279 Home (2/2)

Xiao Luo smiled and nodded, then lowered his head again and continued to eat.

”Oh yes, how's Ruyi doing over there?” Xiao Zhiyuan suddenly asked.

Hua Heying sat up. She had had a strained relationship with her daughter for many years. Back then, Xiao Ruyi was rebellious and would always argue loudly with her mother. Now that Ruyi was married, their relationship had mended and was getting much better with time. After all, she was her own daughter, and regardless of what had gone wrong, Hua Heying would never stop caring for her.

”Her relationship with Tang Ren is quite good, she is working hard in the hospital. She has grown a lot more mature and sensible. These days she doesn't act as rashly and willfully as she did last time,” Xiao Luo said.

Xiao Zhiyuan signed with relief and was comforted. ”Good to know!”

Hua Heying smiled, looking very contented and said, ”As long as she is leading a good life, as parents, we can rest in peace.”

”Mom, you don't have to worry anymore, everyone needs to grow up and change, and Ruyi has now grown up. I met her before coming home, she bought clothes and shoes for you, dad, grandpa and grandma, and asked me to bring them back,” Xiao Luo said, pointing at the pile in the living room.

Hua Heying was so touched that she shed tears, then she walked over and took a cursory look at the gifts. ”There's so much stuff, it probably cost her a lot. I must remind that girl not to spend so much money again. She's already married and should start saving up, how could she spend so much.”

As she said that, she took her phone out and called Xiao Ruyi, then mother and daughter began to chat.

...

After a satisfying meal, Xiao Zhiyuan sent Xiao Luo home with his motored trishaw.

Although Luo Village was located in a rural mountainous area, surprisingly, every family here had a new house. For the last twenty or so years, the people of Luo Village had gone to the south to find work and earn money. Over the years, they'd saved up the money they earned and raised new houses. Any family that had yet to build one would be derided by others, and couldn't hold their heads up with pride.

Xiao Luo was amazed by what his parents had achieved. Ten years ago, with just a monthly income of several thousand dollars a month, they had managed to build a four-story house for the family. The first floor was plain and unadorned, but the second floor was well furnished, and his aged grandparents lived in that house.

It was almost 11 pm by the time he arrived, and Luo Village was dead silent except for the occasional bark from afar. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the city, the nights here were quiet and would take some getting used to.

His grandparents usually went to bed at around 9 pm. But as they knew he would be coming home today, they watched television on the first floor while waiting for him to get back.

Hearing the sound of the trishaw, his grandparents immediately turned on the lights in the living room and opened the door.

”Grandpa, grandma!”

”Little Luo, you are back!”

It was his grandmother who spoke. Her hair was naturally curly, and her kindly eyes had a smile in them. She held Xiao Luo's hand tightly with her rough hands. ”It's raining outside, come in, quick.”

The first thing Xiao Luo noticed when he saw them was that they had grown older. Time had left its indelible mark on their wrinkled faces, and their hair had turned completely white.

His grandmother poured two cups of hot tea for Xiao Luo and Xiao Zhiyuan. She missed Xiao Luo dearly and had so many questions for him. She wanted to know how he was keeping, why he was now thinner, and whether he was having proper meals in the city. She also asked about his work and how he was coping.

Grandfather was taciturn by nature, it was just part of his personality, not being good with words. Xiao Zhiyuan had probably inherited the trait from him, and likewise, Xiao Luo, in turn, inherited it from Xiao Zhiyuan.