The New Favorite

The next morning, after breakfast, Xu Ke took the bus back home. City L was a satellite city of the provincial capital, just an hour’s drive away. Xu Ke usually came back once a week or every two weeks. When Xu Ke arrived home, Shao Yiping was setting up trellises for the beans in the small vegetable garden at the back of the house. In the neat garden, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and other vegetables were planted, not in large quantities but with a variety of species. Seeing this, Xu Ke felt a wave of serene happiness wash over her. This old house was left by her father, filled with childhood memories. “Mom!” Shao Yiping immediately straightened up, her face beaming as she walked out of the garden. “Little Ke, you’re back.” Xu Ke linked arms with Shao Yiping and teased, “Mom, don’t tire yourself out.” “I do this for fun, otherwise, I’d be bored.” Xu Ke laughed, “Mom, I’m worried. You’re so used to gardening, I might have to buy a villa just to give you space to grow vegetables.” Shao Yiping patted her daughter’s hand with a smile, “Having a place to call home is enough. I’m still considering whether I should live with you.” Xu Ke immediately tensed up, “Why?” She had never thought about letting her mother live alone; from the moment she could understand things, her greatest wish was for her mother’s happiness and peace. Shao Yiping sighed, “Lin Ge is an only child, and his mother is alone. They’ll definitely live together. If I also live with you, it would be two old ladies in one house, how would that look?” Xu Ke retorted, “She at least has Lin Yao, but you only have me. You must live with me.” “I really don’t want to live with Lin Ge’s mother. That old lady, sigh, I can’t quite put my finger on what’s off, but she’s just odd.” Xu Ke fell silent, though she had to admit that Lin Ge’s mother, Zhao Pingyu, did have a strong personality and an odd temper. If only she were as gentle as her own mother, it would be nice for the two old ladies to live together for company.