"Oh, what nonsense are you talking about? It's so embarrassing in the street." Little Ding was ashamed, her face turning red with embarrassment.
"Okay, we'll talk about these things in private from now on," Li Chu said with a grin.
"Get in the car, let's go before the sun comes out." Li Chu got on the car, turned around halfway and patted the back seat: "I specially got you a cushion, it's soft to sit on."
Ding Qiunan slung her bag over her shoulder, stepped forward, and sat sideways on the back seat. She grabbed Li Chu's waist with her two small hands, and her smile was very sweet.
"Let's set off!"
The car shot off like an arrow.
The two chatted and laughed all the way, the scenery rushing past. Little Ding's little hand gripped tighter and tighter, until it slowly became her arm around her.
Ouch, this damn feeling on my back. Li Chu was bursting with energy, wanting nothing more than to ride his bike as fast as he could.
More than an hour later, guided by Ding Qiunan, they arrived at the entrance of the alley where their house was located.
At this moment, Ding's parents were busy preparing for their daughter Ding's boyfriend, who was arriving that day.
Ding's father got up before dawn and rushed to the pigeon market to buy a big rooster.
The coal stove sat outside the house, and a chicken was simmering on the fire. The aroma of the chicken wafted out through the cracks in the pot lid, filling the entire yard with its fragrance. Her younger brother, Ding Jianguo, sat on a small stool to the side, staring intently at the pot, his mouth watering.
A group of teenagers who were on holiday at home squatted in the middle of the yard, watching and drooling.
These days, no one can resist the urge to eat meat.
The neighbors all knew that the Ding family was going to entertain Miss Ding's boyfriend today.
The other person is a college student who is now a doctor.
A few idle neighbors stood next to Aunt Ding chatting, occasionally glancing enviously at the pot of stewing chicken.
Other girls are really good at choosing partners; they have excellent taste. No wonder she didn't like any of the men they were introduced to.
Putting everything else aside, just look at all that old meat and cloth you brought back last time.
As we were chatting, we heard a noise from the courtyard gate. Turning around, we saw Miss Ding coming in with a shoulder bag on her back. Behind her was a neatly dressed young man pushing a bicycle.
The neighbors in the courtyard took one look and exclaimed, "Wow, they even have bicycles!"
There was a hen hanging on the handlebars; these things are hard to find these days, they're kept to lay eggs.
There was a bag tied to the handlebars. Although I didn't know what was inside, it looked quite heavy.
The neighbors in the courtyard felt like they'd eaten lemons; they were already sour enough, but now they felt even more sour.
When Ding's mother saw this, she quickly came to greet them: "Why did you come back by bicycle? Your father said he would go to the station to meet you later."
"Mom, we're back. It's easier to ride a bike now, no need to rush."
Li Chu saw Ding Ma from behind and called out, "Hello, Auntie, I'm Li Chu."
"Alright, come in and sit down quickly." Ding Ma looked at Li Chu with a smile, then raised her voice, "Her father, come out quickly."
"Here they come, they're out." Mr. Ding came out of the house.
Li Chu parked the car in front of her house. Looking at Ding's father, he called out, "Uncle, hello, I'm Li Chu."
"Hello, Xiao Chu." Ding's father said with a smile.
Ding Qiunan helped take off her shoulder bag, which made a clattering sound. She handed it to her mother along with her own bag, and her mother took it and went inside.
Li Chu took the hen tied to the handlebars off the bicycle and handed it to Uncle Ding: "Uncle, this chicken can be raised a little longer. It was laying eggs when we caught it."
She took the cloth bag containing the meat off again, and Ding Qiunan pulled him towards home: "Come on in, you've been riding for over an hour, I told you to rest for a bit but you wouldn't listen." Ding Qiunan felt a little sorry for her boyfriend, who hadn't stopped riding the whole way.
Upon entering the house, Li Chu placed the things he was carrying on the table, and Aunt Ding poured him a glass of water: "Hurry up and drink some water, you must be tired, Xiao Chu."
"It's not tiring, Auntie."
Ding's father temporarily placed the chicken in a corner next to the house and blocked it with two wooden boards. As soon as he entered the house, he took out a cigarette and handed one to Li Chu: "Xiao Chu, have a smoke."
"Oh, thank you, Uncle." Li Chu took the cigarette, took out a match to light Ding's father's cigarette first, and then lit his own.
Ding Jianguo stopped smelling the aroma outside and went inside. He leaned close to Li Chu and asked, "Are you my brother-in-law?"
Li Chu chuckled upon hearing this; the kid had a good eye. He pulled two pieces of candy from his pocket and gave them to him: "That's right, I'm your brother-in-law from now on. Here, have some candy."
Ding Qiunan walked over and shoved her younger brother aside, saying, "You're everywhere."
Then he took things out of the bag: "Mom and Dad, these are things Li Chu bought for you."
Mr. and Mrs. Ding stared wide-eyed at the items that were pulled out.
Ding Jianguo saw the pastries and canned goods nearby and his mouth watered so much that his clothes were almost soaked.
Ding's father turned to look at Li Chu: "Xiao Chu, you have too much stuff. You two are dating, we're marrying off our daughter, not selling her."
Ding's mother nodded in agreement when she heard what Ding's father said.
"Uncle, Aunt, don't overthink it. I'm not just putting on a show. You can keep it without worry."
Mr. and Mrs. Ding exchanged a glance, and Mr. Ding nodded: "Alright, we'll accept it this time. These are your gifts for visiting our family. But you can't do this again. After you two get married, just live your own lives."
Li Chu smiled and replied, "Yes, I'll listen to you, Uncle."
Ding's mother got up and tidied up the things on the table, and the group sat down at the table and chatted happily.
After thinking for a moment, Mr. Ding asked, "Xiao Chu, what are your plans regarding your relationship?"
“Uncle, Aunt, this is what I’m thinking. I haven’t discussed it with Qiu Nan yet. Let me tell you what I think, and see if it’s okay.” Li Chu organized his thoughts and continued, “I want to wait until Qiu Nan finishes her studies before we get married.”
Ding Qiunan blushed upon hearing this and lowered her head without saying a word.
Mr. Ding then asked, "After Qiu Nan finishes her training, she'll be going back to the factory. What about you guys...?"
Li Chu smiled and said, "Uncle, I've already asked my brother-in-law to take care of it for her. She can go directly to work at the main factory after she finishes her training."
Ding Qiunan, no longer bothered with embarrassment, looked up and asked, "When did you get it done? Why didn't you tell me?"
“When we were talking about this the other day, I went back and told my brother-in-law. He knows one of the leaders at your main factory. It just so happens that the doctor from the main factory's clinic is thinking of coming here. If you two switch places, you'll both be satisfied.”
Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Ding were relieved. Once the problems in these two places were resolved, there would be no more issues.
Ding's mother happily went to cook, and little Ding also went to help.
Ding's father and Li Chu sat together, smoking and chatting happily.
Ding Jianguo had already gone out to show off the milk candy his brother-in-law had given him.
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