Chapter 7 What is Happiness_1

Shen Dong and Chen Yuyan had just returned home when Chen Yuyan's phone in her purse started ringing.

She took it out and slightly frowned, "It's a call from my mom."

Shen Dong thought for a moment and said, "It must be Chen Yuting who told her about us getting our marriage certificate, and she's calling to ask about it."

While dating Chen Yuting, Shen Dong had met Chen Yuyan's mother, Feng Lijuan, twice.

He didn't have a particularly good impression of Feng Lijuan.

She had openly and secretly looked down upon him.

Back then, when he said he could make Chen Yuting happy with his own abilities, all he received was Feng Lijuan's ridicule.

"Probably." Chen Yuyan nodded, pursed her lips, and said, "Husband, I don't want to answer the call, what should I do?"

Shen Dong smiled, "Still, you should answer it, after all, she is your mother."

"Okay, I'll listen to you, husband." Chen Yuyan felt that Shen Dong made sense and answered the call.

"Yuyan, I heard from Yuting that you and Shen Dong got your marriage certificate?"

As soon as she answered, Chen Yuyan heard Feng Lijuan's questioning voice before she could even speak.

"Yes." Chen Yuyan responded calmly.

"Yuyan, have you lost your mind? Why would you get a certificate with that poor boy, the very man your sister didn't want? Do you mean to tell me that there are no other men in this world besides him?"

Feng Lijuan was furiously questioning her.

"There are other men in this world, but I am only interested in Shen Dong."

"From the moment I met him, I liked him."

"Back when he was my sister's boyfriend, I could only bury these feelings in my heart."

"Now that my sister and he have broken up, naturally, I want to pursue my own happiness."

"Marrying Shen Dong is the greatest happiness of my life."

While speaking, Chen Yuyan held Shen Dong's hand and sat down on the couch, snuggling into his embrace as she continued the call.

Hearing Chen Yuyan's words, Feng Lijuan became even more infuriated.

"You talk of pursuing your happiness, but I think you've jumped into a pit of fire!"

"What's so good about that Shen Dong? He's just a poor kid from a small town outside the city."

"In a big city like Hai City, he can't even afford to buy a house."

"By getting the certificate with him, you've thrown your whole life away."

"As someone who's been there, I know what kind of marriage a woman should pursue."

"I admit, Shen Dong is a bit handsome, but can you eat handsomeness?"

"Marriage is about the mundane details of daily life."

"Living a life where you have to count every penny at the supermarket and wait for discounts is definitely not going to be happy."

"Listen to me, since you've just gotten the certificate and not many people know, go and get a divorce certificate next Monday."

"With your conditions, you won't have trouble finding a wealthy boyfriend, even if you don't look for one yourself, the rich second generations will come for you."

"Only such a man can give you happiness!"

Feng Lijuan said all this in one breath, leaving her mouth dry and tongue tired.

Chen Yuyan's actions had truly infuriated her.

"Mom, you think a woman can only be happy if she marries a rich man, I don't think so."

"Happiness is not given by others, it's created by oneself."

"Shen Dong and I are just graduates, we have some abilities, and I believe that as long as we work hard, we will definitely create our own happiness."

"What you consider a marriage based solely on material conditions is not true happiness in my eyes,"

"I think that to be truly happy in a marriage, it requires both partners to work together, to truly love each other."

"That's how it is with Shen Dong and me, I love him, and he loves me, our marriage is a happy one."

Chen Yuyan forcefully countered Feng Lijuan's remarks.

"You... What do you know, you've just stepped out of school and haven't experienced the daily grind of life!" Feng Lijuan exclaimed angrily.

"Mom, I'm not a three-year-old child anymore, I have my own views on love and marriage," Chen Yuyan stated firmly.

"You..." Feng Lijuan trembled with anger, at a loss for words.

This daughter of hers was indeed stubborn; despite everything she had said, not a single word had been taken to heart.

"Mom, let me ask you, when you left Dad to pursue what you called happiness, have you been happy these years?" Chen Yuyan suddenly asked.

"I..." Feng Lijuan was momentarily stunned.

Chen Yuyan's soul-piercing question was so unexpected, it made her involuntarily reflect on her second marriage over the years.

Asking herself, has she truly been happy these years?

Suddenly, she felt somewhat dazed.

She didn't even know whether she could consider herself happy or not.

Then, as if realizing something, she took a deep breath and said with conviction, "Of course, I've been happy. Now I'm draped in gold and silver, I use high-end cosmetics, frequent upscale venues, and associate with the wealthy, far removed from everyday household chores. I could never have imagined such a life with your father!"

"Is that so?" Chen Yuyan said, "I heard that you had a property notarization done before you registered your marriage with that man, is that true?"

She had never met Feng Lijuan's current husband and referred to him as "that man" on the few occasions he needed to be mentioned.

"Yes, I get a share of everything he earns each year. If his annual salary is a million, then three hundred thousand belongs to me!"

"You see, I don't have to work every day, but I still make over twenty thousand a month. Isn't this a happy life?"

"You work every day, and your salary isn't even twenty thousand."

"If you have children in the future, buy a house, how will you live then?"

"In the future, you will have to carefully consider how to spend every penny you have."

"What happiness is there to speak of in a life like that?" Feng Lijuan argued confidently.

"With such thoughts, you've not only ruined Dad but will also ruin Chen Yuting. Thankfully, I didn't grow up living with you," Chen Yuyan blurted out suddenly.

She clearly knew that a large part of the reason why Chen Yuting broke up with Shen Dong was due to Feng Lijuan's influence.

"Chen Yuyan, what do you mean? How did I ruin your father? Is it wrong for me to pursue the happiness I want?"

"And you say I will ruin Yuting? Was I wrong to tell her to break up with that poor boy Shen Dong?"

Feng Lijuan was extremely angered by her daughter's accusations.

"In your mind, of course, there is no mistake," Chen Yuyan spoke indifferently.

"Yuyan, you've just stepped into society and don't know how cruel this world is. My way of thinking is the most correct survival rule for this society, especially for us women!"

"Your sister listens to me; she will definitely have a very happy life in the future!"

Feng Lijuan took a deep breath and started persuading with heartfelt earnestness.

"Sorry, but I can't learn your way," Chen Yuyan said calmly.

"So, are you saying you refuse to divorce Shen Dong?" Feng Lijuan redirected the conversation.

"I won't divorce him. We will live happily together, till death do us part," Chen Yuyan declared.

"Fine, fine, fine, you won't listen to me. You'll regret this later!" Feng Lijuan hung up the phone angrily.