Thor's house was a three-and-a-half-story house located at the east gate of the county town. The back of the first floor was a storage room where motorcycles were parked. The front was a high-ceilinged living room, and the kitchen was on the middle half of the first and second floors, which was the second floor above the storage room.
When Thor returned home, his father was still sitting in the living room watching TV, seemingly waiting for him on purpose.
Thor's father is forty-eight years old this year. His hair is streaked with silver, and there are a few wrinkles on his forehead. He is a veteran craftsman at a machine factory. His eyes are gentle, carrying the honest and simple nature of a kind person.
"Dad, are you waiting for me?"
“No.” Thor’s father picked up a newspaper from the side and flipped through it casually.
“You’ve been waiting for me.” Thor sat down next to him, his tone resolute.
Thor's father glanced at him and said, "Speak your mind."
“Reporting to Father,” Thor deliberately dragged out his words, “Fang Yu’s mother said that her father has been gone for less than two years, and she is not considering it now.”
Thor's father nodded. "She's a woman of great loyalty and compassion!"
"Yes, Dad, you can't look for anyone else. You have to wait for Fang Yu's mother."
Thor's father was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and tapped his head with his fingertip, "You little rascal, aren't you a bit too interested in that girl? You're even meddling in my affairs."
"It's not that I'm controlling, it's just that Fang Yu's mother is a really nice person. You'll definitely like her when you meet her."
"I know!"
"You know? Did you go to see her?" Thor slapped his forehead. "I told you she opened a clothing store. You must have gone to see her, right, Dad?" Thor came over and affectionately put his arm around his father's shoulder.
“Feng, the key is to find someone suitable,” his father didn’t answer directly, but instead became serious, “so that no one in the family has any ulterior motives.”
"Old man, you really did sneak off to check!" Thor chuckled, patting his father's shoulder. "You're something else!"
"You're in a relationship now, do you have enough money?" Thor's dad pulled a roll of money out of his pocket.
"You've got your eye on Fang Yu's mom too, haven't you?" Thor leaned back on the sofa, chin raised, and teased. "Besides trying to win over my girlfriend, I also have to help my dad woo his future mother-in-law."
"Do you want to?" Thor's dad ignored his teasing. "Go to her house for meals often, buy them lots of things, and be quick and efficient. There are no men in her family, so you'll have to do all the heavy work."
"I know! Just leave it there, I still have the money."
Thor's dad tossed the money to Thor and said, "I'm going upstairs."
Thor watched his father's retreating figure and couldn't help but chuckle. The old man clearly cared, but he pretended to be so serious.
The kindergarten's summer childcare program has been extended to one month, and Fang Yu signed up without hesitation. It suited her perfectly, allowing her to earn more money and have time to play.
Thor had a full schedule in June, so he quit his factory job and went to work for the construction company he had already contacted.
He already had a plan in mind. For now, he would work for the construction company to save more money. Once the residential buildings in this area were completed, every household would need to install water and electricity. He planned to take on some contract work. All he was thinking about was making money as soon as possible so that he could marry Fang Yu in a grand and glorious way.
Fang Dongqiang did not return home after school let out for vacation; instead, he worked as a computer teaching assistant at a training institution.
The night before He Xiaolei went home, she made a special trip to see Fang Dongqiang. As they walked from the dormitory to the gate, she said, "Dongqiang, I'm going home tomorrow, and we won't be able to see each other for two months."
Fang Dong scratched his head, his eyes darting around, looking somewhat at a loss. "Well, you stay home and have fun!"
"Dongqiang, will you miss me?" He Xiaolei asked, her face turning red as she did so.
After stammering for a while, Fang Dongqiang finally managed to say, "We haven't even started talking yet."
"You can think about it even if we haven't started dating yet. I'll think about you, and you can think about me too."
"Okay!" Fang Dongqiang nodded.
Seeing Fang Dongqiang's obedient demeanor, He Xiaolei was much bolder. She walked around to his front and suddenly reached out to hug him.
"Yes, there's someone." Fang Dongqiang froze in fright and hurriedly looked around. "I'll take you back to school."
"Okay!" He Xiaolei nodded obediently and let go of him, but a smile was hidden in her eyes.
They boarded the bus back to He Xiaolei's school. It was summer vacation, so the bus between the two schools wasn't so crowded, and there were seats available as soon as they got on.
They sat side by side in the dimly lit bus. He Xiaolei leaned her head against Fang Dongqiang's shoulder, initially just lightly, but later resting her entire head on his shoulder.
Fang Dongqiang was at a loss, not knowing what to do. He sat stiffly with his back straight, even his breathing became shallow.
"Xiaolei, we've arrived at the next stop," he reminded her softly.
He Xiaolei took out her phone and checked the time. "Dongqiang, it's not late now. I don't want to get off the bus. Let's ride to the last stop and then come back. I'll get off right away, and you can go back to school, okay?"
Fang Dongqiang nodded stiffly.
He Xiaolei closed her eyes and continued to lean against Fang Dongqiang. Fang Dongqiang gave her a sense of security and belonging. He Xiaolei couldn't help but shed tears. Her family was well-off, her parents loved her, and she had no worries about food or clothing. But there was also a sadness in her heart that she couldn't understand. She couldn't tell her parents about it and could only keep it to herself.
He Xiaolei sniffed quietly. Fang Dongqiang turned his head and asked, "Xiaolei, what's wrong?"
"Dongqiang, hug me." He Xiaolei's voice was choked with sobs.
"Huh?" Fang Dongqiang panicked and tried to pull his hand away from He Xiaolei's to take her arm. He moved his hand slightly, then realized that a hug should be done with both hands, and said woodenly, "How do I hug her?"
He Xiaolei chuckled and wiped her eyes. "Dongqiang, you're so cute!"
He Xiaolei raised her head and turned to Fang Dongqiang, "Dongqiang, do you think I'm being too forward? I don't know why, but after spending time with you, I feel at ease, like I have a sense of belonging."
"A place to belong?" Fang Dongqiang turned his head to the side. "Heh, why do I have this feeling?"
He Xiaolei nodded seriously, "That's exactly the feeling."
At the next stop, He Xiaolei was about to get off the bus, so she got up and went to wait at the door.
Fang Dongqiang also stood up and accompanied her to the door, saying, "I'll walk you into the school."
"No need, it's already this late, you should go home soon."
Are you alright?
"It's okay, see you next semester!" He Xiaolei smiled at him, turned around and got out of the car.
"See you next semester!" Fang Dongqiang gripped the handrail, watching He Xiaolei walk towards the school. What was on her mind?
Yuan Tingting is in high school now and has to attend summer classes, so she didn't go to her maternal grandmother's house. Fang Meili closed her shop a little earlier that day, and Fang Meihao took Zhe Zhe, Yuan Xinkang, and Fang Damiao to the countryside.
“Dongqiang called a few days ago to say he was going to work during the summer vacation and wouldn’t be coming back. That child is really sensible; he’s not even finished studying yet and he’s already going to earn money on his own.” Fang Meixiang’s mother said, her eyes reddening.
"Mom, Dongqiang is doing something related to his major. He'll get some work experience and learn even better."
"Yes, that's what he said too." Fang Meixiang's mother held Fang Meixiang's hand. "Meixiang, Dongqiang still needs to study at school. He'll come back for the New Year if he studies well!"
Fang Meixiang nodded.
During the summer vacation, Yuan Fangfang and Zhe Zhe stayed at their maternal grandmother's house. The usual hustle and bustle was gone, and the village was usually quieter than before, except for the Spring Festival when there were more people.
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