There is a second-hand fabric sofa placed against the wall in the living room of the house we rented. The sofa is not big. It will be crowded for three adults, but it is slightly spacious for two adults. There is a small coffee table in front of the sofa.

It is large and can also be used as a dining table. Opposite the sofa is a small TV cabinet with a 32-inch second-hand Konka color TV on it for my mother to watch to pass the time when she is bored at home.

Lin Xiaojuan was sitting on the sofa, my briefcase was thrown beside her, and her Nokia mobile phone was on the coffee table. She picked up the phone, thought about something, and then put it down again.

I said, fight, no fight?

Lin Xiaojuan said, there is a situation where my parents don’t know that we live together, so you must not let it slip.

After I heard this sentence at that time, I actually couldn't understand it in my heart. I am a handsome man and we live together. Why should we cover up the facts? Isn't this irresponsible?

In the next few years, some people around me became unhappy when they reported to the woman's family because of this unmarried person, and some even ended up breaking up because of it. Only then did I understand that women think about things differently from us men.

Speaking of this, there are even people who get divorced because of whether they go to the man's house or the woman's house during the Chinese New Year. This is the case for a couple of my friends. Of course, this is a story for another day.

Lin Xiaojuan saw that I was silent and asked again, "Why are you in such a daze? Do you hear me?"

Seeing that she was so serious, I quickly said respectfully, "I heard you. I listen to you, sir, and beat her as soon as possible. I can't wait for the ugly son-in-law to meet his father-in-law."

I thought to myself, no wonder, every time I called her she had to be mysterious and secretive, which made it impossible for me to get close to her parents even if I wanted to.

My mother was watching us from the side, sweat streaming down her face, and a strand of hair sticking to her forehead.

I said, Mom, why are you sweating so much? Don’t be nervous. Your son and I are not as nervous as you.

My mother said, this house is airtight. I am sweating from washing dishes in the kitchen. Your mother, I have never seen any big storms. When your grandfather took your father to my house, your father was so nervous.

My name was reported wrong...

I quickly said, okay, Mom, you will tell your story later, now it is about me and Xiaojuan.

My mother is not that old, but she really likes to miss the past. Perhaps it is because of the impact of my father's early death on her. If I didn't interrupt her, she might get sad while talking.

Break my legs. After all, my father's death had a lot to do with me. Forget it, try not to remember sad things.

My mother then said, "Xiaojuan, don't be nervous. If you have any questions, let's talk openly. If it really doesn't work, then I, an uneducated person, will accompany Shuhan to your house to propose marriage. Don't be nervous. We are not nervous."

Lin Xiaojuan said, I'm not nervous, that is, but then she hesitated to speak.

I said if there is anything else, if you finish it all at once, it will cause a heart attack.

Lin Xiaojuan looked at me, then at my mother, and said, my parents have long said that they want to come to Shenzhen to visit. I think our conditions are not mature yet. If they mention it later, you must not agree randomly.

She said that when the conditions were not ripe, she looked at me and then at our rental house.

I watched her glance around the rental house and thought, look, it seems like she has to buy a house soon, otherwise it will be difficult to get married.

I patted my chest and said, don't worry, I won't agree. Then I thought about it, and quickly said, uncle and aunt are coming to Shenzhen to visit, how can I not agree? Xiaojuan glared at me when she heard this, I will immediately

Then he said, should I agree or not?

Lin Xiaojuan said, don't agree randomly. I will agree if you have something to do. Don't be shy when you talk to them for the first time. Forget it, it doesn't matter if you are a bit shy.

I nodded at first, but then I became confused and asked, am I more skinny or not?

My mother glared at me and twitched the corner of her mouth. The subtext was, if you make trouble again, I'll beat you up.

This expression is all too familiar to me over the past twenty years.

Lin Xiaojuan said, "It's up to you." Then she picked up the phone and called her parents. After getting through, she put it back on the coffee table and pressed speakerphone.

I quickly moved two plastic stools from the corner, one for my mother and one for myself, and sat on the edge of the coffee table around the mobile phone.

First, Lin's father answered the phone. Lin Xiaojuan and his father were chatting with each other, basically no different from Mandarin. Lin's father's voice sounded very gentle, maybe because he was chatting with his daughter.

After talking for a while, Mother Lin also came to talk. The family of three just talked about their daily routine. Xiaojuan asked about her parents' health, and her parents asked about Xiaojuan's situation that day.

I can still generally understand their conversations. Some dialect pronunciations, such as "beat shimu", "himudi", "yelai", etc. Lin Xiaojuan sometimes speaks to me and I can understand it, but there are some

I couldn’t quite understand it after I started talking. After talking for a while, I heard Mother Lin saying that grandma asked her boyfriend again.

At that time, I didn’t know what grandma meant. Only after I asked Lin Xiaojuan did I find out that it meant grandma, that is, grandma.

Lin Xiaojuan said, he happened to be nearby, why don't you ask him to say a few words?

The two people on the other end of the phone started talking quietly, which seemed to be discussing whether they should talk to me.

Lin Xiaojuan looked at me, and I was ready to speak immediately, but as soon as they discussed it on the other end of the phone, I started to get nervous.

After a while, Lin's father said, let him answer the phone.

Xiaojuan pushed the phone towards me, deliberately raised her voice and said, Shuhan, my dad wants to talk to you.

There was no sound over there, probably waiting for me to speak.

I was a little nervous and coughed. Seeing that it was very quiet over there, I didn't dare to speak.

It feels like a long time has passed, but in fact it may only be a few seconds, because it always feels like a long time when people are waiting.

Lin Xiaojuan frowned at me and motioned for me to speak quickly.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xiaojuan's father spoke first, young man...

I also spoke here, Dad...

Both sides suddenly became silent.

I didn't think it was very humorous at the time. I had seen this kind of funny jokes too many times, and I didn't expect it to happen to me at this time.

I realized that I had used the wrong title, so I quickly changed my name to, "Hello, uncle, hello, aunt. I was too nervous just now."

The two parents didn't answer my words. Father Lin said softly over there, probably pronounced, "This little coquettish guy or something, he has a bit of a wooden face."

I looked at Xiaojuan, and she leaned over and whispered in my ear, saying that you are a playful young man.

I thought to myself, how could this happen? The first impression is very important. How could I leave a bad memory? My mind was running at a high speed, and a long list of lines was formed in my mind.

"Hello, uncles and aunties, I, I am joking. Before I made this call, I had actually practiced alone many times. Every time I imagined that after calling you uncles and aunts, I would get your approval.

Just like this, I practiced day and night for several months, and finally I changed my name to mom and dad. Just now, when I got excited, what I was thinking in my mind was just like reality. It was really embarrassing."

Father Lin is over there. Don't be nervous, young man. There is no need to explain. Xiaojuan is in Shenzhen. Please take care of her for us.

I quickly straightened my back and said, uncle, you are too polite. It is my responsibility to take care of Xiaojuan.

Then Mother Lin also started talking. The two elders asked each other truthfully on the phone, mixed with inquiring questions.

Lin Xiaojuan is a thoughtful girl. She told my uncles and aunts a lot about me, including my work-study program in college and some of the little things I did to help others. They also probably know what I am doing now in Shenzhen. What about me?

Before making this call, my understanding of Father Lin and Mother Lin was limited to some photos that Lin Xiaojuan had shown me in the past and some stories about her parents that she had told me. However, I really didn’t know much about the hobbies and personalities of the two parents.

Clearly, I was a little nervous when answering, for fear of not answering well.

I have to blame myself for not caring about my girlfriend's family affairs and not doing my homework in advance.

Later in the day's conversation, Lin's father said, "Xiaohan, the Mid-Autumn Festival will be in a few days. Xiaojuan's mother and I want to go to Shenzhen to see Xiaojuan and you."

I said yes...

Before she finished speaking, Lin Xiaojuan answered, Dad, can you take such a long vacation?

Father Lin said, it’s easy to ask for leave from my work. Your mother has already taken early retirement and their school has not arranged any classes for her this semester. So don’t worry about it. Just call Xiaohan to chat.

I said, uncle, I am here.

Father Lin said, would it be convenient to visit you around the Mid-Autumn Festival?

I quickly answered, convenient, convenient.

Father Lin asked Mother Lin on the other end of the phone if she had anything else to say.

Mother Lin said, Xiaojuan, please pay attention to safety outside. When Xiaohan is not with you after get off work, don’t go to unfamiliar places alone, and go back early in the evening. Do you understand?

Lin Xiaojuan replied, I understand, mom, Shuhan will take me back to the rental house later. He lives in the dormitory and will go back to the dormitory later.

At that time, video chatting was not as convenient as it is now. QQ mobile video chats were still one-way chatting with computer QQ, so when Xiaojuan lied, she did not have to worry about being found out.

But I was surprised as to why she lied like this. Normally I wouldn't be able to tell, and she didn't change her face when she deceived her parents.

Dad Lin said, okay, you all should go to bed early and we will see you in a few days.

I quickly said, OK, see you uncle and aunt.

There was a beeping sound from the phone, and Lin Xiaojuan said, you have forgotten what you said, what should you do if it comes now?

I said, come on, it should be fine. I feel like your parents trust me quite a bit and let me take good care of you.

Lin Xiaojuan said, you, sometimes your IQ is off the charts, and sometimes you are silly, you will know when you meet in person.

My mother, who had been listening to us talking, then said, "Xiaojuan, what do you mean, is it okay to meet?"

Lin Xiaojuan said, "It's not bad. Don't be stupid. You go take a shower first, and I will chat with my aunt for a while."

I said, who is going to eavesdrop on you, and then go take a shower.

When Lin Xiaojuan finished taking a shower and lay down on the bed, I couldn't help but bring out the many questions in my heart and ask her why she lied and said she lived alone, why she felt it was inappropriate for her parents to come now, etc.

Lin Xiaojuan told me that parents don’t want their daughters to live with others before they get married. You are a stupid dog. You still ask such a question, can’t you think of it? Besides, come now, you can’t have thousands of lies for one lie.

to cover up.

I thought about it. It was a busy day today. During the day, I gave two lectures by myself and four lectures by two team members. After work, Lin confessed to stealing his girlfriend and talked on the phone with his prospective father-in-law and mother-in-law for the first time.

, and then the prospective father-in-law and mother-in-law will come in a few days.
To be continued...