Xu Guihua was originally trying to coax Xu Jiangjiang to take a nap, but she also fell asleep. When she woke up, she heard the clanging of a spatula outside and thought Xue Ping and Xu Jin'an had returned.
She was thinking about what Xu Nuo had said today and wanted to go ask Xu Jin'an about it.
As soon as the door opened, I found Xu Yunyun busy at the stove.
Hearing the door open, Xu Yunyun turned around and called out, "Grandma, you're up? I've almost finished cooking, it'll be ready to eat soon."
It's true that there's no harm without comparison. Originally, Xu Guihua didn't like Xu Yunyun much, thinking that she looked like her mother, both ugly and silly. But now that she has Xu Nuo, this troublesome girl, Xu Yunyun looks much better.
"What did you cook?"
"I steamed white rice, and then I saw that my second uncle's family had some dried mushrooms and tofu skin, so I soaked them and stir-fried them."
Xu Guihua walked to the wooden tub, lifted the lid, and was startled: "Why did you cook so much?"
This amounted to seven jin of grain, which would normally be enough for Xu Jinhong's family to cook for several days.
Xu Yunyun stammered, "I...I didn't notice, I added too much."
Xu Guihua knew exactly what she was thinking, but considering that she had taken the initiative to cook the meal, she was too lazy to scold her. Just then, the door opened.
Xu Nuo and Xue Ping bumped into each other on the street and chatted outside for a while before coming in. They thought no one was cooking at home, but they were surprised to smell the aroma of food as soon as they entered.
Xu Yunyun ran ahead, wiping her hands on the hem of her clothes before reaching out to take the bag from Xue Ping's hand. Xue Ping, not wanting to be near her, dodged her, saying, "No need."
Xu Yunyun looked embarrassed and glanced at Xu Nuo: "Auntie, cousins, are you hungry? I've made dinner for you."
Xue Ping's heart sank, and her face immediately went expressionless.
It was not even 4:30, and Xu Jin'an still had an hour and a half before he got off work, but Xu Yunyun had already prepared the meal.
Xu Yunyun thought she would be praised, but Xue Ping and Xu Nuo didn't seem happy. She felt extremely wronged. She had worked hard cooking at her second uncle's house, but they didn't appreciate it.
Xu Jinhong's family didn't have much. They couldn't even eat refined grains every day. They usually ate pickled vegetables with two kinds of steamed buns. She had never made mushrooms, dried tofu skin, or anything like that before, so she just threw everything into the pot and cooked it using her usual method.
This bag of dried mushrooms was brought by Xue Ping's father. Xue Ping usually soaked them and used them to cook eggs for Xu Nuo. Now, seeing this pot of dark and yellow stuff, she was both angry and heartbroken, and couldn't help but say to Xu Yunyun, "Who told you to cook this?"
Xu Yunyun stood in the corner, her shoulders hunched, her eyes red, and she looked at Xu Guihua with a wronged expression: "I..."
Xu Guihua was already seething with anger, and now seeing Xue Ping so arrogant, pretending to scold Xu Yunyun but actually scolding her, she put her hands on her hips and shouted, "What are you yelling about? My granddaughter is cooking for you and you're not happy? What? You look down on the Xu family?"
Xue Ping usually wouldn't talk back to Xu Guihua, but today she couldn't help herself: "Mother, what are you saying? How did I look down on your Xu family? Besides, we can cook for ourselves, we don't need to bother others."
Xu Yunyun had originally intended to please everyone, but she never expected that her grandmother and aunt would start arguing over something she had just cooked. She quickly grabbed Xu Guihua and fearfully clung to her shoulder, saying, "Grandma, don't be angry, Grandma. Aunt, it was my fault. I... you can scold me."
"Others? You mean me? Are you just hoping to kick me out?"
Xue Ping really wanted to kick this old woman out, but she was Xu Jin'an's biological mother after all. Xue Ping said, "Don't say that. Since you've moved in, just stay here."
“Stay here properly? How can I stay here properly? I want Jin Hong to stay here…” Xu Guihua stopped talking and changed her words, “I kindly brought my granddaughter to your house to cook for you, and instead of thanking me, you blame her.”
Xue Ping had a headache: "Mother, I didn't. This stuff can't be cooked like this, this..."
Forget it, Xue Ping didn't want to talk about it anymore. It was pointless anyway. Just then, Xu Jiangjiang, who was sleeping soundly in the room, woke up and ran out barefoot. When she saw Xu Nuo standing there watching the show with her arms crossed, she burst into tears: "Wah! Tang, Tang... you bad woman."
Xu Guihua felt sorry for her grandson and quickly went over to hug him, saying, "Oh, Jiangjiang, we have such a hard life. We're not welcomed anywhere we go. My life is so hard..."
Xu Nuo and Xue Ping exchanged a glance, then turned away indifferently and went back to their room.
...
Xu Jin'an didn't get home until after six o'clock. Xu Yunyun, who had been waiting there since early morning, greeted him sweetly, "Second Uncle, you're back."
Xu Jin'an knew that Xu Guihua would bring Xu Jiangjiang over, but he didn't expect Xu Yunyun to be there too. However, he didn't say anything in front of the child, and just nodded: "Xiaoyun, you're here too."
With an innocent smile on her face, Xu Yunyun went over to take Xu Jin'an's bag: "Second Uncle, are you tired from work? Let me massage your shoulders for you later."
"No need, no need," Xu Jin'an refused, then called out to Xu Guihua, who was sitting on the sofa, "Mother."
Xu Guihua snorted coldly: "Look how sensible Yunyun is, she insists on waiting for you to come back before eating. Your daughter, on the other hand, doesn't cook and locks herself in her room as soon as she gets back."
Xu Jinan glanced at Xu Nuo's room: "Nuonuo went out?"
Xu Guihua said irritably, "That's right, they do nothing all day but play."
Xu Jin'an was unhappy with Xu Guihua's comments about Xu Nuo: "That's not true. Nuo Nuo is going to take the college entrance exam. Her grades are so good, she'll definitely be fine."
Upon hearing that Xu Nuo wanted to take the college entrance exam, Xu Guihua was surprised: "You're going to send her to college?"
Xu Jinan nodded: "Yes, Nuonuo wants to study."
What terrible things has she done to deserve such a useless son? She can't even have grandchildren, and she dotes on her daughter like crazy. Education is so expensive! What a waste.
Xu Guihua stood up and said to Xu Jinan, "Come with me for a moment."
As he spoke, he went into the room without Xu Jiangjiang taking him along, leaving Xu Yunyun to watch over him.
Xu Jin'an, unaware of what was going on, followed along and, seeing that Xu Guihua had locked the door, asked curiously, "What's going on?"
Xu Guihua turned around, her slanted eyes full of displeasure: "I'm asking you, whose house is this?"
Xu Jin'an was taken aback, wondering why Xu Guihua had suddenly brought this up. He honestly replied, "My father-in-law? What's wrong?"
Xu Guihua's face darkened, feeling as if the sky had fallen. She plopped down on the bed, muttering, "It really isn't yours?"
"Of course not. I've only been working for a few years, how could I possibly be allocated a house like that?"
These words were like a curse, keeping Xu Guihua awake for two whole days.
In contrast, Xu Nuo has been in an exceptionally good mood these past two days, eating and sleeping soundly every day.
On the morning of the third day, Xu Nuo woke up very early.
Xue Ping was mopping the floor outside when she saw Xu Nuo open the door and asked in surprise, "Why are you up?"
My little lazybones usually sleeps until the sun is high in the sky.
Xu Nuo smiled and hugged Xue Ping, nuzzling her shoulder. Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of surprise: "We're going to class today."
"Oh, right, then hurry up and pack your things. Do you need Mom's help?"
Xu Nuo took a toothbrush and a toothpaste cup from her room to the bathroom to brush her teeth, saying, "No need, no need, I'll clean it up myself later."
Seeing her excited expression, Xue Ping found it somewhat amusing: "Look how happy you are."
Xu Nuo wiggled her little bottom.
I'll be able to see Li Xian soon, of course I'm happy.
Pretty clothes, shoes, delicious food, and review books.
Xu Nuo packed a huge amount of stuff, like she was moving house. Only at the very end did she realize that she and Li Xian had made an appointment that day, but it seemed that neither of them had specified a time.
Xu Nuo rolled around on the bed like a caterpillar, messing up the quilt she had just folded, and lay there in frustration.
"Nuonuo, what are you doing?"
Xue Ping brought in some water and placed it on her desk. Seeing her looking troubled and worried, she couldn't help but ask.
Xu Nuo let out a somewhat unhappy "woof" and lazily shook her head: "No."
No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Xue Ping sat by the bed and stroked her soft hair: "What's wrong? Why are you unhappy?"
Xu Nuo wanted to talk to Xue Ping, but it wasn't the right time yet. She was thinking of some excuse to brush it off when Xue Ping sighed, "I know perfectly well why you're unhappy, but she is still your grandmother, so we should just have to put up with it."
Thinking of Xu Jin'an, that wretched older brother, Xue Ping felt both contempt and disgust. Why did he have to mortgage his father-in-law's house? Now he's like a stray dog, hiding here and there.
These past few days, Xu Guihua's attitude has undergone a complete 180-degree turn. She no longer grumbles at the dinner table, so the Xu family has had a few days of peace.
“I told her that the house belonged to my maternal grandfather.”
Xue Ping was taken aback: "Does she think the house belongs to your father?"
Xu Nuo lay on the bed, her little feet swinging back and forth, and nodded: "Yes."
Xue Ping was so angry she laughed. No wonder she had been asking her if she was tired from work these past two days. Finally, she wasn't being so mean anymore.
Xue Ping pinched her nose: "You little rascal, when is the tractor leaving today?"
Speaking of this, Xu Nuo's face fell again: "I don't know."
"You silly goose, you didn't even ask clearly. Then hurry up and pack your things and go wait there."
It was only 9:44 a.m. when Xu Nuo finished packing her things. She carried her little schoolbag and went out. When she got downstairs, she suddenly felt a little silly.
Li Xian shouldn't be here this early. She should have gone out in the afternoon. She was just thinking about whether to turn back when she suddenly caught sight of a tall figure and was immediately delighted.
Humming a little tune, he followed after them.
Li Xian slowed his pace, letting Xu Nuo walk ahead of him. When they passed through a deserted alley, his schoolbag was taken away by a pair of large hands, and an oil paper package was placed in his arms.
Xu Nuo opened a small crack and was quite surprised to see what was inside: "Pork cracklings!"
She popped a piece into her mouth; it was freshly fried, so the pork cracklings were still green and slightly warm, so delicious they brought tears to her eyes.
Last night, Li Xian went to the pig slaughterhouse behind Gaoshan Village and stayed until this morning. He bought some bones and meat and happened to catch them pressing oil.
He hadn't eaten meat much when he was a child, so he had never tasted pork cracklings before. He was quite stunned when he first tried them, so he talked to the owner of the slaughterhouse and bought a small bag of them.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Li Xian was afraid she didn't like it: "Is it delicious?"
"It's so delicious!" Xu Nuo looked up and smiled. "Let me tell you, these pork cracklings are best when they're freshly fried. If you add a little pepper or salt and pepper, wow!"
Xu Nuo looked like she was drooling; she could already picture it in her mind.
"Pepper powder? Is it ground pepper?"
Li Xian had never tasted it, and naturally, his family didn't have any either.
Xu Nuo nodded: "Yes, there should be some other things added, but it tastes good even without pepper."
Xu Nuo knew that if she continued to agonize over the pepper powder, Li Xian would probably run off to buy some right now.
Just then, they entered the main road ahead, so the two separated. Xu Nuo walked ahead, carrying a bag of pork cracklings, her little braid swinging behind her head.
Li Xian's injuries had almost healed, and he could walk almost normally again. His cold and stern face was full of doting affection as he stared at the petite figure in front of him.
After they passed the village entrance and turned onto the mountain, he reached out and grabbed the person, saying, "Be careful."
Xu Nuo knew she was safe now, so she leaned back against his chest and let him support her as she walked forward.
Li Xian half-encircled her in his arms, looked down at her, and said, "Are you tired? I'll carry you on my back."
Perhaps it was the joy of finding what was lost that made me realize I would never come to Luxian Village again, and naturally never walk through this mountainous area again, but now I am revisiting this familiar place.
The mountains and rivers are beautiful. Although the mountain road is narrow and rugged, it has its own charm. There are many wild plants and flowers in the forest. Every few steps, Li Xian can find some wild fruits and flowers for her to play with. When passing through the lush forest, she can also hear the calls of many birds.
It was as if a symphony was being played in the forest.
Xu Nuo closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air, running around on the mountain path like a little butterfly: "No, no, no, I'm not tired yet, I want to walk by myself."
Li Xian was afraid she would fall, so he kept following her, holding her arm and reminding her, "Nuonuo, slow down, it rained the other day, the ground is slippery."
Upon hearing this, Xu Nuo glanced at the ground.
The loess soil was dry, but she didn't care: "It's okay, I won't fall."
As the old saying goes, one should not speak too confidently. A few minutes later, Xu Nuo landed on her bottom and took a solid fall.
Her face fell, and she still clutched the bag of pork cracklings tightly in her hands, making a crying face at Li Xian, who was looking anxious.
Li Xian lifted the person and placed them on his lap: "Are you alright? Does anything hurt?"
Actually, it didn't hurt much. Xu Nu blinked her big eyes: "Hmm...it doesn't seem to hurt."
Seeing her forget the pain as soon as the wound healed, Li Xianzhen really wanted to teach her a lesson, so he deliberately put on a cold face: "Will you still run around on the mountain next time?"
Xu Nuo knew he was faking it, so she snuggled into his arms, hugged his neck, and pouted, saying, "I won't do it again. I'm already injured, and you're still being mean to me."
She was both delicate and pitiful, so how could Li Xian bear to scold her? He rubbed her sore hand with one hand and said helplessly, "Nuonuo, I'm not scolding you, it's just that it's too dangerous on the mountain, I'm afraid you'll get hurt."
"Mmm." Xu Nuo reluctantly agreed, then grinned and gently nibbled on his chin.
After a while, Xu Nuo covered her mouth and cried, punching him with her little fists: "I only bit you once, but you bit me so many times."
Li Xian's face turned slightly red.
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