At home, Xiao Ruoyan is a completely different person. She speaks without stuttering, is cute and knows how to be charming, and is simply the ideal girlfriend in his mind.
Little did Xu Xiu know that Xiao Ruoyan only stuttered when speaking in front of him; she was generally normal when communicating with others.
At this moment, Xiao Ruoyan turned her back to her grandfather, crossed her arms, and pretended to be angry, while her grandfather coaxed her from behind.
Xu Xiu watched the scene intently from the side. Only then did Xiao Ruoyan realize that there was someone else in the house, and it was Xu Xiu.
He turned around and glanced at Xu Xiu, only to find him looking at him with a gossipy expression, grinning foolishly.
Her face flushed bright red instantly, and she ran straight into her room, extremely embarrassed. Xiao Liang could almost guess what his granddaughter was thinking just by looking at her expression.
But after glancing at the boy sitting at the octagonal table, I could tell from our conversation and his expression that he possessed a maturity beyond his years.
Xiao Liang didn't know what he thought of his granddaughter, and he didn't believe that a boy would send a girl back to such a remote mountain village without any ulterior motives.
Xu Xiu knew that some things couldn't be kept from his grandfather. After all, old ginger is spicier, and his grandfather still had that much insight.
Moreover, Xiao Ruoyan didn't know how to hide her feelings; not only her grandfather, but even Zhang Aixiang could see through them.
With Xiao Ruoyan absent, the three of them looked at each other in an awkward atmosphere. Xu Xiu quickly changed the subject, saying to Xiao Liang, "By the way, Grandpa, do you still have that medical record card?"
"My cousin is an internal medicine doctor at the county hospital. I can ask him to take a look."
"Isn't that a bit too much trouble?"
Xiao Liang politely declined.
"Grandpa, don't overthink it. It's just a quick look, it doesn't cost any money. Besides, I'm not asking anyone for a favor. Ruoyan had dinner with my cousins yesterday."
“I mentioned this to my cousin yesterday when we were having dinner. He said it was a small matter and I could just take a picture with my phone and send it to him.”
Xu Xiu told a little lie.
It doesn't matter if they find out anyway, they might not even ask Ruoyan.
Seeing that Xiao Liang was still hesitating, and that he was most afraid of owing favors, as favors are the hardest to repay, Zhang Aixiang was very tempted and went straight into the room to get her medical record card.
Xiao Liang looked at his daughter-in-law's actions and shook his head helplessly. He knew that everyone was doing it for his own good.
A moment later, Zhang Aixiang took out a medical record from the house and handed it to Xu Xiu. Xu Xiu took out his cell phone, which he had brought from home, took a picture of the incomprehensible text on the medical record, and sent it to his cousin Fang An.
Xu Xiu really couldn't understand how the doctors could decipher the incomprehensible text on these medical records.
Not long after sending the message, Fang An replied, his first words being that the medical records couldn't be viewed for nothing, and he had to treat her to a late-night snack.
Xu Xiu replied instantly, saying that anyone from the county could choose.
A while later, Fang An sent a message saying that the old man was just suffering from long-term malnutrition and severe rheumatism, but otherwise he was fine and there were no major problems.
However, given his condition, he needs to be treated with both physical therapy and medication. Surgery is out of the question, considering his advanced age; conservative treatment is recommended.
Xu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the message from his cousin.
She looked up and smiled at Xiao Liang, saying, "Grandpa, I asked my cousin. Apart from rheumatism, he's fine, just a little malnourished."
Xiao Liang and Zhang Aixiang actually knew all this; the doctor had told them at the hospital. It's just that rheumatism is quite troublesome to treat and is a long-term process.
They don't have the means to get treatment; they can't even afford the medicine.
Moreover, Xiao Liang doesn't have medical insurance, and his family is already struggling to make ends meet with just enough subsistence allowance.
Xu Xiu actually knew about Ruoyan's family situation, but he was neither capable nor qualified to help them at the moment.
He knew that changing their current situation wouldn't happen overnight, nor could it be solved entirely with money.
Money may solve 99% of the problems, but the remaining 1% is the most difficult to solve.
For example, getting Xiao Liang and Zhang Aixiang to leave this place and live outside is not a simple matter.
So everything needs to be done gradually. Today is only the first time I've arrived at home; there's still a long way to go.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming somewhat tense, Xiao Ruoyan came out carrying a small iron box, and Xu Xiu immediately knew what was inside.
Xiao Ruoyan placed the box on the table, took out the frozen rice candy inside, and carefully handed it to Xu Xiu.
Xu Xiu, oblivious to the romantic undertones, remarked, "Xiao, are you trying to give me cavities?"
"I'm not eating this. You can keep it for yourself."
"Besides, I came empty-handed today and didn't buy anything, so I'd be embarrassed to eat your food."
"I'm afraid I'll owe you a favor, and then I'll feel embarrassed to ask you to do any work."
Xiao Ruoyan had no idea what Xu Xiu meant. Did he not want to eat, was he embarrassed to eat, or was he reluctant to eat?
Zhang Aixiang glanced at her daughter and said with a smile, "Ruoyan, you can keep it for yourself."
"Oh..." she replied, then ran back into the house with the small metal box in her arms.
Watching Xiao Ruoyan's retreating figure, Xu Xiu's lips unconsciously curled up slightly. This scene left Xiao Liang with mixed feelings.
Xu Xiu snapped out of his daze and took the groceries he had brought to the kitchen to start a fire. Zhang Aixiang was about to stop him when Xu Xiu had already sat down under the stove and started a fire, making them feel as if this was his own home.
He seemed very familiar with the house. When Xiao Ruoyan came out of her room, she was surprised to find Xu Xiu starting a fire.
Xiao Liang asked in a low voice, "Ruoyan, does your classmate know how to start a fire and cook?"
"Grandpa, his cooking is so delicious! He's been my breakfast and lunch for the past few months..."
She covered her mouth with her hand halfway through her sentence, but her grandfather and mother had already heard her.
The two looked at her with strange expressions, and Xiao Ruoyan quickly explained, "Xu... Xiu said he promised the homeroom teacher that he would help me with my studies."
"Then, in order to allow himself to focus on his studies, he took care of the meals."
"If I fail to meet his requirements, I will return the principal and interest to him."
Today, when Xiao Ruoyan said these words, not to mention her mother and grandfather, even she herself felt a little incredulous.
At this moment, all three of them turned their gazes to the figure who was starting a fire.
At this moment, Xiao Ruoyan suddenly remembered something and quickly took out the admission notice from her schoolbag.
"Grandpa, Mom, look! I've been accepted into Hangzhou University."
Xiao Liang and Zhang Aixiang quickly took the admission notice and looked at it carefully. They knew about Hangzhou University; a few years ago, someone from their village had been admitted.
They even held a banquet in town, never expecting their daughter to get into such a good university.
Just as the two were too excited to speak, an untimely remark came from the kitchen.
"Xiao's score was actually high enough to get into Tsinghua or Peking University, but she said she chose Hangzhou University because it was closer to home."
Upon hearing Xu Xiu's words, Xiao Liang and Zhang Aixiang's expressions froze.
"Tsinghua and Peking Universities?"
A place they never even dared to dream of, and Ruoyan just gave up like that?
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