796 Sneak Back Next Time
“Yes, you’re the same as before. You don’t look any different from the first time I saw you,” Qiao Qiang said politely.
Li Gui stood at the side and felt uneasy as she watched them exchange pleasantries. She did not know what to say or not to say. If she was too enthusiastic and Xu Lan did not like her, Xu Lan would have a bad impression of Qiao Mei. It was better to just stand at the side and watch.
Earlier at home, she even specially instructed the children not to say anything else when they met Qiao Mei’s in-laws in the capital other than greeting them and answering questions politely.
Xu Lan and Li Gui exchanged a few words out of politeness. Xu Lan originally thought that relatives from the countryside would be like Tan Jing’s family who had nothing to say apart from asking for money and trying to get into the Xia family’s good books. She did not expect Li Gui to seem like an honest person.
“What’s wrong with this child? Why is there a splint on her leg?” Xu Lan looked at Zhang Qin, who was on Zhang Wei’s back, in surprise.
This was the solution that Qiao Mei had thought of. Zhang Qin was not seriously injured and going to the county hospital to get a cast would delay her trip to the capital. In order to prevent her from getting injured again on the train, Qiao Mei had used cloth strips and wooden planks to stabilize it. With Qiao Mei’s ginseng juice, they did not have to worry much about Zhang Qin’s injuries.
“She sprained her ankle. It’s not very serious,” Qiao Mei explained.
Nowadays, Xu Lan felt close to every child she met and she could not bear to see children getting hurt.
“Mother, let’s quickly bring Qiao Mei and the rest home,” Xia He reminded her.
Xu Lan hurriedly asked Xia Mao’s guards to help with the luggage and escort them all the way to the car. Those who did not know better would think it was a leader coming here for an inspection.
“I can’t inform you guys in advance when I come back next time. We’re making such a big fuss. What if people say that this is an abuse of power by our family?” Qiao Mei whispered as she held Xia He’s hand.
“Don’t worry, this is all permissible. Their job is to protect the safety of our family. You’re the most precious treasure in our family now, so of course we have to take care of you well. Don’t worry,” Xia He said as she patted Qiao Mei’s hand.
Qiao Mei sighed. She still felt that she should sneak back in the future. Otherwise, she would not be able to take it if everyone made such a big fuss every time.
“Where’s eldest brother?” Qiao Mei asked.
“Eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law are at home. Aunt informed mother that you’re coming back and mother made a phone call to eldest brother. Early in the morning, she instructed eldest brother to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy the largest crabs and prawns and even asked second aunt-in-law and eldest sister-in-law to buy a lot of groceries. They’re all just waiting for you to come back!” Xia He said.
Qiao Mei was so shocked that she could not speak. However, as she had brought Qiao Qiang with her this time round, it somehow seemed reasonable for the family to be making such a big fuss.
Li Gui and the children took one of the cars while the rest of them took the other car. The guard team were in two cars, one in front and one behind, to protect their safety at all times. Soon, they arrived at Xu Lan’s house.
“Wow…” The four children looked at the house in front of them in shock as they thought it looked like a castle. It shocked them even though they had previously lived in the county city.
At that time, although five or six of them were squeezed together in a small house, they were considered to be doing quite well. However, as there were so many people, they all had to sleep on the floor. They did not expect to be able to stay in a castle in the capital!
“Why are the two boys carrying the girls? Is it because it’s inconvenient? Or is it some sort of custom?” Xu Lan came to Li Gui’s side and asked softly.
When Xu Lan went to perform in the south in the past, she had visited a village where the daughters of rich families did not touch the ground with their feet. They had people to help them with all their daily living, including traveling around. However, that was a long time ago and these customs had gradually disappeared.
“My third daughter, Zhang Qin, has an injured foot, and my fourth daughter, Zhang Miao, has injured her ribs. They both haven’t recovered yet, so it’s not convenient for them to walk on their own. I’m just worried that we’ll waste everyone’s time if they’re too slow,” Li Gui said embarrassedly.
Upon hearing that, Xu Lan asked the guards to get two wheelchairs for the children so that it would be more convenient for everyone.
The wheelchairs were delivered quickly. Xu Lan asked Xia He to handle this matter as she still had to take care of Qiao Qiang. The four children looked at the wheelchairs curiously. They had only seen bicycles and tricycles before, but this was the first time they had seen this kind of two-wheeled contraption.
