Chapter 1583: Taking Root

Zhao Fusheng naturally wasn't really going to the Central Academy of Drama on business; he was just using it as an excuse to leave.

Once outside, he took the car and went home.

Fan Baobao was with the child. Zhao Fusheng went to take a look, said nothing much, and naturally retreated to his study.

Between him and Fan Baobao, their feelings needed no words. As husband and wife, silence spoke louder than words.

After reading for a while in the study, just as Zhao Fusheng was about to take a nap, Mother Zhao knocked and entered.

If life had seasons, Mother Zhao's first half was probably all winter. It wasn't until Zhao Fusheng and Father Zhao started in business that her life turned to spring.

"Mom, why are you here?"

Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised; his mother usually didn't come into his study.

Mother Zhao shot him a look: "You're my son. Can't I come see you?"

He shrugged, having nothing to say.

What his mother said made so much sense he couldn't argue.

"Your father and I talked it over. We're thinking of buying a house here in the capital," Mother Zhao said bluntly to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback: "Buy a house?"

"Mm."

Mother Zhao nodded: "Your father thinks I should just stay here and help you take care of the kids. Anyway, there's nothing for me to do back home."

Hearing his mother's words, Zhao Fusheng smiled: "That's not a bad idea. You can get some rest too."

But then he frowned: "Why buy a house? Can't you just live with us?"

Mother Zhao shot him another look and said bluntly: "You and Baobao are young. What would an old woman like me be doing living with you?"

Then she laughed: "I've already talked it over with your mother-in-law. She's planning to wind up her business in Ninghai. Money is enough when you have enough. The two of us will buy a house nearby, convenient for helping you with the kids."

Well!

Zhao Fusheng understood immediately. So the elders had already decided among themselves and were just informing him, the younger generation.

And here he was thinking of having them live with him. Turns out they'd already made up their minds.

"So you're just letting me know, right?"

Zhao Fusheng said helplessly to his mother.

Mother Zhao smiled and nodded: "Right, just telling you. Also, you and Baobao need to work harder. One child isn't enough. Our family now has a big estate; one child can't manage it all. Besides, brothers fight tigers; father and son go to war together. With more children, they can look out for each other..."

Zhao Fusheng was speechless.

What his mother said made sense, but the child wasn't even a year old yet, and she was already pushing for the next one.

Fan Baobao was a person, not a baby-making machine.

"Um, Mom, about kids, Baobao and I will discuss it ourselves. If you want to buy a house, go ahead. I'll have someone accompany you to look."

Zhao Fusheng said with a placating smile to his mother.

He dared not provoke his mother; if she got angry, he'd be the one to suffer.

"No need to send anyone."

Mother Zhao shot her son a look: "I'll wait for your mother-in-law to come. We'll go see ourselves. It's not like we don't have money."

"Fine, fine, do as you please."

Zhao Fusheng quickly nodded: "Try to buy in a quiet neighborhood. Safety is also important, since you'll be taking your granddaughter out for walks, right?"

Perhaps the last sentence moved his mother. Mother Zhao thought for a moment, nodded: "I'll go discuss it with Baobao."

She turned and left the room. Zhao Fusheng let out a long breath.

Shaking his head, he went back to reading his documents.

...

...

Father Zhao and Li Yuan arrived in the capital before the Spring Festival.

But because of company matters, Father Zhao would be a bit later. After all, as the boss of Wanda, with the Spring Festival approaching, he had to make the rounds.

Li Yuan, on the other hand, had it easier. After selling off her KFC outlets, she was now like Mother Zhao, free of burdens.

With two mothers around, Fan Baobao was much more relaxed. After all, when it came to taking care of children, both Li Yuan and Aunt Zhao had much more experience than she did.

"Finally, I can rest."

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Fan Baobao handed her daughter Zhao Xue over to her mother and dragged Zhao Fusheng to go shopping with her.

Gently stroking his wife's head, Zhao Fusheng said softly, "After the New Year, you should take a good rest. If you have time, you can take the child and your mother out for some fun."

During this period, especially the year of her pregnancy, Fan Baobao had indeed been too hardworking. In Zhao Fusheng's view, she was the one who most deserved a good rest.

Fan Baobao nodded: "Let's wait a bit longer. Niuniu is still small, and it's not safe to go out."

Children have weak resistance; a little wind or rain can easily make them sick. Her plan was to wait until the child was about one year old before considering it.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged. He had expressed his opinion anyway; she could decide for herself.

"Come on, today I'm going to relax thoroughly."

Fan Baobao said to Zhao Fusheng with a smile.

She was prepared today to go on a shopping spree. Since becoming pregnant, she hadn't had such leisurely shopping in a long time.

"Whatever you say, whatever you say."

Zhao Fusheng said to her with a smile.

Then, for the whole day, Zhao Fusheng followed Fan Baobao as they shuttled between various shopping malls.

It wasn't until the afternoon, when Jiang Wen and Zhou Yun appeared, that he was saved.

"You didn't... accompany her the whole time, did you?"

Looking at Zhao Fusheng loaded with bags, Zhou Yun asked in surprise.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Yeah, I've been accompanying her the whole time."

"Impressive!"

Zhou Yun gave a thumbs up, then looked at Jiang Wen: "Look at him, such a big boss acts like this. Look at you, when I ask you to go shopping with me, you always make excuses."

Jiang Wen, suffering from undeserved calamity, was stunned. He glared fiercely at Zhao Fusheng but dared not speak his anger.

Zhao Fusheng looked completely innocent, grinning at Old Jiang, feeling immensely pleased inside.

Better you than me!

At times like this, Zhao Fusheng was happy to see someone else suffering the same fate as him.

Especially that guy Jiang Wen.

...

...

Finally, when the two women got tired of shopping and declared it was girlfriend time, going off to drink coffee and chat, Zhao Fusheng and Jiang Wen handed their purchases to the bodyguards and assistants to take away, and finally had some time to rest.

"You bastard, you really set me up."

Sitting on a chair, Jiang Wen drank his beverage in big gulps without any dignity, glaring at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "I didn't set you up. It was your Zhou Yun who called to ask where Fan Baobao was."

"Who knew you two were shopping!"

Jiang Wen said helplessly: "If I'd known you were shopping, I would never have agreed to come with her even if it killed me."

For men, especially most men, accompanying their wives shopping is undoubtedly one of the scariest things in the world.

It's not that they begrudge the money she spends, but they feel sorry for their own feet.

After all, going from one store to another, repeatedly trying on clothes of similar styles, and even having to make various comments, is undoubtedly a difficult task.

Especially for men, you have to understand that your comments are actually useless, because no matter how eloquently or concisely you speak, women may not necessarily listen; they've already made up their minds about which one to buy.

The opinions you offer are just a reference for them to prove their own taste.

This truth, Zhao Fusheng didn't quite understand in his previous life; it was only as he grew older that he gradually came to realize it.

"By the way, I plan to go to South Korea after the New Year. Are you coming?"

Jiang Wen suddenly asked Zhao Fusheng.

South Korea?

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then smiled: "You've contacted Song Kang-ho?"

Obviously, Song Kang-ho must have given a reply, otherwise Jiang Wen wouldn't be planning to go directly.