Looking from outside the courtyard wall, the Zhao family's house is a small white Western-style building that combines Chinese and Western styles. It looks elegant and lovely on the outside, with Roman columns and Western-style arched doors and windows that are very eye-catching.
The big black iron gate was open.
Ning Xi walked in and found that the entire front yard was quite large. There were many hostas planted at the base of the wall. It was in bloom and the faint fragrance of the flowers floated in the yard.
Uncle Sun, who was busy trimming plants in the yard, saw her and immediately put down his work to greet her: "Comrade Xiaoning is here, come in quickly."
"Xiaoxi is here? Come and sit down."
Guan Yulan was wearing a brand new satin dress with a blue background and white flowers. She looked dignified, elegant and exquisite. She was sitting on the sofa in the living room, talking to a young and beautiful woman.
Seeing Ning Xi come in, he couldn't wait to stand up and greet her.
If possible, Guan Yulan didn't want Liao Qingyue to attend her birthday party at all, but she couldn't refuse because of her face. She felt her scalp tingling after less than half an hour of dealing with it.
Seeing Ning Xi at this moment was like seeing a savior.
However, Liao Qingyue's personality clearly didn't match her appearance. She stood up and walked over to the two of them. "You're Ning Xi, right? I'm Liao Qingyue. It was Zhengrong who asked my dad to arrange your return to the city last time."
Liao Qingyue looked at Ning Xi, wondering whether this girl could be of use to her.
"Hello, Aunt Liao!"
Ning Xi didn't know why she brought up this matter. Anyway, the deal between her and Zhao Huaiyan had been completed. Any favor was owed by Zhao and had nothing to do with her. She simply pretended to be stupid and didn't respond.
Liao Qingyue was startled by the call of "Auntie Liao," but her face remained calm as she asked with concern, "Do you have a job now? There seems to be a vacancy at the Municipal Party Committee..."
"I'm already at work. Thank you, Aunt Liao, you're such a good person." Committee? It sounds touching, but is that a place that ordinary people can go?
Who knows how many people were liquidated later. Ning Xi had no interest and no courage to get involved.
Although the Zhao family was not affected in the original novel, it is not certain whether anything would happen if a small fry like her really got involved.
"Aunt Guan, this is a gift from me to you, a little token of my appreciation. I hope you don't mind." Ning Xi originally wanted to talk about Liu Chunmei's gift, but Liao Qingyue was right next to her.
She always felt that there was something off about this woman, which made her instinctively dislike her and subconsciously conceal the matter.
Anyway, there is still plenty of time, so she can find a chance to talk about it. After all, Liao Qingyue can't stick to her.
"Are you bored staying in the house? Your Uncle Zhao has gone to pick up Xiaoyu from get off work. Come on, I'll take you for a walk in the yard." Guan Yulan put the gift back in her room and pulled Ning Xi out of the living room.
Seeing the two of them go to the backyard, Uncle Sun put down his scissors and quietly went into the house.
"Aunt Guan, my aunt's birthday is today too. Knowing I was coming, she specially prepared a gift for me to bring to you. It's under the wool."
Guan Yulan rubbed the hem of her skirt uncomfortably with her left hand. "What a coincidence? What's your aunt's name? Is she the same age as me?"
"Liu Chunmei is five years younger than you."
"Ouch!" Guan Yulan was wearing double-heeled women's leather shoes today. She absentmindedly stepped on a small stone and almost sprained her ankle. Ning Xi quickly supported her.
"My shoes are a little uncomfortable, I'll go back and change them first. You can go shopping first."
After giving instructions, Guan Yulan didn't care whether Ning Xi responded or not. She walked briskly with her shoes tapping on and opened the side door and went in.
Ning Xi knew in her heart that she must have some connection with the old lady, and she was anxious to go back and check things, but wasn't this excuse too perfunctory?
Look at the speed, the leather shoes are almost as fast as sneakers.
Guan Yulan's room was on the north side of the first floor. She didn't need to pass through the living room when entering through the side door, so she didn't see the two people in the living room who were originally talking quietly together but quickly separated when they heard the noise.
After locking the door, Guan Yulan couldn't wait to open the cloth bag and take out the wool yarn. Inside was a package wrapped in oil paper and tied with a rope.
Because of her anxiety, she not only failed to untie the rope successfully, but instead made it into a knot. Without bothering to untie it slowly, Guan Yulan directly cut the rope with scissors.
It is tightly wrapped with more than one layer. After peeling off the outer layer, there are five golden spiral-shaped cakes inside.
The familiar aroma brought Guan Yulan's memories back to decades ago, when she left home and her father bought some white flour for the first time. She made fried dough twists for her younger brothers and sisters.
In a flash, 35 years have passed. She has grown from a young girl to a 50-year-old old lady.
Guan Yulan wanted to pull Ning Xi aside and ask her clearly, but she forced herself to hold back.
It can't be a coincidence that Youxuan was sent. Since my sister knew she was here, why didn't she come to find her in person?
Instead of passing on the message through someone else's mouth, it is better to ask in person. Guan Yulan quickly calmed down and came out of the room, changed into a pair of slippers, with a smile on her face.
At this time, Zhao Zhengrong also came back pushing Zhao Huaiyan, followed by his youngest son Zhao Tianhao.
The chef said we could start eating and there was no need to bring bowls. The chef brought a few apprentices with him and served the dishes one after another.
Zhao Zhengrong asked them to prepare two meals, one for a family dinner in the main living room and one in the side hall, so that the chefs could eat before leaving, giving them both face and money.
"Xiao Yu, your arms are long. If Comrade Xiao Ning wants to eat something that she can't reach, you can help her get it." Zhao Zhengrong took another set of public chopsticks and spoon and placed them in front of Zhao Huaiyan.
I don’t know if it was a coincidence or intentional, but Ning Xi’s position was arranged to the left of Zhao Huaiyan.
Uncle Sun went to the side hall. There were only five people at the big dining table - from left to right, they were Ning Xi, Zhao Huaiyan, Guan Yulan, Zhao Zhengrong, Liao Qingyue, and Zhao Tianhao.
Although it was a family dinner, the dishes were not simple at all. The main dishes included blanched shrimps, garlic scallops, scallion-fried sea cucumber, braised pork, squirrel fish, and some common vegetarian dishes.
It’s better than what Ning Xi eats in modern times.
Zhao Huaiyan nodded uncomfortably: "I understand."
Then he whispered to Ning Xi, "Tell me if there's anything you want to eat."
Ning Xi nodded. She naturally didn't need anyone's help in picking up the food, but there was no need to say it to her face.
Zhao Zhengrong poured himself a bowl of soup, which was a little hot, and put it aside, chatting casually:
"I heard from Sister Lan that Comrade Xiao Ning came to wait for a while? How is it? Are you used to it? Apart from other things, the environment here is pretty good and it's comfortable to live here."
Liao Qingyue looked at him in surprise. What did "living here is also comfortable" mean?
Her eyes fell on Ning Xi and Zhao Huaiyan, and she quickly realized that they were speaking well of his eldest son in disguise!
It seems that what she did at the beginning was correct. If something happened, considering how much she valued her son, the antidote might be able to save her life.
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