Chapter 380 – Son, Do You Have a Girl You Like?
The next morning arrived quickly, the day when Xu Xiangbei was set to leave by train.
Huang Minyue had come to the small courtyard early in the morning and, together with Xu Jinning and Xie Ting’an, sent Xu Xiangbei to the train station.
“Ningning, second brother is going back.”
“Yes, second brother, I’ll miss you. By the way, tell Mom and Dad that I will definitely come back during summer vacation.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Xu Xiangbei was reluctant to part with his younger sister.
Previously, the people he was reluctant to leave were only his younger sister and elder sister, but now…
Xu Xiangbei’s gaze fell on Huang Minyue, who was standing beside him.
Now there was one more person.
Xu Jinning and Xie Ting’an had moved a bit farther away, giving the young couple some time alone.
Xu Xiangbei looked at Huang Minyue with deep reluctance and, unable to hold back, pulled her into an embrace.
“Brother Xiangbei, I will miss you.”
“I know, I know.”
“Yueyue, wait for me. If I get the chance, I will come to the capital to see you. I will also call and write to you.”
“Okay.” Huang Minyue’s eyes turned red. She truly felt reluctant to part with Xu Xiangbei, but she also knew she couldn’t stop him from moving forward.
Qinghe Village, after all, was where his home and future lay.
He had to return.
To abandon everything for love and forget his roots and home was the most frightening thing.
“Brother Xiangbei, I will wait for you.”
…
Even though he was reluctant to leave, Xu Xiangbei eventually shouldered his bag and boarded the train.
After two days and nights of train travel, Xu Xiangbei finally returned to Anren County.
Upon arriving in Anren County, he went to check on his stall there. From a distance, he could see that his hired friend had managed the stall quite well.
When he got closer, his friend’s eyes filled with surprise upon seeing him.
“Xiangbei, you’ve finally come back! If you hadn’t, I don’t know how I would have managed.”
“How could you not manage? Aren, you’ve done a great job.”
…
After some friendly banter, Xu Xiangbei headed towards Qinghe Village, towards home.
When he got home, it was just in time for lunch, and his family was all gathered around the table.
“Abei’s back! Perfect timing for lunch,” Zhang Ailian called out to her youngest son.
Xu Xiangbei naturally did not stand on ceremony. He was hungry and tired from the journey.
The taste of the meal prepared by his mother was unparalleled, far surpassing any food from state-run restaurants or private eateries in the capital.
After lunch, Xu Xiangbei, feeling drowsy, headed to his room for a nap.
As for the matters he needed to discuss, he decided to wait until after he woke up.
Before sleeping, he handed over everything he had brought from Beijing to his mother, except for the items he planned to sell at the county stall.
So, as Xu Xiangbei went to sleep, Zhang Ailian began sorting through the items he had brought back.
As Zhang Ailian was sorting through the items, she couldn’t help but grumble.
“These are from Ningning’s godparents at the meat processing plant in the capital? Why are there so many?”
There seemed to be an overwhelming amount of things. Even though they were Ningning’s godparents, they should be sending gifts to Ningning. After all, Xu Xiangbei was just her older brother, and there was a certain distance between them.
Could it be like what Ningning said—‘love the house and its crow’?
At this moment, Zhang Ailian didn’t realize that these were the gifts from parents who loved their daughter and were showing affection towards her future husband.
The love they had for their daughter extended to the future son-in-law they had carefully evaluated.
Perhaps it was indeed ‘love the house and its crow’!
Xu Xiangbei slept for over three hours before he felt that his body and mind had recovered somewhat.
He was awakened by his two little nephews.
The two little rascals were chattering around his bed.
Xu Xiangbei wasn’t upset, as he had already slept enough.
Watching his cute nephews, his thoughts drifted to his future with Huang Minyue.
He imagined that after marrying Yueyue, they would definitely have children.
What would their children be like?
Would they be boys or girls?
How many would they have?
Xu Xiangbei thought: It didn’t matter how many they had; it would depend on Yueyue’s decision.
Whether it was a boy or a girl, it didn’t matter. As long as Yueyue gave birth to them, he would love them.
He imagined that their children would be even cuter than his two little nephews. They would surely have dimples like Yueyue and a sweet, lovely smile.
And they would call him “Dad” in a soft, childish voice.
At that moment, Xu Xiangbei’s mind was filled with a vision: a cute little girl in a pink princess dress hugging his neck and calling him “Dad” in a soft voice.
Xu Xiangbei smiled, feeling as if his heart was melting at that very moment.
When Zhang Ailian came in, she saw her youngest son smiling dreamily.
The expression on his face looked so much like…
“Abei, what are you smiling about?”
“With that look on your face, someone might think you’re thinking about a girl you like.”
Zhang Ailian was just teasing, but she knew her youngest son still hadn’t figured out his feelings.
She wondered when he would finally come to his senses and bring a girl home to meet her.
His younger sister, Ningning, had already beaten him to it.
Just as Zhang Ailian was thinking this, she suddenly noticed that her son’s expression seemed a bit off.
He looked a bit guilty, still smiling foolishly.
He hadn’t even refuted her comment!
As Xu Xiangbei’s mother, Zhang Ailian knew her children well.
Something must be going on; there had to be something!
As Zhang Ailian thought about what she had just said, a guess suddenly crossed her mind.
Could it be that she was right?
If it were true, she would be absolutely thrilled.
Excited and thrilled, Zhang Ailian quickly pulled out a chair and sat down, her eyes full of surprise. “Son, tell me, is there something going on?”
Xu Xiangbei stammered, “Mom, what are you talking about? What situation?”
“What else could it be? Do you have a girl you like?”
“Tell me quickly, whose daughter is she? What’s her name?”
Xu Xiangbei had actually planned to tell his family, especially his parents, about his relationship with Yueyue. He just didn’t expect his mother to notice so soon.
So, he decided to stop hiding it.
“Yes, I do have a girl I like. We’re already in a relationship, and I’ve met her parents.”
Zhang Ailian was stunned. Meeting the parents already? Son, you’re moving fast.
If he was slow to realize things before, now he’s jumped straight to meeting the parents in such a short time.
“Did her parents object?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s good.” Zhang Ailian thought her son was quite good, so no one should have any complaints.
“Which village is she from? What’s her name? Have I met her?”
“Mom, wait a moment.”
**TN
Love the house and its crow (idiom) – love for a person extends even to the crows on their roof
