Because he was thinking of his eldest son coming back, Old Man Xia finished his meal and returned home early. At noon, he didn't take a nap either, but sat on the stone stool at the door, taking advantage of the shade of the big poplar tree to cool off, constantly looking out towards the village entrance.
The little black fish naturally followed back. He ran to the upper house, and in a short while, he changed into cool shorts and jumped forward to the front yard, with the big green following behind him.
"Sixteen." Little Black called Xia Zhi out of the house.
"Old uncle, you're back." Xia Zhi smiled when he saw Little Black Fish.
"Sixteen, let's go to your home under the ridge." Little Black Fish didn't walk towards his own home's gate under the poplar tree, nor did he go to Old Wu's home not far away under the big willow tree. Instead, he walked along the small path outside Xia Zhi's courtyard wall and arrived at the front yard of Xia Zhi's home.
A gentle slope leads up to the fence gate, with sparse trees on both sides of the slope. The breeze is cool and there are also several large rocks under the trees that are a good place to rest in the shade, because it's already at the edge of the village, people usually come here to rest in the summer.
Xiao Hei Yu and Xia Zhi sat on a rock, smiling as they took out an oil-paper package and handed it to Xia Zhi.
"Sixteen, your uncle brought you some meatballs."
Inside the oil paper package are several deep-fried meatballs. This is one of the best dishes on the banquet table and also a favorite food among children.
"Uncle, I've already eaten. Keep the buns for yourself to eat tonight, or give them to my mom instead." Xia Zhi said with a smile while petting Da Qing dog.
"Here, take it." said the little black fish with an impatient tone. "I've had enough of this bun. Your mother doesn't eat it either, she told me to bring it over for you to eat."
Summer solstice still hasn't reached out to receive.
The little black fish looked into the wicker gate and thought he had guessed Xia Zhi's mind.
"Sixteen, you can eat now. In your family, your older brother and Xiao Shu'er can all eat good food, but only you can't." That's why he deliberately avoided Da Qiao and Xiao Shu'er, especially Xiao Shu'er, and called Xia Zhi out alone.
"Old uncle, let's eat together, or I won't eat," Xia Zhi said after some thought.
"That's okay." Little Black Fish thought for a moment and agreed.
The flavor of the meatballs was very distinctive, and Xia Zhi ate while pondering what seasonings were added inside. After finishing the meatballs, Xiao Hei Yu followed Xia Zhi and chatted for a few sentences before yawning slightly with an open mouth.
Dà qīng yě zhāng dà zuǐ, gēn zhe dǎ le ge dà hā yì.
Translation:
Big Green also opened his big mouth and followed with a big yawn.
Summer solstice can't help but laugh.
Although Xiao Hei Yu Er was full of energy, after all, he was still a seven-year-old child and couldn't skimp on sleep.
"Uncle, come to my home and take a nap."
"Go."
Entering the courtyard, the well platform was still drying clothes. Xia Zhi used a towel to wipe the hands and face of Xiao Hei Yu Er, then led Xiao Hei Yu Er and Da Qing into the house. Da Qiao and Xiao Shu Er were both leaning on the kang, half asleep and half awake, and when they saw them arrive, they got up and spoke. Xiao Shu Er's attitude was extremely flattering.
Summer quickly swept the kang, and then took out a clean quilt to cover it. Little Black Fish took off his shoes and lay down on the quilt, falling asleep in no time.
The sky was a bit hot. Summer arrived and took out a fan, slowly fanning the little black fish. The big bridge on the side saw it, smiled, turned over and fell asleep itself. The small tree also looked a bit envious, finally turned around and fell asleep too.
The door curtain made a soft sound, and Xia Zhi turned his head to see Xiao Pangzi Xia Yang entering quietly. The little guy saw the small black fish lying on the kang and the big green one crouching underneath, and stopped in his tracks.
Xia Zhi made a gentle gesture towards him.
The little fatty immediately understood, giggling and coming forward, touching Da Qing's body with his hand, but was swept across the face by Da Qing's big fluffy tail, laughing so hard that his teeth were not visible, turned around and ran away with his short little legs.
Xia Zhi smiled and continued to fan the little black fish. After a while, she felt sleepy too, so she leaned against the little black fish, but her hand holding the fan didn't stop.
I don't know when Little Black Fish woke up. He opened his eyes, still a bit dazed at first, but gradually cleared up, looking at Xia Zhi beside him with big sparkling eyes.
No wonder he slept so comfortably and coolly, it turned out that Xia Zhi had been fanning him all along.
The little black fish smiled silently.
Only his mother would be able to fall asleep like this while still fanning him. Hmm, now there's also Xia Zhi.
"Old uncle, old uncle..." The door curtain outside rustled loudly, and Xiaoyang, a little fatty, stumbled in, shouting loudly for Little Black Fish.
Xia Zhi immediately woke up and first saw Xiao Hei Yu Er staring at her with bright, shiny eyes.
"Uncle, you're awake?"
"Uh-huh."
The little fatty had already run to the edge of the kang and was tripped by Da Qing, but managed to steady himself by holding onto the edge of the kang.
"What's up, Little Five?" asked Xiao Hei Yu Er, sitting up straight.
"My dad and uncle are back!" Little Fatty exclaimed loudly.
The big bridge and the small trees also woke up, everyone was busy coming out.
A carriage with a canopy stopped outside the back door of the Xia family home. Tian Shi was getting down from the carriage, and at the same time, she was taking packages out of the carriage. Seeing them come out, Tian Shi hurriedly called for Da Qiao and Xiao Shu to help her carry things.
In front of the big gate in the backyard, Old Man Xia had already stood up. In front of him was Xia Yunhan and another tall and thin man wearing a long gown.
Xia Zhi could only see the man's back, he was paying respects to Old Man Xia.
"Dad, I'm back."
"What are you standing there for? Bring all the things in." Tian Shi urged Da Qiao and Xiao Shu in a low voice. She herself was carrying three or four packages in her hands and arms, and Da Qiao and Xiao Shu's hands were also full. Tian Shi didn't let Xia Zhi help.
Xia Zhi's side was a little black fish, and the little black fish was still holding Xia Zhi's hand with a very protective attitude.
Old Xia didn't look this way: "It's good that you're back. Come on, let's go inside and talk."
Xia Xiuzai nodded in agreement and turned around to glance at Tian Shi's side.
Tian's family also turned back to take a look, then drooped their eyelids and turned around, bringing Daqiao and Xiaoshu to send the package into the house.
The little black fish let out a hum, seemingly looking down on Tian's appearance, but didn't say anything, and just pulled Xia Zhi towards the backyard.
When Xia Zhi walked into the backyard and upstairs, Xia Xiuzai was paying respects to Old Lady Xia, calling out "mother" with great respect and affection. If no one had said anything, nobody would have suspected that he wasn't Old Lady Xia's biological son.
Old Lady Xia smiled and replied, asking how Xia Xiuzai was doing in the academy, and then asked Old Man Xia: "Old man, will you cook a couple of dishes for me tomorrow evening?"
This is to arrange for Xia Xiuzai to have dinner, regardless of the outcome of the discussion.
"Good!" Old Xia replied succinctly. "Heat up another pot of wine." Anyway, seeing his eldest son return, he was delighted.
Xia Xiuzai saw the little black fish and bent down to touch its head.
"The little dragon has grown taller again."
"Big brother." Little Blackfish called out.
Then Xia Xiuzai saw Xia Zhi following behind Xiao Heiyu.
"Sixteen..." Her gaze and tone were both very gentle.
Xia Zhi blinked her eyes.
PS: Looking for recommendations and collections
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