The Lady I Flirted With Is Here - Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Grandma

The bus glided smoothly along the highway. Fang Daiyu and Lin Xian sat together, sharing a pair of earphones. Lin Xian began introducing her hometown to Daiyu.

“Our area is mostly Bai people. My mom is Bai, and so are my grandparents. Oh, strictly speaking, my ‘Grandma’ and ‘Grandpa’ would be called maternal grandparents in your dialect. Remember what I said? Many girls here bring in a ‘live-in son-in-law’—my mom did. Later, she divorced my dad, so the ‘Grandparents’ I’ve called since I was little are actually my mother’s parents.”

After a thirty-minute ride, the Bai-style houses and villages came into view. Through the window, Daiyu saw a sea of white walls and green tiles. Most were two or three-story buildings with protruding eaves and tube-tiled roofs. Every house had lime-brushed walls adorned with natural landscape paintings.

Just like Lin Xian’s home in the city, almost every house had flower beds at the corners of the walls. As Lin Xian led Daiyu off the bus, Daiyu saw the beds were filled with roses, monthly roses, plums, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums.

Walking further in, they admired various gardens. The houses were mostly courtyard style, somewhat similar to the Siheyuan of Beijing. The main gates were mostly made of intricately carved wooden lattice. The environment was quiet and elegant, with spacious alleys dotted with red flowers and green leaves.

Lin Xian stopped in front of a small two-story courtyard. Two groves of lush bamboo grew by the gate, their height surpassing the walls, partially veiling a deep yellow lattice door. Lin Xian walked up and knocked on the door ring. “Grandma, I’m back!”

Through the door came the sound of quick, light footsteps and a vigorous voice: “I’m coming, I’m coming!”

The door swung open to reveal a round, kind face. When the old woman smiled, her expression was identical to Lin Xian’s—full of pure joy. She wore traditional Bai attire: a tie-dyed headscarf, a white top, a red vest with an embroidered square cloth pinned to it, indigo pants, and an embroidered apron around her waist. She pressed her thick palm against Daiyu’s back, laughing heartily. “Good child, come in, come in!” Her voice carried a thick local accent, but fortunately, Daiyu could understand her.

The courtyard was large and tidy. A round well stood near the outer wall, surrounded by half a courtyard of flowers and plants. A grape trellis was built right over the well. Grandma pointed at it and told Daiyu, “Come back in the spring, and you can have a taste.” She spoke to Daiyu as if she were her own granddaughter, without a hint of formality.

Lin Xian explained, “My grandma is very hospitable. I was raised by my grandparents. She’s met every single one of my classmates.”

“That’s for sure!” Grandma beamed with pride. “My Xianxian has been a good girl since she was small. The friends she makes are all top-notch!” She gave a thumbs-up, making Daiyu laugh out loud. In this atmosphere, it was impossible not to smile.

The living room featured long rattan sofas covered in tie-dyed cloth and exquisite embroidered cushions. A television sat atop a tall, old-fashioned cabinet from years ago.

Grandma smiled bashfully. “Our house is old, don’t mind the clutter.”

Daiyu didn’t mind at all; she found it fascinating. Coming to Lin Xian’s hometown allowed her to truly understand the woman she loved. “The house is very clean and beautiful, Grandma,” she praised sincerely, making the old woman bend over with laughter.

“Oh! I almost forgot! Wait right here!” Grandma stood up and hurried out.

She returned with two large platters. One held beef jerky, fried rushan (milk fans), and fried potato chips—all local homemade snacks. The other was filled with sunflower seeds, fruits, and candies. Grandma squinted with a smile: “Take a handful, take a handful.” She held the platters right in front of Daiyu as if she wouldn’t put them down until she took something.

Daiyu looked at Lin Xian, who was laughing at her awkwardness. Lin Xian stepped in to help Grandma sit. “Grandma, rest for a bit. People from the city like to help themselves.” Grandma listened to Lin Xian, but still placed a small side table directly in front of Daiyu’s knees and set both platters on it.

“Good child, remember to eat!” she reminded Daiyu.

Lin Xian reached out, casually picked up a piece of rushan and started eating. The milk fans were sprinkled with sugar, and there was a small bowl of warmed honey on the side. Grandma watched her with a pained expression, but since a guest was present, she didn’t want to scold her directly. She just whispered, “Look at you! What kind of manners are those? Ignoring the guest and just eating for yourself.”

Grandma thought she was being quiet, but Daiyu heard every word. Noticing Lin Xian’s “complaining” look, Daiyu obediently picked up a piece of rushan, dipped it in honey like Lin Xian did, and took a bite.

She had never seen this food before. It had a strong milky aroma and a crispy texture from being fried, followed by the rich taste of cheese and the light sweetness of the honey. Daiyu’s eyes lit up; she loved sweets, especially those that weren’t cloying.

“This is delicious, Xianxian,” she praised, then turned to thank Grandma.

Grandma leaned back happily on the sofa. Sunlight filtered through the window frame onto her face—half golden, half in shadow, leaving only her smiling eyes visible. “This rushan is like cilantro or stinky tofu; few people outside can handle it. Those who like it find it amazing; those who don’t won’t touch it for a lifetime.”

Grandma then cracked a joke—the kind local farm women told every day. “Xianxian says you’re from the North. Since you like rushan so much, why not marry into our Dali? Endless rushan and endless scenery. What do you think?”

This was a standard elder’s joke, meant to make a youngster blush and stammer.

However, Daiyu looked straight at Lin Xian and slowly curled her lips into a smile. “Grandma, look at me—what do you think of me marrying into your family?”

Lin Xian jumped in shock, her fingers digging into the sofa fabric and clutching the cushion tight.

Daiyu remained calm and composed, as if she had just made a light joke. Grandma froze for a second, then burst into hearty laughter, pointing at Daiyu while gasping for air. “This kid is fun!”

Her laughter echoed through the house. “Looking at you closely now, you’re so handsome. If you were a little boy, you’d be a real looker. Having you as a live-in son-in-law? No loss there, no loss at all!”

Grandma then turned to Lin Xian: “Xianxian, what do you think of this ‘live-in son-in-law’?”

Lin Xian laughed awkwardly. “She’s okay.” She then shot Daiyu a secret glare.

The little episode passed. After more chatting, Grandma looked at the large wall clock and slapped her thigh. “Oh my! I need to go help out.” She hurried to the bedroom to change and grabbed a few small basins. Before leaving, she instructed Lin Xian: “Wait for my call, then bring Daiyu over to the house, okay?”

Lin Xian nodded.

The moment Grandma left, Lin Xian pounced on Daiyu. “I told you not to talk nonsense! I told you!”

Red-faced with anger, Lin Xian kneaded Daiyu’s face with her palms. But as she kneaded, perhaps finding the texture too good to resist, she couldn’t help but kiss Daiyu’s cheek. “Squishy Daiyu,” Lin Xian poked her cheek repeatedly, eventually laughing herself.

Daiyu pulled her into an embrace, her voice whispering in Lin Xian’s ear, “Not mad anymore?”

“Hmph!” Lin Xian turned her face away poutily. “My heart nearly jumped out of my chest, Fang Daiyu! Grandma is old; she can’t handle a lot of ‘modern’ things, you know?”

Daiyu looked at her. “Elders will just think it’s a joke, Xianxian.” She sounded a bit hurt. “Besides, you won’t let me come out. I’m at my mother-in-law’s house and I have to act like a guest—it’s stifling!”

Lin Xian ignored the glib talk. She got up, grabbed the platter of rushan and beef jerky, and moved to the other end of the sofa to eat alone. “Stop being cheeky. No more for you! Hmph!”

Daiyu sat back, thinking she really was still a child.

With a relaxed heart, she rested her arm on the rattan chair and watched Lin Xian eat. Grandma had clearly prepared all of Lin Xian’s favorites. Lin Xian’s cheeks moved in small, rhythmic bites, and soon the milk fans were down to the last two or three pieces. Just as she reached for another, she hesitated and glanced at Daiyu, only to realize she was being watched.

Lin Xian slammed the platter on the table and marched toward Daiyu. “What are you looking at?”

Daiyu wanted to laugh, but seeing the “little lion’s” angry face, she realized she shouldn’t. She straightened up with a serious face. “Reporting to the Commander: I am looking at a beauty and a feast. Both are quite appetizing!”

Under Daiyu’s gaze, Lin Xian’s face turned scarlet instantly. She tried to maintain her dignity. “Stop with the flattery! Why were you peeking at me?”

Daiyu said solemnly, “My apologies, Commander. I wasn’t peeking; I was looking openly.”

“Did I give you that right?”

Daiyu shook her head. “No!”

“Then why were you still looking!” Lin Xian huffed.

Daiyu quickly caught Lin Xian and pulled her into her lap. Lin Xian struggled, but Daiyu held her tight. She gently patted Lin Xian’s back. “You’re my wife. Of course I look when I want to!”

“Hmph, who’s your wife? Shameless!” Lin Xian was still annoyed by the joke with Grandma, but being held like this, her anger dissipated.

Daiyu finally softened. “I’m sorry, Xianxian. I won’t make jokes like that again, okay?” Her eyes were sincere as she looked into Lin Xian’s.

Lin Xian slowly nodded. “And you can’t make jokes like that with my mom, either.”

“Yes, Commander!”

Lin Xian wasn’t satisfied. “Don’t call me Commander. It sounds terrible!”

“Yes, wifey!”

With red ears, Lin Xian broke free, went back to the table, and brought the platter back. She pointed to the last three pieces of rushan. “Eat. It’s your reward.”

Daiyu couldn’t help but smirk. “Thank you, wifey. Thank you for leaving your humble servant a bite after your feast.”