Xu Mingxuan and Xiang Xi knew that the matter at hand was important, so they didn't dawdle. They put away the small, exquisite shavers into their cotton-padded jacket pockets, then climbed into their respective rear compartments, covered the canvas on the car roofs. Chen Lan also quickly packed the toiletries and the large iron pot into the system warehouse, extinguished the remaining embers with water, and then climbed into Xu Mingxuan's old Jiefang truck. At this moment, Xu Mingxuan also got into the car, swiftly stepped on the accelerator, and the car set off.
Xiang Xi also started the Dongfeng truck and followed closely behind. After driving for about ten minutes, they arrived outside the courtyard of Aunt Sanmei's house.
Chen Lan perked up and nimbly pushed open the door of the old Jiefang truck, like a rooster preparing to go into battle! Puffed up with pride, she got out of the car and walked towards the main gate of Aunt Sanmei's house. As she walked, she shouted in Northeastern dialect, "Aunt Sanmei, open the door quickly! Mila is here."
Immediately, they heard voices and the sound of footsteps running from inside the house. Soon, the door was opened from the inside, and Aunt Sanmei, along with her family, came out to greet them.
Aunt Sanmei walked at the very front, followed by a long line behind her. As soon as Aunt Sanmei saw Chen Lan, she reached out and hugged Chen Lan tightly, shouting in Northeastern dialect, "Mila, that's great! You've really come to see me again."
After saying that, she released her embrace, took Chen Lan's hand, and said happily, "Mila, come on, it's too cold outside, let's go inside to warm up."
It wouldn't do to go inside like this; wouldn't all her preparations be in vain? So Chen Lan immediately said, "Aunt Sanmei, let's not rush inside yet. This time, my siblings and I have brought you some things from home for daily use. Aunt Sanmei, please come here, I want to introduce my brother Xiang Xi to you."
After speaking, she also greeted the sisters Yulia and Milana, who were coming out of the house one after another, and then greeted brothers Edward and Ilya, and their wives.
Just after greeting everyone, a Russian elder walked out of the house. This was the first time Chen Lan had met Aunt Sanmei's Russian husband, so she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
Aunt Sanmei smiled and introduced, "Mila, let me introduce you, this is my old man. You can just call him Grandpa Ivan."
At this time, Xu Mingxuan and Xiang Xi also got out of the car and walked over. They also stepped forward and greeted Aunt Sanmei and Grandpa Ivan one by one, and then shook hands with brothers Edward and Ilya.
Chen Lan was holding Aunt Sanmei's arm at this moment and took the opportunity to introduce to Aunt Sanmei, "Aunt Sanmei, Nikolai, you've already met my man last time, so I won't introduce him again. Today, I'll introduce you to another handsome young man, my elder brother Chen Xiang Xi, whose Russian name is Boris."
Xiang Xi, who was very attentive at this moment, stepped forward, took Aunt Sanmei's other arm, and said exaggeratedly, "You are Aunt Sanmei! No wonder Xiao Lan spoke so highly of you! You are indeed as kind and approachable as Xiao Lan said."
Xiang Xi's words were excellent. Aunt Sanmei's eyes lit up, and she took Xiang Xi's hand, patting it and saying humbly, "You're just sweet-mouthed and know how to talk, kid, I'm nowhere near as good as you say! I just get along well with Mila."
Chen Lan was happy that the two of them hit it off so well when she heard Aunt Sanmei say, "Come, Boris, let me introduce you to our two sons and two daughters."
The moment Chen Lan had been anticipating with infinite longing was finally about to happen. Chen Lan couldn't help but start to feel nervous, involuntarily gripping Aunt Sanmei's arm tightly, her eyes fixed on Xiang Xi's reaction.
Xiang Xi's reaction did not disappoint Chen Lan. When Aunt Sanmei called the sisters Yulia and Milana over to meet Xiang Xi, Xiang Xi felt as if he had been struck in a vital spot. His heart pounded, his mouth hung open, his feet were rooted to the spot, and he felt completely out of sorts, dazed. The normally eloquent Xiang Xi suddenly became like a mute! His face was red like a monkey's bottom, and he looked like he wanted to look at Yulia again but dared not, which was quite comical.
Aunt Sanmei, being very understanding, patted Xiang Xi's hand and said, "What are you shy about, kid? Come, meet your cousin Yulia and cousin Milana."
Yulia and Milana called out, "Cousin Boris, hello!"
Xiang Xi then stammered a reply, "Ah! Ah! Good! Good! Hello to both cousins too!"
Chen Lan quickly intervened to ease the situation, "There are still things we brought for Aunt Sanmei in the car, let's hurry and unload them!"
Xiang Xi also recovered his senses and nodded repeatedly, "Right, right, I'll go to the car and get them now."
Everyone pitched in to help move all the items meant for Aunt Sanmei off the truck. Aunt Sanmei was naturally deeply moved, only saying it was too extravagant. Xiang Xi had already recovered by this time and became eloquent again. He said, "Aunt Sanmei, 'extravagant' is foolish! This is what we as juniors should offer you! Please accept it with peace of mind."
Aunt Sanmei took Chen Lan and Xiang Xi's hands and said, "Come, the three of us mothers and sons will go inside to warm up first. Leave the items for Edward and the others to move slowly."
Xiang Xi immediately said, "Aunt Sanmei, we have to go to other farms to trade for grain today. This is my first time here, and I don't know the way to the other farms. I'd like to ask brothers Edward and Ilya to help lead the way."
Aunt Sanmei readily agreed and repeatedly instructed, "Edward, Ilya, hurry inside and change into the new cotton coats and snow boots that Mila gave you last time. Try to wear warmer clothes and be sharp when you help your cousin with his work."
The brothers agreed and each carried a bag into the house. Chen Lan and Xiang Xi saw that everyone else was slowly moving things into the house, so they also quickly helped move the items inside.
Once the items were all moved, Xu Mingxuan saw that it was getting late and called out, "Xiang Xi, it's getting late, let's get ready to go!"
So Xu Mingxuan, with his younger brother Ilya, and Xiang Xi, with his elder brother Edward, set off. Chen Lan stayed behind at Aunt Sanmei's house to wait for them to return.