Ji Zhuxin knew they were coming back today, so she had already prepared the food.
The three of them sat together, feeling as if they had returned to their time in Xinniu Village.
Ji Zhuxin poured wine for Qin Du and asked caringly, "How is your mother? I haven't seen her in a while."
Qin Du took the wine, lowering his eyes. "My mother is in good health. She lives near the county hospital, and there are people keeping her company."
Ji Zhuxin nodded. "That's great. Where are you working now?"
"In Shanghai."
Ji Zhuxin was a bit surprised. "Isn't that the same as Xixi? Oh, so you guys met up in Shanghai, right?"
Qin Du nodded and finished his wine. Ji Zhuxin poured him another glass.
Ji Zhaoxi was a little curious. She took a sip from Qin Du's glass and then pushed it away in distaste.
Ji Zhuxin also had a headache over this. She had no experience either. What exactly was she supposed to ask? It felt like a son-in-law visiting for the first time, even though this was her future brother-in-law.
"It's nothing, eat up, eat up." Ji Zhuxin smiled, urging Qin Du to grab some food.
Seeing Qin Du's pleading look, Ji Zhaoxi looked at Ji Zhuxin with a serious face. "Sis, I like Qin Du, and Qin Du likes me."
Ji Zhuxin's mouth twitched. "I know, it's not like I said I was going to break you two up."
"Qin Du, do you have plans for the New Year? How about we celebrate it together, just like before?"
It would also be a good chance for her to chat with his mother.
"Sister Zhuxin, then I'll go back and talk to my mother. She's been talking about you all this time." Qin Du immediately put down his chopsticks.
Ji Zhuxin was also made a bit nervous by Qin Du. "It's fine, it's fine, let's all eat."
During this meal, Qin Du didn't know how much wine he had drunk. He drank as much as Ji Zhuxin poured. Ji Zhuxin thought he liked drinking, so she poured more as soon as he finished. Seeing Ji Zhuxin pour, Qin Du couldn't possibly not finish it.
It was late at night when Ji Zhaoxi finally walked Qin Du out.
Qin Du's face was a bit red, and his eyes kept staring at Ji Zhaoxi. He looked much more harmless than usual.
Ji Zhaoxi's heart softened. She held his face and kissed him a few times. "I was very firm about our relationship today. You can't say I didn't help you anymore."
Qin Du's face turned even redder from her kisses. He said softly, "Thank you, Xixi."
Seeing him like this, Ji Zhaoxi laughed, "Are you stupid? Why did you drink however much she poured for you?"
He had drunk so much. Just now, her sister secretly told her that Qin Du had drunk all the wine she brewed, and she would have to go to the market to buy more later.
Qin Du lowered his eyes and nuzzled against her face. "Xixi, I can't leave you."
Ji Zhaoxi's eyes were full of smiles. "I know, hurry back now, and remember to come to my house for the New Year."
Qin Du nodded, his steps a bit unsteady, and then got into the car with Ji Zhaoxi's support.
He held Ji Zhaoxi's hand, looking at her quietly, not letting her go.
Ji Zhaoxi sighed and kissed him on the face a few times before he was finally satisfied.
As soon as he returned to his courtyard, he flopped directly onto his bed and immediately fell asleep.
Another room in the courtyard still had its lights on.
"Old Madam, Master Qin really came back. You even said he wouldn't come back for the New Year," the caregiver smiled.
This mother and son were both stubborn.
Mother Qin sat silently. The caregiver advised her, "What kind of world is it now? Why do you still care about those things? Look at your illness, it costs money everywhere. He's also doing this for you."
When she first came to take care of Mother Qin, Mother Qin's health was terrible. Qin Du sent Western medicine and supplements, and had her take Mother Qin to the hospital for a check-up every week. That was how Mother Qin's health recovered.
A single bottle of that medicine was worth several months of an ordinary person's salary. If they didn't have money, how could they afford it?
Mother Qin sighed. "I'm just afraid he'll offend those people."
She had seen with her own eyes how his father was publicly denounced and criticized. She couldn't go through that again.
The caregiver comforted her, "Young people have young people's ideas. He went all the way to Shanghai and wasn't criticized, was he?"
"He suffers grievances outside, and his mother ignores him at home. Old Madam, he is your own son after all. To put it bluntly, what he does is so dangerous, who knows if one day the white-haired might have to bury the black-haired. You need to think it over carefully."
Mother Qin listened, remaining silent and not saying a word.
The caregiver didn't try to persuade her anymore, sighed, and gently closed the door.
The next day, Qin Du indeed came to look for Mother Qin.
Mother Qin didn't lecture him like she usually did.
After hearing what he said, she nodded.
Mother Qin had actually figured it out long ago, but her words back then were too harsh, and the two hadn't communicated for so long that she really didn't know how to express herself.
Finally, New Year's Day arrived.
Qin Du and Mother Qin arrived at Ji Zhuxin's house together.
As soon as Ji Zhuxin and Mother Qin met, they talked endlessly.
"Auntie, you can walk now?" Ji Zhuxin quickly pulled Mother Qin to sit down.
The firecrackers outside kept popping non-stop, and the ringing of bicycle bells could be heard from time to time. The two of them caught up while picking vegetables, and the living room was filled with their laughter.
Qin Du and Ji Zhaoxi stayed in the kitchen. In the corner of the kitchen lay a pork leg, a fish, and some wild game.
Qin Du took off his woolen overcoat, rolled up his sleeves, and carried in the bundled New Year goods from the doorway.
"Brother Qin Du, Happy New Year!"
Hearing this long-lost title, Qin Du chuckled softly, "It's been a long time since I heard that."
In the past, no matter how angry she was, she would still obediently call him Brother Qin Du.
Later on, whenever she got angry, she would only use names like 'Bastard Qin Du,' 'Stinky Qin Du,' or 'That guy surnamed Qin.'
He quietly minced meat for the filling, while Ji Zhaoxi wrapped dumplings beside him. She glanced at Qin Du next to her and tapped his nose with her flour-covered hand. With smiling eyes, Qin Du rubbed the flour from his nose onto her face.
Ji Zhuxin's voice suddenly came from the doorway.
"Xixi, can you handle this? That's meant to be eaten, don't mess around!"
"I'm not messing around, Sis, just leave it alone," Ji Zhaoxi said, flustered and exasperated.
Qin Du chuckled softly beside her.
It had been a long time since Qin Du cooked. Aside from being a little rusty at first, he became more and more skilled as he went on.
"Xixi." Qin Du picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and held it to Ji Zhaoxi's mouth.
Ji Zhaoxi took a bite in the midst of her busy work. "Delicious!"
Qin Du looked at Ji Zhaoxi, who was engrossed in making new dishes next to him, and sighed.
He would definitely be the one eating this plate later.
Ji Zhaoxi sensitively turned her head and stared at him.
Qin Du cooked earnestly, pretending he hadn't noticed a thing.
Ji Zhaoxi snorted and turned her head away.
Qin Du plated the dish and silently breathed a sigh of relief.
After finally finishing all the dishes, Ji Zhuxin felt the atmosphere was lacking something. She turned on the tape recorder and started playing Teresa Teng's "Small Town Story." Humming along, she sat back in her seat.
"Sis, you might as well play my English radio station," Ji Zhaoxi grumbled while eating meat.
"Shoo, I can't even understand it," Ji Zhuxin waved her hand.
When Ji Zhaoxi had mailed it back, she was so excited, but the excitement only lasted a short while because she truly couldn't understand a word of it.
Qin Du smiled. He leaned close to Ji Zhaoxi and whispered, "I'll listen to it when I get back later."
Ji Zhuxin and Mother Qin stopped talking as well, looking at them teasingly.
Ji Zhaoxi blushed under their gaze. She quickly pushed Qin Du away and pretended that nothing had happened, focusing on her food.
"It is still better in the city. It is so convenient," Ji Zhuxin sighed with emotion.
Mother Qin nodded in agreement. "You can just buy whatever you want to eat."
Ji Zhuxin took a sip of her wine. "Last time I ran into some people from the village, they asked what I was doing in the county town. They said it is boring here, but I find it quite interesting anyway."
In the county town, no one was constantly watching her. Back in the village, even the slightest trivial matter in any household would be scrutinized by everyone.
After dinner, Qin Du and Ji Zhaoxi went outside to set off firecrackers.
The neighborhood kids swarmed over to watch. After watching the firecrackers here, they would run off to watch another family's. The street was filled with their joyful laughter.
Accompanied by a dull, booming sound, fireworks exploded directly above the county town. They flashed purple, then gold, cascading down like crushed diamonds and lighting up the night sky as bright as day.
Qin Du slipped a red envelope into Ji Zhaoxi's pocket. Looking into her eyes, he smiled. "New Year's money."
"Isn't New Year's money supposed to be given by elders to the younger generation?" Ji Zhaoxi raised an eyebrow.
Qin Du let out a low chuckle. "Xixi, you used to call me 'brother', so just treat it as a gift from your older brother."
Looking at Ji Zhaoxi's bright eyes, Qin Du lowered his head and gently covered her eyes with his hand.
The sounds of the world suddenly seemed louder. Her eyelashes gently tickled his palm.
"Thank you, Xixi."
A gentle kiss landed on her lips.
Thanking her for kissing him that New Year's Eve.
Thanking her for accepting his love.
And thanking her for loving him.
