Qin Chuan watched his family's annoyed reactions with a calm demeanor, as he had anticipated this situation.
"Dad, Mom, I know what I'm saying might not be appropriate right now, but that woman, Cao Yuqing, gives me a bad feeling!" Qin Chuan continued.
"This woman, Cao Yuqing, from what I've observed, must have been through a lot. She carries a certain smoothness and shrewdness that only comes from experiencing the harshness of the world."
Wu Yanyan couldn't help but interject, "Xiao Chuan, isn't that a good thing? It makes her seem mature and steady in her dealings!"
The others also looked at Qin Chuan, waiting for his explanation.
"Heh!"
Qin Chuan couldn't help but chuckle. "Such maturity depends on who it's directed at. If she were with a man stronger than her, someone who could completely subdue her, it might be a good asset. But my second brother is not that kind of person at all. In their dating phase, he has always been in a passive position. Simply put, my second brother might truly like her, but she might not necessarily think highly of him!"
As Qin Chuan finished speaking, everyone's expressions finally began to change.
"My second brother, though he appears carefree and uninhibited, is actually quite proud and has a strong sense of self-respect and his own principles. Otherwise, he wouldn't have abandoned a comfortable life to venture out on his own."
"You all just wait and see. If he continues dating this Cao Yuqing, he'll definitely face consequences."
After saying this, Qin Chuan stood up. Seeing this, Li Ya quickly followed suit. As Qin Chuan was about to leave, he turned back and said, "Dad, Mom, you don't need to worry too much about what I said tonight. From a different perspective, this might not be a bad thing. My second brother has never really been in love. Isn't it often said that a woman is the best catalyst for a man's true maturity?"
With that, Qin Chuan left with Li Ya.
"Dad, Mom, we're heading back too. You should get some rest early!" Qin Yang also stood up and said, then left with his wife and child, leaving only the elderly couple in the room.
Qin Shuren and Jiang Cuihua exchanged glances. Both saw a hint of worry in each other's eyes. The good mood of the past two days had completely vanished with their youngest son's words.
"That darned boy, why would he say such things at a time like this!" Jiang Cuihua said angrily.
"Xiao Chuan meant well. If it were someone else's family, would he bother?" Qin Shuren offered a fair comment.
"Of course, I know he meant well, but his sudden words have completely ruined my good mood for the past two days. That little brat!" Jiang Cuihua cursed.
"Heh heh!" Qin Shuren chuckled heartily.
"You're still in the mood to laugh? Aren't you worried about our second son and that Cao Yuqing woman?" Jiang Cuihua vented her frustration onto her husband. Even she didn't realize that after her younger son's words, she no longer called her "A Qing" but directly referred to Cao Yuqing by name. This subtle shift was quite powerful, demonstrating Qin Chuan's significant influence within the family, capable of swaying everyone with a single remark.
"Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. We elders can raise their bodies, but not their hearts. In my opinion, regardless of how things turn out between our second son and Cao Yuqing, it might not be a bad thing!"
"A man needs to mature, and he can never be entirely independent of women!" Qin Shuren said with the wisdom of experience.
Jiang Cuihua also calmed down, sitting in her chair with a frown. After a long while, she spoke: "Thinking carefully about what Xiao Chuan just said, it's true, we've overlooked many details. That Cao Yuqing is indeed much more mature and smooth than our second son. And as Xiao Chuan said, our second son has truly been in a passive role during this relationship. Every time we eat, that rascal diligently offers her chopsticks, peels shrimp for her, and fusses over her. He even personally peels sunflower seeds for her. I've raised that darned boy for over twenty years, and he's never received such treatment from me!"
As she spoke, Jiang Cuihua became agitated again, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Qin Shuren quickly changed the subject, urging her to wash up and go to bed.
Time flew by, and three days passed in the blink of an eye. During these three days, the old Qin family was as lively as ever, as if they were still immersed in their joyful reunion. One evening, after the children had finished dinner and left, the elderly couple were preparing to go to bed when suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Qin Shuren asked.
"Dad, it's me!" Qin Shuren opened the door and saw his second son standing outside. "Xiao Gang, did you forget something here?"
Qin Gang walked in and sat down, not saying a word. This unusual reaction caught the attention of the elderly couple. They sat down solicitously in front of their son and anxiously asked what had happened.
On the chair, Qin Gang's expression was deeply conflicted, as if he had a heavy, unspeakable burden. Under his parents' repeated urgings, he finally gritted his teeth and looked up. "Dad, Mom, I need to borrow some money!"
This statement completely bewildered the elderly couple; they were stunned. Noticing this, Qin Gang instinctively stood up. "If you don't have money, it's fine. I'll think of another way."
"Son, sit down quickly!" The elderly couple finally reacted, quickly reaching out to pull their son back down. Their surprise was because their second son, ever since he dropped out of school in his teens and started working in society, had never asked his family for money. Regardless of his reputation outside, Qin Gang had never voluntarily asked his family for anything unless they offered it themselves. For him to suddenly ask his parents for money, and to use the word "borrow," it was no wonder the couple was taken aback.
"How much money do you need?" Jiang Cuihua asked kindly.
"Our family's circumstances have improved greatly now, how could we not have money."
"Just tell us, how much do you need?" Qin Shuren also looked at his second son with a loving gaze.
Qin Gang looked at his parents, who were gazing at him with affection, and his heart ached. His voice hoarse, he said, "The amount I need this time is not small. I need a full million!"
"How much?!" Hearing their son's words, the previously loving couple was startled.
"One million!" Qin Gang gritted out.
"How much can you provide here? For the rest, I plan to borrow from our third son!" He had ultimately listened to his girlfriend Cao Yuqing and compromised with reality. Because to make a comeback, he needed sufficient startup capital. This one million was the figure Qin Gang had decided on after much thought.