AD (QT) Chapter 85

Han Ze was not surprised to receive another call from Xiao Yu. He held the phone with one hand while stir-frying vegetables with the other. Xiao Yu’s bitter laugh and apologetic voice came through the speaker: “Brother Han, really, I’m troubling you again.”

As the last dish was done, Han Ze turned off the stove and plated the food. “It’s no trouble, just an extra set of chopsticks. Han Doudou just got back from school; the two girls are chatting in the living room. Judging by the laughter, they’re fine. Don’t worry, let her stay the night, and things will be better tomorrow.”

Regarding his daughter’s private affairs, Xiao Yu found it hard to speak, but considering Han Ze’s character and their friendship, he sighed. “It won’t be better by tomorrow.”

“What’s the big deal that it can’t be fixed?” Han Ze asked.

“I found out Xiao Locheng is in an early relationship,” Xiao Yu explained. “I told her to break up with the boy, but she refused. She’s only in her first year of high school; what if it ruins her studies? I said a few words, and she ran away in a huff. Luckily she has a brain and ran to your place. If she’d gone elsewhere, who knows what could have happened?”

Han Ze advised, “As girls get older, their self-esteem becomes very strong. You should talk to her properly. Getting angry all the time only triggers her rebellion.”

“Sigh, Brother Han, I know I should talk to her, but as soon as I see that defiant attitude, I lose my temper. We end up shouting before the conversation even starts. She runs off angry, and my chest hurts from the rage.”

“Children today have their own strong opinions,” Han Ze said. “If you can’t control your temper, she’ll feel you don’t respect her. At her age, being scolded makes her feel humiliated, so she’s even less likely to listen. You should lower your posture. Don’t act like her father; try to see her as an equal, like a friend or classmate. Try to understand her thoughts, and you’ll find children aren’t that hard to manage.”

“If I lower my posture, she’ll listen even less!”

Han Ze replied helplessly, “You haven’t lowered your posture in all these years—has she ever listened to you?”

“…Brother Han, you might be right.”

“Right or wrong, if one method hasn’t worked for over a decade, there’s no harm in trying a gentler one,” Han Ze concluded.

After hanging up, Han Ze brought the food to the table. Han Doudou sniffed the air. “I haven’t had Dad’s cooking in two weeks. Xiao Locheng, I’m benefiting from your presence today.” She headed to the kitchen for bowls.

Xiao Locheng followed to wash her hands. “Would Uncle Han really let you go hungry if I weren’t here?”

“I’ll let you taste my skills tomorrow,” Han Doudou said while rinsing the dishes. “I’ve been doing all the cooking these past two weekends.”

Xiao Locheng looked at her skeptically. “You can cook?”

Doudou felt slighted by the look. “Our house doesn’t have a nanny like yours. If my dad doesn’t cook and I don’t cook, we starve. So I learned.” Han Ze, having changed his clothes, stepped out and confirmed, “Han Doudou really can cook now.”

…

 

The next day, Xiao Yu and Liu Qianliu arrived together. Liu Qianliu held two bags, which she handed to Han Doudou with an awkward expression. “I bought some clothes for you.”

Doudou’s first reaction wasn’t to take the bags but to wonder if her mother had taken the wrong medicine. Liu Qianliu’s brow furrowed impatiently. “Take them. There are clothes for Xiao Locheng at home, too.”

Xiao Locheng’s eyes widened. “Auntie actually bought clothes for me too?”

“I was shopping yesterday and picked up a couple of things for you both,” Liu Qianliu said, looking embarrassed. She urged Han Doudou to try them on.

Doudou pulled out a red cashmere coat. “Mom, just because you like red doesn’t mean I do. Even a black coat would be better than this.”

Liu Qianliu choked. She hadn’t bought clothes or even given Doudou allowance in years; she truly didn’t know her daughter’s tastes. Despite her complaints, Han Doudou put the coat on. It was a bit large, but since it was a loose-fit style, it looked fine. She asked her father, “Dad, does it look okay? Is it too bright?”

“It looks good,” Han Ze said supportively.

Doudou then tried on a long red down jacket. Again, she complained about the color. “Why is everything red?”

“Girls look good in red,” Liu Qianliu said with a dry laugh.

Actually, Han Doudou looked lovely. She had inherited the best features of both parents—tall, slender, and cute. But seeing her mother’s beaming face, Doudou didn’t want to be too nice. “Red is tacky. And it’s too long; it’ll get in the way at school.”

Liu Qianliu’s expression darkened. She looked to Han Ze and Xiao Yu for help. Han Ze remained neutral; he knew Doudou was a strong-willed seventeen-year-old and wouldn’t be won over by two outfits.

Knowing she couldn’t have any more children and that Han Doudou was her only daughter, Liu Qianliu forced a smile. “If you don’t like them, it’s fine. Let’s go to the mall now. I’ll buy whatever you like.”

Doudou took off the jacket. “Buy whatever I like? You’re such a spendthrift. These are fine—I won’t throw them away. I’ll just make do.”

Han Ze hid a smile and reminded them, “If you really don’t like them, you can exchange them.”

“No need,” Liu Qianliu said grandly. “Maybe red is too much for school, but it’s festive for the New Year. Keep them for that.”

Doudou’s eyes sparkled. “Fine. I’ll save these for New Year. But you can take me to buy two more outfits for now, and some boots. I only have sneakers.” She figured her father worked hard for his money, while her mother spent hers on herself—if her mom wanted to be a mother now, Doudou would let her pay.

“Two outfits are enough,” Han Ze cut in. “You’re still growing; there’s no need for so many.”

Doudou pouted. “Fine.”

Liu Qianliu snapped at Han Ze, “What’s your problem? I’m buying clothes for my daughter with my own money. Why are you stopping me?” She wondered if he was afraid she was “stealing” the daughter back.

Before Han Ze could respond, Han Doudou stood up for him. “Mom, Dad is just worried I’ll develop bad spending habits. He’s right. You already bought me clothes; color doesn’t matter as long as they’re warm. Don’t bully my dad.”

“I… I just bullied him?” Liu Qianliu was stunned. “Didn’t you just ask for more clothes and boots?”

“I was just teasing you,” Doudou said.

Liu Qianliu was fuming. “You child, why are you always against me? I’m your mother—can’t you be a bit gentler, like you are with your father?”

Doudou found this absurd. “You reap what you sow. Dad worked hard to raise me alone. Do you have any idea how much he sacrificed compared to you?”

Liu Qianliu froze. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to care for her daughter, but she had been consumed by her business and her failed attempts to have another child. Now that she finally realized Han Doudou was her only child, the girl was grown and didn’t “need” her anymore.

“Han Doudou, go do your homework,” Han Ze said firmly but kindly.

Doudou looked at Liu Qianliu and the new clothes. “I am happy you bought these, though. Since you want to be a good mother, I’ll give you a chance. Don’t disappoint me again.” She then looked at Xiao Locheng and went to her room. She decided that since her father worked so hard, she would let her mother handle her clothing expenses from now on to give him a break.

…

 

Meanwhile, Xiao Locheng sat on the sofa like she was on pins and needles, waiting for her father’s lecture. Instead, Xiao Yu asked, “Are you done being angry? If so, come home with me.”

“So you can scold me?” Xiao Locheng asked defiantly.

Xiao Yu felt his anger rising, but remembered Han Ze’s advice to treat her like a friend. He took a deep breath. “I won’t stop you from dating, but you have to promise me you won’t do anything wrong and that you’ll study hard. Otherwise, I’ll make you break up with him.”

Xiao Locheng was stunned. “Are you serious?”

“Serious. But only if your grades don’t drop and you don’t cross any lines.”

Xiao Locheng found it strange that her father wasn’t yelling, but she quickly promised. She’d only dared to date; she wouldn’t dream of doing anything truly “out of bounds.” 

Xiao Yu felt relieved, yet deeply worried—would not forbidding the relationship really work? He decided he’d have to have his wife talk to her about certain “realities” he couldn’t discuss himself.