Based on a certain personality that is eager for adventure, Lan Xiaomei is extremely excited about this voyage.

More than once, she imagined what a wonderful picture this mysterious ancient oriental country would be, what her grandparents who had never met would look like, and whether people rode horses from place to place (she liked the book called "Journey to the West" that her mother told her very much, and especially admired the Monkey King Sun Wukong).

She is proud that she has half Chinese blood in her veins.

As the plane took to the sky and streaked over the vast Pacific Ocean, she chattered and threw countless questions to her mother: what is delicious and fun in China, how do Chinese greet each other, and are there any special traditions and beliefs......

Lan Yilian patiently answered these questions one by one.

In fact, from childhood to adulthood, she has implemented a kind of Chinese-style education for this girl according to her own ideas.

No matter how crazy Chris takes her out every day, when she comes back, she has to wash her hands, change her clothes, and keep her quiet when she comes back.

She taught her children to read Chinese characters, speak Mandarin, practice calligraphy, and play Go; Tell your child to be polite and obedient.

She believes that there are positive and beautiful qualities in the culture of the Chinese nation and tries to pass them on to her daughter.

In this regard, both the husband and the father-in-law (except the mother-in-law) raised their hands in agreement.

It's not so much that they want Lan Xiaomei to become a child with a fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, but that they really don't care.

They don't try to impose what they think is right on the child, like the child's mother, but simply want her to be happy and healthy.

The only thing that has changed is probably Chris.

Under Lan Yilian's constant emphasis and nurturing, or out of understanding and love for his wife, he also unconsciously became curious about China, which has a long history. Therefore, he is also looking forward to this trip to China.

Unfortunately, from the moment he got off the plane, his expectations and good mood began to gradually disintegrate.

The cosmopolitan Pudong Airport, the majestic elevated highways, the congested traffic and exhaust gases in the urban area, the modern skyscrapers, and the ant-like crowds...... And so on and so forth, to make them feel like they're in New York rather than Shanghai.

Ms. Lan Yilian, who has been abroad for more than ten years, constantly lamented that China has changed so dramatically and is so modern, and in terms of urban construction, it is not inferior to the United States at all, and even showed a proud smile in front of her family.

She didn't notice at all, her husband was already pale.

Subsequently, the commercial vehicle they rented left Shanghai and headed for Jiangsu.

After getting off the highway, the scenery outside the window eased the tension between them a little.

At that time, it was April in the world, the best time in Jiangnan.

When Lan Xiaomei saw from afar that the houses with Jiangnan characteristics dotted the sky, the golden rape flowers bloomed all over the fields, and the awning boats slowly rowed across the criss-crossing rivers, she let out bursts of joy with excitement.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a seemingly deserted village.

They got out of the car, stepped over the dirt path, hurried home, and arrived in front of a newly built three-story house.

The house was plastered with gray tiles, there was no yard, and it was dark inside, like a dangerous cave.

Lan Yilian didn't recognize this as the home she lived in before she went abroad, and she was a little worried and didn't dare to go in, so she just called her parents in her hometown dialect at the door. Soon, the two old men came out of it with a smile.

They were not sick at all.

The reason why I called my daughter back from abroad was very simple: my brother was getting married, but he didn't have a house yet, so let her come back and think of a way to help.

"That's all?" Ms. Lan couldn't believe her ears.

"What do you mean by that? This is a major event in your brother's life. The kind-looking old lady said.

"Then why don't you just talk about it on the phone?"

"I can't make out the phone. Besides, we haven't seen our son-in-law and granddaughter yet. "It's still my mother talking. Lan Yilian noticed that her father hadn't spoken since she came back, just squatting aside and smoking.

"Don't you have any money? Doesn't this also build a new house? ”

"We built this house with the last bit of money we had in our family. Originally, I heard that this piece was going to be demolished, and I wanted to rebuild it quickly, increase the area, and then be able to divide more demolition money and decoration costs, but I didn't expect the village to say that it would not be demolished for the time being, so where do we still have money, it has been spent. ”

"That's not right, there is a new house for Xiaohua and his daughter-in-law to live in."

"But the problem is that my daughter-in-law's family is from the city, and my in-laws have spoken, so your brother must have a house in the city, otherwise this marriage will not be successful, and I will be sad to death." The mother paused, "Your American husband should be rich, right?" I remember you saying that his family seems to have a farm. ”

As she spoke, the old lady turned her gaze to the field not far away. Chris and Lan Xiaomei, father and daughter, were on the ridge, watching people hoeing with great interest.

By the time Lan Yilian came out of the house, the problem had been solved.

She took out 500,000 yuan from her savings to support the down payment of her brother's new house, who had just joined the workforce.

She told her American husband about it without reservation.

Chris thought it was a little incredulous after hearing this, but when he saw his wife's haggard face, he swallowed the questioning words into his stomach.

After a few days, they decided to leave and go around.

The family of three went to a thousand-year-old town, visited classical gardens, museums, and came into contact with the long-imagined Chinese civilization (in fact, it is only the Jiangnan civilization).

Although there will still be some shocking friction along the way (such as going through security on the subway), it was a relatively enjoyable trip overall. But just before they were ready to go back to the United States, something went wrong.

Because she was not worried about her parents' health, Lan Yilian took them to the hospital and had a full body examination.

People usually don't stand up to a medical exam.

This check identified the problem.

My father, a non-talkative farmer who smoked, had a tumor in his lungs. In his own words, this is the retribution that comes from lying before.

And no matter what retribution there is, let it not be retribution.

Anyway, after knowing the results of this medical examination, Lan Yilian gathered her husband and daughter together and held a less democratic family meeting.

"I want to stay in China for the time being."