As soon as Xia Xiuxiu heard that the meal was ready, she ran faster than anyone else, sliding her backside from the sofa to the dining table instead of getting up to help carry the dishes.
Jiang Cheng’s face darkened, but this was the Xia family.
—He could not say anything, after all, since his mother-in-law had not said a word.
He put on a cold expression and did more work to curry favor with the Xia elders.
Are you satisfied now?
—Jiang Cheng looked at Xia Xiuxiu warningly.
When Xia Xiuxiu saw his look, she went to the kitchen extremely unwillingly, brought the bowls and chopsticks to the table, and placed them before everyone.
Today’s lunch was very sumptuous. Everyone in the family was home except the two older brothers.
—Xia He had also returned for lunch.
She was only fifteen and looked very much like Xia Xiuxiu, but her eyes and movements were different. She resembled Xia Zhiyuan more. She thought things through when she acted, unlike Xia Xiuxiu, who said whatever came to mind and acted thoughtlessly, making people dislike her.
Everyone sat down, and the dumplings Wang Xiumei had made were brought out of the pot as well.
They were plump dumplings filled with meat, something they normally only got to eat during the New Year.
Xia Xiuxiu ate until grease shone around her mouth. As she ate, she kept eyeing the plate of twice-cooked pork.
Twice-cooked pork was Wang Xiumei’s specialty, and normally the Xia family could only eat it once a month.
Today, Wang Xiumei had gone all out and used up the family’s entire meat ration for the month.
“Mom, I want to come home and live here. We have a place for me to stay, right?” Xia Xiuxiu put down her chopsticks. She knew that the family had one empty bedroom.
“How could we possibly have a place for you to stay? Don’t you live at your mother-in-law’s house?” Wang Xiumei picked up a slice of fatty pork and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing with relish.
“Mom, the place I’m living in now is tiny and hot. The moment I open the window, I can smell the stench from the toilet. It’s practically suffocating me!” Xia Xiuxiu pouted. She knew that Wang Xiumei doted on her most and would definitely agree.
Wang Xiumei looked at Xia Xiuxiu. Suddenly, the fatty pork in her mouth no longer tasted good. She shot Jiang Cheng a cold look. “You told Xiuxiu to say this? Don’t you know that her two older brothers aren’t married yet?”
“I was relieved when you two got married. I never imagined that Jiang Cheng, who looks so honest, would be this devious behind my back and even try to scheme for my house!” Wang Xiumei threw her chopsticks onto the table.
Jiang Cheng had been eating peacefully and never imagined that Xia Xiuxiu would say she wanted to live at her parents’ home.
—The key point was that he himself had known nothing about this!
He lowered his head. “Mom, Xia Xiuxiu never discussed this with me…”
“Don’t think that just because you’re educated, you’re so remarkable. With Xia Xiuxiu’s brains, she couldn’t have come up with something like this!” After saying that, Wang Xiumei stood up and headed toward the bedroom where she slept.
Jiang Cheng sat there awkwardly and glanced at Xia Xiuxiu several times.
Xia Xiuxiu was holding her chopsticks and shoveling down slice after slice of fatty pork, showing no intention of stopping.
—Jiang Cheng felt even more awkward.
When his gaze reached Xia Xiaowan, he saw her eating in small, elegant bites. Their eyes met, and she gave him a slight smile.
This older female cousin was truly elegant. She did not talk much, did the most work, and was nothing like what his wife had described—domineering, unreasonable, lazy, and greedy!
Xia Zhiyuan said, “Your mother has that sort of temper, but she means no harm. Hurry up and eat. I’ll go take a look.”
As he spoke, he stood up and walked toward the bedroom.
After the meal, Xia Zhiyuan urged the two sisters to go home while he cleared away the bowls and chopsticks.
Xia Xiuxiu packed up the remaining dumplings and twice-cooked pork. She even cut off a piece of the cured meat Xia Xiaowan had brought before finally leaving satisfied.
Xia Xiaowan helped her uncle clear away the dishes. Her uncle was in a hurry to go to work, so he left first, leaving only her younger female cousin, Xia He, behind.
“Younger Sister, come to the room. I have something to tell you.” Xia Xiaowan took her younger cousin’s hand and led her into the bedroom.
The bedroom was decorated very simply: a wooden bed, a bookcase, and a desk.
Xia He liked this older female cousin most of all. She was usually busy with school and went to bed late every night after finishing her homework. It was always this older cousin who kept her company, secretly frying two eggs for her and saying that studying was tiring. She would not stop until she had watched Xia He eat them.
Xia He was very delicate-looking and tall. She sat on the bed and looked at her older cousin. “Sister, what did you want to tell me?”
Xia Xiaowan stroked Xia He’s tender cheek. “Do you remember how I told you that I would fulfill your wish?”
“Of course I remember. You said that once you had money, you would buy me drawing brushes and paper. But it isn’t easy for you to earn money, so I’ll buy them myself!” Xia He’s eyes glittered like stars in the sky.
“You’re still so young. You have to get into the city’s key high school if you want to attend the best university!” Xia Xiaowan smiled as she opened her handbag and took out the two calligraphy brushes and xuan paper she had bought.
“These are all for me? Sister?” Xia He jumped up excitedly, her hands trembling.
These things were very expensive. Ordinary families could not afford them at all, and some people had never even seen them before.
“What time is it, Xia Xiaowan? If you don’t hurry home, will your mother-in-law be willing to let it go?” Wang Xiumei’s voice came from the doorway. She knew that Xia Xiaowan’s husband’s family was wealthy and was afraid of offending the Liu family, her god of wealth.
Xia Xiaowan understood what Wang Xiumei was thinking. She patted Xia He’s shoulder. “I’ll come see you in a few days. This is my telephone number. Call me if anything happens.”
Xia He nodded and carefully hid the slip of paper with the telephone number on it.
Xia Xiaowan rode her bicycle toward the Liu family’s home as a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky.
Fortunately, the rain was not too heavy. After Xia Xiaowan arrived at the Liu family’s home, she changed her clothes and went downstairs, where she saw Liu Xun reading a newspaper.
Xia Xiaowan sat down not far from him, picked up the hot tea, and took several sips. As her body warmed, her mood improved as well.
“You’re back from your parents’ home? How did your uncle and the others like the tea leaves?” Liu Xun set down the newspaper and looked up at Xia Xiaowan.
“What tea leaves? I don’t know anything about that. Who sent them?” Xia Xiaowan cradled the teacup in her hands and looked at the exceptionally handsome man not far away. His attractive fingers tapped rhythmically, and the distinct veins on the back of his fair hand were visible.
“I had something to do this morning and passed by your uncle’s home, so I gave them to your aunt. Didn’t she mention it when she came back?” Liu Xun’s voice was so pleasant that Xia Xiaowan could not help opening her eyes wide and looking at him. Thinking that Xia Xiaowan did not believe him, Liu Xun continued, “I brought tea leaves and tea ware. The local specialties… were sent over because my parents asked me to.”
“Mm, I understand. Thank you for making the trip yourself!” After drinking her tea, Xia Xiaowan looked away from Liu Xun. Her heart inexplicably continued to pound.
That evening, the Liu family sat down for dinner.
They were still eating when the main door was pushed open. An exceptionally beautiful woman entered the living room with a refined-looking man on her arm.
“It’s Second Sister back!” The aunt courteously took the woman’s handbag and poured two cups of tea, setting them out.
Mother Liu was delighted. The beautiful woman walked over and looked at Xia Xiaowan, who was sitting beside the table. Xia Xiaowan hurriedly stood up.
“Xiaowan, come over. I’ll introduce you. This is Liu Xun’s Second Sister, Liu Meigui. She’s an actress in the art troupe!” Liu Meigui looked very much like Liu Xun, but as a woman, she was more alluring.
“So you’re Xiaowan. I was performing out of town when you got married and only came back today. This is a little gift for you. I hope you’ll like it!” Liu Meigui took out an exquisite velvet box and handed it to Xia Xiaowan.
Xia Xiaowan weighed it in her hand. It was probably pure-gold jewelry. She truly felt embarrassed accepting something so valuable.
“Second Sister, it’s too expensive. I can’t accept it!”
“Take it, younger sister-in-law. We’re family from now on!” After saying that, Liu Meigui happily took Xia Xiaowan’s hand and led her to sit by the tea table.
Liu Meigui was very well-mannered. She spoke gently, making people feel comfortable. Liu Xun stood up and walked over to her. “Second Sister, where’s my gift?”