yournovel Chapter 388 Xiao Yu is a particularly honest kid.
Chapter 388 Xiao Yu is a particularly honest kid.
Chapter 388 Xiao Yu is a particularly honest kid.
The afternoon sun shone brightly, bathing this riverside neighborhood in its golden rays.
Time has left its mark here, making the neighborhood look a bit old, but it also has a unique charm.
A gentle breeze brings just the right amount of coolness, neither too hot nor too cold, which soothes the mind without one even realizing it.
In the distance, the hustle and bustle of the small commodity wholesale market is faint and not jarring or noisy. Instead, it blends with the tranquility here, creating a wonderful and harmonious contrast.
Lin Yourong affectionately linked arms with Yu Huan, leaning slightly towards him.
With a smile in her voice, she said, "Honey, my mom grew up in this area. She remembers exactly where the grocery store and the wonton stall used to be."
The mother-in-law listened to her daughter's words and a nostalgic expression appeared on her face.
She raised her voice slightly and said, "I'll definitely remember that for the rest of my life! Back then, a group of us kids would run around in the alley all day long, going into this shop and checking out that stall. Unlike now, everything has changed!"
As they talked, the mother-in-law turned lightly to the right and stepped into a doorway with peeling paint.
Yu Huan's gaze inadvertently drifted to the side of the doorway, where the three large characters "Chess and Card Room" were painted in red.
The colors are somewhat faded and worn, but they are still eye-catching.
He followed Lin Yourong's lead and walked into the doorway side by side with her.
Entering through the doorway, there was an open wooden door on the right. As soon as Yu Huan approached, she was attracted by the scene inside.
Smoke swirled in the air like a veil, amidst the rhythmic clatter of mahjong tiles, interspersed with boisterous laughter and chatter, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
However, the mother-in-law did not linger there and walked deeper into the area.
Lin Yourong didn't slow down either. Only Yu Huan, who had never been here before, followed closely behind them up the wooden stairs with a bit of confusion.
With each step, the wooden planks beneath his feet creaked and groaned, the sound echoing softly in the quiet stairwell.
The stair railing is also made of wood, and the paint on it has long been worn away by countless touches and the erosion of time, revealing the wood grain inside. In some places, there are even small cracks, just like the scars left on it by time.
The mother-in-law, walking ahead, suddenly broke the silence softly: "Xiao Yu, don't be fooled by how old Xiahe Street looks now; it's still the place I come to most often. Over the years, no matter how things have changed, I still want to come here from time to time to sit, have some tea, and play mahjong."
Yu Huan nodded slightly, a gentle smile appearing on her lips, and replied, "Mom, I understand. Everyone has some old places in their heart, filled with memories that are hard to let go of."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yourong paused slightly, as if something had touched a chord in her heart.
She turned her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she looked at Yu Huan behind her: "And you? What are some of your favorite old places that you miss and can't bear to part with?"
"me……"
As Yu Huan stepped onto the second-floor floor, she answered thoughtfully:
"If I were to match what my mother said, the place that holds my childhood memories would of course be the old house in the countryside that has already been demolished. I played hide-and-seek and marbles with my cousins and siblings. Now that I think about it, it was all the purest joy of my childhood, as well as the freedom and carefree spirit."
A glint of water flashed in Lin Yourong's eyes. She turned back and continued walking, softly replying, "Right?"
Yu Huan followed closely behind, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.
"Yes, although the old house was simple, it had a big courtyard where we could cool off and stargaze in the summer. And there was that old locust tree; when it bloomed, the whole courtyard was filled with its fragrance. Those were simple and happy days, without so many worries."
"Mm." Lin Yourong nodded slightly, a faint smile on her lips. "It sounds really wonderful."
Yu Huan smiled brightly, and then said, "Of course, now there's another old place I can't bear to part with, and that's the lobby downstairs in my parents' apartment complex!"
"Well……"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yourong subconsciously slowed her pace, turned to look at Yu Huan, and saw him raise his eyebrows meaningfully, so she couldn't help but chuckle...
Sunlight seemed to have difficulty penetrating this old building; the lobby was dimly lit and poorly lit.
The walls were peeling and mottled, and a single incandescent light bulb hanging from the PVC ceiling emitted a faint glow, struggling to illuminate the space.
There were some old items piled up in the corner, their shadows indistinct in the dim light.
The mother-in-law stopped in front of a wooden door with peeling paint. She smiled and turned back, looking at the young couple with loving eyes. She asked curiously, "What riddle are you two playing? Can you tell me?"
After saying that, she gently pushed open the door.
It fell with a creak.
Yu Huan looked up and saw that the light inside was dim and there was no one in sight.
Seeing this, he smiled and answered frankly, "Mom, it's nothing really, it's just the place where Rongrong and I first met."
The mother-in-law stepped inside and nodded thoughtfully: "I remember the first time you two met, you did come up in the elevator together."
The voice just fell.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yourong seemed to recall the amusing scene from that time, and immediately couldn't help but chuckle.
Yu Huan glanced casually at the small sofa against the wall near the entrance, then her gaze shifted to the wall clock.
Seeing that the clock had already struck past 12:50, he coughed slightly and decisively changed the subject: "Mom, when is Uncle Wang coming over?"
“We agreed to play cards at 1:30. He said he would come half an hour early and also chat with you a little about the show.” The mother-in-law said, while lightly pressing the wall switch by the door.
With a "click," the strip fluorescent light on the ceiling shone brightly, instantly revealing everything in the room in perfect detail.
Without pausing, the mother-in-law moved to the sofa, bent down, and sat down. She then slightly turned her body, adjusted her posture, leaned back, and completely relaxed.
Lin Yourong followed her mother and sat down. The small sofa was already cramped, and with the two of them on it, it suddenly felt even more cramped.
After closing the door behind her, Yu Huan walked to the mahjong table in the center of the room, stretched out her slender fingers, grasped the back of the chair, and gently pulled it. The chair slid on the floor, making a slight friction sound.
He sat down calmly, his hands resting naturally on the edge of the mahjong table.
His gaze swept over the neat and clean green velvet cloth on the table, then he turned to his mother-in-law and asked curiously, "Mom, how long have you known Sister Ru's mother?"
When the mother-in-law heard this question, a gentle smile appeared on her lips, and she said, "That's been quite a few years. You can just call her Aunt Hong when you see her."
“Oh, Aunt Hong.” Yu Huan nodded gently.
The mother-in-law suddenly frowned slightly.
A hint of reminiscence flickered in her eyes. After a moment's thought, she continued, "Xiaoru's grandfather used to drive for Yourong's maternal grandfather for over ten years. However, in the early 1990s, he went into business. Because of this, our two families are considered old friends."
Upon hearing this, Yu Huan raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Driving for a leader in the 70s and 80s was a highly coveted job with a secure future!"
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river," the mother-in-law said, reaching into her bag to take out her phone. "Xiaoru's family has also experienced many ups and downs. Although they are doing alright now, it is still very different from before."
"Really?" Yu Huan's voice carried a hint of surprise, her eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.
The mother-in-law smiled gently and said with a touch of emotion, "It can only be said that Xiaoru was not destined to be a young lady. When she was born, the family business had already plummeted."
Yu Huan's lips twitched, about to speak, when out of the corner of her eye she saw the door suddenly pushed open, and a figure appeared in the doorway.
The person who came was wearing a thin gray cotton-padded jacket. Although the style was simple, it could not hide his calm and composed temperament.
He wore black-rimmed glasses on his nose, and his thick, slightly messy beard gave him a casual air that was typical of a mature middle-aged man.
His cheeks twitched slightly as he chewed something. After exchanging a glance with Yu Huan, he quickly shifted his gaze to the small sofa against the wall by the door.
When he spotted his mother-in-law sitting inside, a bright smile immediately appeared on his face, and he greeted her in a humorous tone: "Oh ho, Sister Fang, you're here so early!"
"Little Wang, are you joking with me again? Didn't we agree to meet at a little later?" The mother-in-law smiled and waved her phone in her hand. "If you're any later, I'm really going to send you a text message to urge you."
Wang Han smiled and casually touched the door shut, then strode inside.
He glanced casually at the wall clock, then said loudly, "It's not that bad. It's only 57 now, and there are still three minutes until one o'clock. I'm a very punctual person; I'm never late."
The famous host, whom I usually only see on TV, appeared so vividly before my eyes.
Yu Huan stood up, took off her mask with one hand and stuffed it into her pocket, and extended the other hand enthusiastically to Wang Han: "Uncle Wang, I have long admired your name. It is an honor to meet you today."
"Oh! Sister Fang, this must be your son-in-law!" Wang Han raised his eyebrows slightly, his voice filled with certainty.
He paused, reached out and shook hands with Yu Huan, his smile gentle and humorous, "The girls at our station who plan programs all say you're good-looking. Today I finally get to see you in person. Hey, you really are a tall and handsome young man!"
Yu Huan pursed her lips and replied with a smile, "Uncle Wang, you flatter me too much. You're making me a little embarrassed."
"Hello, Uncle Wang." Lin Yourong also stood up and greeted him in a soft voice.
Upon hearing the sound, Wang Han turned his head and carefully examined her beautiful eyebrows and eyes between the brim of her hat and her mask.
Immediately, with a look of surprise, he turned to his mother-in-law and said, "Sister Fang, this should be your daughter—is it Lin Su?"
The mother-in-law sat comfortably on the sofa, nodding with a smile: "Yes, that's her stage name. Her real name is Lin Yourong. She had some free time today, so she came over to visit."
“What a rare guest! I only saw her a few times many years ago.” Wang Han’s gaze fell on Lin Yourong, who had already sat back on the sofa, and he said with emotion, “In my memory, she still had short hair back then and followed behind you without saying much. I never expected that she would suddenly become a big star this year.”
The mother-in-law quickly waved her hand and said with a beaming smile, "Little Wang, there's no such thing as a celebrity in front of you."
Wang Han smiled upon hearing this, but quickly gave a thumbs-up and said, "Whenever my colleagues at the station talk about Lin Su, this is the one they always mention."
Yu Huan shifted his feet slightly, pulled out the chair diagonally opposite him, and said in a cheerful and enthusiastic voice, "Uncle Wang, please sit down."
"Brother, you're too kind." Wang Han turned around.
Just as he sat down, a hand pulled a packet of betel nuts from his pocket, skillfully opened the bag, and handed it to Yu Huan, asking, "Want one?"
Yu Huan subconsciously straightened up slightly, hurriedly shook her head, and sincerely declined, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Wang, but I don't eat betel nuts."
“It’s good not to chew betel nut, it’s very addictive,” Wang Han said, then casually put the betel nut aside.
Yu Huan said sincerely, "Uncle Wang, you can just call me Xiao Yu. I grew up watching your shows, and I find you to be incredibly humorous, witty, and approachable. I've truly heard so much about you!"
Wang Han, chewing betel nut, his cheeks bobbing rhythmically, smiled and joked:
"Really? When our 'Day Day Up' program contacted you through the newspaper, you refused without hesitation. I later found out that you are actually Sister Fang's son-in-law, and it was through your mother-in-law that we were able to invite you."
Yu Huan knew in her heart that Wang Han's words were already quite polite.
Whether or not he participates in the recording of "Day Day Up" is actually irrelevant to Wang Han.
Yu Huan smiled and, smelling the faint scent of betel nut in the air, said humbly, "Uncle Wang, please don't misunderstand. I was really flattered when the production team contacted me. But I was just too busy with work at the time and couldn't get away, so I had to decline, and I've always felt very regretful about it."
The mother-in-law, who was listening nearby, chimed in, "Xiao Wang, Xiao Yu is a very honest boy. He must be speaking from the heart."
Upon hearing this, Wang Han changed the subject and praised with a smile, "Sister Fang, you are truly blessed. Your daughter and son-in-law are both outstanding individuals."
The mother-in-law immediately smiled and said, "Don't praise them so much, or they'll get too proud and start to get arrogant. But they really are working very hard, and I hope they will continue to do well."
(End of this chapter)