Chen's mother felt incredibly aggrieved!
Apologizing to the deputy mayor's father is a matter of course.
There was no other way but to apologize to the little mute boy again; he had to swallow his pride and accept it.
But should we apologize to this country tailor?
Who does she think she is?
Her facial muscles twitched, forcing out a smile that looked worse than crying. She spoke to Zhou Qiqi in a dry, insincere voice.
"Comrade Zhou, I'm so sorry, it was just kids playing around, they lost their balance, it's all a misunderstanding... a misunderstanding..."
This perfunctory attitude even drew disdain from the onlookers.
Just then, Vice Mayor Zhai, who had been supporting his father and calmly observing everything, finally focused his gaze entirely on Zhou Qiqi's face.
He was slightly taken aback at first, then a smile appeared on his face.
"Comrade Zhou Qiqi! It's actually you!"
Vice Mayor Zhai stepped forward and extended his hand to shake hands with Zhou Qiqi.
Zhou Qiqi had actually recognized Vice Mayor Zhai earlier, but with so many people around, there was no need for her to try to get close to him; she could greet him privately later.
Unexpectedly, Vice Mayor Zhai was so enthusiastic.
She was somewhat surprised, but quickly recovered and gracefully extended her hand to shake his, saying, "Mayor Zhai, hello."
"Oh my, what a coincidence!"
Vice Mayor Zhai laughed loudly and turned to his father.
"Dad, the savior you're talking about is this Comrade Zhou Qiqi? This is truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple!"
"Comrade Zhou is no ordinary person. Didn't I mention to you before that the No. 1 Garment Factory was carrying out a pilot reform? She was the one who spearheaded it, and I even personally approved the report! She did a fantastic job! The province even issued a document praising her a couple of days ago!"
These words, though not spoken loudly, struck Director Chen and his wife like a thunderclap.
Director Chen's vision went black, and cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of his shirt!
He had only thought of Zhou Qiqi as a country seamstress with some skills, but he never expected that she and Vice Mayor Zhai would be so familiar with each other!
Wasn't his perfunctory attitude just now just offering his face to be trampled on?
He jolted awake, his waist bending at a full ninety degrees, his face displaying unprecedented fear and fawning, and his voice even distorting.
"Comrade Zhou! Look at the mess this has made! We were blind to your greatness! We were in the wrong!"
He tugged hard at his still-dazed wife and said sternly.
"Hurry up and apologize to Comrade Zhou properly! Be sincere!"
Chen's mother was completely dumbfounded. Her face turned pale, and she apologized with trembling lips, while tugging at Jiao Jiao.
Chen Jiaojiao was stunned by the sudden change in her parents' behavior and burst into loud sobs.
Upon seeing this, Chen's mother scolded her.
"You child, how can you be so insensible! Why are you crying! Quickly apologize to your Aunt Zhou!"
Her shout made Chen Jiaojiao cry even harder, and the scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment.
Zhou Qiqi raised her hand and gently tidied Zhouzhou's slightly messy hair, then looked at Director Chen and his wife, her tone calm.
"Alright, she apologized to Zhouzhou, that's enough. It was just a matter between children anyway, why are adults getting involved? Let bygones be bygones."
These words, though spoken lightly, were like an invisible slap across the faces of Director Chen and his wife.
They nodded and bowed frantically, repeatedly saying, "Yes, yes, Comrade Zhou is right," and "You are so generous," but in their hearts they felt like they had swallowed a bitter pill.
Zhou Qiqi's words not only gave the other party a way out, but also firmly established her and Zhouzhou's "reason" and "vision".
Anyone with eyes to see could clearly see who was superior and who was inferior.
Looking at Zhou Qiqi's composed and generous demeanor, Vice Mayor Zhai's admiration deepened.
Grandpa Zhai stroked his beard with satisfaction and snorted, "That's more like it!"
The tense atmosphere in the courtyard finally relaxed with Zhou Qiqi's casual remark.
But beneath the forced smiles of the Chen family members lay an embarrassment that made them wish they could disappear into the ground.
Looking at the old man's room, Vice Mayor Zhai shook his head helplessly, his voice softening slightly:
"Dad! They're celebrating their child's birthday here, let's not get involved. You should come back with me and get ready. I've already made arrangements with the hospital; you need to get some rest and recuperation. Think about how much you suffered on the way here!"
Upon hearing the word "hospital," the old man immediately frowned, his cloudy eyes revealing obvious resistance.
Having lived to such an old age, what he fears most is the smell of disinfectant and the cold white walls of the hospital. Lying in a hospital bed, unable to move, feels like being in prison; just thinking about it makes him feel suffocated.
"No way! I'm not going to that godforsaken place! I just found my little benefactor, and we haven't even exchanged more than a few words yet!"
His stubbornness flared up, and he simply ignored his son, turning to look at Zhouzhou, forcing a kind smile onto his face.
"Little girl, want to come play at Grandpa's house for a while? Grandpa has lots of delicious snacks there, like sesame brittle and walnut cake!"
Zhouzhou blinked her large, clear eyes and subconsciously looked at Zhou Qiqi.
Zhou Qiqi gently pushed her back: "Zhouzhou, it's your decision."
Zhouzhou pursed her lips, thought about it seriously, and then shook her head at the old man.
She suddenly opened her mouth and silently mouthed two words.
The old man pretended to be stupid, deliberately widening his eyes:
"Huh? What did you say, little girl? Grandpa's eyesight is failing, I can't see clearly! Do you want to come home with Grandpa?"
Zhouzhou wasn't in a hurry. Her little hands deftly pulled out her little notebook from her pocket and then a short pencil stub.
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