After being reborn, I raised my childhood sweetheart.

Chapter 2 The Girls Who Collect Bottles

As the saying goes, no one knows a father better than his son.

Xu Yuan was well aware of what his father's biggest taboo was.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingguang's face darkened, a rare flash of anger appeared in his eyes, and his entire aura changed.

He Xiaona turned pale with fright at this moment and hurriedly explained:
"When did I ever say such a thing! How could your son talk nonsense?"

"So you mean my son lied to me and framed you?"

Xu Jingguang immediately retorted, his tone filled with strong emotion: "Although our family is a single-parent family, I will teach him to be a good person and I will never teach him to say such dirty words."

To be honest, He Xiaona did mean that, but this kid is too good at exaggerating.

"Oh dear, it's a misunderstanding, it really is a misunderstanding... the child may have misheard!"

Wang Wenhui quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "We really didn't know she was your Yuanyuan. You know what... It's so hard for old classmates to meet, how did it turn into this?"

"Just because you don't know he's my son... does that give you the right to say such nonsense about someone else's son?"

Wang Wenhui's help only made things worse, and Xu Jingguang became even angrier!

At this time, many of the wedding guests were also his junior high school classmates, and the protagonist of the wedding, Song Ming, also rushed over to inquire about the matter.

"Hey, what happened? Xiaona, you're covered in orange juice! Go wipe it off!"

He Xiaona didn't argue any further at this point, but two lines of tears streamed down her face, and she began to sob softly:

"I'm sorry, Jingguang. I only came here today to attend Song Ming's wedding. I didn't expect that after so many years, our first meeting would be so awkward. I did say something I shouldn't have to Yuanyuan, which made him misunderstand my meaning. I'm really sorry. I will apologize to you properly next time."

Then she looked at Song Ming beside her and said, "Song Ming, I'm sorry for ruining the atmosphere of your wedding. I wish you a long and happy marriage. I won't disturb you any longer today."

"Then, let's get together another day?"

Song Ming scratched his head, unsure of what to say. He simply looked at Xu Jingguang beside him, but Xu Jingguang remained silent with a sullen face, yet his imposing aura was already palpable.

He Xiaona then limped out of the wedding venue, supported by Wang Wenhui.

At this moment, Xu Yuan nestled in his father's arms, pondering his next plan.

Although the initial strategy was successful, based on Xu Yuan's understanding of He Xiaona, she was not a woman who would give up so easily.

They'll definitely continue to bother my dad, but as for what happens next, we'll just have to wait and see.

Now, my father Xu Jingguang's only precious darling is me. Do you think I'm afraid of her?

Back at his seat at the banquet, Xu Jingguang felt puzzled, so he asked Xu Yuan again:

"Yuanyuan, tell Daddy the truth, did that aunt really yell at you like that just now?"

Xu Yuan nodded seriously, then raised his hand. "Dad, I wouldn't be this angry about anything other than Mom. I swear to God, if I'm lying, may my whole family—"

Xu Jingguang was so startled that he quickly covered Xu Yuan's mouth, "Okay, Dad believes you. You're supposed to be a flower girl to present the ring later, are you sure you're okay?"

"Well, yes."

Xu Yuan nodded seriously, "I promised Uncle Song I would be a flower boy, and I absolutely cannot embarrass him."

"That's good, he's a real man of the Xu family."

Xu Jingguang patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder, smiling and encouraging him.

Although his outburst didn't completely sever the connection between his father and He Xiaona, it certainly gave He Xiaona a very low initial impression. Most importantly, it made He Xiaona hate him to death.

As long as I continue to oppose her, one day I will be able to expose her true colors in front of my father.

Furthermore, as long as he doesn't give in, it certainly won't be easy for her to marry her father if she wants to.

Even though things went so smoothly in her previous life, her father still observed her for a whole year before deciding to get married.

The thought that he would no longer have to live a miserable life like he did in his previous life made Xu Yuan feel incredibly happy at the wedding.

After presenting the ring as a flower boy, Xu Yuan was asked by the host to stay and say a few auspicious words. Overjoyed, he spontaneously uttered the following:

"I wish Uncle Song Ming and Aunt Feng Lian a long and happy marriage, mutual respect, perfection, a long and happy life together, many children, a lifetime of devotion, endless love, sharing joys and sorrows, and happiness with all five blessings!"

"well!"

“That’s awesome!”

"so amazing!"

"Is this guy eight years old?!"

"Oh my, as expected of the young master of our beautiful Jiangnan, his words are always so cheerful. Mr. Xu, did you see your son's wonderful performance?"

Amidst the applause, Xu Jingguang, sitting in the audience, waved sheepishly to everyone, inwardly wondering to himself, "This kid is usually so shy, it's a miracle he doesn't say anything wrong. How come he's suddenly become so eloquent and can recite poetry so well?"
"Alright! Now, please welcome Mr. Xu, the big boss of our Jinxiu Jiangnan Hotel, to the stage and say a few words for his good friend!"

Many people in the audience cheered, "You must speak better than your son, Mr. Xu!"

"It would be shameful if I were not as good as my son!"

"That's it!"

The most important thing about the wedding in 2004 was its grand scale.

The more banquets one hosts, the more impressive one's family and business seem, the wider one's network of connections, and the more joyful the guests and hosts are.

Eight-year-old Xu Yuan chatted amiably with the older uncles and elders at the banquet, even using orange juice instead of alcohol, reciting a long list of auspicious sayings from memory, which greatly amazed the uncles and elders. This also made Xu Jingguang, who was beaming with pride, quickly forget the unpleasant little episode before the wedding began.

As the banquet gradually came to an end, the older women were busy serving dishes and getting cigarettes. While listening to the drunken adults chatting, the figures of two little girls caught Xu Yuan's attention.

They looked at the girl who was about the same age as Xu Yuan. The slightly taller girl had a single ponytail, while the shorter girl had short hair that reached her ears. The girl with the single ponytail led the girl with the watermelon-shaped short hair around aimlessly, circling the banquet again and again, as if they were looking for something.

How could a girl of this age be without an adult by her side?

People these days have such big hearts.

Are you here to find some scattered wedding candies and cigarettes? Or—

When Xu Yuan got up, he noticed that the short-haired girl was dragging a large plastic bag from the hotel that was used for trash. Inside were several green beverage bottles. As soon as the girl with the single ponytail saw the empty bottles, she immediately ran over, took them, and handed them to the shorter girl.

Are they here specifically to collect bottles from the banquet?

When he was a child, he did sell junk with his father to experience life, but he usually cleaned up things that were no longer needed at home and rarely went to the street to pick them up, because adults would say that was something only poor vagrants would do.

Of course, it goes without saying that taking things directly from someone else's hotel or restaurant would be extremely embarrassing for anyone.

It seems these two kids must really want some snacks or toys, otherwise they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to pick up bottles...

Xu Yuan couldn't stand it anymore when he saw the two of them actually pick up the unfinished drinks, drink them, and then put them away. He immediately stood up and called out to them:

"You two, wait a minute."

When the two children heard Xu Yuan call them, they immediately stood up obediently as if they had been caught doing something wrong. The short-haired girl even hid the bottles and bags she had collected behind her back.

Xu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, a serious expression on his face, looking the two girls in front of him up and down.

The two girls looked rather cute. The girl with the single ponytail seemed to come from a middle-class family. She was wearing a pink cartoon T-shirt and shorts, with a bow hair accessory and a sports watch on her wrist.

But the short-haired girl's clothes were filthy. The clothes were clearly a school uniform, and the collar of the uniform was washed until it was almost white. It was obvious that she didn't have many clothes to wear.

Are you looking for something?

"No, I wasn't looking for anything."

The girl with the single ponytail was noticeably more talkative, but she seemed a little reserved when she saw Xu Yuan dressed in a suit, and just scratched her face, asking, "W-what's wrong?"

"What about this?"

Xu Yuan pointed to the bag of bottles behind the short-haired girl.

"I just... I picked up some bottles that you didn't want..."

The girl with the single ponytail mustered her courage and asked, "It shouldn't be illegal, right?"

Xu Yuan didn't answer, but instead shifted his attention to the short-haired girl and continued to press her, "What are you doing picking up bottles? Are you going to sell them?"

The short-haired girl next to him leaned against the edge of the table, her hands fidgeting with the tablecloth, her eyes darting around, looking completely lost, let alone making eye contact with Xu Yuan.

The girl with the single ponytail stood there blankly, watching Xu Yuan ask the short-haired girl questions. She was also very anxious and kept poking the short-haired girl's waist.

"Because, because..."

The short-haired girl finally dared to speak, lowering her head and whispering, "Because I want to take it home and sell it."

"What are you going to do with the money you're selling? What do you want to buy?"

These bottles might sell for a dollar or two at most, enough to buy one or two drinks.

Seeing that the short-haired girl couldn't explain herself, Xu Yuan had no intention of leaving. Noticing that the bottles nearby had been collected by the older women, the girl with the ponytail seemed anxious and quickly explained:
"Let me tell you, their family is actually very poor!"

The outspoken girl with the single ponytail suddenly realized she shouldn't have said that, and after stammering for a while, she explained while fiddling with her fingers:
"Well... what I mean is, her mom's birthday is coming up, but her mom hasn't found a job lately and is feeling really down. She wanted to give her mom a birthday present to cheer her up, so, well..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan was immediately stunned, feeling as if the softest part of his heart had been touched.

"So... you just wanted to collect bottles, exchange them for money, and then buy a gift for your mother's birthday?"

(End of this chapter)