Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 196 - 194: The Right Flavor of the New Year
Upon hearing this, Xue Yuanqing no longer insisted and simply nodded. "Alright, then." He handed the car keys to Xue Yang. After his son took them, the pair quickly approached the Wuling van and got in, one on each side.
After buckling up, Xue Yang skillfully started the engine.
Xue Yuanqing knew then that his son hadn’t been bragging; he really had been driving in Yancheng and was already quite comfortable behind the wheel. He had been driving for years, often taking Xue Yang to and from school. Now, he could finally sit in the passenger seat and let his son take the wheel. This feeling was magical, but more than that, it was touching.
Zhong Hailan and the other two waited where they were.
"It’s so boring waiting here. I should have gone with them," Xue Xing said idly.
"There are too many cars in the parking lot. You should just stay here with us," Zhong Hailan said.
"Auntie, I’m already sixteen. I’m not a kid anymore," he protested.
"You’re still a child if you’re not eighteen. Even after you turn eighteen, you’re still a child," she replied.
"By your logic, does that mean I’ll be a child forever?" he retorted.
"In my eyes, you’ll still be a child even when you’re eighty," she declared.
Xue Xing stuck his tongue out playfully at her but didn’t argue any further. Just then, Xue Yang drove the van over.
"Auntie, the van’s here! Let’s get in!" Xue Xing called out.
"Okay, alright. Xiao Zhi, come on, get in," Zhong Hailan responded.
Not far away, Yang Xiaozhi flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, stomped it out with his foot, and reluctantly walked over. He climbed into the van and took a seat in the very back.
Xue Yang drove, heading for home from memory. He hadn’t felt much of the New Year spirit when boarding the plane, nor after landing. But now, driving on the nearly empty roads past shops shuttered for the holiday, a faint sense of the approaching New Year finally began to settle in.
"You haven’t been back for half a year. Does Hui City feel like it’s changed a lot?" Xue Yuanqing asked from the passenger seat.
"It has. I remember this road was still under construction when I left for college. Six months later, it’s already open."
"Brother, the Longsheng Bridge is open now, too! We can take that route and cut the trip in half," Xue Xing quickly chimed in. It seemed the boy was afraid of being forgotten, determined to join the conversation no matter what.
"Alright."
Xue Yang gripped the steering wheel and followed the road signs toward Longsheng Bridge.
All along the way, Yang Xiaozhi didn’t say a word. From his angle, he couldn’t clearly see Xue Yang drive, but he could imagine how smooth and stylish he must look behind the wheel. He hadn’t even earned his driver’s license, let alone driven a car.
As the road narrowed and they passed through the village gateway, the path was decorated with fresh flowers and large red balloons. The ground in front of the ancestral hall was carpeted with the red paper of spent firecrackers. Suddenly, the New Year atmosphere felt much richer.
Now and then, the pop of firecrackers reached his ears. The familiar smell of gunpowder filled the air, transporting Xue Yang back to his childhood, when this time of year meant he could finally spend his pocket money on firecrackers and fireworks.
Not long after entering the village, a two-story house appeared before Xue Yang. On either side of it stood two similar buildings, with several more just like them built behind. These were the homes of his father’s brothers and other cousins. In their area, it was common for brothers to build their houses close to one another for mutual support.
As the only person from the Xue Family to ever be admitted to Yanbei University, Xue Yang’s return was a momentous occasion. Ever since Xue Yuanqing’s group had left to pick them up, Grandma Xue and several of the aunts had been busy cooking at Xue Yang’s Home. The whole family was eagerly awaiting their return.
When the van pulled up, everyone ran out to greet them.
Although Grandma Xue was over seventy, she was still spirited and spry. Seeing the van, she hurriedly announced, "They’re back, they’re back! Hurry and get the food on the table!"
Some went to prepare the meal while others came over to welcome them.
Yes, the festive atmosphere was growing even stronger. This was the feeling.
Xue Yang pulled the van into their family’s parking space.
The old woman had already come over, heading first for the back seat. But the door opened from the inside, and Xue Xing popped out. "Hehe, Grandma, it’s me!" he chirped with a grin.
"Aiyo, it’s Xing Zai! Where’s your brother?" The old woman peeked her head inside.
"My brother’s driving up front," Xue Xing replied playfully.
"Ah? Xiao Yang’s driving?"
Just then, Xue Yang got out of the van and called, "Grandma."
Seeing a young man who looked like a movie star step out of the driver’s seat, the others could hardly recognize him. Could this tall, bright, and handsome young man really be the same Xue Yang from six months ago—the one who never cared for his appearance? Could university really cause such a complete transformation? He was like a different person. And all in just six short months.
"It really is Xiao Yang! Grandma missed you so much."
The old woman was so short she didn’t even reach his chest, so Xue Yang had to crouch down to let her get a good look at him.
Afterward, he greeted two other middle-aged men. "Hello, Second Uncle. Hello, Fourth Uncle."
"Ah, good, good, good."
"Yes, good, welcome back."
Second Uncle’s wife and Fourth Aunt were busy getting the meal ready. Xue Shan seemed to be holed up in his room, either studying or playing games. As for his cousin, Xue Rou, she was still young—only in the sixth grade—and had hidden away the moment she saw Xue Yang. By now, no one knew where she had gone.
Yang Xiaozhi got out from the very back of the van and retrieved his luggage from the trunk. "Grandma, this is the New Year’s gift I bought for you," he said. "If there’s nothing else, I should be going."
"Oh, stay and eat before you go. One more person is no trouble at all."
"No need, my parents have already cooked at home. I’ll just go back and eat; it’s not far."
Looking at Xue Yang with his single large suitcase, then at his own collection of large and small bags, he felt like a refugee returning home. How could he possibly have an appetite here? He just wanted to escape this place of trouble as soon as possible.
"Listen to your grandmother. Stay and eat before you go," one of the uncles said.
"No, really, I can’t. Grandma, Uncles, Aunts, I’ll be heading back now."
Carrying his bags, Yang Xiaozhi started walking toward his home. Although his family and Xue Yang’s Home weren’t in the same village, they were close neighbors on the outskirts, just a short walk away.
"That child, Xiao Zhi, has always been stubborn. Just let him be," Grandma Xue said. "Let’s go inside and put your luggage away. It’s almost two o’clock. Xiao Yang must be starving."
"Grandma, I’m really hungry!" Xue Xing whined playfully, shaking the old woman’s arm. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Alright, alright, you little glutton. Go wash your hands and get to the table."
"I won’t. I’m staying with Brother Yang."
Xue Xing, committed to his role as an admirer, was determined to stay wherever Xue Yang went.
