Chapter 235: 231. Visiting the Xia Family (Seeking subscriptions, seeking monthly tickets!)

Liu Lu held the little ones' small hands, looking at the gate of the compound, feeling a bit curious and nervous inside.

This was her first time coming to a place like this; she had only heard of it in the past.

Zhang Ran looked at her and smiled, "Don't be nervous. When the time comes, just call him Uncle Xia directly; treat him like an ordinary elder."

Zhang Ran had originally planned to come alone, but since Liu Lu had already brought the four little ones along this time.

If he didn't bring them along now, he figured Xia Zhangqing would curse him to death, so he brought them all.

Liu Lu nodded, but didn't speak; this mindset wasn't something that could be changed in a moment.

Zhang Ran had the guard call to notify Xia Zhangqing, and not long after, they saw Xia Zhangqing trotting over with small, quick steps, followed by a young woman, "Dad, slow down, don't trip!"

Xia Zhangqing ignored his daughter, but when he saw that familiar face, he subconsciously slowed down.

"Old Xia, what's wrong? Don't recognize an old friend when you see one?" Zhang Ran said with a chuckle, opening his arms at the same time.

Looking at Zhang Ran, who was just as he had been all those years ago, Xia Zhangqing finally came to his senses, walked quickly to Zhang Ran's side, and gave him a heavy hug.

"You guy... it's so good to see you again!" That was all Xia Zhangqing said in the end.

Xia Wen, standing to the side, was also curiously sizing up Zhang Ran; she hadn't expected the old friend her father and mother had spent the whole afternoon preparing to host to look so young.

Zhang Ran smiled and let go of him, "Alright, why are we old men hugging? Come here, niece, give your uncle a hug!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhangqing immediately got anxious, "Zhang Ran, you behave yourself!"

However, Zhang Ran was only saying it; he didn't make any actual move, instead extending his hand for a handshake.

Although Xia Wen was still very curious, she hurriedly shook hands with Zhang Ran and introduced herself, "Hello, Uncle Zhang, my name is Xia Wen; you can just call me Xiaowen."

Zhang Ran said to Xia Zhangqing, "Look at your daughter, then look at yourself."

As he spoke, Zhang Ran also introduced Liu Lu to them, "Her name is Liu Lu, she is my daughter-in-law; he is Zhang Xiaotao, my grandson; Zhang Su, my granddaughter; Lin Dun (Auston), Lin Se (Arthur), my friends' sons."

Auston and the others had always had Chinese names, all taking the surname Lin; when Lin Mei named them, it was simple, she just took one character from their names and assigned it to them.

"Hello, Grandpa Xia." Susu and Taotao greeted him at the same time.

"Hello, Uncle Xia." These were the two Auston brothers.

Looking at the four cute little ones, Xia Zhangqing's old face immediately crinkled with smiles, and he hurriedly responded to each of them in turn.

He then turned his gaze to Liu Lu, "Your daughter-in-law?" Xia Zhangqing was slightly puzzled; although he knew Zhang Ran had returned, he didn't know the specific situation, and he couldn't possibly go investigate Zhang Ran, even though his relationship with Zhang Ran was very good.

"I'll tell you the details later. What? Are you going to keep us standing outside like this? Is that how you treat guests?" Zhang Ran looked around and said.

Only then did Xia Zhangqing remember, and he slapped his forehead, "Look at my brain. Please, come in quickly. And you, why didn't you call me directly? Why call Little Liu first? Are you being a stranger with me?"

This was referring to Zhang Ran calling Liu Yang earlier.

"I'm not being a stranger with you, damn it. Could I even get through to your cell phone?" Zhang Ran said irritably.

Xia Zhangqing realized what happened; he had set his personal phone to avoid being disturbed.

Xia Zhangqing gave a sheepish laugh and didn't speak, hurriedly leading the way.

After the initial greeting, Liu Lu had been silently following behind; at first, she didn't know Xia Zhangqing's identity, but as everyone they met respectfully called him Secretary Xia, even if Liu Lu were foolish, she would have understood by then.

She suddenly felt nervous; she hadn't expected her father-in-law's old friend to be the top official of Yi City, and they seemed to have a very good relationship.

Just who else does this father-in-law of hers know? This was the only thought in Liu Lu's mind right now.

Originally, she thought she had gotten used to it, after all, it started with Prince Haiman, and then came Huo Zhiyuan, Taylor, and these people.

But now, Liu Lu still felt a bit surprised. In fact, the reason was simple: Prince Haiman was too far removed from Liu Lu's previous life, so after the initial surprise, she quickly recovered.

But Xia Zhangqing was different; although he was also relatively unfamiliar and distant, Liu Lu had a concept of this in her heart, so she felt more nervous and apprehensive than when meeting Prince Haiman.

Zhang Ran and Xia Zhangqing walked to the entrance of the Number One Courtyard, and from afar, they saw a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties looking toward them.

Upon seeing Zhang Ran, an expression of excitement and joy immediately appeared on her face, and tears even slid down her weathered eyes.

"Big Brother Zhang, you... it's good that you're okay. I knew that good people would definitely be rewarded," Chang Meilan said with a choked voice.

"Haha, little sister, don't cry. It's the first time we've met in such a long time, come, let's have a hug." As he spoke, Zhang Ran opened his arms.

This time, Xia Zhangqing, standing to the side, didn't say anything, just watching quietly. He knew the relationship between his wife and Zhang Ran; back then, it could be said that Zhang Ran saved Chang Meilan's life and changed the fate of everyone in their village.

Moreover, Xia Zhangqing and Chang Meilan were introduced by Zhang Ran; if you really count it, Zhang Ran was their matchmaker.

"Alright, Zhang Ran, that's enough. Do you really want to take advantage of my wife?" Originally, Xia Zhangqing didn't mind, but seeing Zhang Ran holding his wife and not letting go, his face immediately darkened.

"What are you talking about? Big Brother Zhang, don't mind him, this guy is just being inexplicable. Come in quickly, I made a lot of the dishes you liked back then, I don't know if you're still used to eating them now." Before Zhang Ran could speak, Chang Meilan glared at Xia Zhangqing.

Xia Zhangqing was speechless, while Xia Wen, standing to the side, stared at all this in a daze. Since when was her mother so open? And looking at her father, he didn't seem angry?

At this moment, she was becoming increasingly unable to understand the relationship between this young Uncle Zhang and their family.

"I'm telling you, Zhang Ran, you only brought this little bit of stuff? You have the nerve to come?" Xia Zhangqing, having been rebuffed by his wife and not daring to cause trouble for her, could only vent his anger on Zhang Ran, picking a fight for no reason.

Zhang Ran glanced at the things he had brought, "I dare to give them, but do you dare to accept them?"

"What's there not to dare? If you dare to give it, I dare to accept it. If you're stingy, just say so, don't look for excuses," Xia Zhangqing said, not backing down at all.

Xia Wen was silent now; she felt that ever since her father met this Uncle Zhang, he had become a completely different person.

Since when did her father look down on people for giving cheap gifts? In the past, whenever someone gave something expensive, he would immediately have them take it away and never accepted valuable gifts.

"Wait until you retire to talk about that. By the way, this is a gift for Xiaowen. Xiaowen, don't mind it, it's nothing good. When your dad retires, Uncle Zhang will make it up to you then," Zhang Ran said, taking out a gift box.

Inside was really nothing valuable, just a small pair of earrings Zhang Ran had bought at the mall for two or three thousand.