Chapter 210 Visiting Relatives on the First Day of the Lunar New Year

Xia Mi nodded, put the red envelope she received today under her pillow, and lay down.

"Mom was worried that you would disturb me, so she asked if you wanted to sleep downstairs, but I refused for you."

Huo Jingchen raised his lips and smiled silently, "That's not what she's worried about."

When he went downstairs this morning, he heard his mother praising Xia Mi for her good sleep quality. She came up to remind him tonight, probably just to tell him not to sleep with her.

Huo Jingchen couldn't understand. Is this the kind of person he is in his mother's mind?

Besides, there is more than one way to solve it.

"What do you mean by that?" Xia Mi was lying on the bed. "I'm going back to my dad's hometown tomorrow. I don't think I've ever heard you mention grandpa and grandma."

Grandpa and Grandma Huo are both gone.

But on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Huo family still has to go back to their hometown to clean up and meet their former elders.

"Grandpa passed away early, when I was eight years old. Grandma... Grandma passed away seven years ago." Huo Jingchen's voice was obviously choked when he talked about his grandmother.

Xia Mi was not curious about Huo Jingchen's past, but she could tell that his grandmother's death was a big blow to him.

Xia Mi didn't want to let anyone recall the painful past. "I'm sleepy. Come up and sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow to go back home."

"Then I'll turn off the lights." Huo Jingchen raised his hand and touched his hair, which was almost done.

-

The first day of the first lunar month.

According to the customs of the imperial capital, people eat dumplings in the morning and then go out to pay New Year's greetings.

Xia Mi helped move the New Year gifts into the car. There were quite a lot of relatives leaving today, and the trunk was filled with New Year gifts.

Huo Jinying and her family returned to her mother-in-law's home.

There were just enough seats for five people in the car, Huo Yanshan sat in the passenger seat, Huo Jingting drove, and the rest sat in the back.

My hometown is in the countryside, and it takes 40 minutes to drive there.

The car drove into the village and many people looked at it when passing the village entrance.

The car stopped at the door of a house, and Zhao Min got out first, "I'll go open the door."

Xia Mi looked at the house through the window. It was obviously renovated. The house covered an area of about 200 square meters, with three floors in total. The exterior walls were even covered with tiles.

This looks much more upscale than the houses in the city.

The gate opened and the car drove into the yard.

Xia Mi got out of the car and found that the yard was very spacious. There was even a pavilion specially built there. The pavilion served as a grape rack with vines entwined around it.

The yard hadn't been cleaned in a long time, and the ground was covered with thick fallen leaves.

"Come in and rest for a while." Zhao Min had already opened the door to the living room and invited people in.

After entering the house, Xia Mi looked up at the interior, which was very different from the outside. Many places inside were decorated with solid wood, and even the sofa was a mahogany sofa with exquisite workmanship. It was obvious that it was of great value.

"Last month, Aunt Liu and I came to clean the place. I didn't expect that after not coming for a while, the dust would be so thick."

Zhao Min skillfully took out the towel and walked towards the bathroom with it.

"There's no running water in the village. Jingting, go to the well in the yard and fetch two buckets of water."

Zhao Min went in and out, and only later realized that there was no water.

Huo Jingting hadn't even warmed up on the sofa when he responded and stood up to get some water.

The house was just cleaned last month, so it was quick to clean today. Just a simple wipe was enough.

In the following time, Huo Yanshan led his family to visit neighbors to wish them a happy new year. These neighbors had helped their family a lot when they were young. The saying that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors is a concrete example.

By visiting each one, Xia Mi could tell how much help this family had provided.

After walking around, the things in the hands of several people increased instead of decreased. The familiar neighbors around them warmly invited the Huo family to have dinner at their homes.

Zhao Min felt embarrassed. After all, there were five people in the family, and it was not something that could be solved by just adding an extra pair of chopsticks and more bowls.

When we left, the neighbors gave us vegetables and meat they grew themselves.

The stove in my hometown is still an earthen stove, and the firewood is sent by the neighbors, which is barely enough for one meal.

Xia Mi was cutting an apple nearby.

"Xiao Mi, you have to think carefully about what I said yesterday. You have to be most careful in the first two months. Taking the train, there are so many people, it's crowded, and the journey is long. Can your body handle it?"

Zhao Min pulled Xia Mi aside last night, trying to persuade her to stay in the imperial capital to take care of her pregnancy.

Xia Mi also knew this truth, "Mom, I was pregnant when Jingchen and I came here. There were no problems on this trip. The drive is even longer than the one back home, so don't worry."

If Zhao Min could let go of her worries, she would not bring up this matter again.

"I've already asked someone about your school's start date. After the Lunar New Year, you can stay in the capital for a while. I'll arrange for someone to drive you back."

Huo Yanshan also attaches great importance to his future grandchildren.

Xia Mi paused while cutting the apple. She didn't expect her father-in-law to have found out about this. If she brought up the school reopening as an excuse, she would be in trouble.

Even Huo Jingchen began to switch sides.

"I think it's okay. Although the car ride is slower, it's safe and comfortable. You can get off at any time to get some fresh air."

Xia Mi looked at Huo Jingchen in surprise.

Although life in the imperial capital was comfortable, she was worried that she would become useless over time.

When she returns to Zhuifeng Island, it will take her a long time to adapt.

"New Year's Eve is a bit too long. I still have some things to deal with in Qingcheng. I also plan to accompany my aunt and uncle back to my hometown."

Xia Mi politely declined.

After hearing the rejection, Zhao Min and Huo Yanshan were about to say something, but Xia Mi gave Huo Jingchen a look.

"Then it's up to you, Mom and Dad. Don't worry, I will protect her."

After much persuasion, the topic was finally moved on.

When the meal was about to start and before it was served, a bustling sound came from the door outside.

"Uncle Huo, Aunt Zhao, Happy New Year."

Xia Mi turned her head to look at the door, and what caught her eye were two men carrying red gift boxes, followed by a slightly younger woman and man.

Two middle-aged men walked in front and greeted Huo Yanshan in a friendly tone.

Xia Mi thought it was the relative she had just missed.

Huo Yanshan looked at the unfamiliar face and put down his chopsticks. Although he was confused, he remained polite.

"Who are you?"

The middle-aged man walking in front began to introduce himself, "I am Liu Po's son, my name is Yan Jun, this is my eldest brother Yan Min, and these two younger ones are my son and daughter-in-law."

When Huo Yanshan heard the name Liu Po, he had an impression of her.

"I remember now, you are Xiaojun'er."

Huo Yanshan remembered that the person in front of him was his childhood playmate. They had a pretty good relationship, but after he went to the army, he rarely came back.

When we met again, both of us were already parents and we were unrecognizable.

Huo Yanshan looked at what the other party was carrying and had a rough idea of what he was here for.

"Come on, come on. We are about to eat. If you don't mind, sit down and have a bite together." Huo Yanshan indicated that he was still eating.

Zhao Min listened but did not move.