Chapter 349: Father-Daughter Relationship
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Dingtian Xiao was surprised that Dai Li dared to speak to him in such a way. But later, he burst out laughing.
"I was such a person in your eyes? Political marriage? Do you think I will would sacrifice my daughter's happiness for my own career?" asked Dingtian Xiao.
Dai Li hesitated for a few seconds, then finally nodded: "Yunan told me that you've always wanted her to marry the heirs of other big enterprises, just like Fen Luo. You wanted to find a suitable son-in-law to inherit Dingtian Group."
Dingtian Xiao took a deep breath and said, "I see, so Yunan had the same idea as you?"
Dai Li didn't answer, but you could know the answer from his expression.
Dingtian Xiao was more exasperated, then he said, "I was surprised that she had the idea. It was no wonder that, each time I arranged a blind date for her, she would reject me. It turned out that she regarded them as each being a potential political marriage…"
Dai Li looked at Dingtian Xiao bewilderingly, and was keenly aware that there was something behind it.
Dingtian Xiao relaxed and said, "I started my business in the 1980s, when Yunan was born, and I've built up Dingtian Group. At that time, Dingtian was not as big as it is today, but it was a famous enterprise still, here. Yunan grew up in a very superior environment ever since her childhood, and she has never suffered from any hardship, as I provided her the best things. No matter what she wants, I will always try my best to satisfy her."
He continued: "But when it comes to marriage, I can't listen to her. Just as a Chinese saying goes: "A marriage between two families should be of equal rank" ... you should know what that means. Families backgrounds, social status, economic status, and occupations should all be taken into consideration in a marriage, thus, the couples will have more in common. However, if there is a big gap between the two families in lifestyle, living habits, and living cultures, there will be estrangement between the couples.
"I hope that my daughter and her future spouse have similar life experiences, similar values, and a common language, and I hope that they can understand each other, so that they can live together happily and won't quarrel over trivial things."
He took a breath, slow, then resumed talking: "So, I introduced many promising and rich young men to Yunan. In your eyes, they are the second rich generation, each having a pretty good family background and a lot of money. And the marriage between rich enterprises is quite similar with the so-called political marriage. But what I valued was not family background and money, but rather their life experiences, as they must have the similar values as Yunan, so that they could understand each other easily. You see, ordinary people don't have these!"
He charged on in his explanation: "In the corporate world, there are only several young men, who conform to the requirements of family background, economic condition, personal ability, and so on. I hoped that she could choose a man she really likes, and I encouraged these young men to make contact with Yunan, which she probably regarded as the so-called 'make a match' being a part of."
"Marriage is an important choice in everyone's life. The couples have to live together for the rest of their lives, so they must have tacit understanding, as they have to use the rest of their lives to accommodate each other, to understand each other, and to support each other. If they are different regarding their ideas and lifestyle, and they live together just out of passion, then they have to accommodate and adapt to each other, and so are forced to accept the living ideas and lifestyles they perhaps dislike or disagree with. Do you think that is a happy life?" he posed the question to a listening Dai Li.
The he added with a sigh, "I'm a father, I have only one daughter, and Yunan's happiness, in my view, is more important than anything else! Compared with Yunan, Dingtian Group is nothing! Therefore, I must be responsible for her marriage, and I do want to make her happy!"
At this moment, Yunan pushed the door open and came in, looking at her father with emotion. Yunan Xiao had been outside for a long time, listening their talk. Yunan was worried that her father would embarrass Dai Li, so she didn't leave. However, she listened to her father's true thoughts, and she immediately knew that she had always misunderstood her father.
"Dad, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you," said Yunan Xiao.
Dingtian Xiao opened his mouth slightly, but failed to say something.
"Mr. Chairman, I have to go!" Dai Li stood up to go, as he knew that Yunan and her father needed to talk.
Dai Li didn't leave immediately, but waited for Yunan near the door. After more than half an hour, Yunan came out of the room.
"I thought you were gone," said Yunan Xiao.
"I'm waiting for you." Dai Li paused and said, "Have you stitched up your misunderstanding?"
Yunan Xiao nodded: "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might not have understood my father's true thoughts. Although, I still don't agree with him, I now know that he did it all for me."
"It couldn't be better, as you are family, and you should always talk with him and understand him," said Dai Li subconsciously.
"But I didn't expect you to say those words to my dad. No one has ever spoken to him in that way! Aren't you afraid of getting fired?" said Yunan Xiao, impressed.
"Now I'm a bit afraid. But, when it was all happening, I just wanted to say something that was fair to you at that time," said Dai Li.
"Thank you," said Yunan Xiao.
"Well, now that you're OK, I have to go," Dai Li waved to Yunan Xiao and turned away.
"Wait a minute!" Yunan Xiao suddenly said.
"Anything else?" asked Dai Li.
Yunan was a bit bashful and whispered, "Please don't take what my father said to you seriously."
"What?" Dai Li asked curiously, as Dingtian Xiao had said a lot to him just now, so he didn't know exactly what Yunan was referring to.
Yunan Xiao stared at Dai Li angrily, then said in a reproachful tone, "It's the words that you should keep me at arm's length! Don't take it seriously…"
"So? What do you mean?" Dai Li wondered.
"You are a fool!" Yunan Xiao looked at the puzzled Dai Li, not being able to keep from scolding him, which was more like coquetry between lovers.
A ripple of doubt went through Dai Li's heart, when he heard these words.
"Is she implying something to me?" thought Dai Li.