Chapter 19: Who Sent the Message

“Mom, you can’t force a melon to be sweet,” Leng Zhiwen said helplessly. “Whether it’s for us or for brother-in-law, this matchmaking of yours is unfair to everyone. Besides, even if one of us agreed, would brother-in-law ever accept it? He loves our sister so deeply—how could he possibly accept one of us?”

“Don’t worry. No man under the sky can resist his wife’s younger sisters—unless all three of you are hideous!” Their mother’s words left the three of them speechless, though it seemed there was some truth in that.

“I don’t care what Hehe thinks—that can be dealt with later. Right now, I want to know what you girls think.” Their mother’s tone was mild but firm. “How about this: since you all say forced love bears no fruit, I’ll give you an hour to think it over. If, after an hour, you’re sure you’re that ‘forced melon,’ then send me a message on my pager. If you do, I won’t pressure you anymore.”

“But let me be clear,” she continued bluntly, “if any of you sends that message, you can forget about being with your brother-in-law for the rest of your life—unless I’m dead. As long as I live, I won’t allow you to marry him.”

With that, their mother strode out in her usual domineering way, waving her phone as she went, leaving the three sisters in the room, stunned and bewildered.

“Second Sister, Third Sister, are either of you going to send that message?” Leng Zhimeng asked with a mischievous grin. She was the least troubled by any of this.

“Of course I will,” Leng Zhiwen replied crisply. “Huang He is no prize—I don’t fancy a man like him.” With that, she left the room without a backward glance.

“What about you, Second Sister?” Leng Zhimeng turned to her other sister.

“I don’t know…” Leng Zhiruo shook her head, looking lost, her eyes growing red. “Brother-in-law is actually a good man, but I don’t think I’m worthy of him. I can’t betray our elder sister—she raised me! How could I ever marry her husband?”

“So you’re not really against it, are you?” Leng Zhimeng saw straight through her sister’s heart. “It’s not like you’re being asked to say yes. Just pretend you don’t know anything, go to sleep, and think about it later! But if you send that message, it’s over—you’ll never have another chance.”

“Alright,” Leng Zhiruo nodded seriously, realizing for the first time that her younger sister actually made sense. She looked much more at ease.

“What about you?” Leng Zhiruo asked curiously, glancing at Leng Zhimeng. “Third Sister, what do you think?”

“I have absolutely no interest in brother-in-law,” Leng Zhimeng declared, utterly candid. “Sure, he’s a nice guy, but he doesn’t know anything about computers or games. He doesn’t even know what StarCraft or Warcraft is! I’d never be with someone so boring.”

“So what kind of person do you want to be with?” Leng Zhiruo asked, intrigued.

“I want to be with a WCG world champion!” Leng Zhimeng answered excitedly. “You know WCG, right? The first tournament is about to happen in Korea, gathering the world’s top gamers. If someone from China can win the world championship, I’ll marry him as a reward!”

“I have no idea what WCG is,” Leng Zhiruo replied wearily, looking at her sister who had clearly lost herself to computers, and could only shake her head. Then, quietly, she began to calculate in her heart.

Zhiyuan and Zhi Ting are still in elementary school—no chance there.

Brother-in-law never plays video games, only cards and mahjong, so Zhimeng would never like him. The two of them are out.

As for Zhiwen, she’s a bit of a wild card, but she’s never shown brother-in-law any warmth, so she probably isn’t interested either. That means… it’s just me!

A faint, lovesick smile appeared on Leng Zhiruo’s face, the unmistakable expression of a woman hopelessly infatuated.

“Mom, if the three older sisters won’t agree, I’ll marry brother-in-law!”

“Me too!”

Suddenly, two voices startled Leng Zhiruo. She actually had competitors! Peeking outside, she saw Zhiyuan and Zhi Ting, bouncing around their mother, apparently having overheard the conversation.

“Alright, alright! Once you’re grown, you can all marry your brother-in-law!” Their mother laughed heartily—not to be misunderstood, she wasn’t being outrageous, but was simply joking.

Children’s words are innocent—who would take them seriously?

——————————

Back in his office, Huang He had no idea his mother-in-law was busy planning his future—or rather, his marriage prospects. For now, he was focused on drafting a proposal, pouring all his recent inspirations onto paper, intending to compile them into a systematic plan to distribute for execution.

By the time he finished, it was already past two in the morning. Sleepy, he headed straight to the office lounge to rest. When he opened his eyes the next morning, the first thing he saw was Leng Zhiruo bent over, her figure tightly wrapped in an office outfit, with a hint of black stockings peeking from beneath her skirt.

Damn! Fortunately, Huang He had slept in his clothes, his trousers helping conceal any obvious reaction. After a year of widowerhood, it was only natural to have some response. But why was Leng Zhiruo’s face so red? Had she seen something? After all, in his dream, he seemed to be making love with someone, though he couldn’t recall who—yet somehow, the person resembled Zhiruo.

“Ahem!” Huang He cleared his throat. “Zhiruo, could you please find the last page of the document on my desk, and then contact every one of our sales reps on the road? Convey everything on that page to them and make sure they follow those instructions.”

“Alright!” Zhiruo nodded and hurried over to the desk. Huang He went to freshen up in the washroom.

“Brother-in-law, are you sure there’s no mistake on this document? How could you make such a decision?” Just a few minutes later, Zhiruo rushed over, holding a piece of paper, disbelief in her voice.

“No mistake. That’s my decision. Go ahead and call them,” Huang He replied, smiling.

“But brother-in-law, I can’t even understand the instructions myself—how am I supposed to explain them?” Zhiruo protested helplessly.

“I can’t explain it to you right now, and you don’t need to understand. Just relay the instructions word for word. Tell them the expense will be covered by the factory, and it won’t affect their earnings. Their benefits won’t be reduced.”

“If anyone refuses to follow the orders, they don’t have to keep working. Once their goods are sold, they can come back and settle their wages.” Huang He’s orders were firm. Though Zhiruo didn’t understand, she could only follow through.

There were a few hundred sales reps nationwide this time—it would take two or three days to call them all. In high spirits after tidying up, Huang He switched on his computer and launched his newly installed StarCraft: Brood War. He hadn’t played in ages, and wondered if his championship-level skills from previous years were still there. How nostalgic it all felt!