Chapter 433

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Wang Xiaohua ate a lunch at Wang Xiaoqian's home.

During the meal, Wang Xiaoqian's mother was very enthusiastic, serving Wang Xiaohua rice and picking dishes for him.

She even specially went downstairs to buy a large bottle of Coca-Cola to treat Wang Xiaohua.

"Auntie, I can pick dishes myself."

Wang Xiaohua was made a bit embarrassed by Wang Xiaoqian's mother's enthusiasm.

Wang Xiaoqian's mother said cheerfully:

"Then eat more meat. Look at you, so small. I heard from Xiaoqian that you're from a rural area; usually at home, you don't get much meat to eat, right?"

Wang Xiaohua smiled awkwardly:

"It's okay. It's just that I don't grow tall myself. My eldest brother and second brother are both quite tall."

Wang Xiaoqian started chatting about family matters:

"You still have two older brothers. But that's normal. In rural areas, there are always several brothers and sisters. Family planning is strict, but they give birth anyway. Unlike the county town, where people generally only have one. If they have an over-quota birth, they lose their jobs. Everyone is afraid of losing their jobs, so they don't dare give birth. Have both your brothers gone out to work?"

"They've gone out. They work in Guangzhou."

"That's good. At least it can ease the family burden. Poor people's children grow up early."

"Speaking of which, how come Uncle isn't eating lunch with us?" Wang Xiaohua asked casually.

"He eats at his unit. Doesn't come home at noon... I really envy you having three brothers. My family only has Xiaoqian. Before, when I had to go to work and Xiaoqian hadn't started school yet, I could only lock her alone at home. I felt I owed her a lot."

Wang Xiaoqian pursed her lips: "Mom, those are old stories. Why bring them up now? You don't work anymore, do you?"

Wang Xiaoqian's mother said: "Not working anymore, your dad dislikes that I don't earn money. Says I eat dry rice for nothing. Everything depends on his face. But it's not his fault either... Xiao Hua, don't look at us living in the city, but our income isn't high. Xiaoqian's dad works himself to death every day, and his monthly salary is just over four thousand. Now the whole family relies on this bit of salary to get by. I also want to hire a tutor for Xiaoqian, but can't afford it. Good thing Xiaoqian gets along well with Lin Xin. Her family has so much money. I heard from Xiaoqian that her family hired you as a tutor and spent quite a lot of money."

Wang Xiaoqian said: "Spent ten thousand. Xiao Hua Ge, right?"

Wang Xiaohua laughed: "Yes. It was Chunsheng Uncle who took the initiative to give me this much."

Wang Xiaoqian's mother couldn't help but exclaim:

"Niu Chunsheng is really willing to spend money on his daughter. Why don't I have such a capable husband?"

Wang Xiaoqian said:

"Mom, Dad is actually pretty good."

"Good is good, but he just has no ability to make money. Guarding that dead-end salary."

Wang Xiaoqian's mother also said:

"If you can't get into high school, he can't help you pull strings for a degree. But if Niu Linxin can't get into high school, her dad could help her get a degree in minutes."

Wang Xiaoqian rolled her eyes:

"That's her dad, not my dad. What's the meaning of comparing like this?"

This lunch lasted half an hour plus.

Not long after finishing the meal, Wang Xiaohua went back to Niu Linxin's home together with Wang Xiaoqian.

On the way, Wang Xiaohua suddenly asked Wang Xiaoqian:

"Xiaoqian, you're often together with Niu Linxin. Don't you envy her family conditions and resent your original family?"

Wang Xiaoqian was a bit bewildered:

"What's an original family? That's my home, not an original family."

This sentence made Wang Xiaohua's inner heart tremble involuntarily, as if touched by something.

Wang Xiaoqian then said:

"To tell the truth, saying I don't envy Niu Linxin would definitely be false. But to say I therefore hate my own family, that's unnecessary. Birth conditions are something no one can change. Resentment is useless. Besides, my dad actually works very hard too. He's very bitter and tired every day. Not earning money isn't his fault."

Hearing this, Wang Xiaohua couldn't help but feel admiration.

This child Wang Xiaoqian is more mature and sensible than imagined.

This kind of mindset of hers makes Wang Xiaohua feel a bit ashamed of himself.

For a very long period of time, Wang Xiaohua was dissatisfied with his own family conditions.

One part of the reason he studied so hard was to get rid of the original family he loathed.

He used to think about striving to jump out and cut ties with the original family.

Not compromise/settle.

After the matter of his father's cerebral hemorrhage hospitalization, he only then began to reflect on himself.

Realized that hostility cannot solve problems. Hatred will only make family conflicts sharper and sharper. And sharper and sharper family conflicts will only make this family more chaotic, more without peace.

Actually, he still hasn't found a way to get along with his father, but he can already be very certain that he cannot continue to be at loggerheads with his father.

Today seeing Wang Xiaoqian's peaceful mindset, Wang Xiaohua suddenly realized that perhaps only by relaxing his own mindset can he untie all the knots in his heart.

"Xiaoqian, thank you."

Wang Xiaohua suddenly thanked Wang Xiaoqian.

Wang Xiaoqian was stunned, a bit baffled:

"What are you thanking me for? I should be the one thanking you."

Wang Xiaohua smiled:

"Thank you for letting me eat lunch at your home."

Wang Xiaoqian smiled:

"If you like eating our food, you can come over often. I'll just have Mom set out an extra pair of bowl and chopsticks. If you come over for meals regularly, Mom'll probably be so happy she can't sleep."

"Is it really that exaggerated?"

"It absolutely is. You don't know — when she found out you often rank first in the grade, her reaction was happier than if she'd found a treasure!"

The two chatted back and forth, and before they knew it, they had walked back to Niu Linxin's doorstep.

He pressed the doorbell.

Before long, Niu Linxin came to open the door.

"Back so soon? I was still thinking of taking a nap."

Seeing Wang Xiaohua, Niu Linxin looked a bit annoyed.

Wang Xiaoqian saw there was no one else inside, so she asked:

"Where are Uncle and Auntie?"

Niu Linxin said:

"My dad went to work after eating lunch, and my mom went out shopping with someone."

Wang Xiaohua said:

"Since your parents aren't home, if you want to nap, go ahead and nap. I'll just tutor Wang Xiaoqian."

But Wang Xiaoqian said:

"Lin Xin, let's still make the most of our time and study. Once school starts in September, we'll be in Junior High Year Three, and the high school entrance exam will be here before we know it. We can't slack off anymore."

Niu Linxin, however, was very resistant:

"I don't want to study. Just thinking about studying gives me a headache."

Then she curiously asked Wang Xiaoqian:

"By the way, when did you turn into a study enthusiast? You weren't like this before!"

Wang Xiaoqian chuckled:

"I want to slack off too, but there's no choice. I have to get into high school. I don't want to go to a technical school after junior high graduation — I've heard technical schools are chaotic — and I even less want to go work in a factory in my teens. If that happens, my life would basically be over. My parents only have me as a daughter; I don't want to disappoint them. I was ignorant and just wanted to play before, but now I have to start being sensible."

Niu Linxin pursed her lips, looking Wang Xiaoqian up and down:

"How come I feel like you've turned into a different person? Wang Xiaohua, did you say something to bewitch my best friend?"

Wang Xiaohua immediately didn't know whether to laugh or cry:

"What are you talking about? Wang Xiaoqian wanting to study is a good thing, so how am I bewitching her?"

Niu Linxin waved her hand:

"Then you two go study. I'm going to sleep. I won't lock the door. When my mom comes back, remember to come wake me up. If she sees me slacking off, she'll probably scold me again."

With that, Niu Linxin turned around and went back to her bedroom.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiaohua and Wang Xiaoqian went to the study next door to study.