Chapter 45

Xu Huai’an ate a chicken heart persimmon, feeling his strength slowly returning. He endured the pain, gritting his teeth, and finally managed to control his legs again, standing up on the kang.

Although he could only stand for less than a minute before losing strength, it was undoubtedly a huge improvement for him.

Unable to resist the upward curve of his lips, he revealed his good mood.

After lying on the kang for more than a year, he had finally managed to stand up again. It was wonderful.

Gu Qinghuan had no idea that Xu Huai’an was trying to stand up to make a good impression on the elders. She was busy in the kitchen, working hard.

When the sky finally darkened, Gu Qinghuan took a flashlight and went outside to the Neighboring village’s Cattle Shed to fetch someone.

It wasn’t far to walk, just about ten minutes.

Inside the Cattle Shed, the two elderly people had prepared two bowls of corn and wild vegetable porridge, ready to eat when the door suddenly knocked.

“Who is it?” Zhong Weiqian asked.

“Grandpa, it’s me!”

“Is Huan Huan here?” Chen Shuying eagerly opened the door.

“Huan Huan, why did you come so late? Is there something at home?” Chen Shuying asked, a bit worried.

“It’s nothing. We bought some meat at home today and thought to invite you both over to gather for a meal. I’ve already made the food. Let’s go now!”

Zhong Weiqian, upon hearing this, cheerfully put down his bowl. “Alright, just wait for us a moment. We need to tidy up a bit so as not to be rude.”

With that, the couple entered the small room partitioned off by a board.

Gu Qinghuan noticed the corn and wild vegetable porridge in Zhong Weiqian’s hands. The bowl was full of wild vegetables, and the cornmeal was hardly noticeable. It made her feel uncomfortable inside.

She had known it all along—the two elderly people wouldn’t spare any good food for her.

It seemed she would have to find a way to provide them with more grain so that they would treat her better.

They didn’t need to tidy up much, just changed into more proper clothes to avoid being disrespectful.

At their age, they weren’t particular about wearing new clothes to look presentable. They still wore their old clothes, which had become somewhat faded from washing, but they were clean and neat. This was what they considered presentable.

When going out to meet guests, clean and tidy clothes were enough.

The three of them soon arrived at the small courtyard on the mountainside.

Zhong Zijun was already waiting at the door. Seeing them approach, she immediately opened the door. “Dad, Mom, you’re here!”

Chen Shuying saw that her daughter seemed to be doing better these past few days. During her illness, she had visibly gained weight, which eased her heart.

When the incident first happened, she had almost thought the sky was falling. But now, everything had finally cleared up. It was just that Huan Huan had suffered…

Da Bao and Bei Bei hid behind Zhong Zijun, peeking their little heads out and softly calling: “Great Grandpa, Great Grandma.”

Chen Shuying only then noticed the two little ones behind her, and her heart softened.

She smiled warmly, took two small red paper packets from her pocket, and handed them over, one for each child.

There wasn’t much money inside, just two coins per packet, but it was all they could offer.

This was also the deep-rooted tradition of the elderly couple: when meeting younger family members for the first time, they always gave a small gift as a greeting.

Da Bao and Bei Bei understood what this meant. Every year during the New Year, Grandpa and Grandma would give red envelopes to Da Cheng, and they could only watch from afar.

They hadn’t expected that someone would give them red envelopes. For a moment, they didn’t know how to react, looking at Gu Qinghuan for help.

Gu Qinghuan nodded, signaling them to accept the gift. It was disrespectful to decline gifts from elders. She hadn’t expected Grandma to give red envelopes to the two children, especially when they were already struggling so much.

But it was fine. She would repay this kindness a hundredfold in the future. If they gave, then they should accept it.

“Great Grandma gave you a greeting gift. You can accept it. Take it.” Chen Shuying said, fond of children. She squatted down and placed the red envelopes in the children’s hands.

“Thank you, Great Grandma, and Great Grandpa.”

The two children were so excited their faces turned red. They hadn’t expected that their mother’s family would show them such kindness.

From Grandma to Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, they were all so nice to them, as if they were their real family. It felt so warm.

Zhong Zijun felt a bit awkward. When she had come the first time, she had forgotten to give the two children a greeting gift, as she had been too focused on being upset.

However, now that she was financially strained and still relying on her daughter, she couldn’t really afford any proper greeting gifts. She would make it up later.

“Alright, let’s stop talking at the door. Let’s go inside and chat.” Gu Qinghuan said.

The group was about to enter the house when a slender figure appeared at the doorway.

He walked very slowly, each step seeming to take all his strength, but he was doing his best to approach them.

Gu Qinghuan, Zhong Zijun, and the two children, who understood the situation, were all stunned.

When had he been able to stand up?

This man really was quiet and reserved. Perhaps, to make a good impression on the elders, he had secretly been practicing for quite some time. It must not have been easy.

However, she hadn’t been mistaken at the time. This guy was surprisingly tall—probably over 185 cm. Because he was so thin, his clothes couldn’t fill out, making him look like a clothes hanger, so slim and elongated.

To be honest, his looks really tugged at her heartstrings. Just looking at him could make her eat two bowls of rice. At that moment, there was also a kind of sickly, delicate beauty about him.

She couldn’t look any longer, or she’d start drooling.

Gu Qinghuan, wake up! You two are bound to go your separate ways sooner or later. You can’t let him tempt you!

When Zhong Weiqian and Chen Shuying saw Xu Huai’an for the first time, they even wondered if they were dreaming.

Wasn’t it said that their granddaughter’s husband was a mentally disabled person who couldn’t take care of himself?

But this young man looked exceptionally well-mannered, though a bit too thin. He had a smile on his face, and he seemed perfectly normal, even coming out to greet the guests.

The couple immediately felt as if they were hit with a surprise.

They doubted themselves for a moment, wondering if they had misunderstood. Was this perhaps a guest the family had invited?

If only their granddaughter had married this young man!

Zhong Zijun secretly smiled to herself. After spending these past few days together, she had already noticed that Xu Huai’an had clearly developed feelings for Gu Qinghuan. However, Gu Qinghuan, the blockhead, showed no response at all.

Let the children figure it out for themselves. Love comes with its own timing; let them slowly work it out.

After all, how can love blossom into something beautiful without going through some hardships?

“Dad, you’re up! That’s great!” The children’s reactions were more honest. Bei Bei joyfully dashed over.

Gu Qinghuan quickly tried to pull him back. She knew all too well what Xu Huai’an was going through right now—he was forcing himself too hard. Bei Bei’s sudden rush might very well cause him to collapse.

Do good to the end and let him maintain his dignity!

Zhong Weiqian and Chen Shuying couldn’t believe their wishes had come true. This young man really was their granddaughter’s husband, someone they had never met before. Genuine smiles appeared on their faces in an instant.

Xu Huai’an exchanged a look with the elderly couple. Though his heart was pounding with nerves, he greeted them earnestly: “Grandpa, Grandma, due to various reasons, I haven’t had the chance to meet you both before. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Are you Huai’an? It’s no problem. If your legs are bothering you, you don’t need to come out and greet us.” Chen Shuying had already noticed that he was having difficulty walking.

“My legs are fine. It’s just that I haven’t walked in a while, so I’m a little unsteady.” Xu Huai’an replied, smiling. “Please, have a seat in the main room.”

Usually, they ate in the east room on the kang, but today, since there were more people and elders present, they couldn’t eat there and had to host properly in the main room, which was more respectful.

Zhong Weiqian and Chen Shuying didn’t stand on ceremony and went straight to the main room.

Zhong Zijun led the two children up to greet them.

Only Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huai’an were left behind.

Once the others had gone, Gu Qinghuan nudged Xu Huai’an’s arm with her own. “You really like to put on a brave face, huh? Want to try walking another step?”