On the first day of the lunar new year, the whole family didn’t go anywhere, just stayed at home leisurely and occasionally handed out some candies and seeds to the visiting children.
"Where’s Xiuwa?" Last night there was light snow, and although there was just a thin layer of ice on the ground now, because it was slippery, Shen Chi and Lin Xiaoguai were clearing the small path in the yard, one shoveling and the other sweeping, when they heard Luo Yufang asking inside my room.
"She went out, said she wanted to buy some roasted rice candy to bring back," Lin Xiaoguai called back loudly.
"Buy roasted rice candy, where is she going to buy that at this time?" Luo Yufang asked as she came out of the room.
Lin Xiaoguai was startled, "I don’t know, that’s just what she said."
"No, Wanwan, you and Chi go find her and bring her back," Luo Yufang frowned, her face rare without a smile.
Lin Xiaoguai and Shen Chi were startled, Luo Yufang always doted on Shen Xiu, why would she be angry over such a small matter?
"Go quickly, I’ll tell you the reasons when you get back," seeing their puzzled faces, Luo Yufang urged.
The two exchanged looks, but still went out to look for her as told.
After some time, they finally found Shen Xiu at a street corner.
"Xiuxiu!" Lin Xiaoguai had just called out when she noticed Shen Xiu seemed to be talking to someone, just obscured by her figure, a glimpse she hastily ignored.
Hearing Lin Xiaoguai call her, Shen Xiu seemed startled and turned around flusteredly, and by the time they got over to her, only she was left standing there.
"Who was that man just now?" Shen Chi, having better eyesight and a clearer view because of his height, asked.
"Brother~" Shen Xiu pleaded, "Can you not tell grandma, please?"
Lin Xiaoguai frowned, "Xiuxiu, you wouldn’t be dating that man, would you?"
Shen Xiu was startled, shaking her head subconsciously, "No, no, he’s someone I know, we just bumped into each other and talked for a bit."
Shen Chi furrowed his brow, looking at her and not saying a word.
Under the pressure of his gaze, Shen Xiu gradually couldn’t bear it, biting her lip, wanting to speak.
"Let’s go home and clarify," Shen Chi said indifferently, making a decision for her and cutting off her way out.
Shen Xiu looked shocked, but dared not disobey.
Back at home, Luo Yufang was waiting for them in the yard with a dark face, looking at Shen Xiu, she spoke sternly, "Come inside with me."
Everyone sat down in the house, Luo Yufang looked at Shen Xiu, "Did you go see that man again?"
"Grandma..." Shen Xiu murmured.
"Hold on, first tell us what’s going on here," Shen Chi interrupted them.
"You tell them," Luo Yufang glared at Shen Xiu.
After hesitating for a long time, Shen Xiu said, "His name is Luo Ming, my teacher at Medical College, he’s always taken good care of me, and after I graduated and started working at the provincial hospital, he began to pursue me, but I didn’t agree... just..."
"Just what?" Luo Yufang seemed just then to know that the two weren’t officially dating and asked.
Shen Xiu looked at Luo Yufang, "Grandma told me not to get involved with him, but he has always been good to me, I don’t like him, but I just can’t bring myself to reject him."
Luo Yufang and Shen Chi were taken aback, but Lin Xiaoguai understood, "Do you feel guilty?" This era’s people were more simple, if it were a later era, women who indiscriminately spend men’s money but still refuse any response are plenty.
Of course, she had her own experiences of this guilt, but she was different, by that time she might have already started to have feelings for Shen Chi, otherwise with so many people pursuing her in her previous life, she would have died of guilt many times over.
Shen Xiu nodded, "He always buys me things, I just can’t refuse, now to reject him, I always feel it’s inappropriate."
Lin Xiaoguai frowned, "Xiuxiu, you are not someone who takes advantage of others, haven’t you thought of a way to return the favors?"
She was focused on Shen Xiu, and therefore did not notice Shen Chi looking her way, his gaze meaningful.
"I can’t," Shen Xiu said troubled, "The gifts he gives are watches, handkerchiefs, scarves, sometimes he also invites me to the movies, he always finds many reasons to persuade me to agree. I’ve thought about returning the favors, but..."
She paused, "I can’t just give money directly, but if I also give him gifts like handkerchiefs, neckties, watches, going to the movies, it always seems inappropriate."
Of course, it’s inappropriate!
Only dating couples would do such things!
Luo Yufang, Shen Chi, and Lin Xiaoguai exchanged glances, all becoming wary of that man.
"Xiuxiu, how old is Luo Ming?" Shen Chi asked.
"He’s in his thirties and has been divorced once," Luo Yufang replied irritably.
This was also her reason for stopping her granddaughter from interacting with that man, this man sharing the same surname as hers, Luo Yufang had no fondness for him at all. Her granddaughter was so young, and that old man actually fancied eating fresh grass, utterly out of line!
"Grandma, you better arrange for Xiuxiu to go on some blind dates, it’s best to settle on someone steady, the city isn’t like the countryside with so much fuss, just be careful in your interactions," Lin Xiaoguai decisively suggested.
Against such a man, one must not confront him directly. Although he had ulterior motives, he hadn’t done anything bad, his actions could completely be classified as pursuit - the best method was to eliminate his thought at its roots.
She didn’t know whether he truly fancied Xiuxiu or coveted their alluring homestead in town, or perhaps he just wanted to play with the feelings of a young girl. But these didn’t matter now, as long as Xiuxiu didn’t get involved with him in the future, after all, she hadn’t really suffered a loss.
"Wait, I... I have someone I like!" Luo Yufang was about to speak, but then saw Shen Xiu, her face flushed, say it. (To be continued. If you work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)