The next day, Song Ze appeared at the Xia family's door carrying large and small bags.
Zhang Hongyan was startled when she saw her daughter leading Song Ze, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, into the room. After realizing what was happening, she immediately greeted him warmly, "Little Song, it's been so long since I've seen you."
"Auntie, I heard from Qingqing that you came to Beijing, so I thought I'd come and visit you. This is a small gift I brought for you," Song Ze said with a fawning smile, placing the gift he was carrying on the table.
The bags of various sizes piled on the table were quite a sight.
Song Ze prepared a gift for everyone in the Xia family: clothes and shoes for Xia Qingqing, skincare products for Zhang Hongyan, cigarettes and alcohol for Xia Heping, and candy and snacks for Gou Dan.
Zhang Hongyan was definitely embarrassed to accept it, and after some back and forth with Song Ze, Xia Qingqing finally took it on.
She's fine with being polite, but she doesn't like this back-and-forth behavior. If someone insists on giving her something after she's refused once, it means they genuinely want to give it, so she should just accept it and reciprocate later.
If it's just a polite formality, then after you refuse once, the other party will readily accept it.
Zhang Hongyan secretly glared at her daughter: "You're such a thoughtless child. You didn't even tell me beforehand that Xiao Song was coming over."
After scolding his daughter, he didn't wait for her to explain and immediately called Xia Heping to go out and buy meat and vegetables.
Xia Qingqing touched her nose guiltily. She hadn't planned to cook at home at all. She had only arrived in Beijing yesterday, and for the first few days she planned to eat out first, and then consider cooking after showing her parents around the city.
Who knew Zhang Hongyan would be so proactive? She already started cooking last night.
Xia Qingqing watched as Xia Heping went back to his room to get the money and tickets and was about to leave when she quickly stopped him: "Dad, there's no need to go through all that trouble. Let's just go out for lunch."
Xia Heping stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Zhang Hongyan: "Wife, what do you think?"
Zhang Hongyan thought about it for a moment and decided it was a good idea. It was almost noon, and she didn't know if she could buy any good dishes. It wouldn't do for the guests to eat too meagerly, so she readily said, "Let's do as Qingqing says."
Then she looked apologetically at Song Ze beside her: "Little Song, your uncle and I just arrived in Beijing yesterday, and we haven't prepared any dishes at home. Shall we go to a state-run restaurant for a meal later?"
"Auntie, I'm fine with anything. It was just that my sudden visit was too abrupt," Song Ze said with a smile, taking the blame upon himself.
Gou Dan, who had been silent the whole time, covered his mouth with joy when he heard that they could eat at the state-run restaurant again, afraid that he would burst out laughing: "We can go out for a big meal again, how wonderful!"
He originally thought he would have to eat at home for lunch, because his mother had dried so many vegetables: dried green beans, dried eggplant, dried cucumber, dried pumpkin... there was simply too much to eat.
Zhang Hongyan gave Xia Heping a wink, signaling him to treat Song Ze well, while she went to the kitchen to boil water and make tea.
Song Ze hadn't seen Xia Qingqing for over a month, and now that he finally did, there were two more glaring third wheels sitting next to him.
Xia Heping and Gou Dan, acting as third wheels, were completely oblivious to this. They chatted enthusiastically with Song Ze, asking him questions left and right, leaving Song Ze no chance to speak to Xia Qingqing.
Seeing Gou Dan chattering away, Song Ze quickly picked up a bag from the table and handed it to him: "Gou Dan, this is some White Rabbit milk candy and biscuits that I bought especially for you. See if you like them?"
Eat more sugar, talk less.
Dog Egg was quite happy to hear that it was bought especially for him; kids like to be valued.
His lips immediately softened as if coated with sugar: "Thank you, brother-in-law~".
Song Ze was secretly delighted, but since Xia Heping was watching, he didn't dare to say anything. He just decided in his heart that he would buy more bags of candy for his lovable brother-in-law next time he came.
With a White Rabbit milk candy in his mouth, Gou Dan finally calmed down.
Xia Heping had lived for several decades longer, so how could he not see through Song Ze's little scheme? He just thought that Xia Heping and Gou Dan were in the way.
Since they were in his own home, and in the main room, Xia Heping didn't mind letting the two young people be alone for a while. He sent Gou Dan back to his room and got up to go to the kitchen.
"Qingqing, I'm going to the kitchen to help your mom boil water. You take good care of Xiao Song."
"Yes, Dad," Xia Qingqing replied quickly.
Song Ze glanced outside to make sure Xia Heping had entered the kitchen before quietly taking Xia Qingqing's hand. His deep voice was seductive: "Xia Qingqing, did you miss your boyfriend during summer vacation?"
"I want to~, I really want to," Xia Qingqing's voice trailed off slightly, like a hook that made Song Ze's heart itch.
"I miss you so much, but you never call me," Song Ze said, looking a little aggrieved, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Xia Qingqing.
Before summer vacation, Song Ze had told Xia Qingqing to call him a few more times, but the heartless girl forgot about him as soon as she got home. In more than a month, she only called him three times, and he didn't even answer one of them.
That pitiful little expression melted Xia Qingqing's heart. She coughed lightly. It's just that the conditions don't allow it. If she had a cell phone, she would definitely video chat with Song Ze three times a day, morning, noon and night.
Fortunately, Song Ze was just saying it casually. He had been an educated youth in Shihe Brigade and knew the situation there. He wouldn't have been willing for Xia Qingqing to actually go to town under the scorching sun to call him.
Zhang Hongyan, who was boiling water in the kitchen, wasn't surprised to see Xia Heping come in. She simply wanted to make room for the two young people to chat alone.
Zhang Hongyan was pondering another important matter when she tugged at Xia Heping's sleeve and whispered, "Old Xia, what's the proper course of action for Qingqing and Xiao Song's relationship? Are we just going to let them continue like this, without any official status?"
Although people nowadays advocate free love, it can't be too free. Since the two of them are dating, Zhang Hongyan definitely wants them to get married in the future unless there are special circumstances.
Besides, girls don't gain anything in this kind of situation, and if they break up later, it's Qingqing's reputation that will be affected.
"I'll find some time later to talk to Xiao Song alone and see what he thinks," Xia Heping said seriously.
Xia Heping knew that Song Ze's family was probably well-off, but he had never asked in detail who his family members were or what they did. This time, he planned to ask them properly.
After all, marriage is not just a matter between two people, but between two families. Why do so many young people's relationships fail to work out in the end? It's because their families don't support them.
If Song Ze's family looks down on them, being from the countryside, they wouldn't bother forcing their way in; it would be better to separate early and not waste their daughter's time.
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