46: Chapter 46 Going Home with Ji Guangli

An City, Zhao Family Village.

Just as dawn was breaking, the lights flickered on in the Ji Family's small courtyard.

Ji Guangli's father, Ji Baoxiu, had a limp, but he was more energetic than anyone.

He had already swept the courtyard inside and out once, and even rearranged the firewood stack in the corner.

Ji Guangli's mother, Ma Guilan, also uncharacteristically got up early, changing into a floral shirt that was washed until it turned pale—one she only wore when visiting relatives—and her hair was combed meticulously.

They waited until after seven o'clock.

"Old man, the Supermarket in town should be open by now, right?"

"It's open, it's open. Let's go early and come back early, pick the freshest things!" Ji Baoxiu grinned, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.

Today was a big day.

Their daughter, Ji Guangli, who worked hard in the big city, was coming back with her boyfriend!

The elderly couple rode their electric tricycle, chugging along to the largest Supermarket in town.

Usually, they were so stingy they'd try to split a penny in half, but today they were exceptionally generous.

They picked the fattest pork belly, chose a lively big carp, and bought several kinds of seasonal vegetables they usually couldn't bear to buy.

Back home, Ma Guilan began preparing the meal.

Ji Baoxiu, meanwhile, sharpened his knife and walked toward the large white goose in the courtyard that they had raised for nearly two years.

"Sorry, old fellow, but I need you to give our family some face today!" He calculated that with a big iron pot of stewed goose and a few more solid dishes, he'd have to put together at least eight or ten bowls; he couldn't let anyone look down on them.

Killing the goose, plucking the feathers, and gutting it—Ji Baoxiu did it all nimbly.

Ma Guilan was busy in the kitchen, washing vegetables and cutting meat. Water boiled in the pot, steam swirled, and the entire small courtyard was filled with a rare, expectant atmosphere of home life.

On the heated brick bed in the west room, Ji Guanghui and Ji Guangke, who were sleeping soundly, were shouted awake by Ma Guilan's loud voice.

"Guanghui! Guangke! What time do you think it is? Get up now! Tidy up the rooms and the courtyard again! Your sister and brother-in-law will be here any minute!" Ma Guilan's voice was tinged with uncontrollable excitement.

Ji Guanghui rubbed his bleary eyes and grumbled, "Mom, what time is it... we had the night shift yesterday, we're exhausted..."

Ji Guanghui and Ji Guangke were Ji Guangli's younger brother and sister.

Ji Guanghui was one year older than Ji Guangke.

However, they were in the same class and had both just finished the college entrance exam this year.

And both had been accepted into college.

The Ji Family originally didn't want them to go to school, but Ji Guangli insisted they must go, saying the family wouldn't have to worry about the costs.

The two were currently on summer break, working as servers at a restaurant in town.

They started work at eleven in the morning.

They hadn't finished until eleven last night and were incredibly sleepy.

"Exhausted from what! Your sister bringing her partner home is a major event! Hurry up!" Ma Guilan said brookingly no argument.

"Put away all that junk in your room, don't let people laugh at us! Your sister said your brother-in-law has a car and a house; he's a capable man from the big city!"

They knew how much their sister had sacrificed for this family and were sick of the gossip in the village.

If their sister really found a good home, they would be happy for her too.

Although the two were unhappy about being woken up, they still obediently crawled out of bed and began to tidy up.

The Ji Family's conditions were indeed not good.

Five old brick houses, a dirt floor in the courtyard, and furniture that was all ten or twenty years old.

Ji Baoxiu had been in an accident while working away from home in his early years, leaving his right leg disabled and unable to do heavy labor.

Ma Guilan had a chronic illness and was on medication year-round.

This home was almost entirely supported by the money the eldest daughter, Ji Guangli, sent back every month.

In previous years, some people in the village were jealous of Ji Guangli, a girl, earning big money outside, and since they never saw her bring a man back, the rumors never stopped.

Things like "she's a kept woman" or "she's the boss's mistress" were said with such detail it was as if they'd seen it themselves.

Ji Baoxiu and Ma Guilan often got upset over this, especially Ji Baoxiu, whose condition had even worsened from the anger.

This time was different!

Their daughter had said it herself: her boyfriend's conditions were good, and he was sincere towards her! The old couple was holding their breath, wanting to use this opportunity to finally hold their heads high in front of the villagers!

Although many villagers were nearby when they were on the phone a few days ago and the news had already spread, they still intentionally or unintentionally told everyone they met: "Our Lili is bringing her partner back tomorrow; he insisted on coming to see us, we couldn't even stop him..."

This news had become the hottest topic of conversation in Zhao Family Village over the past few days.

...

Zhongzhou City, Fenghua Li Residential Complex.

Cao Kun and Ji Guangli had finished their shopping the day before and didn't travel through the night.

Zhongzhou City was less than two hundred kilometers from Ji Guangli's Hometown, a drive of over two hours; going in the morning would be fine.

At seven in the morning, the two of them set off after having breakfast.

Cao Kun specifically wore a casual but high-quality-looking POLO shirt and trousers today. His hair was neatly combed, making him look refreshed and energetic.

Ji Guangli wore an elegant dress and light makeup, appearing less sharp than she did at work and more gentle.

Sitting in the passenger seat, she watched the scenery recede rapidly outside the window, her palms sweating slightly.

"Nervous?" Cao Kun held the steering wheel with one hand and reached over with the other to hold her hand.

"A little," Ji Guangli admitted honestly. "I'm afraid... afraid they'll ask too much, and also afraid of... the villagers..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Cao Kun squeezed her hand and smiled. "I'm here for everything! I guarantee I'll make our parents happy and leave those gossips with nothing to say!"

His ease infected Ji Guangli. She leaned back against the seat, gave a soft "mm," and felt much more at peace.

More than two hours later.

The car turned off the highway and onto a slightly narrow but smooth village-to-village cement road.

On both sides of the road were stretches of cornfields, lush and green, shimmering under the summer sun.

In the distance, the outline of Zhao Family Village could already be seen.

...

At the entrance of Zhao Family Village, under the large scholar tree in front of the small shop.

This old scholar tree was lush with foliage and served as the village's intelligence station.

The weather was hot today, but it was exceptionally lively under the tree, with a good twenty or thirty people gathered.

These people were mainly older women, waving cattail fans and cracking melon seeds. The center of their conversation was none other than the Ji Family daughter who was about to return and her capable boyfriend.

...