Chapter 373

Arriving home, Su Youfu and Sheng Juanhua noticed that grass had grown on the soil wall by the entrance, swaying in the breeze.

As they pushed open the door, they found the yard overgrown with weeds.

Inside the living room, it had been a while since anyone had been there, and a layer of dust covered everything.

Despite feeling tired from the journey, Su Youfu and Sheng Juanhua asked Xiao Qi to rest while they started cleaning up. They placed their belongings down and began tidying up the house.

Xiao Qi didn't obediently sit and rest as before. Instead, she naturally picked up a broom and started sweeping the floor while watching her parents work. She had even started sweeping from the upstairs.

Sometimes, the poorer one is, the more they dote on their children. It was only when Xiao Qi went to university that she realized her roommates would also do housework by themselves. They would clean the basin and cups thoroughly. In contrast, Xiao Qi didn't have that awareness because her mother did many things for her. She had grown accustomed to not lifting a finger.

Seeing her daughter pick up the broom, Sheng Juanhua didn't stop her. After moving to the city, they realized that city life wasn't easy. They used to think that once their daughter did well in her studies and got into university, she would stay in the city. But it wasn't that simple, and they had to work hard.

Xiao Qi began working with the broom, all the while listening to a French tutorial she had saved on her phone. She knew that there would be no signal or internet access in her hometown, so she had saved many tutorials—enough for her to study during the winter break. She had also saved a lot on her computer, including materials for her major. In the next semester, she planned to take the computer level three exam.

She had also saved some movies that she found interesting, intending to watch them together with her parents.

Xiao Qi's home had three narrow floors. The first floor consisted of the living room and kitchen, the second floor had two bedrooms—one for her parents and one for herself. The layout of the third floor was the same, but one side was used to store miscellaneous items and rice, while the other side was divided into two rooms. The outer side had a bed for guests, and the inner side was used for storage—keeping valuable items like old suitcases, Xiao Qi's school books, and beddings.

Above that was the rooftop, used for drying rice during the harvest season. Sometimes, Xiao Qi would go up there to shake her phone, hoping to catch a signal.

Cleaning from the top floor to the bottom was actually a tiring job.

To be honest, Xiao Qi used to be unable to clean the floor properly. She wasn't attentive, and she didn't do a good job with housekeeping. She was impatient. But now, she had improved. She patiently swept the floor, piece by piece, until it was spotless, and she didn't take much longer either.

Sheng Juanhua praised her when she saw the result. In the past, she didn't want her daughter to do housework because she would have to redo it herself if it wasn't done properly, which would tire her daughter. It was better for her to do it herself.

"Our daughter has grown up and does meticulous work."

Xiao Qi felt a little embarrassed by the praise. Sweeping the floor was nothing special. Her parents' expectations of her were really low.

But now she realized that regardless of the task's size, if you do it, you should do it well.

After she finished sweeping, her parents had also become more efficient. Her mother had already boiled a pot of hot water and wiped the tables and chairs, while her father had finished weeding the front yard and was now working on the backyard.

"Go take a shower first. The water is ready." Sheng Juanhua had already flushed the bathroom. The water in the countryside is natural spring water, free of charge. She used it extravagantly, splashing and rinsing.

Xiao Qi didn't see anything she could help with. She felt sticky, so she brought hot water to the bathroom.

She was used to taking showers in the city, and now having to carry hot water herself felt strangely nostalgic.

The hometown was a bit colder, so after quickly taking a bath, Xiao Qi put on a pair of fleece-lined jeans, a white sweater, and a purple cotton jacket on top.

Her skin was exceptionally fair, and the purple color made her look charming. Even though her upper body appeared somewhat bulky, it was still attractive.

Mother was dividing things, gifts brought back.

Sheng Juanhua asked Xiao Qi and her father to go door-to-door to deliver the gifts, some for Grandma, some for Auntie Two, some for their own grandmother, and two uncles.

When they arrived at Grandma's house, Xiao Qi was startled by Grandma's gentle and kind expression. In her memory, Grandma always glared at her, rarely smiled, and her cheeks sagged, giving her a fierce look. Xiao Qi didn't expect Grandma to show such a tender and loving smile.

It made Xiao Qi feel uneasy all over.

Li Fengjiao heard her son had returned and immediately thought of going to his house to see what good things he had brought back. But she remembered that her eldest son wasn't at home. She did have the key, but she had never gone to clean up. If she went now, she might end up doing some cleaning and housework, so she decided to stay at home.

Her attitude towards Xiao Qi changed, making Xiao Qi sigh that financial capability can be useful even among family members.

Li Fengjiao was quite satisfied with the things her eldest son had sent. Various health supplements and medicinal supplies—she is getting older and pays extra attention to her health, so she likes these things. She used to lecture her eldest son, telling him to be filial to his uncle, saying that without the bag of grain his uncle gave, he would starve to death.

But today, she didn't nag. Li Fengjiao's husband passed away early, so she always mentioned her older brother in the city, as if that gave her some confidence. In reality, she knew that her brother and sister-in-law looked down on her, but she was used to it. That was her only source of confidence, so whenever her child had something good, she would give it to her brother first, regardless of whether he liked it or not.

Although she did this, she could still sense her brother and sister-in-law's disdain for her. Even if she was muddled-headed, she could still feel it. However, recently, her brother and sister-in-law actually came to Gumula Village to see her. It had been over ten years since her brother and sister-in-law had come to see her, instead of her taking a car and feeling dizzy and nauseous to visit her brother.

Not only did her brother come to see her, but he also brought a box of milk. It could be said that after giving away countless things, it was the first time she received something in return.

They talked mostly about her oldest son and his daughter.

Li Fengjiao felt both sad and relieved in her heart.

After her brother left, she cried alone for a while. After that, she no longer mentioned her brother incessantly.

Xiao Qi didn't know about Grandma's emotional journey, but she felt a bit awkward seeing Grandma being unusually gentle. This formidable old lady seemed to have aged.

As for Auntie Three and Auntie Two, they also received some gifts like wolfberries, red dates, and codonopsis. Everyone was happy in the end.

Over on Auntie's side, Xiao Qi would receive gifts while at school, but she hadn't had a chance to visit Auntie's house yet. She called Auntie, who said they would come back for the Lunar New Year.

When Xiao Qi arrived home, she still felt a bit uncomfortable. It was manageable without a water heater, and she didn't have to shower every day, but using the toilet was truly inconvenient. There was no flush toilet or even a squat toilet—she had to use the dry toilet at the back door.

Su Youfu and Sheng Juanhua had only moved to the city half a year ago. Although they had money, they realized that earning money outside was not easy. They couldn't indulge themselves at home, especially considering Su Youfu's mother's temperament. If they showed even a little wealth, she would start causing a fuss. Xiao Qi's family was one of the last to return to the village for the year-end festivities. They had missed the start of the Lunar New Year.

In the evening, many people came to visit. Since it was the first night, Xiao Qi couldn't retreat to her room to read. Besides, she had realized that hiding in her room and reading wasn't very effective. It made her seem impolite and arrogant.

Not only did people from the village come to chat, but many of Xiao Qi's elementary school classmates who were working outside also returned.

Zhang Juan had also returned, driving the Hanlan Da parked at the village entrance. It was said to be a car worth 300,000 yuan, and her father cleaned it every day.

Zhang Juan returned to the village in a flashy manner and was warmly welcomed by everyone.

However, she had only been in the spotlight for a day when Su Xiaoqi returned today.

Everyone began talking about Su Xiaoqi, even her parents spoke of her with admiration.

Zhang Juan felt disdainful inside. She knew about Enhua and specifically inquired about the private elite school. Only those who didn't do well in the college entrance examination would attend that school, and the tuition was exorbitant. She wondered how Su Xiaoqi's parents could afford to send her there.

But even if someone graduated from a prestigious university, so what? They would still end up working for a living, and they wouldn't be better off than her. Her boyfriend owned an auto parts factory where some employees were university graduates.

Zhang Juan had an older boyfriend, over forty years old, and it was said that he bought the car for her.

Originally, when Zhang Juan's classmates planned to visit Su Xiaoqi's house, Zhang Juan decided to go as well. She was curious about how Su Xiaoqi was doing.

Actually, the few times she had seen her, Zhang Juan had looked down on her. What good was it to be studious? Wearing glasses, keeping her head down, slightly hunching her back, and not saying a word—people like that wouldn't fare well in society.

Several classmates agreed to visit Xiao Qi's house together and set off with great fanfare.

The Lunar New Year was approaching, and the village was lively. The sounds of revelry could be heard all the way.

The Su family had already become quite large, and there was no space in the living room to accommodate everyone. So, Su Youfu set up a bonfire in the yard. On top of the bonfire, there was a crude rack with an old iron pot placed on it, simmering tea inside. The tea was brewed with wolfberries, Sichuan peppercorns, and a type of gardenia fruit unique to Gumula Village. This was a special tea preparation method in the village, and its taste was peculiar. At least, Xiao Qi didn't used to like it before.

But today, she helped the villagers pour tea and even had a cup herself. Surprisingly, she found it delicious. It had a complex flavor that was difficult to describe. It carried the aroma of tea, not the finest quality tea but wild tea leaves picked and roasted by the villagers themselves. However, when combined with these spices, it created a new taste, layered and indescribable. It wasn't the bitter taste she used to find unpleasant during her childhood. Instead, it had a long-lasting quality—bitter and numbing, yet with a sweet and gentle undertone.

Perhaps as she grew older, she had started to appreciate the art of tea tasting, unlike when she was a child and only enjoyed sweet things.

Everyone could gather around the bonfire, sitting on stools and bamboo chairs, warming themselves while chatting and sipping tea. They could even roast some sweet potatoes by burying them under the fire, and later enjoy the roasted treats.

Outside the old walls, a small river flowed with a gurgling sound. The bonfire crackled and popped, while the tea simmered. The villagers chatted animatedly, creating a lively atmosphere. Xiao Qi sat in front of the bonfire, looking up to the starry sky. The dense cluster of stars appeared as if they were painted on—truly beautiful.

"Suo Xiao Qi!" a crisp voice interrupted Xiao Qi's daydreaming. She turned around and saw a few of her elementary school classmates standing outside.

She stood up and smiled, saying, "You all came back too. Come in quickly. I've roasted some sweet potatoes, and you're in for a treat."

Her classmates hadn't expected such a drastic change in Su Xiaoqi within just six months. She looked so attractive, despite wearing a thick coat and not wearing glasses. Her smile was bright and her voice sweet. They couldn't help but feel a bit inferior and inexplicably stood behind Zhang Juan.

Zhang Juan had always been confident. She had always held her head high in the village, never feeling inferior.

But now, as she looked at the confident Su Xiaoqi, she suddenly felt self-conscious and awkward.

What she had originally wanted to show off now seemed unspeakable in front of Su Xiaoqi's clear eyes.