Volume One, Chapter 13: When I Grew Up, I Became You

Cheng Jianshe picked at his ear, afraid he had misheard, and asked again, “What did you say? Say it once more.”

Chengrou put his arm around Xiang Zheng’s shoulder and solemnly addressed his parents and Xiang Zheng’s mother: “Dad, Mom, Xiang Zheng is very passionate about her work, and she earns more than I do. In marriage, sacrifices have to be made. So why can’t I be the one to take care of the home? I love food, and I enjoy exploring these things…”

Doing what he loved, no longer facing the scheming outside world, no longer clinging to someone else’s coattails—just thinking about it was enticing.

But Cheng Jianshe couldn’t understand.

He blew out his breath, eyes glaring, veins bulging on his forehead, his hands trembling as if Old Wu next door had suffered a stroke.

“We’ve supported you for so many years, paid for your studies all the way through graduate school—twenty years!—not for you to become a cook, stuck among pots and pans all day. If you don’t work outside, don’t earn money, how will you support your family? What about your sense of responsibility? How will you provide a good life for your wife and children?”

Cheng Jianshe’s voice faltered, then he turned to Xiang Zheng, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and heartfelt concern. “Zheng Zheng, you’re a good girl. You should talk some sense into him. You wouldn’t want your future husband to be an irresponsible, good-for-nothing who just reaches out his hand asking for money, would you?”

Cheng Jianshe’s reproach made Xiang Zheng deeply uncomfortable.

What did he mean by cook, good-for-nothing? Chengrou was nothing like that.

No one had the right to say that about Chengrou—not even his own parents.

“Uncle, Auntie, Chengrou’s excellence is evident to all. I have never doubted it. He gave up a high-paying job and chose to stay at home. To me, that is truly admirable. He is loving and responsible.”

“Of course, life isn’t just about romance. There’s groceries, daily necessities, clothing, shelter, healthcare, children’s education—everything costs money. In the future, I will work even harder and support the family. We live in an era where women hold up half the sky; it’s not just hollow talk. We will make a difference!”

Cheng Jianshe’s chest heaved with anger, nearly fainting.

This was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard in his life. He pointed at his wife, Bai Lan. “Say something, will you? Look at the son you raised, the daughter-in-law you found!”

Because of Chengrou’s choice, in his father’s eyes, even his daughter-in-law’s worth was diminished.

Bai Lan had long been shocked beyond words, unable to believe her son and future daughter-in-law would say such earth-shattering things. “Son, poverty can make a marriage miserable. You both need to think this through.”

Chengrou stepped forward and embraced his mother, gently patting her back. “Mom, all these years you’ve stood behind Dad, managing the household, taking care of me and Dad’s daily life, supporting my studies. Without you, could he have run his factory so effortlessly and become one of the earliest millionaires? Without you, could I have gotten into a top university and continued through graduate school?”

“But people only see Father; they don’t see your contributions. I want to say that staying at home is meaningful too. The one who mends and patches things is just as important.”

Bai Lan’s heart stirred as if something inside her had been touched. Those years of late-night lamps and hard study, those report cards filled with high marks, all came vividly to mind. Tears blurred her vision, and the more she wiped, the more fiercely they streamed.

Had she failed? Was her life meaningless? No, it was not so.

Her son, her pride, had grown into her.