Chapter 105 West Ashes South Chen
Early in the morning, when Lin Xili and Huo Nanchen's car drove into the Huo residence courtyard, the butler was already waiting at the door.
Today we're taking Grandma Huo back to Lixiang Town to prepare for her wedding.
"Bring Xining and Xiyu along too." Grandma Huo put down her teacup. "Firstly, they can be flower girls, and secondly, they can let the children get out of this stuffy mansion and get some fresh air."
These words silenced the tea table for a moment.
Huo Donghua raised his eyes, looked at his mother, then at the twins sitting quietly eating their snacks, and finally nodded.
When Lin Xili and Huo Nanchen entered the main hall, they saw not only Grandma Huo, who had already tidied up, but also two neatly dressed children carrying small travel bags.
Huo Xiyu wore a white shirt with dark blue overalls and her leather shoes were polished to a shine.
Huo Xining wore a light pink dress, and her hair was styled into two neat braids with matching ribbons tied at the ends.
The two children stood straight and greeted them in unison as they entered, saying, "Hello, Uncle! Hello, Aunt!"
Lu Qingshu walked out of the side hall, holding a beautifully packaged gift box in her hand.
Today she wore an elegant beige suit dress, which made her look more gentle than her usual dignified demeanor at the Justice Bureau.
"Xi Li." She walked up to Lin Xi Li and handed her the gift box. "This is a small token of my appreciation for you. We're also sorry that we can't attend the wedding."
Lin Xili accepted it with both hands. The wrapping paper was light blue with delicate blue snowflake patterns printed on it, which was obviously specially selected.
"Thank you, sister-in-law. Actually..." she paused, a hint of shyness in her voice, "I've admired you since college. I never imagined I'd receive a wedding gift from my idol."
These words startled Lu Qingshu slightly, but then a smile spread across her lips: "I'm hardly an idol. On the contrary, you are very capable and have a promising future."
She looked at Huo Nanchen, then back at Lin Xili, "Nan Yu and I have special identities. If we go to the town, it might attract unnecessary attention, which would be bad for you. So the children can represent us."
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of them." Lin Xili looked down at the two children. "They're very well-behaved."
Huo Xining looked up at his chin and said earnestly, "Auntie, we will be very obedient."
"I will also take care of my younger sister," Huo Xiyu added, with a sense of responsibility like a little man.
Grandma Huo had already stood up, and the maid followed behind her carrying a small suitcase.
The old lady was in particularly good spirits today. She was wearing a dark red embroidered cheongsam with a matching cardigan over it, and her hair was styled in a bun.
"Alright, let's go, don't miss the high-speed train."
Grandma Huo clapped her hands. "Xining, Xiyu, come here and take your great-grandmother's hand."
The two children immediately stepped forward and supported Grandma Huo from both sides.
Huo Nanchen took the suitcase from the maid and they walked together to the car.
Just as they were about to get into the car, Lu Qingshu suddenly stepped forward, gently hugged Lin Xili, and whispered in her ear, "Open the gift on your wedding night."
"Okay, thank you, sister-in-law!"
As the car drove out of the Huo family's old residence, Huo Xining and Huo Xiyu sat quietly in the back seat, watching the traffic and tall buildings outside the window. Unlike ordinary children, they didn't chatter away but observed quietly.
Lin Xili saw this scene in the rearview mirror and felt a pang of emotion.
The Huo family's education was indeed strict, but it also cultivated a composure far beyond that of their peers.
She recalled how she used to sit quietly to the side when she was a child, while her brother and sister played around in the car, only calming down when their mother scolded them.
It was a different kind of family atmosphere, lively but not for her. At that time, she longed to fit in, but she couldn't.
"What are you thinking about?" Huo Nanchen's voice came from behind.
Lin Xili snapped out of her reverie and smiled slightly: "I was thinking about how different families raise different children."
Huo Nanchen glanced at her, his gaze lingering on the two children in the back seat for a moment: "Each has its advantages and disadvantages."
The Huo family's children are indeed well-mannered, but they lack a certain childlike innocence and relaxed nature.
Upon arriving at the high-speed rail station, Wen Qing was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing them, she waved from afar.
She was wearing casual jeans and a sweatshirt today, and carrying a large backpack.
"Grandma Huo!" Wen Qing quickly stepped forward and affectionately took the old woman's arm. "My mother was so happy when she heard you were coming back that she couldn't sleep all night. She said she would definitely make your favorite brown sugar steamed cake."
Grandma Huo smiled, her eyes crinkling: "I've been craving your mother's cooking for so long."
Wen Qing greeted Huo Nanchen and Lin Xili again, then looked down at the two children: "They are so good-looking and cute."
The two children bowed politely and said, "Hello, Aunt Wen."
"How polite." Wen Qing smiled and patted Huo Xining's head, then looked at Lin Xili, "Are you all ready? Our train is in forty minutes, let's go to the waiting room first."
In the waiting room, Huo Xining and Huo Xiyu sat upright, their little hands on their knees, curiously looking around at their surroundings.
A little boy of the same age next to me was crying and demanding to buy a toy. He cried even harder after being scolded by his mother.
The twins watched this scene with a hint of confusion in their eyes, but quickly looked away without commenting.
For the two children, crying loudly in public was a completely unfamiliar act, and the Huo family rules did not allow such an unruly behavior.
After passing through the ticket gate and entering the station, they found their seats.
It wasn't a holiday, so there weren't many passengers in this carriage.
Huo Nanchen put his luggage away, and Grandma Huo sat down by the window with the two children sitting next to her.
Lin Xili and Huo Nanchen sat on the other side of the aisle, with Wen Qing in the row behind them.
The train started moving, and just then, something happened that shocked Wen Qing.
Huo Xining and Huo Xiyu each took out a book from their small travel bags, then neatly laid down the small tables behind the front seats, laid the books flat on them, and began to read with upright posture.
Huo Xining was reading the autumn edition of "Forest News," while Huo Xiyu was reading the illustrated edition of "The Insect World."
Both of them read very attentively, and when they encountered something they didn't understand, they would quietly ask Grandma Huo for an answer, and then continue reading quietly after receiving the answer.
Wen Qing's eyes widened, and she leaned close to Lin Xili's ear and whispered, "My God, they're only seven years old, right? Their self-discipline is amazing. On the high-speed train, all I want to do is scroll through my phone and sleep."
Lin Xili was also surprised, but she was more understanding.
She thought of Huo Nanchen's study, the library in the three-story ancient building in the Huo family's old mansion, and that quiet family dinner.
For the Huo family, reading is as natural as breathing.
Grandma Huo smiled and said, "Reading more books is good. Books contain worlds that the eyes cannot see and distant places that the feet cannot reach."
Lin Xili turned her head and whispered to Huo Nanchen, "No wonder I often see you reading books. So this is a family tradition?"
Huo Nanchen: "Yes, you read books often too."
At this moment, Huo Xining suddenly raised his head and looked at Lin Xili: "Auntie, do you also like reading?"
Lin Xili smiled and nodded: "I like it."
"We have common interests. I can also play the piano, the guzheng, paint, and play Go."
Huo Xining’s tone carried a childlike pride, but it was just right, without sounding boastful.
Huo Xiyu then raised her head and looked at Lin Xili earnestly, saying, "Auntie, our names both have the character 'Xi' in them."
Lin Xili then noticed that Huo Xining, Huo Xiyu, and Lin Xili all indeed had the character "Xi" in their names.
“Moreover,” Huo Xiyu continued, “your name and your uncle’s name can form an idiom—Xi Jin Nan Chen.”
Lin Xili was stunned for a moment, "Xi Jin Nan Chen?"
“‘Xi Jin’ refers to treasures from the West, and ‘Nan Chen’ refers to treasures from the South. Together they mean precious items, which proves that you are each other’s precious gifts.”
These words, spoken by a seven-year-old child, carry a profound innocence.
Lin Xili felt a gentle touch on her heart.
She looked at Huo Nanchen and found that he was also looking at her, his eyes showing a familiar calmness, but beneath that calmness, a warm light was flowing.
"You guys are really amazing." Lin Xili reached out and stepped across the passage, gently patting Huo Xiyu's head. "You know so much."
Huo Xiyu lowered her head somewhat shyly, her ears turning slightly red, but the corners of her mouth were upturned.
Huo Xining proudly puffed out her little chest, "The first rule of the family is that knowledge is the best dowry and betrothal gift. My brother and I have to read books for three hours every day."
Wen Qing stood behind with her mouth wide open, then quickly covered it. The Huo family's children were being raised with terrifyingly strict discipline.
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