School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

"Mm!" Old Liu nodded and said, "Xiao Lei, you should give your opinion. If you agree, I'll reply to Aunt Xiao and let her know. They came to me a few days ago to talk about this matter, and I should give them an answer. If you disagree, I'll refuse her; if you agree, I'll accept."

"I…" Liu Xiaolei blushed.

"Actually, when she first brought it up, I refused!" Old Liu laughed and said, "I know you, Xiao Lei, are a strong-willed child, but I think Xiao Han is a good kid, so I took the initiative to ask you."

"Agree!" Liu Xiaolei's voice was very soft, as soft as a mosquito's.

"What?!" Old Liu's hearing wasn't so good due to his age, and he didn't hear her.

Liu Dajun, however, heard everything loud and clear. He quickly laughed and said, "Dad, Xiao Lei agreed!"

"Really!" Hearing this, Old Liu's heart burst with joy. To be joined with Xiao's family in marriage was truly a joyous matter. Xiao's family conditions had improved a lot, and they even bought a large house in Evergrande City. Xiao Han even had a car now; their conditions were so much better than his own family's. Thus, Old Liu was very pleased.

"Mm!" Liu Xiaolei nodded with her head bowed and hummed softly.

"That's great." This time Old Liu didn't miss what was said.

With a heart pounding like a frightened deer, Liu Xiaolei quickly stood up, "I…I'm full, I'm going to take a bath now."

Today was New Year's Eve, and bathing and changing clothes were rituals everyone observed.

Liu Xiaolei bathed for a long time, cleaning every part of her thoroughly. Then she wrapped herself in a bath towel and returned to her room. Her room was small, with only a bed, a dressing table, and a wardrobe—the only three pieces of furniture she owned. Compared to her environment in Shenzhen, it was quite a downgrade. But, Liu Xiaolei didn't mind; she was happy to live under the same roof as her parents.

Back in her room, Liu Xiaolei lay on her bed, wrapped in the comfort of her blankets. Holding her phone, she hesitated for a long time, unsure whether to call Xiao Han. She could never have imagined that Mother Xiao would take the initiative to propose a marriage, which surprised her. Liu Xiaolei would unhesitatingly refuse proposals from anyone else, because in her heart there was only Xiao Han.

Imagining herself soon becoming Xiao Han's woman, she felt extremely excited.

With resolution, Liu Xiaolei dialed Xiao Han's number.

"Xiao Han, what are you doing?" Liu Xiaolei asked.

"I'm watching the Spring Festival Gala. What about you?" Xiao Han asked.

"I just finished bathing." Liu Xiaolei giggled and said, "I got off work late today, had the New Year's Eve dinner, and then took a bath to get ready for bed."

"Sister Xiaolei, you've worked hard." Xiao Han consoled.

"Not hard at all!" Liu Xiaolei shook her head, "Is that even work? If you engage in the restaurant business, you have to accept everything it brings, right?"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Han nodded, "Aren't you going to watch the Spring Festival Gala? The sketches are pretty good this year."

"Not watching!" Liu Xiaolei shook her head, but thought to herself, "I'm about to become your wife, and you're still talking to me about this stuff?" However, she didn't speak these words out loud, keeping them in her heart.

"Why?" Xiao Han asked, puzzled.

"No reason." Liu Xiaolei shook her head, "I don't like watching TV. I want to chat with you!"

Xiao Han was startled and then laughed, "Today the sun rose from the west? Sister, you're actually initiating a chat with me?"

"Of course!" Liu Xiaolei immediately nodded, "Besides me, who else would chat with you?"

"Hehe…" Xiao Han dared not speak; there were many who wanted to chat with him.

A smile appeared on the corner of Liu Xiaolei's mouth as she timidly asked, "Did your mom say something to my dad recently?"

"Ah?" Xiao Han was taken aback, "Say what? I'm not sure, should I... go ask?"

"No, no, no!" Liu Xiaolei quickly shook her head.

"Why?" Xiao Han asked, confused.

"It's nothing, I just asked casually!" Liu Xiaolei's heartbeat accelerated, fearing that Xiao Han would go ask.

Normally straightforward, Liu Xiaolei was now displaying an unusual level of nervousness and panic, which was a clear sign of concealing something. Therefore, Xiao Han figured that Liu Xiaolei must be hiding something. He chuckled and said, "Okay, then I won't ask."

"By the way, where are we going tomorrow?" Liu Xiaolei asked.

"Where else could we go, obviously to pay New Year's visits," Xiao Han replied.

The two of them chatted back and forth for quite a while until Liu Xiaolei grew sleepy.

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Han decided to ask for the whole story. Mother Xiao was still watching TV in the living room, so Xiao Han approached her and asked, "Mom, have you been talking to Old Liu recently?"

"Old Liu?" Mother Xiao laughed as soon as she heard it and replied, "Yes, yes, I mentioned to Uncle Liu, just to see if Liu Xiaolei would be interested in getting together with you. But, it seems like there's little hope now, because Uncle Liu hasn't responded for so long. And it seems that he does not intervene in Liu Xiaolei's marriage."

"What?" Xiao Han nearly jumped out of his skin upon hearing this. He exclaimed, "Mom, why did you bring up such a thing?"

"What's wrong with bringing up such a thing?" asked Mother Xiao, surprised.

"Nothing, nothing!" Xiao Han shook his head and hurriedly rushed into his room. At this moment, he realized why Liu Xiaolei had earlier insisted he should not ask—she was probably embarrassed, probably already knew about this. Moreover, her mood almost certainly meant she had agreed. Xiao Han was thrilled inside; Liu Xiaolei was indeed a very nice girl, graceful enough to present in the hall and capable enough to cook in the kitchen. Mischievously charming, she was very much to Xiao Han's liking.

Xiao Han lay in bed, now it was his turn to be unable to fall asleep. His mind was a mess, an empty chaos.

Although Xiao Han tried to cultivate sleepiness, he couldn't manage it and tossed and turned for over an hour before finally falling into a heavy sleep. Outside, the sound of firecrackers crackled incessantly, disturbing everyone.

The next morning at five-thirty.

"Xiao Han, time to get up," Mother Xiao called to wake him urgently.

"Mom, what time is it?" Xiao Han rubbed his eyes.

"Time to open the fortune gate, to welcome the God of Wealth," Mother Xiao reminded him hurriedly, saying, "I sealed the fortune gate last night, but from today onwards, you are the man of the house, and it's your duty to open the fortune gate. Go quickly!"

Xiao Han instantly woke up, scrambled to his feet, and said, "Yeah, I got it."

Wearing his pajamas, Xiao Han rushed out, carrying a gigantic string of firecrackers, then took the elevator downstairs.

Downstairs, there were already many people setting off firecrackers, the air was heavily laden with the smell of sulfur, so pungent it almost took one's breath away. Xiao Han hurriedly placed the firecrackers in the designated area and arranged them into a giant '8' shape.

"Young man, just moved in?" asked a middle-aged uncle from not far away.

"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded and responded, "My home is on the eighteenth floor."

"Oh, I asked because I didn't recognize you," said the middle-aged uncle as he hurriedly offered Xiao Han a cigarette, then smiled and said, "Happy New Year."

"Uncle, Happy New Year to you too," Xiao Han nodded.

"Where are your folks?" the middle-aged uncle inquired.

"My dad passed away a few years ago, it's just my mom and me at home," Xiao Han replied.

"Oh, the pillar of the home," the uncle nodded, saying, "I live on the sixteenth floor, come and visit me when you're free."

"Sure!" Xiao Han nodded.

Xiao Han immediately began setting off the firecrackers.

From the moment Xiao Han lit those firecrackers, it signified that he started bearing the responsibility of his family, becoming an important figure in his home. Xiao Han was also aware of the responsibility on his shoulders, his mother was getting old, and he had just matured, grown up. Therefore, it was necessary for him to take on the heavy lifting for his family.

The reason his mother was willing to put the family's responsibility on his shoulders was that he had grown up and had become a man.

Watching the firecrackers burst into sparks in the sky, Xiao Han's eyes gleamed with an added streak of determination. From now on, from today, from this year onward, he was an adult, one who shouldered the responsibility of his family and undertook the family's duties. All these years, his mother had been the one singlehandedly struggling, biting down hard to persevere. So, Xiao Han felt it was necessary for him to grow up.

From New Year's Eve to the first day of the New Year, the sound of firecrackers had not ceased, accompanying people as they fell asleep and woke up, and as they got out of bed.

As dawn began to break, Xiao Han personally took to cooking.

According to the Linjiang custom, men should cook on the morning of the first day of the New Year while women slept in. Moreover, one must eat vegan on this morning and not meat. For many years, Xiao Han knew, there could only be two dishes on his family's table in the morning: a plate of tofu and a plate of greens—a green and a white symbolizing that one should live a clean and honest life.

Although Xiao Han's cooking skills were not great, they were passable.

After preparing the food, his mother had already gotten up.

After refreshing herself, Mother Xiao wore a brand-new red jacket, looking much younger, but the silvery gray hair on her head was particularly noticeable. Xiao Han quickly served his mother some rice. Mother Xiao was moved. She hurriedly pulled a red envelope from her pocket.

"Xiao Han, this is your New Year's money," Mother Xiao said with a smile on her face, adding, "I know you're quite well-off now, but this is all my heartfelt wish."

"Thanks, Mom," Xiao Han nodded, then added, "I also wish Mom would be ever youthful and healthy."

"My son has become thoughtful," A look of gratification spread across Mother Xiao's face. She said, "My son has grown up, and I can relax now. However, you should also get married and have children soon, so that I can be relieved of my last worry."