PFC Chapter 226 A Joyful Trip to Spring City
Chapter 226 A Joyful Trip to Spring City
"These photos are really good." The photographer handed over the sample photos, smiling, and said, "You can pick them up in three days."
Looking at the smiles of his family in the sample photos, Li Xiangyang felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
In particular, the loving look in his mother's eyes as she stood behind him reminded him of everything before his rebirth.
Now, everything is different.
"Xiangyang," Mr. Li walked over and patted him on the shoulder, "how about taking the whole family to explore Kunming? It's a rare opportunity to come all this way."
“Okay.” Li Xiangyang nodded, then looked at Li Xiaoyun. “Where do you want to go?”
"Let's go to Heping Street first," Li Xiaoyun said with a smile. "Take Hua'er to have a look. A new state-run restaurant opened there; I heard they serve authentic Northeastern cuisine."
Li Xiaohua immediately perked up: "Really? Sister-in-law, let's go right away!"
"Slow down, slow down," Li's mother said with a smile, pulling her excited daughter back.
The streets of Kunming are wide and clean, with lush poplar trees on both sides.
Li Xiaohua looked around curiously, occasionally pulling her sister-in-law aside to ask her all sorts of questions.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing to a red brick building by the roadside.
“That’s a library,” Li Xiaoyun explained patiently. “It has lots of books; you can find anything you want to read.”
Li Xiaohua's eyes lit up: "Really? Can we go in and take a look?"
“Of course,” Li Xiaoyun ruffled her hair, “but we might not have enough time today, so I’ll bring you another day.”
Walking along Heping Street, you'll find shops lining both sides of the street, bustling with people.
The signboard of the state-run restaurant was particularly eye-catching, and a banner reading "Famous Northeastern Dishes" was hung at the entrance.
“I know this place,” Mr. Li said with a smile. “I ate here last time I was here on business, and it was really good.”
Upon entering the restaurant, the waiters warmly welcomed them and seated them.
Li Xiangyang ordered several famous Northeastern dishes, including sweet and sour pork, braised pork slices, and chicken stew with mushrooms.
"Here, try this sweet and sour pork." Li Xiangyang placed a piece on his mother's plate. "The chefs in the city are just different."
Li's mother smiled and said, "You should put more food on Xiaoyun's plate."
After dinner, the family went to the department store.
Li Xiaohua was particularly interested in the stationery counter, and it took her a long time to choose a few pencils and a few notebooks.
"Sister-in-law," she asked softly, "would it be easier to write in this kind of notebook?"
Li Xiaoyun took it and looked at it: "Hmm, this paper is of good quality, perfect for practicing calligraphy."
Li Xiangyang watched his younger sister's earnest expression and felt gratified.
In this life, he is determined to ensure his sister receives a good education.
As evening approached, the sunset painted the sky with magnificent colors.
The family chatted and laughed as they walked toward the guesthouse, with Li Xiaohua reluctantly turning back to look at the bustling street.
"I'll take you to other places to play tomorrow," Li Xiaoyun promised.
"Really?" Li Xiaohua's eyes lit up.
“Of course it’s true,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile.
Back at the guesthouse, Li's mother and Li's mother chatted about everyday things, and the two elders had a very pleasant conversation.
Li Xiaohua, on the other hand, clung to her sister-in-law.
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the curtains.
Li Xiangyang got up quietly, afraid of waking Li Xiaoyun who was still fast asleep.
"Awake?" Li Xiaoyun turned over and opened her eyes. In the morning light, her eyes were as clear as water.
"Did I wake you up?" Li Xiangyang leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.
"No," Li Xiaoyun stretched, "I was almost awake anyway. Where are you planning to take Hua'er today?"
“Take her to the Cultural Palace,” Li Xiangyang said. “It should be quite interesting.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Brother, sister-in-law, are you up yet?" It was Li Xiaohua's voice.
"I'm here." Li Xiaoyun quickly got up and started washing up.
Pushing open the door, Li Xiaohua was already dressed and standing in the corridor, looking radiant.
Li's mother was also waiting nearby, smiling as she said, "This child woke up very early this morning, and is very excited."
The mornings in Kunming are very lively.
Street vendors were already busy, and the air was filled with the aroma of soy milk and fried dough sticks.
"Let's go eat some steamed buns first," said Mother Li, leading everyone into a small alley. "This place is famous for its three-delicacy steamed buns."
The steamed bun shop is small, but it does a lot of business, with long queues outside.
Steaming hot steamers filled one after another, the buns with thin skins and generous fillings, bursting with broth with every bite.
"It's so delicious!" Li Xiaohua exclaimed, her cheeks flushed from the steam.
After breakfast, the group boarded a bus to the Cultural Palace.
It was nearly noon when we finished visiting the exhibition.
Mr. Li suggested going to the Chuncheng Hotel for dinner.
The family enjoyed a happy meal and then visited several tourist attractions.
On the day they picked up their wedding photos, Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun looked at each photo carefully several times and were very satisfied.
“This one is really good,” Li Xiaoyun said softly, her finger tracing the radiant smile of Li Xiaohua in the photo.
"Mmm." Li Xiangyang put his arm around his wife's shoulder, his heart filled with emotion.
Memories of my rebirth flashed through my mind; the happiness I have now is hard-won.
"Xiangyang," Mr. Li said kindly, looking at the photo, "did you have a good time these past few days?"
"I'm so happy, all thanks to my parents for taking us around these past few days," Li Xiangyang said sincerely.
"That's good," Mr. Li said with a smile. "We're going back tomorrow, so I'll have your mother cook a few more dishes tonight."
At dinner, Li's mother prepared a table full of delicious dishes.
Li Xiaohua ate with a happy expression, occasionally whispering to her sister-in-law about the interesting things that had happened in the past few days.
“That cultural center was so much fun,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “Sister-in-law, I want to go again next time I come.”
"Okay," Li Xiaoyun said affectionately, patting her head. "I'll take you to the library next time; they have even more books than the Cultural Palace."
Looking at the beaming smile on her daughter's face, Li's mother felt a surge of relief in her eyes.
These days in the city, she could clearly feel the change in her daughter; she had become much more lively.
“Mother,” Li Xiangyang placed a piece of braised pork on his mother’s plate, “when we get back, I’ll go into the mountains again and hunt some more game so you can eat meat every day.”
“You,” Li’s mother said with a laugh and a scolding tone, “I work at the Agricultural Bureau now, and life is much better than before. Stop thinking about going back to the mountains.”
“That’s right,” Li Xiaoyun chimed in, “You should take a break too.”
Li Xiangyang smiled without saying a word, but he already had a plan in mind.
Life has gotten better, but he still wants his family to have an even better life.
Seeing Li Xiaohua's thirst for knowledge these past few days, he felt even more motivated to work harder.
After dinner, the family enjoyed the cool air in the yard.
A gentle night breeze blew as Li Xiaohua laid out the stationery she had bought over the past few days one by one on the small table, and carefully wrote her name on the title page of her exercise book.
"Well written," Li Xiaoyun praised from the side.
"Sister-in-law," Li Xiaohua looked up, "do you think I can become a teacher like you in the future?"
“Of course you can,” Li Xiaoyun said firmly. “As long as you study hard, you’ll have the opportunity to become a scientist, let alone a teacher. You can ask me anything you don’t understand.”
"That's great!" Li Xiaohua happily hugged her sister-in-law.
Li's mother, who was standing to the side, had tears welling up in her eyes as she watched this scene.
"Alright," said Mrs. Li with a smile, "it's getting late, everyone should go and rest. You have to catch the train early tomorrow morning."