The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

"elder brother!"

As soon as I opened the door, a fragrant breeze wafted towards me.

Xu Xi jumped into his arms like a little kitten, nuzzling his chest affectionately with her cheek.

The fat policeman coughed twice, which was inappropriate for the occasion.

Hearing the voices of strangers, Xu Xi was startled.

She hurriedly broke free from Xu Nian's embrace, her face flushed red to the roots of her ears.

"Wow, you guys are so close."

"That's what the fat policeman joked."

Xu Nian gave an awkward laugh.

"We're all people who didn't have parents to take care of us, so it's natural that we're closer."

"Xiaoxi, go get your uncle a glass of water."

Upon hearing Xu Nian's instructions, Xu Xi felt as if she had been granted a pardon and hurriedly ran away.

The fat policeman wandered around the house.

"This apartment is nice. How much was the rent?"

"five hundred."

"five hundred?"

Xu Nian nodded.

"Yes, the landlord is a very nice man. When we came to rent a room before, I helped him out by chance, and he rented it to us at a low price."

The chubby policeman nodded thoughtfully.

"That's good. Put yourself in others' shoes and repay kindness with kindness."

"However, anyone who owns a house in this neighborhood is definitely not a simple person."

He leaned down and whispered in Xu Nian's ear.

"You should know that this used to be a military dependents' compound."

"Don't be fooled by how old the buildings are; most of the people living here are veterans who have distinguished themselves in battle."

"There were even some high-ranking military personnel."

"You've struck gold to be able to live here. Try your best to get along well with the neighbors, and even if you can't, don't offend them."

"Many people here are people even my boss can't afford to offend."

"Okay, thank you, officer."

Xu Nian agreed.

However, interpersonal relationships have always been his weakness.

He had no friends from childhood and was abandoned, so he relied on his fists to protect himself in the shantytown.

Although he has the ability to take on ten people, it would be difficult for Xu Nian to actually deal with people.

"Officer, please have some water."

Xu Xi brought over a glass of warm water and respectfully handed it to the fat policeman.

"Haha, thank you, girl. My surname is Zhang, you can call me Uncle Zhang. It wouldn't be proper for me to be off work."

Officer Zhang took the water and laughed heartily.

"Okay, Uncle Zhang."

"Xiaoxi, there are pork ribs that your brother bought on the table. Why don't you make a braised pork rib dish that you're good at? Uncle Zhang is eating at our house tonight. I'll cook the rest of the dishes."

"Okay, I understand, brother."

Xu Xi turned and walked into the kitchen.

"Honestly, it's great."

Officer Zhang clicked his tongue in amazement.

"What?"

Xu Nian didn't understand the meaning of his words.

"It's good that you're living together."

Officer Zhang sat on the sofa, recalling the scene when he first met Xu Nian.

"Do you remember the first time we met? You were mistakenly arrested and brought to our station, and I was the one who interrogated you."

"Back then, you were so lifeless, you didn't have a soul at all. If you said you were 17, I would believe you if you said you were 37."

The two looked at each other and laughed simultaneously.

"Later, you called the police saying there was a lost girl in your house. When I went to your house, I saw Xu Xi for the first time. She was as thin as a stick, as if she could be blown away by the wind."

"Now that Xu Xi is living with you, her arms are noticeably fuller, unlike when she was so skinny when we first met."

"You too, you look much more energetic now, and your face looks much younger, like...like a 27-year-old."

"yes."

Xu Nian sighed.

"Before, I had little motivation in life and drifted through each day in a daze, but I didn't have the courage to take the plunge."

He gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Plus, it's hard for minors to find jobs, so I'm already lucky to not starve."

"When I met Xu Xi later, I was so poor that I could only afford to eat boiled noodles. To be honest, I really didn't want to take her in at first, because at that time, I could barely support myself."

"I understand, it's not easy for you either."

Officer Zhang offered Xu Nian a cigarette, and the two lit them together.

"Fortunately, I later found a decent job that was enough to support two people. Then I met Xiaoxi, whose biological father was a scoundrel, so I had the idea of ​​taking her in."

"Xiaoxi is so sensible. She takes care of all the housework and makes sure I have a hot meal ready for me every day after get off work. Now that I think about it, living together is so much better than living alone."

As she spoke, Xu Nian looked at Xu Xi's busy figure in the kitchen, her eyes filled with happiness.

"If a very wealthy couple were to take a liking to Xu Xi and be willing to adopt her, would you be willing to let her go?"

Officer Zhang said half-jokingly.

"Of course I can't bear to part with it."

Xu Nian sighed and looked out the window.

"However, if Xiaoxi wants to go with them, I won't stop her."

"Brother, the ribs are ready."

Xu Xi's voice came from the kitchen, interrupting their conversation.

"Uncle Zhang, I'll go cook two dishes."

"Okay, go ahead."

Xu Nian extinguished her cigarette, coughed twice, and walked straight to the kitchen.

After working at the stove for half an hour, a table full of dishes was placed on the dining table.

"As soon as I smelled the aroma of the food, I knew I was in for a treat."

Officer Zhang walked to the dining table, looked at the dishes that looked and smelled delicious, and couldn't help but praise them.

"Your skills are quite good."

"Haha, I've lived here for many years and I still know how to cook a few home-style dishes."

Xu Nian wiped her hands and took off her apron.

"Xiaoxi, serve Uncle Zhang a bowl of rice."

"it is good."

Xu Xi placed a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks in front of Officer Zhang.

"Thank you, little girl."

At the dinner table, Officer Zhang praised the dishes prepared by Xu Nian and Xu Xi.

Xu Xi was too shy to speak, and just silently served food to Xu Nian.

"Actually, there's another thing I want to tell you today."

"Uncle Zhang, please speak."

Officer Zhang took a sip of soup and looked at Xu Xi carefully.

"Xu Xi's schooling has been settled."

"How so, Uncle Zhang?"

"I have a friend who is a teacher at Yuncheng No.1 High School. He has a way to get Xu Xi into the high school."

Upon hearing this, Xu Nian's eyes lit up.

No. 1 High School is the best high school in Yuncheng. Its college entrance examination results are far ahead in the province, and every year many students are admitted to top universities such as Tsinghua and Peking University.

Even Xu Nian, who hadn't attended much school, had heard of the reputation of the No. 1 High School.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang, thank you so much, Xiaoxi, quickly thank Uncle Zhang."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang!"

Xu Xi was not as excited as Xu Nian.

The thought of leaving my brother soon and entering an unfamiliar environment to meet a group of complete strangers is very grating.

She felt a little flustered.

"No need to thank me, it's all thanks to the little girl's own hard work."

"Her middle school entrance exam score in another city was close to full marks, which is far higher than the admission standard of a certain high school."

"Otherwise, no matter how hard I try, I won't be able to get her into a top high school."