Directly Confronting the Mother-in-law?

"Your finger is cut. I happen to have a band-aid here. Put it on for now, and rinse it with antiseptic when you get home."
"It's nothing, just a scratch."
Only then did Xu Lin notice the tiny wound left by the fish's gill.
"Just put it on, I have plenty more."
"Alright, thank you, Auntie."
Xu Lin took the band-aid, pressed it onto his finger, then waved goodbye and left.

After wandering around the market for half an hour, he left carrying a heap of groceries, instantly reminded again of the burden of his poor physical condition.
Right, no strength at all! Hauling this home, his arms would probably fall off. There was nothing for it but to head out to the main road and catch a taxi.

There weren’t any ride-hailing apps yet. They wouldn’t appear for another couple of years, and it would be four or five years before they reached his small city.
Could he get in early and seize the opportunity? Although he hadn’t been reborn into the eighties or nineties, there were still chances to make money now.
This was a good one. The two big food delivery companies—the blue and the yellow—existed but were just getting started. He didn’t know much about investments, but as for simple agency, that was doable. In Linshui, agents didn’t arrive until 2017. The surrounding cities only began recruiting agents around 2016.
If he could secure that, it would be worthwhile. There was no need to think about a regional distributorship—that was already assigned, and he didn’t have the financial strength for it anyway.
Agents needed capital as a backing. It was 2013 now, and by 2016, when they started recruiting, if he had the means, he could give it a try.
But three years was a long time; anything could happen, and who could say what his situation would be by then.

Lost in these thoughts of making a living, Xu Lin left the market and spotted the same kind-hearted auntie. She noticed him too.
"Young man, bought so much?"
"Yeah, family gathering. I’m showing off a little in the kitchen."
"Not many young men cook these days. There are more girls who can handle a stove. My husband and I have been married for twenty-five years—he’s never cooked for me once."
"My dad doesn’t cook either, but that’s because his food tastes terrible. My mom forbids him from stepping into the kitchen."
"Where’s your family from, young man? My daughter’s coming to pick me up—let us give you a ride."
"No, no, I’ll just take a taxi."
"Absolutely not, you helped me catch that fish and I haven’t even thanked you."
"It was nothing, just a quick grab."
"Come now, it’s on the way. Why waste money on a cab?"
"Thank you, Auntie. I live in Jinxiu Mansion."
"Perfect, that’s right along our route. Oh, here comes my daughter now."

Xu Lin followed the auntie’s gaze and saw a familiar white Passat approaching.
A chill ran down his spine. No way. Can coincidences really follow me this closely?
He glanced at the kindly smiling auntie, and realization dawned—no wonder she looked familiar. She was Teacher Su’s very own mother!

The white sedan pulled over, the window rolled down, and Su Qingwan’s pretty face appeared. Xu Lin desperately wanted to slip away.
"Mom, just put the groceries in the back seat… Xu… Xu Lin?"

"Xu Lin?"
Auntie Su heard her daughter’s words and turned to look at Xu Lin, then at her daughter.
"You know each other?"
"Um… yes, we do."
"Only acquaintances, Su Qingwan?"
Immediately, Su’s mother’s expression grew serious. Su Qingwan forced a bitter smile and shot Xu Lin an apologetic glance.
"Explain."
"He… he’s my boyfriend…"
"Auntie, I…" Xu Lin took a deep breath, unsure of what to say. The moment Su Qingwan appeared, he knew he’d have to face this.
Su Qingwan couldn’t tell the truth, that he was just a student, because next time she mentioned having a boyfriend, the lie would unravel.
One day, the truth could be told, but for now, after just discussing things with her parents and making him her shield, this was the perfect use for him.

"Get in the car first. What a coincidence—let’s have a chat."
Xu Lin had no choice but to climb in. Su Qingwan was also racking her brains for an explanation, and the air in the car grew heavy with tension.
"Ahem!"
"Mom, do you have a cold?"
"Su Qingwan, just drive. Don’t say a word."
"Okay."
"You’re Xu Lin, yes?"
"Yes." You were just calling me ‘young man’ a moment ago, and now it’s Xu Lin…

"What a coincidence. We wanted her to bring you home to meet us, but she said you were busy with work and had been traveling. I never expected to run into you today."
"I originally came back the day before yesterday, but something delayed me on the road. I only arrived in Linshui late last night."
Xu Lin thought through the story he’d agreed on with Teacher Su—he was a high school graduate, nothing special, just an ordinary worker.
That way, if they broke up in the future, her parents wouldn’t care too much, and it would be easy to explain.
Besides, he really had just returned to Linshui; everything matched up perfectly.

"I heard from Su Qingwan that you work in copywriting?"
"Yes, you know how everyone’s been watching video sites these past couple of years? There are lots of ads and such—I write ad scripts for those."
"I have noticed there are thirty-second ads in the dramas online lately. They really disrupt the viewing."
"That’s right." Not to mention, in a few years, ads would be even longer—ninety seconds wouldn’t be unusual.
That little video site didn’t have ads yet, and after it went public, it would do well. He could invest in that too.
Just like that, Xu Lin had stumbled onto another, less troublesome way to make money. A reborn man could always find a way to survive.

"Are your parents from around here?"

"Yes, they’re locals."
"When did you and my daughter meet?"
"Last year, just after I started working. Su—Qingwan needed a slogan and a short video for an event, so she contacted our company."
"Where’s your company?"
"In the Tangli commercial district next door."
"Then you must have a long commute."
"Not too far, just over an hour each way."
"Do you have a car?"
Xu Lin knew the real interrogation was starting—one of the classic mother-in-law questions.

"No…"
"Do you own a house?"
"Yes."
"Is it your family’s?"
"It’s my family’s."
"How’s your income?"
"Around four thousand a month." The average was three thousand in Linshui, so he wasn’t bragging.
"What are your plans for the future?"
"Well, I’m an only child. My parents have worked hard, so I want to do my best, buy my own place, and get married."
It might sound like a stock answer, but this was truly Xu Lin’s plan—save up for college, a house, and a wife.
Maybe he lacked ambition, unlike other transmigrators who aimed to be moguls, but he was content to grow step by step.

Su’s mother listened in silence for a few seconds, then said, "You are honest. You’ve told me what you have and what you lack."
"But you’re younger than my daughter. Are you sure you can take care of her, in life and in love?"
"Would you like me to be honest?"
"Go ahead."
"Truthfully, I think I can. If I were to lie, I’d say maybe not right now, but I want to become someone who can take care of her!"
Xu Lin replied with conviction. Su’s mother took a deep breath.
"A simple, steady life is good, but young man, you’ll have to keep working hard and prove yourself through your actions."
Hearing her tone soften, Xu Lin finally relaxed and allowed himself to sink back into the car seat.