Chapter 771

Hou Dali took out a large suitcase he had prepared in advance and helped Su Xinghui wrap each item carefully with thick, soft cloth, placing them cautiously into the suitcase. He also padded the suitcase with plenty of newspaper and cotton balls as a buffer, so that even if it were bumped, as long as it wasn't too severe, the items would not be damaged.

After putting everything away, Su Xinghui asked Hou Dali to write him a receipt, then closed the suitcase, lifted it, and said, "Alright, Uncle Hou, I'll be going now."

Hou Dali said, "Thank you, Little Su. You've really done me a huge favor."

Su Xinghui said, "Don't mention it, Uncle Hou."

After bidding farewell to Hou Dali, Su Xinghui left Zhuangyuan Lane and got into Xu Haimin's car. Xu Haimin glanced at the suitcase he was carrying but didn't ask anything and started the car.

Su Xinghui took the initiative to say, "Uncle Xu, these are some antiques like porcelain and calligraphy I bought."

Xu Haimin was not particularly interested in these things, but he believed that Su Xinghui was not the type to spend money recklessly. He nodded and said, "Anything you've set your eyes on must be good."

Xu Haimin drove Su Xinghui all the way to the building where he lived. Su Xinghui got out of the car with the suitcase and said, "Uncle Xu, thank you!"

Xu Haimin nodded with a smile and drove away.

Su Xinghui carried the items home. He returned to his room, opened the suitcase to admire the items again, then closed it and placed it in the corner of the room.

The camphor wood chest he originally used for stamps was almost full and couldn't hold so many things. He planned to ask his mother for another camphor wood chest when she returned to store these items inside. These were his treasures, after all, and had to be kept well. Camphor wood chests were moisture-proof and moth-proof, making them the best things for preserving such collectibles.

After putting the chest away, Su Xinghui began to cook. Halfway through, he heard someone opening the door. He wiped his hands and went out to see, and it was Guo Suhua who had returned. He called out, "Mom, you're back!"

Guo Suhua said happily, "Xinghui, you're back? Are you cooking? You didn't even call me, making me rush back in such a hurry, and I was even in a rush to cook."

Su Xinghui laughed, "Isn't it because Dad told me not to call you, saying he wanted to give you a surprise?"

Guo Suhua said, "Fine, that old Su. I'll settle the score with him when he gets back."

Su Xinghui said, "Mom, don't blame Dad. He meant well."

Guo Suhua laughed, "Alright, since my son says so, I'll let him off."

Su Xinghui said, "Mom, sit down and rest for a while. I'll be done with the cooking in a moment, and then we can eat."

Guo Suhua sat on the sofa happily. It was rare to have a chance to eat a meal prepared by someone else, and with her son back, Guo Suhua was very happy.

When Su Xinghui finished cooking, Su Wenjun also returned from work. Su Xinghui brought the dishes to the table and called out, "Dad, Mom, time to eat!"

Both of them washed their hands and sat at the table. Guo Suhua looked at Su Xinghui and said with a pained heart, "Xinghui, you're so dark and thin now, not as handsome as you were before."

Su Xinghui thought to himself, he had been running around outside all summer and going down to the villages almost every day, how could he not be dark?

He said with a smile, "Mom, it's fine. Isn't it autumn now? As long as the sun isn't so strong, I'll slowly become fair again."

Guo Suhua said, "Then don't see Xiaoya for a while. If she sees you like this, she won't like you anymore."

Su Wenjun said, "Miss Xiaoya isn't as narrow-minded as you. She values Xinghui's inner qualities more."

Guo Suhua said indignantly, "Fine, you old Su, you're saying I'm narrow-minded, right?"

Su Xinghui quickly said, "Mom, Dad didn't mean that. Don't argue, let's eat."

Guo Suhua shot Su Wenjun a look and started eating. However, after one bite, she smiled at Su Xinghui again and said, "Xinghui, Xiaoya really is a good girl. You must treat her well. By the way, when do you plan to marry her?"

Su Xinghui said, "Mom, don't be so anxious. Xiaoya and I are still very young. It doesn't matter if we wait another two years to get married."

Guo Suhua was a little disappointed, but when she thought that Su Xinghui was only twenty-three this year and indeed still very young, she nodded and said, "It's good for you to spend more time together, but don't make Mom wait too long. Mom still wants to help you take care of the children."

Su Xinghui laughed, "Alright, I won't make you wait too long."

Guo Suhua asked with a smile again, "Has Xiaoya been to see you lately?"

Su Xinghui said, "We are both busy with work. She can probably visit twice a month. When things are less busy in a while, I will go to Jiangcheng to see her."

Guo Suhua nodded, "Alright, you should go see her. Don't always let the girl come to see you. By the way, take some things from home tomorrow. Next time you go to Jiangcheng, take them to her house and treat your future father-in-law and mother-in-law well."

Su Xinghui said with a wry smile, "Mom, don't worry about that, I'll arrange it myself."

Guo Suhua said, "Then don't be careless. Don't lose your manners and let them find fault with us. Last time Xiaoya came to our house, she brought gifts for everyone in our family."

Su Xinghui nodded, "Alright, Mom, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'm not the kind of person who doesn't understand manners, am I?"

Guo Suhua nodded and said happily, "Xinghui, do you know? The commercial street will be finished next month. By then, our family's storefronts can be rented out. We'll be able to collect rent, and life at home will be even better."

Su Xinghui said, "I've already heard about this from Xu Xiaoguang's father. Once we take possession of the property, we'll just rent it out. In the future, you and Dad should eat better and dress better. Let's install an air conditioner at home. Our Shangjun County is cold in winter and hot in summer; it'll be more comfortable with an air conditioner."

Guo Suhua said, "Buy an air conditioner? That uses so much electricity. Even if we can afford to buy it, we can't afford to use it."

Guo Suhua was used to being frugal, and her answer did not surprise Su Xinghui, so he didn't say anything more, because saying more was useless. This matter could only be done slowly. He planned to install an air conditioner for the family himself next summer, creating a *fait accompli* so that Guo Suhua would have no choice but to accept it.

Su Xinghui said, "Mom, after dinner, please clear out another one of your camphor wood chests."

Guo Suhua said, "Do you need to use it?"

Su Xinghui nodded, "Yes, I bought some more things and need a camphor wood chest to store them."

Guo Suhua didn't pay much attention. She knew her son liked stamp collecting and thought he had bought more stamps. She never looked at her son's things anyway, and she supported his hobbies, so she nodded and said, "Alright, I'll clear out a chest for you in a while."