Chapter 102 Howard in the eyes of others
Xu Jianhua jumped down from the third-floor window and fell on the ground covered with soft green grass. He was not dead, but he broke his leg... and was caught by the people who rushed over after hearing the news.
What followed was naturally another scene of chaos.
Everyone was taken to the police station by the police and questioned one by one.
Originally, the police wanted to confirm Bai Lili's safety, but Howard spoke up and asked them not to investigate Bai Lili for the time being and wait until daybreak.
The police gave up.
Everyone was recording their statements in the police station until late at night.
It was already early morning when I left the police station, and there was no one on the street outside. Dongsheng hurried back home and asked Xingxing to pack up Lili's clothes, shoes and socks, and tied them into a bag. He then hurriedly carried them to the guesthouse.
Bai Zhenggan, Nansheng, Song Zhi and Song Sui were all waiting at the entrance of the guesthouse.
Howard was with them.
The family went to Howard's room.
However, no one went into the house. Taotao and Tang Liren came out to get the clothes, took them in for Lili to change into, and then helped Lili out.
Lili's face was pale and there were several scratches on her face. Because of the pain all over her body, she couldn't stand steadily and was almost entirely dependent on her mother's support.
She looked at her father and brother, and wanted to smile and comfort them, saying, "I'm fine..."
Without uttering a word, tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.
The men in the Bai family were angry and distressed.
Nansheng walked forward, picked up his sister, and walked downstairs.
Bai Zhenggan said to Huo Huaen with red eyes: "Minister Huo, I'm so sorry..."
Howard said in time: "It's okay, it's getting late, you should go back quickly, and we can talk about it tomorrow if there is anything."
As he said this, he looked deeply at Bai Lili's red eyes again.
He didn't know why, but her tears made him feel particularly distressed and uncomfortable.
Nansheng carried Lili downstairs and let her sit on the back rack of Dongsheng's bicycle. Dongsheng pushed the bicycle, while Tang Liren and Taotao each held Lili, and the family returned home in silence.
When we got home, Xingxing had already tidied the room and made the bed, and had boiled a large pot of hot water.
Seeing her third sister looking so weak, Xingxing's eyes turned red and she couldn't help wanting to cry.
Tang Liren directed Taotao and Tan Fenghui to help Lili into the house, and then drove Xingxing out and closed the door. The mothers asked Lili a lot of questions.
Knowing that Lili was not violated, the mothers finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he brought some hot water so that Lili could take a good bath.
But when they saw that Lili's fair body was covered with various shocking scars, they cried sadly again.
The men stood in the living room, listening to the women crying silently in the house, and everyone was filled with hatred.
Finally, Lili took a hot bath and finally fell asleep.
Only then did Tang Liren bring Tan Fenghui and Taotao out of the house.
The mothers' eyes were red and filled with tears.
Bai Zhenggan asked, "Is the child asleep?"
Tang Liren nodded.
Bai Dongsheng hesitated for a while, "Mom, do you want to... go to the hospital to ask?"
"What do you want to ask?" Tang Liren asked.
Bai Dongsheng thought further ahead, "What if, what if... what if Lili gets pregnant with an illegitimate child? That would truly ruin her life!"
Tang Liren was stunned and sighed, "No! That didn't happen! Lili is fine! She wasn't violated by that beast."
The men looked at each other and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, I didn’t suffer that pain!
Bai Zhenggan asked again, "Then why were you crying in the room just now?"
We were all misunderstood.
Tao Tao sobbed softly, "Dad, that beast beat my sister... My sister has wounds all over her body, especially her buttocks... Her buttocks, it looks like she was thrown to the ground by that beast... There's a big purple patch!"
Tan Fenghui also said with tears in her eyes: "Fortunately, she was already knocked unconscious by the beast at that time, so she didn't react when she was beaten... Now she feels the pain! However... When I think about how badly she was beaten and she didn't even know it, I can imagine that the beast was very ruthless when he pinched her neck at that time. He really wanted her to die!"
Tang Liren's eyes were red. "I have handled many domestic violence cases in the Women's Federation. The superficial injuries on Lili's body... are more serious than any injured woman I have ever seen..."
Bai Zhenggan and his sons were so angry that they almost vomited blood.
Song Zhi said, "We still have to find the police after daybreak and bring a few doctors over to assess Lili's injuries."
Nansheng asked, "Why did that beast take off Lili's clothes and then..."
Song Zhi analyzed, "He definitely wanted to do something bad, but weren't you downstairs at the time? You also kept sending people to look for Lili everywhere. I guess he was scared and felt guilty. In the end, he was afraid that Lili would accuse him if she was still alive, so he took away all of Lili's clothes, thinking that in this cold winter, a person without clothes might freeze to death..."
Nan Sheng said with hatred: "I have never seen such a vicious person!"
Tang Liren said, "I still have something to worry about..." and then told him that Dr. Zhang from the Guest House might have misunderstood Lili and Howard.
He added, "After all, Xu Jianhua hadn't been found at that time. When Doctor Zhang saw Lili wearing Howard's clothes and sleeping on his bed, with wounds all over her body... that look in her eyes! Boss, will we implicate Howard?"
Tan Fenghui said: "Third sister has such a hard life. She was already being talked about because of the matter between Yuan Chunmei and Meng Guoqiang, and now there is the matter of Xu Jianhua, which involves Minister Huo... Oh, what's coming next is really bloody!"
Everyone fell silent.
Xing Xing said, "Mom and Dad, how about we go somewhere else?"
Tang Liren rolled her eyes at her. "Your father and brother's jobs have just stabilized. How can we change? Where can we change to?"
Tao Tao also said: "We are the victims. If we leave at this critical moment, won't it make people criticize us even more?"
Tan Fenghui sighed, "But what Lili has to endure... is too much."
Song Sui also helped to think of a solution, "How about trying to get Lili transferred? Changing the working environment might make you feel better."
Tang Liren and Bai Zhenggan looked at each other.
Both of them had heavy frowns on their brows.
Tang Liren said: "She is a young girl who goes to other places. What if she is bullied? Who will protect her?"
Bai Zhenggan also said: "When Taotao was going to Kyoto to study, her classmates had all undergone political review, and the teachers were all intellectuals... Your mother and I were worried. If she hadn't married Song Zhi, we wouldn't have let her go so far away alone!"
Song Sui thought for a moment, then glanced at Xing Xing again, blushing, and said in a fearless voice, "What if Li Li is transferred to Nandu? Xing Xing should go too... I'll take care of them both, nothing will happen to them."
Song Zhi looked at his brother disapprovingly.
——My father-in-law and mother-in-law love their daughters dearly, so how could they let both of them go to Nandu at once? ! Besides, Song Sui was just an employee of a blanket factory in Nandu. How could she have the ability to take care of Lili and Xingxing!
Sure enough, Bai Zhenggan didn't even raise his eyelids.
In order to comfort Song Sui, Dongsheng smiled and patted Song Sui's shoulder.
Song Sui lowered her head.
Tang Liren thought about it and said, "If it really doesn't work, then I'll apply for medical retirement and take Lili back home!"
Xing Xing immediately said, "I'll go back with you!"
Song Sui: "I'm going too..."
Bai Dongsheng, "Mom, if this is the case, won't our family still be separated?"
Tang Liren sighed heavily.
Bai Zhenggan, "Let's talk about this later! Mother, please make arrangements for us to do recently. Taotao doesn't have much to do recently, so go home more often to take care of your third sister!"
Taotao responded.
Tang Liren said to Tan Fenghui, "Go to the guesthouse tomorrow and ask for a few days off for Lili... Then leave the little ones here during the day so they can keep Lili company and relieve her boredom. At night, take them back to sleep. Leave one of the rooms here empty for Taotao and Xingxing to take turns staying there to keep Lili company."
Tan Fenghui agreed.
Tang Liren arranged for Taotao again, "You and Xingxing should arrange shifts. When Xingxing is on the night shift, you can come over to accompany Lili. During normal times, Xingxing will accompany Lili..."
Taotao nodded.
Tang Liren then said to Xingxing, "When your fourth sister is sleeping at home, you can stay at your second brother's house... By the way, Nansheng, from now on when Xingxing works the night shift, you will be the one to pick her up after get off work! Our girl must not get into any trouble again!"
Nansheng's face turned pale and he responded sullenly.
Song Sui was anxious, "Auntie, I am Xingxing's colleague now. I can pick Xingxing up and drop her off every day..."
Xing Xing glared at him.
Song Sui felt aggrieved and kept silent.
Only then did Tang Liren tell her children to go home and have a rest.
The next day, Taotao and Song Zhi came early.
There were people who came earlier than them.
Howard.
He also brought the police and doctors with him...
Even now, the police and doctors have completed their questioning of Lili and assessment of her injuries.
Taotao looked at her watch and was sure it was less than six o'clock in the morning.
Howard and Song Zhi were chatting on the side. Taotao heard Howard say, "Let them come over earlier, so as not to alarm the neighbors."
Taotao tilted her head and observed Howard.
——He is tall, handsome, and has a strong temperament, and each of them has his own merits.
But in comparison, Song Zhi's temperament is more noble and elegant, while Howard is more tough and domineering, so it seems that Song Zhi is more approachable.
Bai Dongsheng and his wife also walked into the corridor with their children.
Dongsheng soon understood what was going on, and hurriedly thanked Howard, and politely sent the police and doctors away.
Howard also said he would not bother him anymore and left in a hurry.
Taotao always felt like something was not right.
However, she put all her thoughts on Lili and didn't think too much about it.
Bai Lili was very uneasy.
She kept asking Taotao, "Do you think people outside...will gossip about me? I'm so worried about affecting my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and Xingxing..."
Tao Tao tried to comfort her, "We are walking straight and doing the right thing, we are not afraid of what others say!"
Lili's brows were deeply furrowed.
At noon, Bai Zhenggan came back from get off work. Without looking worried, he walked straight into the house and asked Lili, "Have you known Howard?"
Taotao was stunned.
Bai Lili's face suddenly turned red, and then pale in an instant!
Tang Liren rushed over after hearing the news, "What happened?"
Bai Zhenggan said: "Huo Huaen came to me to propose marriage to Lili!"
Taotao was stunned.
Bai Lili bit her lip and lowered her head.
Tang Liren was stunned, "What did you say?"
"Howard told me today that he wanted to marry Lili!" Bai Zhenggan said it again, and then asked Lili, "Girl, you've known him for a long time and even started a relationship with him... Why didn't you tell me and your mother?"
Tang Liren was shocked. "What? Li Zi, are you dating Howard?"
Bai Lili hurriedly shook her head, "No! No no no... No! No!"
Tang Liren was anxious, "Didn't he say——"
Bai Zhenggan quickly comforted his wife, "Wait! Wait! According to Howard's original words, he said that he had been pursuing Lili, but Lili disagreed..."
Tang Liren was relieved. "Of course I can't agree to that! Howard is a second-married man with a child! My daughter Li Zi can never marry him! Look at Mr. Guan and Fang Ling! What a mess they have made... They are a couple who have been resentful of each other for life! Now Fang Ling can't get a divorce even if she wants to!"
Lili lowered her head, and her eyes were inexplicably filled with tears.
——See, she knew from the beginning that her parents would definitely not agree.
"Crack--squeak--"
Someone unlocked the door and entered the house.
Tang Liren asked casually, "Who is it?"
Tan Fenghui's voice rang out, "Mom and Dad, I'm back... I'm going to the bathroom first."
Tang Liren didn't say anything.
After a while, Song Zhi and Dong Sheng came back with food from the canteen.
"Mom and Dad, come out for dinner!"
Taotao ran to the coal stove and brought down the pork rib soup that had been stewed in the morning. She first served a bowl of the soup with bones and bones, and added a bowl of rice and some vegetables before bringing it into Lili's room.
At this time, Taotao heard Tang Liren shouting towards the bathroom, "Hui'er, are you ready? The little ones need to wash their hands and eat!"
"Oh, that's all right, that's all right!" Tan Fenghui replied.
Tao Tao said quickly: "Hongdou, go to the kitchen sink and wash your hands!"
Little Red Bean took her brothers to wash their hands.
After a while, Tan Fenghui came out, went into the room to check on Lili, and said a few words with a smile.
But Taotao noticed that Tan Fenghui's hair was wet and there were water marks on her face, as if she had just washed?
——It’s winter now! There is no hot water shower at home. Why does my sister-in-law wash her hair with cold water as soon as she gets home from get off work?
Tang Liren shouted outside again, "Hui Er, come out to eat!"
Tan Fenghui smiled and said to Lili, "Okay, I'll go out to eat first, and I'll come back to talk to you after dinner."
After saying that, she turned and left.
Taotao and Lili's eyes widened at the same time!
——There were obvious water stains on the vest of Tan Fenghui’s coat, and a uncleaned egg shell was hanging on the end of the long braid that was dragging behind her!
Lili realized something and her eyes turned red.
Taotao also understood: someone must have thrown eggs at her sister-in-law on her way home from get off work!
I'm very angry.
However, other people in the family haven't noticed this yet.
Bai Zhenggan asked the little beans to each take a large bowl of rice and fill the bowl with vegetables, then asked Hongdou to take the little beans to the next room and asked them to close the door.
Then Bai Zhenggan asked Song Zhi, "Song Zhi, are you familiar with Howard?"
Song Zhi, "Not very familiar with him, just acquaintance... well, the kind of acquaintance that knows him inside out. His father died very early, and he lived with his mother in the municipal compound, but he often came to the military compound, so... we grew up together."
"What kind of person is he?" Bai Zhenggan asked.
Tang Liren was anxious, "Why are you still asking about it?!"
Bai Dongsheng, Tan Fenghui, Song Zhi and Nansheng were all stunned. They looked at Bai Zhenggan and then at Tang Liren...
Bai Zhenggan explained to Song Zhi, "Huo Huaen came to see me this morning and told me... that he wanted to marry Lili. He also said that he had known Lili for a long time and had been pursuing Lili for more than a year, but Lili refused to agree... I just wanted to ask you about him, what kind of person is he?"
Everyone was stunned.
Hearing this, Song Zhi said, "So that's how it is! I was wondering why he suddenly gave such an expensive gift to Taotao and I when we got married! It turns out he still had such thoughts in mind!"
Dongsheng asked: "Howard and Lili? How did they know each other?"
Bai Zhenggan answered, "It was said that Howard's mother and children liked Lili first, and they always mentioned it to him... Later, he became interested, thinking that he was busy with work and had no time to take care of the elderly and children. If his mother and children liked Lili, then he hoped to marry such a girl, even if there was no love."
"Later, he came to see us and thought that Lili was great in every way, so he confessed his love to her, but she refused... He said that he should be rational and that it was okay if Lili refused. But his mother was trying to bring them together. Every time she brought the children, she would choose a time when he was not busy and asked him to come along. He thought that he didn't have time to spend with the elderly and children, so he came..."
"As a result, every time he came here, he would meet Lili. Every time he spent time with Lili, he would be more attracted to her. He would write to Lili as soon as he returned, but Lili never replied to him... He said he understood, and that Lili probably disliked him because he was divorced and had children, so he planned to come here this time to celebrate the New Year in Song City and come to talk to me about this matter. Unexpectedly, he encountered trouble..."
Then, Bai Zhenggan raised his voice and asked, "Lili, is this the case?"
Lili huddled on the bed in the room, lowered her head and hummed softly.
Taotao said "yes" on behalf of Lili!
Bai Dongsheng, "So, I think Howard is a good person. At least he is upright."
Nansheng, "It's still inappropriate, isn't it? It's just like what happened to Mr. Guan and Fang Ling! Fang Ling is different. When she married Mr. Guan, she was planning to live together, but it ended up like this... Our Lili has never been in a relationship, and has never liked anyone! What if she meets someone she likes after getting married? What if she can still divorce him?"
Bai Dongsheng, "That's impossible to get divorced. Huo Huaen is of a high rank. At his level... marriage requires political review, and divorce is even more difficult!"
Tan Fenghui said boldly: "But now that Lili is in such a situation, wouldn't it be a great honor for her to marry Huo Huaen? There are so many people who usually say behind her back that she is aloof and wants to marry into a rich family..."
Bai Dongsheng glanced at Tan Fenghui indifferently.
Tan Fenghui lowered her head and added softly, "Of course, we also have to consider whether Lili likes him and is willing to marry him."
Bai Zhenggan asked Song Zhi, "What do you think of Howard?"
Song Zhi said: "I think he is a good person."
"What's the specific solution?" Bai Zhenggan asked.
Song Zhi thought for a moment, "He is very upright, he inherited his father's legacy, he has great ambitions, and he is willing to work hard for his dreams. He is a person who doesn't talk much but has great drive."
Tang Liren, "I always feel that he is very strong..."
Song Zhi said: "He is indeed very strong. If he is not strong, he would not have been promoted to the vice-ministerial level at the age of 30, right?"
Bai Zhenggan asked again, "Song Zhi, do you think... is he worthy of us entrusting Lili to him?"
Song Zhi pondered for a long time and replied, "If we ignore other objective factors, I think... he is a good person. Although he is very strong, it does not mean that he is unwilling to listen carefully to other people's opinions. But there are several objective factors imposed on him now that cannot be ignored. One is that he has an ex-wife, and the other is that he has a child... These two relationships are not easy to handle."
Bai Zhenggan nodded repeatedly, "I'm worried about this too!"
Bai Dongsheng looked at his father and asked, "Dad, what do you think of Howard?"
Bai Zhenggan said: "My opinion is actually the same as Song Zhi's. If he has never been married and has no children... I would consider it!"
Tan Fenghui whispered, "Song Zhi, what kind of people are Howard's mother and children?"
"I don't know about the child," Song Zhi replied, "...but Mother Huo is a very good person, very open-minded. When he and his ex-wife had conflicts, it was mostly his mother who mediated between them. In the end, they divorced. His former father-in-law refused to agree, and it was his mother who interceded for them, and they finally divorced."
Bai Zhenggan pondered for a long time and said, "What Howard meant was that he came to say hello to me first. Tomorrow is the 29th day of the lunar year. We will have a holiday after class. In the evening, he will bring his mother, his son and his nephew to have a home-cooked meal. Let's get together and see if it's suitable for our two families."
Tang Liren felt uneasy, "What if... I don't think it's appropriate?"
Song Zhi, "Don't worry, Mom. If you feel it's inappropriate, just say it directly. If you're embarrassed to say it, you can let me convey it."
Tang Liren suddenly felt more confident and nodded with a sad face.
After lunch, Bai Dongsheng signaled to his wife, "Mom, Hongdou and the others are playing over here. Huier and I will go back to take a nap. We have to work in the afternoon!"
Tang Liren, "You guys go back!"
Bai Dongsheng and Tan Fenghui left their parents' home.
After going downstairs and out of the corridor, Bai Dongsheng whispered to his wife, "Hui'er, no matter how good Huo Huaen is, he is a second-married man with a child. If our Lili marries him, we know without thinking that she will definitely be wronged... Don't say this anymore, understand?"
Tan Fenghui nodded with red eyes.
Bai Dongsheng suddenly realized something and asked, "Hui'er, what's wrong?"
Tan Fenghui sniffed, "It's Meng Guoqiang's family... They were barking like mad dogs, and after hearing about what happened last night, they got even more excited. I didn't dare to listen to what they said seriously. When I came back today, I met Meng Guoqiang's brother-in-law's cousin on the way, and she threw eggs at me..."
Bai Dongsheng suddenly became angry, "These people!"
Tan Fenghui, "Dongsheng, I heard those people's insults were not directed at Lili alone, but at all the women in our family! Mom is old, and those rumors can't hurt her. I have been married to you for ten years and have four children. I don't care! Taotao is also married, and she will go to Kyoto with Song Zhi after the winter vacation... What about Lili and Xingxing?"
Bai Dongsheng was stunned.
"Especially Xingxing, she is only eighteen years old!" At this point, Tan Fenghui lowered her voice, "Don't forget what time it is now... This lie will spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. It is possible that three people will make a tiger, and the rumors will melt gold! Dongsheng, I know you pity Lili, but you should be on guard when you should, and fight for what you can..."
Bai Dongsheng nodded, "I understand what you mean. I will try to solve the Meng family's problem first. But Lili..."
Tan Fenghui said: "...Let's ask Lili for her own opinion!"
Xingxing works the early shift today.
Come back at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Song Sui came back with her.
However, when they came back, they were both in a dishevel and looked angry.
Xingxing came back with a forced smile and talked to Lili for a while, then said that she wanted to take a shower and wash her hair while the sun was out; Song Sui also said something to Taotao, saying that she would go back to take a shower and change clothes...
Taotao saw it all but didn't say anything, for fear that Sister Li Zi would think too much.
However, the sensitive and kind Bai Lili has already noticed it.
She forced a smile and pushed Taotao into the room, saying that she felt dizzy and wanted to sleep, then she buried her head in the pillow and cried.
By the next morning, things had become more radical.
——I don’t know who placed six pairs of shoes, five big and one small, of different styles and in tatters, in front of Bai Zhenggan’s house!
loose woman? !
Still five big and one small...
Even Xiao Hongdou was scolded!
Tang Liren was so angry that she almost had a heart attack. Bai Zhenggan's face was also livid. He personally threw away the six worn-out shoes that were probably picked up from the trash can, and strictly ordered his family not to tell Lili.
The atmosphere at home was unprecedentedly low.
Bai Lili didn't know what happened at first, but she later got the information out of the little beans...
She was so angry that she hugged her pillow and cried again.
After lunch, Lili also said she wanted to take a bath and wash her hair. Xingxing didn’t think too much about it and boiled water for her to take a bath and wash her hair.
At this time, Taotao came back carrying bags full of things, but there was a big wet mud mark on her knees!
Xing Xing pointed at the mark on Tao Tao's trouser knee and asked, "Fourth sister, what's wrong with you?"
Taotao thought for a moment and said, "Someone rode past me on a bicycle and splashed me with water."
——In fact, it was Meng Guoqiang’s eldest sister who was squatting at the gate of the compound. When she saw Taotao going out to buy vegetables, she followed Taotao like a shrew, cursing at her with all kinds of nasty words.
Taotao would not tolerate it and directly used her spiritual power to hit Meng Guoqiang's elder sister. The fat sister fell into the mud and the splashing mud and water soiled Taotao's pants.
But Xingxing has a different interpretation.
She looked at Taotao, her eyes clearly showing an expression of "you have been bullied too", and said, "Fourth sister, no matter where you go in the future, let my fourth brother-in-law follow you!"
"I can handle it!" Tao Tao said perfunctorily, "Come over and help quickly, we're treating you to dinner tonight!"
Xingxing responded, and the two sisters went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Lili stood in the room and heard Taotao and Xingxing's conversation clearly! She bit her fist, tears streaming down her face...
She is not stupid, nor is she blind, how could she not know... that the world outside is already in a storm? However, in order to protect her, her family members did not allow her to go out and did not tell her how people outside spread the rumors!
Lili was heartbroken.
She never wanted to be a burden to her family.
She is also a member of the family, and everyone is working hard to make this family better...she wants to do it too!
But today, her family members were indeed hurt because of her!
Lili closed her eyes and made a decision.
She wiped away her tears, patted her cheeks hard, put on a smile, and went to the kitchen.
——Although the skin wounds all over his body have not yet healed and his coccyx is still aching slightly, rural children are not that delicate! When she was in Ruyi Village, she could earn 8 work points a day!
"Come, let me see what vegetables Taotao bought?" Bai Lili asked with a smile.
Taotao and Xingxing were sitting on a small stool, picking vegetables together!
Seeing Lili's bright smile, the two of them were infected and couldn't help but laugh too.
Tao Tao said, "Since it's cold, let's have hot pot! And since there are many people this time, I thought of making two hot pots. Xing Xing and I will bring our little beans and the two little beans from the Huo family to eat together, and the others will have one table!"
Xing Xing said, "Third sister, third sister! Fourth sister bought some beef bones. Let's use them to make soup and use them as the soup base, okay? There are also two big pork trotters... Let's braise them! Big, fat and sticky pork trotters! I haven't eaten them for a long time..."
Lili went over and looked at the ingredients. "Nod, OK! Eating hot pot is the most convenient. The soup base is stewed, the dipping sauce is prepared, and the rest is washed and cut... Then you two pick the vegetables, and I'll slice them?"
Tao Tao, "There's hot water on the stove! The three of us can use hot water!"
The three sisters started to get busy and lively.
At half past five, all the Bai family members came back.
Everyone made the final preparations - they tidied up the living room and divided it into two tables, one for adults and one for children. Then a small charcoal stove was set up on the table, the soup pot was started, and various raw dishes were also laid out.
At a quarter past six, there was a polite knock on the door.
Song Zhi went over and opened the door.
The visitors were indeed Howard's family.
Huo Huaen's hands were full of candies, milk powder, fruit candies, cakes, cigarettes, bottles of liquor, etc.; Mrs. Huo was carrying a bag of apples and a bag of pears; the two children Huo Mingyong and Huo Mingcheng were also holding a large cardboard box each...
Mrs. Huo wore a black woolen coat with a knee-length skirt of the same color, a pink sweater underneath, a navy blue silk scarf tied around her neck, and her hair was blow-dried...
Although it looks quite spirited, it also seems a bit deliberate.
Mrs. Huo had seen a lot of big scenes, but for some reason she was very nervous at the moment. As soon as she entered the door, she said to Bai Zhenggan and his wife with a big smile on her face, "Good evening, Secretary Bai, good evening, Mama Lili!"
Tang Liren quickly stepped forward to take the fruit from Mrs. Huo's hand and said angrily, "You're here, what are you taking?"
"Yes, yes, this is a big deal!" Mrs. Huo said shyly, "To be honest... I wasn't this nervous when I got married to Hua En's father..."
Taotao, who was standing aside, couldn't help but chuckle and covered her mouth with her hands while laughing.
The atmosphere suddenly eased.
Howard asked the children to come over and say hello to Bai Zhenggan and his wife.
Xiao Mingcheng and Xiao Mingyong were also very nervous.
They were about the same age and height, and were wearing exactly the same new clothes, so they greeted the Bai family. When they finally saw red beans and yellow beans... Xiao Mingcheng and Xiao Mingyong's eyes lit up!
Howard smiled and said to them, "Didn't you prepare gifts for Hongdou and the others?"
Xiao Mingcheng and Xiao Mingyong nodded, and each opened the paper box in their hands to show them to Hongdou Huangdou and the others.
Xiao Mingcheng prepared four identical gifts: four windmills made of paper and bamboo tubes. The leaves of the paper windmills were painted with extremely bright and beautiful crayons. As long as the windmills turned, magical combinations and changes would appear.
Xiao Mingyong also prepared four identical gifts: four identical pistols made of bamboo tubes of different sizes. They could be loaded and would make a crisp "bang" sound when the trigger was pulled, but there were actually no bullets.
One of them was tied with a bow made of pink wool, and it was obviously for Hongdou.
The little beans liked it as soon as they saw it, but they were very well-mannered and didn't do anything. They just looked at their mother Tan Fenghui. Only after Tan Fenghui nodded with a smile did Hongdou and her brothers say "thank you" to Xiao Mingcheng and Xiao Mingyong, and accepted the gifts handed over by them.
The children immediately greeted in their baby voices:
"I'm Huo Mingcheng, you're Hongdou, right? I heard from Lili that you can write stories... She told me a lot of your stories, they're so good! Can you show me your stories? I brought a poem I wrote, do you want to see it?"
"You are Huang Dou! I'm Huo Mingyong! Lili said you can climb trees the fastest, and you can swim, right? I like it too, hahahaha... Can you really swim? Can you teach me? My father has said many times that he would teach me to swim, but he never has time..."
The atmosphere became lively as soon as the children started talking.
Even the adults started chatting.
Old Mrs. Huo said to Tang Liren, "Mother Lili, you are so lucky! You have two good sons and three well-behaved daughters... Look at Song Zhi! He was not like this before. After he married Taotao, you brought him up so well... I really want to put our Hua En in your house too. Please help me take good care of him!"
Tang Liren chuckled twice and didn't say anything.
Howard turned and looked at Bai Lili.
Bai Lili was wearing old homely clothes and a floral apron around her waist. Since she was at home, she didn't take good care of her hair. She just casually tied her long hair up with a hair tie. Some of her hair fell beside her cheeks, making her look even more gentle and graceful, with a sweet smile.
She was bending over looking at the children, saying a few words with a smile, then she subconsciously rubbed her lower back, and the smile on her face became a little forced.
Little Hongdou noticed it immediately and went forward to support Bailili.
Lili smiled and said something to the little girl, as if she was explaining? The little girl was very persistent and supported Bai Lili and walked towards the room.
Bai Lili showed a helpless expression and was supported by Xiao Hongdou as she walked towards the room.
Howard only had eyes for Bai Lili.
He followed subconsciously, but was stopped by Bai Dongsheng——
"Hua En, what do you think?" Bai Dongsheng asked with a smile.
Howard looked at Bai Dongsheng, "What?"
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