"No, I'm angry with Old Lu."
Xia Cui'e forced a smile, "Xia Xiangqian, the sixth one is here."
"Old Six, huh." Xia Xiangqian had a good tolerance for alcohol. He had drunk two liang and a half of baijiu, and apart from his flushed face, he was otherwise normal.
He walked out with a smile, "Old Six, Xue'er is back today, why don't I have a few drinks with you?"
"I'm here for Xue'er... her brother-in-law," Xia Deya said impolitely, entering the house and finding a place to sit, clearly not intending to leave.
Xia Xiangqian was stunned. Facing his angry wife, he could only lower his head and think about how to make Xia Deya leave quickly.
The sound of a car approaching could be heard.
"They're here!" Xia Deya stood up excitedly.
Xia Xiangqian was not so happy. He was worried and prayed in his heart that heaven would open its eyes and not let him be embarrassed today.
"Brake!"
"Brake quickly!"
Woof woof woof!
Terrified dog barks rang out.
Little Hu watched the approaching steel beast in front of him, fearfully backing up while dragging its chain, barking fiercely.
Fortunately, Lin Fan maintained his composure at the critical moment and slammed on the brakes less than half a meter from the woodpile, stopping the car.
"Phew..." Xia Xue patted her chest and let out a long sigh, her heart finally settling down.
"Xiao Fan, don't drive back. Call Secretary Tian over."
"No, she's very busy."
Lin Fan grinned, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. If I can drive here, I can drive back."
"Forget it!" Xia Xue made a stopping gesture. "I don't dare to ride in a car you drive. You almost scared me to death. You kept saying you learned to drive, but what happened?"
She shuddered at the thought of the frequent mishaps along the way.
"I'm just inexperienced. Everyone goes through this," Lin Fan said with a dismissive smile.
"Anyway, I don't dare to ride in a car you drive," Xia Xue grumbled, then grabbed her things and got out of the car.
Lin Fan unbuckled his seatbelt and followed her out.
He glanced at the dilapidated van and shook his head helplessly.
Tian Mengyao had invited an agricultural expert today and didn't have time to drive them.
Lin Fan volunteered to drive himself.
As a result, Tian Mengyao gave him the keys to the van, telling him to practice.
He originally thought that although the road conditions in Shimenzhen were bad, there were few vehicles coming and going, and no traffic police. Even if something happened, at most the car would drive into someone's field, and nothing major would occur.
He hadn't expected the journey to be so terrifying, falling into ditches several times and taking more than four hours to barely reach the Xia family safely.
The van was almost falling apart!
"Daughter, you're back." Xia Cui'e greeted them with a beaming smile.
"Mom!" Xia Xue's face bloomed with a bright smile when she saw her mother.
Lin Fan opened the rear door of the van and took out the bags and boxes of things.
Although he disliked Xia Yuejin's family, he had no complaints about his sister-in-law's parents.
"Where's my dad?"
"Who else is home?"
Xia Xue didn't see her father come out. Hearing someone talking in the yard, she couldn't help but ask.
"It's me." Xia Deya walked out of the yard with a smile. Seeing a van parked at the door, he was stunned for a moment, and then, seeing only Lin Fan, he was a little disappointed.
"Daughter is back." Xia Xiangqian's expression was ashamed, and he simply greeted her.
"Dad..." Xia Xue didn't know how to face her father.
If her father hadn't boasted everywhere, would there be so much trouble?
It was absurd that the marriage of her cousin was ruined and it was blamed on her!
"Xiao Fan, isn't Secretary Tian from your village here?" Xia Deya's voice held a hint of anticipation.
"She can't come. I don't know which university she invited an agricultural expert from to diagnose our village's medicinal herb planting base. Everything is starting from scratch now. With expert guidance, everyone can be a little more at ease," Lin Fan explained patiently, carrying bags and boxes in both hands.
"Secretary Tian is very methodical and has a real system!" Xia Deya's face was full of envy.
Who wouldn't want to invite an expert to help out? But in such a poor and remote place, who would they invite?
Even if they found someone through connections, it was uncertain whether they would be willing to come!
Even if they came, they would have to pay for it, and they would have to be treated well.
But they were poor as church mice and still wanted to invite experts, dream on!
This was not only true for Luofeng Village but also for Xiajiagou.
No one was willing to remain poor and do nothing.
It was just that they were forced by reality and could only choose to compromise.
Xia Deya's heart was complicated. If he had half the energy of Tian Mengyao, Xiajiagou would not be begging for food while sitting on a treasure trove.
Lin Fan was a little surprised, feeling that Xia Deya's words had a hidden meaning.
What was going on?
"Xiao Fan, it's enough that you're here. Why did you bring anything?" Xia Cui'e felt a little embarrassed.
"It's what my sister-in-law prepared," Lin Fan said with a hearty laugh.
"Come in quickly, don't stand at the door talking." Xia Cui'e warmly invited everyone into the house.
Fresh ingredients were already prepared in the kitchen. The potatoes were peeled and soaking in clear water, the eggplants were cut into cubes and marinated with sauce, and a carp was kept in the water缸 in the yard, ready to be slaughtered at any time.
The peanuts Xia Xiangqian was having with his wine were reluctantly taken out by Xia Cui'e.
Xia Cui'e was a typical traditional woman of the older generation. After chatting with them for a while, she went to the kitchen to busy herself.
Lin Fan and Xia Xue sat in the room, with Xia Deya and Xia Xiangqian opposite them.
"Dad, if you have something to say, just say it." Xia Xue's tone was unfriendly. Seeing that her father seemed to have something to say, she spoke first.
"Daughter..." Xia Xiangqian hesitated, then suddenly slapped himself hard.
Everyone present was startled.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Xia Xue quickly went over and held her father's wrist.
"Daughter, I'm sorry for you!" Xia Xiangqian said guiltily.
Xia Xue felt very concerned, "You're my dad, what's there to be sorry for?"
These words warmed Xia Xiangqian's heart. He sighed and said, "Alas, my mouth is really causing trouble!"
"It's not your mouth causing trouble, it's the wine."
Xia Xue returned to her seat and said, "You've delayed so many things because of drinking. What's so good about it?"
"You wouldn't understand," Xia Xiangqian waved his hand.
Xia Xue was so angry that she wanted to slap the table, but she held back her anger, remembering that there were outsiders.
Lin Fan found it amusing.
His father-in-law was truly hopeless. Whenever he drank, he would get drunk, and when he was drunk, he would talk nonsense, and he would always do things that pleased his enemies and saddened his friends.
"Xue'er, what's going on with you guys?" Xia Deya was very confused, not understanding what had happened to this family.
"Don't even mention it." Xia Xue also believed that family shame should not be aired in public and didn't want to speak ill of her uncle's family in front of others.
"Brother Xiangqian, you tell him," Xia Deya's curiosity was piqued, and he nudged Xia Xiangqian beside him.