Not even a shred of face?

Upon entering the main room, Liu Dong exclaimed in surprise: "Wow! It looks unremarkable from the outside, but inside it's filled with old objects, exuding an antique charm and meticulous attention to detail."

As they were talking, the door to the east room opened.

A young couple came out.

Liu Dong turned his head and his heart skipped a beat.

I go!

The man appeared to be in his early twenties, with two gleaming small axes floating above his head.

The woman next to her was even more ruthless; she was about the same age, but she had four guns hanging from her head!

"This is my brother, Chen Zhongze; this is my sister-in-law, her surname is Lü," Chen Xueru introduced in a low voice.

Suppressing his discomfort, Liu Dongqiang stood up with a smile: "Hello, brother! Hello, sister-in-law!"

"Ha," Madam Lü sneered, "They call him so affectionately, but our family hasn't even officially recognized this son-in-law yet, so I dare not accept it!"

"Exactly!" Chen Zhongze scolded his sister with a dark face, "Xueru, what about Hou Jie is unworthy of you? Everyone in the neighborhood knows him, and he's a reliable person! Why did you have to bring a random man home? What's the meaning of this?"

"Look at what he's carrying—roast chicken and snacks? That's just something to fool an old man!"

Liu Dong's face immediately darkened.

Depend on!

Even if you're not satisfied, there's no need to humiliate someone to their face, right?

Not giving me any face at all?

This is such a tasteless way to be a relative!

Liu Dong sat down again, his mouth tightly shut.

It's exhausting to even say a word to someone so unreasonable.

They greeted me and were very polite!

It's your business if you want to ignore me; I've already given you all the face you deserve.

"What are you doing, interrupting me?" Chen Xueru's temper flared up. "Lu Fang, today I'm introducing my boyfriend to my mother. What are you, his sister-in-law, doing here?"

"If you're going to speak, speak politely. If you can't say it, then don't get in my way!"

Chen Xueru was used to being domineering at home, so she never gave Lu a kind look and would directly say things to her face.

"You..." Madam Lü's face turned pale with anger. "I'm doing this entirely for your own good! Hou Jie's conditions are so much better, and he's my cousin, I know him inside and out, what's wrong with him?"

"Alright, alright!" Chen's mother interrupted, "Zhongze, take your wife and leave. It's your sister's business, you two should mind your own business."

"I think this son-in-law is a good match!"

She turned to Liu Dong and gave him a forced smile: "Little Liu, it was a mess just now, don't take it to heart."

Liu Dong grinned: "Don't worry, Auntie, I don't care. All I care about is Xue Ru."

"Mom! That's not right!"

When his mother told him to leave, he sat back down and didn't move, instead becoming more energetic: "As the saying goes, parents should decide their daughter's marriage."

Now that Father is gone, I'm still the older brother. As the eldest brother, I'm like a father to my sister; I can't just stand by and watch her throw her life away like that. I have to find out what this person does for a living, right?

"Mom, let me ask him."

He turned to stare at Liu Dong: "Liu Dong, I'm asking you, do you live in that tenement building in Nanluoguxiang?"

This is no secret.

Liu Dong nodded: "Yes, that's right."

Chen Zhong pressed further, "So, were you working odd jobs at that little tavern near Qianmen Gate?"

Liu Dong smiled and said, "Yes, that's right."

"Mom, did you see that?" Chen Zhongze spread his hands. "His appearance is passable, but that's the only thing he's good-looking about."

"I have no one to back me up at home; my parents and brothers are nowhere to be found."

"No stable job, living in a cramped tenement, does he even deserve to marry my sister?"

"Hou Jie is miles ahead of him!"

Liu Dong continued to smile, offering no rebuttal.

Since you've investigated so thoroughly, you must know more than just this.

For example, my father was a martyr who sacrificed his life in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and I am listed as a martyr's family member.

For example, I am now Xu Huizhen's partner.

You don't mention any of this, but anyone with eyes can see what you're really up to.

He looked up and saw his mother-in-law.

Chen's mother felt a little guilty.

"Mom—" Chen Xueru quickly explained, "Don't listen to my brother's nonsense! He's only telling half the story! Liu Dong's father is a battlefield hero, and the government gives him a monthly pension!"

"And I'll be starting a formal job in September!"

"He'll be a legitimate worker, not as wealthy as our family, but with a higher political status! I'm marrying him to climb that ladder!"

"What does my brother know!"

Chen's mother wasn't very bright, and after thinking for a while, she finally spoke: "You have to make the decision yourself."

"Your father used to say that Xue Ru, though a girl, is thoughtful, ambitious, and has a better eye than many men."

"Mom believes you, and she believes your dad too."

"I approve of this marriage!"

A single sentence made the decision.

Liu Dong smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie."

"Oh, thank you, Mom!" Chen Xueru said, taking Liu Dong's hand. "So, is it settled for us today?"

"Yes!" Chen's mother nodded with a smile.

Liu Dong said, "I'll ask a matchmaker to come in a couple of days and set the date."

"etc……"

Chen Zhongze suddenly reached out to stop him: "Wait a minute, wait a minute!"

"What is it now?" Chen Xueru's face darkened.

Chen Zhongze slowly began, "Let me ask you something first—Liu Dong, if you marry my sister, what will your children's surname be?"

"Should we take your surname, Liu, or our surname, Chen?"

Chen Zhongze, Lü Fang, and Chen's mother all looked at Liu Dong.

Just as Chen's mother was about to speak, Chen Zhong immediately stopped her: "Mom, don't say anything! Let him choose for himself!"

I'm afraid my mother might accidentally reveal her hand.

Liu Dong was quick-witted; seeing this situation, he immediately understood.

He asked unhurriedly, "Didn't your father say before that if the child takes the Chen surname, even if he marries into the family, he can inherit the Chen family's assets, and Xue Ru can continue to manage the household?"

"If the surname is Liu, then one cannot inherit the family property, and Xue Ru must also be completely expelled from the Chen family?"

He smiled and looked at Chen Zhongze.

Chen Zhongze was taken aback: "How did you know? Did Xue Ru tell you?"

"No," Liu Dong shook his head. "I guessed it myself."

"That's right." Chen Xueru readily admitted, "My dad did say that."

Chen Zhong stared at Liu Dong: "Now you choose, will the child have the surname Liu or Chen?"

Liu Dong calmly replied, "The child is of the Liu family bloodline, so of course he should take the Liu surname. You want me to marry into your family? No way!"

This is about saving face.

We live in a new society, but in the eyes of ordinary people, having a son-in-law live with their wife's family is still considered inferior.

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhongze immediately beamed with joy: "Good! Good! You've got backbone! I have a good brother-in-law!"

"Hahaha!"

He laughed loudly.

As long as you don't covet my family's possessions, we're family!

"Auntie, I'm leaving now. I'll find a matchmaker to handle the rest later." Liu Dong stood up.

"I'll see you out!" Chen Xueru stood up and accompanied him out the door.

On the way, Liu Dong said in a low voice, "Xue Ru, it's not that I don't want the child to take your surname, it's just that..."

"Stop talking," Chen Xueru interrupted him. "I was really afraid you'd say 'surname Chen,' but now I know I didn't pick the wrong person."

what?

Liu Dong's eyes widened: In later generations, men were scrambling to have their children take their surname, so why is my partner relieved?

Little did he know that this wasn't Xue Ru being generous; it was simply the way things were these days.

She wouldn't want her man to be gossiped about and called a live-in son-in-law, would she?