Chapter 1384: Domestic and Abroad

She had just left.

Miao Lishan rubbed her face that was stiff from smiling, “This girl is really amusing.”

“Very likable.”

Regarding her son-in-law’s evaluation, Miao Lishan agreed wholeheartedly, “No wonder Old Mrs. Geng likes this girl so much; she’s nothing like her quiet and reserved uncle.”

Zhang Guoqing laughed quietly. How could you compare the two? He’s heard of nieces resembling their aunts but never nieces resembling their uncles; that would be like Old Wang’s family’s situation.

Geng Baobao’s visit didn’t stir Zhou Jiao’s feelings at all. No matter how good someone is, could they be treated like a real daughter?

Only after Liu Yi mentioned it on the phone, it seemed that May 1st was really going to give up on Little Jiu. From the bottom of her heart, she still preferred Little Jiu as her daughter-in-law.

Zhang Guoqing and his sons were wary of her concerns, cautiously revealing some details to her, saying that whether there is fate or not still depends on how May 1st chooses.

Yet Zhou Jiao understood, she saw it clearly, but so what? Her son is her own flesh and blood; she had to admit she was a selfish mother.

She couldn’t bear for her son to suffer.

Especially since he didn’t even return for the most traditional reunion on New Year’s Eve; it was imaginable what kind of life her youngest son was living. Saying there’s no mission could only fool fools!

With the end of the year approaching, the atmosphere of celebrating the New Year intensified each year.

As more vendors appeared, those who were afraid of hunger and poverty prepared enthusiastically for the New Year, as if striving for good fortune in the coming year.

The most popular items at the market were always poultry, fish, and meat, along with the fabric counters in the supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores that were always crowded with customers.

At home, there were salted fish and meat everywhere, hanging in front of the window, while frozen pears and persimmons waved to the New Year.

What’s the taste of the year? It’s the smell of pickled goods and the joyous laughter of children.

Actually, these chicken, duck, fish, and meat could occasionally be eaten during regular times, but storing some at the year’s end seems necessary to make the year feel prosperous.

Often it’s the own kids drooling over what someone else’s family stored, and when parents hear about it, they agree to prepare together with everyone else’s families.

These still count as “luxuries,” and to May 1st, they seemed tasteless; he poked the chicken neck in the mushroom stewed hen with his chopsticks.

“What’s wrong? Not to your taste?”

May 1st attentively watched Little Jiu. The little girl had indeed grown beautifully; her features became more delicate, tightly wrapped by the sweater which outlined her curves.

Little Jiu rolled her eyes, “Why are you staring at me? Aren’t you going to eat?”

May 1st shook his head with a smile.

“Do you know what day it is today?”

“Your birthday.”

A flash of delight appeared in Little Jiu’s eyes, “What gift did you get for me?”

“A doll. Do you like it? It cost me fifty US Dollars.”

“No,” Little Jiu shook her head quickly, “I want a special gift.” Saying this, she got up and hugged him from behind, “Guess what gift I want?”

May 1st sighed internally, “Stop messing around, go sit down.”

“You understand, don’t you?”

May 1st frowned and pulled her hand down, facing her seriously, “I’ve always considered you like my sister.”

Little Jiu snorted with disdain, “You have a lot of sisters! My mom didn’t give me a brother.”

“How about a little niece?” May 1st smiled and gently pulled her to sit down, “Don’t learn those silly girls’ love affairs, it’s not suitable for us.”

“Is Geng Baobao suitable then?”

“Rubbish!”

His lack of a firm denial made the light in Little Jiu’s eyes dim; she watched him seriously, “I saw her hugging you, and you didn’t push her away.”

May 1st tilted his head thoughtfully, “Was she crying? She’s just a crybaby! You should stop messing with her; she’s quite nice and has washed a lot of clothes for me.”

Angrily, Little Jiu pounded her chest.

May 1st turned his gaze away, picked up his chopsticks, “Eat quickly, and I’ll take you home.”

“No need for your kindness! I’m not leaving, I just won’t leave, I want to live here.”

May 1st frowned; if it were Geng Baobao, she would definitely know when to stop. That girl was lucky enough to spend the New Year at home.

Little Jiu saw his silence, reached out and grabbed his chopsticks, causing the chicken neck to fall onto the table with a thud, making her heart tense.

May 1st gazed absentmindedly at the fallen chicken neck, not speaking for a while. Indeed, his older brother was right—what’s not suitable is just not suitable.

He too wished to be a dutiful son; his mother loved Little Jiu dearly, so how could he not know as her son? But the more they interacted, the more differences they found, and the less suitable they were.

For example, she didn’t understand.

Why was he not going home during New Year’s but staying at a villa instead of a dormitory? Yet Geng Baobao usually covered for his abnormalities very well.

May 1st furrowed his brow; why was he comparing again with the little crybaby? He was truly crazy!

Little Jiu glanced at him, pouted, stubbornly turned her neck away, bowed her head, and pushed the rice, then angrily jabbed at her bowl.

Cheapskate!

Can’t he compromise for her birthday today?

May 1st glanced at her, got up, and went to the upstairs bedroom, laying down with his hands behind his head, regretfully surveying the surroundings.

He was really reluctant to sell this villa, but he had no choice but to sell it. Having it meant she would often come here.

Thinking about the actions later in the evening, May 1st left these personal matters aside and pondered where to start, thinking about it, he turned over and lifted the quilt to sleep.

Downstairs, after he left, Little Jiu lost her appetite, put down her chopsticks, stared blankly for a while, and brought the plate of mushroom stewed hen to the kitchen.

Holding the noodles, she finally paused and put them down, washed her hands, and dashed upstairs.

Seeing the tightly closed bedroom door, she pouted silently, triumphantly taking out a set of keys from her pocket, muttering that he really wasn’t manly, locking himself in when he got angry!

Upon unlocking and entering, she saw him asleep on the bed, angrily raising her fist in the air: initially thinking he was sulking in the room, but the guy was sleeping soundly!

Lowering her footsteps, Little Jiu came to the bed and stared at him.

May 1st awoke the moment she unlocked the door. This was unsurprising; if he didn’t notice such a disturbance, he would have been done for in another country.

Deliberately ignoring her, thinking she’d leave naturally after seeing him asleep, soon he realized he underestimated the little girl’s persistence.

Senses are particularly sensitive when eyes are closed, as her body rolled into his bedding, hesitantly, May 1st furrowed his brow, realizing that she wouldn’t give up without a certain point.

As her hands glided over him, after a while, May 1st opened his eyes and looked at Little Jiu, eerily asking, “Realize yet? I really consider you my sister.”

“You can’t do it?”

May 1st’s face darkened at her words, “Don’t use provocation! I’m perfectly fine handling those foreign ladies.”

“Shall we try?”

Try what?

Had I not been trained, you wouldn’t still be unscathed!

May 1st pushed her head away, patted her, “Calm down! Even if I had your body, what would it mean? We’re just not suitable.”

“No, I know you like me.”

“Right, I don’t deny it, but this liking hasn’t reached the point where I see you as a woman; you’re more like my sister. The body is honest, you’ve also seen.”

“I don’t believe, I don’t believe…”

May 1st paused while lifting the quilt, wiping away her tears at the corners of her eyes with his hand, “Be good, close your eyes and have a good sleep, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

Saying this, he slowly maneuvered out of the bed, grabbed his coat, and left the bedroom.