"good."

Xue Fu nodded and obediently carried the items over to be weighed.

Aside from the two bags of food, the rest of the items were toys and little gadgets to pass the time.

Most of them were bought specifically for Gu Fei.

She also bought seven or eight picture books from Haicheng, which were much more exquisite than those bought in the towns and counties over there. Of course, they were also much more expensive.

As for Gu Chong, she couldn't find any suitable local specialties for him, so she went to the state-run stores here for a look around.

The state-run stores in Haicheng had a much wider variety of products than those in the county town.

At least Xue Fu was overwhelmed by the sights.

But apart from buying gifts for her father, Xue Fu had no experience buying gifts for other men.

After browsing around for a long time, she finally picked out a cliché gift: a simple black belt.

However, after she paid, she belatedly realized that the belt was not suitable for Gu Chong.

That's not practical!

So as soon as she stepped out of the store, she immediately turned around and rushed back inside to buy more!

Finally, after much deliberation, she chose a watch.

She had already discovered it.

Gu Chong gave her a watch so she could tell the time. However, he didn't keep an extra watch for himself.

Logically speaking, he should be the one who needs the watch more.

There are countless occasions where you have to be mindful of the time when going out to do those kinds of 'business' activities.

Xue Fu didn't know if he did it on purpose, or if he wanted to save money, or if there was some other reason.

Since he's not keeping any for himself, then she'll buy it.

Look how much she cares about him!

Xue Fu bought a reasonably priced men's watch.

She mainly liked the style.

The style she chose vaguely resembled a couple's watch with the one she was wearing.

After buying it, she carefully put it in her pocket, wrapped it tightly in a handkerchief, as if afraid that the surface would be scratched by something.

When Xue Fu got home, her parents hadn't gone to work; they were supposed to go back to work today. They had taken two days off yesterday to stay home with her.

"Have you bought everything?" Xue Mingcheng looked over and noticed that she didn't have much in her hands, just two small packets wrapped in yellow oil paper, which were obviously food.

Xue Mingcheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

He assumed his daughter would bring back loads of shopping bags.

Their daughter was raised to be generous from a young age.

When my daughter was little, a classmate she was close to in kindergarten invited her to their birthday party. When she came home, she told them that she was going to prepare birthday presents, and she prepared more than one present.

She emptied almost all of her own toy boxes, big and small, saying she wanted to give them away and share them.

"Is this all you bought?"

Xue Mingcheng couldn't help but ask a question.

He was actually secretly pleased; it seemed his daughter didn't like that boy that much after all.

Xue Fu exclaimed "Ah," placed the two packets of pastries on the entryway, and shook her head: "No."

She changed her shoes and went inside, oblivious to the change in her father's expression, and happily listed what she had bought that day.

"I've already taken all of those to the post office and will mail them directly there, so I don't have to carry so much stuff tomorrow. That's much better."

She felt that her approach was incredibly clever.

"Oh, right, Dad." Xue Fu glanced at the high school textbooks she had found in the bookshelf these past few days, as well as some materials for preparing for the college entrance exam. She stroked her chin and pointed, "Let's send these to the post office too. The books are so heavy."

She only brought one suitcase back with her.

She doesn't plan to bring much food or clothing when she goes to Qingtang Village this time.

Take back whatever you brought with you.

She also told her parents that she would try to send as few things as possible over the next two months. Money and tickets could be sent, but clothes were not needed.

It would be such a waste to throw away all the things she has to move when she comes back in April.

"Okay, your mom and I will send it to you in a couple of days. Your train leaves tomorrow morning. Have you packed everything?"

"Get it done right away! Get it done right away!"

Xue Fu ran into the bedroom in a few quick steps, her suitcase wide open on the floor, the clothes she had brought back in a mess.

Xue Fu raised her hand to rub her face, sighed, and began packing her luggage.

She felt that the year had gone by far too quickly.

While feeling reluctant to part with them, my heart pounded with joy as I thought of the people in Qingtang Village.

She thought that when she arrived in the provincial capital the day after tomorrow, she would definitely "question" Gu Chong to see if he had thought about her properly in the past two weeks and how much he had missed her!

Even if he's a quiet, reserved person, you have to say seven or eight sweet words to her before she'll let him go.

Xue Fu couldn't help but laugh at her own 'domineering' thoughts. She chuckled quietly and quickened her pace in folding clothes. In just over half an hour, she had packed the luggage she would take with her the next day.

Early on the eighth day of the lunar new year, the lights were turned on in the Xue family home. Xue Fu was still half asleep when she was pulled out of bed. Her mother urged her to get dressed and get up.

Xue Fu nodded, her mind still foggy, but then sat on the bed in a daze for two minutes before she finally came to her senses.

Outside, her father had already prepared breakfast: a bowl of egg noodles, but topped not only with an egg, but also with a layer of cured meat and sausage, and some bok choy. It was quite a feast.

In addition to these, Xue Mingcheng also took out a lunchbox and packed two boiled eggs, a slice of sausage, and two large steamed buns for her.

"Keep these for when you get hungry on the road, or buy boxed meals on the train, whichever you prefer."

Xue Fu: "Mmm!"

Xue Mingcheng wrapped it up for her and told her to put it in her luggage.

Meanwhile, Ji Yazhi rummaged through the wardrobe and found a scarf and a knitted hat, which she then gave to Xue Fu to wear.

"It's colder over there than in Haicheng, so wear more clothes to avoid catching a cold."

Xue Fu: "Mmm!"

That's wonderful! A child with both parents is truly a treasure! She loves her parents to death!

The feeling of parting was not strong in the Xue family, perhaps because they knew Xue Fu would be back in two months, or perhaps because they had already experienced a separation before.

When they took Xue Fu to the train station, she still had a smile on her face, chatting jokingly with her mother and snuggling against her mother affectionately.

Ji Yazhi tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear: "Take good care of yourself, and don't get sick."

Xue Mingcheng chimed in from the side, "If anyone bullies you or you feel wronged, just write a letter to your parents..."

He paused, then continued, "Or you can talk to Gu Chong, just don't be silly and keep it all bottled up inside. If you feel wronged or upset, you have to speak up, okay? Don't be a silly child."