As the off-road vehicle of the herders gradually disappeared into the distance, Xia Cuie and Xia Xiangqian stood motionless, lost in thought.
After a long while, they returned indoors.
Wiping her tears, Xia Cuie retreated to the kitchen to cry for a bit.
When she emerged, she found Xia Xiangqian had already opened a bottle of Wuliangye and was drinking it neat.
"You old fool, still have the mind to drink?"
Xia Xiangqian put down his cup, smacked his lips, "It's just that I'm feeling upset."
"You're still upset..."
Xia Cuie looked at the table and was instantly stunned.
"Wuliangye, something Xiao Fan gave you?"
"Mm, if not him, would I have bought it myself?"
Xia Xiangqian never carried more than ten yuan in his pocket, and when he went out to buy liquor, it was usually cheap spirits.
"Such good liquor, how could you just drink it like that?"
According to Xia Cuie's idea, such good wine should be drunk one bottle on New Year's Day, and the remaining one saved for the next New Year.
"Why be heartbroken? Didn't you see Lin Fan's grand display? Could he put on such a show without money?"
Xia Xiangqian picked up his cup and drained it in one gulp.
After he finished, his face was neither red nor pale, looking like he could handle a whole bottle.
"You still haven't said what to do about him and Xue'er, all you do is drink!"
"Let them be. We couldn't control our daughter before, and it's the same now."
After a cup of wine, Xia Xiangqian's thinking became more open, "We're both so old, we won't have to worry about her for many more years. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. You shouldn't sigh all day long."
"You're the only one who can think so easily!"
Xia Cuie, too lazy to bother with him, turned and went into the yard.
...
Meanwhile, Lin Fan sat in the back seat, happily holding his sister-in-law's hand, telling all sorts of funny jokes.
Tian Mengyao, who was driving, had a dark expression and a stormy sea of jealousy in her heart.
She told herself that her sister-in-law was like a parent; Lin Fan's parents died early, so his dependence on his sister-in-law was normal.
But...
It still made her feel very unhappy!
All the way to Luofeng Village, to the front of Xiao Fan's clinic, she didn't smile once, "I'm going back to the village committee."
Xia Xue suddenly realized that she seemed to have neglected Tian Mengyao all the way.
"Secretary Tian, why don't you join us for dinner tonight? I'll cook a few more good dishes."
After Xia Xue finished speaking, Lin Fan chimed in, "Yes, my sister-in-law's cooking is excellent."
Seemingly a simple remark, it immediately angered Tian Mengyao.
She dislikes my cooking?
Yes!
Your sister-in-law is the best!
"I'm not going."
Tian Mengyao refused outright.
But then, she realized that her reaction was too obvious, so she explained, "I still have a lot of work waiting for me, I really don't have time."
"Oh, then I'll bring you some delicious food tomorrow."
After Lin Fan finished speaking, he directly opened the car door and got out with his sister-in-law.
Tian Mengyao was furious, her eyes welling up with tears.
"I was truly blind back then to have fallen for such a scoundrel like you!"
...
Night fell.
At Song Yue's house in Wangjia Village, there was a joyous atmosphere.
Xia Xue personally took charge of the cooking, preparing a table full of delicious dishes.
Song Yue also brought out a bottle of red wine and poured a full glass for everyone.
"Let's have a toast!"
Song Yue raised her wine glass, her face beaming with a happy smile.
Lin Fan followed suit, raising his glass. Looking at his dignified and elegant sister-in-law, and the charming and beautiful Song Yue, his heart felt even happier.
"Cheers!"
Xia Xue smiled gently, then also raised her glass.
"May we have this day every year, and every year like this!"
Song Yue's beautiful eyes flickered, and she added, "And I wish Xiao Fan will soon achieve his heart's desire!"
Lin Fan understood what Song Yue meant as soon as he heard it.
She was urging him to quickly win over his sister-in-law!
"Xiao Fan, what is your heart's desire?"
Xia Xue, still in the dark, asked with a smile.
"Sister-in-law, it's your turn."
"I..."
Xia Xue pondered for a moment, then smiled, "I have no more requests. I feel pretty good about the current life. Your clinic is thriving, and your sister and children are all doing well."
"Sister-in-law, but I'm still not satisfied!"
Lin Fan gazed intently at his sister-in-law, his intentions written all over his face.
Song Yue pretended to know nothing, enjoying the situation.
She couldn't wait for them to get married, so she could have a sister to share the burden with.
Xia Xue's face turned red, and she quickly turned her head away, saying, "Let's drink, aren't you tired of holding your glass?"
After saying that, she took a small sip of red wine.
Soon, after dinner and drinks, Lin Fan reluctantly returned to the clinic.
Before going to sleep, he kept thinking of his sister-in-law's gentle and elegant demeanor.
"Next year, I must marry my sister-in-law!"
"I mean it!"
"I must do it!"
As he made this vow, Lin Fan unknowingly fell asleep.
And a few hundred meters away, in the village committee secretary's office, Tian Mengyao was still working under the light.
She was in a bad state tonight, and after four or five hours, she still couldn't focus on her work.
The hateful image of Lin Fan would appear in her mind from time to time, making her grit her teeth so hard they audibly clicked.
"Damn it~"
"You just wait!"
Tian Mengyao tore up an A4 paper with a few rips, a wave of anger rising in her eyes and heart.
She even felt a sense of powerlessness, not knowing what she could do to Lin Fan.
She leaned back in her chair, looking up at the ceiling, and suddenly felt as if she were completely at his mercy.
"I won't like you anymore!"
Tian Mengyao could only vent her dissatisfaction by throwing a childish tantrum.
Wuwu~
A strange gust of wind swept past, rustling the weeds and fallen leaves in the yard, making a sound like a ghostly cry.
At the same time.
Zzizz...
The light on the ceiling seemed to have a loose connection, flickering intermittently.
"Ah!"
Tian Mengyao screamed, her heart leaping into her throat.
She stood up in panic, her whole body trembling.
"It's okay, it's okay, it's the twenty-first century."
She tried to comfort herself this way.
Soon, the wind passed.
The light also returned to normal.
Tian Mengyao let out a long sigh of relief, "It's all your fault!"
This incident made her even less inclined to work.
She tidied up a bit, then went to sleep.
...
It was very late.
A seductive and eerie figure walked quietly along the country dirt road, heading towards Xiao Fan's clinic.
The figure's eyes were dark, even more so than the night!
The corners of her mouth curled up, revealing a strange smile.
Dong dong dong!
Dong dong dong!
The door of Xiao Fan's clinic was knocked repeatedly.
Lin Fan, who was having a sweet dream, was woken up and impatiently shouted, "Damn it, who is it? Can't a person sleep in the middle of the night?"
He patted his head, and after waking up, he guessed it must be a patient with an emergency, so he put on his clothes and shuffled out in his slippers.
"It's me."
A faint voice came from outside the door.
Lin Fan's movements suddenly stopped.
In the middle of the night, "It's me"???
"Who are you?"
Lin Fan asked nervously.