Gu's mother subconsciously assumed that Xie Yan had brought dried goods commonly found in the mountains. Gu Bin had previously sent a lot of mushrooms and wild vegetables from his hometown, which she enjoyed very much.
I was thinking of opening it to see what dish it was this time, so I could cook it later.
When she opened the bag, she was stunned. It was full of sea cucumbers, each one with a rich color and upright spines, clearly of excellent quality.
Startled, she quickly pushed the things back, stammering, "Child, this, this, I can't accept this, it's far too valuable!"
Xie Yan: "? Oh! Auntie, it's really not expensive!"
Gu Bin, also looking curious, stepped forward to investigate.
Upon seeing this, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow! So many sea cucumbers!"
"And it looks so good! No wonder it scared Mom!"
Over the years, because of his grandfather's status, people have been sending gifts to the family in an endless stream, which has caused Gu's mother to develop a conditioned reflex: she will instinctively refuse any expensive gifts.
Seeing Xie Yan's pleading eyes, Gu Bin coughed lightly to defuse the situation, saying, "Ahem, Mom, just accept it. This guy has a friend in the countryside by the sea who sent it to him. It's not as expensive as you think!"
"Besides, this is my friend, so please don't stand on ceremony."
Xie Yan quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Auntie, please accept it, it's really worthless!"
Looking helplessly at her son and daughter-in-law, Gu's mother hesitated and asked, "Then...then...then I'll accept it?"
Gu Bin and Zhang Linghui nodded in unison, reassuring her.
Mother Gu finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile returned to her face.
Xie Yan breathed a sigh of relief and secretly rejoiced when she saw that the gift had been accepted.
He never expected that this gift-giving would almost cause a misunderstanding.
After carefully examining the sea cucumbers, Gu's mother found that they were indeed of very high quality. She put the bag aside and turned to Gu Bin, saying, "Binbin, when you go to Grandpa and Grandma's, take these with you so they can have some nourishing food."
Gu Bin nodded and replied, "Okay!"
After giving the gifts, the group sat down together and started chatting.
When Gu's mother learned that Xie Yan wanted to buy a house, she suddenly slapped her thigh and said excitedly, "Oh! Binbin! Why didn't you say so sooner? I just happened to know a family that wants to sell a house."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yan's eyes lit up with surprise, and he quickly asked, "Auntie, where is she?"
Mother Gu lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "It's right here over here!"
Gu Bin was also quite surprised, not expecting that someone near his home would be selling a house. He quickly asked, "Whose house is it, Mom?"
Gu's mother pointed to the left and said, "Chang Zhide's family."
Gu Bin stared in disbelief, his eyes wide: "Uncle Chang?"
Why would they want to sell their house?
Mother Gu explained with a smile, "Chang Gui'er got married in Shanghai and her workplace provided her with an apartment. She plans to settle down there and won't be coming back."
“His daughter-in-law is pregnant this time, so he asked your Aunt Hu to go and take care of her. After you went there, you were so happy that you didn’t want to come back.”
“Your Uncle Chang is all alone here, it’s so lonely, how can that be okay!”
"So, when Changgui came back from his holiday this time, he planned to secretly sell the house here and bring the old couple to Shanghai. They would then buy a bigger house there and the whole family would settle down there."
As she spoke, Gu's mother sighed softly and said with emotion, "Alas! If it weren't for the fact that the two of us are getting old and we only have Changgui as our child, how could we have been willing to sell this ancestral home!"
After hearing this, Xie Yan's eyes instantly lit up like bright stars. It was like a pillow being delivered to someone who was sleepy!
He was just worried about the difficulties of buying a house here and was envious of the houses here, but unexpectedly, good things came to him so suddenly.
He hurriedly asked, "Auntie, is that house still there?"
Mrs. Gu smiled and nodded, reassuringly saying, "Don't worry, the house is still there!"
"Besides, the news of the house sale has only spread among a few of our neighbors; no one else knows about it yet!"
Seeing Xie Yan's anxious look, she said decisively, "Why don't we go take a look now!"
Xie Yan nodded excitedly and said gratefully, "Thank you, Auntie!"
Gu Bin was also very happy. If this deal went through, he and Xie Yan could be neighbors again, and they wouldn't even have to worry about finding a house anymore.
The group arrived at Chang's house with great enthusiasm.
At this moment, the Chang family father and son had just gotten up and were sitting in the yard eating.
Seeing Gu's mother lead Xie Yan and the others in, they immediately understood their purpose.
Chang Gui'er swallowed the bun in her mouth, quickly took out a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her mouth, and greeted her warmly, "Auntie, what brings you here! Have you eaten?"
As he spoke, he turned his head and saw Gu Bin and the adorable Tongtong in his arms. He said with surprise, "Gu Bin, is this your daughter?"
Gu Bin smiled and nodded, then asked with concern, "Yes, I heard your wife is pregnant too?"
Chang Gui'er reached out and teased Tongtong, her face beaming with a happy smile, and replied, "Mmm."
Chang Zhide looked at his son, who had forgotten about the important matter while playing with the child, sighed helplessly, got up, and took Gu's mother and Xie Yan to look at houses himself.
Ever since his daughter-in-law became pregnant, his son has been unable to resist taking a peek at other people's children.
Why!
Look at how pathetic he is.
The layout of this house is quite similar to that of Gu Bin's home. Several unidentified flowers and plants grow in the yard, swaying gently in the breeze, adding a touch of life to the small courtyard. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows, as if telling the story of this house.
As you walk inside, you can deeply feel the elderly couple's meticulous care for the house. The house is well-maintained, and every detail exudes the charm of time.
Upon entering, one is greeted by a lush grapevine with an exquisitely crafted trellis. The intertwined vines stretch out like a natural green umbrella. Beneath the trellis sit a set of stone-carved tables and chairs, their smooth surfaces bearing the marks of countless hours of wear and tear.
On the other side of the wall, stacks of firewood were neatly arranged, like soldiers awaiting inspection. Each piece was cut to the same length, demonstrating the owner's meticulousness and care.
There are three houses in this row, and the two houses next to the grape trellis are more spacious.
One of the rooms has a warm kang (heated brick bed) with a surface that has been wiped clean and shiny, making one imagine the cozy scene of a family sitting around it to keep warm in winter.
The other room appears to be used as a living room. The simple furnishings are cozy, with several wooden chairs and an antique table placed against the wall. Sunlight shines through the window and casts a soft glow on the table.
The room where firewood was stored contained not only stacked coal briquettes but also a jumble of other miscellaneous items. However, it did not appear cluttered; each item was arranged in an orderly manner, indicating that the owner had good daily habits.
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