Chapter 332 Arrival
On the day that his sister-in-law Li Xiuqin arrived in the capital with Gu Yong and Gu Yong, Gu Xiao was busy with military affairs and couldn't spare the time.
He specially arranged for Xiao Liu to drive Nan Zhiyi to the train station to pick her up.
When Xiaoman saw her mother about to leave and heard that she was going to pick up her two "brothers," she was so excited that she clung to Nan Zhiyi's leg and refused to let go, insisting on going with her.
Nan Zhiyi couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she had no choice but to hug him and get into the car together.
The little guy squirmed excitedly in his mother's arms until the car started moving, at which point he calmed down a bit.
Nan Zhiyi hugged her son and earnestly instructed him, "Xiaoman, we're going to meet your aunt, as well as Brother Gu Yong and Brother Gu Meng soon. You're the little master, so you need to be polite, okay?"
Xiaoman nodded his little head earnestly and practiced in his childish voice, "Hello, Auntie! Hello, Brother!" He paused, then added, "You've all worked hard, are you tired?"
Nan Zhiyi smiled knowingly at his grown-up tone and praised, "Wow, our Xiaoman is so amazing! He's so good with words! Your aunt and brothers will be so happy to hear this!"
Xiaoman was even more smug, chuckling to herself.
The jeep drove all the way to the train station.
The Army Compound is located in the west of Beijing, while the train station is in the east of the city center, about a 40-50 minute drive away.
When they arrived at the train station, it was late afternoon. The sun was setting, but the heat was still intense. The square in front of the station was bustling with people, filled with noise from various accents.
Nan Zhiyi, carrying Xiaoman, walked through the crowd and reached the exit under Xiao Liu's protection.
After waiting for quite a while, the expected train did not arrive on time.
Xiao Liu glanced at his watch and said to Nan Zhiyi, "Sister-in-law, it looks like we're going to be late."
Nan Zhiyi was also a little anxious, and nodded: "Okay, then let's wait a little longer."
The train station was noisy, and Nan Zhiyi, afraid that Xiaoman would be pushed around by the crowd, kept holding him in her arms.
Over time, your arms will inevitably feel sore and heavy.
Xiao Liu noticed her quietly switching hands to hold the child, and stretched out his hands to Xiao Man, "Xiao Man, come here, shall Uncle Liu hold you? Uncle is strong."
Xiaoman was reluctant to leave her mother's embrace, but she was also sensible and stretched out her little arm to Xiao Liu, saying, "Uncle Xiao Liu, thank you."
Xiao Liu took Xiao Man from him and carried him on his shoulders: "Hey! Hold on tight!"
As her field of vision rose, Xiaoman was startled and immediately hugged Xiaoliu's head tightly.
Nan Zhiyi looked up at her son, "Xiaoman is sitting high up and can see far. He might see his aunt and brothers even before his mother does."
She thought to herself, in the blink of an eye, it was the last time she saw her sister-in-law during the Spring Festival two years ago. At that time, Xiaoman was still a little one, and now she is more than three years old. She wondered if her sister-in-law would still recognize her.
The three waited for a long time. People waiting to pick up passengers on the platform changed one after another. People waiting for the delayed train like them gradually became anxious. Every now and then, someone would crane their neck to look around or complain in a low voice.
Xiao Man, who had been excited, became listless and lay listlessly on top of Xiao Liu's head.
Nan Zhiyi was worried that Xiao Liu's neck was sore, so she said to Xiao Liu, "Xiao Liu, put him down, you're tired."
Little Liu chuckled sheepishly, "Sister-in-law, I'm not tired! Xiaoman is only a little heavier!"
Just then, an announcement came over the station's loudspeaker that the train they were waiting for had finally arrived.
Xiao Liu perked up. "Sister-in-law, listen! The announcement says the bus has arrived!"
Nan Zhiyi immediately stood on tiptoe and looked towards the exit.
After waiting patiently for a while, I saw a large number of weary travelers carrying big bags and small packages pouring out of the passage.
Nan Zhiyi's eyes searched through the crowd.
It was Li Xiuqin, the eldest sister-in-law, who spotted Xiaoman, who was being carried on Xiao Liu's shoulder and stood out from afar, and then saw Nan Zhiyi standing next to her.
She and her sons quickened their pace and squeezed their way towards them.
"Fifth sister-in-law!" Li Xiuqin called out from a few steps away.
Nan Zhiyi quickly went to greet her, "Sister-in-law! You must be tired from your journey!"
She looked at the two boys behind Li Xiuqin and exclaimed, "Gu Yong and Gu Meng, you've grown so tall!"
Gu Yong and Gu Meng greeted, "Hello, Fifth Aunt."
The previously listless Xiaoman perked up immediately upon seeing the unfamiliar faces that suddenly appeared. "Hello, Auntie! Hello, Brother! You must be tired!"
After saying that, he added quietly, "Xiaoman is tired too."
His childish words immediately made everyone laugh.
Li Xiuqin couldn't stop smiling and reached out to touch Xiaoman's face: "Oh my, this must be Xiaoman? She's grown so much and she's so good at talking!"
Nan Zhiyi quickly helped with the luggage, and the group left the train station in a lively atmosphere.
Back home, Xiao Liu helped carry several large pieces of luggage into the house before saying goodbye and leaving.
Looking at her travel-worn sister-in-law and two nephews, Nan Zhiyi said, "Sister-in-law, you've been on the train for over a day, you must be sweating and feeling very uncomfortable. The towels, toothbrushes, and soap at home are all new, I've left them in the bathroom. If you'd like to take a shower and relax..."
Before she could finish speaking, her sister-in-law, Li Xiuqin, clapped her hands loudly. "Oh! That's exactly what I wanted! Last night, I squeezed onto that train, it was like being in a stuffy can, I felt so suffocated the whole way! I felt uncomfortable all over! Fifth sister-in-law, then I really won't stand on ceremony with you!"
Nan Zhiyi liked her sister-in-law's straightforwardness and was happy. She quickly led the way, saying, "Come on, sister-in-law, I'll take you to the restroom."
As she walked, she introduced, "Sister-in-law, there's also a bathroom upstairs. You can wash upstairs or downstairs, whichever is more convenient for you."
Li Xiuqin immediately instructed, "Xiaoyong, Xiaomeng, you two brothers can use this downstairs. Hurry up and go wash up and get rid of that train smell! When we get to Uncle and Aunt's house, we won't stand on ceremony!"
She said this both to her son and to reiterate her stance to Nan Zhiyi.
Nan Zhiyi smiled and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, sister-in-law is right. We're family, we shouldn't be so polite."
She first led her sister-in-law upstairs, pointed out the bathroom next to the master bedroom, and then took out a brand-new towel, toothbrush and an unopened sandalwood soap from the cabinet: "Sister-in-law, everything is here. Take your time washing, there's no rush."
After settling her sister-in-law in, Nan Zhiyi hurried downstairs.
Seeing Gu Yong and Gu Meng rummaging through their clothes for a change, she said softly, "Xiao Yong, Xiao Meng, the bathroom downstairs is around the corner. I've prepared towels and toothbrushes and put them on the washstand. Go wash up, you'll feel better afterward."
Gu Yong scratched the back of his head: "Fifth Aunt, don't bother us. We can find the things ourselves. You should rest for a while."
"Alright, then Auntie Wu won't stand on ceremony with you. If there's anything you don't understand in the bathroom, or if you need anything else, just let me know. Don't be shy."
She pointed to the fruit that had already been washed and the cold water that had been poured on the coffee table, "Come and have some fruit and a drink of water after you've washed them."
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