Fine, let’s talk again when your whole family gets into Peking University.

“Dad, Mom! This is Cheng Xueming—he’s here!”

As she entered the main room, Feng Jiayou once again introduced Cheng Xueming to her parents.

At that moment, Father and Mother Feng sat high above, their faces marked by complicated expressions as they regarded the young man from a rural village in northern Shaanxi.

Earlier, outside, it had been too dark to see him clearly. But now, in the light of the house, their scrutiny found him decent enough: over six feet tall, with a rugged, somewhat handsome face. At first glance, he was presentable—no wonder their daughter had been so taken with him!

But in these times, what could looks possibly amount to? Could one live on appearances alone? What could an illiterate country boy possibly do in the city?

“What nonsense were you spouting outside earlier? Must you always go against your family?” Muttered Mother Feng, casting a resentful glance at her daughter.

“Mom! I wasn’t talking nonsense at all! Xueming is the man I love!” Feng Jiayou replied, undaunted.

“Aren’t you ashamed? Are you even married?”

“Yes! Xueming is here this time so we can officially register our marriage at the neighborhood office!”

“I don’t approve! Give up now—he will never cross our family’s threshold!” Mother Feng exploded, slamming the door to her room behind her.

The outburst left Feng Jiayou’s brother and sister-in-law speechless and cowed. Their mother was too domineering—even as a mother-in-law, she was overwhelming. Only Feng Jiayou dared talk back; the sons and daughters-in-law never had the nerve.

“Dad, look at this—Mom’s just being unreasonable! She’s going back on her word!” Feng Jiayou pleaded with her father, hoping he would mediate.

‘Who’s really being unreasonable, slamming doors and storming off?’ Father Feng grumbled inwardly.

This young man really had picked the worst possible moment to appear, forcing their hand. He’d come within the allotted half-month, and now his daughter clung to that fact relentlessly.

It was difficult. Who could tell what blame his wife was heaping on him now, shut away in her room—why had he ever suggested such a foolish plan?

Truth be told, he was just as opposed to this as his wife. But no matter his objections, he couldn’t overrule his daughter’s will—especially now that she was visibly pregnant.

Taking action first and informing the family later—such a move was always ruthless, no matter the era. There was simply nothing left to discuss.

---

“Young man, originally we should be thanking you—for taking care of Jiayou during her years as a village youth, and especially for saving her life,” Father Feng said after a moment’s reflection, finally addressing Cheng Xueming directly. Aside from his daughter, he was the first to do so.

Mother Feng, by contrast, hadn’t even spared Cheng Xueming a glance.

“Uncle, you’re too kind. I... I will take responsibility for Jiayou,” Cheng Xueming began, but Feng Jiayou tugged his sleeve, signaling him to let her speak instead.

He had already erred in his opening. Her parents didn’t want him to take responsibility—they wished he wouldn’t.

But Cheng Xueming stood his ground. This was the moment for a man to step forward. Hiding behind Feng Jiayou would only make her parents look down on him further.

He continued, “Uncle, I only received Jiayou’s letter three days ago. That’s when I first learned that our impulsive night together had led to this.”

“You only got the letter three days ago? I sent it out half a month ago!” Feng Jiayou exclaimed in surprise.

The rest of the Feng family was astonished as well. A letter sent half a month before, but only received three days ago—setting aside the delay, the real point was: he was standing before them just three days after receiving it. That sense of duty shifted their impression of him.

Earlier, Mother Feng had claimed that one could make two round trips in half a month—a deliberate exaggeration. In reality, a letter to northern Shaanxi could take a week, sometimes ten days or more if delayed. Once he received it, even if he set out immediately, he’d need time to prepare, and the journey itself would take several days.

In those days, summoning someone across a thousand miles by mail would take at least a month, not half. The original plan for the half-month deadline was, in fact, to have the child aborted—no one expected this rural boy to make the journey in time.

Yet, here he was, arriving right on the dot.

“Perhaps there was a delay along the way, but I’m grateful the letter wasn’t lost—otherwise, I don’t think I could ever forgive myself,” Cheng Xueming said softly. “I realize how great a mistake I made that night.”

He looked at Jiayou with pain in his eyes, then turned to address both parents: “Uncle, and Aunt—I know you’re listening. I want to say: the pregnancy is already advanced—it’s too dangerous to end it now. I don’t know the situation here in the city, but back in our county, hardly anyone ever survives such a late abortion.”

Father Feng’s expression darkened further. He knew all too well the risks of late-term procedures—hadn’t the delay been caused by their daughter’s stubbornness?

---

“Uncle, Aunt, I was wrong—I acted recklessly and hurt Jiayou. But I hope you’ll give me a chance to make amends. I want to take her back to Shaanbei for the New Year, let her carry the child safely to term before word spreads. Once the baby is born, Jiayou can return home.”

His proposal was clear: since he wasn’t allowed in their home, he’d simply take their daughter away with him.

“Take her back to Shaanbei? What are you thinking?” Mother Feng demanded, emerging from her room, unable to contain herself. “She’s finally back in the city, and now you want her to go suffer in your rural village again? She got into Yanjing University, and you want her to give that up?”

She had been moved by his swift arrival, not wanting her daughter to risk her life, but the thought of sending her back to the countryside, giving up her university place and city residency, was too much.

“I’ll go back with you, Cheng Xueming! I only managed to return to the city and get into Yanjing University because of you!” Jiayou declared, stepping in front of him, whether to provoke her mother or out of true conviction. “With your ability, we’ll just have our baby, and next year, our whole family can take the entrance exams and enroll together in Yanjing!”

“Fine, fine! You’re so capable, all of you! Come back only when your whole family gets into Yanjing University!” Mother Feng snapped, losing all composure, nearly reaching for a broom to drive them out.

“Enough! Feng Jiayou, must you cause even more chaos?” Father Feng finally thundered, slamming his hand on the table.

Instantly, the entire Feng household fell silent—no one had ever seen him so furious before.

…