38: Chapter 38 Warm Hearts, We are a Family_1 38: Chapter 38 Warm Hearts, We are a Family_1 …
As soon as Nanxi walked through the gate of the Liang Family’s residence, she heard her grandmother’s hearty and kind laughter.
Her grandmother was delighted!
The scent of cuisine wafted from the kitchen.
Someone was cooking – her uncle was in the kitchen himself!
Nanxi glanced towards Liang Qiaoqiao who stood beside her.
Qiaoqiao looked as usual, stepping in past Nanxi and kicking her high heels aside, replacing them with slippers to tread forward.
The sound of grandma came, “Qiaoqiao and Nanxi are back!”
After putting on her slippers as per house rules, Nanxi saw her grandma and a middle-aged woman in her forties chatting in the living room.
They held each other’s hands, appearing very affectionate.
Grandmother introduced them, “Nanxi, Qiaoqiao, come over, this is Aunt Xu.
I’ve specially invited her to our home for dinner today…”
The woman named Xu Mei was 42 this year.
She looked a bit older than her age.
She had a simple and unpretentious demeanor, with visible crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes.
She wore glasses, much like Nanxi’s uncle.
Her semi-long hair was curled slightly, likely done up specially for coming to the Liang Family home.
She wore a mild makeup, appearing modest and gentle.
Nanxi and Qiaoqiao greeted her, “Aunt Xu!”
Xu Mei smiled and after making polite conversation, she turned to grandma and said, “Just as you said, your granddaughters are like characters walked out from a painting.
Not a single flaw to point out!”
Nanxi blushed and lowered her head.
The meal was prepared by her uncle himself.
Nanxi noticed that he was quite nervous.
However, she thought, for her uncle to cook personally, it must mean he was satisfied with this woman.
At 54, a single man finding a single woman of 42 should be quite fulfilling for him.
At the dinner table, Uncle didn’t talk much, and neither did Qiaoqiao.
Nanxi chatted and laughed with Xu Mei and Grandma, which kept the atmosphere from becoming too awkward.
After dinner, Xu Mei sat for a while and then said she needed to leave as it was already dark outside.
Grandma asked uncle to accompany her, but Uncle hesitated and looked at Qiaoqiao.
Qiaoqiao, understanding the situation, said to Liang Youquan, “Dad, why don’t you be a gentleman?
The lights in the corridors of the third and fourth floors are broken.
How can we let Aunt Xu walk alone?”
Thus, Uncle finally left with Xu Mei.
At that moment, Xu Mei looked at Uncle.
From that glance, it seemed she was also satisfied with Uncle.
Nanxi figured that Uncle’s culinary skills must have earned him a lot of points.
Grandma’s strategy was brilliant!
After the two left, Grandma took the hands of her granddaughter and said, “What do you think of your Aunt Xu?”
Nanxi smiled, “She’s really nice!”
Even Qiaoqiao rarely nodded, “She seems okay, and looks like she’d match well with dad!”
Grandma nodded, “Isn’t that the truth?
I dare to make this decision because I see they could match well.
Your dad is in his fifties.
After you two are married off and I’ve passed away, he would be so lonely in this world.
All I hope for is that he’s not alone in his old age, and has someone to talk with, and to share his thoughts.
If he could live the rest of his days in such simple normalcy, that would be satisfying!”
Saying this, Grandma couldn’t help her emotional tears falling.
Nanxi’s eyes also moistened.
She suddenly thought of her lost parents!
She thought how nice it would be if they could come back and accompany Grandma and Uncle, and how the whole family could be together!
The atmosphere suddenly fell into sadness until Qiaoqiao’s mobile phone, resting on the dinner table, unexpectedly rang…
Qiaoqiao rose to her feet, picked up her phone, and then took the call on the balcony, while Nanxi stayed to chat with Grandma.
When Qiaoqiao came back it was already five minutes later.
She said she had to leave and asked Nanxi if she wanted to leave too.
Nanxi didn’t want to worry Grandma and shook her head, “I’ll go back to campus myself tomorrow.
Be careful on the road, Qiaoqiao!”
Qiaoqiao nodded, apologized to Grandma, then picked up her bag and left!
After Qiaoqiao left, Grandma took Nanxi’s hand and asked, “Nanxi, you should tell me the truth.
Is your cousin in love?”
Nanxi blinked, thinking for a while before shaking her head, a determined shake, “Grandma, it isn’t like that at all.
I have a good relationship with Cousin.
If she was in love, I’d definitely be the first to know!”
After hearing this, Grandma sighed, “These days, every time she takes a call she avoids people.
This girl is already 27 and still doesn’t have a partner, what on earth is she waiting for!”
Nanxi pursed her lips, not sure how to comfort her.
But Qiaoqiao avoiding people while taking calls?
The next morning, after having breakfast at the Liang Family home, Nanxi was about to leave when Liang Youquan pulled her aside and quietly asked, “About what happened last night…
Did Qiaoqiao get upset?”
Qiaoqiao was truly lucky, everyone in the family was worrying about her, considering her marriage, and her feelings at every moment.
Nanxi said, “No, she only left after getting a call from her friend last night.
When she left, she said that Aunt Xu is a very nice person and she wanted you to keep it up!”
Liang Youquan nodded, although there was still a degree of shyness on his face.
He said, “If Qiaoqiao truly dislikes the idea, I have no issue with staying single.
After all, I’ve already lived half of my life by now…”
“Uncle, you’re overthinking it.
Although Cousin often cries out at you, she really loves you the most.
She also wants you to be happy, that’s the truth!”
Uncle frowned as if he was recalling something, then he said, “And about the shop, should I step in and say something?
After thinking it over, I was too impulsive about the situation.
I should’ve discussed it with you both.
Qiaoqiao being angry at me is also understandable, because the shop is part of your late aunt’s life’s work…”
Nanxi said, “Don’t worry, Uncle, I’m aware…
I have already contacted that…
He said he’ll consider it!”
Uncle held Nanxi’s hand, sighing, “Child, I’ve caused trouble for you!”
Nanxi smiled, “It doesn’t matter, Uncle.
Every time she said this, Nanxi felt warmth in her heart.
She remembered that her mother once said that she had committed many wrongs in her life, and due to these wrongs, she had suffered for a long time.
Even after their life improved, the guilt didn’t lessen.
It only got heavier as time passed…
She held Nanxi’s hand and said, “If there comes a day when your mother can forgive herself, I will surely take you to the place where I used to live.
I will show you the path I walked, and the people who I wronged…”
Mother had said, “Nanxi, your mother doesn’t dare hope for complete forgiveness, but I hope that the people I love can accept you as family.