You Must Be Good 92p2

Chapter 92 p2

Grandma Wang’s arrival was perhaps the most joyful and relaxing moment for Qiao Xiaoxiao during this period.

When she had heard her granddaughter’s words on the phone, the old lady had been so happy she couldn’t close her mouth. She had been thinking of her granddaughter and Xiaoxiao every day and would always look at Qingxin’s appearance in the video. Now, she was finally standing at the entrance of Qingxin with her cane, smiling so much her dentures were about to fall out, like an old child.

She refused to go to the hotel to rest first and insisted on going straight to Qingxin the moment she got out of the car. The old lady had her hands behind her back and slowly walked around the studio. Finally, she swayed into Qiao Xiaoxiao’s office, her eyes smiling into two slits. She tremblingly took out an insulated container from her cloth bag. “I’ve made some wild vegetable dumplings. I’ve been keeping them warm in my arms all the way!”

Wang Ning was so embarrassed her toes curled. She quickly stepped forward to stop her, but Qiao Xiaoxiao had already taken it with a smile. She gently opened the lid, and the hot steam, mixed with the fragrance of wild vegetables, rushed to her face. “Grandma, you still remember I love to eat this.”

“I remember, I remember,” Grandma Wang patted her hand. Seeing Qiao Xiaoxiao eat with such gusto, her wrinkles were filled with joy.

Qiao Xiaoxiao wanted to give Wang Ning a break and let her accompany her grandmother, who had come all this way. But Wang Ning refused no matter what. In the end, it was Wang Ning who stayed to work overtime, and boss Qiao Xiaoxiao took Grandma Wang around.

Everyone looked at the big dark circles under Wang Ning’s eyes, who dared to be angry but not to speak.

???…

Qiao Xiaoxiao was not afraid of trouble. She took her grandmother to Beijing by high-speed rail to see Tiananmen Square.

On the high-speed rail, Grandma Wang’s eyes were not enough. She looked here and there, and everything was new to her.

When they arrived at Tiananmen Square, the sun was shining on the square. The old lady looked up at the national flag flying on the city tower, her cloudy eyes shining. She tremblingly took out her old-fashioned mobile phone from her pocket and insisted that Xiaoxiao help her take a picture with the Tiananmen city tower.

“Xiaoxiao, Grandma’s life is worth it,” Grandma Wang’s rough hand stroked the white marble railing, smiling like a child.

Qiao Xiaoxiao suddenly found that an old person’s happiness could be so simple—a basket of steaming hot buns, the white pigeons flying in the square, and even the kind smiles of the passersby when she was helping her slowly walk across the Jinshui Bridge would make Grandma Wang very happy.

When Grandma was young, she had also suffered.

Wang Ning’s parents had been working away from home for a long time. She was the only one with bad legs. Besides some handicrafts, she had basically no way to make money. She had still raised Wang Ning and had given all her love to her granddaughter, making her childhood happy.

In the closed small mountain village of Wuliu Village, Grandma Wang had also heard a lot about Qiao Xiaoxiao being a jinx. Every time, she would curse with her cane, “You shameless scoundrels who have lacked eight lifetimes of virtue. You don’t scold her abusive father, you don’t scold her mother who ran away. You scold an eight-year-old child. Do you have any shame?”

Xiaoxiao had originally wanted to take a taxi and take her grandmother for a stroll in Beijing, but Grandma Wang had been frugal all her life and refused to take a taxi no matter what. At such an old age, she insisted on taking the bus.

On the bus, she was still looking around with novelty. “What a feeling. The buses in the big city are so clean, and there’s even air conditioning.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao’s heart ached a little. She looked at Grandma Wang and said, “Grandma, tomorrow we—”

“Oh, you young people go and get busy. Don’t worry about me,” Grandma Wang waved her hand and blocked Qiao Xiaoxiao’s words. “Hehe, now that I see Ningning and you are so promising, you don’t know how happy Grandma is. My back is straight when I walk in the village. Do you still remember that Zhang Er Mazi from the next village who would curse you every time he saw you?”

In fact, he was not a pockmarked person, just had a few pits on his face.

But after Grandma Wang had seen him curse Xiaoxiao, the old lady had always called him that.

Qiao Xiaoxiao nodded. The pride and smugness on Grandma Wang’s face were about to overflow. “Now when he sees me, he practically bows and scrapes. You don’t know that fawning look. What is this called? Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.”

She looked at Qiao Xiaoxiao. “Xiaoxiao, you are now the pride of our village!”

Qiao Xiaoxiao stared at Grandma for a long time and smiled faintly. “Is that so?”

Grandma Wang nodded vigorously. “Yes! So what if your father is dead? So what if your mother is gone? Our Xiaoxiao is so promising!”

If someone else had said this, Qiao Xiaoxiao might have smiled and listened casually, not taking it to heart.

But Grandma Wang’s meaning to her was different.

Although her uncle had brought her home and had raised her, he was, after all, a man of few words. And Huang Sulan would either beat her or scold her. Qiao Xiaoxiao had never had a sense of belonging to that family.

But Grandma was different.

In Qiao Xiaoxiao’s childhood memories, whether it was the New Year, a festival, or when she was so hungry she couldn’t stand it, the old lady would secretly bring her a bowl of rice.

Whatever the family had, she would bring it to Xiaoxiao.

She and Wang Ning could barely make ends meet.

They were not related by blood.

But Grandma Wang had given her kindness to this poor child day after day. Back then, when she had helped Xiaoxiao, she had never thought that she would have today’s achievements. She had just wholeheartedly hoped that she could survive in such harsh conditions and not be bullied to death like this.

Qiao Xiaoxiao’s eyes grew moist. The sound of the station announcement was in her ear. She looked at the silver threads in Grandma Wang’s hair and said softly, “Thank you, Grandma.”

“Why are you thanking me?”

The old lady got off the car with her and said as they walked, “If you want to thank someone, thank that great benefactor of yours.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao was slightly stunned. She looked at Grandma Wang. Grandma Wang smiled. “That child Ningning, she still thinks she can hide it from me. Xiaoxiao, Grandma is old, and her eyes are blurry, but her heart is like a bright mirror. She’s so busy. How could she have the mood to pick me up? And this journey was so well-arranged. The moment I got off the car, I saw Ningning calling that girl. Needless to say, it must be because she was worried about you that she called me over.”

Grandma Wang was a straightforward person.

And Xiaoxiao was a child who had grown up under her eyes.

Not to mention what kind of boss the old lady didn’t understand now, even the emperor, in her eyes, was just a child.

Qiao Xiaoxiao lowered her head, her eyes moist.

Jiejie…

The two of them walked slowly along the alley and, without realizing it, turned into a small restaurant with an old Beijing flavor.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had originally wanted to take her grandmother to Quanjude to try the roast duck, but the moment the old lady heard the price, she immediately frowned. “Oh my, spending so much money on a meal. Isn’t this a waste of money?” As she spoke, she was about to put on a straight face. Qiao Xiaoxiao knew she couldn’t win, so she had to go along with her and found this old shop hidden in an alley.

The shop was not big, with wooden tables and chairs, and old black and white photos of Beijing on the walls. After Grandma Wang sat down, she glanced at the menu and still couldn’t help but mutter in a small voice, “Why is this noodle so much more expensive than at our place…” but in the end, she didn’t insist, just muttering, “Just a taste is fine. Don’t order too much.”

She had only ordered a bowl of zhajiangmian. But Qiao Xiaoxiao, without her noticing, had secretly added a portion of jiaoquan, a plate of mustard greens, and the fried liver that the old lady had loved when she was young. When the dishes were served, Grandma Wang complained about the “waste,” but her eyes couldn’t help but glance at the plates.

This meal was the most Qiao Xiaoxiao had eaten in these few days.

Most importantly, Grandma Wang absolutely would not allow any waste. Her words were very direct. “Eat, Xiaoxiao. A person is made of iron, and rice is made of steel. Nothing can affect our meal. Didn’t Ningning say you’re a… big eater? You’re not allowed to leave anything today.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: …

Her stomach was full. With the gentle breeze, Grandma Wang was very happy. After the meal, Qiao Xiaoxiao took her grandmother for a short rest and then took the high-speed rail back.

When they arrived, Qiao Xiaoxiao wanted her to stay at her place. Grandma smiled and said, “If you weren’t married, I would have gone. Now that you’re married, why would I still go?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao was as if nailed to the spot. Grandma Wang patted her hand. “Grandma, although I’ve always been in the village, I understand everything.”

If it weren’t for love, for liking, how could Chu Xinrou be so good to Xiaoxiao?

She was not an old-fashioned person.

Seeing Wang Ning’s parents fight for a lifetime, seeing the family next door, Xiaoxiao’s, torn apart, how could she still be so feudal and decadent?

As long as the children are happy.

Because of the long journey, Xiaoxiao didn’t let her grandmother suffer anymore and had the studio’s driver come to pick them up.

On the way, Xiaoxiao didn’t say much. But in Grandma Wang’s memory, she was still the withdrawn and introverted person she used to be, so she didn’t find it strange. It was just that as they were about to get to Wang Ning’s house, Grandma Wang suddenly said, “Child, don’t be sad. Think about it. If Wang Su hadn’t left back then, you wouldn’t have met your current sister.”

Although this was not nice to hear, the logic was there.

This sentence was like a muffled thunder, exploding in Qiao Xiaoxiao’s heart. She was silent. As she was about to get home, she asked the driver to drop her off. She ran home, Grandma’s simple words echoing in her mind.

Just as she was about to reach the door, a familiar figure made her stop abruptly. Xu Yi—Wang Su’s personal secretary, was standing straight under the streetlight. He was wearing a neatly ironed dark suit, and in his hand was a dark red property certificate, glowing with a harsh light.

Seeing Qiao Xiaoxiao approach, Xu Yi quickly stepped forward and respectfully handed her the red booklet with both hands. Qiao Xiaoxiao subconsciously took half a step back, as if avoiding something hot.

“Miss Qiao,” Xu Yi bowed slightly, his voice very low. “This is a property that CEO Wang invested in in Beijing in his early years. It’s now worth over ten million. She… she said she has no face to see you and specially instructed me to hand it to you personally.”

Hearing this, Qiao Xiaoxiao only found it funny. She looked at Xu Yi and was coldly silent.

Xu Yi didn’t dare to look up.

Just as the atmosphere was extremely awkward, Chu Xinrou, in a dress, walked out and called out lightly, “Xiaoxiao, it’s time to go home.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao immediately ran over. In the evening wind, she held her sister’s hand.

Chu Xinrou stared at her for a while and said, “You smell of fried liver.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: …

She had just managed to be in a good mood.

When they got home, Qiao Xiaoxiao deftly took off her coat and went straight to the bathroom. The warm stream of water washed over her body and also washed away the gloom in her heart. Outside, Chu Xinrou was brewing a pot of jasmine tea, the delicate fragrance curling through the air. She keenly sensed that Xiaoxiao’s mood was much more relaxed than before she had gone out, and that stubborn, twisted energy had also dissipated a lot.

As usual, after her shower, Qiao Xiaoxiao was too lazy to even dry her hair. She rushed into her sister’s embrace with her wet, long hair. Chu Xinrou shook her head helplessly and took out the hairdryer she had already prepared, gently combing through her hair.

Qiao Xiaoxiao was curled up in her sister’s embrace like a contented little cat, her nose filled with the familiar light and elegant fragrance, her whole being relaxed.

She unconsciously twirled a lock of Chu Xinrou’s hair, stroking it gently with her fingertips, and suddenly said, “Jiejie, I’ve thought it through.”

Chu Xinrou’s hand did not stop, just a gentle “hmm” in response, waiting for her to continue.

Qiao Xiaoxiao buried her body deeper into her sister’s warm embrace, as if to draw more courage from it. She spoke slowly, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of disturbing the dust in the air. “These past few days… no, actually for a long time, I’ve been tormented by a sense of unworthiness.”

As she spoke, her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Memories flashed before her eyes like an old film reel.

When she was a child, she would always lie on the mottled iron fence of the school, looking at the passersby. Those children, held by their parents’ hands, wearing brand-new princess dresses, with jingling ornaments on their schoolbags, had carefree smiles on their faces. At that time, envy was like a seed, quietly taking root and sprouting in her heart.

Later, as she grew older, she gradually understood the chasm that lay between those ordinary happinesses and herself. Envy had slowly fermented into something more bitter. She had started to believe that perhaps that warmth was not meant for her, that perhaps some beautiful things in this world were not prepared for people like her.

Just like a few days ago, when Xiaoxiao had looked at Nuanyang’s brilliant smile and had listened to her happy words, at the beginning, she had also blessed her and had been happy for her.

But slowly, a bitter flower had condensed in her heart.

She had thought, perhaps it was just that she was not worthy.

Otherwise, why wasn’t she the one who had been taken away?

She was supposed to be like this.

“The road always has to go forward. Some people, perhaps, are destined to be just scenery.”

At only 19 years old, Qiao Xiaoxiao’s eyes were already full of vicissitude. “Jiejie, what Grandma said today really shook me.”

Chu Xinrou’s gaze gently enveloped her.

Qiao Xiaoxiao greedily felt this cherish. Her sister’s gaze was like a warm palm, gently holding her up. The words had lingered between her lips and teeth for a long time before she dared to say them. “She said, if Wang Su hadn’t abandoned me back then, I wouldn’t have met you.”

Before she could finish, her eyes had turned red. The grievances that had been suppressed for many years had suddenly become very light, like the thin ice of early spring, silently melting in the sun.

She could let go of everything.

She had the best sister in the world.

Chu Xinrou’s gaze was like water, soaking her. Her fingertips gently wiped away the tear stains from the corners of her eyes. “Do you remember that day in Wuliu Village? I saw Huang Sulan whipping you with a cane. Your arms were covered in red marks…”

Qiao Xiaoxiao’s nose tingled again, and memories flooded in like a tide. She remembered that the setting sun was particularly red that day, and she remembered her uncle rubbing his hands and saying, “That girl from the city said she wants to take you away.” She remembered hearing this in the woodshed, her heart beating so fast it was about to jump out.

“Yes,” she nodded heavily, her throat tight. “Uncle said… you said you would move my household registration when I turned eighteen.”

Chu Xinrou suddenly stood up and took her hand, walking towards the study. The mahogany floor made a soft sound under their feet.

In the study, Qiao Xiaoxiao saw her sister squat down. The combination lock of the safe made a crisp click. She had thought she would see her own household registration book, but she saw her sister take out a bulging kraft paper bag. Chu Xinrou took out more than a dozen bright red property certificates.

Qiao Xiaoxiao’s mouth fell open in astonishment. She only felt that the red color was so dazzling under the light that she couldn’t open her eyes.

This… is this a dream?

“From that day on…” Chu Xinrou’s voice was gentle and firm, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter. “I’ve been preparing a home for you. I was thinking that in the future, no matter if you want to see the snow in the north or the sea in the south, you’ll have a warm place to go.” Her long fingers gently stroked those certificates.

If it weren’t for that secretary who had come with the property certificate today, Chu Xinrou would not have handed these to Qiao Xiaoxiao.

She casually picked one up. The red velvet-like cover had a soft luster under the light:

“Haidian District, Beijing, very close to Tsinghua University.”

She picked up another one:

“Jing’an District, Shanghai, with parasol tree-lined streets outside the window.”

She opened another one:

“Tianhe District, Guangzhou, with a view of the Pearl River at night.”

…

With each place name, a property certificate bloomed before Qiao Xiaoxiao like a flower petal.

More than a dozen certificates fell, and Qiao Xiaoxiao was completely dumbfounded.

This time, Chu Xinrou was exceptionally patient. After she had introduced all the properties one by one, she looked into Qiao Xiaoxiao’s eyes and said softly, “Xiaoxiao, you are not some inherently unworthy person.”

The tears Qiao Xiaoxiao had been holding back for several days flowed out uncontrollably. She was so choked up she could barely speak. “Jiejie…”

Chu Xinrou walked to her side, hugged her gently, and in Xiaoxiao’s ear, she said gently and solemnly, “Qiao Xiaoxiao, I love you.”