"This... perhaps isn’t so good," said Xu Nianhua, eyeing the large package with hesitation. Beside her, Cheng Hao mustered his courage and suggested, "It’s a gift from Little Yining. It wouldn’t be too much just to have a look, right?"
"Who knows, there might be something for me as well."
Cheng Hao clung to a great hope. There was a Cheng Ge men’s watch, Old Du’s favorite Puerh tea, even Ling Dong received a fountain pen. Surely, he would have a gift too, wouldn’t he?
It must be that Little Yining had slipped it into the Xu family’s bag of gifts.
Xu Nianhua looked at him, her eyes flickering, as she placed the large package on the table. As for Cheng Hao’s curiosity, she felt sure that Yining’s gift wouldn’t include anything for him.
Once they opened the gifts, they saw various packages. She spotted the letter with Yining’s delicate handwriting. It started with greetings to Xu Nianhua, mentioning how much she enjoyed her home, and how much she liked playing with her.
Several pages in, the letter expressed Yining’s joy, and she briefly introduced what was happening at her home. Only at the end did she talk about her gifts.
The letter said: Nianhua, since Uncle Xu loves tea, I sent him Puerh tea, hoping Uncle Xu will like it.
I sent Aunt Xu some facial cream to help her stay young and beautiful.
The thick notebook is for your second brother. I saw he has quite a collection and really likes to take notes.
The colorful toys are for your older brother and sister-in-law’s unborn child. I thought these toys aren’t available in our county, and I’ll bring more for you to play with next summer!
Also, that pink watch is for you, and you are not allowed to refuse!!!
At the end of the letter, Yining emphasized that she would visit Xu Nianhua during summer vacation and reminded her of their promise to get into Beining University together, repeatedly expressing her determination to study hard.
"Yining is really thoughtful."
Holding the letter, Xu Nianhua felt the few thin sheets of paper were as heavy as gold, filled with the deep affection of friendship.
After she had distributed everything, a belated realization dawned on Cheng Hao: There really was no gift for him.
"Which gift is mine?" Cheng Hao recounted the gifts: there was something for Uncle Xu, Aunt Xu, the unborn child of the eldest Xu brother and his wife, the second Xu brother, and for Xu Nianhua, but where was his?
"There’s nothing for you," Xu Nianhua glanced at him and added, "If you want a gift, your girlfriend will give you one."
"How can a gift from my girlfriend be the same as one from Little Yining?" Cheng Hao retorted almost instinctively.
"How are they different?" Xu Nianhua probed.
Cheng Hao stammered for quite some time but couldn’t explain. He said, "Forget it, I’ll call her next time. I’m off to move some goods in the warehouse."
Watching Cheng Hao’s retreating figure, Xu Nianhua couldn’t help but shake her head.
"Nianhua, isn’t this too much?" Ji Ying eyed the gifts and noted that Yining had sent something for nearly every member of the family. The gifts weren’t just chosen at random, but were all very thoughtful.
"Mom, Yining treats us well, so we’ll treat her well when the time comes," Xu Nianhua said, looking at the gifts. Aside from the watch on her wrist which was somewhat expensive, the rest were quite normal.
Xu Nianhua was already thinking of what gift to give in return.
"That’s true, but look at this watch," Ji Ying gazed at the ladies’ watch on her hand. The pink watch was much nicer than those sold at the supply and marketing cooperative.
The watches from the cooperative, costing several dozens each, were quite ugly. In contrast, the one sent by Yining looked incredibly valuable.