Old Liu was weaving bamboo strips and had a robust air about him; he looked more spirited than Old Mrs. Liu.
After greeting Old Liu and Old Mrs. Liu, Xia Xiao turned to Eldest Aunt Xia and said, "Elder Aunt, Grandpa was a soldier before, wasn’t he?"
"Yes, you noticed," Eldest Aunt Xia said with a smile.
"Yes, Grandpa has a very military deanor and seems more vigorous than Grandma."
Speaking of Old Mrs. Liu, Eldest Aunt Xia continued, "Grandma had a hard life; having many children takes its toll. Out of nine children, only two survived."
When Xia Xiao saw Eldest Aunt Xia bringing up the past, she quickly changed the subject to avoid bringing up her uncle’s past, "Elder Aunt, I’m going to the army base tomorrow to see Brother Yuanchao and Gao Jiaxing. Do you have anything you want to take to Brother Yuanchao?"
"I’d like to send a girlfriend over to him," Eldest Aunt Xia replied. Whenever she spoke about her son, her frustrations were evident, but she laughed off, "No need to bring anything. I just sent him shoes and clothes at the beginning of the month. Tell him to find a girlfriend soon, or I might start looking for one when he’s back."
Xia Xiao laughed, "Elder Aunt, Brother Yuanchao is quite handso. Surely so girls like him?"
"Of course, there are. But that boy hasn’t taken to anyone, which worries greatly."
"Don’t worry, Elder Aunt, Brother Yuanchao won’t stay single for too long."
"I’m counting on the army to look out for him now. He’s grown and beco stubborn, like a wild horse that has escaped its bonds; he can’t be reined in." Eldest Aunt Xia then said to Xia Xiao, "Your beau, Gao Jiaxing, when I asked Brother Yuanchao about him, he told the army is grooming Gao Jiaxing as a key talent. His superiors think highly of him."
At these words, Xia Xiao’s face lit up with joy, pleased for Gao Jiaxing.
Eldest Aunt Xia added, "Brother Yuanchao also told you bought him socks and sent pickled vegetables."
With that, Xia Xiao beca embarrassed. She had received a letter from Gao Jiaxing too. Liu Yuanchao’s shoe size was one size bigger than Gao Jiaxing’s.
At the ti, Xia Xiao didn’t know exactly which size Liu Yuanchao wore. Although Liu Yuanchao wasn’t as tall as Gao Jiaxing, buying too small would an neither could wear them. So, she decided to buy the sa size as Gao Jiaxing’s.
"You’re thoughtful. Your cousin rembers your kindness," Eldest Aunt Xia said, touched.
Xia Xiao beca even more embarrassed and asked Eldest Aunt Xia, "Elder Aunt, how is Sister Kangi doing now?"
"She had another boy." Eldest Aunt Xia’s smile brightened when she talked about her daughter, "Your Sister Kangi thinks of you too. If she knew you were coming today, she would definitely have made it here."
As she finished, Xia Hua ca running in, "Elder Aunt, Sister Kangi is here."
"Oh my, what a coincidence." Eldest Aunt Xia’s smile grew wider.
Xia Xiao smiled; she had co back several tis without running into Liu Kangi. She and Eldest Aunt Xia went out to et her and saw Liu Kangi entering, holding one child and with another little one by her side.
"Perfect timing, Xiaoxiao and Xiao Lin and Xiao Hua are all here. Where is Kangping?" Eldest Aunt Xia happily took her little grandson into her arms.
"Kangping is at the factory. Since I had so free ti, and it isn’t far, I brought the kids over," Liu Kangi said, turning to Xia Xiao, "Is this Xiaoxiao? Oh my, you’ve changed so much; I hardly recognize you."
Liu Kangi handed the child to Eldest Aunt Xia then circled Xia Xiao, exclaiming, "Let have a good look at you. Wow, you’ve grown up so nicely. Your skin is so smooth and tender."
Xia Xiao’s cheeks were pinched in the enthusiastic greeting, leaving her sowhat flustered and amused by Liu Kangi’s exuberant affection, "Sister Kangi, please be gentle."
"Haha, gentle? But really, your skin is so beautiful." Liu Kangi enviously remarked, "After having a child, I feel like I’ve beco soone else. My skin has worsened, and even my waist has thickened."
Although Xia Xiao had spring water in her space that could help, she didn’t have enough to give Liu Kangi a bottle since they weren’t together. But she did have honey.
Xia Xiao’s honey was mixed with spring water, and she kept small jars of it. She only had a small jar at ho, and another was at her grandmother’s.
Xia Xiao then said to Liu Kangi, "I brought a small jar of honey for Elder Aunt. Sister Kangi, you can try it too. They say honey is good for beauty and skin care, but you should only eat a little at a ti, not too much."
"Wow, I want to try that."
Eldest Aunt Xia pointed to the table, "It’s over there. Help yourself." Then she said to Xia Xiao, "Your Sister Kangi is like this, always so lively. She’s a mother of two but hasn’t changed one bit."
"It’s delicious! Mom, try so. It’s really good," Liu Kangi spoon-fed Eldest Aunt Xia a taste.
After a taste, Eldest Aunt Xia nodded in agreent, "Good."
"Xiaoxiao, these are precious. Don’t bring such things next ti you visit. Just having you here makes your elder aunt happy," Eldest Aunt Xia said.
Xia Xiao replied with a smile, "I didn’t bring anything else, just a little jar of honey. It’s from the mountains and even I hardly indulge myself. I saved so especially for the family, and it happened that I was coming to Elder Aunt’s, so I brought her so. I hope it’s not too little."
"What a sweet child," Eldest Aunt Xia chuckled.
Liu Kangi gave her eldest son a taste but didn’t dare to give him too much.
Xia Lin was fine with it, being older, but Xia Hua was tempted, "Sister, I want so too."
"You have so at ho; we’ll eat when we get back," Xia Xiao said.
Liu Kangi gave Xia Hua a spoonful, satisfying her curiosity. Xia Hua wanted to give so to Xia Xiao and Xia Lin, but both declined.
Xia Xiao stayed at Eldest Aunt Xia’s half the day before leaving. When departing, Eldest Aunt Xia stuffed money into the pockets of Xia Xiao, Xia Lin, and Xia Hua. Xia Xiao refused, but Liu Kangi insisted on giving it anyway.
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