When Bailu woke up, the car had already stopped, and the seat next to her was empty. The blanket covering her was warm.
When I took Xiao Wei to buy clothes yesterday, she saw this fluffy white blanket. The shop owner said that she had just received the goods from the city a couple of days ago, and that her shop was the only one in the town that had it.
It was quite pretty; she even touched it at the time.
The price was 88!
Goodness, that's enough to buy groceries for many days!
Bai Lu immediately withdrew her hand, smiled, and left with the words, "I have a blanket at home," before leaving without hesitation.
Unexpectedly, after turning around, the blanket was actually placed on her, so now she really did have a blanket at home.
It's obvious without even thinking that Xiao Cheng bought it; the ridiculously expensive plastic bag is still right there.
I just wonder how much of his cigarette money he spent on that.
Bai Lu neatly folded the blanket, put it back in the plastic bag, opened the door, and got out of the car.
The roads in the mountains are not very wide, and cars are parked on the side of the road, leaving a little over a meter of space for pedestrians, motorcycles, and tricycles to pass through, but large vehicles cannot.
But the people living in these mountains are mostly hardworking and simple old households. Apart from occasionally going to the town market, they rarely go far away on weekdays, and there are hardly any large vehicles passing by on the road.
Xiao Cheng parked in an excellent spot; as soon as he got out of the car, he could see the towering mountain peaks in the distance.
As far as the eye can see, the mountains and forests are lush, the trees are shady, the clouds and mist are swirling, and the air is fresh. A gentle breeze blows across the foot of the mountain, and the fragrance of wildflowers by the roadside is refreshing.
Below the road slope are lush green rice paddies, where tiny seedlings sway in the wind, and light drizzle falls, condensing into tiny dewdrops on the rapeseed flowers in the vegetable garden.
The pear trees beside the brick cart were covered with delicate white pear blossoms, which fluttered down in the wind.
"So beautiful..."
A pear blossom landed on her hand. Bai Lu took a sniff; the fragrance was fresh and delicate, lingering on her fingertips.
Have you seen enough?
A slightly complaining voice came from behind.
Bai Lu suddenly turned around.
A small figure wearing rubber boots and a large straw hat woven from wide bamboo leaves emerged from the back of the vehicle.
He pushed the open car door shut with all his might; if he hadn't dodged quickly...
You'll be completely slapped into the field by the white dew!
Xiao Wei adjusted his straw hat, his face serious, and reminded him, "If you don't leave now, your older brother won't wait for you when he goes up the mountain."
"Hurry up, hurry up!"
Bai Lu strode forward, too lazy to even open her umbrella, since it was just a light drizzle and wouldn't bother her.
At the end of the road, mud-brick and tile houses stand in rows, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys and laughter filling the air. Looking up, outside the large ancestral hall built of blue bricks, groups of three or five people gather in the open square, some drinking tea and others chatting.
Eating sunflower seeds.
"Is anyone still missing?" Bai Lu asked as she walked.
"Uncle Fu said that some members of the Xiao family will be returning from Nanshi. Everyone, please have some tea and wait a moment. They will be here soon."
Xiao Wei couldn't stand her; when she walked slowly, she was like a snail, and when she walked fast, she was like a car.
He had to jog to keep up, his rubber boots splashing water into the puddles on the muddy road, sending water flying into the rice paddies.
Bai Lu slowed her pace, waiting for her small steps to catch up with mine, before asking with a smile, "Did you wait here for me on purpose?"
Xiao Wei said with a serious expression, "My older brother told me to wait."
"Oh, so it's another imperial decree from Big Brother!"
Bai Lu smiled and strolled leisurely, enjoying the scenery while chatting awkwardly with her classmate Xiao Wei.
The tea that the Xiao family is drinking is made from freshly picked tea leaves from the mountain, which they process themselves.
Early spring tea has a refreshing taste, with a hint of fragrance amidst its bitterness, lingering delicately on the lips and teeth.
As soon as Bai Lu arrived at the small square, Li Hongying came over with a tray to serve tea, the timing was perfect.
A sip of tea leaves a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth, warming the whole body.
Bai Lu also gave Xiao Wei a cup.
Xiao Wei took a sip, frowned slightly, then relaxed his brows after a moment and drank it all.
The ground in front of the Xiao Clan Ancestral Hall is made of stones that have stood for many years. They have been trodden into a tranquil and stable semi-circle by countless generations of Xiao family members. No matter how many people stand on it, it can support them steadily and listen to the thousands of words spoken by the clan members.
Bai Lu was sipping her tea and listening to the conversations around her when suddenly a heavy weight appeared on her head.
A large straw hat fell from the sky.
"If you're not using an umbrella, wear a hat."
A cool, deep voice came from behind.
Bai Lu turned around and saw a familiar handsome face. She immediately put on a sweet smile and said, "I used an umbrella on the way here, but I put it away when I got to the square. You can ask Xiao Wei if you don't believe me."
Xiao Wei decisively turned his head.
He knows nothing.
Don't even think about bribing him to lie with a cup of tea.
Xiao Cheng remained silent, glancing indifferently at Bai Lu's belly before his unfathomable gaze shifted to her face.
Bai Lu's heart was pounding. She immediately took his arm and changed the subject: "Is everyone here? When are we going up the mountain to pay respects to our ancestors? I want to go with you. Wherever you go, I'll go."
The words had barely left his mouth.
A distant horn blared.
A bus was parked at the foot of the mountain.
Xiao Cheng withdrew his gaze from his arm and said softly, "We've arrived."
Bai Lu patted the dewdrops on his shoulder and changed the subject: "If you give me the hat, you'll get wet in the rain, and even drizzle can make you catch a cold. Why don't you use an umbrella? Or, are there any big straw hats in the village? Should we ask the village chief or the others for one to wear?"
The surrounding aunts and gossipy women all looked this way.
Xiao Cheng was uncomfortable with such intense gossip-filled gazes, so he turned his arm slightly and led Bai Lu away.
Facing the lush green rice paddies: "No need."
Xiao Wei was standing quietly next to Bai Lu, acting as a nobody, when suddenly a big thing was shoved into his hand.
Looking down, I saw a large straw hat.
Looking up, I saw it was Uncle Fu, the village chief.
Xiao Guofu didn't say anything, but his eyes drifted towards Xiao Cheng's back, the meaning of which was very clear.
Xiao Wei nodded in agreement.
Xiao Guofu gave him a kind look, then went with Li Hongying, who was carrying tea, to pick up the people from the bus.
Bai Lu was nervously admiring the scenery with the big boss when suddenly a large straw hat was shoved into her hand.
She looked back, her eyes crinkling slightly.
He simply raised his hand and placed the big straw hat on the boss's head.
Xiao Cheng was slightly taken aback, turned his head to look, and Bai Lu raised her hand again to help him straighten the brim of his hat.
"Alright, now we don't have to get wet in the rain, it looks really nice." Good-looking people can stand out even in a straw hat, and Bai Lu didn't hold back her praise.
Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly, silently withdrew his gaze, and continued to look at the scenery, but his state of mind was quite different from before.
"Brother Cheng..."
Xiao Dazhuang was about to head towards Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu, but as soon as he took a step, his mother Liang Lixia stopped him.
"Where are you going?"
"The main force is about to set off. I'll go inform Brother Cheng," Xiao Dazhuang replied honestly.
Liang Lixia looked at the two figures wearing large straw hats standing side by side at the edge of the square, and her face showed relief.
"No need to notify them. They're not three-year-olds anymore. They'll leave when they see people leaving."
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