The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

In the lounge, father Li Mingde and mother Qin Xiuli were sitting together chatting.

"Mingde, I feel like I'm dreaming today. I never thought we'd be being interviewed one day." Mother Qin Xiuli leaned on her husband's shoulder.

Father Li Mingde smiled and looked at his wife affectionately: "This is all thanks to Xiuli for raising such a promising son."

"Don't be so mushy!" Qin Xiuli, the mother, gently patted her husband's shoulder. "I'm talking to you about the interview!"

"Good, good!" Father Li Mingde put his arm around his wife's shoulder.

Just then, the door to the lounge was pushed open.

"Father, Mother, I'll take..."

Before Li Kaixin could finish speaking, he saw this scene before him, immediately retreated, and closed the door behind him in one smooth motion.

Fortunately, Master Chen, who was following behind, stopped the moment Li Kaixin stepped out.

But Zhou Zhiming fared much worse, crashing headfirst into the door.

He covered his nose and looked at Li Kaixin with a resentful expression: "Master, why did you suddenly close the door again?"

"I'm sorry, Zhiming, I didn't pay attention to you just now." Li Kaixin looked embarrassed.

However, judging from the expressions on Master Chen's and Zhou Zhiming's faces, it's likely that they didn't see what just happened.

The father, Li Mingde, and the mother, Qin Xiuli, separated the moment the door opened in the lounge.

The mother, Qin Xiuli, blushed deeply.

The father cleared his throat, composed himself, and said calmly, "Kaixin, come in."

Li Kaixin, who was outside the door, touched his nose and slowly pushed the door open again.

Seeing that her parents had already sat down separately, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

When Li Mingde, the father, and Qin Xiuli, the mother, saw that there were two other people following behind their son, they quickly stood up and went to greet them.

As soon as they got closer, Li Kaixin immediately introduced Master Chen: "Dad, Mom, this is my master."

Upon hearing this, Father Li Mingde's face immediately lit up with a warm smile, and he extended his hand:

"Master Chen, it's great to finally meet you today! I've often heard Kaixin mention how much you've taken care of him. Without you, how could he have gotten promoted so quickly? My wife and I don't know how to thank you enough."

"Not at all, not at all!" Master Chen smiled and shook hands with Li Mingde, his tone humble: "I'm just happy that this kid has talent; I didn't actually put in much effort."

"Master Chen, please don't say that. No matter how talented my son is, he can't learn without a teacher to guide him," Qin Xiuli, the mother, chimed in.

As they were talking, Zhou Zhiming, who was following behind, stepped forward and said cheerfully, "Grandmaster, Grandma, hello! I am Master's disciple, my name is Zhou Zhiming."

This sound drew the attention of Li Kaixin's parents.

Mother Qin Xiuli smiled and said, "It's Zhiming. I've heard my family mention you before; they said you're a diligent and intelligent child."

"Really? Madam!" Zhou Zhiming's eyes lit up, his voice filled with joy. "My master really praised me like that in front of you two?"

Li Kaixin, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore: "Alright, alright, Zhiming, tone it down. I didn't see you this happy when I praised you to your face."

"Master, how can these be the same!" Zhou Zhiming replied with a grin.

Seeing the conversation between the master and apprentice, both Master Chen and Li Kaixin's parents burst into laughter.

......

After leaving the transportation station, Li Kaixin pushed her bicycle and walked home side by side with her parents.

Because his father, Li Mingde, came in a jeep, his bicycle was still left at the steel rolling mill.

As they approached courtyard number 93, Li Kaixin finally couldn't help but speak up: "Dad, Mom, could you two please be a little more mindful of the occasion when you're being affectionate in the future?"

"You brat, you're even interfering in your father's business now?" Father Li Mingde's face flushed, but he refused to back down.

Li Kaixin replied irritably, "If I hadn't been quick, Master Chen and Zhiming would have caught you red-handed in the break room just now."

"Hmph! That's because you came in without knocking." Father Li Mingde turned his head away.

"Alright, alright!" Mother Qin Xiuli blushed slightly and smiled as she smoothed things over, "What Kaixin said makes sense. We should be more careful in the future."

As she spoke, Qin Xiuli, the mother, took her husband's hand with one hand and her son's hand with the other, and the three of them entered the courtyard together.

It was already 2 p.m. when I returned to the courtyard house at No. 93.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Sun from the front yard saw me and immediately came over.

"Xiuli, why are you back so early today? Did something happen?" Aunt Zhao asked with concern.

Mother Qin Xiuli waved her hand with a smile: "Nothing happened, it's just that the boss at work told us to take half a day off early today."

"Is my husband coming back soon?" Aunt Zhao asked.

"No!" Father Li Mingde shook his head with a smile. "Brother Zhao, they still get off work at five o'clock in the afternoon."

At this moment, Grandma Sun, who was standing nearby, noticed that only Li Kaixin was pushing her bicycle. She asked in surprise, "Mingde, where's your other bicycle?"

"It's still at the steel rolling mill. I'll ride it back tomorrow."

Seeing that the two wanted to ask more questions, Li Mingde, the father, politely interrupted them, "Sister Sun, Sister Zhao, we haven't had lunch yet, so let's stop talking now."

After saying that, he led his wife and Li Kaixin toward the backyard.

Aunt Zhao and Aunt Sun watched their departing figures, their eyes filled with doubt.

After the three figures entered the house, the two exchanged a glance and went together to Aunt Wang's house in the backyard.

Li Kaixin and her parents returned home and cooked a simple meal in the kitchen to tide them over.

There was a knock on the door right after we finished eating.

"Xiuli, Mingde, are you home?" came Aunt Wang's voice from outside the door.

Li Kaixin quickly stepped forward and opened the door.

At a glance, you can see Aunt Wang looking anxious, followed by Aunt Zhao and Aunt Sun.

Aunt Wang rushed into the house: "Xiuli, Mingde, what happened?"

These words startled both parents.

Father Li Mingde asked, puzzled, "Sister Wang, we're fine, why do you ask that?"

"You still say it's nothing? Little Zhao and Little Sun from the front yard both told me! If there's any difficulty, we'll figure it out together." Aunt Wang's tone became even more anxious.

These words left even Li Kaixin, who was standing to the side, somewhat bewildered.

Father Li Mingde explained with a wry smile, "Sister Wang, you've misunderstood. Nothing's wrong with us."

"Then why is there only one bicycle left? And why did you leave work so early?" Aunt Wang continued to ask.

Father Li Mingde patiently replied, "I still have a bicycle at the steel mill. I'll ride it back tomorrow. I got off work early because the boss specially approved a half-day off. I told Sister Zhao and Sister Sun about it."

Before Aunt Wang could ask any more questions, her mother, Qin Xiuli, interjected:

"As for the reason why the leader granted the leave, it's not convenient to go into details right now. Sister Wang, please don't ask any more questions. In short, it's a good thing."

This morning, after her husband took her out of the courtyard house, he specifically instructed her not to mention the interview with their son to the neighbors.

"I see!"

Seeing that the two seemed genuine, Aunt Wang breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright then. If you really encounter any difficulties, you must tell everyone."

"Oh, Sister Wang, thank you for thinking of me," Qin Xiuli, the mother, quickly replied.