Above the Galaxy
Chapter 336 - 220: The Son-in-law Who Comes Knocking on the Door! _2

Chapter 336: Chapter 220: The Son-in-law Who Comes Knocking on the Door! _2

"Mr. Sheng already called me," Phoenix explained, looking into Tang Fei’s eyes. "He was worried that the two of you would be too lonely spending New Year’s at New Star, so he invited you back home for a meal... to liven things up. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and his family is quite large, so they won’t be able to join you for the celebration..."

"Do you feel that Mr. Sheng is exceptionally gentle, thoughtful, handsome, and kind-hearted at this moment?"

"You are, too," Tang Fei replied.

At this moment, he couldn’t join in praising Mr. Sheng.

Otherwise, Phoenix might start getting other ideas.

Although he had never been in a relationship, when it came to love, wasn’t having a mouth enough?

"You have a way with words." Phoenix was very pleased with Tang Fei’s response and said, "I’m currently abroad attending a celebration and can’t make it back yet... This will be your and Little Fatty’s first time at Mr. Sheng’s house for dinner; you probably don’t know what to bring, do you?"

"I was actually worrying about that. Little Fatty even suggested I search online..."

Suddenly remembering something, he quickly glared at Little Fatty, warning him not to talk nonsense.

He was afraid Little Fatty would blurt out the topic he had suggested searching for.

"Mr. Sheng’s father is the Imperial Finance Minister, managing our country’s finances. He holds a high position and is highly respected by my father. You should be mindful and not behave improperly in front of him."

Phoenix briefly introduced Sheng Xinhua’s father’s status.

"I know," Tang Fei said, forcing a smile. "That’s what I’m worried about. I don’t even know how to talk to someone of such stature. You know my personality; I’m afraid I might say something offensive... I’m not worried for myself, but I don’t want Mr. Sheng to be put in a difficult position..."

"Uncle Sheng, though strict and upright, is a wonderful person. You don’t need to be too nervous, just be yourself... You’re not nervous in front of my dad and brother, so why be nervous in front of Uncle Sheng?"

"When I deal with your dad and brother, it’s professional; this is personal... It’s different."

"Oh, oh, oh, making distinctions between public and private, are we?"

"...."

"Uncle Sheng doesn’t smoke or drink... He really dislikes Mr. Sheng drinking and, to force him to quit, threw out all the alcohol... Surprisingly, it didn’t stop Mr. Sheng. Instead, he moved out..."

"..."

"So, don’t bring wine or cigarettes. However, Uncle Sheng likes playing mahjong in his free time. I’ve prepared a set of ivory mahjong tiles... You can give them to Uncle Sheng; he will definitely be pleased."

"Ah? You’ve already prepared a gift for me?" Tang Fei asked, surprised.

"Of course," Phoenix nodded. "After we talked about this, I had someone prepare it for you... Where would we get the time to prepare at the last minute?"

"..."

"Mr. Sheng’s mother is a master of traditional opera, though she’s retired now, she still enjoys singing..."

"I’ve got a hand-copied version of ’Concubine’s Drunkenness’ by master Chen Zhibai from the Old Land period... Just give it to Aunt Mei—she’ll be sure to like you, the prospective son-in-law..."

"..."

Seeing Tang Fei’s bemused expression, Phoenix crisply said, "What’s the matter? Why the long face? A daughter of the Finance Minister, a master’s descendant, and Mr. Sheng is a well-known literary professor in our Empire... Isn’t she good enough for you?"

"Mr. Sheng is certainly good enough for me; I just feel like I’m not worthy of her."

"Why aren’t you worthy? Mr. Sheng invited you to her home for New Year’s, and I’ve organized the gifts for you... All the good fortune is yours, and you still think you aren’t worthy? Perhaps it’s us who aren’t worthy of you."

"..."

"Alright, let’s leave it there; a female official is about to bring the gifts over. Pay attention when you’re there with Little Fatty, and we’ll discuss other matters when I return," Phoenix instructed earnestly.

"What about Mr. Sheng?" Tang Fei asked. "This is the first time I’m visiting her house; should I prepare a gift for her?"

"Of course, you should prepare Mr. Sheng’s gift yourself. Do I have to prepare that too? Haven’t you heard the saying? The matchmaker introduces the door, but compatibility is up to the individual."

"..."

Seeing Tang Fei’s chagrined expression, Phoenix giggled on the other side.

"Alright, let’s drop it; someone is coming here."

"Stay safe," Tang Fei cautioned.

"Hmm," Phoenix nodded and said, "I’m going back tomorrow..."

"See you when you get back," Tang Fei nodded.

"See you when I get back."

After hanging up the phone, Little Fatty looked at Tang Fei with envy and said, "Brother, Sister Phoenix is really good to you. She even prepared the gifts for you to take to Mr. Sheng’s house..."

"Yes," Tang Fei nodded. "It’s hard to accept favors from a beauty."

"Why is it hard to accept? You look pretty happy to me."

"..."

"Brother, what gift are you going to buy for Mr. Sheng?"

"..."

------

Yanqing Street, number eighteen.

Tang Fei and Little Fatty, carrying gift boxes, stood at the door. Little Fatty asked, "Brother, is this the place?"

"It should be. This is the address Mr. Sheng sent." Tang Fei double-checked the house number before pressing the doorbell.

Soon, Sheng Xinhua, dressed in home attire, came to greet them.

Seeing the gifts in Tang Fei and Little Fatty’s hands, he remarked with a smirk, "Oh, you’ve learned to bring gifts? Seems like you’ve learned quite a bit after moving to New Star?"

"Phoenix helped prepare them," Tang Fei admitted candidly.

"I knew it..." Sheng Xinhua commented and invited them inside, saying, "Come in and sit down. My parents are both home, and dinner is almost ready."

"Alright."

It was Tang Fei’s first meeting with Sheng Xinhua’s father, Sheng Jing, whose name carried an air of landscape and free spirit, yet he was a skinny old man.

Wearing large black-rimmed glasses and seldom smiling, he seemed quite stern.

No wonder Phoenix had discreetly used the words "strict and precise" to describe him. Thinking of Sheng Xinhua’s personality, father and daughter were like chalk and cheese, with hardly any similarities.

Mei Yuyin, on the other hand, had exquisite features and carried herself with grace and elegance, wearing a white cheongsam embroidered with crabapple blossoms, radiating an extraordinary aura.

It seemed Mr. Sheng’s genes were mostly derived from his mother, with a small fraction...

At most, a mere half percent from his father.

Tang Fei first presented the handwritten copy of "Concubine’s Drunkenness" by Chen Zhibai to Mei Yuyin, saying, "Aunt, I heard you enjoy singing opera and come from a distinguished line of opera performers... I had someone find a copy of Chen Zhibai’s handwritten ’Concubine’s Drunkenness,’ hoping you will like it."

"Oh my..." While brewing tea for everyone, Mei Yuyin’s face lit up with surprise. "I really admire Master Chen Zhibai and have collected many of his works, but what I wanted most was this ’Concubine’s Drunkenness’..."

Mei Yuyin took the scroll, her eyes sparkling as she sized up Tang Fei sitting across from her, and said, "Tang Fei is thoughtful."

Well-mannered, refined, with bright and intelligent eyes, he clearly was a smart kid.

And the gift he brought matched her tastes so well, it seemed he was really considerate towards her daughter...

Their children would be so good-looking!

"Aunt, please, it’s what we younger generation should do."

Sheng Jing snorted coldly from the side, unclear whether he was peeved at Tang Fei’s act of giving gifts or the fact he hadn’t received one.

Tang Fei quickly picked up another box beside him and presented it to Sheng Jing, saying, "Uncle, I heard from Sheng... Xin Huai that you enjoy playing a few rounds of mahjong. I had someone find this set of mahjong for you, wishing Uncle will always have good hands and win every game..."

Sheng Jing adjusted the glasses on his nose and scrutinized Tang Fei with a evaluating look, saying, "Didn’t Xin Huai tell you that I never accept gifts from others?"

"Dad, he’s not just anyone, he’s Tang Fei, not like those people who bribe you for favors..." Sheng Xinhua spoke up.

"Exactly," Mei Yuyin added, having accepted Tang Fei’s gift, "Could Tang Fei possibly be just anyone? Maybe he’ll be our son-in-law someday... A son-in-law is half a son, how could he be an outsider?"

"..."