Chapter 104 Playing ping-pong late at night?
The group gathered around the extinguished fire pit, chatting and eating noisily.
While answering Grandma Xi's questions, Zhao Xiannan kept eating the rice in his bowl, urged on by her.
While he was still engrossed in eating, a chicken leg was placed into his bowl.
He looked up, somewhat stunned, at his grandfather Chen, who had a stern face.
Grandpa Chen glanced at him and said succinctly, "You're too thin, eat more."
Zhao Xiannan smiled, his slightly childish features becoming much more lively. "Thank you, Grandpa."
Grandpa Chen grunted in response and continued eating without saying anything more.
Shen Xuewei also had a chicken leg in her bowl, which she was munching on.
Animals may have special channels for transmitting information. Mimi, who hadn't been home for almost half a month, seemed to know that there was a big meal at home today, and surprisingly, she came back.
It lay down at the old woman's feet, staring at the chicken leg in Shen Xuewei's hand.
Shen Xuewei glanced at it, turned away, quickly tore the meat off the chicken leg, and hurriedly threw the remaining chicken bones to Dahuang.
If she weren't biased, it would be almost impossible for Da Huang to snatch it from Mimi...
As everyone was talking, upon learning that Zhao Xiannan was about to enter high school, Grandma Xi couldn't help but give him some advice:
"Now that you've passed the exam, study hard. Once you get into university, things will be much easier."
After giving these instructions, Grandma Xi suddenly realized that Zhao Xiannan was not Shen Xuewei.
Even if he doesn't get into university in the future, Zhao Fang'er is rich, and Zhao Xiannan still has a bright future ahead of him.
She sighed softly, turned her head to look at Shen Xuewei, who had spent the summer working in the fields with them and had become much darker from the sun, and a hint of heartache appeared in her eyes.
Her daughter, Weiwei, can't rely on her parents; they're both too old to depend on.
From now on, she'll only have herself to rely on.
Thinking of this, she picked up another piece of chicken for Shen Xuewei, saying, "Weiwei, eat more."
To make Zhao Xiannan feel less neglected, she put another piece of food on his plate.
After everyone had eaten for a while, Chen Fangqiu finally rode back on his motorcycle.
When she saw him return, Grandma Xi quickly got up, moved to a different spot, and brought him a stool.
After Chen Fangqiu sat down to eat, she looked at him wolfing down his food and complained:
"Look at you, wandering around outside, never showing up. You said you found a job, but you haven't done it. All day long, you just seem to be running off to who-knows-where..."
Chen Fangqiu just kept eating and ignored her.
After a while, seeing that Chen Fangqiu remained silent, Grandma Xi gradually stopped talking as well.
Zhao Xiannan, holding the bowl, glanced at Chen Fangqiu with a puzzled look.
Shen Xuewei lightly kicked him and shook her head at him, and he stopped looking in Chen Fangqiu's direction.
After finishing their meal, Shen Xuewei and Grandma Xi cleaned up the dishes together and then went to the front door to enjoy the cool air with everyone.
Seeing that everyone was there, Grandpa Chen announced the important event that was about to happen in the family.
"I had someone calculate the auspicious date, and we'll start building our house next month. I've already found a contractor, and the blueprints are all done. It'll be two stories, so everyone will have a place to stay when they come back..."
As he spoke, he handed a hand-drawn sketch to Chen Fangyang.
Chen Fangyang glanced at it briefly and then handed the drawings to Chen Fangqiu.
"I think it's fine, I have no objection, A-Qiu, you should take a look too."
Chen Fangqiu took it, glanced at it casually, and said, "Hmm, it's pretty good."
Seeing the two of them acting so nonchalantly, Grandpa Chen felt a little annoyed, and his tone became even more somber.
"Both of you, when it's time to build the house, neither of you is allowed to run around. You both have to stay home and help with the construction. If I can't find you, I'll personally come and drag you back..."
Now that things have come to this point, how could the two of them not be working at home?
The two exchanged a glance and said at the same time, "We understand, we'll definitely be home then."
Seeing that the two had agreed, Grandpa Chen let out a long sigh of relief and said, "When the time comes, we'll need to find more relatives to help. Those in the village, and others we have good relationships with. The sooner it's built, the better; I'm thinking of moving into the new house before the New Year..."
Shen Xuewei listened quietly without interrupting.
When building a house here, people usually just build the house first, and they don't really care about decorating it.
Therefore, if there are enough people and the speed is fast enough, it is indeed possible to move into a new house before the Lunar New Year.
As he spoke, Grandpa Chen also told the two of them who he wanted to invite.
He specifically instructed Chen Fangqiu to remember to contact his relatives in advance to see if anyone had time to help.
When Chen Fangqiu isn't making mistakes, he's quite reliable when it comes to important matters like this.
After settling Chen Fangqiu in, Grandpa Chen looked at Chen Fangyang.
Chen Fangyang sensed something was wrong and quickly pulled Zhao Fang'er into the conversation.
"Dad, I'll definitely come back when the house is built. This time when I come back, Fang'er said I should take Xiannan and Weiwei out for a few days..."
Grandma Xi glanced at Shen Xuewei, whose eyes had suddenly brightened, and her heart softened. She hesitated for a moment, then said:
"School is about to start. What if Weiwei goes out to play and doesn't study, and her grades drop?"
Shen Xuewei raised her hand and said, "Grandma, I've already spent some time previewing the eighth-grade books, and I've finished all the summer homework the teacher assigned. Of course, I can take my books with me when I go out to play..."
His words revealed a strong desire to go out and have fun.
Of course, even if it wasn't finished, in order to go out and play, I could only say that it was finished.
Chen Fangyang spoke up for Shen Xuewei, "That's right, Weiwei's grades have always been very good. Going out to play for a few days won't have any impact."
"Look how long she's been at home, she's probably done a lot of work in the fields, she's been so tired. Let her go out and play for a few days before school starts, maybe that will help her study better..."
Grandma Xi's heart softened completely, and she looked at Grandpa Chen.
Grandpa Chen glanced at the expectant Shen Xuewei, and after a brief consideration, agreed.
"Okay, Weiwei, you can go out and play with your second uncle for a few days. But don't overdo it, you have to study hard after school starts."
Shen Xuewei replied loudly, "Yes, Grandpa."
She and Chen Fangyang exchanged a glance, and both of them smiled brightly.
After the family meeting, everyone went about their own business: some took showers, and some went to bed.
Grandma Chen was too old to keep up, so she went back to her room to sleep early.
The Chen family members went about their own business. After observing for a while, Wu Yuhong, seeing that everyone had dispersed, came up with a ping-pong paddle.
"Want to play ping pong?"
Playing ping pong so late at night?
Shen Xuewei exchanged a glance with her and said firmly, "Fight!"
Shen Xuewei brought out two empty baskets, and she and Wu Yuhong placed a wide wooden plank on top of them, and then they started hitting each other.
A short while later, Zhao Xiannan, who was inside the house, heard the noise and poked his head out to look.
While playing, Shen Xuewei didn't forget to invite him over.
"Brother Xiannan, come quick."
She only called Zhao Xiannan, and Chen Fangyang, who heard the greeting, came uninvited and lined up to wait for his turn.
When Grandma Xi returned from her bath, she heard the four of them cheering and making noise. She wanted to tell them to go back to sleep early.
However, seeing their flushed cheeks and how much fun they were having, he paused for a moment, said nothing, and simply smiled as he went inside, letting them be.
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