When Lin Lan and the other two returned to Lexing, Li Xiangyang rode up on his bike. "Let’s go take a look at the place on Yucai Road," he said. "We’ll move in after the New Year."
Lin Lan nodded. "It’s a good idea to go take a look. First, let’s take so New Year’s gifts for Grand-aunt and wish Xiuyun an early happy New Year."
The four of them entered the courtyard. Lin Lan retrieved the New Year’s goods and placed them in a back basket, and Li Xiangyang hung it on the bike.
Little Douzi climbed onto the seat behind Li Xiangyang, and Lin Lan took Qiaohui with her as they all went to Yucai Road.
Qiaohui looked at the small, Western-style house curiously. "Cousin, the houses here are so beautiful."
Lin Lan smiled and encouraged her. "If you learn your craft well, once you’re earning money, you can build a house like this too."
Qiaohui looked at Lin Lan and said solemnly, "Cousin, I will work hard."
Li Xiangyang opened the courtyard gate, walked inside, then opened the front door and entered the living room.
The sofa, coffee table, and cabinets in the living room, along with the dining table and chairs in the dining room, were all covered in dust.
Little Douzi happily pulled Qiaohui along. "Auntie, co with to the rooftop and see my study."
"Wow! You have your own study at your age!" Qiaohui said in surprise as she followed him upstairs.
Little Douzi nodded and said in a clear, crisp voice, "Yep. Brother Dandan and Brother Little Hai have them too. Uncle Xiangyang laid down a layer of wooden planks on the floor, so we can sit on the floor to read. We can also grow flowers and grapes upstairs."
Lin Lan and Li Xiangyang exchanged a glance, then toured the living room, dining room, and kitchen before heading to the bedroom.
Li Xiangyang told Lin Lan that the bunk bed in the bedroom was made of walnut wood. The three-door solid wood wardrobe, the dressing table, and the desk in Little Douzi’s room—all the furniture had been custom-made by artisans Brother Ming helped find.
Li Xiangyang put his arm around Lin Lan as they stood by the window. He gestured at the furniture in the room, his eyes full of laughter as he looked at her. "So? Are you satisfied?"
Lin Lan smiled and nodded. "I am."
’After they bought the house, Li Xiangyang had taken over all the renovations. From dismantling the racks in the front yard to fixing up the back garden and decorating the interior, she hadn’t had to lift a finger. She never would have even dared to dream of sothing like this in the past.’
’If she wasn’t happy with this, she’d just be ungrateful.’
Seeing the happy curve of her eyes, Li Xiangyang’s heart swelled with delight. "Little Lan, we’ll have our wedding reception in April. After the New Year, we can move in next door. What do you think?"
Lin Lan looked around the newly renovated house. "Then what about this house?"
Li Xiangyang pulled her down to sit on a wooden chair placed under the window. "Brother Ming said this furniture won’t go out of style even after decades. We have plenty of canvas bags at ho. We can take them apart, wash the fabric, and use it to cover all the furniture. We can save it for when Little Douzi gets married."
"I don’t want to get a wife! I want to live with you guys!" Little Douzi ca running in with a PITTER-PATTER, throwing himself into Li Xiangyang’s arms as he spoke.
Qiaohui stood at the doorway, watching the three of them with a wide smile.
Li Xiangyang tweaked his nose and laughed. "Alright, you can live with us. When you’re older and want to get a wife, then you can live here."
Little Douzi wrapped his arms around his neck. "We’ll see when I’m grown up."
Lin Lan smiled and ruffled his fluffy hair. "Okay, let’s go check on the house next door, then go to Uncle’s place to wish Great-Grandma an early happy New Year, and then go to the market to buy New Year’s supplies."
Little Douzi nodded and pulled five yuan out of his pocket. "Mama, Brother Dandan bought a firework tube. I want to buy one too. I’ll use my own money."
Little Douzi had been helping Li Xiangyang out at the departnt store for the past few days. Yesterday was payday, and Li Xiangyang gave him five yuan.
"Alright, we’ll buy a firework tube." Li Xiangyang picked him up and strode toward the door.
The four of them went downstairs, locked the door, and went to look around the house next door. In the neighboring house, a bedroom had been added downstairs for Old Li, to save him from having to climb the stairs.
The layout upstairs was similar to Lin Lan’s house, and even the furniture style was the sa. A room had also been prepared for Little Douzi upstairs.
After looking around, the four of them took the New Year’s goods and went to the old lady’s house first.
"Great-Grandma, I’m here!" Little Douzi shouted as he ran toward the old lady, who was in the courtyard picking cilantro.
"Slow down, don’t fall." The old lady put the herbs in a bamboo basket, took Little Douzi’s hand, and looked cheerfully at Lin Lan and the others.
Seeing that the old lady looked to be in good spirits, Lin Lan smiled brightly at her. "Grand-aunt, we’ve co to wish you an early happy New Year."
"Good children. Ding Bang already gave the rent from the shop. I’ll prepare a big red envelope for you all, to wish you an even more prosperous year ahead," the old lady said, looking at them with a blissful expression.
Lin Lan grinned at her. "With your auspicious words, Grand-aunt, next year will definitely be even better."
"Of course it will be!" the old lady said, then burst out laughing.
Li Xiangyang lifted a cured chicken out of the back basket to show her. "Grandma, look! My mother-in-law cured this chicken. Doesn’t it look great?"
"Yes, yes, lovely," the old lady said in quick succession, then turned to Lin Lan with a look of mock reproach. "Why did you bring so much? You’re spending too much money!"
Lin Lan took the bamboo basket from her and said proudly, "Did you forget? I slaughtered a big, fat pig this year!"
"Ah, I know you’re having a prosperous year, so I won’t be polite then. Co on inside and sit for a while. Ding Bang lit a brazier for ; it’s very warm."
The old lady took Little Douzi by the hand and cheerfully led them inside. A charcoal brazier was burning in the room, making it nice and warm.
After sitting down, Li Xiangyang glanced upstairs. "Grandma, did Ding Bang and Dandan go out?"
The old lady shook her head. "Ding Bang took Dandan to Little Man’s house to drop off so New Year’s gifts. He asked to go, but I couldn’t be bothered to leave. I was about to make myself a bowl of sour soup noodles. You should have so too."
Lin Lan smiled and waved her hand. "No need, Grand-aunt. We had sweet dumplings for breakfast, we’re still full!"
"Let get you so snacks." The old lady went and got peanuts, lon seeds, oranges, and so sugarcane, placing them on the coffee table. She then grabbed a handful of candy for Qiaohui and Little Douzi and looked at them fondly. "Eat, don’t be shy!"
Qiaohui took it shyly. "Thank you, Grand-aunt."
The old lady smiled. "How’s your apprenticeship going?"
Qiaohui blushed and said, "I’ve learned how to fry orchid beans and make pumpkin cakes. I can also make sachima and puffed rice candy, but for anything else, I still need help from my cousin and Cousin Yuezhen."
The old lady patted her hand. "Not bad. You should learn your craft well while you’re young and your mind is sharp."
Qiaohui nodded emphatically. "I’ll rember that."
Little Douzi peeled an orange, broke off half for Lin Lan and Li Xiangyang, and popped a segnt into his own mouth. He squinted. "So sour!"
The old lady ruffled his hair and picked out a bright reddish one for him. "Pick the ones with bright, red peels. The more sun they get, the less sour they are."
Watching the old lady constantly urging everyone to eat, Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Grandma, we’re moving here after the New Year."
The old lady nodded. "Oh, good! When your father cos over, we’ll have company. It’s so quiet and lonely here, with no one to talk to."
’She’d been thinking about moving back to the countryside. It felt too lonely here. After Ding Bang went to work and Dandan went to school, she didn’t have a single person to talk to.’
’It was better in the countryside. When she had nothing to do, she could visit other old ladies she got along with and chat about village life.’
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