Chapter 324 – Partner
And this feeling, upon seeing the table full of food, was even more impossible to suppress. Especially when she tasted the sweet and sour fish her mother gave her, that familiar taste made Xu Jinning unable to hold back, and tears fell.
“I… I’m not crying, it’s just that mom’s fish is too delicious.”
Zhang Ailian, with reddened eyes, touched Xu Jinning’s head, half-crying and half-laughing, and said, “You silly girl, if it’s delicious, eat more. But don’t eat with your tears, or it will be too salty.”
Hearing this, everyone laughed, and Xu Jinning was also amused.
“Mm, I won’t cry.”
She was happy; she didn’t want to cry. It was hard to get to eat her mom’s cooking again, so she definitely wanted to eat more.
So, the whole family sat down and happily ate together.
During the meal, Xu Jinning also told interesting stories about her and her sister and brother-in-law at school.
The Xu family listened with great interest.
Then she talked about matters in her eldest aunt’s family, Xu Qingqing’s marriage, the house demolition, and how her eldest aunt gave her some of the houses and shops from the demolition.
Xu Aiguo suddenly remembered the meaning of the phone call his eldest sister made back then.
So he said, “Since your eldest aunt gave them to you, you should accept them.”
It wasn’t about being greedy; since it was a gift of gratitude from her eldest aunt to Ningning, there was no harm in accepting it.
As they were talking, Xu Jinning suddenly remembered another matter. This matter was quite important, and she felt it was necessary to tell her family in advance.
“By the way, dad, mom, I… I have a partner at school.”
“What, you have a partner?!”
This was the reaction of everyone in the Xu family except Xu Jinning, all speaking in unison with shocked inquiries!
Xu Xiangdong and Xu Xiangbei’s eyes widened.
Their little sister, their little sister actually had a partner.
This… this was too sudden.
Honestly, they were really shocked; this was too, too sudden.
They had never thought that their little sister would have a partner. In their eyes, she was still the skinny little girl she had been when she first returned home, still just a child.
How could someone be so unscrupulous to make a move on a child!
When this thought first emerged, the two brothers looked at Xu Jinning in unison.
After examining her, they realized that, without noticing, their little sister seemed to have grown up and become a beautiful young lady.
With delicate features, a dainty nose, cherry lips, and a graceful figure, it was natural for young men outside to be attracted to her.
Especially since she was the top student at Beijing University.
She was not only beautiful but also a talented and intelligent woman. Which young man wouldn’t like such a girl?
But…
They couldn’t accept it right away.
They weren’t mentally prepared at all.
Their little sister had a partner, which meant that before long, she might get married.
Then she would leave the Xu family and live with that man’s family.
But they couldn’t bear it.
Although their little sister had to leave now for school, they still knew she would come back; she was still part of their family.
But if she got married…
Although it was an unpleasant truth, once she married, she would become someone else’s family.
They couldn’t bear it, really couldn’t.
So, was it really necessary for her to have a partner? Did she really have to get married in the future?
Actually, they could take care of their little sister for her whole life.
If necessary, they could plant more medicinal herbs and raise more chickens, ducks, and fish. If necessary, they could set up more stalls and sell more clothes. They could still support their little sister.
These were the thoughts in Xu Xiangdong and Xu Xiangbei’s minds at that moment.
However, Xu Xiangdong also suddenly thought of someone.
He still remembered that night, the boy who was hugging their little sister.
Could it be…
“His name is Xie Ting’an, and he’s a very good person.”
It really was him!
Xu Xiangdong’s eyes widened in surprise.
If he had known, he would have warned that boy to stay away from his sister before leaving.
It was his fault for not taking precautions earlier. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have turned out this way, with his sister being led away by that boy.
From the first glance, he had known that boy had ulterior motives towards his sister.
And now it turned out to be true.
Unfortunately, his sister had been deceived by that boy’s face.
As members of the Xu family, they all had a weakness for good looks, and that boy must have used his face to seduce his sister. It had to be like this.
Xie Ting’an, that boy, was shameless.
“His name is Xie Ting’an, huh? That’s a decent name.”
“Where is he from? Is he also a student at Beijing University like you?”
“What does he look like? Who is in his family?”
Regarding their daughter having a partner, Xu Aiguo and Zhang Ailian didn’t feel too strongly about it. After all, in the countryside, many girls got married at fifteen or sixteen.
Ningning was almost eighteen now.
If there was indeed a good young man, it was fine for her to be in a relationship.
Although they would definitely feel reluctant when their daughter got married in the future, it was inevitable. What they wanted more was to see their daughter find mutual love and happiness, just like their eldest daughter.
They knew how happy it was to marry and have children with someone you love.
They hoped their youngest daughter could find such rare happiness.
“Yes, he is a local from Beijing and also a student at Beijing University. He has a grandfather…” Xu Jinning explained the basic situation of Xie Ting’an’s family.
She also took out a photo of her and Xie Ting’an.
They had gone to a photo studio to take it before she came home, at Xie Ting’an’s request.
He had said that since he couldn’t come back to Qinghe Production Brigade with her to meet her family, they should take a photo together so that when Xu Jinning talked about him to her family, she could show them the photo.
Xie Ting’an had been very earnest and sincere, and Xu Jinning couldn’t refuse him.
So, they took the photo.
Now, this photo came in handy.
Xu Aiguo and Zhang Ailian quickly took the photo to have a look.
It was a specially taken color photo. Standing together in the photo, the boy was handsome, and the girl was beautiful. They looked like a perfect match and even seemed to have a strong resemblance as a couple.
Although Xu Aiguo and Zhang Ailian knew their daughter wouldn’t choose someone unworthy, they were still amazed when they saw the photo.
They had to admit, the couple in the photo looked extremely well-matched.
“This boy looks quite good.”
“His features are very proper. He seems like a good kid.”
Xu Xiangdong and Xu Xiangbei also crowded over to look.
Xu Xiangdong glanced at it and scoffed, humph, it was indeed that boy.
That boy was really cunning, even taking a photo with their little sister specifically for their parents to see.
Their parents also had a weakness for good looks. Naturally, their first impression would be good when they saw his face.
And indeed, Xu Xiangdong had guessed correctly for the most part. Good-looking people naturally made a good first impression.
