C13 A Good Wife in China!

He was well aware of his condition, yet he consistently refused to undergo surgery at the hospital despite the Chairman's urging. No one anticipated that such a situation would arise.

"Grandpa Tong, there's no need for formalities. We're all family here."

In Old Tong's presence, Wang Xiao's demeanor became serious. He bowed with clasped hands, expressing his respect.

"Family?"

Elder Tong looked puzzled upon hearing this and instinctively turned to Tong Waner for clarification.

"Grandfather, this is Wang Xiao, my fiancé. He hasn't visited you much in the past, so it's understandable that you don't recognize him."

Tong Waner's cheeks turned a soft pink as she spoke timidly, her gaze lowered in deference to Elder Tong.

"Ahh, Wang Xiao, the young lad. I remember him from his childhood. It's been a few years, and he's certainly changed in appearance."

Elder Tong's face lit up with recognition, and he smiled gently.

I was well aware of the betrothal between Tong Waner and Wang Xiao, having heard about it from the head of the family. I was once against it.

He was never invited to the annual family gatherings.

Little did I expect that Wang Xiao would acquire such impressive medical skills after all these years.

"Grandpa Tong, I was thoughtless in my younger years and failed to visit you. Please accept my sincerest apologies."

Wang Xiao bowed deeply to Elder Tong, his apology earnest.

"Wang Xiao, my boy, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I've opposed your engagement to Waner for years, and you've undoubtedly endured much hardship because of it."

Elder Tong gestured dismissively, his expression one of regret as he faced Wang Xiao.

"I haven't suffered at all!"

Wang Xiao quickly reassured him, bowing once more.

His words were sincere; after all, it wasn't him who had faced hardships in the past—it was the "Wang Xiao" from before.

"From this day forward, I withdraw my objections to your union with Waner. Moreover, I'll make it known: anyone who dares challenge your marriage will have to contend with me first!"

Moved by Wang Xiao's understanding nature, Elder Tong felt a profound sense of remorse and spoke with gravity.

"Grandpa, we haven't even started college yet. Why are we talking about marriage?"

Tong Waner's cheeks flushed as she shyly addressed Elder Tong.

In the end, her beautiful eyes couldn't resist sneaking a peek at Wang Xiao. Noticing his nonchalant expression, a wave of disappointment washed over her.

"You're all over eighteen now; you're of age to get married. Back in our day, we were having kids at sixteen," Elder Tong said earnestly.

As he spoke, he shot a glance at Wang Xiao and asked in a low voice, "Hey, Wang Xiao, have you two consummated the marriage?"

"Uh..."

Wang Xiao's mouth twitched at Elder Tong's comment, surprised by the old man's modern mindset.

Beside him, Tong Waner's face had turned the color of a ripe apple. She covered her face, exclaiming, "Grandpa, that's so inappropriate!"

Seeing Tong Waner's embarrassment, Elder Tong, Dong Yuan, and Wang Xiao burst into hearty laughter.

Second Aunt Chen Feng and cousin Tong Bin, however, frowned. They had been keen on setting up Tong Waner with Young Master Li, but the elder's words were a clear caution to them.

"Hmph, all you did was wake up Grandpa. Who knows if there will be any lingering effects?"

Tong Bin let out a cold snort, abruptly souring the room's happy mood.

"Cousin, what's that supposed to mean? Are you wishing ill on Grandpa?"

Tong Waner's eyebrows knitted together as she confronted Tong Bin with a stern tone.

"I didn't say that," Tong Bin replied, spreading his hands innocently.

"Exactly. Little Bin is just concerned about the old man's health. After all, Elder Dong mentioned that the old man had a stroke and it seemed unlikely he would recover. Now that he's suddenly sitting up, who's to say if it's not just a brief rally..."

Second Aunt Chen Feng's biting words were cut short as Tong Tie interrupted her.

"Chen Feng!" Tong Tie glared at her, his voice deep and commanding.

Though Tong Tie had intervened swiftly, it was clear to everyone that Chen Feng's last remark was a veiled wish for the elder's demise.

Elder Tong's face darkened immediately.

"Hmph, your ignorance doesn't negate the existence of things beyond your knowledge. How can a frog at the bottom of a well comprehend the sky?" Wang Xiao said with a slight frown and a cold snort directed at Chen Feng and Tong Bin. If it weren't for Tong Waner's sake, he would have already taken them to task.

"If you doubt Wang Xiao's medical expertise, surely you can trust mine? How about I give the old man a health check?" Dong Yuan huffed, casting a stern look at Chen Feng and Tong Bin as he spoke.

"I..." Second Aunt Chen Feng began, but was quickly silenced by Tong Tie's tug.

"Elder Dong's words are beyond question. We have complete faith in your medical skills," Tong Tie assured him with a smile. After all, Elder Dong was the director of Forest City People's Hospital, and offending him could spell trouble for Tong Tie's medical equipment business.

With a dismissive snort, Dong Yuan proceeded to take Elder Tong's pulse. In a matter of seconds, his expression transformed. "Steady and strong. This pulse is more robust than that of many young people!" Dong Yuan declared, astounded.

Chen Feng and Tong Bin's faces registered shock at Dong Yuan's pronouncement, while a gleam of understanding flickered in Tong Tie's eyes.

"Now that Elder Dong has spoken, do you have anything else to add?" Tong Waner challenged, turning to glare at Chen Feng and Tong Bin, who could only respond with sheepish silence.

"Elder Tong, you seem pleased with your health. Tell me, Wang Xiao, where did you acquire such impressive medical knowledge?" Elder Tong asked, his curiosity piqued.

Dong Yuan, too, fixed his gaze on Wang Xiao, eager to hear the answer.

"Uh..." Wang Xiao hesitated, at a loss for words. Should he reveal that he wasn't the "original Wang Xiao" but a stand-in?

"Big Brother Wang Xiao had been away on a journey for half a year; he must have picked up his skills during that time," Tong Waner interjected, her eyes shining with admiration as she spoke with conviction.

"Exactly, I traveled for half a year and encountered an extraordinary individual who shared some of his medical knowledge with me," Wang Xiao quickly concurred, seizing the lifeline Tong Waner had thrown him.

She's the number one daughter-in-law in all of China, perfectly spinning my tale into truth.

"So that's the story."

Upon hearing this, Elder Tong couldn't help but express his admiration.

"China truly has no shortage of remarkable individuals!"

Dong Yuan echoed with a sigh, neither of them expressing any doubt, seemingly familiar with such extraordinary encounters.

Dong Yuan then turned to Elder Tong with feeling, "Old Tong, you've got yourself an excellent grandson-in-law!"

"That I do. You're just jealous because you don't have a granddaughter," Elder Tong boasted, teasing Dong Yuan with a playful twinkle in his eye.

"Old Tong, you..." Dong Yuan's face flushed with mock indignation. He retorted with a huff, "What does it matter if I don't have a granddaughter? I've got plenty of beautiful female students under my wing."

Without missing a beat, he turned to Wang Xiao and coaxed, "Hey, Wang Xiao, forget about Waner. I'll introduce you to my students. A gorgeous doctor, an innocent nurse—whatever you desire, you've got it!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

Elder Tong slapped his thigh, roaring at Dong Yuan.

"Just watch me!" Dong Yuan boasted, challenging Elder Tong with a smug grin.

"Is this normal for them?"

Wang Xiao, witnessing the near century-and-a-half-old duo squabble like children, turned to Tong Waner with a helpless shrug.

"Grandpa and Elder Dong are always like this. Just ignore them," Tong Waner replied with a resigned smile.

Leaving the room to the quarreling elders, Wang Xiao and Tong Waner stepped out into the corridor for a breather. Elder Tong's vitality was a clear sign he was doing well.

"Wang Xiao, don't get cocky just because you have some medical know-how. It doesn't change the fact that you're mooching off the Tong family!"

Tong Bin's ill-timed voice piped up from behind. He approached Wang Xiao with a sneer.

"Is that any of your business?"

Wang Xiao asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Of course, it's my business. Know your place. You can't provide happiness for cousin Waner, but Young Master Li can. He's got wealth and influence. Anything cousin Waner wishes for, he can provide. What can you offer her? What good are your medical skills to you?"

Tong Bin regarded Wang Xiao with a disdainful sneer, his voice dripping with sarcasm.