Xue Ping pulled a box out of her bag: "This is from your sister. Mom also prepared that... that school gift you mentioned."

Xu Jinan stood up: "Dad has one too."

So the afternoon became Xu Nuo's gift-unwrapping session.

It's a real shame we don't have WeChat now, otherwise Xu Da Piao Liang would definitely post photos on Moments.

Most importantly, I want to share this with Li Xian.

well.

I miss him.

The gifts were kept relatively secret. Xu Yan's gift was a black box containing a women's watch. The strap and dial were on the smaller side, which was perfect for her. She immediately took off her own watch and happily put on the one Xu Yan had given her.

She held up her fair, delicate hand and asked, "Does it look pretty?"

"It looks great, Nuobao looks good in anything." Xue Ping eagerly handed over hers. "Guess what Mom prepared for you?"

"I think it's...something delicious? Or maybe shoes?"

Xue Ping smiled and said, "Take a look inside."

It is a gold necklace.

"Mom, have you struck it rich? Why did you buy me such a big gold necklace?"

Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an exchanged a glance. Xue Ping put her arm around her beloved daughter's shoulder with a look of relief and said in a comforting tone, "Nuobao, your dad and I are so happy that you got into university. We don't know what to reward you with. You always wanted a gold necklace, so Mom made this one for you."

Xu Nuo asked suspiciously, "Mom, is this made from your and Dad's wedding rings?"

This necklace is indeed Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an's wedding ring from back then. It was melted down at the shop and made into a necklace.

The pendant is a trendy little heart, and Xue Ping thought her son Nuobao would definitely like it.

Oh dear, Xu Nuo is about to cry again.

She nestled into Xue Ping's arms, her voice soft: "Mom, I don't want any gold necklace, I'll like whatever you give me."

Xu Jinan's gift was very simple and straightforward.

It was a large red envelope wrapped in red paper.

There are five hundred yuan inside.

“Nuobao, you must have a lot of expenses while you’re studying away from home. Just spend as much as you want. If you run out of money, just tell Dad and Dad will give you some.”

Xu Jinan and Xue Ping truly doted on their daughter, spoiling her rotten. Later, when Xu Nuo went to Luxian Village for classes, she unfortunately tripped and fell.

Unexpectedly, after this fall, he became more obedient and sensible, and this time he even got the top score in the county.

Xu Nuo was spoiled and mischievous from a young age, so Xu Jin'an never expected her to be successful in the future. He just wanted to keep her by his side and arrange for her to work in a textile factory when she grew up, so that she would be close to home.

It's also close to him and Xue Ping.

If she gets married and lives in Luxian County, she and Xue Ping can help take care of the children and cook.

I never expected my daughter to be so capable.

Once I've arrived in this big city, I'll definitely never go back to that small place, Luxian.

Xu Jinan felt uneasy whenever he thought about it.

He wiped his eyes. "Nuobao, you... you're not going back, are you? If you're not going back, your mom and I... your mom and I will come to see you often."

It's said to happen frequently, but in reality, it probably only happens once a year.

Firstly, it's not easy for the two of them to take time off, and secondly, the journey is long, so they spend more time on the road than at home.

"Dad, Mom, would you be willing to be transferred to work in Shanghai?"

Xu Jinan was taken aback, then shook his head: "How could that be? Nuobao, my department doesn't have any overseas assignments available, otherwise Dad would be eager to come to Shanghai to be with you right away, and besides..."

Xu Jinan hesitated and said, "Houses in Shanghai are so expensive, your mother and I definitely can't afford them. Let's stay in Luxian instead, so you can use the money you have left to buy more pretty clothes."

Xu Nuo was amused and said sweetly, "Don't worry, if you can't transfer, just wait until you retire. Then come to Shanghai and we'll live together. Don't worry about the money. Actually, I've earned quite a bit of money now."

Xu Nuo dared not say how much money it would cost.

They dared not show their bankbooks to them, fearing it would frighten Xu Jinan and Xue Ping into something terrible.

In an era when monthly salaries were generally only twenty or thirty yuan, those with ten thousand yuan in savings were considered "ten-thousand-yuan big spenders."

Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an were unaware that their beloved daughter owned several wealthy households.

Xu Jinan looked disapproving: "Nuobao, Dad knows your herbal tea is good stuff, but Shanghai is different from where we are. The regulations here are strict, and you'll get arrested if you sell it."

Xue Ping was also worried: "We only need enough money to get by, so please don't take any risks. Besides, you're a girl, and I'm worried about you. Nuobao, just focus on your studies and don't worry about the money."

Xu Jinan and Xue Ping only have this one precious daughter, whom they have doted on and raised since she was a baby. How could they bear to let her get into any trouble?

From the perspective of someone from a later era, Xu Nuo knew that the system was about to change and that private enterprises were about to rise, but Xu Jin'an and Xue Ping did not know this. They were both public officials, living in fear and following the rules.

Xu Nuo knew that if she didn't explain things clearly to them, they would definitely worry and lose sleep.

"That's right. I didn't originally plan to sell it, but Meixiang gave it to her grandfather, and he thought it was a good thing."

Xu Jin'an understood something: "So, all you need to do is give the things to the Liu family?"

Liu Meixiang, the all-purpose shield, has made another appearance.

Thus, this close friend of Xu Nuo gained even more respect in the hearts of Xu Jin'an and Xue Ping.

We had a satisfying lunch at a large hotel in Shanghai and even packed some leftovers to go.

So dinner is a light meal; all I need to do is steam an extra pot of rice and make a pot of soup.

Outside, the stars shone brightly; inside, laughter filled the air.

Xu Nuo glanced tentatively at Xu Jin'an: "Dad, what kind of son-in-law do you like?"

Xu Jinan choked on his soup, looking at her in surprise: "Huh?"

Xu Nuo shifted her little bottom slightly, a bit nervous: "Um, so, what kind of boyfriend do you think would be best for me in the future?"

Xue Ping had indeed thought about this question seriously: "They need to be caring and listen to you."

Xu Nuo felt that Li Xian was perfect in this respect.

Although she was pampered since childhood, she wasn't completely sheltered from housework; she could cut fruit and make instant noodles by herself.

If all else fails, you can simply throw the clothes into the washing machine and wash them yourself; that's perfectly fine too.

But as long as Li Xian is around, he takes care of all the housework, from cooking and mopping to taking out the trash.

If you don't let her touch it, she'll get angry if she does.

He even washed Xu Nuo's clothes.

Xu Nuo was a little shy, her lips curved into an unusual smile.

Xu Jin'an's heart skipped a beat: "Nuonuo, you wouldn't...?"

Really?

His precious daughter had only been released from her cage a few days ago, and she was kidnapped?

Seeing Xu Jinan's utterly dejected expression, Xu Nuo mercifully told a lie.

"without."

Xu Jinan felt a sense of relief.

"I was just asking you guys."

It's good that he hasn't found a partner yet. Xu Jin calmed his heart and began to analyze for her: "His family background has to be respectable, and he also has to have a stable job, otherwise he won't have money and his company won't provide him with housing."

What's going on with this question?

Li Xian carried the burden of class background, but in a few years that system would be abolished, and landlords, rich peasants, and poor people would all be considered good sons of the people.

Li Xian is unemployed, which resulted in a deduction of points.

But he has money, more money than most people could earn in a lifetime, and he owns a house that most people could never afford in a lifetime.

Bonus points.

Most importantly, he'll be a really awesome big shot in the future.

Bonus points!

Therefore, Xu Nuo felt that she had passed the test.

Xue Ping glanced at Xu Jinan and said in a low voice, "We also need to find someone handsome, so that the baby will be good-looking and you'll feel comfortable looking at it every day."

Li Xian is over 185cm tall and has a face as handsome as Daniel Wu in a later generation.

Bonus points.

Xu Jinan added: "Dad thinks we can't be so superficial. We also need to look at a person's overall demeanor. Look at that Chen's son from the textile factory. His face is fair and clean, but his demeanor is really bad. He makes you feel unsafe just by looking at him."

Xu Nuo was surprised that Xu Jinan actually knew about a sense of security.

As the male protagonist in the book, Li Xian is flawless in both appearance and temperament.

When he was dressed in rags and covered in blood, she found this young man conspicuous.

Now that the mud and dirt have been washed away, he's like a sword drawn from its sheath. When he walks down the street with her, all the young girls stare at him like crazy.

Fortunately, Li Xian in his family is like someone with severe myopia when he sees a woman; he only knows that she is a woman.

Xue Ping said, "Most importantly, he can't be unfaithful; he must only be good to you."

Xu Nuo cupped her little face in her hands, her eyes sparkling with laughter.

She felt that Li Xian was the perfect son-in-law in her parents' eyes.

So Xu Nuo asked timidly, "If all of the above are true, he's rich, owns a house, is handsome and has a good temperament, only loves me, lets me spend all his money, puts the house in my name, and doesn't let me do any housework, only lets me eat, drink and have fun..."

Xu Jin'an interrupted her, saying earnestly, "Nuobao, you are perfect in Dad's eyes. Dad thinks you deserve the best man in the world, but..."

He said with a worried look, "We need to find a man who exists in real life."

In other words, such a man does not exist.

"Who said that?" Xu Nuo covered her face shyly.

I found a man like that.

When the time is right, bring him here and you'll be blown away.

Hehehe.

Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an exchanged a glance.

What should I do if my daughter has too high expectations?

Will I never be able to get married?

…

Because Xue Ping melted down their wedding rings, Xu Nuo decided to take them to buy a new pair.

Moreover, gold doesn't depreciate, so you can buy more.

Xu Nuo took out the passbook from the drawer.

The amount of money Li Xiancun had inside was too large; she had to hide it carefully to prevent Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an from seeing it.

Although Li Xian gave her the money, she wouldn't spend it recklessly. Li Xian was going to start a business, and he would definitely need funds.

This money should definitely be given to him as start-up capital.

The original book does focus on Li Xian's entrepreneurial journey. After the land reform, the buying and selling of houses became popular, and Li Xian, who bought land and built houses at this time, made a fortune.

In the book, he did not give his savings and real estate to Xu Yan, but instead liquidated his properties and started a company with a foreign businessman.

Within a few years, he became one of the most successful people to go into business.

However, these are all things for later. There's still some time before the reforms take place, so Xu Nuo stopped worrying about it and went out with her parents, carrying her savings book.

Xu Jinan and Xue Ping's clothes were styled by Xu Nuo, making them fashionable and attractive. In addition, the three of them are good-looking, so they attract a lot of attention.

When Xue Ping got home, she was still in a daze, touching the gold bracelet and gold ring on her wrist: "Nuonuo, did we really spend so much money?"

Xu Nuohua remained unfazed despite receiving several thousand yuan, which convinced Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an that their precious daughter had made a lot of money.

Xue Ping liked it more and more as she looked at it, but felt more and more heartbroken: "You should have kept this money for yourself. You bought so much for me and your dad all at once. Oh, it hurts my heart."

Xu Nuo smiled and took her arm: "I earn money to spend on you guys, and the more you spend, the happier I am. The happier I am, the more I'll be in the mood to make money."

An elderly woman walking by heard this and stared at Xu Nuo in disbelief.

I felt both envious and jealous.

Look at other people's daughters.

Time flew by and it was time for the first day of school.

Xu Nuo got up early in the morning to tinker with herself.

She wore a pretty little dress, white chunky-heeled shoes, a necklace her mother bought, and a watch Xu Yan gave her.

Xu Nuo usually doesn't like to tie her hair up because she finds it troublesome, but today she tied her hair into a half-ponytail, which made her look bright and beautiful.

Mr. Chen drove over early in the morning, and the group got in the car and went to Xu Nuo's rented house to pick up their things.

"Whose house is this? What are your things doing here?"

Xu Nuo made up a lie without changing her expression: "It belongs to my friend. Because it's close to the school, he just left it here after buying it."

"Oh, oh." Xue Ping seemed like someone who wasn't easily fooled. She was usually shrewd and capable at work, but when it came to her precious daughter, she inexplicably trusted her blindly.

Xu Jinan is an example of this.

Shanghai University was bustling with activity, with senior students welcoming new students as well as students and their families arriving to register.

Why is the college entrance examination considered a turning point in life?

It's because people are born different, but in the face of knowledge, at least that unfair scale can be a little fairer.

But fate always favors some people.

Mr. Chen stopped the car and said, "Ms. Xu, we've arrived at the registration area."

The summer sun seemed to cast a soft glow on them, giving them a dreamlike radiance.

As soon as Xu Nuo got out of the car, she saw Su Zhao standing at the new student reception point.

She waved happily at Su Zhao.

Su Zhao had seen her long ago. He didn't know when it started, but the junior he rarely noticed in high school had long since become a dazzling pearl.

No matter the occasion, she can always draw everyone's attention.

Including him.

At first, it might have just been a simple admiration. Even when his parents urged him to get to know her, he would only respond casually, "I'm not that familiar with her yet. Let's get to know each other slowly."

He felt that the two of them had plenty of time and many opportunities, but one day he saw the man beside her.

He possesses an extraordinary demeanor and outstanding appearance.

The deep look between his brows made Su Zhao appear like a small, shallow boat.

For the first time, this once confident young man felt a pang of inferiority.

But his smile remained gentle: "Nuonuo."