405: Xiao Hongmei's home is very warm

"I have an appointment at five o'clock. It's not yet four, so I plan to go back to the hotel to rest for a while," Liu Xiaolin replied. "You don't need to go back to the company either, since General Manager Xiang gave you half a day off."

"Why don't you come to my place to rest for a while?" Xiao Hongmei said, blushing.

"Is that convenient?" Liu Xiaolin felt it wasn't quite appropriate, but he really wanted to see Xiao Hongmei's home, to see where she lived.

"There's nothing inconvenient about it. My parents are both at work; only my grandparents are home," Xiao Hongmei said.

Xiao Hongmei's family of five, spanning three generations, lived in a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment. The family atmosphere was very good; both her parents were teachers, and her grandparents were retired workers. They were all ordinary folks, but they all had very good temperaments, and their home was always filled with joy, which is why she had such a good personality.

"Really? Then I'll buy something before I go," Liu Xiaolin was quite polite.

"No need to buy anything. You can go upstairs, rest for an hour, and then leave. It saves you the trouble of going back and forth to the hotel," Xiao Hongmei said as she walked.

"I'd better buy something at the small supermarket," Liu Xiaolin saw a small supermarket on the first floor and walked straight in.

"Five catties of ribs, three catties of lean meat, and two catties of pork belly, please," Liu Xiaolin said.

"Ah? Why are you buying so much meat?" Xiao Hongmei was surprised.

"It's a custom in my hometown that when you visit relatives or friends, especially if there are elders, you bring meat to show your respect," Liu Xiaolin explained. "It symbolizes 'love that sticks to the flesh.'"

"Ah? Your customs there are so strange," Xiao Hongmei didn't know what to say.

"Different places nurture different people; it's not strange for customs to be different," Liu Xiaolin, though young, had seen a lot when accompanying his mother on visits and naturally learned these things.

"Alright, the meat's bought. Let's go upstairs," Liu Xiaolin said, a little strained, carrying ten catties of ribs and meat.

Seeing that Liu Xiaolin had already paid, Xiao Hongmei knew there was no way to return the meat, so she could only take him home.

As she opened the door, her grandmother also came to the entrance: "Hongmei, why are you off work so early?"

"Grandma, our colleague came to our neighborhood to look at houses and decided to drop by to see you," Xiao Hongmei said with a smile. "His name is Liu Xiaolin; you can just call him Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu bought a lot of ribs and meat to see you."

Her grandfather heard the commotion and also came over: "You came all this way, why did you buy anything? Why are you so polite?"

Liu Xiaolin handed the items he was carrying to her grandmother: "Grandpa, Grandma, I didn't know what to buy downstairs. In my hometown, we have a custom of bringing meat to elders, so I bought a little. Please keep it and eat it slowly."

Her grandmother took the three bags of meat and said, "This child is too honest, buying so much? Your custom? Are you from Jiangnan City?"

"Yes, I'm from Jiangnan City. Are you too?" Liu Xiaolin asked, surprised.

"I was born and grew up in Jiangnan City. I only came to Yuhai City in my twenties and have lived here for most of my life," her grandmother said with a smile. "Thank you, come in and sit down quickly."

Liu Xiaolin followed Xiao Hongmei inside and saw that the home was like any ordinary person's house, with plain white walls and simple decor. However, the balcony and living room were filled with many plants and flowers, giving the place a vibrant and lively feel.

"Wow, so many plants and flowers at home, it's so cozy," Liu Xiaolin exclaimed.

"The old man has no other hobbies since he retired, just tending to these plants and flowers," her grandmother, who had just put the ribs and meat in the kitchen and came out, said as she poured Liu Xiaolin a cup of tea and handed it to him.

"Thank you, Grandma," Liu Xiaolin said, taking the teacup with both hands.

"How old is Xiao Liu this year? What do you do for work?" Her grandfather saw that his granddaughter liked this young man and asked.

"I'm twenty-two this year, and I'm in manufacturing," Liu Xiaolin answered obediently.

"Ah? Only twenty-two? Our Hongmei is already twenty-five," her grandfather said, a little disappointed.

"Grandpa, what are you saying?" Xiao Hongmei said, both shy and anxious.

She was already self-conscious about being three years older than Liu Xiaolin, and now her grandfather had said it out loud. How could she not be anxious? The shyness, of course, was because her grandfather had seen through her thoughts at a glance.

"I didn't mean anything else, just asking," her grandfather quickly changed his tune when he saw Xiao Hongmei's expression.

"I'll take Xiaolin to my room to see my books. You two continue watching TV," Xiao Hongmei, worried that her grandparents might say something else embarrassing, quickly led Liu Xiaolin into her room.

Xiao Hongmei's room had a double bed, a desk, a four-door wardrobe, and a four-door bookcase.

Although they didn't look like branded furniture, they were all solid wood, appearing elegant and simple.

She introduced her collection of books, most of which were historical and humanities-related, along with some novels, and of course, a few professional accounting books.

"Why do you have so many professional books?" Liu Xiaolin asked, puzzled.

"I'm studying for the Senior Accountant exam!" Xiao Hongmei said proudly. "In the future, I also want to be General Manager Xiao, in charge of the Finance Department."

"I believe in you, you can definitely do it," Liu Xiaolin took a sip of hot tea and nodded.

In his heart, he was calculating that if Cai Chenghan was driven away, and General Manager Xiang took charge of the entire company's management, then General Manager Xiao could take up her post.

Thinking of this, he chuckled a few times.

"What are you laughing at? Don't you believe in my ability?" Xiao Hongmei pouted and asked.

"No, no, I was just thinking how proud you'll be once you become General Manager Xiao, haha," Liu Xiaolin said with a laugh.

"I'll become General Manager Xiao through my own abilities, so isn't it okay to be a little proud?" Xiao Hongmei rolled her eyes at Liu Xiaolin.

"Absolutely! If anyone says it's not, I'll argue with them!" Liu Xiaolin quickly agreed.

"Do you want to lie down and rest for a while?" Xiao Hongmei remembered Liu Xiaolin saying he wanted to go back to the hotel to rest, so she asked.

"No, no, chatting with you, I'm not tired at all," Liu Xiaolin couldn't bear to close his eyes and rest. 33 Novel Network

He looked at the books in the bookcase while chatting idly with Xiao Hongmei, and time flew by. Soon it was half past four.

"I have to go. I'm scheduled to meet someone at five," Liu Xiaolin said, looking at the time.

"Alright, then you go. Don't delay your important business," Xiao Hongmei said.

Liu Xiaolin walked out of Xiao Hongmei's room, bid farewell to her grandparents, declined Xiao Hongmei's offer to walk him to the edge of the complex, and quickly walked out by himself to get into a car, speeding off in the direction of the address Shi Yuer had given him.

The series of smooth events today gave him great confidence for tonight's meeting!

You are providing God Wu Ji's Rise of Heavy Industry: Building the Light of National Goods.