Chapter 113 - Was she mistaken

The brothers paused, their faces flashed awkwardly. "Thank you for what?"

"You've practiced this play many times, haven't you?" The girl looked up smilingly, her eyes shining brightly.

"… " Liu Zhiqiu scratched his head and complained. "I told you Nannan would definitely see through it, but you refused to believe it!"

Liu Zhixia snorted. "That's because you're acting too exaggerated."

"How did I exaggerate? It's obviously your expressions and tone of voice that aren't in place!"

"If you don't believe me, shall we perform it again for everyone to comment?"

"Act on it! Do you think I'm afraid of …" Liu Zhiqiu blurted out, but noticed something amiss and turned his head to look back.

He was shocked to find an audience in the middle of the courtyard, watching the play while gnawing on steamed white buns on their stools.

They were so laid-back. The two children of the family had gone red on the neck and face from quarreling, yet they were calmly nibbling on steamed buns and watching them with relish.

"Grandpa, grandma, uncle and auntie! Are you guys just going to watch?"

"What do you want us to do, lend a hand?" The old man smiled derisively.

"Won't you at least persuade us not to fight if you don't help?"

"Persuade who? Aren't you going to fight?" This came from his mother.

There was no good show to watch. Thus, after munching on the steamed buns, the audience automatically dispersed.

"… " Liu Zhiqiu suddenly felt very sad.

It was followed by a smack on the back of his head. "Idiot."

"Big Brother!"

Having an overly sensitive brother, Big Brother Liu was quite helpless. "I'm your brother, how can I really bully you?"

Little Brother Liu blushed a little and jumped on his brother's back. "Brother, speaking of not bullying me anymore, are you going to give me more room? Can I browbeat you occasionally, huh?"

"Bugger off!"

"Not going to!"

"Liu Zhiqiu, get down this instant!"

"I won't. You just said you'll not bully me, yet you turned around and yelled at me!"

… Liu Yusheng, who was left behind, was in daze.

She thought the two brothers were playing tricks on her early in the morning to amuse her.

Did she misunderstand something?

After breakfast, Liu Dalin and his wife with a pair of children, and Liu Erlin's family of three, carried a pile of gifts and got ready to go out.

Grandpa Liu directly carried Liu Yusheng to send them out the door, but was reluctant to let her down.

"Nannan, come back after you go over there and play."

"I know grandpa. I'll stay for two days and come back."

"You need to stay there for two days, ha…" The old man muttered under his breath, thinking that two days were long.

"Grandparents, you two will be the only ones at home for the next two days, so take care of yourselves. Remember to drink the health tea I put in the kitchen cupboard. Don't do any heavy work at home. Save it for when Dad and uncle come back. If you need anything, go to Grandpa Chief. Don't be afraid to owe favors. I'll pay them back when I get back …"

Listening to their little granddaughter chattering and advising them like a little adult, the old couple's hearts grew more and more reluctant.

Every year when their granddaughter returned home, they feel that life was the hardest.

"Nannan, why don't you stay there for a day? Grandpa will drive the ox cart to pick you up tomorrow; just let your parents and your brother stay a few more days."

Liu Dalin and his wife were beside themselves with tears and laughter.

"Dad, we'll be back in two days, so don't make a fuss. If you really drive the cart yourself to pick Nannan up, she'll have to worry about poverty." Liu Dalin ruthlessly carried his daughter over, took his wife and son, and escaped at full speed. "Okay, don't send us off. We'll get our own ride!"

Liu Erlin, who was left in the cold, was a bit unwilling, and leaned in front of his father. "Father, I'm leaving with Du Juan and Zhiqiu. Do you and Mother have anything to tell me?"

"No, get out of here. Your head is so big; it's in the way!" The old man huffed and went back to the house with his hands behind him.

"Hurry up and leave. Really, you have to anger your father before you leave." Grandma Liu also turned back and left.

Liu Erlin gnashed his teeth. "Wife, let's have a baby girl later too!"

"You're so shameful. Don't let your son learn anything from you!" Du Juan restrained a smile and hung all the bags on her own man. "Look at how angry Mom and Dad are at you. I'm helping them vent."

"…"

Liu Zhiqiu, who was standing by, directly rolled his eyes directly at his father. "Dad, don't torment yourself. You're too old to have a baby. What have you been doing long ago? In the future, when the baby is born and you bring her out, people would think you're her grandpa."

Liu Erlin fell silent. He took off his shoes and chased after his unsuspecting son.

"Husband, slow down, slow down. Be careful of dropping the package!" Du Juan slapped her forehead and screamed behind him.

They were in chaos the whole journey.

They took the Li's cart to reach the town, and then transferred to another ox cart from the town to Liangshui Village for about an hour. This was the village where Chen Xiulan's mother and Liu Yusheng's grandparents lived.

The mountains were scenic with birds chirping and fragrant flowers, and surrounded by a long river. The village was beautiful.

As soon as the ox cart entered the village, there were already people who recognized Chen Xiulan and raised their voices to greet them.

"Yo, is Xiulan back to see your parents?"

"You two don't look like you've changed much. You look like you didn't age, and still look the same as you did a few years ago."

"These are your Zhixia and Nannan, right? Zhixia has grown a lot taller. Nannan has also grown more and more beautiful."

Following her mother's introduction, she greeted her maternal relatives, her third aunt and uncle. When they reached the gate of the Chen's courtyard, her mouth was dry.

Someone from the village should have informed the Chen family ahead of time. When Liu Yusheng and the others arrived, the two elders of the Chens were already waiting outside the courtyard gate. Liu Zhixia and Liu Yusheng both greeted their maternal grandparents.

Mrs. Chen immediately stepped forward and hugged Liu Yusheng, and she kissed the child. "I haven't seen you in almost a year, so let me weigh you down if you've grown heavy."

"She's grown a lot taller from last year. How can she not be heavy?" Chen Xiulan smiled as she took the parcels from the cart, and the group entered the door. When the courtyard door closed and they sat in the hall, only then did Mr. Chen stare. "Why did you bring so many things again? I've said that we have everything at home now, and you don't need to trouble yourself bringing things all the way here."

Liu Dalin simply smiled. "It's fine. It's no trouble. We came all the way by cart. We didn't walk far, so it's effortless."

"These are too expensive; there's no need to buy these things." Mrs. Chen groaned. Chen Xiulan quickly explained, "Most of these gifts are from others, so we just added a little bit to the things we bought for you to keep. When I came here, my mother-in-law specifically asked me to bring more. It's not easy for me to come back, and I only return a handful of times all year round. So, I must be filial to my parents."

"Keep a share of these things for yourself, and let big brother and big sister share the rest."

The Chens had three children. Chen Xiulan had a brother and a sister older than her, both of whom were married.

The eldest brother, Chen Qiming, married a girl from the village; the eldest sister, Chen Xiuying, married in the neighboring village; and Chen Xiulan married the farthest away.

Hearing that it was her mother-in-law's gift, Mrs. Chen gave Chen Xiulan another glare. "You've been a daughter-in-law for so many years. Your mother-in-law is so polite and reasonable. You can't be so ignorant. She told you to take it and you took it. All this stuff adds up to a lot of money."