Huang Wanqing anxiously analyzed, "Did your eldest brother see the lipstick mark and misunderstand it, so he came to find you?"
Xiao Chengda looked calm and reassured Huang Wanqing, "I went back yesterday and saw that the collar had been washed with clean water. Your mother is not feeling well, so remember to tell her that she is fine and not to worry about me."
My heart sank a little.
Last night, on his way to and from get off work, he ran into Shuisheng's wife in a hurry in the yard. Just as Wanqing said, Shuisheng knew about the lipstick mark and left it there on purpose. That was what Jiang Zao told him.
She is honest in front of others, but a gossipsy woman behind closed doors.
"Come on, uncle will take you to eat some good food. It's nearby. Take your mother with you. She's timid and shy, and she was frugal when she was young. Later, you can order more of her favorite food to nourish her body."
Huang Wanqing covered her mouth with her hands and chuckled, then took her hand away and stuck out her tongue playfully: "Thank you, uncle, I promise to complete the task!"
Xiao Chengda was amused: "Let's go."
After walking out of the office, Huang Wanqing put away her smile without Xiao Chengda's reminder and followed Xiao Chengda at a certain distance.
Xiao Chengda was very satisfied. This child had a cheerful and sensible personality, much better than Jiang Zao.
Most people in the institute eat in the cafeteria. During lunch break, most of them go to the cafeteria. There are not many people at the door. After leaving the institute, Huang Wanqing jumped to Xiao Chengda's side and said, "Uncle Xiao, you are so kind. Without you, I would not have the chance to eat at the state-owned restaurant."
"My neighbor Xiaomei came back from the county town and showed me the county town's food and department stores. She then laughed at me for being ignorant. Humph, she just hasn't met Uncle Xiao, but she has met you. I guarantee she'll ask me to tell her stories about the county town!"
Huang Wanqing is not young either, and she likes to make cute faces and pout. Her peers don't appreciate this, but Xiao Chengda, who is a generation older than her, enjoys this feeling.
Sons and daughters are different.
My son used to act like a spoiled brat when he was young, but he no longer likes to act like a spoiled brat when he grows up and hangs out outside all day long.
His little daughter, Xiao Qiang, is rather willful, unlike Huang Wanqing who is so obedient. She is naive and innocent, like a thick cotton-padded jacket filled with eight or nine kilograms of cotton. It makes him feel warm to have her around.
Huang Wanqing's tone was lighthearted, but it made people feel uncomfortable. Xiao Chengda's eyes were a little sore: "It's okay. After dinner, Uncle Xiao will take you and your mother to the department store to have a look. I'll buy you whatever you want. When you go back to the production team on holiday, wear your new clothes and shoes and show them off to her."
Huang Wanqing looked at Xiao Chengda with admiration: "Uncle Xiao, you are so amazing!"
In order to make it easier for Huang Wanqing to commute to get off work, Xiao Chengda rented a house for her nearby. It was a small, independent house, just right for the mother and daughter to live in.
"mother!"
"Look who's here!"
Huang Wanqing pushed the door open and ran in, shouting into the house.
Xiao Chengda came in afterwards.
The moment he came in, his eyes lit up.
It’s really clean.
The original owner of this house moved out and it has been empty for a long time. The yard is overgrown with weeds, the glass is dirty, and bird droppings are hanging on the walls. After not visiting for a few days, the weeds have been pulled out and the vacant land of several square meters has been reclaimed into a square pond. The soil is loose, and it can be foreseen that pepper seedlings, eggplant seedlings, and bean racks will grow here in the future.
The glass was polished to a bright shine, and the window faced the kang inside, where a woman was sitting.
Her clothes were washed white, with patches on her cuffs and arms. Her hair was tied behind her head. A sewing basket made of cardboard was placed at her feet. In her hands, she was carefully mending a piece of clothing. When she heard Huang Wanqing's voice, she raised her head happily.
In terms of appearance, Huang Wanqing's mother is much prettier than her. She has a beauty that has been accumulated over the years, like an orchid blooming in a mountain valley, which is incompatible with the scheming and worldliness of the city - the above only represents Xiao Chengda's inner evaluation.
Huang Wanqing ran in, grabbed Qin Taoxian's hand and said coquettishly: "Uncle Xiao is treating us to a meal, Mom, come with me!"
When Qin Taoxian saw Xiao Chengda, she tucked her needle and thread into the corner of her clothes, put on her shoes and walked out. The moment she walked out, the wind blew her hair on both sides of her face. She stepped out of the threshold with one foot and put the other foot inside the door. She held the door frame with her left hand and tucked her hair behind her ear with her right hand.
"The child is greedy and mischievous. Why do you spoil her?"
"Thanks to you, my mother and I moved from the countryside to the city. We spent over a hundred yuan renting a house, buying bedding, and daily necessities. How can we let you spend more money?"
Qin Taoxian tucked her hair away and walked out, looking at Xiao Chengda with guilt and gratitude.
Xiao Chengda said firmly, "Eating out doesn't cost much. I'm a level 9 engineer after all, earning over a hundred dollars a month. Don't I know how much you can eat? Even 100 of them won't break my bank."
"Mom, stop wasting time. Uncle Xiao is a very nice and capable person. He has the final say in the institute. Even though the job Uncle Xiao found for me is just a small cleaner, the salary is very high!"
"Everyone at the institute knows that I was introduced by Uncle Xiao, so they all take special care of me. No one dares to bully me."
Huang Wanqing put her arm around Qin Taoxian and walked out with her: "Just come with us. Uncle Xiao will treat us to a meal. When I get my salary, I will treat Uncle Xiao to a meal and return all the money Uncle Xiao spent on us."
After hearing this, Qin Taoxian finally let go: "Then let's go."
Huang Wanqing jumped up happily: "You and Uncle Xiao wait for me at the door, I will lock the door of the gatehouse."
Qin Taoxian and Xiao Chengda walked out.
Xiao Chengda praised: "Wanqing has been well educated by you. My Xiao Qiang is one-third as obedient as Wanqing, so I don't have to worry about her anymore."
Qin Taoxian was flattered. "Don't say that. I'm just a country woman. You taught me the few words I know. I heard your wife is a dancer in the art troupe. She must be beautiful and sensible. The children she raises will surely be excellent. How can Wanqing compare to your daughter?"
"Chengda, my mother and I are now stable. Please don't come here so often. It won't be good if others find out."
"As the saying goes, there's always trouble around a widow. I know we're innocent, and I can't guarantee others will think too much. My life is worthless, but I'm afraid it will affect your reputation. You've done your best to rescue us from the countryside. Wanqing, I won't starve if I get a salary in the future. Don't worry about us, just live your life well."
After saying that, she bit her lip and lowered her head. The moment she lowered her head, her eyes inadvertently revealed a deep reluctance.
Xiao Chengda didn't know how to respond to the strong yet restrained emotions, so he coughed lightly and said, "Don't look into my eyes."
"Mr. Xiao took Huang Wanqing and her mother, Qin Taoxian, to a state-owned restaurant for dinner. The three of them ordered four dishes: braised pork, Kung Pao chicken, cold ham, and a prawn salad. The prawn salad was quite expensive, costing three yuan and forty cents per serving. The entire meal cost eleven yuan and fifty cents in total."
"After dinner, they went shopping at the department store. Xiao bought them a wall clock for 48 yuan. He also bought them three feet of black corduroy, ten feet of tent cloth, five feet of linen, and two pairs of women's size 37 rubber soles. I think Xiao bought them for Qin Taoxian. After they finished shopping, Xiao and Huang Wanqing took Qin Taoxian home. The three of them went into the yard and talked for ten minutes."
After Xiao Chen finished his report, he closed the notebook.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
