Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties-Chapter 779 - 778: A Delaying Tactic!

Shao Xingbang had drunk quite a bit of alcohol, and when he woke up in the morning, his head was splitting with pain. He couldn’t enjoy the luxury of someone massaging his head to relieve the headache.

By the time he had washed up and come downstairs, the only person in the living room was Shao Chengzhi sitting on the sofa with his reading glasses on, looking at the newspaper.

"Dad! Where are my sister and the others?" Shao Xingbang rubbed his head and looked around as he asked.

Shao Chengzhi looked up from the newspaper, "They’ve taken the two kids out for a walk! How much did you and Xiaozheng drink last night?"

"Not much! Is Xiaozheng gone?"

"He left early in the morning! Xingbang, there’s congee and some side dishes on the dining table, go eat!" Shao Chengzhi then returned his attention to the news in front of him.

Shao Xingbang scratched his head, adhering to the principle that even if the sky fell, he should eat his fill first, and so he went to the dining room.

Shao Chengzhi’s gaze followed the retreating figure of Shao Xingbang, complex emotions in his eyes as he sighed softly. He understood his younger son; the boy and his grandson suddenly going out to drink certainly meant that something was up.

Shao Xingbang didn’t have much of an appetite, barely able to finish a bowl of congee.

He wiped his mouth and left the dining room to sit down next to Shao Chengzhi, "Dad! I want to talk to you!"

Shao Chengzhi set down the newspaper, looking composedly at the unusually uncomfortable Shao Xingbang, "Sure! What would you like to talk about?"

Shao Xingbang cleared his throat with a light cough, "I’ve taken a liking to someone! But, the person’s circumstances aren’t that great."

He knew that in the eyes of his elders, Liang Wei’s circumstances were far from just "not that great"; they were, in fact, rather poor.

But who could blame him for falling for her? As long as he liked her, all those external circumstances were but clouds.

Shao Chengzhi felt his heart drumming, his brows furrowing slightly, "How bad are the circumstances?" He worried about his son’s obstinate temperament but then quickly reined himself back in, "However, as long as the person is good, the circumstances are secondary!"

He wasn’t a vain or power-hungry person, and if the other party and his younger son were truly in love, he wouldn’t easily object.

During the New Year, his younger son had brought Ji Man home, and he had initially said nothing.

Later, when the irreconcilable conflict had erupted between them, Ji Man came to him, and he hadn’t meddled in their affairs at all!

Shao Xingbang scratched the end of his eyebrow, "In any case, it’s quite bad!" freewēbnoveℓ.com

Shao Chengzhi pursued the matter insightfully, "Who is this person you’re talking about? Do I know her?"

Shao Xingbang didn’t hide anymore, "You do! It’s Liang Wei!"

Shao Chengzhi’s heart skipped a beat, and he threw the newspaper onto the sofa, his facial expression shifting as he pointed at Shao Xingbang, "How could it be her? How many times have you seen her? I remember it was only that day on the child’s first birthday party that you sat at the same table for the meal!

Xingbang, this is no joking matter! She’s Xiaozheng’s wife, and how could you, as the young uncle...

Shao Chengzhi couldn’t accept this at the moment. He had met Liang Wei twice and thought she seemed quite nice.

But a nice person isn’t necessarily a suitable daughter-in-law for him. Liang Wei even had a child over ten years old!

He wasn’t an antique, but he was also a man with feelings and desires!

His younger son had never been married, and the thought of him taking in a widow with a child made him feel particularly resentful.

There was also the issue of saving face!

Though he had become open-minded and didn’t care about those empty honors.

But the only child left in the family who hadn’t married was the youngest son. When it came time for him to settle down, people would see. After being so picky for so many years, Shao Xingbang ended up with a widow with a child. How would others view him, view the Shao Family?

Shao Xingbang had never been afraid of his father’s temper tantrums since he was a child, "Dad! Xiaozheng said the same thing to me yesterday, but my answer is the same! I’m not joking! I’m serious! Incredibly serious!

All these years, I’ve been aimlessly wandering, and not a single woman has made me feel this way before.

I’m not a naive kid. I’m perfectly clear and calm about what I want! I’m telling you because I want your approval, so it will be easier for Lin Xia and the others to help me!"

He thought it would be a bit of an effort if he pursued her by himself.

With Lin Xia and the others’ convenient assists, why would he foolishly exhaust himself?

Shao Chengzhi felt a pain in his chest from anger. The children in his lifetime, as well as the grandchildren, had been sensible and obedient.

But this youngest son was an anomaly! And he was also the one causing him the most headaches and worry!

Shao Chengzhi took a moment to catch his breath before asking, "Xingbang! I don’t understand! I’ve met Liang Wei before, and I really didn’t see anything special about her that could attract you!

Now, I’m not an unreasonable man, but what you’re proposing is a huge shock to me. You need to give me time to process it; I can’t give you an answer just yet!"

He knew his youngest son’s temperament. If he outright refused today, the boy might just end up doing something shocking and unacceptable.

So he planned to employ a delaying tactic.

Shao Xingbang was quite familiar with his father’s strategies, and he played along with a trick of his own.

He pulled down the corners of his mouth, "Dad! I’m not rushing you to give me an answer right now. But I hope you can think it over quickly! Ideally within three days!

Sigh! I’ve really felt tired this past year. If I miss out on her, I don’t want to think about finding someone else in this lifetime. Being alone is fine too! When I get old, I can just have Xiaozheng’s children take care of me!"

Shao Chengzhi, pointing at Shao Xingbang, was so mad he wanted to smack him! The damn kid was using both a soft and hard approach.

"Give me a week! I can’t make it any shorter!"

Shao Xingbang nodded reluctantly, "Alright then! I’ll come back after a week!"

...

Meanwhile, when Lin Xia arrived at the factory, after much consideration, she took the opportunity to have a chat with Liang Wei.

"Liang Sister! Now that you have a stable job, and Wenfeng is sensible, obedient and doing better in his studies, have you thought about your personal issues?"

Liang Wei’s cheeks flushed instantly with embarrassment. She hadn’t expected Lin Xia, while discussing work, to suddenly switch the conversation to this topic.

However, she got along well with Lin Xia and was deeply grateful to her, so she was willing to be completely open about her feelings.

"Lin Xia! As a widow with a child, what kind of man could I possibly find? If I meet a not-so-great guy that treats my son poorly, then I’m better off alone!"

Her reluctance in finding someone over the years was because she feared that a stepfather might mistreat her son, or that his children or family would bully the two of them.

After all, harmonious blended families are, indeed, the minority.

"Liang Sister! There’s nothing wrong with thinking that way! But have you considered that you are still young, and the road ahead is long. It’s lonely to always be on your own! Moreover, raising your child alone has a significant impact on him!"

Liang Wei’s eyes reddened, "Lin Xia! I actually know! It’s not good for him. But I’m scared to take that step! If I find someone who also has children, the complicated family situation could cause immeasurable harm to Wenfeng!

So it’s quite good for me to live alone with him. If he can grow up to be as successful as your brother and get into college, then I would have done right by his late father!"