Chapter 67: The In-Laws Meet
If you don’t like being followed by a shopping assistant, there are also robot guides to choose from.
You could say that Lantu Supermarket has considered every potential issue customers might face.
Even some well-off people with no shortage of housing have started considering moving to Dream Home to live.
There are 80 years left on the countdown until Dream Home disappears — enough time to live there until the end of one’s days.
Even Old Mr. and Mrs. Xu were tempted.
They were getting on in years and should have retired two years ago, but the school rehired them.
Both had taken good care of their health and wanted to continue contributing to the country, so they returned to teaching.
Now, the thought of retirement crossed their minds again.
Mu Lantu fully supported it. “Uncle, Auntie — you’re welcome anytime. Dream Home now has a newspaper dedicated to reporting on life here. I saw a story the other day — a lot of elderly folks with the same idea are planning to move here for a peaceful and comfortable retirement.”
Xu Huazhang added, “Dream Home will likely keep opening new settlements. They recently opened Fairy Tale Town. Who’s to say they won’t open a ‘Retirement Village’ in the future…”
Hmm? Retirement Village?
Mu Lantu gave his man a smiling glance. No doubt about it — his precious treasure again provided him a great new idea.
He’d reward him well tonight.
Xu Huazhang thought Mu Lantu was dazzled by his charm. He wrapped an arm around Lantu’s waist and subtly puffed out his chest, turning slightly to show off his side profile — because his baby once said that was the most attractive angle.
After Old Mr. and Mrs. Xu walked ahead, Mu Lantu quickly kissed Xu Huazhang on the lips under the cover of a baseball cap — and bolted.
If it weren’t for the fact that they were in public, Xu Huazhang would have pulled him back for a proper kiss.
Through the reflective mirror on a pillar, the old lady saw everything. She shook her head, amused, then looked at Ge Tao and Zhou Ye.
The two of them were so skilled at averting their eyes it made her heart ache.
“Huazhang,” the old lady called.
Xu Huazhang walked over with Mu Lantu.
“You two should think about giving Xiao Ge and Xiao Zhou a longer vacation. Let them go on some dates, maybe meet someone.” Her tone was full of teasing.
Mu Lantu noticed the mirror and elbowed Xu Huazhang hard. It wasn’t his fault — Xu Huazhang was the one who seduced him.
Xu Huazhang remained unruffled. “You’re right.”
Ge Tao and Zhou Ye exchanged a glance and laughed awkwardly. They were happy to be spared the public displays of affection, but as for dating — no thanks, too much hassle.
Old Mr. and Mrs. Xu stayed one night at the courtyard house, then moved into the villa Xu Huazhang had rented.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang spent a week taking them around Dream Home — not just Fairy Tale Town but also a few places that looked like paradise.
Two of those places weren’t open to the public, but Mu Lantu had quietly opened a backdoor. Even Xu Huazhang didn’t know.
As summer vacation began, Mu Lantu got a call from Mu Zhenguo.
He and He Cuifang wanted to come see Mu Lantu’s supermarket.
Mu Lantu decided to invite the entire Mu family.
When Old Mrs. Xu heard about it, she had Gu Caiwei make arrangements to bring the entire Xu family too — perfect timing for the in-laws to meet.
Mu Lantu told Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang about this.
Mu Zhenguo was silent for a while, but eventually agreed.
He understood — his child had truly grown up.
For many parents, it’s a moment of pride — but also a bit of loss.
Xu Huazhang and Mu Lantu went to pick up the Mu family at the Capital Airport.
The Xu family had already arrived at the courtyard house the day before.
Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang came, as well as Mu Zhenzhen and her family of three.
Mu Hongtu also brought Yang Xiurong and their two kids. The couple were warm and friendly toward Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, as if there had never been any past conflict.
Mu Lantu still greeted and hosted them politely, but didn’t call them “brother” or “sister-in-law” — in his mind, they were just distant relatives.
Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong knew they were in the wrong and didn’t dare show any dissatisfaction.
There was a teleport station near the airport, so the group directly teleported to Dream Home and then drove to the courtyard house.
Since there were many of them, they took a bus this time.
The three kids were glued to the windows, constantly exclaiming in wonder.
Even the adults were dazzled by the scenery — the skies and land in Dream Home felt more expansive than on Earth, leaving them feeling refreshed and uplifted.
As they approached, Xu Huazhang sent a Wechat message to his parents.
To show respect for the Mu family, the Xu family had come out in advance and waited at the courtyard gate.
It was the first meeting between in-laws, and both sides were nervous.
From the Mu family, Mu Zhenzhen and Luo Wangjun were skilled at smoothing things over. On the Xu side, Xu Huafeng and Xu Huacai lightened the mood effortlessly. Any awkwardness vanished quickly, and the families entered the house cheerfully.
Xiao Xiao, a thoughtful little girl, greeted the elders, then took Xiao Xing, Xuan Xuan, and Xiao Yu to the game room to play.
Xu Pingfei and Xu Anfei weren’t interested in adult conversation, so they tagged along too — they could help the kids with skateboards and balance scooters.
The rest of the adults stayed in the living room to talk.
The Xu parents praised Mu Lantu, the Mu parents praised Xu Huazhang. Once the conversation got going, the atmosphere warmed quickly.
Though Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang had accepted their youngest son being with a man, it wasn’t like they had no reservations. But seeing with their own eyes how much the Xu elders adored Mu Lantu helped ease that discomfort.
The two families complimented each other, and the atmosphere stayed cheerful.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were now officially “settled.”
As for whether to hold a wedding, where, and how grand — that would be up to the couple. The families would just cooperate.
It was during this visit that Mu Lantu learned the man he met while stone-gambling, Xiao Nanfeng, was actually Xiao Dongfeng’s younger brother — and that Xu Huazhang knew Xiao Nanfeng well.
Turns out he’d had ties to Xu Huazhang’s circle far earlier than he realized.
Maybe fate had started weaving their story even then.
The Xu family stayed for two meals with the Mu family before returning to Earth — everyone had their own responsibilities.
Xu Pingfei, Xu Anfei, and Xiao Xiao wanted to stay and play longer. The adults didn’t object, trusting Xu Huazhang to manage it.
He arranged for them to stay at his rented villa and even assigned each a bodyguard, letting them play however they liked.
Dream Home’s public safety was good, so there was nothing to worry about.
The Mu family stayed at the courtyard house.
After the Xu family left, the Mu family finally had a chance to talk privately with Mu Lantu.
The first to approach him was Mu Zhenzhen.
Mu Lantu also had many questions for her. The siblings rode electric scooters to a distant beach to chat.
“Did they get divorced?” Mu Lantu asked directly, referring to Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong.
At the mention of those two, Mu Zhenzhen had a lot to say.
“No! After they asked you for money and you refused, they turned to Mom and Dad. Yang Xiurong demanded 300,000 yuan — or else she’d divorce Mu Hongtu. Of course, Mom and Dad wouldn’t agree. It was totally unreasonable!
“She used Xuan Xuan and Xiao Yu to threaten them, but Dad still said no. Yang Xiurong was furious — claimed they only cared about money and not their grandkids. She even fought with Mom and Dad in front of the kids. Mom cried. Even Dad — when have you ever seen him shed a tear in front of us?
“And that damn Mu Hongtu — his wife was treating our parents like that, and he played dumb, saying he couldn’t control her! Couldn’t control her? He wanted the money too!
“No matter what, Mom and Dad refused. They told them: if you want a divorce, go get one. Mom and Dad even rented a place and moved out of their house. Once the new place airs out, they’ll move again and never live with them again. Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong had no choice and dropped the divorce talk.”
Mu Zhenzhen huffed and plopped into a beach chair.
These chairs had been installed by Mu Lantu — since his family was the only one nearby, the beach was essentially private.
“Yang Xiurong even picked a fight with me. We got into it!”
Mu Lantu could guess why.
“Was it because I said I’d buy a house for Xiao Xing someday?”
“She said some awful things — I can’t even repeat them. So I hit her first.” Mu Zhenzhen pulled down her silk scarf, revealing a scabbed-over scratch. “Look — she didn’t hold back. Drew blood.”
Mu Lantu apologized. “That’s my fault too. I shouldn’t have used Xiao Xing. But I meant what I said. You and your husband have always been good to me. I have the means now, of course I want to repay that.”
Mu Zhenzhen quickly said, “I don’t blame you. You didn’t hurt him. You wanting to buy him a house is your way of showing love as an uncle. Ask around — what other uncle would value his nephew like this? But really, you don’t have to buy one. If he wants a house, he should earn it himself. Don’t spoil him.”
Mu Lantu thought for a moment. “Okay — no house. I’ll buy gold instead. It holds value.”
Mu Zhenzhen looked to the sky. “Go ahead, you money printer.”
Ding-a-ling.
Xu Huazhang rode over on his little scooter.
“Baby, sis — come back for dinner.”
Mu Lantu waved. “Coming! Sis, let’s go.”
Mu Zhenzhen hesitated, like she had something else to say but wasn’t sure.
Mu Lantu turned back, certain: “There’s more.”
“Well… this one…” She stomped her foot. “If I say it, it sounds like I’m stirring the pot. But if I don’t… it’s just gross. Just listen, don’t get mad.”
Mu Lantu nodded. “Go ahead.”
Xu Huazhang could see their expressions had darkened. The smile faded from his face, replaced by worry.
Mu Lantu waved, signaling it was fine.
So Xu Huazhang didn’t come over.
Mu Zhenzhen lowered her voice: “I heard Yang Xiurong wants a third kid — preferably a son.”
“Having a third is her right,” Mu Lantu said, puzzled.
