Once outside the bustling market, the leaves of the poplar trees along the roadside rustled softly, and the surroundings suddenly became much quieter.
Looking at Zhang Guoqiang's slumped shoulders in front of her, Zhou Qiqi decided to get straight to the point.
"Director Zhang, tell me the truth, have you taken a fancy to my sister Da Mei?"
Zhang Guoqiang was taken aback by the question, almost slipping off his foot, and his dark face flushed red.
"How...how did you figure that out?"
Zhou Qiqi rubbed her forehead, feeling that the question was a bit redundant.
"Isn't this obvious? Anyone can see that."
Zhang Guoqiang's eyes darted around, avoiding her gaze, his hands gripping the handlebars tightly.
"Qiqi, well... I just think Comrade Damei is a good person and capable. Most importantly, she saved my kids last time, and they talk about her every day now. So... they want to see her every few days..."
"Stop!"
Zhou Qiqi interrupted him without any politeness, her gaze fixed on his back.
"Director Zhang, if that's really the reason, then I have to remind you, don't always use the excuse of having children to get close to Sister Mei! She's so busy all day long, she doesn't have time to be your family's free nanny!"
No! Absolutely not!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqiang became agitated, his voice rising several octaves and his face turning bright red.
With several loud creaks, clangs, and whooshes, he parked the tricycle on the side of the road, turned his head sharply, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.
"Qiqi, you've misunderstood, I..."
He was so anxious that he almost stammered, unable to utter a coherent sentence for a long time. Finally, he took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth, his voice earnest.
"I...I admit, I do think Comrade Da Mei is very different. Do you remember the first time we met? The time I took you to catch her donkey cart?"
Zhou Qiqi was stunned for a moment. It was just that Zhao Damei had casually hugged him. She would have forgotten about it a long time ago.
But Zhang Guoqiang didn't give her a chance to respond at all, and continued talking on his own.
"She just picked me up and carried me horizontally, making sure I didn't step in dog poop. You wouldn't believe how strong she is, and her eyes are full of unwavering determination..."
As he spoke, his rough fingers unconsciously rubbed together, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down before he spoke again.
"Ever since that day, sometimes when I'm busy at the factory, I don't know why, I suddenly think of her carrying me in her arms, and I feel... a strange, indescribable feeling in my heart..."
“She saved the child because she was kind-hearted. I am grateful to her, and the child likes her, but... that’s not the main thing.”
As he said this, he scratched the back of his head with his large, calloused hand, which had been used to holding a wrench for years, his knuckles rubbing his hair into a mess, and his shoulders slumped slightly.
He looked clumsy and honest, like a half-grown child who was afraid of being criticized.
"Qiqi, I'm not good with words, and I don't know how to beat around the bush. My husband and I were introduced by a matchmaker, and we got engaged in just a few words, so I really don't know how to get along with women. I just... I just think that Da Mei is a good person, and I really want to see her more, but I'm afraid that I'll be too impulsive and offend her."
Zhou Qiqi had heard about Zhang Guoqiang and his deceased wife.
Given his circumstances, it wouldn't be difficult for him to remarry, but his wife has been dead for eight years and he still hasn't remarried.
He raises his child alone, and there are family photos on his office desk, so he's a pretty responsible man when it comes to his family.
Seeing his embarrassed yet honest appearance, Zhou Qiqi's doubts dissipated considerably, and her tone softened.
"Okay, as long as it's not for the children, that's fine, but..."
She said seriously.
"Do you know about Sister Da Mei's family situation? This is no small matter. You need to think it through carefully before making a decision. Don't act on impulse, and don't just want to help her because you feel sorry for her."
Then he explained the situation of Zhao Damei's family in detail.
Hearing Zhou Qiqi's words, Zhang Guoqiang not only did not back down, but his eyes became even more determined.
He straightened his back.
"Qiqi, thank you for speaking so frankly to me. What's so great about having elderly parents and young children at home? At our age, whose family doesn't have a lot of things to deal with? I managed to handle all four or five hundred people at the First Garment Factory, the old and the young, the crying and the fussing, I can't do anything about this!"
"And after hearing what you said, I feel sorry for her and admire her even more! I see a reflection of myself in her from back then... I understand her hardships, and I sincerely want to be with her!"
Zhou Qiqi looked at the sincere light in her eyes and nodded.
"Alright, Director Zhang, it's good that you have the intention. But when you're pursuing a female colleague, you have to cater to her preferences. Don't always use work as an excuse. Sister Mei isn't stupid; she knows what's going on. The more you do that, the further away she'll run!"
"Sigh! I'll definitely think about it carefully later..."
Zhang Guoqiang took these words to heart and nodded vigorously, clearly indicating that he had truly taken them to heart.
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