pdf-ebookys Chapter 128 The In-Laws Visit
Chapter 128 The In-Laws Visit
Li Xiangyang led Li Xiaoyun back by the hand, and seeing that her face was still flushed, he couldn't help but take a few more glances.
When the villagers saw the two of them being so intimate, they all wore kind smiles on their faces.
"Hey, where are you going to play?" Aunt Wang from the village entrance walked towards us with a smile as she carried buckets of water.
Li Xiaoyun instinctively hid behind Li Xiangyang, but still politely called out, "Aunt Wang."
"Look at these two kids, they're such a perfect match!" Aunt Wang teased with a smile. "Xiao Yun, you'd better keep a close eye on him; Xiangyang is one of the best young men in the village."
Li Xiangyang scratched his head sheepishly, "Aunt Wang, please stop making fun of us."
As they passed the former educated youth settlement, Li Xiaoyun said softly, "Wait a minute, I'm going to change my clothes."
My clothes got wet on the ice, and I'm likely to catch a cold if I keep wearing them like this.
Li Xiangyang nodded and waited for her outside.
A short while later, Li Xiaoyun came out after changing into some dry clothes, and the two of them headed towards Li Xiangyang's house.
As soon as I entered the yard, I heard a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen.
Li's mother was busy at the stove when she saw the two of them return, and she quickly put down what she was doing.
"Xiaoyun's here! Come in and warm up." Li's mother said, making room for her by the kang (heated brick bed).
"Auntie, let me help you." Li Xiaoyun wanted to go to the kitchen to help.
"Take a break, there's nothing to be so busy about," Li's mother stopped her, looking closely at her rosy cheeks. "Where have you been playing? Your face is all red from the cold."
“He took me ice skating,” Li Xiaoyun said shyly.
"Ice skating?" Li Xiaohua, who was reading a book, immediately came over upon hearing this. "Brother, sister-in-law, next time you go ice skating, can you take me with you?"
"Okay, I'll take you another day." Li Xiangyang ruffled his sister's hair.
Afternoon sunlight streamed into the room through the window. After dinner, Li's mother and Li Xiaoyun were doing needlework on the kang (a heated brick bed).
“Auntie, I’ve never seen this needlework technique before.” Li Xiaoyun looked intently at the work in Li’s mother’s hands.
“This is an old craft we have here,” Li’s mother said with a smile. “Come, let me teach you.” As she spoke, she began to teach Li Xiaoyun how to sew.
Li Xiaoyun learned very quickly and mastered the essentials in no time.
Looking at her nimble hands, Li's mother's smile deepened: "Xiaoyun is so skillful; she's learned this craft very well."
Just then, a loud shout came from outside: "Xiaoyun, your parents are at the village entrance!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyang became even more nervous than Li Xiaoyun, and quickly stood up: "Mom, I'll go pick up Uncle and Aunt first!"
Li's mother, forgetting her needlework, quickly straightened her clothes: "You all go quickly, Xiaohua, come with me to get ready."
After leaving the courtyard, Li Xiangyang led Li Xiaoyun quickly toward the village entrance.
Along the way, they encountered many villagers who jokingly asked, "So rushed, are you picking up your parents-in-law?"
Li Xiangyang nodded shyly, but his pace didn't slow down at all.
The two walked to the village entrance and saw a horse-drawn carriage parked there.
A middle-aged man wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket was looking around in front of the car, while a slightly plump woman stood next to him, carefully observing her surroundings.
"Father! Mother!" Li Xiaoyun called out, her voice trembling slightly.
Upon hearing the sound, the couple turned around.
The woman's eyes lit up as soon as she saw Li Xiaoyun: "Xiaoyun!"
Li Xiangyang quickly stepped forward and respectfully greeted, "Hello, Uncle! Hello, Aunt!"
Mr. and Mrs. Li looked at the tall young man in front of them, their gaze lingering on the hands he was holding with Li Xiaoyun.
Mr. Li coughed lightly: "You're Li Xiangyang?"
"Yes, it's me." Li Xiangyang straightened his back. "Uncle and Auntie have come from afar, please come in and sit down."
Father Li nodded, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
Looking at her daughter's rosy cheeks, Li's mother softened her tone: "Let's go, you must be a little tired from the bumpy journey."
As they walked along the road, Li Xiangyang kept introducing the area, trying to liven up the atmosphere: "This is our village's threshing ground..."
"That's the village primary school over there..."
Mr. Li would occasionally grunt, while Mrs. Li would constantly look around and whisper to her daughter.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived at Li Xiangyang's house. Li's mother and Li Xiaohua were already waiting in the yard.
Li's mother wore a neatly made blue cotton-padded jacket, with a gentle smile on her face.
Li Xiaohua also changed into clean clothes and stood obediently to the side.
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt!" Li Xiaohua greeted sweetly.
Li's mother quickly stepped forward, saying, "Please come in, please come in. You must be tired from your journey."
Father Li nodded: "It's no trouble at all. I asked someone to find me a carriage."
As he spoke, his gaze swept around the yard. Although the yard was not large, it was very clean, even the farm tools piled up in the corner were neatly arranged.
“It’s warm inside, let’s go in and talk.” Li Xiangyang led everyone into the house.
A new quilt was laid on the kang (a heated brick bed) inside the room, and several kinds of snacks were placed on the kang table.
The tea that Li Xiangyang bought on his last trip to the city was now steaming in the teapot, its aroma filling the air.
"Come, uncle and aunt, please sit down." Li Xiangyang invited the two elders to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Mother Li looked at the new mattress on the kang (a heated brick bed), then at the pastries, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She knew that conditions in the countryside were harsh, but she didn't expect the Li family to be so well-prepared.
Mother Li poured tea for her parents and then called to Li Xiaoyun, "Xiaoyun, quickly let your parents try these pastries."
Li Xiaoyun obediently served her parents some snacks, her face showing a hint of nervousness.
"Xiaoyun," Mother Li said, looking at her daughter's flushed face, "what's wrong with you...?"
“He just took me ice skating,” Li Xiaoyun whispered.
"Ice skating?" Mother Li's tone was slightly somber. "It's freezing cold; it's too dangerous."
Li Xiangyang quickly explained, "Don't worry, Auntie, I know that place very well. The ice is solid, and the water is shallow."
At this moment, Li's mother chimed in, "Yes, don't worry. Xiangyang, although usually careless, truly cares about Xiaoyun."
Father Li took a sip of tea, his gaze falling on Li Xiangyang: "I heard you're a hunter?"
“Yes.” Li Xiangyang straightened his back. “I have a hunter’s license; I’m a legitimate hunter.”
"Hunting..." Father Li frowned. "Isn't that a bit too risky?"
Li Xiangyang knew what Li's father was worried about.
These days, who wouldn't want their daughter to have a stable life?
Hunting is indeed a dangerous activity.
“Uncle is right,” Li Xiangyang said sincerely. “Although hunting is somewhat dangerous, it earns more than farming, and I’ve saved over two thousand yuan. I plan to build a new house across the street this spring.”
"More than two thousand?" Mr. and Mrs. Li exchanged a glance, clearly not expecting the young man from the countryside to earn so much money.
"Xiangyang is a capable child," Li's mother said with a smile. "His father passed away early, so he's always been decisive. We country folk aren't very good at talking, but don't worry, if Xiaoyun marries into our family, I, as her mother-in-law, will definitely not let her suffer any injustice..."