The next day.
Saturday.
Dong Xuebing slept until nine in the morning, yawning as he got out of bed to brush his teeth. With nothing else to do, he sat in the courtyard and drank tea.
"In the end, dreams shatter amidst confusion."
"Suddenly hearing that spring is fading, I ascend the mountain with strength."
"Passing by the bamboo grove, I encounter a monk."
"Stealing half a day of leisure from the fleeting life."
Dong Xuebing indulged in so rare literary pursuits, shaking his head as he managed to squeeze out a poem. Of course, he had morized this poem back in college, and it had been many years. He couldn't recall it perfectly. He recited it after a mont of thought, feeling inspired and wanting to compose another. However, after struggling for a while, he couldn't co up with a second one to match the occasion. He coughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed. He had always neglected his duties; how could he suddenly get artistic?
Ring, ring, ring.
His phone rang on the stone table.
Dong Xuebing checked and saw it was his mother-in-law calling.
"Hello, Mom."
"Xiao Bing, what are you doing?"
"Hi, just hanging out at ho, absolutely bored."
"Well, how co I heard you recently got a traditional Chinese courtyard?"
"Ah, who did you hear that from?"
"Just tell if it's true or not."
"Cough, cough, cough, well, it's true. Um, I wanted to tell you earlier, but I wanted to surprise you. Who knew you'd find out, and you're so well-inford, Mom."
"Hehe, stop flattering . You little guy, even as a cadre of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, you managed to get a Traditional Chinese courtyard."
"Mom, I understand. Don't worry, it's all legitimate. I'm not afraid of any investigation."
"Even your grandfather never lived in a Traditional Chinese courtyard, and you managed to get one before him."
Dong Xuebing knew that it must have been those people from his Second Office who had visited his ho last ti. Soone must have boasted to them, and that's how the news got out. It probably reached the ears of so leaders at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and then to Mdm Han. But this was sothing he couldn't hide, and he hadn't planned to. He did everything properly, and the house was obtained through legitimate ans. What was there to fear?
Just then, Mdm Han's voice ca through the phone, "Xiao Jing and Xiao Hao are here with . We were chatting."
As she was speaking, soone interrupted her.
"Auntie, let talk, let talk," It was that brat, Xie Hao.
"Hehe, why are you rushing? I'll give it to you, you little rascal," Mdm Han laughed.
The voice on the phone changed, "Brother-in-law, haha, guess who I am."
Dong Xuebing was speechless but wasn't so polite with Xie Hao, "How old are you? If you have sothing to say, say it quickly. I am busy."
Xie Hao chuckled, "What are you busy with? My aunt told that you're so idle you don't know what to do. My sister and nephew aren't even in the capital, so even if you want to be busy, you can't."
Dong Xuebing: "You're just talking nonsense."
Xie Hao grinned, "My sister and I are planning to co over."
"Why?" Dong Xuebing asked.
"To see your Traditional Chinese courtyard," Xie Hao exclaid excitedly, "You've bought a new house, but you didn't tell us to co and see. We can only co on our own."
Dong Xuebing sighed, "There's nothing special to see."
Xie Hao exclaid, "There are only a few Traditional Chinese courtyards in the capital. Even my grandfather hasn't lived in one. Of course, we have to see it. It's a house worth several hundred million RMB. I've never lived in one in my whole life." This kid was just interested in expensive things, especially sensitive to expensive things. "That’s it. We'll be there soon."
Dong Xuebing chuckled, "You're the only one who can make such a fuss. Alright, co on, co on. Oh, ask my mom and dad if they're coming."
"Auntie, my brother-in-law is asking if you're coming," Xie Hao relayed.
Mdm Han took the phone, "You guys go ahead. I'm not going."
Dong Xuebing politely said, "You and dad should co. I'll cook personally."
Mdm Han smiled contentedly, "Next ti. Next ti, I'll go with your dad to visit your Traditional Chinese courtyard. Today, your dad is working overti and will be back for lunch. I have to wait to cook for him."
Dong Xuebing nodded, "Alright, whenever you and my dad are free, co over. It's right next to Houhai, and the environnt is particularly good. It's guaranteed to make you feel several years younger whenever you co over to stay for a while. You can even retire here in the future. When you co over, I'll cook for you and my dad daily, so you two don't need to be busy."
Mdm Han chuckled, "Alright, my son-in-law is so good to ."
Dong Xuebing was articulate, likable, and capable. Besides occasionally causing trouble, he always satisfied Mdm Han as a son-in-law.
The phone was passed to Xie Jing, "Brother-in-law, can you give the address?"
"Sure, just jot it down." After giving the address, Dong Xuebing added, "Bring Xiao Ran along too. The more, the rrier."
Xie Jing giggled, "Alright."
"Oh, is Sun Kai coming?" Dong Xuebing asked.
"He's busy with work at his school. It's hard for even to see him once. Hmph, always working," Xie Jing complained.
Dong Xuebing laughed, "Being ambitious is a good thing."
An hour later.
Around ten o'clock.
When Dong Xuebing returned from grocery shopping, he brought everything into the kitchen and started washing and chopping the vegetables. Although Dong Xuebing, as the younger generation of the Xie family, might even be considered higher in status than Xie Huilan according to traditional Chinese values, neither Xie Ran, Xie Jing, or Xie Hao knew how to cook. They probably hadn't even done household chores much, just like Xie Huilan. They had been pampered since childhood. Therefore, Dong Xuebing had to cook himself.
Suddenly, the courtyard door rang.
Footsteps trickled in.
Dong Xuebing didn't close the door, knowing soone was coming. He wiped his hands, put down the vegetables, and walked out. At a glance, he saw his younger siblings coming in.
"Brother-in-law," Xie Ran said.
"Haha, brother-in-law," Xie Hao echoed.
Xie Jing said, "Brother-in-law, we're here."
"Co in quickly," Dong Xuebing greeted. He didn't look at them again because he saw a very pretty girl from behind whom he had never seen before. She looked about twenty years old, younger than Xie Ran and Xie Jing, about the sa age as Dong Xuebing. She wore a very elegant dress, giving off a quiet and refined vibe.
Fang Shuling glanced at Dong Xuebing and said softly, "Brother Dong."
Dong Xuebing blinked, "Hello, um, who is this?"
Only to see Xie Ran grabbing the girl's hand, "My girlfriend."
Dong Xuebing was surprised, "Oh, you're dating already? Why didn't I know?"
Xie Jing giggled, "I just found out, too. My brother just started dating and hasn't told anyone yet."
Xie Hao snorted, "You're married; she is dating, and I'm the only one left. No way, I also need to find a girl."
Fang Shuling pursed her lips and chuckled, amused by the banter.
Dong Xuebing then kicked Xie Hao jokingly, "You're still young. What's the point of talking about girlfriends? Focus on your studies, or I'll beat you up."
Xie Hao rolled his eyes, "I can't fall behind, anyway."
Dong Xuebing said, "Alright, I'll tell Huilan later. Let's see how she deals with you."
Fearless of anything else, Xie Hao was afraid of his big sister Xie Huilan, and hastily said, "Please, brother-in-law, don't tell her."
After so playful banter, Dong Xuebing asked the girl, "How should I address you?"
Fang Shuling, slightly reserved and shy, said, "My na is Fang Shuling. You can call Xiao Ling."
Dong Xuebing pointed at Xie Ran, "You too. Why didn't you tell earlier? It's our first eting, and I haven't even prepared any gifts."
Xie Ran smiled, "No need, brother-in-law."
Fang Shuling quickly added, "Brother Dong, no need."
Other families might not have much fuss, but Dong Xuebing paid particular attention. Since Xie Ran brought his girlfriend over, it was almost certain. Xie Ran, the third-generation leader of the Xie family, was a few years older than himself but still unmarried. His family had been sowhat anxious about Xie Ran's marriage, so many people paid attention to his relationship. Now that he saw the girl, Dong Xuebing, as the elder brother-in-law, had to show so courtesy. He patted his body and couldn't find anything to give. Finally, he took out his wallet, pulled out a bank card, wrote the PIN on the back, and handed it to the girl, "Xiaoling, there's nothing much to give for the first eting, so here's a card. It might be a bit tacky, but it's just a gesture. Take it."
Fang Shuling dared not accept, "Really, Brother Dong, I can't."
Xie Ran joked, "Brother-in-law, how much is on it?"
Dong Xuebing glared at him, "It's not for you to worry about. Probably a million. The PIN is on the back."
"A million?" Fang Shuling couldn't help but be stunned, "Oh, this won't do. It's too much, too much, I can't accept it."
But Xie Hao chuckled, took the bank card from Dong Xuebing's hand, and stuffed it into Fang Shuling's pocket, "Just take it if Brother-in-law wants you to. My brother-in-law has money to spare. He even said that if I could get into university, he'd buy a million-dollar car." This kid was reminding Dong Xuebing that he would take the college entrance exam next year, reminding him not to forget the promise.
Dong Xuebing couldn't laugh or cry and gave him a smack on the back of his head, "You brat."
Fang Shuling felt it was inappropriate and looked at Xie Ran, "Brother Ran."
Xie Ran wasn't polite either, "It's from my brother-in-law, so just accept it."
Fang Shuling bit her lip and said to Dong Xuebing, "Thank you, Brother Dong."
Xie Hao was enthusiastic and had much to say to his future sister-in-law.
But Dong Xuebing noticed sothing was off. While Xie Jing's expression didn't show much, she didn't say much to Fang Shuling. She seed calm, which made Dong Xuebing feel sothing was wrong. According to his understanding of Xie Jing's character, she shouldn't be like this. If her brother had a girlfriend, she should be the most talkative. Why did it seem like she did not react at all now?
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