Old Liu was weaving bamboo strips and had a robust air about him; he looked more spirited than Old Mrs. Liu.
After greeting Old Liu and Old Mrs. Liu, Xia Xiao turned to Eldest Aunt Xia and said, "Elder Aunt, Grandpa was a soldier before, wasn’t he?"
"Yes, you noticed," Eldest Aunt Xia said with a smile.
"Yes, Grandpa has a very military demeanor and seems more vigorous than Grandma."
Speaking of Old Mrs. Liu, Eldest Aunt Xia continued, "Grandma had a hard life; having many children takes its toll. Out of nine children, only two survived."
When Xia Xiao saw Eldest Aunt Xia bringing up the past, she quickly changed the subject to avoid bringing up her uncle’s past, "Elder Aunt, I’m going to the army base tomorrow to see Brother Yuanchao and Gao Jiaxing. Do you have anything you want me to take to Brother Yuanchao?"
"I’d like to send a girlfriend over to him," Eldest Aunt Xia replied. Whenever she spoke about her son, her frustrations were evident, but she laughed off, "No need to bring anything. I just sent him shoes and clothes at the beginning of the month. Tell him to find a girlfriend soon, or I might start looking for one when he’s back."
Xia Xiao laughed, "Elder Aunt, Brother Yuanchao is quite handsome. Surely some girls like him?"
"Of course, there are. But that boy hasn’t taken to anyone, which worries me greatly."
"Don’t worry, Elder Aunt, Brother Yuanchao won’t stay single for too long."
"I’m counting on the army to look out for him now. He’s grown and become stubborn, like a wild horse that has escaped its bonds; he can’t be reined in." Eldest Aunt Xia then said to Xia Xiao, "Your beau, Gao Jiaxing, when I asked Brother Yuanchao about him, he told me the army is grooming Gao Jiaxing as a key talent. His superiors think highly of him."
At these words, Xia Xiao’s face lit up with joy, pleased for Gao Jiaxing.
Eldest Aunt Xia added, "Brother Yuanchao also told me you bought him socks and sent pickled vegetables."
With that, Xia Xiao became embarrassed. She had received a letter from Gao Jiaxing too. Liu Yuanchao’s shoe size was one size bigger than Gao Jiaxing’s.
At the time, Xia Xiao didn’t know exactly which size Liu Yuanchao wore. Although Liu Yuanchao wasn’t as tall as Gao Jiaxing, buying too small would mean neither could wear them. So, she decided to buy the same size as Gao Jiaxing’s.
"You’re thoughtful. Your cousin remembers your kindness," Eldest Aunt Xia said, touched.
Xia Xiao became even more embarrassed and asked Eldest Aunt Xia, "Elder Aunt, how is Sister Kangmei doing now?"
"She had another boy." Eldest Aunt Xia’s smile brightened when she talked about her daughter, "Your Sister Kangmei thinks of you too. If she knew you were coming today, she would definitely have made it here."
As she finished, Xia Hua came running in, "Elder Aunt, Sister Kangmei is here."
"Oh my, what a coincidence." Eldest Aunt Xia’s smile grew wider.
Xia Xiao smiled; she had come back several times without running into Liu Kangmei. She and Eldest Aunt Xia went out to meet her and saw Liu Kangmei entering, holding one child and with another little one by her side.
"Perfect timing, Xiaoxiao and Xiao Lin and Xiao Hua are all here. Where is Kangping?" Eldest Aunt Xia happily took her little grandson into her arms.
"Kangping is at the factory. Since I had some free time, and it isn’t far, I brought the kids over," Liu Kangmei said, turning to Xia Xiao, "Is this Xiaoxiao? Oh my, you’ve changed so much; I hardly recognize you."
Liu Kangmei handed the child to Eldest Aunt Xia then circled Xia Xiao, exclaiming, "Let me have a good look at you. Wow, you’ve grown up so nicely. Your skin is so smooth and tender."
Xia Xiao’s cheeks were pinched in the enthusiastic greeting, leaving her somewhat flustered and amused by Liu Kangmei’s exuberant affection, "Sister Kangmei, please be gentle."
"Haha, gentle? But really, your skin is so beautiful." Liu Kangmei enviously remarked, "After having a child, I feel like I’ve become someone else. My skin has worsened, and even my waist has thickened."
Although Xia Xiao had spring water in her space that could help, she didn’t have enough to give Liu Kangmei a bottle since they weren’t together. But she did have honey.
Xia Xiao’s honey was mixed with spring water, and she kept small jars of it. She only had a small jar at home, and another was at her grandmother’s.
Xia Xiao then said to Liu Kangmei, "I brought a small jar of honey for Elder Aunt. Sister Kangmei, you can try it too. They say honey is good for beauty and skin care, but you should only eat a little at a time, not too much."
"Wow, I want to try that."
Eldest Aunt Xia pointed to the table, "It’s over there. Help yourself." Then she said to Xia Xiao, "Your Sister Kangmei is , always so lively. She’s a mother of two but hasn’t changed one bit."
"It’s delicious! Mom, try some. It’s really good," Liu Kangmei spoon-fed Eldest Aunt Xia a taste.
After a taste, Eldest Aunt Xia nodded in agreement, "Good."
"Xiaoxiao, these are precious. Don’t bring such things next time you visit. Just having you here makes your elder aunt happy," Eldest Aunt Xia said.
Xia Xiao replied with a smile, "I didn’t bring anything else, just a little jar of honey. It’s from the mountains and even I hardly indulge myself. I saved some especially for the family, and it happened that I was coming to Elder Aunt’s, so I brought her some. I hope it’s not too little."
"What a sweet child," Eldest Aunt Xia chuckled.
Liu Kangmei gave her eldest son a taste but didn’t dare to give him too much.
Xia Lin was fine with it, being older, but Xia Hua was tempted, "Sister, I want some too."
"You have some at home; we’ll eat when we get back," Xia Xiao said.
Liu Kangmei gave Xia Hua a spoonful, satisfying her curiosity. Xia Hua wanted to give some to Xia Xiao and Xia Lin, but both declined.
Xia Xiao stayed at Eldest Aunt Xia’s half the day before leaving. When departing, Eldest Aunt Xia stuffed money into the pockets of Xia Xiao, Xia Lin, and Xia Hua. Xia Xiao refused, but Liu Kangmei insisted on giving it anyway.