RBCT Chapter 871: End of the Trip
Chapter 871: End of the Trip
Chapter 871: A Surprise at the End of the Trip - Click to Unlock Now
The three-day trip came to a quick end. During these days, Huang Xiaochuan took his six children to tour the West Lake scenic area and its surroundings. They also bought a lot of things, mostly unique handicrafts and snacks from Hangzhou.
The following afternoon, Huang Xiaochuan returned to Shanghai with his six exhausted children and went directly to his parents' house.
"Grandpa, Grandma!"
"Great-uncle, Great-aunt!"
After getting off the bus, the children rushed straight into the yard, greeting Lao Huang and Zeng Lijuan, who were busy harvesting vegetables in the yard, as they ran.
"Oh! You're back so soon?" Zeng Lijuan was very happy to see her grandchildren and nieces return.
Huang Xiaochuan followed the children into the courtyard.
"Dad, Mom!"
"It's hot outside, come inside quickly. I'll cut you some watermelon. Your dad just picked it this morning and has been soaking it in the sink ever since, just waiting for you to come back," Zeng Lijuan said, gesturing for her son to come home.
Old Huang also grew the watermelons himself. Now he's also tending to several vegetable plots in the yard, planting a lot of vegetables, as well as some watermelons and cantaloupes.
"Old man, you're going home too. We'll do it tomorrow."
Old Huang was picking long beans. The long beans in the vegetable garden had a bumper harvest. Lately, the old couple had been eating them almost every day at home. They originally wanted to send some to Zeng Jiahua's family, but Zeng Jiahua had also planted a lot and was also worried about what to do.
Later, the two families discussed it and decided that apart from sending some to Cheng Jing's family, Tang Jianhua would take the rest to the restaurant.
"Okay, okay! I know!" Old Huang, wearing a straw hat, had a basket hanging from his arm, filled with long beans that looked like they had just been picked.
Huang Xiaochuan stepped forward and took the basket from Old Huang's hands: "Dad, give it to me!"
"You're back!" Old Huang said with a smile, as he handed the basket to his youngest son.
Huang Xiaochuan lifted the basket and estimated, "This must weigh about seven or eight pounds, right?"
Old Huang wiped the sweat from his face with the towel hanging around his neck: "That's about right! I'll cook it later, then dry it in the sun, and it'll be another dish for the New Year."
Huang Xiaochuan knew that Lao Huang was making dried green beans. When you eat them, you soak them in water and then braise them with meat or ribs. They are very delicious.
Old Huang boasted, "I bought several dozen kilograms the day before yesterday, and I had Tang Jianhua take them to the restaurant."
"Really? That's quite a lot." Huang Xiaochuan turned back to look at the vegetable garden again upon hearing this.
When the father and son entered the house, Zeng Lijuan had already asked the aunt to cut the watermelon and serve it to the children.
"Come quickly, come quickly!" Zeng Lijuan hurriedly called her son to her side when she saw him carrying a basket into the house.
After handing the basket to his aunt, Huang Xiaochuan walked over to his elderly mother, took the watermelon from her, and took a bite.
"Mmm-hmm," Huang Xiaochuan gave Lao Huang a thumbs up.
Old Huang was very proud: "Isn't it delicious! This is 8424, it has no seeds and is especially sweet, but it's quite troublesome to grow. You have to pinch off the flowers and heads, pollinate, and fertilize."
If it were a child from an ordinary family, they would definitely say, "Why bother with all this trouble? We might as well just buy something ready-made."
But Huang Xiaochuan nodded in agreement, saying, "Homegrown is always the best, it's just that Dad has had to work hard."
Old Huang was very happy to hear his son's words.
"Right! I'm not bragging, but what you buy outside can't compare to what I grow."
Zeng Lijuan urged from the side, "Alright, alright, stop bragging. Hurry up and go wash up and change your clothes. Smell the sweat on your body."
"I know, I know! Stop nagging!" Old Huang muttered as he turned and went upstairs.
"The older he gets, the sloppier he becomes." Zeng Lijuan complained again after Lao Huang went upstairs.
After finishing one piece, Huang Xiaochuan took another; this melon was indeed quite good.
"Eat slowly, there's more in the field if you're not full," Zeng Lijuan said with a smile to her son.
"No need, that's enough!" Huang Xiaochuan quickly waved his hand.
"Then you keep eating, I'll go ask them when they'll arrive." Zeng Lijuan walked towards the phone. It had been agreed beforehand that when the children came back, all the families would come here to pick them up and have dinner here before leaving.
In the late afternoon, Jiang Rong, Huang Erhe, Cheng Jing, Zeng Hong, Tang Jianhua, and her uncle and aunt arrived one after another. Zeng Xia didn't come because she had to stay home with Huo Miao. Anyway, Liu Jin would be temporarily staying at Huang Xiaochuan's house until the start of school, so she was quite at ease.
With so many people arriving, this place becomes quite lively.
"Mother!"
"Mom and Dad!"
"Grandpa and Grandma!"
"Grandpa, Grandma!"
Several children greeted the elders one by one.
Jiang Rong looked at her son, Huang Zemian: "Wow, you didn't get a tan?"
At this moment, Zeng Hong said, "Sister-in-law, Mianmian's skin is just like yours, the kind that doesn't tan. I really envy you two."
Jiang Rong laughed happily: "No way! But our Mianmian has always had fair skin."
At this moment, Huang Ruiying muttered, "It's too much for a boy to be whiter than a girl."
Cheng Jing, who was standing next to her, heard this and couldn't help but burst out laughing. This little girl was too funny.
Then she asked Migo, "Did you listen to your older brothers and sisters when you went out to play?"
Before Miguo could speak, Huang Ruiying interjected, "She's fine, she's the most obedient one."
Cheng Jing's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter; this child's words were truly endearing.
Zeng Lijuan took her granddaughter from her second son and held her in her arms, looking as if she couldn't bear to part with her.
The little one's eyes were glued to his older siblings, bobbing up and down as he exclaimed, "Oh, ahh!"
Seeing how adorable the little one was, Tang Ruixuan clapped her hands and teased him, saying, "Call me 'sister,' and I'll hug you."
Unexpectedly, the little one became shy and turned to snuggle into her grandmother's arms, which made everyone laugh.
With the child no longer in his arms, Huang Erhe went to talk to his younger brother.
"Thank you for your hard work on this trip."
Huang Xiaochuan waved his hand: "It wasn't hard at all. I benefited from following them and got to travel around. Besides, they're all grown up now, so they're quite easy to take care of."
"Is that so!" Huang Erhe laughed.
Huang Erhe knew his younger brother was right. Besides, he wasn't taking six children out to play alone; he had a lot of people with him. He didn't have to worry about many things; his subordinates would take care of everything.
Then, Huang Erhe asked, "Nothing planned for tonight? Want to have a drink?"
Huang Xiaochuan glanced at his uncle Zeng Jiahua and then at his elderly father, and nodded: "Then I'll have a drink with the two old men."
"Okay, I'll go find the wine then." Huang Erhe went to the basement to get the wine, which he knew well. A large portion of the wine that Huang Xiaochuan bought was stored in the basement of this old house.