In the video, she was wearing a ponytail braided into a single plait. Her hair volu was impressive, making the braid thick and earthy, yet unique, with two dragon beard bangs casually drifting.
She chuckled at the cara, saying, "Cousin, when are you coming back? I need to talk to you."
Li Younan glanced at the parts of his grandparents’ house that needed renovation, already forming a clear plan in his mind. But it still needed to be designed on paper for better execution, and the materials could be planned in advance. However, these tasks couldn’t be completed here imdiately, he’d have to make a trip back first.
So he said to Lu Xiaolan, "I have to co back tonight, I’ll be going to the building materials market tomorrow. What’s up?"
Lu Xiaolan said excitedly, "Then I’ll co find you tomorrow."
Li Younan nodded.
Lu Xiaolan thought for a while and asked, "Big brother, can I bring my friend along?"
Li Younan beca vigilant, asking, "Male or female?"
Lu Xiaolan rolled her eyes and said, "Cousin, look at , I don’t even know how to dress up. You think I could find a boyfriend?"
Li Younan thought about it, it seed true. His cousin might not have a bad face, but she was earthy and a chatterbox, unlikely to be favored by high school boys.
The main thing is she’s so open, it was himself who overthought.
Then Li Younan chuckled silently, Lu Xiaolan is old enough; even if she were in a relationship, it wouldn’t matter, he’s just worrying needlessly.
Li Younan said, "Alright then, see you tomorrow."
After hanging up the phone, grandpa got up too, and grandma started preparing to work in the vegetable field.
Li Younan went over to his grandparents to explain his plan to renovate their house; he took quite an effort to make them understand, as the elderly weren’t as quick as the young.
Grandma said, "No need, everything’s convenient now. We used to have to go kiloters to fetch water; now it’s much better, we have tap water at the doorstep."
Grandpa kept saying, "You don’t need to do anything for us old folks. I’m very happy you’re here at grandpa’s place."
Li Younan began to guilt-trip them, "Everyone else in the village has moved into new houses, but you two are still in the old one. It makes feel bad, and people will tease and mom. Can you bear to see us laughed at?"
Grandpa slapped his thigh angrily, "Who dares to laugh at my grandson!"
Li Younan straightened his neck; wow, that escalated quickly, grandpa looked ready to pick a fight.
But with much persuasion, grandpa and grandma finally agreed for Li Younan to co and help with the renovation.
During the process, Li Younan gradually realized his grandparents might not fully grasp the idea, thinking it was just simple patch-up work like fixing water piping.
But that’s alright, renovations are step-by-step work, explaining as you go along with the process to grandpa and grandma.
Until evening, after dinner, Li Younan was ready to head back.
Leaving, he stopped by the village’s postal station to pick up a delivery.
He thought he might stay long-term at his grandparents, so he had the photography contest certificate and dal sent here.
He opened it; it was a finely crafted wooden certificate, carefully frad. The certificate’s cover had a QR code at the bottom, directly linking to the official site for verification.
The prize money wasn’t much, but it had been credited.
The winning photo was taken earlier of Xie Lin, the 2000 USD prize converted to over 10,000 RMB.
Li Younan quickly transferred 5000 RMB to Xie Lin; she deserved half the credit for the achievent.
Xie Lin was adamant about not accepting, almost jumping in the chat, utterly refusing, finally taking only 500 RMB symbolically, returning the rest.
In rare assertiveness in front of Li Younan, Xie Lin said, "If you try sending money again, you’re looking down on ! Are we still friends or not?"
Later, Li Younan learned Xie Lin downloaded the winning photo from the contest site, using the 500 RMB to print and fra it at an ad agency, hanging it prominently in her rental room.
Even after moving, she always took the photo with her.
Returning ho, Li Younan casually placed the photography contest certificate on the shoe cabinet, changed his shoes, and narrated the day in the countryside to his mother, ntioning that he’d convinced the grandparents.
The mom’s eyes imdiately noticed the wooden certificate placed on the shoe cabinet by Li Younan. She curiously picked it up, her gaze lighting up with delight, looked at Li Younan in surprise, "When did you win another award?"
Li Younan nonchalantly said, "Just submitted, got selected."
Unlike Li Younan’s casual indifference, his mom took it seriously.
She carefully examined the certificate, wiped it with a towel, and inspected it from every angle.
One wall in the living room was covered with various trophies, dals, certificates, awards from Li Younan’s childhood till now, completely filled, leaving no place for this certificate.
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