"Thank you, Brother Cheng." Xu Nianhua was overjoyed, hugging the dictionary. This must be what it means to care.
Before school ended, she had casually mentioned that the newly printed editions of the dictionary were hard to find. Unexpectedly, Brother Cheng managed to get one this time. Her eyes were sparkling as she asked, "Brother Cheng, was it difficult for you to get this?"
"I told you before, no need to say thank you." Pei Yicheng’s hand warmed up, and only then did he hold her hand. Her soft hand made him wish he could hold it forever.
"By the way, there’s another piece of good news."
Pei Yicheng switched the topic, "Do you remember the parentage test I mentioned to you before?"
Xu Nianhua nodded in confusion. She hadn’t paid much attention to it and thought Pei Yicheng had forgotten.
"I’ve contacted people over in Hai City. This time, they’ve introduced a new technology. You can use freshly plucked hair or blood, but I think blood might provide a more accurate result. Nianhua, do you want to try it?" Pei Yicheng thought it was worth a try; what if she’s really not part of the Gu Family?
"I don’t mind, but how will you get the blood? Directly ask the Gu Family for it? They surely wouldn’t agree." Xu Nianhua was finally trying to distance herself from the Gu Family, and now to ask them for blood for a parentage test—how could they agree to that?
"Don’t worry, I already have a way. You just need to agree to do it." Pei Yicheng gave a mysterious smile and said, "If you agree, I’ll arrange it after the Lantern Festival."
"Alright." Xu Nianhua responded without asking how Pei Yicheng planned to arrange it. She trusted that since Yicheng mentioned it, he surely had a way.
Afternoon.
Ji Ying was surprised for a moment when she saw Pei Yicheng after returning from the furniture factory.
Pei Yicheng immediately stood up and explained, "Hello, Auntie. I originally planned to visit Uncle and Auntie tomorrow morning, but I brought some particularly important materials for Nianhua, so I came over this afternoon."
Hearing Pei Yicheng’s words, Ji Ying felt like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, the more she looked, the more satisfied she was. She said, "It’s okay, you’re welcome anytime. Nianhua, don’t burden Yicheng with everything. Yicheng also has his own matters to attend to."
Though Ji Ying was scolding Xu Nianhua, she was actually quite happy inside. The fact that Pei Yicheng came to see Nianhua as soon as he returned was an indirect expression of his care for her daughter.
Ji Ying warmly invited him to stay for dinner and even asked him to bring Du Chang over, making sure not to leave out Ling Dong.
Ji Ying busied herself in the kitchen cooking, while Xu Nian’an, who had just returned from digging bamboo shoots, took a bath and changed clothes before being sent to the county to pick people up.
Du Chang didn’t want to go initially, but Xu Nian’an said, "Master, if you think the snow is too much, I’ll carry you. I absolutely won’t let you fall."
"Nian’an, your master isn’t so old that he can’t walk. These old bones can still manage." Du Chang changed his shoes and left with Ling Dong, following Xu Nian’an back to the village. Having someone to chat with along the way made the journey quite enjoyable.
Du Chang even specially brought a bottle of medicinal wine for Xu Qinghe, which he forgot to give earlier when Xu Nian’an came, so he brought it over now.
In the evening, Du Chang and Xu Qinghe drank together, and they were very happy. During the meal, Du Chang brought up Nianhua and Yicheng’s relationship to Xu Qinghe.
Xu Qinghe sobered up instantly. Was someone trying to take his daughter away?
"Uncle Du, there’s no rush, no hurry." Xu Qinghe shook his head repeatedly. His daughter is only twenty-two after the new year; there’s no rush for her to get married.