Xiao Youran locked herself in her room as soon as she got home.
She didn't come out even when Zhang Ruoshu called her for dinner.
Zhang Ruoshu immediately sensed that something was wrong.
She walked up to her daughter's door and knocked.
After waiting for a while with no response from inside, she couldn't help but ask, "Youran, can Mom come in?"
Xiao Youran still didn't say anything.
Zhang Ruoshu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Youran, Mom is coming in."
After saying that, she waited for a few more seconds before turning the doorknob and entering.
Once inside her daughter's room, Zhang Ruoshu easily found her daughter.
She was lying on the bed, covering herself with the blanket.
The outline of her figure under the blanket revealed that she was lying on her side.
This was Xiao Youran's usual behavior whenever she was upset.
Zhang Ruoshu instantly guessed that she was very upset now, but she didn't know the reason.
She walked to the bedside, sat down, and looked at her daughter, softly asking, "What happened? Can you tell Mom?"
Xiao Youran didn't respond.
Zhang Ruoshu felt anxious inside but didn't show it on her face.
After thinking carefully for a moment, she asked, "Is it related to Xiao Xu?"
Her daughter had been with Xu Xiuwen in the afternoon, so it was most likely that they had a disagreement.
She thought for a moment before saying, "You and Xiao Xu are adults now, it's normal to have minor disagreements. Why not wait until you both calm down to talk things through?"
This time, Xiao Youran finally reacted.
She pulled down the blanket, revealing her head.
With swollen eyes, she said with a sob, "Mom, Xiao Xu doesn't want me."
Seeing her daughter's swollen eyes, Zhang Ruoshu felt heartbroken.
She quickly asked, "What happened? What do you mean Xiao Xu doesn't want you?"
Xiao Youran cried, "I told Xiao Xu that I like him, but he rejected me and said he likes someone else."
Upon hearing her daughter's words, Zhang Ruoshu was momentarily stunned.
She understood her daughter's personality very well.
Her daughter had always been proud, even if she liked Xu Xiuwen, she would never dare to confess first. But now she actually confessed first?
What surprised her even more was that Xiao Xu rejected her daughter? And he even said he liked someone else?
From childhood to adulthood, Xu Xiuwen had always revolved around her daughter.
His thoughts, the parents naturally understood.
In her opinion, the two should like each other.
Zhang Ruoshu was full of questions, but comforting her daughter was more important.
She said softly, "If he rejects you, it's his loss. My daughter is so outstanding, are you afraid that no one will like you in the future? If he doesn't like you, it's his loss. Don't cry too hard and hurt yourself. Let Mom hug you."
At this moment, Xiao Youran also needed a hug, so she sat up and threw herself into her mother's arms.
She cried, "I don't want anyone else to like me, I only like Xiao Xu, I really like him, why doesn't he like me... sob..."
Seeing her daughter so emotional, Zhang Ruoshu didn't say anything more, but hugged the girl, gently patting her back to soothe her emotions.
Only when her crying subsided did she speak again, "Youran, stop crying first. Tell me the situation, so I can analyze the reasons."
Xiao Youran stopped sobbing and recounted the afternoon's events to her mother.
After listening to her words, Zhang Ruoshu asked, "Xiao Xu said he likes someone else, do you know who it is?"
Xiao Youran shook her head.
"Then have you heard at school that he has a good relationship with any girl?"
Xiao Youran thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head.
Xiao Xu had always paid special attention to pretty girls since childhood.
So Xiao Youran believed that the girl who could make Xu Xiuwen like her should at least be on par with her.
She had thought of Shen Minyao and Bai Yue'er.
Because these two girls were very beautiful and also Xu Xiuwen's classmates.
But she quickly ruled out both suspects.
The reason was simple.
During the last soccer match, she was holding Xu Xiuwen's hand in front of Shen Minyao, who had no reaction at all.
Ruling out Bai Yue'er was even simpler.
She had a fiancé.
And her fiancé was also Xu Xiuwen's roommate, so Xiao Xu couldn't possibly like her.
She could only think of the two of them, and she hadn't thought about any other girls.
Xiao Youran told her mother what she could think of.
Zhang Ruoshu hesitated for a moment and asked, "So you mean, Xiao Xu doesn't have a girl he likes, and he might be lying to you."
Xiao Youran, upon hearing her mother's analysis, was momentarily stunned.
Zhang Ruoshu remembered something, "Do you remember, in third grade, there was a boy in your class who said Xiao Xu didn't have a father, and he got into a fight, then when the teacher called his parents, he apologized, but on the day of graduation, Xiao Xu beat him up again. Even though it's been years, he still holds a grudge."
Xiao Youran nodded, "I remember that."
Zhang Ruoshu continued, "Xiao Xu is quite vengeful. That's not good. I'm thinking, could it be that because you rejected him, he felt embarrassed and intentionally rejected you?"
Xiao Youran hesitated, "Really?"
Zhang Ruoshu thoughtfully said, "It's very possible. You liked Xiao Xu too, right? When he confessed to you last time, why did you reject him?"
Xiao Youran felt embarrassed to admit she overthought things at the time, so she found an excuse, "Mom, you didn't approve of it back then, did you?"
Zhang Ruoshu was taken aback, "When did I not approve?"
Xiao Youran pouted, "You often said Xiao Xu's grades weren't good, and that he wouldn't get into a good college, and wouldn't have a future."
Zhang Ruoshu paused at that.
That was true; she had said similar things.
"I was wrong before. Xiao Xu now is indeed outstanding. I don't oppose you two being together."
Xiao Youran said, feeling aggrieved, "But Xiao Xu doesn't want me anymore."
Zhang Ruoshu gently stroked her daughter's hair, "Didn't I tell you? Xiao Xu might care that you rejected him before, so he's intentionally rejecting you now. He probably still likes you, after all, you two have always had a good relationship since childhood."
"Really?" Xiao Youran's eyes lit up with hope.
Zhang Ruoshu nodded.
Xiao Youran immediately felt relieved, all the previous gloom, sadness, and heartache swept away.
Zhang Ruoshu also noticed her daughter's change in expression.
She felt somewhat helpless but softly asked, "Do you like Xiao Xu that much? Even though he's excellent, there are many outstanding men in the world. You might meet someone better in the future."
Xiao Youran shook her head immediately, "I only like Xiao Xu. I don't like anyone else."
Zhang Ruoshu sighed.
What she said to her daughter didn't necessarily reflect her true thoughts.
She actually thought Xiao Xu might not like her daughter anymore. Otherwise, even if he held grudges, he wouldn't act like this.
But she couldn't tell her daughter this because it would only make her feel worse.
She could only hope she was right.
She also secretly thought that since her daughter liked Xiao Xu so much, as a mother, she should try to help her daughter as much as possible.
Fortunately, they were still young, not at the stage of marriage yet, and there was still a chance to change the situation.
Zhang Ruoshu pushed aside her thoughts and said, "Shall we go out for dinner now?"
After her mother's comfort, Xiao Youran had already cheered up.
Crying for so long was exhausting both physically and mentally.
Hearing her mother's words, her stomach also immediately made its presence known with a growl.
She hugged her mother's arm and nodded, "Mom, I'm so hungry. Let's eat quickly."
The next morning.
Xu Xiuwen accompanied Ning Wanqiu to the 4S shop and immediately bought a Hyundai Elantra automatic luxury edition on the spot.
The total cost, including the car, insurance, and registration, was 160,000 yuan.
Xu Xiuwen paid with his credit card on the spot.
When the female salesperson saw Xu Xiuwen paying, she was surprised.
She was curious and asked Ning Wanqiu about it.
Ning Wanqiu was proud of her son and couldn't help but tell the female salesperson that her son had earned a lot of money.
After hearing this, the female salesperson naturally praised Xu Xiuwen and made Ning Wanqiu even happier.
Plus, they bought a new car.
Until they left the 4S shop, the smile on Ning Wanqiu's face never faded.
As they got out of the shop, Xu Xiuwen sat in the passenger seat while Ning Wanqiu drove.
He couldn't help but say, "Mom, I didn't expect you to be so vain. Why did you tell the female salesperson so much?"
Ning Wanqiu gave him a glance and said, "If you don't let me tell our relatives and friends, can't I say a few words to strangers? Are you being too overbearing?"
Xu Xiuwen sighed, "Okay, okay, I won't interfere. Can you drive now?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Wanqiu lowered her head and started fiddling with the car.
Xu Xiuwen, seeing this, quietly fastened his seatbelt and held onto the handrail, nervously asking, "Mom, you haven't forgotten how to drive, have you?"
Ning Wanqiu frowned, "Stop nagging, don't I need to think about it?"
Xu Xiuwen became even more nervous.
Ning Wanqiu got her driver's license two years ago when she learned to drive with the school's teachers, but seeing her mother's current demeanor, she probably forgot most of it.
He regretted for a moment that he should have driven himself. When he had time, he should find a spacious area and teach Ning Wanqiu.
He couldn't help but say, "Mom, why don't I drive? You can drive next time."
Ning Wanqiu immediately glared at him, "I can drive, stop nagging. If you nag again, you can get out of the car, and you can take the bus back this afternoon."
Xu Xiuwen was shocked by his mother's aura and immediately shut up.
Because he knew, Ning Wanqiu meant it.
Soon, the car started.
The car slowly drove out of the 4S shop.
On the way back home, the car's speed remained at around 20-30 kilometers per hour, with frequent sudden braking.
Xu Xiuwen felt like his bile was about to be vomited out.
Finally, when the car arrived home, Xu Xiuwen immediately opened the car door and jumped out.
Standing on the solid ground, his legs couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Ning Wanqiu's driving was too scary.
This is simply a road killer.
Ning Wanqiu also got out of the car. Seeing her son's reaction, her face reddened, but she still said coldly, "Look at your courage. Didn't I drive back smoothly?"
Xu Xiuwen could only smile wryly.
Anyway, he would only sit in Ning Wanqiu's car once and wouldn't dare to sit again.
At three in the afternoon.
Xu Xiuwen drove, and the mother and son drove to visit Grandmother.
Grandmother lived in the countryside, not far from the county.
It would take over three hours by car, while driving themselves would only take about an hour.
Along the way, Ning Wanqiu watched her son's smooth driving performance, and then remembered her own driving in the morning. She felt embarrassed, so she turned her head to look out the window, trying to conceal her embarrassment.
Soon, they arrived at Grandma's house.
When they arrived, Ning Wanqiu bought a lot of things: snacks, yogurt, and clothes.
As the car just parked, Grandma came out to greet them.
Her face was still wrinkled, but upon seeing her daughter and grandson, she immediately smiled.
Xu Xiuwen and his mother were busy unloading the stuff, while Grandma muttered, "Why did you buy so many things?"
Ning Wanqiu chuckled, "It's almost New Year, we have to buy what we need."
Grandma's house was a typical rural structure, with three large tiled houses in front and three smaller ones at the back, surrounding a courtyard.
In the yard, there were pomegranate and pear trees, as well as some chickens and ducks.
Entering Grandma's house, they saw a portrait of the "Savior" hanging on the wall directly opposite the entrance, almost occupying the entire wall.
This portrait of the Savior had been there for many years.
Actually, many families in the village had such portraits, but most people didn't care about them.
Xu Xiuwen's grandfather often wiped the portrait and burned incense daily.
Xu Xiuwen had heard his grandfather talk about how he had met the Savior in Beijing during the Red Army period.
At that time, traveling by car was free.
When they arrived in Beijing, the Savior personally received them, so Grandpa's admiration for the Savior was indescribable.
The three large houses in front were empty.
Grandpa was a high school teacher, and during school holidays, he usually played mahjong with other old men in the village in the afternoons.
Grandma was always busy in the smaller houses at the back.
Since childhood, Xu Xiuwen had been puzzled by one thing: Grandma never seemed to have any free time.
She always had various things to do.
After arriving at Grandma's house, Grandma would sometimes bring pears, sometimes pomegranates, and ask if he was thirsty or hungry.
Xu Xiuwen wasn't actually hungry or thirsty, but to give the old lady peace of mind, he would smile and accept.
Then Grandma and Ning Wanqiu started preparing dinner in the kitchen at the back.
Ning Wanqiu had three sisters and one brother.
The relationship between the four sisters wasn't very good.
Xu Xiuwen's aunts had poor academic performance and only finished junior high school at most. Only Ning Wanqiu had good grades and graduated from university.
After getting married, the aunts lived in the countryside, exposed to the wind and sun, and had to do farm work. They looked older than Ning Wanqiu.
Besides, the three sisters didn't look as good as Ning Wanqiu.
There had been some incidents in the past, so Ning Wanqiu's relationship with her sisters wasn't very good.
As for Xu Xiuwen's only uncle, their relationship was even worse.
Before getting married, Uncle was very filial, but after marriage, with a domineering wife, he changed completely, obeying his wife's every word and neglecting his parents.
They had been arguing for years.
Xu Xiuwen remembered when he was a child, Aunt scolding Grandpa and Grandma, while Uncle stood by silently.
In short, Ning Wanqiu's relationship with her siblings wasn't very good.
Because of the elders' relationship, Xu Xiuwen's relationship with his cousins wasn't good either.
Usually, Ning Wanqiu didn't come home for festivals; she only came back for the New Year.
Time passed quickly.
It was already 5 o'clock.
Uncle's family was the first to come back.
Actually, Uncle's house was nearby.
The other aunts' houses were a bit farther.
But by 6 o'clock, the other daughters also came back.
This was their family's tradition. Every year, they would all come home for the New Year two days before, and by New Year's Eve, only Uncle and Ning Wanqiu would stay, while the other aunts would go to their husbands' families.
As more and more people returned, the once empty courtyard became lively.
Although Xu Xiuwen had a poor relationship with his uncles and aunts, and his cousins, he still maintained a polite facade.
He greeted each elder respectfully.