Before we knew it, winter break was almost here again.
Wang Sisi made an appointment with Xia Qingqing to go home together, and Xia Qingqing readily agreed.
It's so great that someone could help her buy a sleeper berth. She really doesn't want to experience the hard seat carriage again. Not only does it make her back ache, but the smell is also absolutely awful.
Thinking about going home, Xia Qingqing began to think about what gifts to prepare for her family.
Selling chili sauce and its recipe brought the family a considerable income, ensuring they had enough to eat and drink.
However, there are some things that money can't buy, such as a watch.
Xia Qingqing knew she couldn't give her parents cheap watches like the ones she'd bought before, so she asked Zhou Wei to help her buy a pair of understated couple watches.
Without hesitation, Xia Qingqing made a video call to Zhou Wei.
At that moment, Zhou Wei was helping her mother at the grain and oil store when she received Xia Qingqing's video call invitation and immediately went to the toilet in the next stall.
Opening the video call, Xia Qingqing, wearing a navy blue cotton coat, appeared on the system panel.
"Qingqing, what do you need to buy this time?" Zhou Wei, with the self-awareness of a purchasing agent, went straight to the point.
"This isn't about buying supplies. I'm going home for the holidays soon and I want to bring some gifts back for my family. Weiwei, could you help me buy a pair of matching watches for my parents? I'd prefer something understated," Xia Qingqing briefly explained her request.
Zhou Wei gave an OK sign: "No problem, I'll take care of it. I'll go to the mall to buy it later. Do you want to come with me to pick it out?"
As long as the video call doesn't end, the two people can see the scene in each other's world.
"Okay, let's pick together," Xia Qingqing thought for a moment and agreed.
Zhou Wei's gaze fell on Xia Qingqing's cotton-padded coat, and she suggested, "Qingqing, why don't you take a few military overcoats back with you? Isn't that standard equipment in your era?"
What's winter without a military overcoat? Although it's bulky and heavy, it's very sturdy.
Xia Qingqing was suddenly reminded: "Oh right, I didn't even think about buying a military overcoat until you mentioned it."
After thinking it over, Xia Qingqing asked Zhou Wei to customize 500 military overcoats for her.
"Qingqing, how about I buy you some more toys from the 70s and 80s?" Zhou Wei had known Xia Qingqing for so long that she knew that Xia Qingqing had a younger brother. What child doesn't like toys? Toys from the 70s and 80s are a safe bet.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Weiwei," Xia Qingqing thought her partner was very thoughtful, since she could conveniently say that she bought those toys in Beijing.
Zhou Wei contacted a manufacturer that makes military overcoats directly. Because she wanted a large quantity, she was given a discount price of 80 yuan per coat. 500 coats would cost 40,000 yuan.
That evening, Zhou Wei went shopping again and picked out a pair of watches with Xia Qingqing, which cost less than 10,000 yuan in total.
The toys for Gou Dan were bought online by Zhou Wei, so they will arrive a little later.
Xia Qingqing wasn't stingy either, and directly gave Zhou Wei two 100-gram small yellow croakers.
Since her mother's health improved, Zhou Wei has been less short of money. She sold some of the things Xia Qingqing gave her to buy supplies, and saved the rest.
She didn't know if this interdimensional trading system would stay with her for life. If the system were to unbind from her someday, these things would be her source of security.
——
On the day she went home, Song Ze came to the school to help Xia Qingqing carry her luggage.
Xia Qingqing's gaze fell on the bundle in Song Ze's hand, and she looked at Song Ze with a puzzled expression, asking, "What's this for?"
Song Ze said with a smile, "These are gifts I prepared for Uncle Xia, Aunt Zhang, and Gou Dan."
He offered to take Qingqing home, but she refused, saying that it was almost Chinese New Year and there was no need to make things so complicated, and he didn't want to put Qingqing in a difficult position.
But since I can't personally deliver it to Xia Qingqing, I still can't forget to give her a gift.
"Why did you buy such a big bag of stuff?" Xia Qingqing asked with a helpless smile.
Song Ze said seriously, "It's not much. I was worried you wouldn't be able to carry it easily, so I didn't buy too much."
Seeing Song Ze's expression, Xia Qingqing couldn't bring herself to say no: "Then I'll thank you on behalf of my parents and Gou Dan."
Song Ze bought a platform ticket and helped Xia Qingqing and Wang Sisi put their things directly onto the train before reluctantly saying goodbye to Xia Qingqing.
The sleeper car was much more comfortable than the hard seat, and with Wang Sisi keeping me company and chatting, the two days passed quickly.
Xia Qingqing got off the train and left the train station carrying large and small bags.
"Qingqing, over here!"
She looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xia Heping. She waved to him excitedly and said, "Dad."
Xia Heping's face was filled with undisguised joy as he reached out and took the luggage from Xia Qingqing's hands: "Are you cold? Come home with Dad. I've prepared a cotton coat for you, so put it on quickly, in case it's windy on the way."
"Okay," Xia Qingqing said, a touch of emotion flashing in her eyes as she looked at the old cotton-padded coat on the back seat.
Upon picking up his daughter, Xia Heping felt full of energy and pedaled his bicycle with all his might. The father and daughter chatted and laughed along the way.
Because it was so cold, everyone was warming themselves by the fire at home, so they didn't encounter many people when they arrived in the village, and the two rode all the way home.
Gou Dan knew all along that today was the day his sister was coming home, so he deliberately didn't go out to play with his friends and instead stayed home to wait for her to come home.
Hearing the noise outside the door, he immediately ran out: "Sister, sister, you're finally back."
"Oh my, our Gou Dan has grown taller again!" Xia Qingqing exclaimed in surprise as she looked at Gou Dan, who was now almost up to her shoulder.
“No, with all that good food every day, it would be strange if they didn’t grow taller,” Zhang Hongyan’s voice came from the kitchen.
Xia Qingqing happily greeted her: "Mom, I'm back."
"You're finally back! I specially made braised pork for you," Zhang Hongyan said, her eyes welling up with tears. She hadn't seen her daughter for several months.
Seeing the healthy blush on Xia Qingqing's face, she finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Go wash your hands quickly, dinner is about to be served."
Xia Qingqing nodded: "Okay, Dad, put those things in the main room first. We'll come and see the gifts after we finish eating."
Upon hearing that there was another gift, Gou Dan jumped up and down excitedly: "Sis, what did you buy for me? I want to see it first."
"Watch it after you finish eating, otherwise you won't get any meat later," Zhang Hongyan glared at Gou Dan, who immediately became obedient.
At the dinner table, Zhang Hongyan inquired about Xia Qingqing's situation at school.
"I'm fine, Mom and Dad, you don't need to worry about me," Xia Qingqing replied to Zhang Hongyan after swallowing the braised pork in her mouth.
Zhang Hongyan smiled as she looked at her daughter. How could she not worry? A mother worries about her son no matter how far he travels.
After dinner, Xia Qingqing took out the gifts she had prepared for everyone.
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