After returning from the grasslands, Xia Minmin's university registration day after tomorrow is scheduled, so they plan to go a day early.
Xia Minmin was shocked when she heard the news. "What? If you all go, my classmates will laugh at me for being a baby who hasn't been weaned yet."
She just learned that besides her parents, her godfather and maternal grandparents are all going to take her to school. Five people taking one child to school? That's outrageous! Are they all that free?
Li Chunmei packed all sorts of items into her suitcase, including a four-piece bedding set, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. On the sofa in the living room, there were also packed items, including pillows, a down comforter, and a mattress.
"We don't need to bring toothbrushes and toothpaste, right? We can buy them in Beijing. And we don't need blankets and mattresses either, right?"
Before even arriving in the capital, just looking at this pile of stuff, Xia Minmin felt like a refugee, with only three or four suitcases and two storage bags for quilts and mattresses.
Li Chunmei said calmly, "Why wouldn't I need it? The toothbrush is the one you're used to. If you brush your teeth with other brands, your gums will bleed. This toothpaste has your favorite flavor, and it's only available in Shenzhen. It's not sold anywhere else."
Xia Jianguo stuffed the down comforter and mattress he brought from the factory into two storage bags. "These mattresses and down comforters are specially made extra thick by our own factory. The ones sold outside are too thin. Beijing is not as cold as Shenzhen. Bringing something thick will make this winter more comfortable for you."
Li Chunmei placed the down jacket she had ordered from a friend's factory in front of her daughter. The custom-made down jacket was very long; it reached ten centimeters above Xia Minmin's ankles. Wearing it was like wearing a small quilt. Usually, she could just wear a pair of fleece-lined Martin boots.
"It's still summer, winter is a long way off, do we really need to prepare so much?"
Two thick and long down jackets already filled an entire 28-inch suitcase, not to mention the three-in-one windbreakers they prepared, and the cashmere sweaters they brought back from the grasslands.
“You silly child, haven’t you heard of the saying that one autumn rain brings one chill? After your military training, it will be about October and the temperature should drop. Bring everything you need. There are many people from our family going, so each person can carry a suitcase, which should be enough. It won’t be a problem,” Li Chunmei said casually.
Xia Minmin realized that she had been too hasty in saying three suitcases and two storage bags, so Xia Jianguo brought out another storage bag from the room.
"This bag contains summer quilts and early autumn silk quilts; you should change them frequently."
Well, here comes another storage bag.
Li Chunmei got up, walked to the entrance, and came back with a large plastic bag. "These are Shenzhen specialties that your godfather specially prepared for you. Remember to share them with your roommates after you take them over. Get along well with your roommates, since you'll be living together for the next four years."
“Your mother is right. You are five or six years younger than your classmates, and it is your first time going to school in another city alone. Having more friends means having more options.”
Xia Minmin nodded and mechanically stuffed local specialties into her suitcase. She was worried about whether the school dormitory could fit so much luggage.
Ding-dong...
"Your uncle and aunt must have arrived," Li Chunmei said, getting up to open the door.
Li Zhonghua and Sun Erni also came in carrying two bags. "Are you packing your luggage?"
The living room in Dudu Garden Community was already cramped. Xia Minmin's several 28-inch suitcases filled the entire living room, leaving no room to move. Li Zhonghua and Sun Erni sat at the dining table.
Xia Jianguo said, "Well, isn't this Xiaomin's first time going to school alone? Her mother and I were quite worried, so we packed a lot of things."
Sun Erni agreed with Xia Jianguo's words. When Li Qing first went to study in another city, they were also very worried and brought a lot of things with her.
Parents are always so afraid that their children will be hungry or cold.
Li Zhonghua pushed the bag on the table. "Xiaomin, this is beef jerky that your aunt and I specially prepared for you. It's meat from the beef ribs, which tastes better than lean meat. Your sister Qing especially likes it."
Xia Minmin's eyes lit up. This was truly effortless. She especially loved the dried beef she had bought from the grasslands before, and she would eat two pounds of it every two days.
Li Chunmei poured a glass of water for the two of them and placed it beside them, saying, "Your gift is really perfect. Xiaomin was just about to call the owner of the dried beef shop she bought from before and ask them to buy some more dried beef."
“I knew you kids loved to eat. Xiaoqing came back earlier than you. I tried the dried beef she brought back. It was just so-so, but I made a special copy since she liked it. Xiaomin, why don’t you try it and give your uncle your feedback?”
Xia Minmin stood up from the pile of luggage, struggled over the suitcases to the dining table, and took the vacuum-sealed dried beef. The fat and lean meat were clearly visible in the transparent bag.
The lean, air-dried beef was a bit tough, which was good for chewing. Xia Minmin ate two pounds of air-dried beef a couple of days ago, and her cheeks still hurt a little. The well-marbled air-dried beef was really delicious; the lean meat wasn't tough, and the fat was very fragrant. She felt that eating two pounds at once had become easier.
"Uncle, it's so delicious."
Li Zhonghua, the chef, was very satisfied with his niece's expression. "If you like it, just call your uncle anytime, and I'll make it and send it to you in Beijing."
Xia Minmin smiled sweetly, "Thank you, Uncle."
"Alright, you guys continue packing your luggage. Your sister-in-law and I will go home first."
After seeing Li Zhonghua and Sun Erni off, Li Chunmei weighed the bag they had brought. It contained at least six jin of dried beef. It would take more than two jin of fresh beef to make one jin of dried beef.
Xia Minmin handed one piece to each of her parents.
After eating, Li Chunmei nodded. "It's definitely better than what you buy. From now on, if you're hungry at night, eat some beef jerky. After you finish, I'll ask your uncle for the recipe."
"I asked my brother-in-law about it as soon as I got back from Beijing. I thought it tasted pretty good, so I made some to keep at home," Xia Jianguo said.
This is really rare. Xia Jianguo is not a person who likes to eat snacks, but he took the initiative to ask to make dried beef. It seems that he likes it very much.
Li Chunmei looked at her husband with a smile, "I'll get it for you when we get back from Beijing."
"Maybe I should leave some at home! My suitcase is already full anyway."
"No need, you can bring all of these yourself. It's very convenient for your mother and me to eat at home, unlike you being alone in another city where there's no one to make you anything to eat."
Xia Jianguo's words made Li Chunmei feel down. The thought of her child going so far to school alone made her heart ache. Her daughter had never left home before, and she didn't know if anyone would bully her.
“Your dad is right. Don’t get cold or hungry while you’re all alone over there. If you need anything, call your parents and they’ll fly you over.”
Xia Minmin was stunned; so that's how "flying" is used.
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