"Was your disagreement with your mother this time because of this girl?"
Qin Ningyi was afraid his grandmother would think poorly of Huo Rou and was about to deny it when Grandma Liu stopped him, "Don't rush to deny it. You've always been reserved with your emotions. Even when you returned from the army early to take over the company, you weren't this direct."
"No matter who your mother has trusted wrongly this time..."
Although Grandma Liu didn't know the whole story, she understood Su Nianzhu very well, and her words hit the mark.
"But you also have a certain responsibility for her acting so foolishly again," Grandma Liu analyzed meticulously. "After that incident, she cares about your feelings even more than before. If she had sensed your strong love for that girl, she might not have been so reckless."
"I said..." Qin Ningyi murmured.
"Just like you told Grandpa today?" Grandma Liu reached out and stroked Qin Ningyi's head, as if treating him like a child.
"Grandma was young once too. What girls want is nothing more than a bit of preferential treatment. Whether she's from the Jiang family or not, the fact that you like her should come first." She didn't want her grandson to follow in his grandfather's old path in his romantic life.
"She has no family. I just want her to feel accepted and warm when she comes into this home."
That was why he had made so many preparations beforehand, why he had gone to the Jiang family alone. He wanted Grandpa to accept Huo Rou without any reservations.
Grandma Liu sneezed, which immediately made Qin Ningyi end the topic and help her inside.
Grandma Liu glanced back at the unusual loquat tree in the yard and shook her head. Her grandson was responsible and capable, but something was wrong somewhere. In expressing his emotions, he always lacked something, too many scruples.
"My standard for accepting a granddaughter-in-law is that you love her enough."
Grandma Liu stopped at the study door and said softly to Qin Ningyi, "I'll talk to your grandfather about it."
Qin Ningyi finally revealed a heartfelt smile.
When Grandma Liu entered the study, Old Master Qin was staring sternly at the information sent by the other party on his computer.
"Your brows are furrowed so tightly, you'll age even faster," Grandma Liu teased as she walked up to him.
"What are you worrying about?"
Old Master Qin pointed at his computer, "Axiu, come and take a look. It's really not my fault for being suspicious."
Grandma Liu, having received Old Master Qin's invitation, went behind the desk and looked at the computer screen.
The extensive text documented the Jiang family's annual dispatch of people to Daolin Village. This year, the Jiang family sent the most people, and after they left, no one lived in that area anymore.
Huo Rou also arrived in Yuchang City around this time.
"Can't the Jiang family go wherever they want? Old Qin, you're too sensitive," Grandma Liu said with a frown. She had always felt that the old man's obsession with the Jiang family was somewhat sudden.
Old Master Qin scrolled down the document and pointed to a line, "The old man of the Jiang family went in person, more than once. For him to go there so often, this woman must be no ordinary person."
"Axiu, this involves Ningyi. I can't stand by and do nothing." Old Master Qin sighed. He had originally wanted to sever the woman's connection with the Jiang family, but now all these minute details reminded him that things were not going as planned.
"Without direct evidence, how can you condemn someone based on your assumptions?" Grandma Liu gently hit him, "The little girl even got me a calligraphy from Elder Wang. What a sensible child. It's unfair to judge her like this."
"A piece of calligraphy bought you over? You haven't even received it yet!" Old Master Qin huffed, his beard bristling with frustration.
Seeing that the man was being stubborn, Grandma Liu's eyes twinkled, "Whether she bought me over or not, don't you want to meet this girl? Ningyi has finally taken a liking to a young lady. I'm very curious."
Old Master Qin missed the point, "What do you mean 'finally'? Who else did he like before?"
"Pah!" Grandma Liu shook her head. "You're his grandfather, and after all these years, you still don't know?"
Not to mention the tree in the yard, passing by it every day, didn't it remind him of anything?
Old Master Qin genuinely didn't know. His mind, accustomed to strategizing, was quickly trying to recall which family's daughter his grandson had liked.
That incident was deeply etched in Grandma Liu's memory, but to everyone else, it was like a fleeting dragonfly, leaving no trace.
Old Master Qin thought for a long time but couldn't recall anything. He slapped his thigh, "Axiu, my head really isn't as smart as yours. Give me a hint, and I'll talk to that family. Ningyi liking anyone is safer than someone from the Jiang family!"
"If I knew, I would have found her long ago!" Grandma Liu said earnestly, "Old Qin, I can see that Ningyi truly likes this girl this time. As his grandfather, you can't be an obstacle, can you?"
"That's for his safety?" Old Master Qin finally understood. "You're speaking up for him, aren't you? The Jiang family is not to be associated with. I disagree."
"Do you think twenty billion can be taken so easily?" Grandma Liu's voice suddenly rose. "Ningyi isn't a fool. If there were real danger, wouldn't he have noticed? You're worrying for nothing. If it weren't for you, Ningyi would have told us about this long ago. Would he have to be so secretive?"
"As elders, we can't just drag our children away from danger."
Old Master Qin's expression became somewhat complex. Grandma Liu seized the opportunity, "She's just a woman. Can't you protect your grandson? To let your grandson give up on his love for these groundless worries, why didn't you give me up back then?"
"How can this be the same?!" Bringing up the past, Old Master Qin suddenly stood up, his eyes wide as if he were about to devour someone.
"What's different? Is your love the noblest..." Grandma Liu always spoke freely in front of Old Master Qin.
Seeing that Grandma Liu seemed genuinely angry and her breath was caught in her chest, Old Master Qin automatically softened his tone. "Alright, alright, I'll protect our grandson and let him date happily, is that enough? You..."
"When Ningyi brings someone home, you have to smile for me," Grandma Liu easily subdued Old Master Qin and resumed her smile.
Seeing Grandma Liu's smile, Old Master Qin finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I promise you!"
"But I will continue to investigate. Axiu, the Jiang family is not right. I have to investigate. I have to give some people an explanation," Old Master Qin's gaze drifted into the distance, his words firm and heavy.