Capital Railway Station.
When Chu Xia came out with her luggage, she looked at the sky. It was similar to the last time she came back, with the sun hanging halfway in the western sky, dyeing the entire clouds red.
However, last time she was still wearing a sweater jacket. This time, when she got off the train, she had already changed into thin clothes as summer approaches.
Chu Xia wore a long-sleeved thin shirt and jeans. When the sun was gone, the temperature was still a bit low.
Before going home, Chu Xia called Grandpa Jiang and An'an. She knew that An'an missed her a lot, so she told him in advance that she would be home in the next few days, just to make him happy.
Chu Xia looked into the distance and saw the bus stop across the street from the train station. Just as she was about to carry her luggage over, a body like a small cannonball rushed over and tightly hugged her waist: "Mom!"
Chu Xia lowered her head and saw An'an, whom she hadn't seen for more than ten days. He looked up at her, and the joy in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
A big smile instantly spread across Chu Xia's face. She dropped her luggage, squatted down, and reached out to hug Cen Huai'an.
She vigorously rubbed his hair, looked up at Jiang Zhida, who was standing with his hands in his pockets and not in a proper stance, and said, "Didn't I tell Grandpa not to pick me up? I'll just take the bus back."
Jiang Zhida walked over to pick up Chu Xia's luggage, smiling cheekily, "Sister-in-law, if I didn't come to pick you up, Grandpa would break my legs, and An'an also wants to see you as soon as possible!"
Chu Xia laughed, "Grandpa is just scaring you."
She glanced down at the hand held by Cen Huai'an, who was following her step by step. The expression on her face softened even more. In fact, she also wanted to see An'an earlier too.
Jiang Zhida said strangely, "It's only you, sister-in-law, who says that. How many times have I been chased and beaten by Grandpa?"
Chu Xia laughed, "Just control yourself and don't provoke Grandpa. Grandpa won't hit you for sure."
For example, the incident with the flower pulling last time, he was deliberately asking for trouble, the kind that no one could save.
Jiang Zhida opened the car door for Chu Xia and An'an, casually saying, "I'll try my best."
But if he really can't do it, just continue being chased and beaten. Anyway, Grandpa can't catch up with him now.
"How has An'an been these days at Grandpa's house?"
This was the first time Cen Huai'an had been separated from Chu Xia for so long. He sat in the car, tightly leaning against Chu Xia, holding her hand as if afraid that if he let go, his mom would disappear.
Seeing him like this, Chu Xia felt a dull ache in her heart. She knew that Grandpa Jiang would definitely take good care of Cen Huai'an, but without his parents, he would still feel insecure.
Cen Huai'an hadn't spoken yet, and Jiang Zhida in front said, "I sleep with An'an every day. We are having a great time at my grandpa's house. I even taught An'an how to play table tennis, right, An'an?"
Cen Huai'an nodded. Although he missed his mom, he was also happy at Great-grandpa's house, especially when playing table tennis.
Chu Xia looked down at Cen Huai'an, "An'an is really good. When we get home, can An'an teach Mom how to play table tennis? Mom doesn't know how to play."
Cen Huai'an immediately nodded, his little face expressing a serious expression, as if thinking about how to teach Chu Xia to play.
Chu Xia indeed didn't know how to play table tennis. When she was in primary and middle school, some classmates liked to go out and play.
But back then, in elementary school, she liked to play Chinese jump rope and throw sandbags. In middle school, she enjoyed discussing TV dramas with friends and didn't like to go play table tennis. Later, during breaks, she would play badminton with friends when she had free time, but she never touched table tennis.
Chu Xia asked Cen Huai'an about what he had been doing these days, and Jiang Zhida in front occasionally added a few sentences. Unconsciously, the car arrived at Grandpa Jiang's house.
Chu Xia got out of the car and saw the open gate of the Jiang family. She turned to Jiang Zhida and asked, "Did Grandpa ask you to bring us here?"
Jiang Zhida closed the car door with one hand and took Chu Xia's luggage with the other, nodding, "Yes. Grandpa has already asked Aunt Li to prepare the meal. He said for you to eat here before leaving."
Chu Xia thanked Grandpa Jiang in her heart. Indeed, there was nothing at her home now, not even a coal-burning stove. She no longer felt the need to be polite.
Walking past the entrance screen, the warm yellow light from the doorway window made the whole house instantly cozy. Chu Xia suddenly felt her eyes becoming a bit sore, as if she could see the image of her grandfather waiting for her with the lights on every time she returned home on vacation.
Jiang Zhida took a few steps and noticed that Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an had stopped behind him. He turned around, puzzled, and called out, "Sister-in-law?"
Chu Xia snapped back to reality, seeing Cen Huai'an also looking up at her, his eyes seeming to ask her what's wrong.
Chu Xia stored the recently recalled scene in her heart again, smiled, and said, "Nothing, I was just wondering what Aunt Li cooked that smells so good."
Jiang Zhida laughed heartily, "Sister-in-law, are you hungry?"
Grandpa Jiang, who heard the sound, walked out. Seeing Jiang Zhida approaching, he pulled his face to the side. When he turned to look at Chu Xia and An'an, his face was full of smiles.
"Chu Xia is back. Tired from the journey? Come in and have a meal; it's all your favorite dishes."
Chu Xia replied, "Thank you, Grandpa. I happen to be hungry."
As soon as Cen Huai'an heard Chu Xia say she was hungry, he quickly pulled her towards the house, saying, "Mom, you sit."
After entering, he lifted his foot and forcefully pulled out a chair for Chu Xia to sit.
Chu Xia patted his head, "You haven't washed your hands yet."
She took him to wash his hands, and when they came out, the table was already set with dishes and utensils. Grandpa Jiang and Jiang Zhida sat at the table, waiting for them to join.
Dinner was indeed as Grandpa Jiang had said, with dishes that both she and An'an loved. The garlic shoots stir-fried with beef, in particular, suited Chu Xia's taste, and she enjoyed it with rice.
After the meal, Grandpa Jiang didn't ask about her exam results, as Chu Xia had expected. Instead, he said, "After the exams, go back and rest well."
Grandpa Jiang was indeed a considerate elder. If she didn't do well in the exams, she definitely wouldn't want others to inquire too much about her grades at the moment.
Chu Xia appreciated Grandpa Jiang's kindness and, accompanied by Cen Huai'an, was escorted home by Jiang Zhida, with the two little dogs following along.
At the entrance of their courtyard, Chu Xia thanked Jiang Zhida, and he waved casually and walked away.
As soon as Huangzi and Heizi entered the house, they wagged their tails non-stop, happily running around the yard. Cen Huai'an also looked relaxed, holding Chu Xia's hand as they entered the house. "Mom, we sun-dried your quilt together with Aunt Li," he said.
These were the kind of details that Grandpa Jiang couldn't consider. But Cen Huai'an knew that his mom liked sun-dried quilts and hated them being damp.
She took him to wash his hands, and when they came out, the table was already set with dishes and utensils. Grandpa Jiang and Jiang Zhida sat at the table, waiting for them to join.
Dinner was indeed as Grandpa Jiang had said, with dishes that both she and An'an loved. The garlic shoots stir-fried with beef, in particular, suited Chu Xia's taste, and she enjoyed it with rice.
After the meal, Grandpa Jiang didn't ask about her exam results, as Chu Xia had expected. Instead, he said, "After the exams, go back and rest well."
Grandpa Jiang was indeed a considerate elder. If she didn't do well in the exams, she definitely wouldn't want others to inquire too much about her grades at the moment.
Chu Xia appreciated Grandpa Jiang's kindness and, accompanied by Cen Huai'an, was escorted home by Jiang Zhida, with the two little dogs following along.
At the entrance of their courtyard, Chu Xia thanked Jiang Zhida, and he waved casually and walked away.
As soon as Yellow and Black entered the house, they wagged their tails non-stop, happily running around the yard. Cen Huai'an also looked relaxed, holding Chu Xia's hand as they entered the house. "Mom, we sun-dried your quilt together with Aunt Li," he said.
These were the kind of details that Grandpa Jiang couldn't consider. But Cen Huai'an knew that his mom liked sun-dried quilts and hated them being damp.
So, after talking to Grandpa Jiang, Aunt Li took him home and tidied up the house in advance, even sun-drying the quilts.
Chu Xia walked over and touched the quilt. Indeed, it was fluffy, soft, and completely free of dampness. Getting closer, she could even sense the scent of the sun.
This was truly a pleasant surprise for Chu Xia. She had been worried that the bedding at home might not be suitable for sleeping.
Turning around to face Cen Huai'an, who was looking up at her with expectant eyes, waiting for her praise, Chu Xia couldn't resist squatting down and giving him a "mua~" on his little face, lavishing him with praise without hesitation.
"Mom feels so lucky. How is it possible to have such a handsome and considerate son? In our entire family compound, in the entire alley, there's no one better than you, An'an!"
Listening to Chu Xia's various praises, Cen Huai'an's little face turned slightly red. He felt happy, excited, and a bit embarrassed at the same time.
However, he also believed that he did well and would continue to do better in the future.
The next afternoon after school, Cen Huai'an still remembered what Chu Xia said about learning table tennis. When he returned home, he saw her sitting in the study. He walked over, held her hand, and pulled her outside, saying, "Mom, let me teach you table tennis."
Chu Xia remembered what she had said the day before. She stood up, about to follow Cen Huai'an outside, and then realized she didn't have a paddle. She stopped An'an and said, "I haven't bought a paddle yet. Let's play tomorrow."
An'an didn't say anything but opened his backpack to show Chu Xia, "Mom, I borrowed Uncle's paddle. You can use his."
With the paddle issue resolved, Chu Xia had no reason to refuse. She followed Cen Huai'an to the ping pong table in the alley.
By now, the table was surrounded by many people, including elementary and middle school students, as well as high school students and adults.
The ping pong table wasn't like the green ones with a net in the middle that Chu Xia had seen in her previous life at school.
The table in the alley was quite basic, with a damaged slab on top, supported by various bricks underneath. In the center, there was a wooden beam with two bricks serving as the net.
Although the table was simple, it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the children playing table tennis, nor did it hinder the joy of those watching.
Every evening when Chu Xia came out, she would see a group of kids, both big and small, playing table tennis. Their cheerful shouts of approval seemed to echo throughout the entire alley.
"Should we learn here? But they're already playing."
Chu Xia pointed to two kids playing.
Cen Huai'an had a solution. He asked Chu Xia to wait for a moment, then went to talk to the people inside who wanted to play. Using the excuse of lending out the paddle, he managed to secure a twenty-minute playing time.
Although many kids loved playing table tennis, not every child had a paddle. The cheapest paddles were still relatively expensive for children, and not all adults were willing to buy one for their kids.
An'an's paddle was found by Jiang Zhida when they were treasure hunting at Grandpa Jiang's house. He told An'an to keep it a secret from Grandpa Jiang.
However, the next moment, An'an went and told Grandpa Jiang.
Grandpa Jiang directly let An'an play with the paddle. He scolded Jiang Zhida for not teaching An'an properly, saying he didn't have the demeanor of an elder.
Later, Jiang Zhida pointed at Cen Huai'an and scolded, "Little traitor! You promised me and then betrayed me."
An'an, with a clear conscience, said, "I didn't promise you."
"Then give me back the paddle. After all, I was the one who found it with you!" Jiang Zhida tried to snatch the paddle from him.
Cen Huai'an ran around the yard, clutching the paddle, and shouted, "This was given to me by Great-grandpa! I won't give it to you!"
Then, he loudly called for Great-grandpa. Just as he shouted once, Jiang Zhida grabbed him and covered his mouth, saying, "Don't call! Don't call!"
Grandpa Jiang had already heard the commotion and came out. His cane struck the ground, making a clear sound. "Are you bullying An'an again?" he asked.
"I'm not." Jiang Zhida immediately denied, prompting Cen Huai'an to quickly explain to Grandpa Jiang, "Explain quickly, and I'll take you to eat something delicious!"
Cen Huai'an wasn't foolish. Seizing the opportunity, he asked, "What delicious thing?"
"I promise you'll like it."
Then Cen Huai'an helped him, and he got to taste his first-ever ice cream, different from the ice cream sold by him and his friend Bang.
The ice cream was chocolate-flavored, with small chocolate pieces inside. One bite, soft, sweet, and refreshing. Cen Huai'an couldn't help licking his lips at the memory, longing for another taste.
Cen Huai'an didn't tell Chu Xia how he got the ping pong paddle. When the time came to play, he immediately turned around and called, "Mom!"
Instantly, all the kids' eyes fell on Chu Xia, glancing at her and then at An'an, expressing confusion: Do adults play with kids?
Chu Xia felt a bit awkward under the gaze of these children. She walked over, propped up her courage, and whispered to Cen Huai'an, "Let's learn another time, okay?"
Learning table tennis in front of so many kids, revealing to them that she, as an adult, knew nothing about it and had to be taught by her son, was a bit too much for Chu Xia's pride.
"But Mom, I've already changed the time to play."
"I..." Chu Xia looked at Cen Huai'an's earnest eyes. He didn't understand why his mom suddenly didn't want to learn anymore. Just a moment ago, she was so happy about the prospect of learning.
"I'm not ready yet. Go home and explain the rules to me first."
Cen Huai'an, considering himself a thoughtful son, especially after the lavish praise from his mom just yesterday, obediently followed Chu Xia, lending the paddle to the kid as they walked out.
Back at home, Chu Xia thought about the ping pong table in the alley and felt there was no need to go there to learn.
"An'an, let's set up a ping pong table at home."
Cen Huai'an asked, "Mom, how do we set it up?"
It was actually quite simple. There were still long wooden boards and pieces of bricks left from making a bed for the dogs.
They found a vacant space in the yard, stacked two long strips with bricks – not too long. Then, they took four long wooden boards and placed them on top, supporting the middle with bricks. With a wooden board as a barrier, a rudimentary and scaled-down version of a ping pong table was assembled.
Chu Xia clapped her hands, stood with her hands on her hips, looking quite accomplished. She turned to Cen Huai'an with a slight tilt of her head and said, "Look, it's all set up now."
Cen Huai'an looked at the makeshift ping pong table in the yard and felt a sense of accomplishment. He happily said, "Mom, from now on, I can teach you how to play table tennis in the yard."
"Yeah! It's so convenient, and we don't have to go out and compete with others."
Cen Huai'an nodded, saying, "Mm-hmm."
Chu Xia went to prepare dinner and, in passing, asked An'an to help her peel garlic, wash scallions, and clean the vegetables.
As dinner approached, the kid who borrowed An'an's ping pong paddle returned it. He said to An'an, "Just now, there was an adult playing against Brother Leizi. He hasn't played against Brother Leizi before and got laughed at by everyone. Brother Leizi is really good. I hope I can be as good as him in the future!"
Cen Huai'an was puzzled, "Why did they laugh at that adult?"
The kid matter-of-factly explained, "He's so much older than Brother Leizi, and he couldn't beat him. Of course, he would be laughed at! Besides, he wanted to play against Brother Leizi, not the other way around."
From the alley, the voices of adults calling children for dinner echoed. The kid loudly responded, "Coming!" He waved to Cen Huai'an, turned around, and ran home without waiting for An'an's reply. Cen Huai'an looked down at the ping pong paddle in his hand, finally understanding why his mom didn't want him to teach her table tennis in front of others.
Because Mom is an adult, and adults not good at playing table tennis are often laughed at by children.
Cen Huai'an pursed his lips, feeling a bit uncomfortable. He had almost caused his mom to be ridiculed.
He lowered his head, closed the door, and when he entered the living room, he saw his mom leaning on her chin, waiting for him to come and eat. He walked over and hugged her, saying, "Mom, I'm sorry."
Chu Xia looked puzzled. What was An'an apologizing for now? Did he do something mischievous behind her back?
"What are you sorry about?"
Chu Xia patted his back and asked, still wondering if Cen Huai'an had done something mischievous.
Cen Huai'an explained to Chu Xia what the kid had told him. He felt sorry because he had almost allowed Chu Xia to be ridiculed by others.
Children don't consider someone's face as much as adults do; they express whatever they feel.
If Chu Xia had let An'an teach her to play table tennis in public, she might have been laughed at. However, even if that happened, Chu Xia could handle those laughs just fine.
She just didn't have the courage to learn table tennis in front of so many children.
"There's nothing to apologize for. I've been laughed at before. You're just a kid, it's normal not to consider everything. Anyway, from now on, we'll play at home. Don't worry about things that haven't happened. Go wash up and have breakfast."
Chu Xia spoke with an unconcerned tone, gently pushing Cen Huai'an to wash up.
The next morning, Chu Xia woke up early, and Cen Huai'an had already finished the daily laps set by the martial arts teacher and completed a round of basic exercises, covered in sweat.
"Tired?"
Chu Xia took out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead.
Cen Huai'an looked quite energetic, shook his head, and said, slightly out of breath, "Not tired."
Sun Feng didn't assign them many tasks each day, and it took only about thirty to forty minutes to complete them.
Because they are still young, the duration of their training will increase as they grow older in the future.
Even though they had only been learning for a short period, Chu Xia could already see a noticeable change in Cen Huai'an's spirit and vitality.
In the afternoon, after Huai'an finished school, he taught Chu Xia how to play table tennis. Chu Xia realized that her body didn't have a natural talent for playing table tennis.
However, it didn't matter since they were just playing for fun, and she wasn't aspiring to become a professional table tennis player.
Cen Huai'an was also a beginner, and the two novices at home were simply comparing who picked up the ball fewer times.
Despite being novices, engaging in this activity every day made Chu Xia sleep more soundly at night, and she felt more energetic in her studies the next day.
She had fallen in love with this table tennis (ball retrieval) sport.
As the days got warmer, Chu Xia couldn't help but glance into the convenience store each time she passed by, wondering why the school hadn't called her yet.
It's been a week since the preliminary exams, and the results still haven't been released?
However, this thought only crossed her mind momentarily, and she quickly refocused on her studies, not even giving Cen Zhengnian much thought.
With less than two months left until the college entrance exams, it was a critical moment, and she couldn't afford to slack off.
In the afternoon, Chu Xia finally received a call from the director of the academic affairs office at No. 9 High School. His tone was unusually excited.
"You're the first in the school! And third in the city!"
This was an unprecedented achievement for No. 9 High School, considering Liangzhou City was a provincial capital with no shortage of prestigious high schools. No. 9 High School had never ranked highly among those schools.
Chu Xia wasn't concerned about her specific ranking; as long as she passed, it was sufficient.
The director of the academic affairs office continued to express his excitement, not giving Chu Xia a chance to speak: "Maintain your current performance, and No. 9 High School will become a dark horse in the college entrance exams. Luo Chuxia, do you have any challenges or difficulties at the moment? Do you need our school's teachers to help you?"
Chu Xia finally had a chance to speak: "Director, I'm fine. I'm doing well in my revisions."
"That's good, that's good."
The director of the academic affairs office expressed gratitude for the papers Chu Xia had sent: "Our school also obtained test papers from the best high school teachers in Liangzhou City. We've sent them to you. Make sure to do well!"
They aimed to improve even more in the college entrance exams, hoping to secure a top-three position in the province. If they achieved that, Ninth High School would truly become renowned throughout the city.
The director of the academic affairs office hung up the phone with these hopeful thoughts.
Chu Xia shared the news of her passing the preliminary exams with Cen Zhengnian and Grandpa Jiang.
Cen Zhengnian, as usual, remained busy until late at night. However, from his voice, Chu Xia couldn't detect any complaints. Instead, there was a gentle tone lingering in the phone call.
"We'll be quite busy during this period, and I might not be able to come home."
"No problem," Chu Xia said, "I'll find time to bring An'an to see you."
However, she wasn't sure if she could find time before the college entrance exams.
On May 21st, it was Chu Xia's birthday.
Not only did she look like the original owner, but their birthdays were also the same. Chu Xia didn't know if this was the reason for her transmigration.
But birthdays were always a bit more special than usual.
In her past life, people liked to celebrate, especially couples. There were special meanings associated with dates like 520 and 521. Because her birthday was on May 21st, she had been teased by classmates. They said that when she had a boyfriend, receiving gifts on 521 would mean one less birthday gift.
520 is a homophone for the phrase "I love you" because the pronunciation of the numbers "5-2-0" [wǔ èr líng] sounds similar to the pronunciation of [我爱你] [wǒ ài nǐ], which means "I love you."
521 is a homophone for the phrase "I love you" because the pronunciation of the numbers "5-2-1" [wǔ èr yī] sounds similar to the pronunciation of "[爱你] [wǒ ài nǐ], which means "I love you."
May 20th (520) and May 21st (521) are days that is considered symbolic for romantic gestures, and some people celebrate them as an alternative or additional "Internet Valentine's Day [网络情人节] People exchange expressions of love, gifts, and romantic messages during these days.
Chu Xia just smiled at that time. She hadn't thought about finding a boyfriend and wasn't concerned about these holidays.
On her birthday, she would usually buy a cake and have a meal with everyone to celebrate.
Early in the morning, Chu Xia, upon seeing Cen Zhengnian, said, "An'an, today is Mom's birthday. Quickly wish Mom a happy birthday."
She hadn't told Cen Huai'an about her birthday, so he didn't know it was her birthday today.
Cen Huai'an was momentarily stunned but quickly reacted, and with a smile on his face, he said to Chu Xia, "Mom, happy birthday!"
After saying that, Cen Huai'an rushed to the living room, looked at the calendar, tore off yesterday's date, and confirmed that it was May 21st.
He firmly remembered this day in his mind, vowing not to forget it in the future.
Despite the many surprises his mom had prepared for his birthday, he had never prepared a gift for her in advance on her birthday.
Cen Huai'an felt guilty and tried to figure out how to give his mom a surprise.
Chu Xia didn't have specific plans for celebrating her birthday. Since her grandfather passed away, her relationship with her parents had become distant, and without her closest family member, she didn't celebrate her birthday much.
Some friends remembered and wished her a happy birthday with a gift, but if they didn't, she wouldn't remind them. At most, she would make herself a bowl of longevity noodles on that day.
Even though eating them might not make her live longer, the symbolism was good. In this life, she planned to take good care of her health and live a long life.
***
At noon after school, Cen Huai'an saw Jiang Zhida waiting at the door. He ran up to him, tugged at his clothes, and made him lower his head. With a face full of conspiratorial importance, he asked, "Uncle, did you buy it?"
Jiang Zhida reassured him with a gesture, lowered his voice, and pretended to engage in a black market deal. "Uncle takes care of business. Can you trust me? Oh, by the way, ten yuan for the task, plus the ice cream you wanted and the scarf you asked for, a total of thirteen yuan and eight cents."
Hearing Jiang Zhida's quote, Cen Huai'an's eyes widened with heartache. He hadn't expected it to be so expensive.
Now, he felt even more moved by what his mom did for his birthday.
"Uncle, I'll give you the money when I get home."
Cen Huai'an thought about his savings, which had suddenly decreased so much. However, when he thought about how happy his mom would be when she saw the gift, he didn't feel the pain anymore.
He urged Jiang Zhida, "Uncle, walk faster."
Cen Huai'an couldn't wait to see his mom's expression when she received the gift.
Behind Jiang Zhida's bicycle were some items, and it wasn't suitable for someone to sit. He and An'an pushed the bike towards the alley.
Because there was a round and beautiful box at the back, many kids curiously looked over. Some who knew Cen Huai'an even asked him what it was.
Cen Huai'an, eating chocolate ice cream, said, "Can't tell you."
This was the surprise he prepared for his mom, and he didn't want others to find out first.
Humming the birthday song, with four dishes cooked and the longevity noodles prepared, when she brought them to the living room, Cen Huai'an and Jiang Zhida had just entered through the front door.
Seeing Jiang Zhida coming over with a round box in his hand, Chu Xia was surprised and immediately looked at Cen Huai'an. "Did you tell your uncle that today is my birthday?"
"Yeah. Mom, please have a seat quickly."
Cen Huai'an pushed Chu Xia, his eyes shining brightly. Chu Xia could immediately sense his thoughts.
However, she cooperated and sat down, waiting to see what he had prepared.
"Mom, this is a birthday cake for you. Uncle said they sell it in the capital. Also, this is for you."
Jiang Zhida also presented a gift to Chu Xia, similar to the one Cen Huai'an gave, both wrapped in paper boxes. However, his gift seemed a bit heavy.
"Sister-in-law, you should have told us in advance. Now, you can only receive gifts from me and An'an. You won't get the ones from Grandpa and my parents."
Cen Huai'an's grand aunt Yang Mei was engaged in work involving many foreign countries, and she had even traveled abroad. She was familiar with the Western custom of celebrating birthdays with cakes. In their family, the younger generation also celebrated birthdays with cakes.
If the Jiang family knew that today was Chu Xia's birthday, those who were available would surely celebrate it properly for her, with more than just the current four dishes.
Chu Xia smiled, holding the gifts from both of them, and said, "Having your gifts is more than enough. I've received your blessings."
Especially An'an, who specially bought her a cake. Chu Xia felt full and happy now, reaching out to tightly hug Cen Huai'an.
The cake wasn't too big, but it wasn't small either. Chu Xia was certain that the three of them couldn't finish it. After dividing the cake among Cen Huai'an, Jiang Zhida, and herself, she put the rest away.
This was the cake An'an gave her, and she wanted to savor it slowly.
After finishing the cake and the longevity noodles, Chu Xia became curious about An'an's other gift. "An'an, what did you put in this little box?"
"Mom, you'll know when you open it."
Hearing his words, Chu Xia carefully unwrapped the paper box. Inside was a rose-red silk scarf, and it felt like silk. The texture was excellent.
However, when she looked at the color, Chu Xia thought she couldn't pull off wearing it.
Cen Huai'an and Jiang Zhida still looked at her with anticipation, waiting for her opinion on the gift.
Chu Xia licked her lips, reluctantly holding the scarf and gesturing around her neck. "It's quite nice. Who picked this out? Very tasteful."
Jiang Zhida immediately lifted his brows proudly. "It was me. An'an said he wanted a red one, and he thought this shade of red looked the best. Bright red is too flashy, not suitable for your style, Sister-in-law."
Chu Xia, " ..."
This color is even less suitable for my style; it would be better to choose bright red.
No wonder Jiang Zhida wore floral shirts every day, with at least five different colors on his body. If it weren't for his face, his dressing style would indeed be unbearable.
Chu Xia tried to smile more naturally. "Dazi, you picked a really good scarf. I suggest you not casually gift scarves to girls in the future."
Jiang Zhida looked puzzled. "Why? I picked such a good one, shouldn't I give it? When they see such a beautiful scarf, they'll be moved, and I'll successfully pursue the girl. Hehe."
He scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.
Chu Xia smiled gently, "I'm afraid too many girls will like you, and being too popular among boys is not good. Attracting too much attention might lead to others calling you a scumbag. Be careful, alright?"
Jiang Zhida nodded repeatedly, "Sister-in-law, you're right."
Chu Xia breathed a sigh of relief. Nowadays, many girls probably like scarves, and they may not mind the color. However, she couldn't imagine how high the aesthetic value must be to pull off the rose-red color.
Cen Huai'an felt that his mom's smile was a bit strange, but he couldn't figure out what it was. Seeing that his mom was genuinely happy, he also smiled along.
While enjoying the meal, Jiang Zhida seemed to suddenly remember something. He looked at Chu Xia, "Sister-in-law, did you just say that women will like the scarf I gave?"
Chu Xia's hand paused as she was about to pick up food, and she reluctantly said, "Yes."
The scarf was a gift from An'an, the red color was suggested by An'an, and the specific shade was chosen by Jiang Zhida. It was their good intentions, and Chu Xia couldn't bring herself to say that the rose-red color wasn't suitable. She planned to find a bag or clothing later and see if it looked better when worn.
Jiang Zhida clapped his hands and said, "My mom is always nagging at me for not having a proper job, scolding me every day. I dare not go home now. If I also give her a scarf, will she stop scolding me for a few days?"
Chu Xia almost didn't spit out her food, immediately raised her head, and seeing his determined look to give that gift, she quickly tentatively suggested, "Do you want to consider changing the gift? I think lipstick would be nice."
The current lipstick shades are limited, and most of them are bright red, making it challenging to avoid stepping into trouble.
Yang Mei was not someone who didn't know how to coordinate. Her job required her to pay great attention to dressing, which had to be in line with her status.
Jiang Zhida's eyes lit up again, "Lipstick sounds good! I'll go see if there's a lipstick in the same color as the scarf!"
Chu Xia replied, "I think a classic red lipstick would be great."
Jiang Zhida waved his hand, "That color is everywhere on the streets, not unique enough."
Chu Xia thought, "Well, I did my best. I hope my aunt will like the lipstick when she receives it."
Apart from Jiang Zhida's peculiar preference for the rose-red color, the rest of the meal was enjoyable for both Chu Xia and An'an.
After checking with An'an, Chu Xia also had Jiang Zhida take some cakes to Grandpa Jiang.
Chu Xia planned to finish the remaining cakes in the evening since it was summer now, and the cakes wouldn't keep well.
After leaving Chu Xia and An'an's house, Jiang Zhida first went to the department store but couldn't find the lipstick color he wanted.
He then went to a foreign exchange store and finally bought the rose-red lipstick.
Humming a tune, he went to Grandpa Jiang's house, left the cakes there, rode to the convenience store in the alley, and called Cen Zhengnian for the second time.
As expected, Cen Zhengnian did not answer, but he informed the guard who answered the call that he would come back when he was free.
He hopped on his bike again, humming a song, and headed home.
The house of Eldest Uncle Jiang and Yang Mei were not far apart; they were assigned by the unit. Because both Eldest Uncle Jiang and his wife held high positions, the allotted house was quite spacious.
At this time, there was no one at home. Eldest Uncle Jiang and Yang Mei were both at work.
In the evening, when Yang Mei entered the house and saw Jiang Zhida lounging on the sofa, casually watching TV, she instantly became furious and threw her bag at him.
"Look at you! Either watching TV at home or going out to play. Can't you find a decent job? Even if you do business like your brother, it's fine. Look at yourself now. People in the residential area all say you're a good-for-nothing!"
Jiang Zhida, accustomed to hearing such words, rubbed his ears and continued to smile playfully, "Mom, don't my older brother and sister's achievements satisfy you? Let them talk; I haven't done anything outrageous. I just haven't found something I like to do."
As Yang Mei raised her hand to hit him again, Jiang Zhida quickly pulled out a lipstick from his pocket, saying, "Mom, Mom, hold on, don't hit me. Look at what I bought for you."
Yang Mei's hand stopped, and she frowned, looking at the lipstick in his hand, "Lipstick? Why did you think of buying this?"
"It's because today is my sister-in-law's birthday. I bought her a scarf in this color, and she really liked it. So, I thought of getting you a scarf too, but my sister-in-law said you might prefer lipstick. That's why I bought you this lipstick. Considering my filial piety, could you cut me some slack?"
Yang Mei's brows furrowed even tighter as she scrutinized Jiang Huai'an from head to toe, expressing her disbelief in his fashion sense.
However, she couldn't undermine her son's filial piety. Yang Mei reached out and took the lipstick from Jiang Zhida.
She opened the lipstick, looked at the color, and fell silent for a moment.
"This color, was it recommended by your sister-in-law?"
Yang Mei found it hard to believe. She had seen Chu Xia; she dressed tastefully and naturally, her outfits were beautiful, and they perfectly matched her personality. She wouldn't choose a lipstick color that tested people.
"No, my sister-in-law wanted me to buy a bright red one. I thought that color was everywhere, and it didn't stand out."
Holding the lipstick, Yang Mei applied it to her lips and asked Jiang Zhida, "Is this color special? Does it look good?"
Jiang Zhida nodded without hesitation, looking sincere, "It looks great!"
Yang Mei: Her son's aesthetics are beyond redemption.
"Does it look great? Can't you see it doesn't match my outfit at all? If I wear this lipstick to meet foreign guests, they will definitely laugh at me!"
Yang Mei slapped him on the back with a "smack": "In the future, no matter what, you are not allowed to choose this color for me. It's fortunate that your sister-in-law is kind, praising your good taste even for a scarf in this color!"
She guessed it was a birthday gift. Since Chu Xia considered it a thoughtful gesture, she didn't want Jiang Zhida to feel that the color choice was bad.
Yang Mei rubbed her forehead, looking at Jiang Zhida, who still didn't understand where he went wrong, and felt even more frustrated.
Fortunately, a phone call saved Jiang Zhida.
He hurriedly ran downstairs to answer the phone, avoiding further wrath from his mother.
"Hello?"
"It's me," came the voice of Cen Zhengnian from the other end of the phone. "What do you need?"
He furrowed his brow, eyes filled with concern. Cen Zhengnian had instructed Chu Xia to contact Jiang Zhida if she couldn't reach him. He was worried that something might have happened to Chu Xia and An'an, so upon receiving Jiang Zhida's call, he promptly responded.
Jiang Zhida glanced at the darkening sky, impressed by the dedication of his second cousin. If it were him, he wouldn't be so serious even if he were working.
"Today is Sister-in-law's birthday. Second cousin, you're not unaware, are you?"
Cen Zhengnian, rubbing his forehead, suddenly stopped and looked up, immediately asking, "What date is it today?"
"It's May 21st," Jiang Zhida replied instinctively, then with an incredulous expression, he continued, "Second cousin, you can't be serious. Are you so busy that you don't even know the date? Do you even know what year it is?"
Without responding, Cen Zhengnian simply said, "Thank you," and hung up the phone with a "snap."
Listening to the busy signal, Jiang Zhida chuckled, "Second cousin, go and coax your wife. Don't thank me too much."
Jiang Zhida did a good deed, and his mood lifted. He hummed a song on his way home.
After hanging up with Jiang Zhida, Cen Zhengnian dialed Chu Xia's number.
During the time he waited for Chu Xia to answer, Cen Zhengnian felt extremely anxious and apologetic.
He knew Chu Xia's birthday, and in May, he had already planned what to give her.
Moreover, Cen Zhengnian had made a special note to remind himself not to forget.
However, work had been too hectic, especially during a phase where he was engrossed in experiments, analyzing results.
In the process, he lost track of the date, not forgetting Chu Xia's birthday but forgetting what day it was.
"Hello?"
Chu Xia's soft voice came through the phone, the tone gently rising with a hint of coquetry.
Cen Zhengnian regained his composure, lowered his hand from his forehead, and said, "Chu Xia, I'm sorry. I forgot today is your birthday."
Chu Xia's naturally smiling voice came through, "I was wondering what happened. It's just a birthday, and you forgot due to work. I don't blame you. Besides, you remembered now."
Cen Zhengnian's voice sounded even more remorseful, "It was Dazi who reminded me."
Chu Xia laughed even louder, "Do you know what gifts An'an and Dazi gave me today?"
"What?" Cen Zhengnian's attention was successfully diverted, "An'an and Dazi picked out a rosy-red silk scarf together. And Dazi gave me a set of mock exam papers from a top high school in Beijing. Imagine the mood of someone who doesn't want to do exercises when they see that paper."
Chu Xia was quite happy herself; she was currently in need of such papers and welcomed them. But for an ordinary student who disliked doing exercises, the sight of those papers would likely be met with resentment.
Cen Zhengnian couldn't help but laugh, "Dazi means well."
"I know. But let me tell you, in the future, if you want to give me scarves or lipstick, don't choose rosy-red or pink. Remember that, okay?"