Volume 1, Chapter 11: The Daughter-in-Law Meets the Parents-in-Law

Upon returning home, Xiang Zheng was greeted by a table of dishes prepared by Cheng Xu himself.

The steamed sea bass was perfectly fresh, garnished with delicate slivers of scallion and ginger that released a fragrant aroma. The garlic-sautéed snow peas were a vibrant green, enough to whet anyone’s appetite, and the shrimp and tofu soup had been simmered until the broth turned a rich, milky white. It was a feast for the eyes and the palate.

In the past, Sister Zhao’s cooking had been decent, but she was always a bit too heavy-handed with the oil and salt. Liu Chunrong, however, wore a worried expression; while a son-in-law who could cook was a rarity, the flavors were perhaps a bit too bland for her taste.

"Let me take a photo first. It would be a crime against my social media feed not to post such high-end cuisine." Xiang Zheng held her phone up high, capturing an aerial shot.

Cheng Xu ladled a bowl of soup for her and placed it in front of her. "You’re pregnant now, so try to eat out as little as possible; I’ll handle the cooking from now on. Mom has high cholesterol, so we need to watch the oil, salt, and sugar intake."

Seeing that Xiang Zheng hadn't stopped after taking the photo and was now busy applying filters, Cheng Xu confiscated her phone. "Eat first. It won’t taste good once it gets cold."

"Hey, hey, don't snatch it!" Xiang Zheng giggled, batting her eyelashes at him as she snatched the phone back. "My colleagues always tease me that my posts lack substance, so I’m showing them some nutrition. Besides, I need to let my clients see that I have a life outside of work."

In real estate marketing, they had reached the stage of selling a lifestyle. How could someone who didn't understand the art of living sell houses? Cheng Xu shook his head helplessly; women really made even posting on social media such an exhausting task.

Halfway through the meal, Xiang Zheng channeled her inner investigative journalist. With a playful glint in her eye, she switched to interview mode. "Mr. Cheng, care to share the secret to such delicious cooking? Or perhaps, did you learn to cook for someone important in the past?"

Under the table, Liu Chunrong kicked her daughter’s leg. *Don't be ungrateful for your good fortune,* she thought. *Learn to cherish what you have. Besides, in a marriage, it’s better to be a little oblivious—being too sharp will only drive people away.*

Xiang Zheng acted as if she hadn't noticed. She set down her chopsticks, rested her chin in her hands, and looked at him with sparkling, expectant eyes.

Cheng Xu paused, appearing to think for a moment. "There’s no secret. It’s all down to luck—the seasoning depends on how my hand feels that day. If it’s not good, you’re welcome to critique it so I can improve next time."

Xiang Zheng put on an exaggerated expression, pressing her fist to her chin. "To be this good just by luck? My husband is a genius! It’s true—in the face of raw talent, hard work is worthless."

Unable to watch any longer, Liu Chunrong retreated to the kitchen. She exchanged a knowing look with Sister Zhao, and they each added a small half-spoon of salt to the soup. *There, now it tastes like something!*

To show her appreciation for Cheng Xu’s efforts, Xiang Zheng ate an extra half-bowl of rice.

After dinner, just as she was preparing to unwind with a show, she saw Cheng Xu wearing a headband, dressed in a sports vest and shorts, beckoning to her with a crook of his finger.

"What for?" Xiang Zheng blinked. She didn't want to move; she wanted to lounge around and turn into a mountain.

"Exercise. If you don't want to be fed until you're a... piggy, then come along."

Xiang Zheng burst into laughter. *My husband is so sweet—he can't bear to call me a pig, even finding 'pig' too harsh, so he used the cute version, 'piggy.' This is true love.* She reached out, pulled him by the collar, and pressed a kiss to his lips.

However, when the actual exercise began, Xiang Zheng felt like crying. She couldn't even make it through two laps before she was leaning on her knees, gasping for air. The night at Baiwang Park was lively, filled with local residents jogging, practicing Tai Chi, and dancing to music.

Cheng Xu stopped as well. "The landlord is too slippery and the asking price is inflated. We’ll have to look at other properties."

"Fine, I’ll arrange it," Xiang Zheng declared with a wave of her hand, taking full charge.

"The properties at my company are a bit more expensive than similar ones in the area, but the benefits are clear. I can keep the employee discount and the commission for myself, keeping the wealth within the family, so to speak. If we buy elsewhere, I have connections too—I’m in the circle, so we won't be overcharged."

Cheng Xu trusted her on this. He held her hand, his emotions complex. "I was too naive before, thinking two million would cover the down payment, but I realize now it’s not enough. I still have some money in my insurance account..."

Xiang Zheng pressed a finger to his lips and smiled. "Don't you have a wife? I've been working for six years too. I can definitely come up with three or four million."

During her peak in 2016, she had earned five million before taxes. Money came easily, but it went just as fast—rent had climbed to twelve thousand a month, a nanny cost eight thousand, and there were medical expenses for her mother. Even the Jaguar she drove had cost over five hundred thousand. She was no stranger to big money.

"Wow, it turns out my own wife is the strongest backer. I’ll have to hold on tight."

Cheng Xu pulled her onto a public wooden bench and clasped her hands in his. "I’ve taken a few more days off to handle the paperwork for the pregnancy registration. My parents have set their plans too; they’ll be here in three days. As for the honeymoon and the wedding..."

Xiang Zheng felt a momentary flicker of panic and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Tell me about your parents. Why do I feel like the nervous bride meeting her in-laws for the first time?"

"If you count as 'ugly,' then there isn't a beautiful woman left in this world. As for my parents... well, you'll see when they get here."

Xiang Zheng ignored the rest; she only felt that when the seemingly reserved Cheng Xu spoke sweet nothings, her very bones seemed to melt.