Xu Nian’an and Xu Nianhua received an invitation from Ji Shuqin, and after discussing it, they purchased some gifts and followed Ji Shuqin to their eldest uncle’s house.
No matter what, since their eldest uncle had helped their mother out before and had provided money for their grandfather’s treatment last year, they felt that they couldn’t go to the Ji Family empty-handed.
"Nian’an, Nianhua, you should have just come without bringing anything," Cai Jianhong said cheerfully, looking at the gifts they had brought: malt extract, egg cakes, liquor, apples, and a box of chili sauce.
All these things were quite expensive.
"Please come in. I heard last year that you came to Ningbei to study, but we had some things to deal with at home and didn’t get in touch," Cai Jianhong said, taking the gifts from their hands, her smile growing even more sincere. "Just last week, Shuqin told us she met you, and so we immediately wanted to invite you over for a meal and to get to know the place."
Xu Nian’an and Xu Nianhua greeted with smiles, touched by the enthusiasm of their eldest uncle and aunt, which almost overwhelmed them.
"Nian’an, Nianhua, this is my wife, He Xiaoling, and these are my two daughters, the elder one is five years old, Ji Jiajia, and the younger one is two years old, Ji Yueyue," Ji Shuqin said warmly, introducing them. "These are my cousins, Xu Nian’an and Xu Nianhua."
"Hello, I’ve heard a lot about you from Shuqin. Thank you for saving Shuqin," He Xiaoling said with a gentle appearance, looking very approachable.
"We’re all family here, no need to be so formal," Xu Nianhua replied with a smile, looking at Ji Jiajia and Ji Yueyue. Five-year-old Ji Jiajia, who was wearing a red dress and looked like He Xiaoling, was very cute and shy.
"Jiajia is so pretty," Xu Nianhua said squatting down, admiring Jiajia’s lovely face and feeling particularly fond of her. She took out several hair clips from her pocket and said, "These are for you, do you like them?"
Red butterfly hair clips, looking especially pretty, instantly caught Ji Jiajia’s eye.
Ji Jiajia hesitated to take them, looking up at He Xiaoling.
"Thank you, auntie," He Xiaoling prompted Ji Jiajia to say.
Ji Jiajia’s soft voice said, "Thank you, auntie."
With joy, Ji Jiajia held the butterfly hair clips tightly and, smiling broadly, said, "Auntie is pretty."
"Thank you for the compliment, Jiajia. You are pretty too," Xu Nianhua said, genuinely liking Ji Jiajia, who was cute and sensible, and thinking to herself that Jiajia’s mother must have taught her well.
"What about me?" Xu Nian’an teased Ji Jiajia. Ji Jiajia’s gaze moved away from the hair clips as He Xiaoling whispered to her what to call Xu Nian’an. She glanced at Xu Nian’an and said obediently, "Uncle."
"Such a good girl," Xu Nian’an said, putting down a little doll in front of her.
Ji Jiajia’s eyes lit up instantly, and she said happily, hugging the doll, "Uncle is good-looking."
So without giving her a gift, would she stop complimenting him?
He was a man, not a woman; how could he be described as good-looking?
Xu Nianhua was amused by Ji Jiajia.
"Jiajia, you should say uncle is handsome," He Xiaoling quietly reminded Ji Jiajia next to her ear.
Playing happily with the doll, Ji Jiajia looked at Xu Nian’an and said again, "Uncle is handsome."
Her sweet, sticky voice was indeed very endearing.
For lunch, Cai Jianhong had prepared quite a feast. Xu Nianhua guessed it must have something to do with the radio incident. Around noon, Xu Nianhua saw another cousin, Cai Shuxue.