Divorced Dad's Gourmet Shop

Chapter 435: Chapter 434: The Secretly Biased Jun Qingmeng

"It’s very sharp, clearly a designer brand. It makes you look much younger—not dated, but you still have that mature charm. If you were to walk out wearing this..."

"That’s not what I’m asking! What I want to know is, how is this outfit for meeting Xiao Jiang’s parents?"

Secretary Wang hurriedly replied, "President Jun, that’s too formal. I think you could dress down a little. For example, a dress shirt with a club collar would make you look much more casual and relaxed."

"If you dress too formally, you might seem intimidating."

Secretary Wang swallowed. ’Those are my real thoughts,’ he mused. ’President Jun’s presence is just too overpowering.’

’Xiao Jiang’s parents are regular people; they’d easily get nervous.’

"Hm, that makes sense."

Jun Xinghe then asked, "So what should I bring as a gift for our first meeting?"

"I’ve done some asking around. Jiang Liu’s father works for the state. He smokes and drinks. Even if he doesn’t, he can use them for work-related social events, so high-quality cigarettes and liquor are your best bet."

"I see..."

Jun Xinghe sent Jun Qingmeng a text: "What do you think about me bringing some cigarettes and liquor as a gift?"

Jun Qingmeng replied almost instantly: "Don’t bring cigarettes. Smoking is bad for you."

Jun Xinghe’s heart shattered a little.

’But I distinctly remember you and Xiao Jiang bringing cigarettes when you came to meet me, didn’t you?’

He typed it out, then deleted it, sighing with a heavy heart.

’My daughter has such double standards,’ he thought. ’She’s nothing like her straightforward father.’

’So, some liquor it is...’

Jun Xinghe mulled it over.

’What kind of liquor should I bring?’

’Something expensive?’

’No, that wouldn’t work. It would make it seem like I’m flaunting my wealth.’

’Something ordinary, then!’

’Hm? No, wait!’

’I’m so wealthy. If I bring something ordinary, wouldn’t that seem like I’m looking down on them?’

Jun Xinghe asked, "I’m planning to bring some liquor. Do you think I should bring something ordinary, or something expensive?"

"President Jun, when it comes to this, you really can’t compare to Boss Jiang."

"How so?"

Jun Xinghe didn’t get angry in the slightest. ’He’s my son-in-law. If I can’t measure up, so be it. I’m thrilled!’

Secretary Wang smiled faintly and said, "Let me put it this way. Boss Jiang is a simple, yet not-so-simple man. He wouldn’t agonize over what to bring. He would only think about what he *wants* to bring you, and what he brings would be something to make *you* feel comfortable."

"President Jun... Boss Jiang wouldn’t hesitate and second-guess himself like you are."

Secretary Wang said meaningfully.

Jun Xinghe sat up straighter without realizing it, his eyes lighting up.

He felt like he was on the verge of understanding something important.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

It was a subtle, profound personal quality, a way of carrying oneself and dealing with others.

He sighed emotionally. "There’s so much to learn from my son-in-law."

"I’m only just realizing that even after fifty years of living, I still don’t understand as much as he does!"

"However," Jun Xinghe’s tone suddenly shifted, and he said smugly, "no matter how exceptional he is, he’ll still have to call me ’Dad’ eventually, won’t he? Heh heh."

The thought of Xiao Jiang having to call him "Dad" made him bubble with excitement.

’Who needs a daughter?’

’Having Xiao Jiang as a son is so much better than that ditzy daughter of mine, isn’t it?’

Secretary Wang couldn’t take it anymore. ’This hypocrite has some nerve!’

"President Jun, I’m going to use the restroom. You can go ahead and get ready."

"Yes, yes, go on!"

Jun Xinghe, in a great mood, waved him off.

He obediently changed into a shirt with a club collar, then rushed up to his private storeroom on the top floor of the company and began rummaging through everything.

’I should get a red envelope ready... hm? No, that’s not right. I’ll wait until the wedding and give Xiao Jiang a huge one. It’s not appropriate right now.’

"Romanée-Conti is good... recent vintages won’t do. A 1990 vintage has prestige. This is it. I’ll take three bottles."

"Two bottles for my new in-laws, and one for Xiao Jiang to keep for himself."

"Eh? Who were these watches from again? They’re nice. It doesn’t matter if Xiao Jiang doesn’t wear a watch—his father can wear one!"

Jun Xinghe picked out only the most expensive items.

A moment ago, he was agonizing over whether giving expensive gifts would be seen as flaunting his wealth.

Now, inspired by Secretary Wang’s words about Jiang Liu, he suddenly had an epiphany.

All that mattered was giving a gift that was true to himself. He lived an extravagant life normally.

So, naturally, he should give something that reflected his own values.

He couldn’t very well be drinking wine that costs a hundred thousand a bottle, only to give a thousand-dollar bottle just because his in-laws were of ordinary means, could he?

In any case, he would just give what he himself thought was good.

If it was useful for his in-laws, he’d give it!

On top of all that, he also prepared three large boxes of rare, imported nuts.

They were for Tongtong.

He’d heard his granddaughter loved nuts, so a few days ago, he’d had someone from his company make a special trip abroad just for this.

There were fifty catties of pistachios, fifty catties of macadamia nuts, and fifty catties of cashews.

These weren’t your average, low-quality nuts from the market. They were all purchased from Saide Farm Factory, and you could say that every single nut was a premium product that had undergone layers of screening and processing.

The price was generally around seventy to eighty US dollars per catty.

Everything was ready.

He ordered Secretary Wang to move everything to the car.

Secretary Wang was on the verge of tears.

The company’s dolly was in use, so he had no choice but to carry everything, trip after exhausting trip.

And he had to be extremely careful. If he broke any of the gifts for the in-laws, President Jun would kill him.

Everyone knew how highly President Jun regarded his son-in-law.

*

Jun Qingmeng was on the phone with Lin Qiu. "Yes, that’s right. He’ll be coming over sometime after eight tonight."

Lin Qiu and Jiang Dahai were incredibly nervous.

Lin Qiu said, "Why so suddenly? Your uncle and I haven’t prepared anything."

Jun Qingmeng quickly said, "It’s alright, Auntie. Just think of it as a simple dinner with a friend. We’ll just chat. It’s no big deal."

Lin Qiu was still a bit worried. "We should still prepare something. There should be enough time. When we get there in a bit, your uncle and I will go buy a few things."

"You really don’t have to, Auntie. Just treat him like a regular friend. We’re just meeting up to talk, you don’t need to get him a gift..."

Jun Qingmeng didn’t want her parents-in-law to spend money.

After all, her husband worked so hard for his money, and it wasn’t easy for her parents-in-law to earn a living either.

As long as her parents-in-law didn’t take a disliking to Jun Xinghe, she couldn’t care less whether he himself was happy or satisfied.

She was secretly playing favorites.

Lin Qiu was still hesitant. "Daughter-in-law, that doesn’t seem right. We should still buy something. It would be rude not to bring a gift to the first meeting."

"That’s right! We won’t buy anything expensive, just something simple. Don’t you worry, Qingmeng," Jiang Dahai chimed in cheerfully from the side.

He was absolutely ecstatic.

Ever since he found out his son had married Miss Qingmeng, he’d almost been tempted to hand out red envelopes to the passengers on his bus.

Jun Qingmeng wanted to protest further.

Jiang Liu took her hand. "Just let them buy something."

"My parents want to bring a gift because it’s their way of showing how much they value you, you know?"

He knew his wife meant well.

She didn’t want his family to go to any expense.

But sometimes, good intentions can backfire. His wife was clearly being a little too hasty.

"Okay."

Jun Qingmeng nodded obediently and said to Lin Qiu, "Okay, Auntie. Then just buy whatever you’d like. Whatever you think is appropriate is fine. Just don’t buy anything too expensive."

Lin Qiu laughed. "Now that’s more like it! You silly girl, we know you’re just looking out for us two old folks. Alright, we’ll talk later, I’m hanging up now, okay? You keep an eye on Liu’er and tell him to drive safely."

"I know!!"

Jun Qingmeng watched the call end, then turned her head to give Jiang Liu a smug little look.

Her mother-in-law had told her to keep an eye on Jiang Liu, and for some reason, that sparked a peculiar feeling in her heart.

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