At the dinner table, Connie and George also expressed their unwillingness for Georgie to rush off to New Jersey to get married.
It's worth mentioning the strong family values of Texans.
They attach great importance to their families and have an almost pathological obsession with family integrity.
Thus, with the support of his family, Georgie, who was not yet an adult, escaped the fate of an immediate marriage in New Jersey.
Having made concessions, Jim specifically inquired about Georgie's situation during the rest of the meal.
After learning that his prospective son-in-law had a successful arcade and some savings, Jim's attitude softened slightly.
At this point, the dinner had finally become somewhat enjoyable.
"Take me to see where you live. I can get you anything you're missing," Jim suggested after dinner.
As someone who doted on his daughter, he was actually quite relieved to see her settled.
Before leaving, he also planned to offer some help to his daughter and prospective son-in-law.
"This..." Mandy's face showed a look of difficulty when she heard her father wanted to visit their living situation.
At the same time, the expressions of the Cooper family were a bit awkward.
After all, having a pregnant woman live in the basement was not something to be proud of.
"What's wrong, Mandy? Is there a problem with where you live?" Jim keenly sensed that the atmosphere was off.
"Nothing," Mandy smiled and said, as if steeling herself, "Georgie, let's go with my father."
So, led by his daughter and prospective son-in-law, Jim's expression became surprised as he walked out of the house.
When they reached the basement door, Jim, who seemed to be deep in thought, even showed a look of displeasure on his face.
"This is where you live?" After entering the basement and seeing the environment, a surge of anger immediately rose in Jim's heart.
He truly hadn't expected the Cooper family to treat his pregnant daughter this way.
"Actually, I asked to live here..." Mandy, who was committed to Georgie, was quick to explain for her boyfriend.
When the Cooper family had discussed Mandy's living arrangements before, they had indeed intended for her to move into the room Georgie had previously occupied.
However, the girl was afraid of trouble and wanted to have a world of their own with Georgie, which is why she chose to live in the basement.
Taking the responsibility upon herself, Mandy continued, "Besides, Georgie and I are already planning to buy a house."
"Right, right, we'll buy a house once we save enough money. If not, we can always rent a place," Georgie, feeling guilty, quickly tried to smooth things over.
In fact, Mike had already suggested to Georgie that he rent a house.
However, Georgie, who had considerable financial pressure, ignored the suggestion to save money.
"That's beside the point. How could they let you live here?" Looking at the basement, which lacked living facilities, Jim felt distressed for his daughter, and any goodwill he had just developed for the Cooper family vanished.
At this moment, George and his wife, and Mike and others, also arrived in the basement.
George, as the head of the family, said with a forced smile, "Jim, don't be angry. If Mandy needs it, our family can clear out a room for her in the house."
Although the Cooper family had limited space, it wasn't difficult to make room for Mandy.
The worst-case scenario would be for Sheldon to move back in and share a room with his sister, Missy.
However, Jim was no longer listening to George's "excuses." At this moment, he was like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
Only the "pleading" look on his daughter's face kept him from losing his last bit of reason.
From his daughter's perspective, Mandy, whose future happiness was tied to Georgie, shouldn't have a falling out with the Cooper family.
"Mandy and I have some things to talk about. Please give us some private space." Jim, who had thought a lot in a short time, ultimately decided to see his daughter's attitude first.
Of course, he had also considered the worst outcome, which was to take his daughter back to New Jersey to live.
Meanwhile, the Cooper family, who had been "kicked out," knew they were in the wrong and all remained outside the basement, waiting for "news."
At this time, the parents, including Connie, all looked displeased.
"Will Mandy be taken away by her father?" Georgie asked with a complicated expression.
Mandy was Georgie's "first love," and they were currently in their honeymoon phase. If possible, Georgie certainly didn't want the girl to leave.
"Don't worry, I don't think Mr. Jim is a reckless person. As long as Mandy doesn't give in, he probably won't force his daughter to leave," Mike, who had observed some details, said to comfort Georgie, who was at a loss.
In fact, this was a crucial moment to test the depth of Georgie and Mandy's feelings for each other.
Half an hour later, Mandy, with tears in her eyes and a new savings card in her hand, opened the door and called out, "Georgie, come here. My father wants to talk to you."
Outside, when Georgie saw Mandy's appearance, he felt a strange sense of relief, as if by telepathy.
Then, like a warrior, he walked into the basement.
The door closed again.
Another half an hour later, Jim was the first to emerge. By this time, his emotions had stabilized.
"Mandy will be in your care from now on. I'll come back to see her when I have time." After a half-pleading, half-threatening farewell to the Cooper family, Jim drove his muscle car away from Medford with decisive speed.
He came in a hurry and left in a hurry.
"Georgie, what did Mandy's father say to you?" After Jim left, Mary pulled Georgie, who had come out to see him off, aside.
"He didn't say much, just confirmed the date of my marriage to Mandy," Georgie explained, his mood much lighter.
"Is that all?" Mary still asked, unconvinced.
There was no way around it; Mandy's father's previous demeanor didn't seem like someone who could be easily fooled.
"Of course, what else could there be?" Georgie affirmed his answer.
In fact, as a father, Jim's demands were not high; he simply hoped to see his daughter happy.
This desire happened to align with Georgie's current intentions.
Coupled with Mandy's defense, Georgie passed Jim's test with little effort.
"Mandy, are you sure you don't want to move into the house?" When the family gathered in the living room again, Mary spoke up to confirm.
After Mandy's father's commotion, Mary became more concerned about the girl.
This fully demonstrated the importance of having support.
"No, I'm used to living in the basement. Besides, Georgie and I might be moving out soon." Mandy, whose pregnancy symptoms were not severe, hadn't yet experienced the hardships of pregnancy.
Therefore, her longing for freedom outweighed her need for a better living environment. Of course, the savings card in her possession also gave her confidence.
"Alright, you can always come to me if you need anything in the future." Seeing the girl's insistence, Mary no longer pressed the issue.
With this, Sheldon kept his independent room, Mandy had her support, and the Cooper family successfully navigated the in-laws' scrutiny.
It was a win-win situation for everyone.
In the following days, Georgie, having met his prospective father-in-law, embarked on a path of relentless money-making.
Meanwhile, Mike, who was on winter break, took some time to visit Principal Tom, then resumed his leisurely daily life.
However, the comfortable winter break quickly passed, and Medford High once again welcomed the start of a new school term.