After they had talked for a while, Yun Xiaoxiao finally spoke up, "Hurry up and do your homework. When your dad and the others get back, we’ll have dinner."
The two younger ones reluctantly went off to do their homework.
Only then did Yun Xiaoxiao turn to Du Ruo, noticing that she had lost quite a bit of weight.
"Why did you come over? Shouldn’t you be resting well in your dormitory?"
The trip from Capital City University to her place was usually quick, but now that Du Ruo was still in the recovery period, cautiously navigating the slippery roads slowed her down even more.
"I received the money my parents mailed me, so I came to pay you back."
"I’m not in a rush to use it."
Du Ruo knew that Yun Xiaoxiao might not be in urgent need of money.
"I’m afraid I’ll spend it."
Having money in hand, one tends to want to spend some of it.
Yun Xiaoxiao laughed softly, "Alright, then I’ll accept it. I’ve been a bit busy lately too. Your brother-in-law’s cousin is getting married soon. Although it won’t be a big event, we still need to decorate the house and prepare for the wedding."
"It really is happening so fast; he’s getting married."
"Not really, Da Bao is already in second grade. If he doesn’t get married soon, he’ll end up an old bachelor."
Though there are those who marry late and have children later in life.
But that inevitably leads to gossip.
"Is he the same age as your brother-in-law?"
Yun Xiaoxiao was taken aback, "He’s more than a year younger than your brother-in-law, the same age as me."
Without thinking, Du Ruo looked towards the two brothers doing their homework under the desk lamp, then thought of Comrade Zhao who was just about to get married. He really did seem close to becoming an old bachelor.
In the countryside, to get a wife, you first need to come up with a dowry.
Otherwise, who would be willing to marry you?
Du Ruo handed the money to Yun Xiaoxiao, who took it without counting and just stuffed it into her pocket.
"Do you want some frozen pears? Your Little Aunt and my mother-in-law heard that you wanted to eat some, so they bought a few and froze them."
"Never mind, when you go back to school, I’ll give you some to take with you. They need to be defrosted, but they’re especially sweet."
The first time she tried the original, unadulterated frozen pears, she almost wished she could eat more, but Zhao Tianlei stopped her, saying they were too cold and he was afraid they’d upset her stomach.
I became somewhat curious.
One by one, people started coming back.
Zhao Tianhe and Fang Meiyun came back together.
It was usually Zhao Tianhe who went to pick up Fang Meiyun, and then they’d return together.
Little Uncle Zhao and the others also returned.
Zhao Tianlei and Fang Chaoyang came back together, and it was only later that Zhao Xinxin arrived.
When Fang Chaoyang saw Du Ruo, his eyes lit up for a moment.
"Dad, Little Uncle, Little Aunt, this is my friend Du Ruo."
"Nice to meet you..."
Once everyone had arrived, the dishes were served one after another.
"Ruoruo, Grandma Fang’s Braised Pork Belly is really good, and so is this radish and meatball soup."
"Sister Yun, I can do it myself."
She really wasn’t that weak.
That someone else needed to pass her the dishes.
Grandma Fang looked at her grandson sitting beside her, then glanced at Xiao Du who was sitting across from her, and resignedly averted her gaze.
After the meal, Du Ruo planned to leave.
Yun Xiaoxiao packed up some frozen pears for her.
"Sister-in-law, let me help escort Student Du back to her school. I’ve got night school later anyway, and I’ll be passing by, so it works out," Fang Chaoyang finally spoke up, offering to take Du Ruo back to her school.
Yun Xiaoxiao remembered her promise to give Fang Chaoyang a chance, and whatever happened next would be up to them.
When it comes to matters of the heart, she didn’t want to interfere.
"Alright, it really is too cold this winter."
Du Ruo wanted to refuse, but going back to school alone did scare her somewhat, and Comrade Fang really was on the way.