Chapter 194 Taking Your Partner to Meet People
“They helped you secure such a bright future, so you should be grateful and treat them well. We, the Xie family, must not forget our roots, and we must not let down those who helped us.”
When Wang Xiuying heard her husband speak, the last bit of hesitation in her heart finally disappeared, her eyes reddened slightly, and her voice choked with emotion.
"Then...then I'll thank you on behalf of Dongmei...Xiao Xu, you really are...our Dongmei has had a stroke of great luck, she's met a benefactor..."
She held Xu Zhili's hand, too excited to say anything.
Xie Dongmei finally snapped out of her shock and confusion, quickly stepped forward, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding, and gave Xu Zhili a solemn, slightly shy bow.
"Thank you, Xu Zhiqing, thank you so much."
You're welcome.
Xu Zhili smiled, her eyes crinkling, and naturally reached out to affectionately ruffle Xie Dongmei's dark hair, her tone light and full of care.
"When you get to the factory in the city, you'll be an adult. In the new environment, you have to study hard, work hard, keep an eye on things, and get along well with your colleagues."
"If you encounter any difficulties, don't try to handle it alone. Come to me or send a message home. Remember, we're family now, so don't stand on ceremony with me, okay?"
Xie Dongmei nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the future and unwavering determination. Her hands, gripping the hem of her clothes, trembled slightly with excitement.
"Yes! Xu Zhiqing, I've remembered. I will definitely work hard and never let you down or fail to live up to your expectations."
Watching this scene, Wang Xiuying's eyes welled up with tears again. She took Xu Zhili's hand and patted it gently over and over, her words filled with emotion and affection.
"You child... how can you be so thoughtful and kind... always thinking of us? Dongmei has such an opportunity, it's all thanks to you..."
As she spoke, she turned her head again, deliberately putting on a stern face and instructing Xie Yunce, "Yunce, did you hear me?"
"A girl as good as Xiao Xu is hard to find anywhere else in the world. You must treat her well from now on, cherish her, protect her, and never let her suffer the slightest grievance, do you understand?"
Xie Yunze stood ramrod straight and answered loudly, his voice carrying an undeniable firmness and gentleness: "Mother, don't worry, I know, I will never let Comrade Xu Zhili down."
His gaze swept over the crowd and landed steadily on Xu Zhili's smiling face. His eyes were deep and filled with tenderness, gratitude, and promise that were almost overflowing.
Outside the window, the setting sun was slowly sinking in the west. The golden-red afterglow slanted through the clean glass window into the room filled with laughter, dyeing every sincere smile and every warm word with a warm and dazzling golden hue.
The light was soft and long-lasting, as if foreshadowing a future for this large family that would also be just as warm and bright.
Tonight, after putting Xu Zhian to sleep, Xu Zhili gently closed the door to the inner room, turned around and whispered to Xie Yunce who was waiting in the outer room, "Let's go."
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly along the country lanes, outlining the blurry silhouettes of the houses and haystacks on both sides.
A cool night breeze carried the scent of the fields, and the occasional bark of a dog in the distance only added to the tranquility of the night.
Xu Zhili walked ahead, while Xie Yunze followed silently beside her, his tall figure stretching long in the moonlight.
His steps were steady, and he deliberately adjusted his rhythm to keep pace with hers.
The closer you get to the cowshed at the end of the village, the clearer the familiar smell in the air becomes, a mixture of hay, livestock, and earth.
A small space was partitioned off in one corner of the cowshed, from which a faint, flickering light shone—the glow of a kerosene lamp.
Xu Zhili stopped outside the low shed door, took a deep breath as if to encourage herself, and then gently knocked on the simple wooden door.
"Who is it?" came the mother's voice, tinged with a hint of wariness.
“Mom, it’s me, Xiaoli,” Xu Zhili replied.
The door creaked open from the inside.
Xu Nuoyan appeared at the door, wearing faded old clothes and holding a few unfinished straw ropes in her hand.
She clearly hadn't expected her daughter to come so late, and her face showed confusion. But when her gaze passed over Xu Zhili and fell on the tall, unfamiliar young man behind her, her confusion instantly turned into astonishment and a hint of barely perceptible tension.
"Xiao Li, it's so late, what are you doing..."
Xu Nuoyan stopped mid-question, her gaze falling on Xie Yunze, and asked hesitantly, "And this gentleman is...?"
Inside the shed, Grandpa, who was twisting hemp rope by the dim light, and Grandma, who was mending clothes, stopped what they were doing and looked over at each other.
The dim light cast deep shadows on their weathered faces, their eyes filled with bewilderment and inquiry.
Xu Zhili did not answer immediately.
She turned slightly to the side and reached out to grasp Xie Yunze's hand. His palm was warm and strong, and that warmth seemed to give her courage as well.
She raised her head to meet the gaze of her three closest relatives. Her voice, though not loud, was exceptionally clear and firm as she announced, word by word, "Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, this is my boyfriend, Comrade Xie Yunze."
"Clatter".
The straw rope that Xu Nuoyan was holding fell to the ground.
She seemed not to hear or understand, her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted as she stared blankly at her daughter, then at the solemn-looking, upright young man beside her, unable to react for a long time.
The hemp rope in Grandpa's hand hung in mid-air, and Grandma's fingers, which were holding the needle, also paused.
The elderly couple looked at each other, their cloudy eyes filled with shock and disbelief, as if they had heard something unbelievable.
A brief silence fell over the cramped space, broken only by the occasional soft crackling of the kerosene lamp wick.
In the end, it was Grandma who was the first to recover from the huge shock.
She put down her needlework, hurriedly stood up, walked over and grabbed Xu Zhili's arm, pulling her slightly to the side. She lowered her voice, her tone filled with undisguised anxiety and worry.
"Oh my silly girl, you... how come you didn't let anyone know about something this big beforehand? You just... just brought him here like that? This young man... he looks quite handsome and energetic, but..."
Before she could finish speaking, she couldn't help but turn back and quickly glance at Xie Yunce a few more times.
Xie Yunze immediately bowed slightly, his attitude respectful yet composed.
Grandma's gaze was incredibly complex, containing both unexpected joy and deep worry.
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