At noon, Zhou Qiqi didn't go to Li Ping's stall to join the fun, but she definitely wouldn't neglect her stomach.
She rode her bicycle around to the state-run restaurant, bought two stir-fried dishes, and then took them to Deng Cuixiang's pickle shop.
Ever since Deng Cuixiang set up the small shop, Zhou Qiqi has been busy going back to Xujia Village and working at the factory. The two of them can no longer get together every day to chat about this and that like they used to do when they were in the military dependents' home.
Come to think of it, it's been more than a month since I've had a proper conversation.
That's what friends are like. Even if you haven't seen each other for a long time, when you sit together again, the warmth hasn't changed at all, and you're still as close as ever.
Zhou Qiqi didn't stand on ceremony at all, pointing to the various kinds of pickles in the glass jars.
"Sister Cuixiang, give me some of these pickled radish strips, those pickled cucumbers, and that new sweet garlic! I'll take some home with my dinner tonight!"
Deng Cuixiang was setting up the small folding table used for meals when she heard this. She smiled and agreed, "Okay, okay, you'll get plenty!"
Ever since Zhou Qiqi talked to her about it last time, she now knows to bring some vegetables when she goes out. Although she still mostly cooks vegetarian dishes and is reluctant to add meat, at least she's no longer just eating steamed buns with pickled vegetables, which is an improvement.
Today she made braised tofu in soy sauce. It looks golden and delicious.
Zhou Qiqi plopped down, her chopsticks immediately reaching for the tofu, her mouth never stopping:
"Sister Cuixiang, how did Xianghai's math competition go? Have the results been released yet?"
A smile immediately spread across Deng Cuixiang's face, but then she sighed and said:
"You're asking at a good time. The report card just arrived this morning, but I didn't do very well."
As she spoke, she turned and went to the counter drawer to get the form. Zhou Qiqi's heart skipped a beat when she saw her expression; she thought Xiang Hai had failed the exam, so she quickly comforted her.
"Oh, it's okay, it's my first time..."
Before she could finish speaking, the thin report card was handed to her. She looked at it and saw that she ranked third out of more than 300 students in the junior high school group!
Keep in mind, Xiang Hai is only in the fourth grade of elementary school!
Zhou Qiqi was both annoyed and amused, and pretended to tap Deng Cuixiang's hand with the tip of her chopsticks:
"You, Deng Cuixiang, are you showing off to me? This isn't good enough? This is heaven-sent!"
Deng Cuixiang couldn't help but laugh, waving her hands repeatedly:
"I wasn't showing off, I really wasn't! I think Xiang Hai is already incredibly capable! It's just that the kid himself isn't satisfied."
She cleared her throat, mimicking her eldest son's old-man-like demeanor, and said with a stern face and a deep sense of bitterness:
"I got the last big question wrong! I did terribly on the test!"
She imitated Xiang Hai so well that Zhou Qiqi could picture him looking like that, and the two of them burst into laughter.
After laughing, tears welled up in Deng Cuixiang's eyes, and her tone was both emotional and sincere:
"Qiqi, thank you so much. If you hadn't persuaded me to take Xianghai to a math training class, I would have almost ruined this child's potential. The competition teacher said that this child has a natural sensitivity to math and is also fascinated by scientific knowledge. He is a promising talent and we should focus on nurturing him in the future!"
Zhou Qiqi quickly shook her head, swallowed the food in her mouth, and said:
"Sister Cuixiang, you don't need to thank me! It's because Xianghai has this talent! And it's also because you two have worked so hard to raise him! I'm just saying a few words, it's nothing!"
Deng Cuixiang wiped her eyes, her tone filled with longing:
“I, Deng Cuixiang, will remember this kindness. It’s like the old Jiang family’s ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke! Xiang Hai will definitely have a bright future. We’ll have something to look forward to when we’re old. I have to do business well and sell everything I own to support him!”
“And Xiangyang too,” Zhou Qiqi couldn’t help but mention, “That kid is good too, very clever.”
The mention of Xiangyang dimmed the light on Deng Cuixiang's face. She placed her chopsticks on the lunchbox, sighed, and said helplessly:
“He never cries when he studies, he just loves to play all day. I’ll be so grateful if he can even support himself in the future. My wife and I can’t count on him at all.”
Zhou Qiqi wanted to say a few more words for Xiang Yang, but Deng Cuixiang clearly didn't want to talk about it anymore.
She knew that the older generation's emphasis on learning and "success" couldn't be changed overnight, so she swallowed her words.
The two chatted about other things, such as family matters and the business of the pickle shop.
After dinner, Zhou Qiqi helped clear the table and casually mentioned that Zhang Guoqiang had finally mustered up the courage to confess his feelings to Zhao Damei.
Deng Cuixiang's eyes lit up when she heard this.
She had previously been in contact with Zhao Damei, and the two had a good relationship.
Knowing that her husband had died and that it wasn't easy for her to raise her child alone, I was genuinely happy for her when I heard that she might have a second chance at love.
"Da Mei has had a tough life. It's her good fortune to have met such an honest man like Guo Qiang! Qi Qi, you have to keep an eye on things and tell me as soon as there are any results! I need to congratulate Da Mei properly!"
Zhou Qiqi smiled and agreed, "Okay! I'll definitely tell you!"
After finishing her meal, she watched as Deng Cuixiang deftly packed several kinds of pickles for her, and then, carrying her things, she returned to the factory, completely satisfied.
Back at the factory, Zhou Qiqi worked on the design drawings while also thinking about Zhang Guoqiang's situation, waiting for him to return so she could hear the good news from him.
But as they waited and waited, the wall clock ticked round and round, and the sun was setting, it was almost four o'clock in the afternoon, and there was still no sign of Zhang Guoqiang.
Zhou Qiqi had some doubts.
Zhang Guoqiang is a well-known workaholic who usually wants to be in the factory 24/7. What's wrong with him today?
Is he so happy he's practically ecstatic after successfully confessing his feelings?
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