Abstinence Pei, don't be too sweet when chasing your wife

The Yang County ruins were still immersed in a light mist in the early morning, and the scent of soil mixed with grass filled the air. On the small path beside the exploration area, there were only a few team members who had gotten up early to organize their tools.

Pei Luonan carried the breakfast thermos prepared for Gu Fanxing and deliberately went around to the old locust tree far away from the tent area - it was quiet here and the signal was stable, which was the best place to call Grandma Gu.

He leaned against the trunk of the locust tree, stroking the screen of his mobile phone with his fingertips, and opened the chat box with Grandma Gu.

The last message record was a week ago, when he went to Gu's house to pick up the heirloom that Pei Ma and Pei Grandma gave to Fanxing, he said to his grandmother, "I will tell you as soon as I get Xingxing's nod." His grandmother replied, "Okay, grandma is waiting," and added a smiling old man emoticon.

When I think about it now, I can still remember the old man sitting on the rattan chair with his eyes full of anticipation.

Taking a deep breath, Pei Luonan dialed Grandma Gu's number.

The phone was picked up after three rings. The old man's gentle voice came from the other end, a little hoarse from just waking up: "Luonan? Calling so early, do you have good news?"

Pei Luonan's mouth corners instantly rose, and his tone was particularly soft: "Grandma, you guessed it right. Xingxing and I...we are officially dating.

There was a two-second pause on the other end of the line, and then Grandma Gu's obviously excited voice came, even speaking faster: "Really? Xingxing really agreed to you? That's great! That's great! I've been thinking about it these past few days, worried that you two would have to work it out for a while, but I didn't expect it to be decided so soon!"

There was obvious relief in the old man's voice, and a sense of relief.

The last time Pei Luonan came to Gu's house to get the bracelets and earrings, he specifically told her about his proposal plan, and said that Xingxing still had some concerns in her heart. She had been worried about it, tossing and turning at night, always thinking, "The two children like each other, don't miss it because of this concern."

"It's the stars that figured it out,"

Pei Luonan explained with a smile, his fingertips unconsciously touching the lines on the locust tree bark.

"There was a small accident at the site a few days ago. The soil in the exploration area collapsed. I got a little injured while protecting Xingxing. Xingxing was very worried at the time, but later she confessed her feelings to me."

He didn't dare say how dangerous the landslide was at the time, and just mentioned it as a "minor injury" for fear of worrying the old man.

"injured?!"

Grandma Gu's voice suddenly became nervous, "Is the injury serious? Did you see a doctor properly? Is Xingxing scared? That child has always been soft-hearted and can't stand seeing others get hurt. Don't hide it from me!"

"Don't worry, it's just a little scrape on my arm. I've already disinfected and bandaged it. Xingxing watches me change the bandage every day. She cares about it more than I do."

Pei Luonan hurried to comfort him.

"I was afraid you'd be worried, so I told you right away so you can rest assured."

Grandma Gu finally breathed a sigh of relief, her voice softening again: "That's good, that's good. Xingxing is actually a very thoughtful child. If she is willing to date you, she must really care about you."

The old man paused, as if remembering something.

“Last time you came to my house to get the bracelet and earrings, I was hoping that you two would be together.

Because the way you look at the stars is different from the way you look at others, and the stars are the same. When they mention you, there is always a smile on their lips. You both have each other in your hearts, and all you need is an opportunity to break the window paper.

Pei Luonan listened and felt warm in his heart.

Grandma Gu watched Xingxing grow up, and she understands Xingxing's thoughts best. She can even see the care that Xingxing doesn't express.

He remembered the last time he went to the Gu family, the old man took out a red cloth box containing the heirloom from the drawer, gently wiped the dust off the box, and said to him, "Luonan, Xingxing has had a hard time these years. She has devoted herself to studying and archaeology and has rarely lived for herself. If you really like her, you should be more accommodating to her and spend more time with her doing things she likes."

He always kept those words in his heart.

"Grandma, don't worry, I will."

Pei Luonan's tone was particularly solemn.

"I'll take good care of Xingxing. She likes studying porcelain fragments, so I'll help her organize the materials. If she wants to eat the sugar cakes from the south of the city, I'll get up early to buy them. The conditions here at the ruins are tough, so I'll make sure she eats and rests more and doesn't get tired."

"Okay, okay, grandma believes you."

Grandma Gu's voice was full of relief.

"I've talked to Xingxing's parents, and they like you very much. They say you're a reliable child. Be good to each other in the future. Come home together when you have time. I'll make you the braised pork that Xingxing loves, and the shepherd's purse dumplings that you said were delicious last time."

"Of course. Once the mid-term cleanup of the ruins is complete, I'll come back with Xingxing to see you."

Pei Luonan agreed with a smile, and chatted with his grandmother about some family matters - such as his grandmother's recent health and whether the roses at home had bloomed. The old woman talked on and on, and he listened patiently, occasionally responding. The morning light slowly climbed over the branches of the locust tree and fell on his shoulders, as warm as the old woman's tone.

After hanging up the phone, Pei Luonan looked at the note "Grandma" on the phone screen, with a smile still on his lips.

He picked up the thermos and headed towards Gu Fanxing's tent. The last time he visited Gu's house, the old man had specifically told him to "cook more porridge for Xingxing in the morning, don't always eat cold food." He specifically asked the kitchen to make pumpkin and millet porridge, and also steamed some yam cakes that Xingxing loved.

In the tent, Gu Fanxing was sitting at a small table sorting out porcelain photos. When she saw Pei Luonan come in, her eyes lit up instantly and a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "You're here? Who were you talking to on the phone just now?"

Pei Luonan put the thermos on the table, opened the lid, and put out the pumpkin porridge and yam cake. "I came here to tell grandma the good news that we are officially dating. Grandma was so happy that she said she would make braised pork and shepherd's purse dumplings for us when we get back."

Gu Fanxing's cheeks flushed slightly. She picked up a spoon and scooped a mouthful of porridge. The warm and sticky pumpkin mixed with the fragrance of millet warmed her heart and made her feel sweet. "Grandma must be talking about me again. Is she asking me if I ate well?"

"That's right," Pei Luonan smiled, reaching out to help her tuck the strands of hair that had fallen in front of her ears behind her ears. "He also asked me if I was recovering well and asked me to take good care of you. He said that the ruins were tough and he didn't want to tire you out."

Gu Fanxing took a bite of the yam cake. The soft and glutinous texture had a faint sweetness of osmanthus. She looked up at Pei Luonan, her eyes full of tenderness.

Pei Luonan's heart softened instantly. He remembered the last time at Gu's house, when Grandma Gu handed him the red cloth box, she whispered to him, "Xingxing told me when she was a child that she helped a little boy chase away hooligans at the alley entrance, and she also made a promise with him that we would take care of a dog together, be the dog's father and mother, and give the dog a home. I only now know that it was you. You waited for her for twenty years. Xingxing will understand this kindness sooner or later."

Now, Xingxing not only understands, but is also willing to be with him.

"We should go back to visit grandma more often in the future," Pei Luonan held Gu Fanxing's hand, and her warmth could be felt on his fingertips. "When the work at the ruins is not busy anymore, we will accompany her to the park and pick roses with her, just like when we were little."

Gu Fanxing nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling: "Okay, grandma also said she would teach me how to make shepherd's purse dumplings, saying that I never made them well before. This time you are here, we can learn together."

The morning light shone through the gaps in the tent, falling on the two people's clasped hands, as well as on the bowls of porridge and yam cakes on the table, so warm that it seemed about to overflow.

The team members' laughter and chatter could be heard in the distance. The old locust tree next to the exploration area swayed its branches gently in the wind. Everything was like the morning sunshine, gentle and full of hope.

Pei Luonan looked at Gu Fanxing eating breakfast, and his heart was filled with peace of mind - he knew that this wait spanning twenty years not only had a sweet beginning of a relationship, but also the blessings and concerns of his family, and this happiness with the flavor of fireworks would become sweeter and sweeter.