Early on July 8th, the entire Qiu family of four packed their belongings, ready to return home for a celebration.
"Grandpa, Grandma, we're here!" Qiu Ge, who hadn't visited his grandparents in a long time, rushed inside as soon as they got out of the car.
Qiu Xi followed closely behind, entering the courtyard.
The Qiu couple watched from behind, their faces beaming with smiles.
Looking at the house again, although it was an old house in a small alley, a bit remote and a bit dated in its decor, it was still a detached house with a yard, offering plenty of space.
The more they thought about it, the stronger their desire to move back became.
"Your father, it seems we still need to save money as quickly as possible," Qiu Ma mused, as they had discussed before. Returning would have to wait two more years, especially since Qiu Ge also needed to attend high school.
"Don't think about it too much. We still have time," Qiu Ba said, putting his arm around Qiu Ma and walking inside.
"Come on, let's hurry," Qiu Ma said, swatting his hand at her waist and walking ahead briskly.
"Hehe." Qiu Ba habitually smiled foolishly and patted her head.
In the living room, Qiu Xi and her younger brother were already chatting enthusiastically with their grandparents.
Qiu Xi hugged her grandmother's arm and leaned on the sofa, "Grandma, Grandpa, now that Xiao Ge and I have both been accepted, you can stop worrying."
"Yes, Grandpa, aren't you happy?" This was Qiu Ge from the other side.
"Worried? Of course not. You are both good children."
"Happy, happy. Grandpa's face has been full of smiles every day."
...
"Grandma, Grandpa, we'll stay for two days this time before we leave."
"Good, good, good!" Hearing this, Grandfather Qiu and Grandmother Qiu beamed even wider.
"Mom, Dad." Qiu Ba and Qiu Ma saw the scene as soon as they entered, their smiles also full of joy.
"You're here. Today, just rest well, do some shopping, and tomorrow we'll have a good celebration for these two."
"Okay."
The next day, as soon as Qiu Ba and Qiu Ma left, many people arrived.
Aunt Huang Xianyi and Uncle Xu Jingcheng brought their cousin Xu Yiyi, along with Uncle Qiu Jue and cousin Qiu Xin.
Suddenly, the usually quiet house became much more lively.
After exchanging greetings, Qiu Xi looked at Xu Yiyi, who was still in elementary school, her eyes lighting up. "Yiyi, it's been so long, you've gotten even cuter."
Pinching the little girl's cheeks, they were so soft.
"Mmm... Don't... pinch me," Xu Yiyi pulled upwards with both hands, squirming.
"Alright, Sis." Seeing his own sister like this, Qiu Ge had to pull her away.
He thought about how he, despite being so much older, was still subjected to her "poisonous hands" sometimes, let alone his 7-year-old cousin.
"Fine, fine." Qiu Xi had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw her hand.
"Come here, Yiyi. Why isn't your brother coming over too?" Qiu Ge pulled his cousin closer, also curious about where cousin Xuan Ming was.
Xu Yiyi, sitting on a chair, patted her cheeks and swung her legs, "Brother has something at school, he hasn't come back yet."
"I see." Qiu Ge suddenly realized that his cousin Xuan Ming was already in his third year of university.
"Xi Xi, my dear sister, long time no see, you've gotten even prettier. Come here for a hug." As soon as Qiu Xi withdrew her hand, cousin Qiu Xin clung to her.
"Sis, you're not young anymore, why are you still like this?"
Qiu Xin had graduated over two years ago, and she always acted like this whenever she saw Qiu Xi.
Perhaps this was karma, or the saying "there's always someone better."
Hahahaha!
While the younger generation was fooling around, the adults had started to get busy after Qiu Ba and Qiu Ma returned.
They played for half the day.
"Come, come, you kids stop playing and get ready to start."
Seeing the children still giggling and laughing, Huang Xianyi had to call out loudly.
"Let's go, let's go." As soon as they heard the call, Qiu Xi immediately pulled the others over.
As Qiu Ge arrived, his foodie nature was exposed. "It looks delicious!" he said, swallowing his saliva.
Qiu Xi was also a little curious. She had helped out before, but was pushed out before she could even enter, being told it was her celebration banquet and she didn't need to lift a finger.
"Come, everyone sit down. The cake is here."
The group quickly sat down, and saw Qiu Jue walking out with a cake, carefully placing it in the center of the table.
Xu Yiyi's eyes lit up when she saw the cake. "Wow, there's cake too!"
Xu Jingcheng looked at his daughter's eager expression and playfully pinched her small, delicate nose. "You silly girl, you eat cake every day, why are you still so excited?"
"Hahaha! She's just a child. Let her eat plenty later," Qiu Ma said, looking at her little niece with great affection.
After watching for a while, Grandfather Qiu announced it was time to start the feast. "Alright, stop teasing Yiyi. Let's begin once everyone is seated."
Hearing this, Xu Jingcheng sat down with his daughter. "Okay!"
Once everyone was seated, Grandmother Qiu spoke and beckoned to the Qiu siblings. "Xiao Xi, Xiao Ge, come here."
"Ah, okay." Qiu Xi was a little confused but still went over with her brother.
"Here, this is from your grandfather and me. Take it and continue to work hard in the future."
Grandmother Qiu handed two red envelopes to the children, patting their hands.
"Grandma!"
Qiu Xi called out, then glanced at her parents before accepting the envelopes.
"Thank you, Grandpa, Grandma. We will," the siblings replied in unison.
"Good, good, good. Go sit down, it's time to eat."
The meal lasted a long time, and finally, the cake was divided and eaten.
After the meal, in the hall.
"Sis, why don't we find some time to pay respects to Mom and Dad?" Huang Xianyi said from the side.
Her parents had passed away when she was in college. If it weren't for her sister, she wouldn't have graduated safely, and her sister had only just started working back then.
Therefore, Huang Xianyi had always maintained a good relationship with her sister and brother-in-law's family.
"That sounds good. Let's wait until the children start school, and then we'll find a time to talk with Mom and Dad properly," Qiu Ma said, reminiscing about the past with a touch of emotion.
She and her sister now had harmonious families and stable lives.
Now that both children were obedient, and Xiao Xi had gotten into a good university, she really should tell their parents.
"That's a good idea. I'll go with you then, Sis."
"Mm."
"Mom, Auntie, what are you two talking about?" Qiu Xi, after receiving a red envelope from her uncle with her brother, had nothing to do and happened to see them chatting.
"Nothing much... just talking about your red envelopes." Seeing the red envelopes in the children's hands, Huang Xianyi seized the opportunity to change the subject, thinking about the red envelope she still had in her pocket.
"Since you're here, here, take these."
"Then thank you, Auntie."
Having received multiple envelopes, the two felt reassured.
Huang Xianyi added casually, "Remember to study hard."
"Okay, Auntie." The siblings responded with practiced ease.
"Alright, alright, go on now."
Qiu Ma watched, unable to bear it any longer, and urged the two children to leave.
"Okay, Xiao Ge is leaving now." Qiu Ge even made a funny bow.
"Are you silly? Let's go." Qiu Xi couldn't stand it anymore, pulled her brother, and turned to find her cousins.
"Xi Xi, since you're here, remember to accept the money I sent via WeChat. Don't refund it again. You're not allowed to! This is from your sister, celebrating your admission to university, and Xiao Ge too." Qiu Xin was just about to go look for them when she ran into them.
"Sis, although you're working..."
"Did you hear what I just said!" Qiu Xi, who was about to argue further, was interrupted.
Fine, she would accept it.
"Alright, I know. Thank you, Sis."
"That's more like it."
Checking the time, "I'll be leaving now. I'll play again when I have time."
"Okay, bye-bye~"
As soon as she finished speaking, she hurried downstairs and left.
And so, the small family celebration banquet concluded. Qiu Xi and her brother stayed at their grandparents' house for a few more days before returning, as the results of Qiu Xi's college applications were about to be released.