Su Xingran squatted down to help pick vegetables, and Huang Ma found a small stool for her to sit on. Su's mother, Zeng Huilan, and Huang Ma took out the meat and cleaned it.
During a conversation between Su's mother and Huang's mother, Su Xingran learned why Huang's mother was living in the Huang family. It turned out that Huang's mother's husband had been a soldier when she was young, and had died a heroic death in battle. Fortunately, her teacher's wife knew Huang's mother and took her in to help take care of the household. Huang's mother stayed with the Huang family afterward and never remarried.
In the afternoon, Gu Junru brought his family to the Huang family's house. As soon as Liang Yun entered, she started looking for Su Xingran, because her husband, Gu Moli, had asked her to deliver a gift.
Su Xingran helped out in the kitchen all afternoon, but was "sent out" in the afternoon. Two older women told her to go back to her room to change her clothes and tidy up, as guests were coming for dinner that evening. They couldn't let a birthday girl get covered in cooking fumes in the kitchen.
When Liang Yun found Su Xingran, Su Xingran was just coming out of her room into the main hall. "Xingran, your aunt wishes you a happy birthday and that you will become more and more beautiful."
Liang Yun took three gifts from the sofa. "This is a gift from your uncle and aunt, the second is from your aunt, and the third is from your brother Mo Li who asked me to pass it on."
Su Xingran reached out and accepted the gift. "Thank you, Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, and Brother Mo Li."
Gu Moyue and Xiao Xue also came over. "Xingran, happy birthday! This is a gift we prepared for you. We hope you like it."
Su Xingran reached out and took the gift. "Thank you, Sister Moyue, and thank you, Sister-in-law Xiaoxue."
"Oh dear, Xingran only came of age today. She really is a beautiful girl at eighteen. I've forgotten what I looked like on my coming-of-age day."
Looking at the youthful and vibrant Su Xingran, Gu Moyue felt a pang of emotion. At eighteen, she had lived in constant fear of being sent to the countryside. It was only because her younger brother, Mo Li, was about to join the army—two of their three children were now in the military—that the government, out of compassion, exempted her from the rural assignment policy.
Liang Yun said somewhat helplessly, "Stop joking. You and Xingran are different. Xingran has a scholarly air about her, while you have a bandit-like air about you. You've been a mischievous troublemaker since you were little. I always thought you were a son and Moli was a daughter."
Gu Moyue pursed her lips speechlessly. Don't think she doesn't remember. When she was little, she didn't want to wear dresses, so her mother coaxed Mo Li into wearing them.
Su Xingran smiled; she felt the atmosphere in both the Gu and Huang families was wonderful. Parents and children could play together freely, and the sense of distance between them was very short.
“Xingran, you look a lot like your parents, and they are still very young,” Liang Yun said sincerely.
"Right! When I first met Xingran's parents, I also thought they looked alike. And Uncle Su and Aunt Su were still very young."
Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Xiao Xue recalled the first time she met Xingran's parents. She had wondered what kind of parents could have given birth to such a beautiful daughter. Later, she realized that the parents were also good-looking, which explained their beautiful daughter.
Voices came from outside the courtyard; Huang Tai and the others had returned. The three children ran in carrying gifts, "Aunt Xingran, we're back!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
