Chapter 85: Spending the New Year in Beijing for the First Time After Marriage
After Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi returned with their three cute kids, the Lu family seemed to be injected with a magical vitality, and every day was filled with laughter and joy.
This year is particularly unusual. Lu Jingxiao, the eldest brother of the Lu family, took a rare leave from his busy work and rushed back from afar to reunite with his family for a warm New Year's appointment. Eldest sister Lu Zhixu no longer has to work on duty at the hospital. She can finally put down the burden of work and return to her family with peace of mind. Now, all the members of the Lu family can gather together to have a lively and complete reunion year.
In the days before the Chinese New Year, Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi seemed to have transformed into "New Year's shopping experts", shuttling between the bustling markets and shopping malls every day.
They carefully selected everything they would need for the New Year, from auspicious spring couplets and colorful blessing characters to a variety of delicious snacks and fresh ingredients. Nothing was left out, and each item carried their beautiful expectations for the New Year.
The three little ones became the apple of Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu's eyes. Every day, the old couple would take them for a leisurely walk in the compound. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that it was not just a walk, but in fact, Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu were happily showing off their cute and well-behaved great-grandson and great-granddaughter.
Every time they go out, the old couple's faces are filled with smiles of pride that cannot be concealed. They brag about the interesting stories of their grandchildren to everyone they meet, which makes others envious.
On the day before Chinese New Year, just as the sky was turning pale, Brother Lu, Lu Jingxiao, rushed back exhausted. He had been running all the way but didn't care about being tired. As soon as he entered the house, his eyes were attracted by the three babies playing in the living room.
His eyes were full of love and affection. Without even putting down his luggage, he impatiently took out three bulging red envelopes from his pocket. The three babies were stunned for a moment, then their little heads turned and they subconsciously looked back at their parents. After getting their parents' nod of approval, they stretched out their little hands and carefully took the red envelopes handed over by Big Brother Lu. Then they said in unison in their baby voices, "Thank you, uncle!" Their well-behaved appearance made Lu Jingxiao couldn't help but reach out and touch their heads.
At this time, the eldest sister Lu Zhixu also came out of the kitchen, holding the noodles she had just rolled, and said with a smile: "Brother, you are finally back. We have been waiting for you. Hurry up and wash your hands and eat. Dumplings on the way, noodles on the way out!"
Lu Zhixu, the eldest sister of the Lu family, was overjoyed. In order to welcome her eldest brother home, she put on an apron early and started rolling noodles by hand. The flour flew in her hands, and soon it turned into noodles that were evenly thick and chewy. The whole family sat around the steaming hot dinner table, laughing and talking happily.
During the meal, the eldest brother and the eldest sister of the Lu family chatted with each other, praising the three babies of Lu Tingxiao's family for being cute, sensible and obedient. The three little guys' cheeks turned red due to the praise and they lowered their heads in embarrassment, which made them look even more lovable. Who would have thought that these few words of praise would be like a key that opened up Lu's mother's chatterbox.
Mother Lu stopped eating and glanced back and forth between her eldest son and daughter. With a look of helplessness and anxiety on her face, she said, "You two are busy praising your children, but what about your own life events? You are already grown up, but you are still single. When can you find me a daughter-in-law or a son-in-law?"
Upon hearing this, Brother Lu and Sister Lu were stunned at first, then they looked at each other with tacit understanding, and they both complained in their hearts: It's over, why can't we control our mouths, why are we praising the children for no reason, now the war has come directly upon us.
Although I was secretly upset, I couldn't say it out loud. Brother Lu cleared his throat and tried to persuade his mother with reason: "Mom, you said you wanted to find a daughter-in-law for you, but this matter cannot be rushed. I can't just find someone who will mess up the house, right? At least I have to find someone who shares the same ideals as me, so that I can live comfortably in the future. Don't you agree?"
After hearing this, Mother Lu felt that what her eldest son said was indeed reasonable, and for a moment she could not find any words to refute it. But she had no place to vent her urge to get married, so her eyes fell on her daughter again.
"What about you? What's wrong with you? Why don't you hurry up and find a partner?" asked Lu's mother. Sister Lu smiled awkwardly, a trace of discomfort flashed across her face, and she scratched her head and said, "Hey, Mom, I just haven't met the right person yet. You know, fate can't be forced!"
"Look at you two, this one is not suitable, that one is not suitable, what kind of person are you going to find? Boss, are you really going to find a fairy?" There was a hint of anger and disappointment in Lu's mother's tone.
Brother Lu seemed to have seized the opportunity to tease her, and responded half-jokingly: "Mom, you never know! If I really find you a fairy daughter-in-law, don't be surprised by it!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone burst into laughter. Lu's mother was both angry and amused. She was speechless for a moment and could only wave her hands helplessly: "Okay, I'll wait for the two of you. One of you will find me a beautiful daughter-in-law, and the other will find me a beautiful son-in-law. You two really make me worry. I thought it would be difficult for your younger brother to find a partner, but now others have children and only you two are left. If I don't urge you, who should I urge?" Lu's mother pretended to be angry, but the expression on her face could not hide her concern and expectations for her children.
Hearing what Lu's mother said, the brother and sister secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and sighed in their hearts at the same time: This is why they are reluctant to go home. Every time they come back, urging them to get married is always the indispensable "highlight". In the past, the focus was on the three siblings, but after the youngest brother got married, all the attention was focused on the two of them.
At this time, Lu Tingxiao, who had been eating silently, put down his bowl and chopsticks and smiled to smooth things over, "Mom, don't worry too much. Big brother and big sister know what's going on. Their fate might not be far away. Let's eat first. If we don't eat the noodles, they will become clumpy!"
Only then did Mother Lu turn her attention back to the dining table, muttering, "Okay, let's eat first and talk about this later!" However, everyone in the family knew that Mother Lu's "marriage urging" would definitely not stop there.
After dinner, the family sat in the living room watching TV. Mother Lu seemed to be staring at the TV screen seriously, but her eyes drifted to her eldest son and daughter from time to time, wondering how to persuade them next time.
Brother Lu and Sister Lu noticed their mother's gaze, exchanged glances, quietly stood up, and prepared to find an excuse to sneak out and hide. Just as they walked to the door, Mother Lu suddenly said, "Where do you two want to go now?"
The two of them paused, turned around awkwardly, and smiled ingratiatingly. A new battle of wits and courage between "urging marriage and opposing urging marriage" seemed to be about to begin.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye it is New Year's Eve. The air is filled with the strong flavor of the New Year. Early in the morning, Lu's mother started to get busy. She was in high spirits and assigned tasks in an orderly manner.
“Tingxiao, take Xixi and the children to paste the Chinese characters for blessing and couplets on the door. Make sure they are pasted neatly, as this symbolizes blessings and success in the new year!” Mother Lu’s face was full of smiles, her eyes full of anticipation for the new year.
"Okay, Mom, don't worry!" Lu Tingxiao responded readily, turning to look at Jiang Ruoxi and the three cute children, his eyes full of tenderness and love.
When the three little ones heard that there was a mission, they were so excited that they cheered and surrounded their parents. Dabao patted his chest modestly and said, "I'm a little man, I'll help dad get the couplets!" Erbao Yiyi was not to be outdone and hurriedly said, "I'll get the word 'Fu', I promise not to wrinkle it." Sanbao Jiaojiao blinked her big watery eyes and said in a baby voice, "I want to paste window flowers with mom to make the windows beautiful!"
Lu Tingxiao and his family of five arrived at the door. Lu Tingxiao and Dabao carefully unfolded the couplet, one was responsible for holding it, and the other was responsible for indicating the position. Jiang Ruoxi instructed from the side: "A little higher, align the left side, yes, that's it." Erbao hugged the word "Fu" tightly, staring at his father without blinking, afraid that he would miss the opportunity to help.
The whole family worked together, and soon, the big red couplet and the word "Fu" were firmly pasted on the door. The bright red color reflected their happy faces, and the atmosphere was full of festive joy.
After pasting the couplets and the word "Fu", Sanbao took his mother's hand and couldn't wait to open the window paper-cuts. The exquisite patterns sparkled with colorful light in the sunlight.
Sanbao climbed onto the stool excitedly and handed the window paper-cut to his mother. Jiang Ruoxi gently pasted the window paper-cut on the glass and smoothed every corner with her hands. Lu Tingxiao watched from the side, occasionally helping to pass tools. The family laughed and talked happily, and a warm atmosphere filled the entire house, making this New Year's Eve full of the flavor of home.
After putting up the Spring Festival couplets, Lu Zhixu and Jiang Ruoxi helped prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner. Waves of tempting aroma wafted from the kitchen. The family is busy but happy. The smell of happiness permeates the air, as if telling the beauty and reunion of this New Year.
The excitement and reunion of the New Year seemed to be just yesterday. In the blink of an eye, the end of the holiday quietly arrived. After the New Year, Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi had to rush to their respective posts and report to the military academy and Peking University. The three young children were temporarily placed in the Lu family.
Before school started, Lu Tingxiao decided to spend some time with Jiang Ruoxi and go explore the area around Peking University. They had a common idea in mind, which was to find a suitable residence near Peking University, preferably a courtyard house, which would not only save Jiang Ruoxi from the daily commuting between the compound and the school, but also create a warm and comfortable living space for the family.
Recalling the full luggage that was brought back from Liao Province thousands of miles away, it is still piled in the corner of the courtyard and has not yet been unpacked and sorted. But these were put aside for the time being. Finding an ideal residence was obviously more urgent than sorting out things.
Before leaving, Lu Tingxiao called Sun Zhijun. A familiar voice came from the receiver. Lu Tingxiao asked earnestly, "Old Sun, you have a lot of connections around Peking University. Can you help me keep an eye out for any courtyard houses for rent or sale?"
"Old Lu, why are you looking for a courtyard house?"
"My wife's school is too far from the compound, and it's not very convenient for her to go back and forth every day. I want to rent or buy a courtyard house near her school so that I can bring the child and Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan over. This way, my wife can go home every day and see the child and take care of him. If there is a suitable one, it would be best if I could buy a slightly larger one!"
Sun Zhijun agreed readily, but said helplessly that there might not be any news immediately, but if there were any clues, he would inform him as soon as possible.
After hanging up the phone, Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi set out on the journey to Beijing University. Along the way, there was a lot of traffic, and the shops on the street still retained some festive New Year decorations. The faces of the pedestrians were filled with expressions of satisfaction or haste.
After arriving near Kyoto University, the two strolled along the streets, carefully scanning every posted house rental or sale notice, not missing any possible opportunity.
However, the road to house hunting is not always smooth. Although some courtyard houses are in excellent locations, the rental or selling price is beyond their budget; some are in disrepair and require a lot of time and effort to repair, which does not meet their current needs. But Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi were not discouraged. They encouraged each other and continued to travel through the streets and alleys.
Before we knew it, it was getting dark and a gorgeous sunset glow appeared in the sky. Although the two people were a little tired after a busy day, they were still full of hope in their hearts. They had a simple dinner at a small restaurant on the street and prepared to return to the compound.
The two of them ran around all day and only returned to the compound in the evening. As soon as they stepped into the house, they seemed to have lost all their strength. They slumped down in their chairs exhausted, ready to take a good rest.
Sweat slid down his forehead, soaking his temples, and his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. Jiang Ruoxi gently rubbed her sore calves, her face showing a tired but expectant expression. Lu Tingxiao took a long breath, leaned back on the chair, closed his eyes, and tried to relieve his physical fatigue.
Just then, the phone rang suddenly, breaking the brief silence. Lu Tingxiao opened his eyes suddenly and rushed over to answer the phone. He heard Sun Zhijun's cheerful voice on the other end of the phone: "Old Lu, I have finally lived up to your expectations and found a few courtyard houses. They are relatively close to Beijing and the location is quite good. If you are free tomorrow, I will ask the owner to come out and take you to see the house tomorrow!"
Lu Tingxiao's eyes lit up instantly, and his face was filled with excitement. He turned his head to look at Jiang Ruoxi and repeated Sun Zhijun's words excitedly. Jiang Ruoxi also perked up all of a sudden, and her fatigue instantly dissipated. She quickly stood up, walked to Lu Tingxiao's side, and pricked up her ears to listen to what was being said on the phone.
After hanging up the phone, Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi began to discuss enthusiastically, "Wife, it seems that we are lucky. We must take a good look tomorrow. Maybe we can find an ideal house."
Lu Tingxiao held Jiang Ruoxi's hand tightly, his tone full of expectation. Jiang Ruoxi nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling, "Yes, I hope to find a courtyard house that is both comfortable and convenient, so that I don't have to go to school so hard in the future. I just don't know how much the house costs. Is it expensive? Last night I checked our savings. Your salary in the past two years plus my royalties are about 40,000 yuan, but I don't know if it's enough?"
"Wife, I've never bought a house, so I don't know. Let's wait until we see the house tomorrow and decide. If it doesn't work out, we can bargain with him. If that doesn't work out, we can borrow some money from my parents. Let's buy the house first!"
Jiang Ruoxi hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay, let's see what happens tomorrow!"
The two of them carefully discussed the things that need to be paid attention to when looking at a house, such as whether the structure of the house is stable, whether the lighting and ventilation are good, and whether the surrounding environment is quiet.
Before I knew it, the sky had completely darkened and stars twinkled outside the window. They had a simple dinner, then washed up and went to bed early, looking forward to tomorrow's house-viewing trip.
Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi got up early the next morning. Jiang Ruoxi carefully selected a suitable set of clothes and put on light makeup, hoping to leave a good impression on the homeowner. Lu Tingxiao sorted out the relevant information and put the paper and pens that might be needed into his bag. After everything was ready, they set off in high spirits, facing the morning sunshine.
At the agreed time, they arrived at the first courtyard. The owner of the house was already waiting at the door. He was a kind old man. The old man warmly welcomed them into the yard and began to introduce the house.
Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi listened attentively while carefully observing every corner of the yard. The price of this yard is 3,000. It is a quadrangle with three main rooms. There are three rooms in the east and west wing. Although it is not big, the layout is compact and reasonable. There is a lush locust tree in the middle of the yard, which adds a bit of tranquility and peace to the whole yard. The house has good lighting, with sunlight shining through the windows into the house, making it particularly bright. However, when checking the details of the house, Lu Tingxiao found some slight signs of water leakage on the roof. Then there was the locust tree in the yard. It is said that locust trees are yin, which the two of them did not like, and this made them a little hesitant.
After saying goodbye to the first courtyard house, they rushed to the second one without stopping. This is a quadrangle with two entrances. There is a small garden in the yard, which is full of various flowers and plants, emitting a faint floral fragrance. There are three back rooms in the outer courtyard, three main rooms in the inner courtyard, one ear room on each side, and three east and west wing rooms each.
This courtyard has many rooms, enough for both the Lu and Jiang families to live in. The decoration of the house is quite exquisite, and you can tell at a glance that the owner takes good care of it. Jiang Ruoxi was very satisfied with this place, but Lu Tingxiao felt that although the courtyard was close to Peking University, the surrounding traffic was a bit congested and it was not very convenient to travel.
Then, they went to see the third courtyard...
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