Obsessed with Surprises

Xiaoyi’s reluctant voice brought Xiaoguo back to reality.

After bidding farewell to his beloved Aunt Xiaoguo, he reluctantly left with the carriage.

“Goodbye, Xiaoyi…”

“Zhuang Zhuang, we have to keep in touch…”

“Yes! I’ll do that! Have a safe trip.”

Although Zhuang Zhuang was young, he firmly believed that men don’t cry. However, he was really feeling quite sad at this moment. With teary eyes, he waved at Xiaoyi, who was sticking his head out of the carriage.

Xiaoguo smiled and waved at Xiaoyi together with Zhuang Zhuang.

Jiang Danhe’s horse was at the front. He did not dare to look back at Xiaoguo.

It was the same for Xiaoguo who did not dare to look at Jiang Danhe’s back.

He clearly had more to say just now, why didn’t he continue? If he had continued, she might have agreed to it…

Why didn’t he continue?

No matter how sad and reluctant they felt inside, Jiang Danhe and Xiaoguo still turned to look at each other at the last minute when they were about to lose sight of each other.

Immediately, the emotions welled up in their hearts and they could only suppress those feelings with their remaining rationality. Both of them couldn’t bear to part with each other, feeling uneasy when they were apart for just one day. How were they going to endure the next few months without each other?

—-

Time flew by swiftly, and the sun and moon moved like shuttles. Everyday seemed to go by in a flash. Before one could even accomplish anything, the day was already over.

It was almost New Year’s Eve, but Xiaoguo didn’t feel like it was the new year at all.

Last year, she was so excited that she had already made preparations in advance at this time of the year. But this year she just didn’t feel motivated at all. She was finding it hard to keep up with things.

Mrs Yang had been nagging at her for a long time, but Xiaoguo looked like she wasn’t paying attention at all. It was unclear if she was listening or not, since she only hummed occasionally in response to Mrs. Yang.

Looking at Xiaoguo’s listless appearance, Mrs. Yang became furious.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey!”

Mrs Yang stuffed the baby into Xiaoguo’s arms and forced her to come back to her senses.

“What’s wrong?”

Xiaoguo hugged the child in confusion and looked at Mrs Yang with a puzzled expression.

“I see that your soul has left with Danhe.”

Mrs Yang rolled her eyes at her. It had been so many days since he left, but she still looked so distracted. It was really worrying and heartbreaking to see her in this state.

In her current condition, no one dared to let her venture out on her own, for fear that she might accidentally fall into a ditch without anyone knowing.

Fortunately, Xiaoguo didn’t try to go out. She usually didn’t like going out, and now she liked it even less. She would rather stay at home all day, like a young lady in a boudoir.

Hearing Jiang Danhe’s name, Xiaoguo’s hand that was patting the baby paused for a moment. Putting on a nonchalant expression, she said, “That’s not true.”

“It’s very true!”

Before Mrs Yang could speak, Xiao Zhu and Yu Ling spoke at the same time.

What followed next was a series of rants about Xiaoguo’s strange behavior over the past few days. Mrs Yang couldn’t help but smile when she listened to them.

For example, Xiaoguo forgot to add salt to the stir-fry, she forgot to put water in the steamed rice, she forgot to put cornmeal in the corn porridge, she forgot to bring out her chopsticks for dinner, she didn’t sleep at night and didn’t wake up during the day, and the list goes on.

Xiaoguo was embarrassed for a second, and at the same time, she could not remember the things that they had mentioned. Did she do all those things?

Feeling indignant, she thought carefully before saying in a guilty manner, “Um… At least I didn’t forget to start the fire.”

“That’s because Xiao Zhu and I started the fire.”

“…”

Xiaoguo thought that it was better to shut up.

When Mrs Yang heard what Yu Ling said, she shook her head without saying anything.

“And the most important thing is that you almost paid more than double the money when you were buying the plates.”

Yu Ling was still feeling shocked when she mentioned this.

After the shop was fully renovated, the next thing to do was to buy the tools required for making desserts, as well as utensils like plates and spoons for serving the desserts.

If not for Brother Botong’s timely reminder when she was settling the bill, Xiaoguo would have lost more than double the cost of all the items.

When this was brought up, Xiao Guo felt even more guilty and so she remained silent. Even if she wanted to defend herself, it was useless. After all, there was some truth to the things that they were saying, and she definitely had some recollection of these incidents. However, she didn’t want to admit publicly that she couldn’t live without Jiang Danhe.

Mrs Yang looked at her in disdain and said, “I think you should just go and look for Danhe. You can come back after the Spring Festival.”

“!!!”

Mrs Yang’s words enlightened Xiaoguo in that instant. She had to admit that she was feeling tempted.

Before he left, Jiang Danhe was probably trying to ask her to spend the new year with him in the capital. However, for some reason, he didn’t say anything. Therefore, she might as well just go and visit him directly.

“If the mountains can’t come to me, then I’ll go find the mountains.”

“Sister-in-law!”

Xiaoguo grabbed her hand excitedly and shook it twice.

“What’s wrong?”

Mrs Yang swallowed hard and looked nervously at the woman who had gotten worked up all of a sudden. “What do you want?”

“I can visit Jiang Danhe in the capital!”

Xiaoguo let go of her hand and patted the startled baby in her arms. She said softly, “Since Jiang Danhe can’t come back, I’ll secretly visit him and surprise him. How about that?!”

“Another surprise?!”

Xiaozhu and Yuling looked at her in shock, not understanding why she was suddenly so obsessed with surprises. Last time, it was a surprise for Zhuang Zhuang’s birthday, and this time it was a surprise trip to the capital city.

Xiaoguo was immersed in her own fantasy and had no time to pay attention to their suspicious gazes.

However, she didn’t stay excited for long before her excitement became deflated. “Forget it…”

“Why?”

Mrs Yang’s smile faltered and she asked in confusion. She felt that Xiaoguo’s idea was very good. When she imagined the scene of the couple meeting again, she felt very happy for them. She was secretly wishing that she could be there and tell Yang Feng to stay away, while she secretly delivered the surprise herself.

“The animals in the house need me. I can’t leave.”

She definitely has to bring Yu Ling and Xiao Zhu along with her if she goes to the capital. Then there would be no one at home. The cow was pregnant and had a big appetite. It was also picky with its food. So there were a lot of chores that had to be done in the house.

When Mrs Yang heard this, she waved her hand nonchalantly and said, “That’s not a big deal. Just let Yang Jia do it.”

Xiaoguo shook her head repeatedly and said, “No, it’s too troublesome. How can I trouble him again?”

“Hey, it’s nothing,” Mrs Yang said with a smile. “He was feeling bad about borrowing books from your place on a daily basis. This is a good excuse for him to feel less uncomfortable about it.”

Mrs Yang knew Yang Jia like the back of her hand. Each time, before he visited Xiaoguo’s place to borrow books, he had to prepare himself mentally for a long time. If there was anything that he could help her with, he would be glad to do so.

When Xiaoguo heard this, she felt rather hopeful. However, there was still a trace of rationality in her. She said, “Then I’ll ask him first and make plans after he agrees to it.”

Mrs Yang nodded. Although she knew Yang Jia well, it was better for Xiaoguo to ask him for the favor herself.

“Sister Xiaoguo, if that doesn’t work, Xiaozhu and I can stay.”

“Oh, right, right!”

Although the two of them were looking forward to going to the capital, they could go there anytime since there is plenty of time.

Besides, the priority was to create a surprise for Sister Xiaoguo and their brother-in-law.

“It’s fine. We still have another candidate.”

Xiaoguo had no qualms about using the person she had in mind.

“Who are you referring to?”

Mrs Yang was as curious as Xiao Zhu and Yu Ling, so the three of them couldn’t help but ask in unison.

“Shu Botong.”

Shu Botong was like a title deed that had become bound to her. On the surface, the agreement was for her to take care of him until he grew old. However, from another perspective, it seemed more like a slave contract.

And Shu Botong would never be able to escape from her grasp. “Hehe.”

As soon as the name was mentioned, the three of them nodded in understanding and said in unison, “That’s a good idea.”

An ‘evil’ smile appeared on Xiaoguo’s face. Shu Botong was going to be of great use.

In the distance, Shu Botong couldn’t help but shiver as he wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and continued to clean up. Unaware of what Xiaoguo was planning for him, he carried on with his work.