102 The mother-in-law’s enthusiasm is simply overwhelming—I’m not fortunate enough to handle it (Please vote for me)

Page (1/3)

“The influence of your mother’s 'October' magazine is indeed far less than that of 'People’s Literature.' This is actually a good thing for you!”

Father Feng and son-in-law Cheng Xueming returned home together, and on the way, Father Feng listened to Cheng’s account.

He nodded, offering a very candid assessment.

If he were in Old Wu’s position, with senior leaders personally overseeing and issuing important instructions, he too would replace Old Liu’s 'October' with the more influential 'People’s Literature.'

After all, as Old Wu said, this was the first shot of the reform and opening-up policy; their cultural front had to strike first and loudly!

Moreover, 'October' was a bimonthly publication, and the next issue wouldn’t come out until the end of next month—there was simply no time to wait.

So the change was inevitable; not changing would be irrational. This was indeed good news for his son-in-law—the greater the influence, the more beneficial for him as an author.

“Dad, you agree with this too?!”

“When we get home, could you help me give Mom a heads-up?”

Having gained the father-in-law’s approval, Cheng Xueming seized the moment to encourage him to lead this first charge.

“Well… you should tell your mother yourself! I… I just remembered I have some work at the office, so I won’t be going back with you!”

Though he said this, the reasoning was only an excuse—the idea of Father Feng being the first to break the news? Forget it!

After saying this, he was about to turn his bicycle around, truly intending to head to his office to hide.

“Dad! No, no, no!”

“It’s almost dark; the office would have closed long ago!”

Cheng quickly grabbed his father-in-law to stop him. They were almost home—why run off now?

“Let me go to the school to pick up the little one!”

“That’s it, I’ll go get her!”

The father-in-law wanted to avoid the situation, but Cheng, the son-in-law, was even faster. Without even entering the house, he sped off toward Yanjing University.

The sky had cleared, the snow on the roads melted. That morning, the Feng family’s little one had said she wanted to come home.

Since Cheng was urgently called away around noon, the little one was surely anxious at school. It was best to go get her first to prepare for her mother’s reaction.

“Hey, slow down!”

Father Feng trailed behind, both amused and helpless, following on his bicycle as they approached the yard.

“We’re back! I called your office today, and they said you were called to the Ministry at Zhonghai?”

“Xueming went too; did you run into him?”

“What’s really going on? The Ministry’s been calling Xueming all over the place today—it scared me to death!”

Seeing her husband enter the yard, Mother Feng lost all appetite for cooking and hurriedly asked.

“Dad, you’re back!”

“Where’s Xueming?! Why didn’t he come back with you?”

Inside, the little one warming herself by the fire heard the commotion and came out to greet them. Seeing her father but no sign of her man, her heart skipped a beat as she nervously asked:

“Did you come back on your own?”

Father Feng, startled to see her, quickly looked behind and said, “Xueming just went to the school; he said he’s coming to pick you up!”

Good grief!

Her son-in-law was the fastest runner of all. If he’d even glanced inside the house, they wouldn’t have gone through this pointless chase.

If they wanted to pursue him, only someone matching his cycling speed could catch him.

“What?! He went to the school?! I’ll go after him!”

The little one was stunned and anxious, about to rush out, but her mother stopped her.

Everyone was back now, so there was no big problem!

“Old Feng, what did the Ministry say today? Why was Xueming called too?!”

“Is it because his manuscript is going to be published?!”

“Our 'October' might not be able to wait until the end of next month; maybe they’ll have to do a special issue this month!”

Mother Feng guessed the Ministry summoned her son-in-law over the manuscript.

With the plenary session officially over, the manuscript needed to be published promptly to respond to the higher-ups’ directives.

Calling both Xueming and Old Liu was surely related to the special issue for 'October,' with important instructions from Old Wu.

“The manuscript will be published!”

Father Feng nodded, locking his bicycle before saying, “Old Wu convened a meeting with Yanjing’s cultural units, attended by senior leaders, who gave us key instructions!”

The manuscript was to be published, but not in 'October'—he dared not reveal this to them.

Page (2/3)

He would have to let Xueming explain that himself!

You can run from the monk, but not from the temple; Father Feng would never take that blame.

“What?! Senior leaders attended the meeting?” Mother Feng was shocked.

Father Feng nodded again: “To comply with the meeting’s spirit, Xueming’s manuscript will be published within days!”

That was all he could say; the rest was up to his son-in-law. There was no way to dodge this!

“Really? Published that soon?”

“Fortunately, Old Liu and I were prepared. The next issue’s final draft is ready; we can issue a special edition immediately. A sample can come out tomorrow!”

Mother Feng’s face lit up with excitement.

They had waited so long, and now 'October' was finally about to make a splash!

With Old Wu personally watching over them, this cultural bomb was set to explode spectacularly, dazzling everyone.

Just thinking about it thrilled her!

“Um… hasn’t dinner been made yet? Let’s hurry and cook!”

Seeing Mother Feng so excited, Father Feng wanted to puncture her enthusiasm, but the words stayed on his tongue.

“Yes, yes, dinner first! I passed by Pigeon Market today and bought a big grass carp. Tonight, we’ll have fish head stew with tofu!”

Mother Feng’s mood soared, and her cooking enthusiasm surged.

“Dad, what are you hinting at? Is there something you’re hiding from Mom?”

Once Mother Feng went into the kitchen, Father Feng gave the little one a look and followed her inside.

The little one had a bad feeling and asked:

“Xueming ran off, right? He went to the school to bring you back as backup!”

Father Feng spoke frankly, explaining why her husband had run all the way home but then fled again.

“Backup?”

“Dad, what’s going on? Did Xueming upset Mom again? Or did you upset her and send him to pick me up?!”

The little one was confused; why would they need backup?

“Besides, Dad, you said Xueming’s manuscript is about to be published—shouldn’t that be good news for Mom?”

The manuscript they jokingly called the 'atomic bomb' was going to be published!

Seeing how happy Mom was, why would they need backup? And how did she become the backup?

“The manuscript is definitely going out!”

Father Feng pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, intending to speak while smoking, but quickly changed his mind and put it away, continuing, “But it’s being published in 'People’s Literature' now!”

“Huh?”

The little one saw her father hesitate and light a cigarette, expecting a long explanation.

But no—just that one terse sentence!

What did it mean to switch to 'People’s Literature'?

“The higher-ups think your mother’s 'October' isn’t influential enough and worry it won’t make a good first impression, so they switched to the more powerful 'People’s Literature'!”

Father Feng added with a wry smile that the lack of influence was the real reason, while the bimonthly schedule and timing were just excuses.

His wife had said that to handle sudden emergencies, 'October' had already finalized its next issue and was ready for an urgent special edition.

They hadn’t expected this sudden turn—that because they feared the magazine’s influence was insufficient, the higher-ups would pull the rug out from under them and replace them!

How was Father Feng supposed to tell his wife? He feared she might break down and couldn’t accept it!

So it was best left to his son-in-law, who knew his mother-in-law well. This was a job for the little one—she was experienced in dealing with her mother.

“Ah?”

The little one was dumbfounded; no wonder her husband fled overnight to gather backup!

This was the switch to her, but no one dared tell her mother!

Her mother was now on a high, and if she doused that with cold water, her mother would surely chop her with a kitchen knife.

“Xiaoyu, when you go to the kitchen, try to gently prepare your mother mentally!”

Father Feng urged his dutiful daughter to break the news delicately.

“No! I really can’t!”

The little one backed away, waving her hands. “Wait until Xueming gets back! Let him handle it!”

Page (3/3)

How could they switch like this?

They had finally calmed her mother down, and now she was very fond of her husband.

So why this sudden blow today?!

If they triggered this now, her mother would surely make them pay for all old and new grievances.

No way!

Tonight, this house was unbearable—they had to run first.

After leaving her father’s room, the little one thought it best to flee.

“Sis, you’re back?! Where are you going so late at night?!”

“Xiaoyu, you’re back?! Where are you off to?”

As soon as she reached the yard, her younger sister Feng Jiawei, elder brother Feng Jiao, and sister-in-law Ke Yumei had also returned!

Seeing Xiaoyu fiddling suspiciously with her mother’s bicycle, they greeted her.

“Where are you going so late?! If Xueming doesn’t find you, he’ll come back looking!”

“Why rush? Can’t you wait a little?”

Mother Feng peeked out from the kitchen, anxious but unable to tolerate the scolding.

A big belly and dark night—why run off?

“Mom! Sis, why the rush?”

Feng Jiawei bounced over, adding, “By the way, our principal urgently wanted to see Old Cheng at noon. Where is he? Why didn’t he come back with you?”

“Mom, isn’t Xueming back yet?”

Brother-in-law also looked over, puzzled.

He had met Feng Jiawei on the road and heard about the search for Cheng Xueming.

“No, they’re all impatient. We just came back from the Ministry meeting, and he rushed straight to Yanjing University to find you!”

Mentioning the Ministry meeting, Mother Feng felt a bit elated—her son-in-law was doing well.

“Oh, I thought something serious happened! That must be the ‘atomic bomb’ of yours about to go off, right?”

Feng Jiao nodded, no longer overly concerned. That ‘atomic bomb’ had been talked about for ages—it was finally happening, and everyone was happy and anxious, which was understandable!

“Yes, it’s about to go off! Your dad, Old Liu, and heads of all units attended. Senior leaders gave key instructions at the meeting!”

“What? Senior leaders attended?” Feng Jiao exclaimed.

Hearing his wife’s proud words, Father Feng grew restless, unable to focus on his newspaper.

Soon after Mother Feng finished cooking and not long after, Cheng Xueming’s bicycle rolled into the yard.

“He’s back!”

The whole family gathered to see him, including the sister-in-law Sun Juan, who had just come back with the child.

“Ah? You’re back!”

“Xiaoyu, you took the bus home yourself?”

Cheng was overwhelmed, unsure if his father-in-law had told his mother-in-law. He looked at Xiaoyu for answers.

“We’ve been waiting for you. Hurry and come eat! Xiaoyu was worried you’d come straight home to avoid extra trips and took the bus on her own!”

Mother-in-law warmly greeted Cheng and gave a little nod to her ‘debt collector.’

“Oh! Okay! Actually, Mom, you don’t have to wait for me!”

Seeing Xiaoyu shake her head subtly, Cheng knew the matter hadn’t been revealed yet. No wonder his mother-in-law was so warm to him.

But the warmer she was now, the deadlier it would be later!

“It wasn’t long; come on in!” Mother Feng replied.

But Cheng felt increasingly uneasy, glancing around, suspecting everyone already knew—except his mother-in-law, who was waiting for him, the good son-in-law, to detonate the bomb!

…