Chapter 115 Entering the house for the first time
"Everyone is here, the noodles can be cooked now." As Xu Jianguo entered the house, he shouted into the house.

Liu Guiqin was busy in the kitchen wearing an apron. When she heard the noise, she hurriedly came out, wiping her hands.

"Mom, I'm back." Xu Hongdou put down the suitcase and happily walked forward to hug Liu Guiqin.

"Girl, you must have had so much fun outside that you're reluctant to come back now." Liu Guiqin smiled happily.

"Hehe~ Mom, what delicious food did you prepare for me? It smells so good." Xu Hongdou smelled a familiar scent as soon as she entered the door.

"You are a greedy cat. You only know how to eat." Liu Guiqin touched the tip of Xu Hongdou's nose.

"Where is Xiao Mo?" Liu Guiqin looked behind Xu Hongdou.

"Here, Auntie."

Chen Mo also brought in the suitcase that Xu Hongdou had left at the door.

"You kid, you don't even know to help Xiao Mo bring the luggage in first." Liu Guiqin blamed Xu Hongdou and hurried forward.

Upon hearing this, Xu Hongdou stuck out her tongue embarrassedly.

"Come on, Xiao Mo, let's take the luggage to the room first. Knowing that you would come back together, auntie has packed the room for you early in the morning." Liu Guiqin said as she was about to take Chen Mo's luggage.

"Auntie, I can do it. It's not heavy." Chen Mo certainly couldn't let Liu Guiqin, his elder, help him with his luggage.

"Okay, then let Dou'er take you to the room to put your luggage, and then you can wash your hands and get ready to eat. I'll quickly prepare the noodles." Liu Guiqin made arrangements upon seeing this.

"Xu Jianguo, bring out the dishes."

"Got it."

"Thank you auntie."

Xu Hongdou also heard the command and led Chen Mo, "Over here, follow me."

Chen Mo followed Xu Hongdou to the guest room. The two of them definitely couldn't stay in the same room like they did outside.

Originally, Chen Mo had already booked a hotel nearby. He was not familiar with the rules here and didn't know if there were any particular rules or taboos, so he didn't plan to stay at Xu Hongdou's house.

In fact, it is more comfortable to live outside by yourself, and you can avoid the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time and getting along with them unfamiliarly.

Chen Mo was also afraid that if Xu Hongdou walked away sometime, he and his father-in-law would sit there staring at each other, not knowing what to talk about and getting into an awkward situation.

But Liu Guiqin said that there were rooms at home and how could she let the guests stay outside, so she asked Xu Hongdou to bring Chen Mo to live at home.

Chen Mo repeatedly confirmed with Xu Hongdou whether it was appropriate. Xu Hongdou said that her brother-in-law also lived at home when he first visited her house.

Chen Mo felt relieved when he heard that someone was making proofs.

"This room is usually used by Lingling when my sister occasionally brings her back," said Xu Hongdou.

Chen Mo took a look around. The room was not big and there were not many furnishings, but it was very clean and tidy. There were some cartoon stickers on the walls and the wardrobe, which should be bells. It looked very warm.

"Then where is your room?" Chen Mo asked.

"My room is across the street." Xu Hongdou gestured.

"Oh, I'll visit it later." Chen Mo nodded.

Chen Mo was still somewhat curious about the room where Xu Hongdou had slept since she was a child. There must be many traces of Xu Hongdou's growth in it.

"Later? What do you want to do?" Xu Hongdou blinked, looking wary.

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment, and seeing the inexplicable meaning in Xu Hongdou's eyes, he understood what Xu Hongdou had thought of. He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, suppressed his smile, and said seriously:

"I'm used to my bed. I can't sleep alone."

Xu Hongdou was already too familiar with Chen Mo. She noticed Chen Mo's tone and the slightly raised corners of his mouth. She immediately moved her eyes and approached Chen Mo, whispering in Chen Mo's ear:
"Then I'll leave the door open for you at night."

Feeling the charming breath and hearing the words that made people imagine endlessly, Chen Mo's Adam's apple couldn't help but swallow.

I don’t know why, but I suddenly felt the excitement of “stealing someone”.

Outside, whether two people live together or sleep together is the freedom of young people.

But before they are officially married, the two will live together at home, whether it is the man’s home or the woman’s home, they will generally live separately, which is a respect for the woman.

Some places are more particular and concerned about these things, and will not even let the man live in the woman's house before they get married.

Every place has its own customs for matters like this. As long as they are not outdated conventions, just follow the local customs and be respectful.

"Dou'er, come out to eat after putting everything away." Xu Jianguo shouted from the living room.

"Okay, here we come."

Xu Hongdou responded, and before turning around and leaving, she gave Chen Mo a sly smile, not forgetting to throw a wink at him, "I'll wait for you~~"

"Fairy, you are disturbing my mind!" Chen Mo took a deep breath and suppressed the urge in his heart.

Chen Mo knew that Xu Hongdou was most likely just teasing him, but he couldn't help but feel a little distracted.

But Chen Mo really didn't dare to secretly open the door tonight to verify its authenticity.

If it’s fake, just go home.

But what if it’s true, and the door is really opened, will he go in or not?
That is a really worrying problem, and I am in a dilemma.

This type of community housing is not particularly large, and there is no upstairs or downstairs, so any movement will be noticed.

If two people really enter a room, they will be easily discovered and will have nowhere to hide.

If Chen Mo came to propose marriage and was caught by his father-in-law or mother-in-law, although it would not make sense, at least it would be legitimate and at most a little embarrassing.

But now that the process has not been followed and we have no name or status, some things can be big or small and it’s not easy to play around with them.

Chen Mo couldn't guarantee that if the door was really opened at that time, he would be able to stick to his principles and resist temptation.

Chen Mo is very self-aware of this. He is not a cadre and cannot withstand such a test!

There is no need to give up long-term interests for temporary excitement.

Chen Mo shook off the random thoughts in his mind, let out a light breath, adjusted himself, and hurried out.

Liu Guiqin prepared a table full of dishes with great enthusiasm, and also prepared hand-rolled noodles that she made herself.

Dumplings on the bus, noodles on the bus.

"Slurp～～" Chen Mo took big gulps.

"How is it?" Liu Guiqin asked expectantly.

"It's delicious. The noodles are chewy, the meat sauce is fragrant but not greasy, and the saltiness is just right." Chen Mo said vaguely before he even swallowed the noodles in his mouth.

"Really?" Liu Guiqin smiled brightly. "Dou'er likes this dish made at home. I have to make it for her every time I come back."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo immediately nodded and said, "Then Auntie, please teach me when you have time. I also want to learn. I can also do it for Dou'er in BJ in the future."

"Okay." Liu Guiqin was even happier when she heard that. "I made the noodles myself, and the sauce was braised by your uncle."

Hearing this, Chen Mo looked at Xu Jianguo, "Uncle, how come your sauce is so delicious? Do you have any secret recipe?"

Xu Jianguo waved his hand and said modestly: "It's not a secret recipe, I just have been doing it for a long time and have some experience."

Chen Mo asked sincerely: "Are there any important points to pay attention to?"

"First of all, you have to pick good fresh pork belly. In addition to some spice sauces, cinnamon, and bay leaves, it also needs to be stewed for enough time so that it melts in your mouth and is fatty but not greasy." Xu Jianguo explained.

Chen Mo listened very carefully and asked about some details of the practice from time to time.

To be honest, Chen Mo's current state is somewhat "acting", but Chen Mo really wants to learn how to make hand-rolled noodles.

First of all, Liu Guiqin's cooking skills are really good, and the texture and taste of this hand-rolled noodles are really good. Chen Mo really thinks it's delicious.

Secondly, since Xu Hongdou likes to eat it, Chen Mo also wants to learn how to make it. In the future, when Xu Hongdou wants the taste of home, he can make it for her. Thirdly, it can also please his mother-in-law, which is a good thing without spending any money.

Xu Hongdou was eating slowly and leisurely on the side, watching Chen Mo "perform" quietly, and silently giving Chen Mo's "performance" a score in her heart.

The way he ate the noodles just now seemed a bit too strenuous and exaggerated.

Although the noodles her mother made were indeed delicious, she wasn’t so shocked that she said “How could there be such a delicious food in the world”, as if she had never eaten noodles in her life.

The key is that the emotional output is abundant and sincere.

Sometimes people are not unaware that others are flattering them, but they still like to hear it from the bottom of their hearts.

That is why there were so many lucky people in ancient times who, by offering slanderous words, became high-ranking officials and brought disaster to the state.

As for Chen Mo's idea of ​​learning how to make hand-rolled noodles, Xu Hongdou nodded secretly.

Not only did he please her mother, but the reasons he used probably touched her father's heart.

Because she likes to eat hand-rolled noodles, Chen Mo wants to learn how to make it for her. Isn't this just a way of showing that he takes care of her?

The most important thing is that Xu Hongdou knows that Chen Mo is not simply "tricking" her parents to be happy, Chen Mo really means it in his heart, and will really cook her favorite food in the future.

The most powerful thing is not to act and tell lies, but to "act" and tell the truth, expressing one's own thoughts and attitudes in a subtle way.

Although you know that I am flattering you, every word I say is true and genuine, and sounds smooth and fluent, not stiff or awkward.

After some consultation and discussion between Chen Mo, both sides were satisfied with the teaching and learning.

Xu Hongdou also asked about the purpose of coming back this time, "Mom, how is the new house being cleaned up?"

"The land has been reclaimed and formaldehyde has been tested. The air quality meets the standards," Liu Guiqin said with a smile.

"Your father and I have already moved a lot of things over there. As for the junk in your room, you have to clean it up by yourself. We don't know which ones you want to throw away and which ones you want to keep."

"What junk? There is no junk in my room." Xu Hongdou was unhappy.

"You still have all those magazines from 20 years ago, but aren't they tattered? I don't know why you keep them," Liu Guiqin complained.

"I keep it as a souvenir, that's my youth!" Xu Hongdou emphasized.

Liu Guiqin said cheerfully: "You are still young? Your youth has been left for so long that it has become moldy."

"I think you're just living with Grandma Liu from the building next door, storing junk at home every day."

"That's an exaggeration. Dou'er doesn't have much stuff. Just one cabinet," Xu Jianguo defended him.

"Hey, Xu Jianguo." Liu Guiqin glared, "Who said that day that Dou'er's cabinet of junk should be thrown away?"

"Why, now you're a good person, right?"

When Xu Hongdou heard this, she looked at Xu Jianguo with questioning eyes.

Xu Jianguo immediately clarified: "Hey, when did I say it was junk? Don't talk nonsense."

"I was clearly talking about old items. You are hard of hearing and may have misheard them, so don't slander me."

"I slandered someone?" Liu Guiqin laughed angrily and pointed at Xu Jianguo. "Okay, next time you speak, I'll record everything for you."

"Anyway, I didn't say that." Xu Jianguo refused to admit it.

When Chen Mo saw this scene, he smiled knowingly. It can be seen that the atmosphere in Xu Hongdou's family is very relaxed and harmonious.

After dinner, Chen Mo went to Xu Hongdou's room and looked at the cabinet full of "junk", glass beads, cards, dolls, hairpins, hair ropes, bracelets.
Chen Mo picked up the box of glass beads. There was a "leaf" of a different color in the middle of each bead.

"I haven't seen this thing for a long time. You still keep it." Chen Mo felt a little nostalgic.

"Of course, these were all won from the kids in the opposite neighborhood when I was a kid," Xu Hongdou said with some pride.

"I also had a full box at that time, but I don't know where I lost it later." Chen Mo recalled.

In the past, the most common game played with these glass beads was marbles.

One person places the glass beads, and the other person uses his fingers to pop out his own glass beads from a certain distance. Whoever hits the target can take it away.

In addition to playing marbles, there is also fun such as clapping the ground to fan the air, flipping cards, and jumping on the squares.

Each generation has its own unique childhood memories, and these little gadgets and games are undoubtedly the childhood footprints unique to their generation.

"So these are not rubbish. I keep them so I won't forget the happiness I had before."

Xu Hongdou held up a pink cartoon hairpin and said, "My grandma bought it for me when I was in primary school. It looked so good on me at that time that even my sister envied me."

Chen Mo took the hairpin and looked at it, then gently pinned it on Xu Hongdou's hair. After taking a look, he smiled and nodded, saying, "It still looks good now."

"is it?"

Xu Hongdou turned around, looked at the mirror in the room, and pouted, "It doesn't look right. I'm not as pretty as before."

In fact, it’s not that people are not as good-looking as before, but that they no longer have the carefree and innocent temperament they had in their childhood.

Chen Mo also looked at the cute Xu Hongdou wearing the cartoon hairpin in the mirror, his eyes were gentle, "It looks good, I like it."

Xu Hongdou curled her lips, but she couldn't help feeling a little happy in her heart.

"It's a pity that there were no mobile phones at that time, so I couldn't take more daily photos as souvenirs. Otherwise, there must be photos of me wearing this hairpin, and I can show them to you."

Xu Hongdou still clearly remembers that when she received the hairpin, she happily "showed off" it for a long time.

In the 1990s, and even in the early 2000s, before smartphones became popular, you still had to go to a photo studio to take photos such as family portraits.

At that time, an average family would have a few photos of their children when they were young, but definitely not many.

Hearing this, Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "We can give it to our daughter in the future. Then I can see what you looked like when you were a child."

Xu Hongdou couldn't help but laugh and said, "She will definitely think it's ugly by then. This is all out of date."

Chen Mo smiled and said, "Then let your aunt buy it for her, and her grandmother buys it for her, just like your grandmother buys it for you, it's the same."

"Wow, you're targeting my mom. She only has that little pension." Xu Hongdou said in surprise.

Chen Mo raised his eyebrows, "Believe it or not, if I tell Auntie now that we are going to get married soon and have a child, I will ask her for pocket money, and Auntie will be happy to do so."

Xu Hongdou raised her chin slightly, "Then go ahead and tell me."

"Really?" Chen Mo confirmed.

"If you have the guts, just say it." Xu Hongdou snorted.

"If you agree, I will really say it." Chen Mo said seriously.

"Agree to what?"

"Agree to have a baby with me."

"I didn't say that." Xu Hongdou declared.

"If you really agree, I will call my parents right away to come over and propose marriage."

"You wish. I haven't said I want to marry you yet."

"Then when do you think you can get married?" Chen Mo asked tentatively.

"I won't tell you." Xu Hongdou turned her head away.

"Give me a little scoop so I can prepare in advance." Chen Mo negotiated.

"I won't tell you~~"

(End of this chapter)