"Xiaoxiao, you’re not keeping your word; you promised to take me to meet your parents next year," Gao Jiaxing said hurriedly.
"I also said it has to be with my parents’ consent," Xia Xiao boasted, raising her eyebrows at Gao Jiaxing.
Gao Jiaxing’s face fell, then he asked again, "Xiaoxiao, tell me about your family. Do they have any requirements when they look into your partner?"
Gao Jiaxing was very concerned about this issue now, although the year hadn’t yet arrived, but once this year passed, the next year would be upon them soon, and time flies.
Xia Xiao spread her hands, helpless; she really didn’t know what expectations the Xia Family had for her partner.
However, seeing Gao Jiaxing worried, Xia Xiao laughed and said, "Why are you thinking so much? You should think about how to please me. If I’m satisfied with you, my family will definitely follow my lead."
From the last visit home, Xia Xiao felt that her family wasn’t bad, not like those who would arrange marriages, nor were they rigid and conservative. They were relatively enlightened.
Looking at how much Gao Jiaxing cared about her, Xia Xiao was quite happy in her heart. She liked the feeling of being cared for, especially by someone she approved of.
Gao Jiaxing smiled, "Of course, I can’t neglect you here; this is of utmost importance."
Although they felt it was strange, they were somewhat relieved without those people watching them.
Soon, the two arrived at the factory, and Gao Jiaxing quickly found Gao Jianhua and Gao Jianmin.
"I’ve already told you, Grandma is now living in the county too. If you don’t talk to her properly, it won’t be good for anyone if something happens to her in the future."
As soon as Gao Jiaxing finished speaking, Gao Jianhua and Gao Jianmin nodded. They were very satisfied with their current lives.
After Gao Jiaxing left, Xia Xiao didn’t show up, and Gao Jianmin and Gao Jianhua exchanged glances and breathed a sigh of relief. They had thought Gao Jiaxing was coming to ask them about getting jobs at the factory.
"Big Brother, you talk to Grandma properly. We can’t let her cause trouble," Gao Jianhua said. They had just arranged a house in the city, and if anything happened to their grandma, everything could be ruined.
Gao Jianmin nodded, "Don’t worry, I will talk to Grandma and later we can just have her take care of Dazhuang at home."
Gao Jianhua added, "Also, talk to Dad, Mom, and sister-in-law. It’s so chaotic outside, and now everyone at the factory is also feeling insecure. My father-in-law reminded me to be cautious just yesterday. We also need to be careful at home."
"Okay, I’ll go back and talk about it right away," Gao Jianmin said as it was time for him to leave work.
Gao Jianhua nodded and watched Gao Jianmin leave before turning back to the factory.
Meanwhile, Gao Jiaxing and Xia Xiao had already left, but before they could return to the supply and sales cooperative, they saw a household in quite an uproar.
The area was crowded with people, and Xia Xiao paused to look in that direction but could only see the crowd and not clearly make out what was happening.
Gao Jiaxing said, "Let’s not look anymore. Let’s go."
Xia Xiao nodded. Whatever it was, it wasn’t their business, so they decided to leave.
They walked further away, and more people started to gather at the scene.
The pointing fingers and whispered gossip helped Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing realize that it was a case of catching an adulterer.
"Let’s not look anymore." Gao Jiaxing intended to pull Xia Xiao away but immediately put his hand back down decorously and could only verbally remind Xia Xiao.
Xia Xiao followed Gao Jiaxing away, and both were silent for a long while. Once at the supply and sales cooperative, Xia Xiao didn’t want to buy anything, and after looking around, she had no desire to purchase anything.
Gao Jiaxing asked, "Xiaoxiao, are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"
"I don’t have an appetite. I don’t feel like eating," Xia Xiao shook her head.
Gao Jiaxing suggested, "Then let’s go to Zhang Ji and buy some buns. We can eat them on the way or when we get back."
Xia Xiao nodded, and the two went to Zhang Ji’s shop only to find it closed. They exchanged a look and sighed.
Xia Xiao looked at the closed doors, wondering if they were really closed for good. What a pity that would be; Zhang Ji’s buns were really tasty.
"Brother Gao, let’s leave. We should go back to the production team," she said as it was chaotic outside and she didn’t have the appetite for food.
People around them were hurling stones, trash, and spitting at the widow.
Xia Xiao felt the widow glance at the crowd and then lower her head, remaining motionless no matter what others said.
She preferred to be beaten and scolded rather than reveal her lover.
Gao Jiaxing and Xia Xiao watched from a distance, not joining in. The people from the production team were also enjoying the drama and came over to tell Gao Jiaxing and Xia Xiao about the widow’s affair.
"You wait here, I’ll go get the ox cart," Gao Jiaxing said.
As Gao Jiaxing walked towards the ox cart, the beaten widow glanced at him, and suddenly someone shouted, "Her lover has come."
"There he is; catch the lover quickly!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.
"What are you doing?" Gao Jiaxing became angry as people crowded around trying to grab him.
"That’s the lover, everyone come and catch him!" the man shouted loudly.
"I think you’re the lover," Gao Jiaxing glared back furiously.
"It’s definitely him; he’s even getting angry from embarrassment," the man tried to grab Gao Jiaxing and shouted to everyone else, "Beat him up."