Shen Yi stood by the window, watching her happily go downstairs. After she said goodbye to his grandfather and left through the main gate, Shen Yi waited until her figure disappeared from view before he picked up those few notebooks.
Qin Jiao’s handwriting had a lot of personality. It looked sharp, just like her—no matter what she encountered, she would never give up.
And yet...
"Why did you have to give up on back then...? Couldn’t we have tried again?"
Shen Yi sighed softly, carefully put the notebooks away, changed his clothes, and went downstairs.
He said to his grandfather, who was in the courtyard and had just finished listening to a storytelling program, "Grandpa, let’s go to Qin Jiao’s house for dinner today."
Mr. Du was stunned and almost dropped the transistor radio in his hand.
A few minutes later, however, a aningful smile spread across the old man’s lips. He finally said, "There’s just one problem. Her family lives on the sixth floor. You’ll have to carry up on your back."
Shen Yi nodded, went back inside to rummage through the refrigerator, and see what good things they had at ho.
’You can’t show up empty-handed when you’re a guest.’
**
Qin Zhonghui had specially bought a chicken and a fish today and made several hearty dishes.
With the addition of dumplings and the mooncakes from Mr. Du, Qin Jiao’s family of four was enjoying a happy and harmonious Mid-Autumn Festival.
Xiao Shi murmured, "I feel so happy!"
Because things had been so barren before, they had nothing. During past Mid-Autumn Festivals, she could only watch with longing as Xiao Tao ate mooncakes, unable to get even a crumb.
But now, she could eat such delicious mooncakes!
The mooncakes weren’t large. Qin Jiao cut two of them into eight small pieces and arranged them on a plate. Hearing Xiao Shi, she reached out and ruffled her hair. "Don’t worry, Xiao Shi. You’ll be even happier in the future."
Su Yun ca over with a dish, her eyes rimd with red. She wished she could just pull both of her daughters into a hug.
In the past, she had been constantly blad by her parents-in-law and ridiculed by her sisters-in-law for not being able to have a son. There was even a ti when she had started to feel a bit insecure herself.
’Everyone else could have sons, so why couldn’t she?’
’If I had given birth to a son, my parents-in-law would have thought more highly of my husband, wouldn’t they?’
But now she finally understood completely. Her parents-in-law’s disregard for her husband, Qin Zhonghui, was a prejudice they’d held since he was young. It would never change, regardless of whether he had a son or not.
Besides, what was wrong with having daughters?
’As long as they’re good, daughters and sons are both the sa!’
And now, the more Su Yun looked at her two precious daughters, the more wonderful they seed. ’Hmph, that boy from the third brother’s family will never be able to catch up to them in this lifeti!’
Qin Zhonghui was also very happy. He had specially bought a bottle of liquor, pouring a glass for himself and his wife. The two children were still young, so they drank juice from glass bottles—quite a luxurious beverage for the ti.
The table had just been set when they heard a knock on the door.
"That’s strange. Who would co to our house at this hour?" Qin Jiao got up in confusion to open the door. When she did, she saw Shen Yi helping Mr. Du stand in the doorway.
Qin Jiao: "..."
Mr. Du said gently, "It’s the festival today, and it’s too quiet at ho. We wanted to co and celebrate with you all. This request is a bit forward, I hope it’s not an inconvenience."
Before Qin Jiao could speak, Su Yun ca over, smiling. "We’re all neighbors, don’t worry about inconveniencing us! Please, co in and sit down, Mr. Du. You shouldn’t be standing for so long."
Shen Yi helped Mr. Du inside and sat him down on the sofa. Xiao Shi, who had beco much braver and was familiar with Mr. Du, imdiately washed an apple and brought it over to the old man.
Seeing that guests had arrived, Qin Zhonghui imdiately rolled up his sleeves, planning to stir-fry a couple more dishes.
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