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CHAPTER 1
PART 5
After playing for an hour, the mother and son returned home. Su Xiaotong told Gu Lei about the encounter with their neighbor, Li Xueli. Gu Lei found it intriguing, saying, "A welcome party? Is that a local custom here?"
"I don't think it's a custom in Lishi. Li Xueli is just overly enthusiastic."
Gu Lei smiled and said, "There's a saying that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Having a friendly neighbor isn't a bad thing. When I used to live in the countryside, people in the village were also very hospitable, just like family, and we would often visit each other."
Su Xiaotong pursed her lips and said, "I'm not used to it. Meeting someone for just a few minutes and then going to their house for dinner feels awkward."
"Well, familiarity comes with time. Having a meal together will help us get to know each other."
Su Xiaotong looked at Gu Lei and said, "You seem quite excited about it."
Gu Lei scratched his head. "I wouldn't say I'm excited, but since we've settled in Lishi and don't have any relatives or acquaintances here, it's always a good thing to have the opportunity to get to know some neighbors and friends."
Su Xiaotong pondered for a moment. "I don't want too many people to know about Xiaoliang's intellectual disability."
"But you can't keep him isolated all the time. Intelligence is one aspect, but his personality is another. Don't you think Xiaoliang is becoming more and more withdrawn? He often goes a whole day without speaking. I think it's important to expose him to more social interactions."
Su Xiaotong remained silent for a long time before nodding.
And so it was settled. In the afternoon, the family went to the store and bought some pastries and fruits as a gift for their visit. By five o'clock, Su Xiaotong changed into a Gucci spring outfit, applied delicate makeup, and adorned herself with a necklace and earrings. She wore high heels and also tidied up her husband's appearance. After Gu Lei put on a shirt, trousers, and leather shoes, he looked much more energetic and handsome. However, before they could attend the gathering, Xiaoliang began to cry and refused to go.
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The couple tried to coax their child together, but Gu Xiaoliang continued to scream, "I don't want to go, I don't want to go!" while lying on the ground crying loudly. Initially, Su Xiaotong gently soothed and inquired, trying to get her son to express the reason for not wanting to go, but the intellectually disabled Gu Xiaoliang behaved like an unreasonable baby, only capable of crying and throwing a tantrum. Su Xiaotong lost her patience and angrily said, "If you don't want to go, then stay at home by yourself!"
Gu Xiaoliang cried even louder. Gu Lei tried to calm his wife down while comforting and coaxing their child. In the end, Gu Lei tempted Gu Xiaoliang with the promise of buying new toys and lollipops, and he reluctantly agreed. Gu Lei changed his son's clothes and whispered to Su Xiaotong, "You see, I told you that he needs more social interaction, otherwise he might not even want to leave the house in the future."
Su Xiaotong sighed helplessly. After adjusting her mood, the family, carrying the gifts, attended the "welcome party" in their finest attire.
When they arrived at the door of 1203, they rang the bell. Instead of Li Xueli, a young woman in her mid-twenties with short hair opened the door. She smiled and said, "Are you the new neighbors?"
"Yes, I'm Su Xiaotong, and this is my husband Gu Lei, and our son Gu Xiaoliang."
“Please come in quickly. We are also guests of Sister Xueli, and we arrived before you."
"Okay, do we need to take off our shoes?"
"No, it's not necessary. We didn't change shoes either."
The family then entered the living room. The layout and decoration of this house were similar to theirs compact and cozy. There were about eight or nine people sitting on the sofa and chairs in the living room, all unfamiliar faces but with friendly smiles on their faces. Su Xiaotong felt a bit uneasy and greeted, "Hello, everyone."
"Hello, hello, please have a seat." An aunt in her fifties with a kind face said.
Li Xueli, wearing loose home clothes and slippers, came out of the kitchen. She was wearing an apron and holding a bowl while beating eggs. When she saw the family dressed as if attending a grand banquet, she burst into laughter and said, "Oh my, you all look so formal. I forgot to tell you that this is just a casual family gathering. Dress comfortably."
A young man sitting on the sofa, playing a mobile game, smiled and said, "Yeah, I just came in shorts and a T-shirt. Compared to you all, I feel like I walked onto the wrong set."
Everyone laughed. After being teased like that, Su Xiaotong's face turned red, and Gu Lei felt a bit embarrassed as well. Fortunately, the aunt was understanding and patted the young man's leg, saying with a smile, "They're here for the first time, of course they would dress up a bit. That's just manners, you know? Do you need to do that when you eat here every day?"
Su Xiaotong's expression became more natural. She handed the pastries and fruits they bought to Li Xueli, who exchanged a few pleasantries and asked them to take a seat.
"The last dish, seaweed and egg drop soup, will be served soon. Xingxing, Xiaqi, come help with the dishes!" Li Xueli gave the orders without hesitation.
Several people stood up, and Gu Lei and Su Xiaotong also intended to help in the kitchen but were stopped by Li Xueli, who told them not to dirty their clothes. She arranged for them to sit at the dining table. Li Xueli's dining table was a large round table that could accommodate twelve people when crowded. Everyone brought out the dishes and utensils together. Dozens of delicious dishes were served one by one, looking appetizing and making everyone's mouths water.
Su Xiaotong noticed a woman with high cheekbones who had a slightly younger daughter with her. The little girl was quite cute, wearing a pink outfit with a rosy complexion and smooth hair. She had a bright and clever expression on her face. Comparing her to the dull and slow-witted Gu Xiaoliang, it was like night and day, which made Su Xiaotong's emotions complicated.
There were beverages, red wine, and beer on the dining table, and each person chose their preferred drink. After pouring the alcohol into their glasses, Li Xueli stood up, raised her glass, and said, "Welcome our new neighbors, Su Xiaotong, Gu Lei, and Gu Xiaoliang!"
Everyone stood up, raising their glasses. Su Xiaotong and Gu Lei expressed their gratitude and, after clinking glasses, they all drank in one gulp.
"Come, let's eat, taste my cooking, and see if it suits your taste," Li Xueli warmly invited.
Gu Lei picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and put it in his mouth. After chewing, his eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Delicious!" He picked up a piece for Su Xiaotong, who also couldn't help but praise it sincerely after tasting it.
"I'm glad you like it!" Li Xueli said happily, "Here's minced meat and egg soup, specially made for the two little ones. Come, give it a try."
Saying that, she served minced meat and egg soup to Gu Xiaoliang and the little girl. After thanking Li Xueli, Gu Lei continued to patiently feed his son and help him with his meal, just as he always did. The little girl, curious, asked Gu Xiaoliang, "You're so big, do you still need someone to feed you? Why don't you eat by yourself? Look, I eat by myself."
Gu Xiaoliang seemed as if he hadn't heard and continued to chew while playing with a small toy in his hand. Gu Lei and Su Xiaotong felt a bit awkward, unsure of how to respond. At that moment, the woman with prominent cheekbones said to her daughter, "Wenjing, eat your meal. Why bother about others?"
Li Xueli raised her glass again, changing the topic. After everyone clinked glasses three times, Li Xueli said to Su Xiaotong, "Do you know what we all have in common?"
"We're neighbors in the same community," Su Xiaotong replied. "Isn't that it?"
"Of course, but there's another commonality. We all came from different places to settle in this city for various reasons. We hardly have any relatives or acquaintances here, so we often gather together, like friends and family."
"Saying 'often' might not be accurate," a young man in a sweatshirt and shorts interjected. "It's more like 'every day.'"
"Yes, every day," Li Xueli nodded.
Su Xiaotong and Gu Lei were somewhat surprised. "You all eat and gather together every day?"
"At first, I would often invite everyone to my place as guests. As we got to know each other better and enjoyed the food I cooked, I suggested that we eat together regularly. Everyone agreed, so we contribute 600 yuan per person per month as a food budget, which I use to buy groceries and cook. We have dinner together at my place," Li Xueli explained.
"Oh, I see. 600 yuan per month for dinner is really great!" Gu Lei said.
"Absolutely, the dishes Li Jie cooks are comparable to those of a professional chef in a restaurant. They are much better than regular takeout, and they're also healthy, hygienic, and nutritious," the girl with short hair remarked.
"If you're willing, you can also join us. Children can pay half the price," Li Xueli suggested.
"Ah, really?" Gu Lei exclaimed happily. "Although I can cook, it's quite troublesome to buy groceries and cook every day."
"Of course you can!" Li Xueli replied with a smile.
Gu Lei looked at Su Xiaotong, seeking her opinion. However, Su Xiaotong didn't continue on that topic. Instead, she said, "By the way, Li Xueli, I don't know everyone here. Could you please introduce us?"
"Of course, this is an important part of the welcoming party, self-introductions. Let's start with Xia Qi, and everyone can introduce themselves to the new friends, sharing their backgrounds and why they chose to settle in Lishi City," Li Xueli suggested.
"Sounds good." The girl with short hair, who had opened the door for Su Xiaotong and the others earlier, readily agreed. She was about to speak when the woman with prominent cheekbones interrupted, "Wait a moment."
"What's the matter, Fan Lin?" Li Xueli asked.
"Xueli, I know you're outgoing and friendly. But I still have to remind you, shouldn't we first establish something before introducing ourselves to the new friends?" Fan Lin questioned.
"What is it?"
"That is... whether they are truly our friends," Fan Lin replied.
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