23: Three sentences to change the mother-in-law's attitude

The atmosphere in the living room reached a freezing point.

Shen Xiuyan's words, full of undisguised accusations and criticisms, made people extremely uncomfortable.

Li Qingyan didn't speak, and Gao Ze also didn't speak; it wasn't out of anger, but rather because they were thinking about how to respond.

Was his mother-in-law, Shen Xiuyan, a snob who favored the rich and disdained the poor?

Of course not.

Given Li Qingyan's prominent family background and her mother's position as a branch manager at Donghai Bank, money was no longer a concern for her; it was merely a number and a form of influence.

Therefore, Shen Xiuyan should absolutely not be viewed through the lens of a snobbish old lady; her true intentions behind her words must be carefully considered.

And what were Shen Xiuyan's intentions? With over a decade of police experience, Gao Ze could discern a thing or two.

She was testing his depth!

So, how exactly should he respond?

Should he, as before, offer future promises, or directly state his achievements in solving cases to demonstrate his capabilities?

After some thought, Gao Ze ruled out both options.

He had already given the former answer, and it was clear Shen Xiuyan was not satisfied. As for the latter, while it would show his strength, the system's intelligence had indicated that his mother-in-law, Shen Xiuyan, disliked arrogant and boastful people.

Then, he simply wouldn't answer the question!

"Baseness is the pass of the base, nobleness is the epitaph of the noble!"

Gao Ze paused, then said sincerely:

“Shen Jie, no matter how many words I say, nothing proves more than action. Why don't you just watch if I can make Qing Yan's life better!”

"Baseness is... Nobleness is..."

Shen Xiuyan's eyes lit up. The more she savored the sentence, the more poetic and philosophical it felt.

"You understand poetry?"

Both Gao Ze and Li Qingyan were taken aback. How did the conversation shift so suddenly? Just moments ago, it was a grilling interrogation, and now it was filled with surprise and intense interest.

"A little!"

Gao Ze nodded confidently. Who doesn't know a little Tang poetry or Song lyrics?

"That line just now, 'Baseness is...', 'Nobleness is...', did you come up with that?"

Gao Ze finally understood the reason for his mother-in-law Shen Xiuyan's change in attitude.

The intelligence stated that Shen Xiuyan liked literature, poetry, and arts. The line about baseness and nobility indeed came from the modern poet Bei Dao's poem "The Answer" in his previous life. Could it be that this parallel world didn't have it?

Gao Ze had investigated last night, and the history and culture of Xia Kingdom were the same as those of his previous life's Dragon Kingdom. All the ancient poets and literati were there, and foreign literary masterpieces hadn't changed. Perhaps the modern poets and popular culture of Xia Kingdom were different, and indeed, this world had celebrities and singers who weren't famous in his previous life.

"A poet named Bei Dao told me in a dream!" Gao Ze still didn't shamelessly claim it as his own.

"If you thought of it yourself, then you thought of it yourself, don't talk about dreams!"

Shen Xiuyan gave Gao Ze an eye-roll, then suspiciously asked, "Are you sure you're not lying to me, not just looking at the bookshelf in the living room and deliberately telling me you understand poetry to flatter me?"

"If you consider dreaming to be part of my creation, then I haven't lied to you!"

Gao Ze shook his head and said, "Nor have I deliberately tried to flatter you!"

"A good line obtained in a dream is, of course, your creation."

Shen Xiuyan became interested and asked curiously, "Since you said you didn't deliberately flatter me, then fine, tell me about the poems you've written; I'll listen."

Gao Ze: "..."

How could he write poetry? A doggerel might be closer. There were a few famous pieces by modern poets from his previous life, but they were all very long.

However, it seemed there were a few concise ones.

"The dark night gave me dark eyes, yet I use them to search for light!"

Shen Xiuyan's eyes became even more brilliant. She took a deep breath, seemingly savoring it, and after a long while, said:

“Although there are only two lines, the artistic conception is profound, and the style is extraordinary and unconventional, far surpassing the ten thousand doggerel poems of those old cadres on the market!”

"Anything else, something longer!"

Gao Ze shook his head; this time, he truly didn't know any more.

"What a pity, you have the talent to be a poet."

Shen Xiuyan sighed, her gaze gradually taking on the meaning of looking at Gao Ze as a junior, and asked:

"Do you have any research in literature?"

"What kind of novels do you usually read?"

Gao Ze felt a bit like Jia Baoyu from Rongguo Mansion asking Lin Daiyu; is this the typical demeanor of people who love literature?

However, he still had to answer honestly.

"Some by Hemingway, Dumas, and also Sherlock Holmes, Agatha, and so on."

"Hemingway is acceptable, strong and unadorned, concise and true. Dumas, Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha are all popular reads, not really literature, just fine for passing the time."

"If you are interested in literature, you can read books by Márquez, Austen, and Turgenev..."

It must be said that when Shen Xiuyan talked about her interests, her whole demeanor became lively and gentle, and every smile radiated a soft glow.

Gao Ze also had to admit that his mother-in-law had a deep understanding of literature; even dry and boring knowledge became interesting and vivid in her words.

She even pointed out a path to literary advancement for him.

Unfortunately, he was not interested.

"Mom, how long are you going to keep talking?"

Li Qingyan yawned, truly bored to sleep, and rested her head on Gao Ze's shoulder, "Today is the day your son-in-law visits, aren't you going to entertain him?"

"It's already lunchtime."

"Alright, alright, then you two sit here, I'll cook for you!"

Li Qingyan watched her mother, Shen Xiuyan, walk towards the kitchen and said with a smile:

"Husband, you're amazing! You managed to win over my mom in such a short time."

"My mom rarely cooks; she always lets the nanny do it. I've only eaten her cooking on holidays since I was little. Now that my mom is cooking for you, it means she approves of you!"

"So that's how it is. Then let's go help your mom prepare the vegetables!"

Gao Ze didn't believe that Shen Xiuyan cooking meant she approved of him, but after he deliberately showed his love for poetry, his mother-in-law's attitude had indeed improved.

So he also had to be proactive and continue his conquest!

Not only did he help out himself, but Gao Ze also pulled Li Qingyan along.

About an hour later.

The meal was finally ready: four dishes and one soup. Each dish tasted good and was indeed delicious, showing that his mother-in-law, Shen Xiuyan, was skilled both in the living room and the kitchen, proficient in arts, literature, flower arranging, and tea tasting—far superior to those noble ladies who only had a pretty face.

"Qing Yan, Shen Jie, I still have work this afternoon, so I'll be leaving first."

After eating and putting the dishes into the dishwasher, Gao Ze bid them farewell and left.

After he left, Li Qingyan looked at Shen Xiuyan, her demeanor completely devoid of the gentle and lovely expression she had when facing Gao Ze, and smiled coolly:

"Mom, do you still think my judgment is flawed?"

"Your daughter is sick, and Gao Ze happens to be able to cure me. Isn't he very suitable for me?"

"Moreover, with my husband's personality and position, and my ability and family background, I can control and manipulate him, ensuring I won't be harmed!"

"Do you really think this husband of yours is your prey, someone you can control and manipulate?"

Shen Xiuyan sighed softly and shook her head solemnly:

"I don't think so!"