Chapter 16: A Fierce Battle

Before Mingming arrived, Rushing had already formed an initial impression of her son-in-law. The young man was strikingly handsome but didn’t quite seem trustworthy—like a peacock flaunting its feathers in the restaurant, attracting the attention of the younger patrons. It was hard to tell whether he was selling food or charm.

Polite yet reserved, he occasionally answered Rushing’s probing questions, such as:

“At what age did you have your first love?”

“You didn’t cause any trouble in your early twenties, did you?”

“Did you have a girlfriend before marriage?”

For the first time, Jingqiu fervently hoped Mingming would appear and whisk away her troublesome mother. When Mingming pushed open the restaurant door, Jingqiu was overwhelmed with gratitude—finally, you’re here! Your mother is something else!

This meeting had caught everyone unprepared.

Mingming knew her mother Rushing all too well; she always had a knack for disrupting any semblance of order.

Rushing was the kind of mother who remained calm in crises but, when bored by the monotony of life, would stir up some trouble. Mingming's father, Mingtian, was overshadowed under Rushing’s protection, becoming almost invisible to outsiders. He worked at a steel factory, which later relocated. The factory management urged everyone to move to Tangshan and promised assistance with family affairs if needed. While others hesitated, Mingtian was the first to sign on.

He said, “I’m not afraid. My wife doesn’t need me. If I stay away, she’ll worry less.”

In Mingming’s memory, her parents had a great relationship—a harmony punctuated by Rushing’s endless chatter and Mingtian’s quiet chuckles.

Thus, Mingming believed her “scatterbrained” husband would soon be won over by Rushing. Although he was still confused about the situation, sooner or later he would realize resistance was futile; surrender was the only choice.

When Rushing insisted on a proper wedding ceremony, Jingqiu nudged Mingming under the table, urging her to stop her mother’s unreasonable demand.

Mingming understood and tried to reason with Rushing, “Mom, you see, we’re both very busy with work…”

“I thought you worked for a better life. If you don’t even have time for a wedding, then why work at all?” Rushing crossed her legs, smoothed her gray hair, and continued, “Listen, whether you rushed into marriage or married for whatever reason, I’m telling you from experience: don’t just get by. Leave yourselves some memories. Otherwise, when you’re old and in a nursing home, you won’t even have a beautiful memory to look back on.”

“Mom…”

“Silence.”

Rushing’s tone was firm, and she added with a stern warning, “Try not having a wedding!”

Lowering her voice to Mingming, she said, “Don’t you want to know what marriage is? A wedding is part of it.”

Rushing truly knew her daughter; that single sentence piqued Mingming’s interest. Sensing the moment was right, Rushing stood to leave. Before going, she told Jingqiu, “Don’t rush the ‘call me mom’ business. Have the wedding first, then it won’t be too late.”

Though Jingqiu felt tormented by Rushing’s antics, he maintained his composure and escorted her to the underground parking lot. Seeing her battered old car, he instinctively thought: don’t they have a tradition of driving nice cars? He even suspected that soon his “wife” would inherit the “mother-in-law’s” mantle and claim that car as her own.

He just hoped that when Mingming took over the car, the air conditioning would still work.

Opening the car door for Rushing respectfully, he said, “Auntie… no, Mom… please drive safely.”

Rushing appreciated the respect and replied, “Keep it simple, but remember what I said. No matter why or how long you’re married, once you’re married, there has to be some… sense of ceremony. You young people say that, right? Don’t live a life that stinks like crap—smelling foul, looking disgusting, and definitely not tasting any better.”

Her example was vivid, filling Jingqiu’s mind with unpleasant imagery, but he nodded and said, “Okay, Mom, take care.”

Mingming stood silently behind him, watching Rushing floor the accelerator and drive off. The car was old, but her driving skills were impressive.

Jingqiu maintained his polite demeanor until Rushing turned out of the garage, then shot Mingming a sharp glance.

Mingming mimicked his tone, “Why are you glaring at me? Careful, or I’ll gouge out your eyeballs!”

Jingqiu stepped forward, feigning a grip on Mingming’s neck, gritting his teeth, “I’ll snap your slender neck!”

Knowing he was bluffing, Mingming snorted. Disappointed, Jingqiu relaxed his grip, thinking that if marriage was this troublesome, he wouldn’t have agreed just to compete with Zheng Liang.

“Let’s just have the wedding,” Mingming said. “It’s not that hard.”

“Not hard?”

“No. I’ll pay for it.” Mingming said, “My mom arranged it. I’ll cover the costs.”

“Wait, who do you think you’re kidding? It’s not about the money?”

Feigning ignorance, Mingming asked, “Then what is it?”

Jingqiu swallowed his frustration. What else could it be? He simply didn’t want a wedding! Mingming glanced at him, then cleared her throat and said, “Look, since we’re in this, we might as well make the best of it. Unless you want a divorce right now.”

“Fine, then divorce.”

“Not an option,” Mingming narrowed her eyes. “I’m not done having fun yet!”

Mingming’s wit was sharp. She immediately called Lele to ask if her sister’s wedding company had any last-minute cancellations. She was determined to hold a wedding. Her style was that of a bold bandit. Jingqiu began to understand why she was so successful at work.

Lele hung up and inquired. Three minutes later, she reported: there was indeed one. A couple planned a snow mountain wedding in Xinjiang, with deposit paid, venue booked, and local photography arranged. But the groom was caught cheating before the wedding, and the bride wanted to cancel. The company was negotiating to avoid breach of contract fees, even threatening to call the police.

“Fine, tell them not to cancel. Change the name on the invite, and I’ll marry them instead.” Mingming hung up, shrugged at Jingqiu, and said the problem was solved.

In the underground garage, cars came and went while the two stood by the passageway. In ten minutes, a daunting problem for Jingqiu was resolved. He stared at Mingming in shock—a calm “madwoman” unlike any he had met in his thirty years. Yet this madwoman possessed formidable intelligence and courage, solving problems better than 99% of people he knew.

“What do you want to ask? Ask now.” Mingming coughed, covering her nose. “But can we not talk here?”

They realized the garage was no place for discussion. One after the other, they took the elevator to a window seat at the health food restaurant—the very spot where Mingming had first gone on a blind date.

The seat was quite nice: bright and clean, with a clear view of the bustling streets and flowing traffic. Spending a whole day here would reveal the many faces of life.

This time, Mingming faced not the arrogant blind date but the even more haughty Jingqiu. The blind date’s arrogance was superficial; Jingqiu’s was deep in his heart.

Mingming remained silent. Years of workplace experience taught her that words could be withheld, but when spoken, they must strike at the “snake’s vital spot.” Jingqiu also kept quiet, unwilling to speak, frustrated at being so easily manipulated by the Si family.

Tao Tao, the waiter, faced his boss’s wife for the first time. The restaurant was comfortably warm, but sweat beaded on his forehead. Others avoided serving this unusual couple, not wanting trouble; Tao Tao forced himself to approach cautiously, smiling tentatively: “Boss, what would you like to drink?”

“Ask her,” Jingqiu replied.

Tao Tao shifted slightly, pondering how to address Mingming without offending her or displeasing the boss.

“Just call me boss lady,” Mingming said with a stern face, teasing Tao Tao. He treated her like a fierce beast, so she’d better show some attitude. Scaring people was her specialty.

Tao Tao glanced at Jingqiu, who stared out the window, seemingly indifferent. Clearing his throat, Tao Tao asked, “Boss lady, what would you like to drink?”

“Free lemonade, thank you.”

The weekend evening crowd grew on the streets as people working overtime sought food. It seemed fate was on Mingming’s side, for Zheng Liang appeared outside. Mingming recalled how Jingqiu had drunkenly called out “Zheng Liang” and thought this was her chance.

She tapped the glass lightly, whispering, “Hey? That’s a colleague of ours.” Pretending ignorance, she murmured, “Zheng Liang’s department is working late today…”

Jingqiu had already spotted Zheng Liang and now glanced again as Mingming mentioned her. In the sunset glow, Zheng Liang crossed the street wearing a floral blouse, her hair tucked behind her ears.

People often yearn for what they cannot have, and this longing casts a rosy glow on their imaginations. Mingming understood this well; at this moment, she used the poetic scene outside to say, “The snow-capped mountains at sunset must be beautiful—perhaps rivaling anything in the world.”

By now, insightful Mingming had completed her preliminary assessment of Jingqiu. She grasped his unrequited love story perfectly and instantly formulated a plan. Calm and cunning, like a sly fox, she was ready to ensnare him.

The wedding would happen—she was eager to experience it. Rushing was right. When she grew old and reviewed her marriage report, lacking the “wedding” chapter would be unacceptable.

“I wonder if other people’s weddings are truly happy…” Mingming mused. As Zheng Liang drew nearer, Mingming stood, grabbed Jingqiu’s collar across the table, and kissed him amid the stunned gazes of others.

Jingqiu instinctively reached to wipe his mouth, but she quickly held his hand down.

“Husband,” Mingming whispered softly, “look ahead. Look at me.”

Then she kissed him again, gently.