Chapter 191: Aunt and Cousin

The moment Aunt stepped out of the passenger arrival gate, it was as if the surrounding sunlight became infected with an extra brilliance.

She was a beauty, and beautiful to the extreme. A faint smile floated upon her silver-platter-like face, reserved yet not ostentatious. A head of long hair, such as only a young girl possesses, cascaded down like a waterfall, as if filled with ten thousand charms. Her skin was so fair it seemed it would break at a touch; her figure was slender, her temperament elegant, possessing the nobility of a Northern woman while revealing the grace of a Jiangnan woman.

Following behind her was a youth with delicate features, pushing a luggage cart. Upon seeing Uncle He Zhi, he opened his mouth and called out, "Dad."

Secretary He's eyes grew moist. He reached out to embrace his son, patted him lightly on the back, looked him up and down, and smiled with satisfaction. He then smiled slightly at his beloved, released his son, reached out to take her hand, and said affectionately, "Wanru, you've worked hard."

Aunt Wanru, full name Ding Wanru. The daughter of the former Municipal Party Committee Secretary of a Northern city. Before coming to Hengyue City, she served as the Vice President of that city's Investment Development Group.

While stunned by her beauty, I still walked up obediently and called out, "Hello, Aunt."

Aunt Wanru saw me, was slightly startled, and opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she didn't.

Uncle introduced me, saying, "The son of Cousin Jiang Min from Hengyue City, Chen Feng. His father was an old subordinate of my father. I've told you about him before."

Aunt Wanru pondered for a moment, then realized with a flower-like smile, "I remember. His family ancestors ran a pharmacy."

After some pleasantries, I took the luggage cart from the youth's hands. The driver saw this from afar, immediately opened the trunk, trotted over to take it from me, and then trotted back to the car to carefully arrange the luggage.

The youth reached out a hand to me: "He Jiaxiao. I should call you Big Brother."

I shook his hand; his hand was warm, soft, and fair. The veins on the back of his hand were clearly visible, and his nails were neatly and beautifully trimmed. One look and you could tell he was a young boy with good upbringing.

"Chen Feng," I said, patting the back of his hand. "From now on, you'll be a Southerner. Actually, I'm just like you—half of my blood is Northern blood."

He looked at me, not understanding. I smiled slightly: "My father was a Northerner; he followed your grandfather from the North."

He let out an "Oh," and laughed heartily. The laughter caused He Zhi and his wife, who were walking in front, to turn their heads. Aunt Wanru raised the corner of her eye and laughed, "You two, what's so funny?"

I caught up a few steps and said, "Aunt, I was just telling Jiaxiao that I'm also half a Northerner."

"I know that. When your uncle was still in Zhangjiakou, the people he couldn't stop thinking about were your family. Actually, how could I not understand Lao He's thoughts?"

Aunt Wanru's expression was indifferent, her gait light and elegant.

Uncle diligently opened the car door and made a face at his son, which made me want to laugh, but I dared not laugh out loud.

The family of three sat in the back, and I sat in the front passenger seat, directing the driver to head home.

I took out my phone and sent a text to Aunt: Uncle's whole family has arrived in Hengyue; preparing to host a welcome dinner.

Before long, Aunt replied: Who is attending?

I replied back: You decide!

After sending the text, just as I was about to close my eyes for a nap, He Jiaxiao patted my seat and called out, "Brother Chen, are you a Township Head now?"

I turned my head and smiled embarrassedly: "Brother's ability isn't enough; I feel very strained even just being a Township Head. Jiaxiao, you've already graduated, what do you want to do?"

"Me? I am determined not to go into politics; I want to be an entrepreneur," He Jiaxiao laughed conceitedly. "My major was marketing, four years of undergraduate study. If I don't do this line of work, it would be a waste of my teacher's painstaking efforts."

"Not planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

"Not taking it, it's meaningless."

"I couldn't pass it, so I'm not taking it either," I said, laughing at myself.

Aunt Wanru took over my words: "How do you know you can't pass if you haven't taken it? And you, Jiaxiao, you are not allowed to have any other thoughts. Honestly review and prepare for me, and take this year's postgraduate entrance exam." As she said this, she turned her face to Secretary He: "Lao He, you should discipline your son. I've disciplined him for twenty years for you; now it's your turn. If Jiaxiao doesn't test well, don't even think about coming home."

Secretary He laughed: "How did it become that I can't even go home?"

Aunt Wanru smiled slightly: "Your home used to be in the North; now our home is in the South. You can't not return to the home in the North, and as for the home in the South, let's see if you return or not."

"Of course I want to go home," Secretary He complained. "Jiaxiao, if you don't want your old man to sleep on the streets, you kid better work hard for me."

He Jiaxiao didn't give his father any face at all, puffing out his cheeks and saying, "Old Dad, am I not supporting you? Look at me, graduated from Beijing. Others all want to stay in Beijing to develop, but I have to follow my mom here to you. I don't know what is worth you lingering in this broken Hengyue City."

Secretary He's face was overcast, and he said unhappily, "If you are a talent, it's the same wherever you develop. What's wrong with Hengyue City? Your grandfather, your great-grandfather, your ancestors are all from this place. You coming back is recognizing your ancestors and returning to your roots."

"Old feudal thinking," He Jiaxiao said, dissatisfied with his father's words, turning his head to look out the window.

Aunt Wanru smiled gently and said unhurriedly, "You two father and son, you bicker as soon as you meet. However, Lao He, we have returned this time in the true sense of going home. Since people have returned home, you can't just be idle, especially Jiaxiao. If the child has ideas, let him go and venture. I have only one request, you father and son both listen to me: keep the family harmonious and smooth, and each of you work hard."

Secretary He clearly respected his beloved, and hurriedly expressed his stance: "Mm, exactly."

Next, everyone stopped talking, each thinking their own thoughts.

It was He Jiaxiao who couldn't endure the loneliness, patting the seat and calling me again: "Brother Chen, I heard that the karaoke halls in the South are very developed. Take me to see them, okay?"

Before I could express my stance, Secretary He became annoyed and said unpleasantly, "Jiaxiao, you've graduated from university, and you still only think about playing? What kind of place is a karaoke hall? How is it suitable for you to go? Not allowed to go."

"I insist on going," He Jiaxiao said stubbornly.

"You dare!" Secretary He was almost furious: "I'll break your legs."

He Jiaxiao laughed instead, mocking his father: "Dad, you are a high-level cadre, but compared to an old man in the countryside, you are exactly the same."

Secretary He was speechless, looking at Aunt Wanru for help.

Aunt Wanru smiled faintly: "It's not impossible for a child to gain some knowledge. Isn't that right? If Little Chen takes him, there shouldn't be any problem."

I had no choice but to take over the conversation: "Aunt, please rest assured. As for Brother Jiaxiao's affairs, everything is on me."

Secretary He glanced at me, wanting to speak but stopping.

His family, except for a trace of warmth when they first met, were almost at daggers drawn once they got in the car, with no one yielding to anyone. This family was not as warm as I had imagined. I suddenly remembered that Uncle had been in Hengyue City for almost two years, and Aunt had only just arrived late. How many things were there in this that we didn't know?

On the way back, we still took the expressway, and the journey was incomparably smooth.

When the car reached Hengyue City, twilight had just begun to fall.

The tallest building in Hengyue City—the Telecom Building—shot out a beam of blue laser from its roof, piercing the firmament. The city lights lit up, reflecting an orange-red glow in the sky.

As the car exited the expressway toll station, I saw Aunt and her husband standing by the roadside smiling. Behind them was a brand-new car, its black body showing nobility and generosity under the illumination of the lights.

I turned my head to Uncle and said, "Secretary He, my aunt and the others have come to pick us up."

Secretary He was clearly very surprised: "How did they know?"

I smiled without a word, told the driver to stop in front of them, got out of the car myself, and greeted Aunt.

He Jiaxiao also followed and got out, circling the car and praising it with clicks of his tongue.

Aunt was a very clever person, smiling and saying, "Is this Jiaxiao?"

He Jiaxiao raised his head upon hearing this and looked at me. I introduced: "It's Aunt. Our aunt."

He Jiaxiao followed and called out, unwilling to leave even half a step.

"How about you drive?" Uncle said, wanting to hand him the keys.

He Jiaxiao took them quite readily, saying, "I have a driver's license. I got it at school."

Before I could stop him, he had already opened the car door and sat in.

"Follow us," Aunt instructed me, and also climbed into the car.

I still got into Secretary He's car, seeing him sigh helplessly. ===== CHAPTER 192 =====