After returning to the room, Xu Mengyao asked Huang Wenrong in confusion: "Sister, what's going on?"
Huang Wenrong chuckled and explained, "It's okay. Second Grandpa's family only had sons, and they always wanted a girl. Who knew that all his grandchildren would be boys too? So the whole family hoped that Fourth Uncle would have a daughter, but he refused to get married.
When I first arrived, the situation was even more exaggerated than yours. I was treated like a rare animal and was the center of attention. Look, all my new clothes and other things were bought by my aunts and other sisters-in-law."
As he spoke, Huang Wenrong showed Xu Mengyao the clothes in the room.
"Well, I even bought you a piece of clothing from Haicheng, but it seems you're not that interested in it now."
Xu Mengyao pretended to be disappointed and said.
Huang Wenrong said without even looking at it: "I like it, I like it. Whatever you buy is my favorite."
Xu Mengyao smiled slightly and took out the gifts she had prepared for everyone. "Let's go down first. I'll show you when we come back."
They returned to the living room and opened the snack gift bag, which contained a wide variety of snacks.
The little boy with a shaggy haircut saw it and immediately exclaimed, "Wangwang Senbei!"
Xu Mengyao walked up to the little boy with a bag in her hand and asked him, "Jianwen, can you tell me again if I look good?"
The little boy blurted out: "Beautiful!"
She handed the item to him with satisfaction, but the boy added:
"You look the best with the Want Want Senbei. Sister Rong looks good in everything she does."
This statement drew laughter from everyone. Ignoring the fanboy, Xu Mengyao continued distributing gifts. She distributed vanishing cream to everyone and then took out three carefully selected long silk scarves.
The cream-colored scarf embroidered with golden osmanthus branches was given to my aunt, who is a university teacher; the white scarf with green edges and ginkgo leaf patterns was given to my second aunt, who is a doctor; and the pink scarf with lotus leaves and flowers was given to my third aunt, who retired from the art troupe.
She gave the pearl earrings to Second Grandma, and finally gave the tea cake to Second Grandpa. Everyone was delighted by her thoughtful and exquisite gifts.
"Grandpa, this tea is good tea, not easy to come by." The third uncle looked at the tea cake in the second grandfather's hand and glanced at Xu Mengyao.
"This was given to me by my former deskmate in Huanshi. His grandfather was a returned overseas Chinese and took him to Haicheng. We happened to meet this time." Xu Mengyao explained quickly.
"Okay, Wenjuan, we accept your kindness today. Don't waste this money in the future. Sit down and have your meal," said the second grandfather.
After dinner, the two sisters helped Huang Nanny back to her room, where they finally had a chance to speak privately. Huang Nanny's eyes had almost healed, and now she only had a bandage tied in front of them to block out the bright light. She gave Huang Nanny the other pair of pearl earrings, and after the old lady fell asleep, she and Huang Wenrong returned to their own room.
"Wow! This dress is so beautiful!" Huang Wenrong exclaimed when he saw the clothes Xu Mengyao took out. After putting them on, he couldn't help but turn around in the room.
"I knew it would look good on you." Xu Mengyao admired the girl's beauty with satisfaction.
"This dress is not cheap, is it? Did you have success in buying the subscription certificate in Hai City?" Huang Wenrong asked with concern.
"It went better than I expected, but I'm penniless now. I have no money left after buying this dress. Luckily, Chen Chen helped me prepare other gifts." Xu Mengyao said helplessly.
"What? No money left? You spent all the hundreds of thousands you brought on subscription certificates?" Huang Wenrong was very surprised.
"Yes, sister, I'm relying on you to support me during this period of time. Please take me out for a walk first." Xu Mengyao pleaded.
The two sisters opened the door, but unexpectedly found their fourth uncle standing at the door, staring at Xu Mengyao with a smile on his face:
"Wenjuan, I forgot to ask you just now, what did you do in Haicheng?"
"Visiting relatives. My uncle and uncle are in Haicheng. I went to see them on behalf of my mother." Xu Mengyao replied.
"Oh? Really? Then you are quite filial. Want to go out now? Do you need me to take you there?"
"No, thank you, Fourth Uncle." Xu Mengyao pulled Huang Wenrong downstairs quickly. She always felt that Fourth Uncle's eyes were scrutinizing, so it was better to stay away from him.
Downstairs, Third Aunt was sitting on the sofa knitting a sweater. Seeing the two of them coming down, she said happily:
"You two haven't slept yet. I said we should wait until you wake up and go shopping!" Aunt San happily suggested to them.
"Okay, Aunt San, I'm just thinking of going around the capital."
Xu Mengyao readily agreed, not noticing the sympathetic look Huang Wenrong gave her.
As a result, Third Auntie really played dress-up games with her for an entire afternoon, shopping for her from head to toe, selecting and trying on every piece of clothing, every pair of shoes, and even small accessories. Xu Mengyao was exhausted, but Third Auntie became more energetic as she shopped.
"Oh, you look so good in this hat!" Aunt San said excitedly.
"Your third uncle and I wanted a daughter, and the whole family was hoping for a girl, but we ended up giving birth to that naughty boy Jianwen. Oh, I wish you and Wenrong were my daughters." His tone was full of regret.
"Aunt San, you are so young, we can only be sisters. Let's go back. We have bought enough." Xu Mengyao said with a smile.
"You are such a sweet kid, don't worry. Your aunt and second aunt agreed with me before they went to work that the cost of buying things for you will be shared equally by the three of us sisters-in-law. I am not as busy as them with work. I am so happy that you and Wenrong can come. I will take you two to get your hair permed tomorrow!" said the third aunt happily.
"No, no, Third Aunt, I only saw Second Uncle at noon. Why didn't I see Grandpa and Third Uncle?" Xu Mengyao asked in confusion.
"Your uncle is in the army in the suburbs and should be able to come back during the New Year. Your third uncle has been back less often recently as his scientific research project has reached a critical stage. You'll see him in a few days." Third Aunt explained.
The next day, she still didn't go with her aunt to get her hair permed, because Huang Jianwei had taken her out ice skating early in the morning. The ice was packed with people, and Xu Mengyao sat on an old tire, being pulled along by Huang Jianwei, enjoying the winter fun.
At noon, the two of them ate Beijing-style fried tripe and noodles with soybean paste in a small restaurant. In the afternoon, they went to the Panjiayuan Antique Market, where Xu Mengyao found some interesting old items. In the evening, the two of them had a meal of lamb ribs before going back.
"Wenjuan, I thought you would visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, go to a disco or a movie, eat Peking duck or go to Lao Mo on your first day here. I didn't expect that I would just treat you to lamb ribs and go to Panjiayuan to look at the street stalls. I haven't even spent the money that my brother gave me." Huang Jianwei said depressedly.
Xu Mengyao smiled slightly: "You usually take girls to these places. I think I had a good day today. So, do you think the lamb ribs are delicious?"
"It's delicious..." Huang Jianwei also smiled helplessly.
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