Chapter 364: Heavy Snow

The seven-day holiday passed quickly, and it was time to say goodbye.

These past few days, the whole group ate, drank, and played all over Lucheng, and overall they had a fairly good time.

Of course, there were also some incidents, such as that matter with Lin Xinyuan.

Afterward, her three friends had privately asked her about it, but she only said she had been feeling unwell recently, possibly a calcium deficiency causing cramps, using these reasons to try to cover it up.

Regarding this, Li Tang, who was the closest to Lin Xinyuan, was clearly the least convinced.

However, although everyone had doubts, seeing that Lin Xinyuan and Qin Nanfeng, this couple, both refused to speak, they ultimately did not press further…

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye it was February.

Tianbei City was extremely cold, and this year’s snow was heavier than ever before.

After the snow covered everything, it was also colder than ever before.

As in previous years, the family prepared to go early to pay New Year’s respects to the two elders, Auntie Ping and Uncle Ming.

“Grandma Ping! Grandpa Ming! Yi Yi is here!”

As soon as they got out of the car, little Qin Yiyi, wearing a thick down jacket, happily jumped out.

The little one called out while also moving her short little legs, her walking posture a bit comical and cute; clearly, wearing such thick clothes made it rather difficult for a child to move.

Auntie Ping, who had been waiting by the door in advance, immediately came over as soon as she saw the little one: “Oh my, Xiao Yiyi! Slow down, don’t run so fast!”

As she spoke, Auntie Ping caught the little one rushing over in her arms.

She had watched Qin Yiyi almost from swaddling clothes to being able to walk everywhere, and the little one was especially well-behaved, so she naturally treated her as her own granddaughter.

Rubbing her face against the tender, cold little cheeks, Auntie Ping smiled and said, “Are you cold? How many layers are you wearing?”

“Grandma Ping, I’m not cold! Mommy put lots and lots of clothes on Yi Yi!”

Hearing this, the little one scratched her little head, for a moment unable to remember how many layers Lin Xinyuan had put on her; she was just about to pull open the zipper to take a look when Auntie Ping stopped her with a smile, “Oh, no need, you child… hahaha…”

Beside them, Uncle Ming looked at this warm scene and could not help showing a kind smile; he also walked over and asked after the little one: “Come! Yi Yi, Grandpa Ming will take you to eat something tasty, and your favorite sweet-and-sour carp.”

Hearing this, the little one’s dark, round big eyes seemed to brighten a degree, and she clapped her hands in delight: “Yay, yay!”

At this moment, Lin Xinyuan, whose little hand was being held by Qin Nanfeng, had just walked over; seeing her daughter’s adorable, gluttonous, happy look, she could not help but laugh softly.

But soon, Qin Nanfeng looked at the two elders again, especially Auntie Ping, and could not help frowning: “Auntie Ping, didn’t I tell you not to come out? Why are you still waiting outside when it’s so cold now?”

The faint smile at the corners of Lin Xinyuan’s mouth also faded, and her eyes held worry as she looked at Auntie Ping: “Yes, Auntie Ping.”

A few days ago, Auntie Ping’s knee had hurt badly, and only after going to the hospital did they find out it was knee rheumatism.

So she and Qin Nanfeng had advised her not to keep doing heavy work and that she could hire more people; since they had the means, there was no need to torment herself.

Auntie Ping was not a stubborn person either, and in the end she agreed.

“It’s fine, we were only waiting outside for a little while.” Auntie Ping smiled and waved her hand, then quickly changed the subject: “Let’s go inside quickly, it’s cold outside!”

Now that it had come to this, Lin Xinyuan and Qin Nanfeng exchanged a glance and both secretly shook their heads.

Knowing that Qin Nanfeng’s family was coming, Uncle Ming had personally taken charge of the cooking tonight, and he had only just finished preparing a table of dishes not long ago, without letting his wife help during the process.

Even though Uncle Ming had said nothing, he had actually always been concerned about his wife.

After learning of his wife’s knee pain, he understood that the arthritis left from her early years had flared up again, and he immediately opposed Auntie Ping continuing to work, telling her she only needed to take orders and settle accounts at the front desk.

In the past, perhaps because of life and lack of means, his wife would not have agreed.

But after Qin Nanfeng ignored their refusal of help and even paid to buy and renovate the originally rented shop here, they no longer had to struggle as desperately as before…

Thinking of this, Uncle Ming stared blankly at his happily smiling wife walking ahead and holding the little one’s hand, and could not help falling into thought; recalling when the couple had been young, the curve of his lips was both bitter and happy.

Come to think of it, in this life the ones he had let down most were his parents and his wife…

Because of a difficult birth in her early years, his wife had been left with lingering health issues, essentially ending her ability to bear children, and her body would still occasionally suffer problems; for this, his parents, who had always placed great importance on descendants, naturally urged them to divorce.

In the face of his parents’ lack of understanding, he resolutely refused, and for that reason took his beloved wife away from their homeland and came to Tianbei City to seek a new way out…

But when he looked back again, what he received was the news that his parents had died of illness…

It could be said that whether regarding his beloved wife or the parents who had cherished him since childhood, he was undoubtedly a failure.

For the former, it was guilt; for the latter, it was unfiliality.

Uncle Ming could not help glancing at Qin Nanfeng, who was tall and upright with a mature air, as if overlapping with the figure of the stubborn youth in his memory.

Fortunately, they had met Xiao Feng, this good child, which allowed the couple to enjoy a peaceful old age…

Thinking this way, Uncle Ming, who was only in his fifties but already had somewhat graying hair, looked a little dazed.

However, just then, Auntie Ping, walking ahead, suddenly turned back and called out: “Hu Ming, hurry inside and close the door! Otherwise, what if Xiao Yiyi catches cold!”

“Oh, I’m coming in.”

Hearing this, Uncle Ming finally came back to his senses and hurried into the house, closing the door to shut out the cold air outside.

This meal was enjoyed to the fullest, but the one who ate most happily was still Qin Yiyi.

The little one loved sweet food, so Uncle Ming had specially made several dishes with a sweeter taste; even the braised pork was on the sweet side, which let her feast to her heart’s content.

But after all, she was still a child with a small appetite; after just a few bites, the little one was quickly full.

Then, like a Little Fat Cat, she leaned back in the chair, covered her little belly and rubbed and kneaded it, staring blankly at the many unfinished delicious dishes.

This cute little appearance made the elders laugh, especially Lin Xinyuan, who felt very helpless inside.

‘This girl… really is… ahem… a bit like me when I was still a boy…’

‘Really the type who, as long as something tastes good, will eat desperately until sick of it…’

But regarding this, she now did not want to educate her daughter.

After all, the New Year was almost here, and letting the little one relax a little was no big deal; perhaps if she let the little one eat until sick of it, she would not dare touch it again in the future?

“Mommy is the prettiest~~ Yi Yi wants to play on Shouji~”

The little one, having just eaten her fill, quickly snuggled affectionately beside her mother, hugging Lin Xinyuan’s arm and constantly rubbing her little head against her.

Ever since that incident, the little one had become more sensible, closer to Lin Xinyuan, and even her attitude toward Qin Nanfeng was much better than before; at the same time, she had now become very good at acting cute.

Hearing this, Lin Xinyuan put down her chopsticks, pinched the little one’s soft little cheek with her fingers, and after thinking about it did not refuse: “Mm… one hour, and you can only play games~”

She had never been opposed to children playing on Shouji, especially video games.

On the contrary, she was rather resistant to those mixed video social platforms and did not want her daughter to be exposed to such things too early.

Don’t be like the Xiao Pi Hai in the neighbor’s house upstairs, learning a whole bunch of meme phrases at such a young age…

Little Qin Yiyi was very obedient, immediately blinking her bright, sparkling eyes, so happy she almost kicked her legs: “Yay! I want to play Fangkuai!”

“Hey, be careful!”

Seeing that the little one was about to knock over the bowls and chopsticks on the table, Lin Xinyuan quickly reached out to steady them.

‘This girl… honestly…’

Thinking this, Lin Xinyuan could not help shaking her head slightly, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile; she instinctively glanced at someone, and coincidentally met their gaze.

For some reason, she suddenly thought of some strange images, her face grew slightly warm, and she hurriedly turned her face away…