Chapter 85: Foresight

Chapter 85: Foresight

After hanging up on Rong Fenghua, Fan Xiaoyao complained helplessly to Wang Guocheng.

“I told you before not to rent a car, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look what’s happened—my uncle is absolutely insistent that I cancel the rental.”

Rong Fenghua’s voice had been firm on the phone: “Return it. That rental car must be returned. Once your aunt and I finish shopping for the New Year’s goods, we’ll set out. Just wait for us in Kangcheng around three in the afternoon.”

Fan Xiaoyao had wanted to say more, but Rong Fenghua hung up before she could get another word in.

After ending the call, Rong Fenghua turned to Wu Jing at his side. “You see? Xiaoyao just wastes money now that she has some. You know why she called? She told us she’d already rented a car and said we didn’t need to pick her up. Isn’t that just wasteful?”

Wu Jing shook her head at Rong Fenghua’s grumbling, tugging at his sleeve. “Fenghua, I think it’s time we have a serious talk.”

Seeing Wu Jing’s solemn expression, Rong Fenghua grew uneasy. “Honey, why are you looking so stern?”

Wu Jing frowned, sighing softly. “Fenghua, I’ve wanted to say this for a long time, but I kept holding back. You know, I’ve seen how much effort you put into caring for Xiaoyao, trying your best to be a good uncle. But don’t forget, Xiaoyao is an adult now—she’s like a grown swallow ready to leave the nest. You can’t always shield her like this, you understand?”

“All these years, I’ve seen your kindness to her, and because I love you, I’ve come to love her as my own. But Fenghua, the way you protect her is wrong, do you know that? You keep imposing your views on her, trying to steer her life with your opinions. That’s not good for her.”

“Take today, for example—she arranged to rent a car to return to Yongnan Town. Since she made the arrangements herself, you should respect that. Why do you have to react so hysterically over her renting a car?”

Rong Fenghua was taken aback that the usually gentle Wu Jing would say so much to him all at once. His mouth hung open, at a loss for how to argue back.

Wu Jing stepped closer, gently stroking his cheek. “Fenghua, it’s time you let go and allow Xiaoyao to grow up. Besides, she has a boyfriend now—she’ll have her own life. You can’t keep interfering under the pretense of being an elder, can you?”

Rong Fenghua reflected on his past behavior, mumbling, “Could it really be that I’m in the wrong?”

Wu Jing rolled her eyes at him. “Haven’t you noticed you can be authoritarian sometimes? Forbidding this and that, always putting yourself on a pedestal, never listening to what the kids actually think. Fenghua, I hope you won’t be so domineering anymore, all right?”

After listening to her, Rong Fenghua picked up his phone, hesitating as he asked, “Honey, should I call Xiaoyao now and tell her something’s come up and we can’t pick them up in Kangcheng, so they should head back to Yongnan Town on their own?”

Wu Jing nodded, patting his shoulder. “Yes. I’ll go to the counter and settle the bill; you explain things to Xiaoyao.”

With that, Wu Jing left, pushing her shopping cart toward the checkout. Watching her walk away, Rong Fenghua stroked his chin and muttered, “Am I really that overbearing? I thought I was the world’s best uncle.”

When Rong Fenghua called Fan Xiaoyao, she was just using Wang Guocheng’s phone to try to reach the car rental agency about cancelling. Seeing that her uncle’s name was lighting up her own phone, Wang Guocheng nudged her, “Xiaoyao, your uncle’s calling?”

Since she hadn’t gotten through to the rental driver, Fan Xiaoyao hung up Wang Guocheng’s phone and answered her own. As soon as she pressed the button, Rong Fenghua’s voice came through, “Xiaoyao, something’s come up today so I won’t be passing through Kangcheng. You two head back to Yongnan Town on your own.”

Surprised and pleased, Fan Xiaoyao asked, “Uncle, did you say you’re not picking me up today? Great! Luckily, I couldn’t get through to the rental agency earlier, so the car hasn’t been returned yet. Now it’s just what we need.”

Rong Fenghua relaxed at her response. “Good, then. I’m hanging up. Have Guocheng drive carefully on the way home.”

Fan Xiaoyao wasn’t sure why her uncle had changed his mind, but she couldn’t help feeling a little pleased.

Hanging up, she turned to Wang Guocheng. “Thanks for the car rental. My uncle just called to say he’s busy this afternoon and won’t be passing through Kangcheng, so we’ll be heading back on our own.”

Wang Guocheng looked smugly at her. “See? I told you I had a knack for foresight. You were so stubborn with me earlier—good thing you couldn’t get through to the rental agency, or it would’ve been a hassle to arrange another car.”

Fan Xiaoyao stepped up and patted his cheek. “Alright, you’re amazing! So, Mister Foresight, can you predict what dishes we’ll have for dinner tonight?”

Wang Guocheng started counting on his fingers, putting on a show. In truth, he’d long ago bribed Fan Xiaoyang for detailed information about each Rong family member’s tastes. So, every year at the New Year’s Eve dinner, Fan Xiaoyao’s mother would personally cook a favorite dish for each person—the menu had remained mostly the same for years.

Just as Fan Xiaoyao was getting impatient and about to tease him, Wang Guocheng put on a serious face.

“I just took a quick calculation—tonight, Auntie will prepare Fortune Fish, Crispy Duck, Sweet and Sour Ribs, Braised Chicken with Bamboo Shoots…”

Fan Xiaoyao eyed him suspiciously. “Guocheng, how do you know all this so clearly? Don’t tell me you called my mom for the menu already. Otherwise, how could you rattle off the dishes so easily?”

Wang Guocheng gave her a sidelong glance, raised a delicate finger, and tapped her forehead. “Xiaoyao, your imagination runs too wild. I’ve been busy all morning helping you pack and making you breakfast in the kitchen—where would I find the time to call Auntie? If you don’t believe my predictions, ask her when we get home or just wait until dinner. When you see what’s on the table, you’ll know if I was right or not.”