Cheng Tianyuan had told her the rough route before, and asked her to drive straight into the old city, then turn around and wait under a big banyan tree.
The climate in Rongcheng is relatively warm, and southern plants such as banyan trees can be grown.
The branches of the banyan tree are lush and leafy. As long as they are a little older and the branches are larger and thicker, they can be seen from a distance.
After Xue Ling drove for a while, he got confused.
She got out of the car, looked up and down at the sky, and soon found a green banyan tree on the right in front of her. Then she hurriedly got in the car and walked around in that direction.
Sure enough, Cheng Tianyuan was already driving his car and waiting for her under the banyan tree.
He was standing under the banyan tree, doing something with his fingers, very absorbed in it.
It wasn't until Xue Ling got out of the car and closed the door that he raised his eyes in surprise and grinned at her.
"Daughter-in-law, come here."
Xue Ling looked around, then looked at his car, and couldn't help but smile and asked: "Where are your parents? You didn't abandon them, right?"
"Yes! Abandoned." Cheng Tianyuan explained: "They were eating beef noodles in the old beef shop in front. Xiao Ranran was eating too. The shop was very small, and our family members crowded in, and there was not enough room to sit. I asked
They eat first, and I will come out to pick you up."
Xue Ling couldn't help laughing and whispered: "I almost got lost just now. Fortunately, the old banyan tree is big and I can see it from a distance."
Cheng Tianyuan looked at her with gentle eyes and explained: "You were still young back then, and you were only a few years old when you left Rongcheng. You must not remember it. I am five years older than you, so I roughly remember it."
Then, he handed the thing in his hand to her.
Xue Ling took a closer look and saw a small leaf windmill made of five small banyan tree leaves, with branches stacked on top of each other to hold it up.
"Ah! If Xiao Ranran can't play with it yet, he will definitely crush it to pieces with one hand."
Cheng Tianyuan shook his head and explained: "This is for you. You used to like me to make windmills like this for you. There were no toys at all at that time. Children made clay and played with leaves by themselves."
Xue Ling looked at the dark green leaves, which looked eye-catching green against the palms of her hands, and smiled softly.
"Very interesting...thank you."
Cheng Tianyuan clasped her hand and whispered: "When you first learned to walk, you would always fall. I would hold your hand and lead you to come here. Every time you would fall, I would use my strength.
Pull you and hug you."
"Hehe..." Xue Ling leaned on his arm and said, "So, you have already taken advantage of me, right?"
Cheng Tianyuan laughed and scolded: "What are you talking about! We were all big boys at that time, so we didn't know anything."
Xue Ling hummed: "Stop talking, you should have been attracted to me at that time, you must be!"
"Yes, yes!" Cheng Tianyuan whispered fondly: "You looked very cute back then. Every time I see you, my heart feels warm and happy. If I have to say that I am heart-beating, it should be heart-pounding.
"
Xue Ling held the small windmill and couldn't help but ask: "What happened next?"
"Later... you and your parents returned to the imperial capital, and my parents and I returned to Chengjia Village." Cheng Tianyuan frowned and whispered: "You cried then... I cried too... When I first went back, I always
I miss you so much that I secretly brought you a dozen little clay figurines, which are very delicately made. I always thought that I would give them to you when we meet one day. You will definitely like them very much. Unfortunately, after waiting for a year and another
Years later, the little clay figurines were all broken, and we still couldn’t see them.”
Transportation was very inconvenient at that time, and it was very troublesome to send a letter, let alone send anything.
Xue Ling felt warm in her heart and chuckled: "It's just a little clay figurine, it's nothing. When I grow up, I will give birth to a little man for you, who will be much more powerful than you!"
He smiled, his eyes shining brightly.
"Yes, if there is no little clay figurine, we will have many, many cute real figurines."
The two of them intertwined their fingers, nestled under the tree and chatted, very sweetly.
Until Mother Xue and Liu Ying came over with Xiao Ranran in hand and shouted: "It's your turn to eat! The noodles have been cooked, go over and eat! It won't taste good if it's burnt!"
Father Xue and Cheng Muhai walked behind, chatting in low voices with smiles on their faces.
Xiao Ranran rushed towards them, and Nuo Nuo shouted: "Dad! Mom! Eat! Eat!"
Xue Ling picked him up and handed him the windmill.
Xiao Ranran was very happy and pinched it.
Cheng Tianyuan smiled and said: "Dad, Mom, the sun is a little bright, so you can stay here and wait. The banyan tree can block some of the sun."
"Hey! You go quickly!" Xue's father said: "The noodles made by the old man are very strong, the beef is soft and firm, and the taste is very authentic!"
"Okay! Let's go over and eat." Cheng Tianyuan led Xue Ling away.
Xiao Ranran had a small windmill to play with and didn't want to follow her parents. The little chubby hand held the leaves and said "words" that only he could understand.
The beef shop is on the corner. The shop is very small, with only two small tables on the roadside.
Fortunately, the roadside was clean and there were no cars or dust in the old city. There was a gentle breeze and the aroma of beef filled the air.
After a while, the beef noodles were served.
Xue Ling had been hungry for a long time and started to eat voraciously.
The noodles are big and chewy, the soup is very fragrant and there is a lot of beef.
She ate happily and ate quickly.
Cheng Tianyuan ate slowly and explained: "We bought some egg rolls earlier. They were baked by an old woman at the door. They were hot and the smell was very tempting. Each of us ate one, and the little girl
But I couldn’t eat it, so I ate two and I’m not that hungry now.”
"It's okay, you eat slowly." Xue Ling said, "I ran a lot of places this morning and I'm already hungry."
Cheng Tianyuan asked: "Do you still need to work in the afternoon?"
"No need." Xue Ling explained: "Go to the bank to transfer some money tomorrow morning, and then go over there and get busy. Let's play with my parents in the afternoon! They rarely come here, so we can't always leave them alone."
"If you are busy, then I can take them to play." Cheng Tianyuan whispered: "Your parents will be unhappy if you delay work."
Xue Ling shook his head and explained: "I'm just checking some accounts, nothing else. I won't be busy anymore."
Cheng Tianyuan said: "Okay, let's go back for a lunch break after eating. When it's about three o'clock, we will go to the riverside to buy fish, and then go to the development zone to cook grilled fish."
"Hey! Grilled fish? Can you cook it?" Xue Lingxiao asked.
Cheng Tianyuan shook his head honestly and explained: "I don't know how, but Ahu Mom can. We made an appointment with her yesterday, and she will prepare chili ingredients and wait for us in the afternoon. She used to live by the river, and there was always fish to eat. Practice makes perfect.
He became a good fish cook."
"No wonder Ahu's grilled fish is so delicious!" Xue Ling said: "It turns out it's hereditary!"
The last time she returned to Chengjia Village, Ahu cooked grilled fish in the yard. She still remembers the smell - it was so delicious!
Xue Ling was full and planned to pay - Cheng Tianyuan explained that he had paid early in the morning.
She sat aside, waiting for him to finish, and then they walked back hand in hand.
Under the banyan tree, four middle-aged and elderly people were sitting together, laughing and chatting, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
Xiao Ranran walked around under the banyan tree with her short legs, picking up leaves and pebbles to play with.
The two looked at each other with happy smiles in their eyes.
Times like this are quiet and peaceful—it really couldn’t be better!