I trade in both worlds

At half past five, the blood-red sunset dyed Baiping Village with a gentle golden glow.

Xu Xu drove slowly into the village and finally stopped at the parking lot of the largest shopping mall nearby.

This mall is a place she often visits. It is convenient for shopping and has restaurants and amusement facilities that children like.

Walking into the mall, the children looked around excitedly like ponies running wild, and Xu Xu followed closely behind to make sure they were safe.

Inside the hamburger shop, five people sat around a table. The ordered food was served quickly, and the aroma was fragrant.

"Wow, what a big hamburger." Xu Qiwei picked up the hamburger excitedly, took a bite carefully, and his satisfied expression was beyond words.

Xu Tiantian was not to be outdone. Although her hands were not very coordinated, she still tried hard to hold the chicken wings by herself. Her mouth was full of oil, but she smiled brightly.

Xu Jin and Xu Zhun ate and chatted, sharing the interesting things that happened in the palace today, and occasionally they would laugh out loud because of a joke.

After finishing the meal, Xu Qiwei asked, "Mom, can we go to the playground to play for a while?"

Hearing this, the twins looked at Xu Xu with their bright eyes wide open.

Xu Xu asked helplessly: "Aren't you tired after walking around all day today?"

"Not tired." The twins and Xu Qiwei shook their heads.

Xu Tiantian looked around and shook her head, smiling and saying, "Not tired."

"Then go." Xu Xu nodded helplessly in agreement.

"Great! Great!" The children almost jumped up, their excitement beyond words.

After sending the children to the playground, Xu Xu sat aside and looked at them, his heart filled with unprecedented peace and happiness.

She knew that although such times were ordinary, they were extremely precious memories for her and her children.

She remembered that when her parents were alive, they also gave her such unconditional love and companionship. Now, she is trying to pass on this love to her children.

The next day, Xu Ziqi sent a WeChat message to Xu Xu, asking her to have dinner together in the evening.

In the evening, Xu Xu brought her four children to the mall again. After parking the car, she went straight to the fourth floor.

Xu Ziqi and Shao Yuanyuan were waiting in a private room of a barbecue restaurant.

"Sister, what are we going to eat here?" Xu Jin asked curiously, looking up.

"Let's go have barbecue today." Xu Xu replied with a smile.

"Really? What does barbecue look like?" Xu Zhun also became excited, his two little cheeks slightly flushed with anticipation.

"I haven't eaten it either, but I've seen it on a video. The meat is placed on an iron plate, grilled until it sizzles, then dipped in a special sauce and wrapped in fresh lettuce." Xu Xu explained patiently.

Xu Qiwei held Xu Zhun's hand tightly and asked in a low voice: "Uncle, is the barbecue delicious?"

"It tastes good, right? How can meat not taste good?" Xu Zhun said confidently, as if he had already foreseen the moment when the delicious taste would blossom on his tongue.

When they arrived at the fourth floor of the mall and found the barbecue restaurant with a warm and exotic decoration, Xu Ziqi and Shao Yuanyuan were already waiting in the private room.

Seeing them, Xu Ziqi immediately stood up and greeted them with a smile on his face: "Xuxu, you are here, finally. Are the little ones hungry?"

"Brother Xu, Sister Yuanyuan, how long have you been here?" Xu Xu greeted them and asked the children to say hello one by one.

"Not long ago, we just arrived too." Xu Ziqi replied.

"Brother Xu, Sister Yuanyuan." Xu Jin and Xu Zhun shouted in unison, their voices filled with love for the two.

"Uncle Xu, Aunt Yuanyuan." Xu Qiwei also joined the greetings in a baby voice.

Xu Tiantian looked confused, but she followed her brothers and shouted, "Uncle, Auntie."

Upon seeing this, Shao Yuanyuan immediately picked up Xu Tiantian from the stroller and rubbed her face affectionately: "Tiantian, do you still remember Aunt Yuanyuan? You couldn't speak the last time we met."

Xu Tiantian seemed amused and started giggling, patting Shao Yuanyuan's shoulder gently with her little hand.

After they sat down, the waiter started serving them the dishes, including iron plates, various meats, vegetables, and sauces. It was the first time for Xu Xu and the children to try barbecue, and they seemed a little flustered, but they were more excited and had more fun.

"Come, let me demonstrate to you first." Xu Ziqi picked up a piece of beef and put it on the iron plate. After a while, the aroma of meat filled the air and the fat was happily jumping on the iron plate.

"Look, that's it. Turn it over, bake it for a while longer, and you can eat it."

Xu Jin and Xu Zhun stared at the piece of meat with their eyes wide open, without blinking, afraid of missing any details.

Shao Yuanyuan helped by teaching the children how to dip in sauce and wrap lettuce.

"Wow, it's delicious." Xu Jin took a bite of the meat he had grilled himself, his eyes lit up instantly, and the sense of satisfaction was beyond words.

"Really, it's delicious." Xu Zhun also agreed, with happiness written all over his little face.

Xu Qiwei and Xu Tiantian were not willing to be left behind. Although their movements were clumsy, with the help of the adults, they also tasted the barbecue, and their little faces were filled with satisfied smiles.

The dinner was warm and pleasant, and when the meal was almost finished.

Xu Ziqi suddenly put down the chopsticks in his hand, and his expression became serious: "Xu Xu, actually, I asked you out today, in addition to having dinner, there is another thing I want to ask you for help with."

Xu Xu was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "What is it? Tell me, as long as I can help."

Xu Ziqi glanced at Shao Yuanyuan who was sitting next to him, and they smiled at each other, their eyes full of tacit understanding and sweetness: "We...are getting ready to get married."

"Really, congratulations." Xu Xu said sincerely, with genuine joy flashing in his eyes.

She had heard from Xu Ziqing before that the two had been dating for about five or six years. Xu Xu couldn't understand why they didn't get married if they felt they were suitable, but instead continued dating.

"Thank you." Xu Ziqi smiled and explained, "The wedding banquet will be held on May Day next year. We want to hold a Chinese-style wedding, so we would like to ask you to help us design and make wedding dresses."

"I heard from Xiaoqing that it would take at least two or three months to make a wedding dress, so I told you in advance."

"No problem." Xu Xu was sincerely happy for them: "You made it so serious, I thought it was something else."

"Leave the wedding dress to me. Come with me to get measured later. What are your requirements for the wedding dress?"

Xu Ziqi shook his head, his eyes full of trust in Xu Xu: "I don't have one, just make me a set that suits me." After saying that, he turned to look at Shao Yuanyuan and asked gently: "What about you?"

Shao Yuanyuan also shook her head, with a happy smile on her face: "I don't know much about Hanfu, Xuxu, you are a professional, you can arrange it. I believe in your vision and taste."