Next day.
Evening, 7 pm.
A black and a silver Audi A8L entered a high-class villa residential estate slowly and stopped in one of the villas. Many people alighted from both cars. They are all the female members of the Xie family-like Xie Huilan, Madam Han, Xie Jing, Xie Ran, Xia Yanzhen, etc. They had come to look at Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebing’s wedding house. The wedding is only one to two days away.
Courtyard.
Xie Huilan smiled after alighting from the car. “How is the car’s handling?”
Xie Jing went over and held her sister’s arm. “It felt good. Thank you, Sis!”
“Don’t mention it as long as you and Xiao Ran like it. Haha….” Xie Huilan replied.
“They love it.” Xia Yanzhen laughed. “They drove around North Beijing after getting their cars last night.” She touched the A8 and looked at Xie Huilan. “Huilan, I will give you two a car after your wedding.” Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan had given her son and daughter expensive gifts, making her feel bad. She discussed with Xie Guobang that night and decided to return an expensive gift.
Xie Huilan waved her hand. “Aunt, you don’t need to do this. Xiao Bing and I had bought our cars.”
“You all had bought cars?” Xia Yanzhen looks around. “Where are your cars?”
Xie Ran replied. “Sis and Brother-in-law bought a Range Rover and a Porsche.”
Xie Jing added. “Those must be ordered in advance, and their cars should arrive in another few days.”
Xie Huilan laughed. “The wedding is on the day after tomorrow. I don’t think it can arrive in time.”
Han Jing smiled. “Your father has not driven a Land Rover before, and you are getting one soon. Are you not afraid of others gossiping about you?”
Xie Huilan laughed. “Xiao Bing drove a Mercedes since he was transferred to the grassroots level, and he changed to Cayenne later. Why should I be afraid?”
Han Jing was speechless. “You two are made for each other.”
“Don’t worry.” Xie Huilan brushed her hair back. “I will try not to drive to work.”
“So, this is your wedding house.” Han Jing looked at the villa and nodded. “Not bad.”
Xie Huilan explained. “Xiao Bing had bought this villa for his mother, and we will be living here for a few days after our wedding. We will be moving away after that. Haha….”
The villa’s door opened.
Dong Xuebing stepped out. “Ah, you all are here. Come in!”
Han Jing looked inside the villa. “Where are your family members?”
“Sigh….” Dong Xuebing replied. “My Mum has gone out to buy red bedsheets. She insists we must use a set of red sheets.”
Xie Huilan gave Dong Xuebing a stare. “Our Mum has high blood pressure. How can you do her work while you rest at home?”
Dong Xuebing replied helplessly. “I tried to stop her and wanted to go, but she refused. She says she doesn’t trust me.”
Han Jing stepped into the villa. “Let’s go in and wait for the in-laws.”
Xie Ran looked around. “Brother-in-law, how much did you buy this villa for?”
Dong Xuebing rubbed his nosed and thought for a second. “Err…. I can’t remember the exact amount. I think it is around twenty million.”
Xie Jing gasped. “Twenty million?!”
Han Jing lamented. “The property price here is very high.”
Xie Jing blinked and looked at Xie Huilan. “Sis, Brother Dong treats you well. Three hundred million diamond rings, a few million cars, twenty million villa….”
Xie Huilan laughed. “This guy is a tycoon, and he doesn’t know how to spend his money.”
Dong Xuebing complained to Han Jing. “Auntie, look at Huilan. She is making fun of me again. All she does is make fun of me every day.”
Han Jing was amused. “Alright. I will scold her later.”
Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes as she looked at Dong Xuebing. “Oh, you are complaining about me now….”
“Let me get water for you all. Have a seat.” Dong Xuebing ignored Xie Huilan and went to prepare tea and a fruit platter.
“Brother-in-law, let me do it.” Xie Jing said.
“No need….” Dong Xuebing replied. “Just watch TV here. The remote control is on the sofa.”
“Ah, why are you being so polite with me?” Xie Jing insisted on helping.
“It’s not being polite. Just stay here.” Dong Xuebing will not let Xie Jing touch anything and insist on preparing the tea himself.
Xia Yanzhen looked at Dong Xuebing and laughed. “Xiao Bing must have grown up in Old Beijing’s Hutong. Haha…. I can tell from his actions.”
Xie Jing looked at her mother. “You just realized it? Didn’t I tell you he is from Beijing?”
Xia Yanzhen shook her head. “Old Beijing is different from Beijing. Xiao Jing, Xiao Ran, you two are not considered from Old Beijing.”
Xie Jing retorted. “I was born and grew up in Beijing. If I am not from Beijing, where am I from?”
Han Jing laughed. “Your mother is referring to the environment you grew up in. You and Xiao Ran were born in Beijing, but you two did not live in Hutong before. You have lived in an apartment building since you were young, and it is different from someone from an Old Beijing environment. That’s why your accent and habits are different. Yanzhen and I are also not considered from Old Beijing. Only Huilan and Xiao Bing are authentic Old Beijing among our third generation. Huilan grew up in a Hutong, and you can hear it from her accent. Xiao Bing is the same, and his accent is stronger.”
Xie Jing laughed. “Oh, no wonder Brother-in-law is so polite.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with being polite. I am not treating you all as outsiders. This is a habit of mine.”
Xie Huilan added. “We are not considered from Old Beijing too. How many Old Beijing people are there other than our grandfather?”
“You are right. Most of the Hutongs are rented to people from other provinces, and the environment is different from the past.”
They chatted while watching TV.
Half an hour later.
Luan Xiaoping returned.
“Oh, in-law.”
“Sorry to keep you all waiting. I did not expect you all to be here so early and went out to buy some things.”
“We have just arrived. Huilan, come and help your mother-in-law to carry her shopping bags.”
“No need. I can do it myself. Please remain seated.”
They chatted for a while. Han Jing and Luan Xiaoping seemed to have arranged something before this meeting. They asked Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebing to a room upstairs.
Inside the room.
They sat on the bed, and Han Jing held Xie Huilan’s hand. She looked at her and Dong Xuebing. “Your wedding is the day after tomorrow, and you two are not supposed to meet according to customs. That’s why I must use this opportunity to talk to you two today. Haha…. Xiao Bing, Huilan, I am happy to see you two getting married. Xiaoping and I didn’t sleep well and had been thinking about your wedding. It’s not easy for you two to reach this stage, and I want to congratulate you. Compared to others, you two know how to cherish each other more. I hope you two can overcome whatever problems or fights together in the future. Remember, all problems can be solved, and all couples will fight.”
Dong Xuebing replied immediately. “We understand, Auntie.”
Han Jing nodded and patted Dong Xuebing’s hand. She placed Xie Huilan’s hand into his. “Treat Huilan well. She is my only daughter.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Don’t worry, Auntie.”
Han Jing smiled. “Why are you still calling me Auntie?”
Dong Xuebing blushed. “Mum.”
Han Jing smiled and held their hands tightly. Her eyes turned red, and she looked like she was going to cry.
Xie Huilan patted her mother’s hand. “Mum, can you don’t cry? We feel scared. Haha….”
“These are happy tears.” Han Jing smiled and turned to Luan Xiaoping. “In-law, you should say something too.”
“Alright.” Luan Xiaoping held Xie Huilan’s hand. “Huilan, it’s Xiao Bing’s fortune to get married to you. This kid had suffered since young. Since his father passed away, his life has been difficult, which is my fault. I always feel sorry and owe him something.”
Dong Xuebing interrupted. “Mum, what are you saying? I am the one who owed you. Which parent will owe their children, and what’s there to be sorry?”
“Let me finish.” Luan Xiaoping moved towards Xie Huilan and held her hand tightly. “Huilan, your mother had given your hand to my son, and I am handing my son to you. Xiao Bing… is always rash and never considers the consequences. But I know he has a kind heart. You are older and more mature than him. Please take care of him in the future, and try to give in to him. If anything happens, try to forgive him.”
Xie Huilan replied. “Rest assured.”
“I am assured as you are with him.” Luan Xiaoping looked at her son. “You too. You must treat Huilan well! I will not let you off if I find out you bullied her.”
“I know.” Dong Xuebing replied. Who dares to bully her? I should be thankful if she doesn’t bully me.
“Huilan, you know my number.” Luan Xiaoping continues. “Call me if this brat does anything wrong. I will teach him a lesson.”
They felt like family after this long talk.
