Chapter 178

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"I think that store manager of yours is pretty good."

Aunt Da gave her own daughter a sidelong glance: "Just a few days ago you were still having him help look after the little dog, you yourself don't follow the company's rules, yet you want him to turn a blind eye, pretend not to see? In my view, you're the one in the wrong, the store manager didn't do anything wrong at all."

"How old is that store manager?"

Maternal Grandmother grew interested, asking with a beaming smile.

"Stop right there!"

Female Cousin felt a bit nervous under Maternal Grandmother's gaze: "This topic ends here, nobody ask anymore, whoever I date, it's impossible to be with Li Xiao, our birth charts clash, absolutely impossible."

"That's not necessarily true....."

Maternal Grandmother smiled inscrutably: "Have you ever heard of bickering lovers? From what I heard your mom say, there's a bit of that vibe."

"Cough cough."

Female Cousin nearly sprayed a mouthful of old blood.

To hell with bickering lovers, after New Year she'd apply for a transfer to Shanghai, and have nothing more to do with Li Xiao ever again.

——

The dumplings were cooked, Xu Yi was fixated on the hundred yuan, and while the adults weren't paying attention, he used chopsticks to poke a hole in each dumpling that came out of the pot first.

"Oh my, Second Sister, come quick and look what your son is doing!"

Aunt Da came out of the kitchen carrying dumpling soup, and seeing this scene, she couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

"This brat, his skin's itching for a beating......"

Chen Xiulan's old face reddened, she picked up the feather duster and moved to whip him again.

How would Xu Yi wait for a beating, he dodged all over, and the living room erupted into another chaotic scramble.

"When you were little, was your house this lively too?"

Guben watched with amusement, and couldn't help recalling Lin Xiyu's mischievous childhood beatings.

"This is our family's glorious tradition......"

Lin Xiyu answered without batting an eye, with utterly righteous confidence: "Our family's kids are all raised being chased with feather dusters, otherwise how could each and every one have such good physical quality, that's exactly how it's trained into them."

"That reason is excellent."

Guben held back laughter, nodding solemnly in agreement: "I feel you're extremely suited to be a teacher, with such a fine tradition, you're sure to produce well-rounded students excelling in morality, intellect, and physique."

"I feel like you're not complimenting me?"

Lin Xiyu narrowed her eyes, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Believe in yourself."

Guben teased her with a smile: "Remove those two words 'feel like'....."

"Fine, you're messing with me again."

Lin Xiyu bristled, raising her fist to hit her.

"Don't hit, don't hit....."

Guben promptly surrendered: "Maternal Grandmother's watching, leave me some face."

"Hmph."

Lin Xiyu let out a tsundere hmph from her nose: "It's the big New Year, I won't hold it against you."

"Don't we set off a string of firecrackers before eating dumplings?"

Guben volunteered: "Cousin isn't here, I'll set them off."

"No need for you."

Lin Xiyu rolled up her sleeves, pushed him aside: "Just because Cousin isn't here means no one can set them off? Watch closely, I'll show you a trick."

"Can you do it?"

Guben raised a brow, watching her with great interest: "At my grandpa's house back then, didn't you hide far away, covering your ears and retreating the whole time?"

"Were those firecrackers at your place?"

Lin XiYu complained with a smile: "Those were dynamite, the kind that could level a mountain if thrown out......"

"Hehe."

Guben found it funny, couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Sister, I'll set off firecrackers with you."

Xu Yi saw his sister was going to set off firecrackers, seized the chance to escape his mom's pursuit, and slipped out.

"Let me go first!"

Female Cousin also perked up, rubbing her fists and wiping her palms, ready to show her skills.

"Use a bamboo pole to lift it."

Aunt Da brought out the bamboo pole used for hanging curtains at Maternal Grandmother's house.

"No need, just hang it on the tree."

Female Cousin didn't take it, picked up a string of firecrackers and went to the Small Courtyard, and sure enough hung it on the Pomegranate Tree.

The Pomegranate Tree's leaves had already fallen clean in winter, leaving only bare trunks.

Female Cousin selected a sturdy branch, draped the whole string of firecrackers over it.

"Is it okay to hang it on the tree?"

Lin Xiyu recalled in her mind the scene before moving when Guben had likened the pomegranate tree to a lovesickness tree, and for some reason a trace of unease welled up: "Won't it blow off the tree branches? I think using a bamboo pole would be better."

"It's fine."

Female Cousin wore an utterly unconcerned expression: "With branches this thick, how could they possibly break? The firecrackers will fall down once they've burned halfway."

"Alright then."

Lin Xiyu didn't want to spoil Female Cousin's enthusiasm, so she didn't make another sound.

——

The firecrackers were lit, and the festive colors lit up everyone's eyes.

Xu Yi wasn't the least bit afraid of the noise, hopping and jumping around the pomegranate tree in delight.

Greedy tongues of flame wound their way up along the firecrackers, and when they had burned halfway, they suddenly seemed to lose control — Boom! — a huge bang, and three or four firecrackers ignited simultaneously.

"Oh my god......"

A firecracker flew sideways and landed on Xu Yi.

At the same moment, with a sharp crack, a branch of the pomegranate tree snapped in two.

Lin Xiyu's breath caught; looking at the branch fallen on the ground, an indescribable panic surged in her heart once again.

"Xiyu, what's wrong?"

Guben sensed something was off and reached out to steady her.

"No, nothing?"

Lin Xiyu pressed a hand to her chest, forcing herself to calm down.

"Oh mom, scared me to death, my padded jacket's torn."

Xu Yi's frightened little voice rang out again, drawing everyone's attention over.

"Oh my, that's for sure."

Aunt Da was the first to notice something wrong: "Too dangerous. Good thing the padded jacket was thick, otherwise if the kid got burned it would be trouble."

"Come back quick......"

Chen Xiulan panicked too, rushed over in a few strides, and dragged her son back.

"Dare to be naughty again after this?"

Maternal Grandmother, both shocked and scared, scolded her grandson: "Everyone else stays far away, only you stood that close — if it doesn't blow you up, who would it blow up?"

"Any injuries?"

Lin Xiyu could no longer bother with the panic in her heart, and stepped forward concerned: "Have Younger Brother take off the padded jacket, check carefully."

Outside Xu Yi's padded jacket there was a single-layer outer wrap; the clothes were newly bought before New Year, costing over 30 yuan.

Chen Xiulan was so distressed she took off the outer coat and first angrily slapped her son, then took off the padded jacket for him.

Under the lamplight the padded jacket was clearer to see: at the armpit a hole had been blown, about the size of a ping-pong ball, the cotton batting all blown away, the edges charred, revealing the sweater inside.

Fortunately the sweater was hand-knitted by Chen Xiulan, thick, and hadn't been burned through.

Maternal Grandmother lifted her grandson's undershirt and saw the skin was only slightly reddened, no obvious wounds; she exhaled in relief.

"Fortunately not burned."

Lin Xiyu also let out a breath, a smile appearing: "This time it really was a close call with no harm done. Remember from now on, when setting off firecrackers you must stay far away, don't be so reckless again."

"Leilei too......"

Aunt Da turned her head to scold her daughter: "Gave you a bamboo pole but you wouldn't use it, insisted on hanging it on the tree, and now look — you've blown the tree branch off."

"How is this my fault?"

Female Cousin put on a wronged face and protested: "Who could've predicted the fuse would malfunction and light several at once? Besides, it's a quality issue — hanging it on a bamboo pole wouldn't have avoided it either, might've even injured me."

"Alright, stop blaming the kids."

Maternal Grandmother nudged her second daughter, urging hurriedly: "It's cold inside, hurry and take Xiao Yi upstairs, change into new clothes, it's New Year, don't let the child catch cold."

"Go."

Chen Xiulan with a stern face dragged her son upstairs.

"If only we could install radiators at home."

Aunt Da chimed in casually: "A colleague of mine bought them, every room has one, right against the wall, doesn't take up any space at all, much warmer than a chimney."

"The cold days are almost past, let's talk next year."

Installing radiators would cost quite a bit; Maternal Grandmother kept in mind that Maternal Uncle's earnings weren't easy, and didn't want to add to his burden.

"It was my oversight, I forgot about this matter."

Female Cousin's eyes showed guilt: "Next October, I'll definitely remember this, as soon as winter starts I'll install radiators for Maternal Grandmother."

"No need."

Maternal Grandmother waved her hand, her brows and eyes showing a hint of weariness: "I've lived a whole lifetime without radiators, and the new house now is much warmer than the old one — shut the doors and windows and it's not cold at all. You kids don't waste that money, just mind your own affairs and don't make Maternal Grandmother worry for you — that's better than anything."

"Maternal Grandmother, Chuqi Department Store opened, I'll buy you a silk quilt."

Lin Xiyu, very tactfully, embraced one of Maternal Grandmother's arms, deliberately coaxing her to be happy: "I heard from my Hangzhou classmates that they like using silk quilts there — light and soft and warm, not heavy at all on the body."

"You already bought a wool sweater, no need to spend that money again."

Maternal Grandmother's heart felt warm and cozy, ironed smooth and very comfortable.

"I'll buy Maternal Grandmother a Simmons mattress."

Female Cousin, not to be outdone, also crowded over: "A Simmons padded underneath the body, not hard at all, really comfortable."

"Good good good, Maternal Grandmother knows you're all good kids......"

Maternal Grandmother smiled kindly and added: "Maternal Grandmother's used to sleeping on a hard board, not accustomed to a soft bed. Don't waste money on that. The shop bought before New Year hasn't even earned back its capital yet, you still owe Boss money — pay it off early and have peace of mind early, don't keep dragging it out letting people poke at our spines and say we've no credibility......"

"Uh."

Female Cousin was embarrassed, smiling sheepishly: "The money for the shop, Maternal Grandmother you don't need to worry about it, I pay every month, not much left, almost paid off."

"You paid the money back, so you don't have much left for yourself, do you?"

Grandma knew exactly what was going on: "You child, you're just stubborn. For the sake of a dog, you argue with your own family. Living out there alone, you can't even get a sip of hot water when you come home. What exactly are you trying to prove?"

"But I've already raised Cola and bonded with him, I can't bear to give him up......."

The cousin felt wronged, hanging her head and defending herself in a low voice.

Her pitiful look bore a striking resemblance to the sick little dog.

"Forget it, stop stubbornly holding on."

Auntie's heart softened. She sighed helplessly: "Bring Cola back home. Anyway, I'm retired and have nothing to do. Walking the dog will pass the time and get me some exercise."

"Really?!"

The cousin was unexpectedly delighted.

Auntie smiled and scolded gently: "When has your mom ever lied to you?"

"Mom, you're the best!"

The cousin bounced up from the sofa, threw her arms around Auntie, and spun around happily twice.

"Alright, alright, stop spinning."

Auntie was getting dizzy from the spinning. She seemed to be complaining, but her eyes were full of pampering affection.

——

Xu Yi changed his clothes and came downstairs. The whole family sat back down at the table.

The kid was pretty lucky. This time he didn't make a fuss, and he actually managed to be the first one to find the coin.

The cousin didn't go back on her word and rewarded him a hundred yuan on the spot.

With the comfort of the hundred-yuan bill, the poor little heart, which had been under the shadow of the firecrackers, finally settled down.

The kid instantly perked up, clutching his little money happily, refusing to let go even when he went to bed to sleep.

The family ate dinner happily. While the elders were watching the opera gala, Lin Xiyu took a broom to sweep the courtyard. When she picked up the broken pomegranate branches from the ground, for some reason, an ominous premonition welled up in her again.

"What's wrong?"

Guben noticed her expression was off. Mistaking it for distress over the tree, he said: "It's just a branch. If it's broken, it's broken. New buds will sprout next year."

"It's all because of you......"

Lin Xiyu smiled and complained: "When we moved, I don't know what got into you. You suddenly blurted out something about a 'lovesickness tree,' saying that seeing broken branches would make my heart feel blocked."

"I was just saying it casually......"

Guben didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You actually took it seriously?"

"Your words......"

Lin Xiyu glared at him annoyedly: "When have I ever not taken your words seriously?"

"Okay, okay, it's my fault. Is that alright?"

Guben hugged her from behind, comforting her softly: "I apologize. I'll never dare make that kind of joke again, to avoid making my wife angry. Otherwise, I'm the one who suffers."

"I don't know either. Why do I feel so upset seeing the pomegranate branch broken?"

Lin Xiyu rubbed her chest with her hand, finding it hard to understand herself: "My heart feels stuffy and heavy. I keep feeling like something bad is going to happen."

"Don't think about it. It won't happen......"

Guben didn't take it seriously. He smiled and teased her: "That's because you care about me too much. Subconsciously, you treated what was said under the pomegranate tree as our promise. Seeing the branch break gave you this idea."

"Is that so?"

Lin Xiyu still couldn't let go of her worry.

"Trust me."

Guben smiled again: "Nothing will happen. Our relationship isn't as fragile as a tree branch. Even if it breaks, I'll graft it back together. In this lifetime, I'm sticking to you. I won't give you a chance to leave me."

"A broken branch rejoined?"

Seeing him so determined, Lin Xiyu felt a bit better: "Do you think you're Zhang Wuji? Able to reattach a broken leg?"

"I wish I was......"

Guben tightened his arms, pulling her closer: "If I'm Zhang Wuji, you're Zhao Min. The two of us will turn the martial arts world upside down, then find a place to hide away and have a litter of kids......"

"Go to hell......"

Lin Xiyu's ears burned red. She punched him annoyedly: "You think I'm Cola? Popping out a litter......"

"One is fine too."

Guben leaned close to her ear, deliberately seducing her: "As long as you're the one giving birth, I'll like it no matter what."

"Get lost. Who wants to have kids for you......"

Lin Xiyu struggled hard a few times, trying to break free from his hold.

"Isn't it inevitable sooner or later?"

Guben not only didn't let go, but held her even tighter: "How about we go find a place right now and discuss the major events of life.....?"

"It's getting late. You should go home."

Lin Xiyu's face flushed red from his teasing. Blushing, she tried to shoo him away.

"You bring up serious business and you shoo me away......"

Guben acted shamelessly, planting his feet and refusing to budge.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'm ignoring you."

Lin Xiyu blew up, glaring at him annoyedly.