Chapter 347: Outing
It’s just after Qingming Festival, and the scenery is pleasant everywhere.
The weather was really getting warmer. Even without the sun, the breeze was still a bit warm. Willow branches swayed gently. Not far away was a small lake, surrounded by scattered clumps of reeds and other aquatic plants. A few water birds swam peacefully there.
Xu Guoliang had not originally planned to come. His son had finally dated the girl he liked, so why did the couple come along?
But after Wang Mengfang's words, he still came as promised.
Ms. Wang's meaning was simple: "Qingming asked that person out under my name. If we don't go, wouldn't he have broken his promise in the eyes of the girl? If this happens once, will there be another? We went there to have fun and do what we need to do. The place is so big, why bother? Besides, your son is such a stubborn person. If we don't try to mediate, I think he will have a hard time."
Xu Guoliang had to admit that what his wife said made sense.
The couple prepared quite a lot. In addition to the fishing rod and bait that Xu Guoliang would use, Wang Mengfang also brought a flute and a food box containing desserts from Jiangnan that she had made herself.
Most girls like these.
When Li Laiyu and Xu Qingming arrived, Xu Guoliang and his wife had already arrived.
There was a plaid cloth on the lawn by the lake, and on it was a rather exquisite brown lacquered food box.
Wang Mengfang was playing a cheerful tune on her flute.
A few steps away, Xu Guoliang was sitting by the lake with a small stool in his hand, putting bait on the hook.
Xu Qingming called out, "Dad, Mom, we're here."
The flute music stopped abruptly, and even Xu Guoliang's movements stopped. He turned to look at Li Laiyu and smiled warmly: "Here you are!"
Li Laiyu called out, "Uncle Xu."
Then he greeted Wang Mengfang.
She had met Wang Mengfang several times, but this was her first proper meeting with Xu Guoliang. Xu Guoliang was a well-known figure at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and had been a prominent figure in his youth.
He is knowledgeable, has a good personality, and is humorous in his conversation. Students especially like his classes.
Although he did not teach in the School of Economics, Li Lai Yu had met him.
When I saw him passing by from a distance, I heard the students next to him exclaim, "Look, that's Professor Xu."
"Which Professor Xu?"
"Xu Guoliang! Which Professor Xu is there?"
Later, as she got to know Xu Qingming better, and occasionally heard him say a few words, she had a rough idea in her mind. When they first met, it didn't seem much different from what she had heard.
Wang Mengfang waved at her: "Laiyu, come over here."
Li Laiyu walked over and called out, "Auntie," then sat down beside the blanket. Xu Qingming followed her and put the basket and the food box together.
Wang Mengfang looked at Li Laiyu and said, "Xiaoyu has also prepared something!"
"I didn't prepare anything, just a pot of water and some fruit. I'm not very good at cooking."
Wang Mengfang smiled and said, "That's a coincidence. Qingming's father and I are both good cooks. We love to make all kinds of snacks. I've prepared some sweet specialties from the south. You can try them later and see if you like any of them."
"Let's play here for a while, eat some cakes and drink some tea. When Qingming's father catches some fish, we'll go home and make some fish soup."
Xu Qingming asked, "What if he doesn't catch a single fish this morning?"
Wang Mengfang said unhappily, "Then let's go to Quanjufu to eat roast duck. It's our treat, and you pay the bill."
"Okay, it's settled."
Li Laiyu prefers to spend time with Wang Mengfang. Although they are more than 20 years apart, there is no barrier or generation gap between them. Wang Mengfang is a very easygoing and warm person. When Li Laiyu is with her, they talk about food and clothes. Even though she is not talkative, she will not appear to be talkative, and there will never be a dull moment.
Wang Mengfang asked her, "Did I play the song just now? Is it nice?"
Li Laiyu nodded. "It's beautiful. Auntie is a very capable person. The music brightens my mood unconsciously when I hear it."
Wang Mengfang chuckled: "It's not the music, it's the beautiful scenery here. When you see beautiful scenery, your mood will relax, and you will unconsciously listen and then become immersed in it. If you have time, you should go out for a walk more often."
The two talked for a while, then threw all the things they brought to Xu Guoliang, asking him to watch the things while fishing. Wang Mengfang planned to take Li Laiyu and Xu Qingming for a walk not far away.
Wang Mengfang asked Xu Qingming: "Qingming, do you have a camera?"
Xu Qingming said, "I brought it, I brought it. How can I not bring this thing when I go out to play?"
Wang Mengfang said, "It's good that you brought it. Please help us take a few good photos later. The scenery is so beautiful, it's rare to come out here. I haven't taken any photos with Lai Yu yet, so I have to take some good photos today. I can develop them and keep them as a souvenir later. This is our first time out together."
Xu Qingming said: "There will be more opportunities in the future. We can come out whenever we want."
Li Lai Yu pretended not to understand what he meant and looked at the thing hanging around his neck.
She had never taken a photo with anyone, never taken a serious photo, and had never seen this kind of camera.
Xu Qingming took it off and gave it to her: "Do you want to try it?"
"I won't."
Xu Qingming said: "If you don't know how, I'll teach you!"
As he spoke, he came closer and whispered to her how to use it.
Wang Mengfang did not feel left out. Instead, she felt a little relieved. She finally knew how to find excuses and seize opportunities to approach girls. She was not particularly stupid.
Li Lai Yu was really interested in cameras. She had seen some for sale the last time she went to Guangzhou, but she didn't pay much attention to them at the time. Now she couldn't help but feel sorry for them when she thought about it.
Xu Qingming said, "It's not appropriate to buy this in Guangzhou. It's produced in Shanghai, where it's cheaper."
He glanced at her and said, "Are you going to the Magic City during the holidays?"
Li Laiyu asked, "Aren't you busy?"
Xu Qingming fiddled with it for a bit and pointed the camera at her eyes: "That depends on what the matter is. For me, pursuing my partner is more important right now. Everything else has to take a back seat."
Li Laiyu bluntly interrupted: "What happens after you succeed in pursuing someone? Does that person have to step back?"
He seems not good at speaking, but once he opens his mouth he can shut people up.
Xu Qingming's mind raced: "That's definitely not possible. If we really start dating, then the person has to move forward and work hard to become a regular and successful couple."
"After I become a regular employee, I will be under your control. If you tell me to go east, I will definitely not go west. If you say one plus one equals three, then I absolutely cannot say it equals two."
Li Laiyu glanced at him and said, "So you plan to use your brain to pursue your partner for a while, and then you can be a fool? I don't like fools."
After saying that, he stood up.
Xu Qingming blinked. What did this mean? Was he saying he liked me the way I was? He reached out and pinched the back of his hand. It really hurt.
When he came to his senses, Li Lai Yu had already been taken away by Ms. Wang Mengfang.
Wang Mengfang took her to a peach tree with branches full of buds and stood there. She waved at Xu Qingming, "Why are you still standing there? Don't you see how well these peach blossoms go with the light rain? Hurry up, take some pictures!"
Xu Qingming came back to his senses, stood up, raised his camera, and quickly took a picture the moment Li Laiyu turned around.
The clicking sound made Li Laiyu stunned for a moment. When she couldn't let go, Wang Mengfang put her arm around her shoulders and rudely instructed Xu Qingming: "I want to take a photo with Xiaoyu. Please take a good-looking photo for us."
Xu Qingming held the camera and said, "Ms. Wang Mengfang is naturally beautiful. She looks good no matter how she is photographed." He was talking about Wang Mengfang, but his eyes were always fixed on Li Laiyu.
Wang Mengfang thought to herself: You little brat, you’re really good at sweet-talking people, but why can’t you do it at the critical moment?
The two of them changed several different scenes and took a lot of photos. Then Wang Mengfang turned around and took Xu Qingming's camera.
"Go ahead, I want to try it too. You young people, stand together and I'll take a picture of you."
Xu Qingming understood immediately and cunningly moved closer to Li Laiyu. Before Li Laiyu even noticed, his hand was on her shoulder. Wang Mengfang reacted even faster and captured the moment.
After taking the photos, the three of them sat on the lawn nearby for a while.
Li Laiyu asked Wang Mengfang: "Aunt, I heard from Xu Qingming that there is a horse farm here?"
Wang Mengfang nodded: "Yes, it's not far away. Do you want to try it? If you want to go, let Qingming accompany you."
Li Laiyu was not interested in outings in the first place. If she hadn't heard that she could ride horses at the horse farm here, she really wouldn't have agreed so readily.
What's the point of going on a picnic? To her, it's a complete waste of time. She could spend that time dyeing cloth and embroidering at home, or working in the space. At worst, she could go to the store and look after the shop.
After all, Wen Wan is also very busy.
As for whether or not to try to get along with Xu Qingming, she felt that if they did, they could do so anywhere.
She did not refuse Wang Mengfang's suggestion, and walked slowly towards the opposite side along the lake with Xu Qingming.
As soon as he left Wang Mengfang's sight, Xu Qingming was so bold as to hook her finger.
Li Lai Yu glanced at him but didn't shake him off.
It's just holding hands. If he thinks it's important, then just hold hands.
Xu Qingming was overjoyed. He wondered how small this place was and they had reached their destination before they had walked far.
After arriving, Li Lai Yu looked around carefully. After Xu Qingming greeted everyone, he chose a horse with nice coat color and led it over.
I went up to her and asked her, "Do you dare to go up and give it a try? Come on up, and I'll take you for a stroll."
Li Laiyu glanced at him, took the reins from his hand, and jumped onto the horse very gracefully, telling him with practical actions whether he dared or not.
Sitting on the horse, Li Laiyu was in a trance. At this moment, many memories that she had gradually forgotten resurfaced.
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