CHAPTER 799: CHAPTER 801: TEARS IN THE EYES

The following deliveries saw Xu Nianhua somewhat distracted, lacking the enthusiasm she had shown earlier.

"Sis, are you feeling alright? I’ll get you a bottle of ice water," Xu Nianji said, looking at her with concern, afraid she might be feeling unwell from the heat.

"Yeah, I’ll just go over there and rest for a bit," Xu Nianhua said. Firstly, she was feeling uncomfortably hot, and secondly, she had concerns weighing on her mind. After all, she had already found out what she needed to know, and now it was time to rest and think things through.

"Drink some water, and you’ll feel a bit better. We’ve still got more than a dozen places to deliver to. How about I drop you off at Grandpa’s place first?" Xu Nianji offered her the ice water he had bought and asked with worry, noticing her pale complexion.

"Okay."

Having learned what she wanted to know, Xu Nianhua didn’t feel like running around anymore. It seemed better to go to Grandpa’s place early to make him a rich lunch, which would be nice too.

"That’s settled, then. Wait for me to buy some groceries later, and I’ll head over to Grandpa’s."

After Xu Nianhua finished speaking and waited to buy groceries at the market, she arrived at Grandpa’s door and instructed Xu Nianji, "Big brother, you and Ma Zhijun should come over for lunch later, and Ma Zhijun, you must come too."

"Thank you," Ma Zhijun said politely, not refusing. After all, he would go wherever Xu Nianji went.

"You guys go ahead with your work; I’ve held you up for so long already," Xu Nianhua urged, then turned and headed to Grandpa’s house.

Ji Shuyuan’s rented house was a bungalow. Although not big, it was cozy and comfortable.

Ji Xinghua was in the yard tending to the flowers and plants when he heard the knock on the door. Thinking Ji Shuyuan had come back for something he’d forgotten, he was startled to see Xu Nianhua and exclaimed, "Nianhua?"

"Grandpa, I’ve come to see you," Xu Nianhua said cheerfully as she walked into the yard. It was her first visit, and the yard was vibrant with blooming flowers and lush greenery.

"When did you get back? I heard from your second brother that you stayed at school to help the professor with foreign guests?" Ji Xinghua asked.

"It was just some guests from France who needed a translator. I was there to make up the numbers," Xu Nianhua answered with a smile. After placing the groceries in the kitchen, she commented, "Grandpa, is this house rented by brother Shuyuan? It’s quite nice, with two bedrooms and a living room; small but fully equipped!"

"Isn’t it?" Ji Xinghua said, pride for his grandson Ji Shuyuan filling his heart.

"From now on, Grandpa, just wait to be pampered," said Xu Nianhua, who had a very good impression of Ji Shuyuan. She thought that once Shuyuan made some money, he would be able to buy his own house.

After a brief tour, Xu Nianhua got busy in the kitchen.

"Nianhua, I’ll go buy some more vegetables." Ji Xinghua noticed there were only a few greens left at home. He had planned to buy more in the afternoon when they were cheaper.

"No, Grandpa, the vegetables I bought are enough," Xu Nianhua hastily interjected. "I’ll start braising the pork trotters first; I know you love soy-stewed pork trotters, so I picked out a big one specially for you."

Proudly showing off the pork trotters like a treasure, she chattered nonstop, "Grandpa, look, is this pork trotter exceptionally good?"

"Very good, very good," Ji Xinghua praised, his eyes moistening involuntarily. How could such a wonderful granddaughter not be his own flesh and blood?

But it didn’t matter; blood relations don’t represent everything. Xu Nianhua, though not related by blood, still knew to visit him first thing during her holidays and to cook delicious meals for him.

His sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren with blood ties...