Chapter 332: Home
As the year draws to a close, everyone in the Xia family is busy with their own things.
In fact, this was the first truly reunion year for the Xia family.
In previous years, children had to be careful with what they said during the New Year, for fear of carelessness and bringing up the adults' sorrows.
Now that Xia Zhizhi has returned home, there is no such worry anymore. The children of the Xia family feel as if all the shackles that were pressing on them have been lifted off.
During the Chinese New Year in previous years, the elders of the Xia family actually had to go to work, and both Xia Bangguo and Xia Sihua worked until New Year's Eve.
Now that the children are back, it is the first reunion year for the whole family. The couple wants to make good use of this time, finish the work at hand, and spend time with their family during the New Year.
Everyone in the Xia family was busy with their own things. Xia Zhizhi didn't feel anything at all. She ate and drank every day, then strolled to Nanjianzi Lane to spread rumors about the Song family, providing a lot of gossip sources for the big sisters, mothers, and aunts in that area.
She is good-looking and acts like a pretty little flower in front of others. She is sweet-mouthed and generous, and she became familiar with all the aunts after some interactions.
Sometimes when she sees the aunts frying cakes or making dumplings, they will give her a few.
This Xia Zhizhi went to the Song family every few days with big bags. The Song family was really shameless. They left all the things and didn't even give them a meal.
The aunts who had gradually become familiar with Xia Zhizhi would definitely not be able to stand this.
After a while, one of the mothers began to hesitate: "Zhizhi, there is something I don't know whether I should say it or not."
Xia Zhizhi blinked her dark eyes and looked at her mother: "Sister, I think you are just like my own sister. Just say whatever you want to say."
The eldest mother pulled Xia Zhizhi aside and whispered to her, "I'm not saying anything behind people's backs, but you always bring so many things every time you come to their house, and they never invite you to have a meal. I don't know how they can accept it. You should be more modest. Don't always bring so many things in the future. Even if your family can print money, they can't afford to spend it like this."
Xia Zhizhi tugged at the corner of her clothes, looking a little embarrassed: "Because of the recent gift-giving, my family is indeed in a difficult situation. Alas, I have no choice. They said that the elders are in poor health and need nutritional supplements. We owe them a life-saving favor. They have already asked for it, so how can I refuse?"
The aunt said, "You are so rich, but you can't take care of them with all those things? Your health is so bad, you might as well die!"
Xia Zhizhi said aggrievedly: "There is nothing we can do. We can't let others point fingers at us and scold us for being ungrateful and ungrateful."
The aunt said disdainfully: "It wasn't them who saved the man. She divorced him a long time ago. The man is dead, but they still lie on him and suck his blood. How shameless!"
The two of them complained silently for a while, mostly from the aunt, while Xia Zhizhi looked submissive and didn't dare to resist.
Because Xia Zhizhi works extra hard, the Song family always feels that everyone looks at them strangely whenever they go out recently.
How can it not be strange?
Xia Zhizhi exaggerated and threw a lot of blame at them.
People always sympathize with the weak. For such a poor little girl, it would be fine if it happened once or twice, but anyone with a conscience can't stand torturing her like this all the time.
Regarding the engagement between Song Zhijie and Xia Zhizhi, the Song family proposed to change the person involved. The elders of the Xia family did not agree, but Xia Zhizhi herself agreed.
Nowadays, marriage contracts are just verbal promises, unlike in ancient times when there had to be an engagement token or a letter of promposal.
Seeing that the situation was quite tense before, the Song family thought that they should give in first and let Xia Zhizhi come for dinner so that everyone could get to know each other, and then find a day for the two families to have a formal dinner together, and the matter would be considered a done deal.
The Song family asked Song Zhijie to come and invite them.
I came in the morning. Grandpa and grandma Xia had gone to work, and the chef, Master You, had gone out to buy groceries. Only Xia Zhizhi and Ah Ju were at home.
After Xia Zhizhi heard Song Zhijie's purpose, she agreed without thinking: "Okay, since you guys said so, I'll go there reluctantly."
Seeing her agree, Song Zhijie's expression eased.
Xia Zhizhi was pretty and had never shown any signs of weakness in front of Song Zhijie. She was as fresh as a peeled lychee. In the eyes of the elders, she was a little thin, but in the eyes of the gays, her fragile and graceful appearance was very endearing.
Song Zhijie said in a warm voice: "Then I will come to pick you up then."
Xia Zhizhi waved her hands and said, "No need to answer, I can go by myself. Go back and ask your grandma to prepare some delicious dishes. I am a picky person."
Song Zhijie couldn't persuade her, so he could only nod and agree. Before leaving, he reluctantly said, "Then come earlier, don't let the elders wait too long."
Xia Zhizhi closed the door, blocking his gaze, and said perfunctorily, "I know, I know."
Although she had agreed to go early, Xia Zhizhi was not in a hurry at all. She strolled around until it was time to get off work. If she didn't leave, the two elders of the Xia family would be back soon.
Then she slowly got up from the sofa. Ah Ju combed her hair, helped her put on her coat and shoes, and sent her to the door.
When passing by the kitchen, Xia Zhizhi even greeted the chef: "Uncle You, I'm going out for a while, so you don't have to cook for me tonight."
It gets dark early in winter, and by the time she finally reached Nanjianzi Lane, it was already completely dark.
The weather in Beijing was cold, and once it got dark, there were basically no people on the streets, so she didn't have to perform.
The Song family's house was not small in this area, and it also had a small courtyard.
Xia Zhizhi put her hands on her hips and slammed the door: "Open the door, open the door quickly."
The Song family raised a big wolfdog, which was Song Zhijie's favorite. It was very majestic and powerful. When it heard someone knocking on the door, the dog barked inside.
Xia Zhizhi waited for half a minute, but no one came to open the door. She was too lazy to guess whether it was a show of force from the Song family, so she kicked the door.
The bolt broke with a clang, and the door was kicked open. The wolfhound saw a stranger trying to force his way into the yard, and rushed over with bared teeth. Xia Zhizhi picked up the broken bolt and hit the dog's mouth with a stick, knocking it crooked.
The dog was hit hard by the stick and let out a terrible howl. It no longer dared to guard the house and quickly hid in a nearby doghouse with its tail tucked between its legs.
Someone in the house heard the noise and pushed the door open to come out.
Xia Zhizhi took a quick look and saw, oh, an acquaintance, Comrade Song who had given her a ride before, Song Zhili.
Xia Zhizhi threw the bolt in her hand, and it hit the ground with a clang, scaring the dog so much that it trembled.
She brushed the dust off her hands and said with disdain, "The quality of your door is not good. Change it as soon as possible."
Song Zhili didn't know that she had just hit the dog with a stick. Seeing the dog barking, he walked to the doghouse and scolded the dog in a low voice.