boyutpedia Chapter 144 Stingy Parents
Chapter 144 Stingy Parents
Ning Caicai's parents both live in the east of Jiangcheng. In the early years, that area was an industrial zone. Now, the heavy industry has basically moved away, leaving only the former employee dormitories, which have now become the old city area.
As soon as I arrived at the building, the style and atmosphere of the last century hit me.
The bluish-gray bricks and tiles exude an air of age, and the walls are stained black with oil, resembling graffiti at first glance. Yellowish ivy intertwines like electrical wires, reaching every tenant's window.
It looks like a cursed building, which makes people feel uneasy.
"Hmm, why aren't you leaving?" Ning Caicai, who was walking ahead, turned around and asked Ye Lan, who had stopped in place.
“I’m wondering whether I should go in. In this secluded environment, I’m afraid you might put sleeping pills in my food and then take advantage of me.”
Ning Caicai blushed after hearing this, "What are you thinking? I'm also a young woman of marriageable age, okay?"
"I can't tell at all." Ye Lan shook her head vigorously.
The two bickered for a while downstairs before Ye Lan walked into the dark stairwell.
This building used to be staff dormitory, with a maximum of seven floors and no elevator.
Ning Caicai's parents lived on the third floor, which was neither too high nor too low. A moment later, the two arrived at a rusty iron gate.
Bang bang bang.
Ning Caicai gently knocked on the iron gate, and the rust on the gate fell off one by one.
"Mom and Dad, I brought my boyfriend home to see you."
Ye Lan leaned against the wall with a look of utter despair, wondering what kind of mess this was.
At eighteen, he's already bringing gifts to meet the girl's parents. Doesn't that mean he's taken a detour of ten years compared to others?
Hehehe.
The rusty iron gate creaked and groaned, the sounds echoing through the hallway.
The crack in the door widened, and finally, an elderly man and woman came into view. Both were rather thin, and the years had left their mark on their faces. Their hair was mostly white, and they looked to be in their fifties or sixties.
"Oh, it's Xiao Ning back. She looks taller and has gained weight."
The woman held Ning Caicai in her arms, her cloudy eyes filled with joy, and even the wrinkles on her face smoothed out.
Ning Caicai touched the back of her snow-white neck and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Is it because I was wearing high heels and padding, or is it because of my previous height and weight?"
"Oh, by the way, this is my boyfriend, Ye Lan."
"These are my father, Zhou Jianhua, and my mother, Ning Mei."
Ning Caicai's face was beaming with happiness as she introduced each item one by one.
Zhou Jianhua and Ning Mei both looked at Ye Lan at the same time, scrutinizing her from head to toe with sharp eyes that seemed to see through her.
Ye Lan smiled gently and nodded slightly to the two elders.
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt, I am Cai Cai's boyfriend. I heard you like to drink tea, so this is Biluochun tea I bought."
"Then I also bought some cigarettes and alcohol: two cartons of Huazi cigarettes and two bottles of Wuliangye liquor."
"Finally, there are two cans of milk powder. Drinking it can not only strengthen bones, but also help with sleep. Older people often dream and sleep less, so they can drink a cup before bed."
Ye Lan walked steadily to the two elders and handed them the gift box.
The two elders exchanged a glance, very satisfied with Ye Lan's performance, a hint of relief flashing in their eyes.
Ning Caicai also had a sweet smile on her face; Ye Lan's performance was simply impeccable.
He was flustered and worried when he arrived, but when things actually happened, he was more composed than anyone else.
This is also why she likes Ye Lan.
He's usually carefree and talks a lot of nonsense, but when it comes to real work, he's a real go-getter!
In contrast, boys who are all talk and no action but disappear when something really happens are completely unreliable.
"Mom, this is a down jacket that Ye Lan asked me to buy for you. It's super warm. It's very windy and cold in Jiangcheng in winter, so be careful to keep warm."
Ning Caicai also picked up the gift box in her hand.
"AUV, my Cai Cai is so lucky to have found such a handsome boyfriend."
"Look at you, coming all this way and bringing so many gifts, you're too kind."
"Alright, alright, stop standing outside and come in and sit down."
The two elders accepted the gift box with smiles, and then beckoned Ye Lan to come inside with beaming smiles.
Ye Lan did not refuse and stepped into the house.
Upon entering the house, the layout and environment of the room are immediately apparent.
The entire building was converted from staff dormitories, so the rooms are not very big, probably only 70 or 80 square meters, with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom.
There is no balcony, the lighting is very poor, and the room is gloomy. The only way to dry clothes is to open the window and extend a bamboo pole.
With a crisp "click," Ning Caicai pressed the switch, and in an instant, the bright incandescent light illuminated the living room much more brightly.
But then, the living room went dark again.
It turned out that Zhou Jianhua had turned off the lights and was scolding Ning Caicai:
"You really don't know how to manage money. You turn on the lights at noon. Doesn't electricity cost money?"
"Whoever marries you in the future will be cursed for eight lifetimes."
Ye Lan looked at Zhou Jianhua with an innocent expression and blinked.
I was thinking, could you at least show me some respect?
Even though the relationship is fake, you can't say it to their faces.
Attacking two people at once, what's wrong with you, Hou Yi?
Ning Caicai, like a child who had done something wrong, said aggrievedly, "It's too dark, I can't see clearly."
"I think you're just being dramatic. It's so bright, how is it dark? Your mother and I didn't complain about it being dark." Zhou Jianhua scolded Ning Caicai.
Ye Lan was about to say something when Ning Mei walked over with a big smile on her face.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Ye, the wiring in our old residential area is severely aged, so we dare not use high-power appliances for fear of causing a fire. I hope you don't mind."
This statement is clearly unreasonable. After all, if a light bulb can be called high-powered, then mobile phone chargers probably wouldn't work either.
Two people, one plays the bad cop, and the other plays the good cop.
However, considering that the other party was Ning Caicai's parents, Ye Lan still smiled and said:
"It's okay, Auntie. I often stay up late, and this kind of environment is perfect for me."
"You'll get used to it. Have some water."
Ye Lan's lips twitched involuntarily as she looked at the bottled water Ning Mei handed her.
This was the first time he had ever seen bottled water prepared for guests.
Convenient, quick, and with excellent sealing, it's incredibly thoughtful.
Ning Caicai became anxious, "Mom, we have a cup at home, can't you boil some water and make a cup of tea for Ye Lan?"
“Oh dear, boiling water is so expensive, your dad and I usually can’t bear to spend the money.”
Ning Mei suddenly covered her mouth, realizing she had let something slip, and quickly tried to cover it up:
"Xiao Ye, it's not that Auntie is stingy with the electricity bill. You young people probably don't like drinking tea. If you really want some, Auntie will boil some water for you right now."
"No, Auntie, I don't like tea."
Ye Lan smiled and shook her head, then sat down on the sofa. Her gaze toward Ning Caicai held a hint of sympathy and pity.
Having such stingy parents, he probably suffered a lot as a child.