Two days later. Beijing.
The fifth day of the Lunar New Year. People were still playing with firecrackers along the streets.
Dong Xuebing had planned to return on the Sixth day of the Lunar New Year and return to work the next day. However, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year was important, and they decided to return one day earlier. It was Chinese family tradition to gather and eat dumplings on the fifth day. When they got off the plane, two Buick MPVs were waiting for them at the airport.
Xie Hao got into the car. “Ah…. Beijing is still better. It was so humid there.”
Dong Xuebing helped Xie Huilan into the car. “Are we going to your mother’s place or Senior Xie’s mansion?”
“Go to Senior Xie’s mansion together.” Xie Huilan sat on the leather seat. “Everyone is there, and they called earlier. The dumplings are wrapped, and my Mum is cooking. Hahaha…. They are waiting for us.”
Xie Jing laughed. “I love Aunt’s dumplings.”
Xie Ran laughed. “Me too. I had been eating Taiwanese food for the past few days, and I am not used to it.”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Xie Hao waved his arms. “Dumplings! Haha….”
Sun Kai cleared his throat. “Errr…. I…. I think I am not going.”
Xie Jing’s face changed. “What are you saying?”
“Ah… I….” Sun Kai explained. “It’s not suitable for me to go.”
Xie Jing held his arm and said. “Didn’t we talk about it on the way back? If you are going to be like this, don’t call me again. Get off now!”
Sun Kai pleaded. “Jingjing…. I… I will go too.”
Xie Jing replied. “That’s more like it.” She said it in a commanding tone, but she was feeling nervous.
Dong Xuebing looked at them and sighed in his heart. He does not have any hopes for Xie Jing and Sun Kai’s relationship. After spending a few days together, he grew to like Sun Kai. He was honest and treated Xiao Jie well. But who is Xie Jing’s parents? Her father, Xie Guoliang, is the current First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance. Her brother is groomed as the Xie family’s third-generation successor. Sun Kai is only a high school English teacher. Their social status is too different, and Dong Xuebing felt Xie Jing’s family would not accept him.
On the way.
Xie Jing whispered to Xie Huilan nervously. “Sis, do you think my parents will agree?”
Xie Huilan smiled. “Haha…. Agree to what?”
“About Sun Kai and me.” Xie Jing likes Sun Kai.
Xie Huilan shook her head. “I don’t know. Don’t ask me.”
Xie Jing smacked her lips and looked at Xie Ran. “Brother, do you think Mum and Dad will agree?”
Xie Hao laughed and said before Xie Ran could say anything. “What’s the problem? So what if Brother Sun doesn’t have a strong background? Brother Dong had no background, and he married our Eldest Sis.”
Xie Jing kept quiet. Xie Hao’s words were not comforting at all.
Xie Ran smiled and did not say anything.
Everyone knew Dong Xuebing’s situation was different from Sun Kai’s. Yes, he did not have any strong background, but he is capable. He can solve problems he faces. He might be from an ordinary family, several years younger than Xie Huilan, and have ordinary looks, and he was capable. Sun Kai is not as capable as Dong Xuebing and cannot be compared.
The car entered the Western suburbs villa.
Sun Kai got very nervous when he saw the guards at the entrance.
Xie Jing was nervous as she made Sun Kai carry the souvenirs they bought from Taiwan. “Don’t forget to wish the elders Happy New Year.”
Sun Kai nodded uneasily.
All the elders were chatting in the living room when they entered the mansion.
Han Jing smiled and stood up. “You all are back. How was the trip?”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “The scenery is good. Thanks, Mum and Dad.”
“Why are you thanking us?” Han Jing patted his hand. “I had only booked the tickets and hotel.”
Xie Guobang looked at them. “Is Huilan alright?”
“She is fine, except she loses her appetite once in a while.” Dong Xuebing smiled and stroked Xie Huilan’s tummy.
Xie Huilan laughed. “I feel nauseous. Haha… Xiao Bing, help me to the sofa. I’m tired.”
Dong Xuebing helped Xie Huilan to the sofa and pointed at her. “Look! This is how she has ordered me around for the past weeks. I got to serve tea and carry her up the stairs.”
Han Jing stared at her daughter. “You are not even two months pregnant. Why are you behaving like a princess? Stop ordering Xiao Bing around.”
Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing. “How dare you complain against me?!”
Everyone laughed.
Xie Huilan is the Xie family’s precious princess regardless if she is carrying a girl or boy. Even Senior Xie did not dare to make her angry. Everyone asked them about their Taiwan trip.
Xie Jing and Sun Kai appeared, and everyone looked at them.
Xie Jing felt her face turn red and introduced everyone to Sun Kai. “They are my Eldest Uncle and Aunt. This is my father and my mother. This is my Second Uncle and Aunt.”
Sun Kai quickly put down the gifts and greeted them. “Happy New Year, Uncle, Aunt.”
Xie Jing secretly observes everyone’s reaction. “This is my friend, Sun Kai.”
Xie Jing’s mother, Xia Yanzhen, looked at them and did not say anything. Her father, Xie Guoliang, was not looking good. He was not surprised about Sun Kai’s visit as he knew about their dating.
It was awkward.
Xie Guoliang ignored them, making Xie Jing and Sun Kai uneasy.
Han Jing came to Xie Jing’s rescue. She smiled. “Xiao Sun, thanks for the gifts. Come in.”
Xie Jing looked at Han Jing gratefully.
Madam Han is the eldest Sister-in-law, and Xie Guoliang and the rest did not say anything.
Senior Xie walked down from the second floor, and Han Jing and Xia Yanzhen went over to help him.
Senior Xie waved his hand. “I am feeling well these few days. I can walk myself. Haha…. Huilan, you are back. Come over and let me see if you become darker.”
Xie Huilan smiled. “Happy New Year, Senior Xie.”
Han Jing scolded her daughter. “Don’t be rude to your grandfather.”
“Haha…. It’s fine. She can call me whatever she wants.” Senior Xie looked at Xie Huilan from head to toe. “Not bad. You look healthy.”
Xie Hao shouted. “Grandpa! You are biased! Why didn’t you ask about me?!”
Senior Xie stared at Xie Hao. “What’s there to ask about you? What’s there to worry about when you can eat and sleep?”
Xie Hao replied. “I am hungry! Where are the dumplings?!”
Han Jing laughed and patted Xie Hao’s head. “You silly child. Haha…. Wait here. I will bring out the dumplings.”
Senior Xie said. “Let the helpers do it.”
Han Jing smiled. “It’s fine.”
Dong Xuebing quickly says. “Mum, let me help you.”
Xia Yanzhen and Ci Lifen also added. “Sister-in-law, we will help too.”
Han Jing waved her hand. “You all have just arrived. I can prepare the dumplings with Xiao Bing.” She pulled Dong Xuebing by his arm into the kitchen.
Kitchen.
Han Jing asked when she cooked the dumplings. “How is Xiao Sun?”
The Xie family is a whole, and Han Jing worries about Xie Jing’s future.
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and said. “Xiao Sun is not bad. He is honest and righteous.”
Han Jing nodded and then shook her head. “Guoliang and Yanzhen did not seem to like him. He did not impress Huilan and Xiao Ran too. I don’t think their relationship would work out.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “That’s right.”
“Let’s not talk about this. When are you going back to Fen Zhou with Huilan?”
“We are leaving tomorrow morning. We will be visiting my Mum at Lu An City first.”
“You had not accompanied your Mum during New Year. You should visit her early. Get Huilan to go with you.”
“No need. It’s not easy for Huilan to return home. Let her accompany you and Dad. Lu An and Fen Zhou city are near, and she can go over anytime. It’s only a half-hour drive.”
“Alright.”
A pot of dumplings was ready.
Han Jing continued to cook the dumplings while Dong Xuebing carried the plate of steaming hot dumplings out.
Along the corridor, Dong Xuebing overheard some shouting. Xie Guoliang and Xie Jing were arguing. When he got nearer, he saw Xie Jing walking away quickly. Her eyes were red and looked like she had cried. Xie Guoliang was standing there angrily.
“Uncle.” This was the only way to the living room, and Dong Xuebing could not avoid it.
Xie Guoliang looked at Dong Xuebing and sighed. “Xiao Jing is too stubborn.”
Dong Xuebing knew the argument should be about Sun Kai and did not say anything.
Xie Guoliang patted Dong Xuebing’s back. “Let’s go and have dinner.”
During dinner, Xie Jing and Sun Kai were ignored by the elders. Only Dong Xuebing and Xie Hao talked with them once in a while. None of the elders had said a word to Sun Kai.
Xie Jing’s tears rolled down her cheeks as she ate.
