jealousy enough to make an innocent three-year-old puppy lose his balls.
Ou Doudou's wedding day was coming up soon. Yu Shu went with Zhiyang and Zhixia to help her pick out a wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses. She had already gone dress shopping with Ou Doudou several times and through multiple rounds of selection these were the few that made it to the final round.
The bridesmaid dresses were easy for Zhiyang and Zhixia to decide together. Their tastes were similar and they zoned in on the same pale blue chiffon number right away.
Ou Doudou was much harder to please. The outdoor ceremonial dress, the indoor reception dress, the toasting dress...from price range to color to style to size, she agonized over every detail with extreme indecision.
Yu Shu settled into the sofa, steeling herself for a long battle. She figured Ou Doudou would take a painfully long time deciding as usual. Unexpectedly, Ou Doudou made her selections swiftly and decisively.
"These three. I'll take these three. Can you let me try them to check the sizes? If they fit then I'll buy them."
Yu Shu was shocked speechless. "What's gotten into you today?"
Ignoring Xu Kai's black expression, Ou Doudou winked at her. "I just realized choosing isn't so hard if I only think about my own preferences."
The reception dress she picked wasn't available to rent, only buy, and it wasn't cheap either. After confirming with the shop owner multiple times that there were no discounts on rentals, Xu Kai pulled Ou Doudou aside to persuade her. "It's only going to be worn once, such a waste to buy it. Some of the rental ones look really nice too. Can you compromise a little...we'll have other expenses in the future to think about..."
"I don't want those. I only like this one," Ou Doudou interrupted. "Why do I have to 'compromise'? How many times have you told me to 'compromise' recently? Think about it."
"I've had enough. It's not like you have to marry me. If you keep wanting me to 'compromise' then go find someone else willing to compromise to marry you."
Xu Kai turned pale and hastened to reassure Ou Doudou.
Even slow-witted Zhixia picked up on Ou Doudou's change. She whispered to them, "Why's Dou Dou suddenly acting so tough? Is she trying to become the woman of the house?"
Yu Shu said, "I guess her brain finally dried out from all that crying."
Zhixia sighed, "The wise stay out of love's river where only iron pots can simmer big geese."
Yu Shu supplemented, "Love's river brings heartache and sorrow while big geese in iron pots bring warmth and full bellies."
Zhiyang applauded. "Inscription: Happy Eating Rice."
To celebrate Ou Doudou finally growing a spine, Yu Shu treated everyone to lunch at the city's most expensive restaurant.
After lunch they went to Zhou Zhengan's workshop. Their bracelets were ready for pickup and they were all thrilled to get them, Ou Doudou especially. She kept smiling down at the one she got for her mom.
Xu Kai asked, "Which one is for my mother?"
Ou Doudou's smile faded. "Why should I buy one for your mother? Zhou is your cousin. Shouldn't you be the filial son buying her one?" Xu Kai's brows contracted. "Doudou, what's made you become like this? Who's been putting ideas in your head?"
"I've cried too much. My brain finally dried out," she said coolly. "You want me to swallow your mother's unreasonable demands with a smile? I can't turn the other cheek like that. However she treats me is how I'll treat her back. I won't stop you from being a good son but don't interfere with me treating my mom well either. I bought this with my own money and it's got nothing to do with you."
With her good hearing, Yu Shu overheard everything clearly even though they lowered their voices. She couldn't help applauding Ou Doudou's backbone.
Xu Kai's expression was ugly. Avoiding the others, he asked Yu Shu bluntly, "What have you been telling Doudou? Why has she changed like this since you came back?"
Yu Shu resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Look to yourself first for the root of problems."
"I...I don't know."
How stupid could he be?
Yu Shu couldn't stand it anymore. "Do you think that it doesn't matter if Doudou suffers some injustice since she doesn't even have a dad to turn to if she leaves you?"
"I don't think that!" Xu Kai denied. "It's just...it's just hard for me when my mother has such a forceful personality..."
"So Doudou should be the one to suffer?" Yu Shu said coldly. "What's she done wrong to deserve mistreatment? Just because she cares for you, just because she's timid and easily bullied, just because she has no one to back her up means she should put up with it?"
Xu Kai turned pale and broke out in a cold sweat. Had he really never considered things from her perspective? On some unconscious level he'd taken for granted that Doudou would never leave him so it didn't matter if he always persuaded her to swallow disrespect from his mother.
"The vast majority of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts are due to the man's incompetence," said Yu Shu bleakly. "I won't say anything if you and Doudou get on fine. But if she ever calls me crying one day, my money and I will be the backbone supporting her decision to leave you."