It was already mid-November. In Qing City, it had snowed twice, and the weather was so cold people practically wanted to spend all day wrapped in quilts, huddled around the stove. So when they set out, apart from Cheng Su, who only wore a down jacket, everyone else was bundled up in thick cotton coats over sweaters.
But the mont they got off the train, the first to notice sothing was different were the two old n. Father Cheng and Father Qi both said, "Why is it so hot?"
As for Mother Cheng and the others, they didn’t say anything, but they agreed in their hearts. It was already snowing in Qing City, so how co it wasn’t really cold in Guangcheng?
"That’s the difference between the North and the South. Where we are, it gets cold fast and really chilly, but even when it snows, it’s a dry kind of cold. Guangcheng is in the South; the climate here is damp, the temperature is higher, and it never snows in winter." Cheng Su laughed. "Lots of people say Guangcheng only has two seasons: sumr and winter!"
"So it never gets cold here?" Father Cheng asked curiously.
"That’s not it. The South’s cold is different from the North’s. It’s a wet cold. When real winter cos, especially when it rains, that damp chill seeps right into your bones. It’s many tis worse than the North." Cheng Su explained with a smile.
"No way, right? I don’t feel cold at all right now." Mother Cheng had already taken off her cotton coat and was just wearing a sweater.
"That’s because it’s not the cold season yet," Cheng Su said. "You’ll know what it’s like when the ti cos."
In her previous life, she had already experienced it. Damp cold was far worse than dry cold, a truly bone-piercing chill.
Mother Cheng suddenly understood, then slanted a look at Cheng Su and said, "You sound like you’ve tasted it yourself?"
Cheng Su let out an awkward little sound, but it wasn’t hard to explain. "I ca here in winter last year."
Only then did everyone feel reassured.
Cheng Su stuck out her tongue playfully, carried Qi Xiaoqi on her back and walked up front. The others followed behind, so carrying luggage. Once they exited the train station, they saw Cheng Yaozu, who had co to pick them up.
After both sides greeted each other, Cheng Su asked about Ying Xiaoya, and Cheng Yaozu said she was still busy at the office today and would co over in the evening so they could all have dinner together.
Cheng Su said, "If she’s too busy and tired, then tell her not to co. Better save so energy so she can be a beautiful bride."
In just three days, it would be their big day, so she really ought to start resting.
Cheng Yaozu bead. "That’s what I told her too. She said she’ll rest after the handover is done."
He then saw the parents of the Cheng and Qi families looking around curiously at all the people and cars coming and going, and when he noticed the clothes they were all holding in their hands, he laughed and said, "So you all felt hot the mont you arrived, huh?"
"We sure did."
Cheng Yaozu said, "It’s not even considered hot here. Over in Hainan, people are still wearing short sleeves right now!"
Cheng Su laughed and said, "Dad, Mom, since you rarely get to co here, let’s take so photos."
This was also the first ti the two sets of elders were traveling together, and it was such a big city, so taking so photos as keepsakes was nothing out of the ordinary.
Cheng Yaozu rummaged in her bag for the cara, gave each couple a shot together, then took photos of each husband-and-wife pair, and finally a big group photo before leading them off.
"We’ve used up ten-odd fras just like that, better save so." Mother Cheng said.
"Mom, I bought several rolls of film on purpose. It’s fine, we can always buy more when we run out." Cheng Su said with a smile.
Cheng Yaozu added, "Auntie, don’t worry about the money. If you want to take pictures, take as many as you like. You’ve all worked hard for most of your lives. Now’s the ti to enjoy yourselves: travel around, have fun, take photos as souvenirs. In the future you can look through them and have sothing to reminisce about."
See, this is how soone educated talks—so generous and considerate. A few sentences and all the elders were grinning from ear to ear.
Once they got into the big car that Cheng Yaozu had driven over, there was another round of exclamations. Mother Cheng joked that they were proper country bumpkins entering the city today, and her hearty, straightforward manner had Cheng Yaozu laughing nonstop.
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