Chapter 107 Meeting, Knowing Each Other, Falling in Love, and Staying Together
Downstairs, the two children couldn't resist standing at the doorway, watching the town bathed in the glow of the sunset, with villagers occasionally passing by and tourists taking photos.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" Lin Xili asked as he stepped forward.
Huo Xining nodded immediately, and Huo Xiyu, though more reserved, also nodded.
Grandma Huo smiled and said, "Go ahead, take the children to get familiar with the environment. I'll call you when the food is ready."
So Lin Xili took one child in each hand and walked out of the small building.
Most of the shops on both sides of the bluestone road were still open, with scattered tourists buying souvenirs.
"It's so lively here at night too," Huo Xining said softly, holding Lin Xili's hand tightly.
After two years of vigorous development, the town is much more lively than when Lin Xili first arrived. The streets used to be very quiet at this time of year, but now with more tourists and shops, it has naturally become bustling.
Lin Xili led them slowly, introducing the shops along the way: "Grandma brought Uncle and Aunt to this restaurant for a meal. The electric scooter in the living room was bought from that shop. Once it's fully charged, Aunt will take you to the path over there in the fields..."
The two children listened quietly, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
As he passed a stall selling handicrafts, Huo Xining was drawn to a string of seashell wind chimes.
The wind chimes are strung together with colorful ropes, with small conch shells and seashells hanging from them. They make a crisp sound when the wind blows.
"Do you like it?" The stall owner was a kind old lady. "Little girl, would you like to buy one? It sounds lovely hanging in the window."
Huo Xining hesitated and looked at Lin Xili.
In the Huo family, you don't need to ask for anything; someone will naturally prepare it for you.
But directly expressing her preferences was unfamiliar to her.
Lin Xili: "Tell Grandma if you want it."
Huo Xining pursed his lips and whispered, "I like it."
"Then Auntie will buy it for you." Lin Xili paid for it, and the old lady carefully wrapped up the wind chime and handed it to Huo Xining.
Huo Xining took it, hugged it to his chest, and couldn't hide his happiness.
Although Huo Xiyu didn't say what she wanted, her gaze lingered on the wooden puzzle on the stall.
Lin Xili also bought him one, a 3D jigsaw puzzle of a small town's houses, which was very exquisite.
"Thank you, Auntie."
Continue walking forward, and you will come to a small stone bridge.
The river under the bridge is not wide, the water is very clear, and you can see the water plants swaying with the waves.
Red lanterns hung on the bridge, their reflections shimmering on the water's surface, scattering into warm glows with each ripple.
Three people were leaning on the bridge railing, looking at the water.
In the distance, a boatman slowly rows by in his awning boat, a lamp lit at the bow.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Huo Xining said softly.
“Just like in the painting,” Huo Xiyu added.
"Did your aunt live here when she was a child?" Huo Xining asked.
“No, my aunt’s family lives in Hong Kong,” Lin Xili said. “But I really like it here. I lived here for a while before.”
"What about your uncle?" Huo Xiyu asked. "Did your uncle also stay here?"
"Yes, my uncle has lived here for several years. This is the place where my aunt first met him."
Huo Xining became interested and asked, "Then Auntie, can you tell us how you met, got to know, and fell in love with Uncle here?"
Lin Xili was amused. "You even know about meeting, getting to know each other, and falling in love?"
Huo Xijue added on behalf of his sister, "The book mentions that two people destined to love each other will experience getting to know each other, falling in love, and eventually staying together for life after they meet."
Lin Xili's expression softened considerably. "Come this way, I'll tell you something. Actually, your uncle and I are both very reserved..."
As dusk deepened, wisps of smoke rose from the eaves, filling the air with the aroma of cooking from every household.
Lin Xili checked the time. "Alright, it's time to go back. Uncle and Great-Grandma should have finished cooking."
On the way back, the two children were noticeably more relaxed.
Huo Xining even hummed a song softly, the tune light and cheerful.
When Huo Xiyu reached the vicinity of the small building, she suddenly stopped and looked up at the starry sky.
"What's wrong?" Lin Xili asked.
He pointed to the sky: "Stars, you can't see so many stars in Hong Kong."
Indeed, the night sky over the town was clear, with countless stars scattered across the heavens like shattered diamonds.
Children who grow up in the city rarely see a starry sky like this.
The three of them stood at the door for a while, quietly watching the stars.
"Come in and eat." The door opened, and Huo Nanchen stood in the doorway, his light blue plaid shirt with an apron tied around his waist looking perfectly natural.
At this moment, a sense of peace, like that of home, welled up in Lin Xili's heart.
Four dishes and a soup were already laid out on the table: steamed sea bass, garlic bok choy, braised pork ribs, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a pot of chicken soup.
Grandma Huo smiled as she served rice: "Xijue, Xining, come and try your uncle's cooking."
“Okay, this is the first time we’ve eaten Uncle’s cooking!” Huo Xining said sweetly.
"Thank you, Great-Grandma, thank you, Uncle. Let's go wash our hands first!" Huo Xijue said.
Huo Nanchen nodded slightly, signaling them to go.
Five people sat around the dining table.
Huo Xining and Huo Xiyu were still sitting upright, but Lin Xili noticed that their shoulders were less tense and their eyes were more lively.
"Let's eat," Huo Nanchen said, serving everyone some food.
Here, there is no rule against talking while eating, and conversations occasionally take place at the table.
Grandma Huo asked the children how their shopping trip was. Huo Xining excitedly talked about the seashell wind chimes he bought, while Huo Xiyu said that his aunt had told them the story of his uncle and aunt.
"Grandma Wang said she's taking us to buy wedding cakes and candies tomorrow," Huo Xining said. "Is Auntie coming too?"
"Auntie is going too." Lin Xili nodded and put a piece of pork rib on her plate. "Eat slowly."
After finishing their meal, Lin Xili cleared the dishes and went into the kitchen. Huo Nanchen took the dishes and said, "I'll wash them. You stay with the children."
Lin Xili took the two children upstairs. The twins were very independent and didn't need Lin Xili's help with things like bathing. After they finished bathing, they put their clothes in the washing machine and started it.
Lin Xili was surprised that they could be so independent despite living in such a privileged environment, without being spoiled in the slightest.
After washing up, the twins opened their English workbooks, and Lin Xili was stunned when she saw the contents.
At seven years old, children are learning to read and do addition and subtraction, and their homework includes English reading and filling in exercises.
Lin Xili couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you only in second grade? The English you're doing is at a middle school level."
Huo Xijue explained, "We have already learned the elementary school curriculum, but there are rules at home that we cannot skip grades. These are all our homework assignments, not assigned by the school."
Huo Xining chimed in, "Yes, Auntie, we can use the equipment in that room too!"
Lin Xili listened to the knowledge that was beyond what his peers had learned. Their time was filled with activities arranged by their families, learning different things and not even having time to play.
Including Huo Nanchen's profound knowledge, this is all the result of a thousand-year-old family family's cultivation and cultural heritage, built up with money and rules.
She admired them but also felt a pang of sympathy. The talents that others envied were the result of their childhood and free time.
At this moment, Huo Xining put away his homework, tugged at Lin Xili's sleeve, and asked softly, "Auntie, I've finished my homework. Can we ride that electric car to go out and play tomorrow? We've never ridden an electric car before."
"Sure, tomorrow Auntie will take you to buy wedding candy and cakes, and there are many more fun places to go."
Huo Xiyu checked the time. "Thank you, Auntie, but it's time for us to go to bed."
"Okay, you guys go to bed."
Huo Xining and Huo Xijue went to bed, and Huo Xining pulled the covers up herself. "Goodnight, Auntie!"
"Goodnight." Lin Xili bent down and placed a goodnight kiss on each of the two children's foreheads.
Turn off the lights and gently close the door.
When I came downstairs, Huo Nanchen had already finished cleaning the kitchen and was making tea in the living room.
Grandma Huo sat on the sofa, wearing her reading glasses and looking at an old photo album.
"Are the children asleep?" Grandma Huo asked.
"She's asleep." Lin Xili sat down next to Huo Nanchen and took the teacup he offered.
The tea is a specialty of the town, Lingtou Dancong, with a floral and honey-like fragrance.
The three sat quietly for a while, then Grandma Huo suddenly spoke up: "These two children are getting restless in the old house."
Lin Xili deeply agreed. Although it was only half a day, the childlike innocence and curiosity were gradually being released from the constraints of rules.
"Let them have some fun here." Grandma Huo closed the photo album.
"Hmm," Huo Nanchen replied, then looked at Lin Xili, "How would you like to arrange the wedding?"
Lin Xili thought for a moment: "Simple is best. The important thing is the people, not the form."
“That’s right.” Grandma Huo smiled. “The most important thing about marriage is that two hearts are truly together. Everything else is just icing on the cake.”
It was late at night, so Grandma Huo went to rest first, and Huo Nanchen and Lin Xi tidied up and went upstairs as well.
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