Yao Zhi said worriedly, "Eldest Sister-in-law, shall we go pick up Father and Mother?"
Actually, she was worried about Second Brother.
Second Sister-in-law doted on Second Brother like he was her precious darling.
Yu Qiu thought about it too. As she turned to go inside to get a straw cape, footsteps could be heard from outside.
It was Father and Mother, and the Brothers were back.
Xia Xi immediately went to fetch water, "Father, Mother, quick, change out of your wet clothes, take a bath, and eat!"
The family fussed for half an hour before they finally sat down at the dining table.
Xia Xi had bought fifteen meat buns.
There were ten people in the family.
One each would leave leftovers.
Xia Xi stuffed another one for Father and Mother.
Xiang Cuihua grumbled again, saying she didn't know how to manage money and was wasting it.
Xia Xi had long been numb to it.
Her mother had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
After the Xia family finished eating, the rain outside intensified.
There was no movement from the neighbors.
Lu Jing hadn't returned, had he?
Just as Xia Xi was thinking this, she heard the sound of a bicycle outside.
Xiao Yan called out sweetly, "Uncle Jing!"
Lu Jing turned his head and looked at Xiao Yan, "Good boy."
Then his gaze fell on Xia Xi.
Xia Xi felt a little guilty and turned her head away, not looking at him.
Lu Jing didn't linger either and went straight home.
Xiao Yan sidled up to Xia Xi and said, "Little Aunt, did you see? Uncle Jing was looking at you."
Yu Qiu pulled Xiao Yan over, "Little brat, why are you talking so much? Go to bed!"
Da Nuo leaned in and added, "What Uncle Jing? He'll be our Uncle-in-law soon!"
Xia Xi gave Da Nuo a light glare and went into the house.
Yu Qiu pulled her sons, one in each hand, into the house, educating them in a low voice.
The rain poured down all night and hadn't stopped by morning.
Around seven or eight o'clock, the sky slowly brightened.
Old Father Xia, wearing a bamboo hat and a straw cape, went to the production brigade headquarters to announce over the loudspeaker that no one needed to go to work today and they could rest at home, while also commending everyone.
Without everyone's strenuous efforts to harvest, the corn would have rotted in the fields and sprouted.
On a rainy day, sleeping is the most comfortable. The coolness accompanied by the sound of rain made the sleep exceptionally sweet.
Many families don't eat breakfast if they don't work.
If you're asleep, you won't be hungry.
Today, all ten members of the Xia family were at home.
Because of the rain, even the two little cubs didn't go out to play, and the house was lively.
However, no one dared to enter Xia Xi's room to disturb her.
When Da Nuo and Xiao Yan argued fiercely, Yu Qiu would pull them into the house to educate them.
Listening, Xia Xi couldn't help but smile.
Everyone in the family doted on her like she was their precious darling; she was truly happy.
And this kind of home was destroyed in her previous life because of her stupidity.
Thinking about it made her feel utterly hopeless.
After lunch.
Around one in the afternoon.
Matchmaker Ma, Aunt Lu, and Lu Jing came to the house for the arranged meeting.
It didn't rain much in the afternoon.
But the road was muddy all the way.
Fortunately, the Lu family lived next door, very close.
Xiang Cuihua chased her three sons out to the fields to store water.
The daughters-in-law all stayed at home.
Inside the main hall of the Xia family.
Xiang Cuihua served brown sugar water to everyone, smiling from ear to ear.
Aunt Lu was the same.
She looked at Xia Xi as if she were her precious darling.
They were all old acquaintances, so there was no need for introductions; they just chatted about interesting things.
Later, they gave Lu Jing and Xia Xi some private time.
It wasn't raining outside.
Xia Xi and Lu Jing walked out of the courtyard one after the other.
Xia Xi was thinking about yesterday's events.
Lu Jing looked at her pretty retreating figure, but thought of his mother's instructions.
Xia Xi had something on her mind and didn't watch her step, stepping on a patch of soft soil. She lost her balance and almost fell into the field.
Lu Jing grabbed her hand, "What are you thinking about? If you fell, you'd be in a sorry state."
Xia Xi blushed a deep red and asked, "Um... what do you guys like about me?"
She was quite curious.
In her previous life, her reputation was ruined. For a man, she had caused so much trouble for her family, yet he still came to marry her.
Lu Jing also felt a bit embarrassed. After confirming she was standing steadily, he prepared to let go.
Xia Xi suddenly took the initiative and held his hand.
Her soft little hand felt very secure in his broad palm.
Xia Xi's heart pounded rapidly, but she still looked up at him and asked, "Big Brother Lu, are you willing to be in a relationship with me?"
Xia Xi's words instantly exploded like fireworks in Lu Jing's mind, making him lose his direction.
Seeing Lu Jing stunned and not replying, Xia Xi didn't know he was too happy, so happy that he forgot to answer her.
Xia Xi gently tickled his palm with her index finger, "Are you unwilling?"
Lu Jing's Adam's apple bobbed. "Xia Xi, my mother said I'm stinky and hard, rough, and not worthy of a beauty like you, but... thinking of you, my heart is stirred.
Looking at you, my heart fills with joy. Holding your hand like this, I feel like I have the whole world."
Xia Xi blinked her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, "So you are willing?"
Lu Jing looked at her, "This is what I should be asking. Xia Xi, are you willing to be in a relationship with me? To hold hands and accompany each other for the rest of our lives."
He knew she was very eloquent and could speak beautifully.
The leader had also said that young girls liked to hear sweet love words.
He had specifically memorized this last night.
He had practiced for a long time to recite it so smoothly.
In his happiness just now, he had almost mixed it up.
Dozens of red blushes appeared on Xia Xi's cheeks, and she quickly nodded, "I am willing."
Lu Jing was excited and tightly grasped her hand.
Xia Xi slightly furrowed her brows, feeling a bit of pain.
Lu Jing loosened his grip, and her hand slipped from his palm.
He instantly felt a large void in his heart, as if something was missing.
He took the initiative to hold her hand again, slowly sliding his fingers into hers, interlocking their fingers.
Xia Xi felt a current surge from her fingertips all over her body, making her dizzy and unsteady.
Lu Jing was too busy being foolishly happy.
He had completely forgotten that he had come with something to ask her.
Last night, they had apprehended about ten petty thieves in the city; they were part of the same group as the thief from last time.
An ancient tomb had been discovered in Huangjia Village, Datian County. The tomb had been dug up, and the artifacts had flowed into the black market.
People in the black market were preparing to sell these national treasures to foreigners.
Xiao Mo, the team leader of the Datian County Public Security Bureau, was Lu Jing's comrade. When he returned, his old comrade learned about this case and mentioned it to him.
Xiao Mo knew of Lu Jing's capabilities and had applied for him to assist him in solving this major case.
Lu Jing agreed without hesitation.
The leaders above also agreed.
Lu Jing had rarely returned home in recent years and had completed many major missions.
The leader intended to give him a six-month leave of absence, firstly to resolve his major life event, and secondly for him to recuperate.
Lu Jing, holding Xia Xi's hand, walked from his doorstep into the dense bamboo forest and then towards Phoenix Mountain.
Fortunately, both of them had worn water boots when they went out.
However, by the time they reached the foot of the mountain, Xia Xi's water boots were covered in mud, and her shoes were stuck in the mire. She tugged a couple of times, looking pitifully at Lu Jing, "They're stuck."
Lu Jing helped her pull them out.
Xia Xi pouted her pink lips again, "I can't walk anymore, I don't want to walk."
Sigh.
This rough man, who would take his date on such a muddy road?
Walking all the way, her feet were covered in mud, and even her pant legs had some mud on them. She was in a complete mess.
Lu Jing thought for a moment and said, "Take off your water boots, and I'll scrape the mud off for you."
Xia Xi's almond eyes widened slightly.
Didn't he know to carry her?
Fine, a straight man wouldn't understand her subtle hints.
"If you scrape it off, it'll just get dirty again."
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