Zhou Qiqi quickly measured Zhuo Guangming's dimensions and carefully wrote them down in her notebook.
Zhuo Guangming's thoughts had already flown back to Zhouzhou. After taking the measurements, he immediately moved closer to Zhouzhou, who was quietly eating cookies, and whispered something to her.
Zhuo's mother warmly invited her to stay for dinner, but Zhou Qiqi politely declined.
She was worried about the aluminum lunchbox in her canvas bag, the food she had specially gone to the state-run restaurant to get that afternoon. If she delayed any longer, it would probably get cold.
"Okay, okay, I understand! Thank you so much, Qiqi!"
Zhuo's mother thanked them repeatedly and personally saw them to the door, reminding Zhou Qiqi to bring Zhouzhou to play more often.
Zhou Qiqi got on the bicycle, let Zhouzhou sit steadily on the back seat, and hugged her waist tightly.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the streets in a warm golden hue. As she pedaled her bicycle, she pondered the design direction for Zhuo Guangming's little dress.
The clothes should make the child look smart and presentable, but not too stiff; they should also reflect a child's lively spirit...
There were only five days left until the date Zhuo's mother mentioned, which was indeed a tight schedule.
Soon, the two returned to the family compound.
As soon as she entered her own courtyard, Zhou Qiqi quickly took off her canvas bag and took out the aluminum lunchbox inside.
Although the items from that era looked simple, they were really useful. The outside of the lunchbox was warm to the touch, and when you opened the lid, the aroma of the food inside immediately wafted out, still warm.
She specially ordered four dishes: a plate of glistening braised pork, a plate of vibrant green stir-fried bok choy, a plate of golden scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a plate of soft, sweet, and savory candied sweet potatoes, which she specially ordered for Zhouzhou.
"Zhouzhou, are you hungry? Let's eat first."
Zhou Qiqi took out four enamel bowls and divided the dishes one by one.
When she served the braised pork, she picked out a few pieces with more lean meat and a few of the cleanest pieces from the candied sweet potatoes. She put each of them into a small enamel bowl, carefully covered them with a lid, and placed them in a pot filled with water. These were reserved for Shen Huaichuan.
After finishing all that, she and Zhouzhou sat down at the stone table under the grapevines to eat together.
The evening breeze was blowing gently, making the leaves rustle.
The Zhao family next door has been quite peaceful lately. Qiu Chunfang's high-pitched voice is gone, as is Zhao Yaozu's loud and boisterous antics.
I heard Da Meng teaching her three younger sisters to read a text in the yard; her voice was soft and sweet.
The entire residential compound exudes a sense of tranquility, peaceful and pleasant.
Zhou Qiqi and Zhouzhou ate their meal quietly, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
After finishing her meal, Zhouzhou took out her drawing board and sat on a small stool to begin working on the assignment given by Master Wu.
Zhou Qiqi cleaned up the dishes, went back to the room, and took out her sketchbook and pencil.
Zhuo Guangming's image and the measured dimensions were still clearly in his mind, and inspiration continued to flow.
Her pen flew across the paper, sketching with fluid lines.
An hour later, a design sketch of a little dress that combines gentlemanly demeanor with childlike fun and vitality was completed.
A crisp, tailored blazer-collar shirt paired with overalls shorts with slightly flared cuffs creates a look that is both smart and practical, while the details are adorned with moon motifs.
She had just noticed that Zhuo Guangming seemed to really like the moon; he had embroidered the moon on his schoolbag and drew the moon next to the name on his easel.
After finishing the last stroke, Zhou Qiqi stretched and felt that the food in her stomach had been almost digested.
Just then, the familiar voices of Deng Cuixiang and Zhu Yingying came from outside the courtyard gate.
"Qiqi! Zhouzhou! Let's go for a run!"
"Here I am!"
Zhou Qiqi responded and quickly changed into a light blue tracksuit and sneakers.
Zhouzhou also packed up her drawing board and changed her clothes.
The three adults and one child gathered at the gate of the courtyard, and Deng Cuixiang stood with her hands on her hips, laughing.
"We've been waiting for the two of you. If you don't come soon, it will be completely dark."
Zhu Yingying smiled along and reached out to straighten Zhouzhou's clothes.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked toward the playground.
Running has become a habit for me lately. I don't need my husband to urge me; I just want to go to the track on time. If I don't run for a day, I feel uncomfortable all over.
The playground was quite large; after running around it a few times, beads of sweat appeared on my forehead.
A cool evening breeze blew, and beads of sweat slid down my cheeks, carrying a slight chill that chased away all my fatigue, leaving me feeling comfortable and my mind much clearer.
Autumn days are short and dark. By the time I finished my run and started walking back, only a last vestige of red remained on the horizon, like a layer of rouge.
The surroundings were gradually enveloped in a gray-blue twilight, and lights were already turning on one by one in the windows of the residential compound in the distance.
"Ah...that feels so good!"
Deng Cuixiang wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, straightened up and said, "Let's go, it's time to go back, it'll be too late to see the road."
"Okay, Zhouzhou, let's go."
Zhou Qiqi bent down, took Zhouzhou's little hand, and walked towards the family compound with Zhu Yingying and Deng Cuixiang.
Not far from the playground, Zhou Qiqi habitually raised her hand to tidy her hair, but her fingers touched nothing.
Her heart sank, and she stopped in her tracks: "Oh no!"
"What's wrong, Qiqi?"
Zhu Yingying and Deng Cuixiang also stopped.
"My hair clip is missing!"
Zhou Qiqi's tone was anxious. It was a rhinestone hair clip that Shen Huaichuan had specially brought back for her from a meeting in the provincial capital a couple of days ago.
I bought it at the Friendship Store, which deals with foreign businesses. It's an imported product, and for this day and age, it's considered to have a novel and unique style.
She really liked it and usually kept her hair in place, but it ran away today.
"Huh? Where did you drop it? Let us help you look for it?"
Zhu Yingying immediately said.
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