Chapter 72
"Dad was injured during the Chinese New Year. Do you remember?"
"Remember."
Zhong Ming told Zhong Miao that his first job was selling goods in a store owned by Zhou Yunshan, a widow who was raising her daughter alone.
During the Chinese New Year, Zhou Yunshan's ex-father-in-law came to the store to cause trouble. The old drunkard humiliated them and their mother every time. Zhou Yunshan paid him money to settle the matter. But that time, the old drunkard suddenly got angry and smashed the store.
Zhong Ming couldn't bear it anymore and had a fight with the old drunkard.
He was afraid that the old rogue would keep targeting them, so he helped Zhou Yunshan and her daughter rent a house and move, which was why he returned home two days late for the New Year.
"This mother and daughter are so pitiful. They have to deal with such a family that even the widow is not spared."
"Yeah, that's right. Li Tongtong is only thirteen years old now. Every time she gets slapped and beaten by her grandfather."
"Dad, how are they now?"
Zhong Ming told his daughter that he became busy after he resigned and had no time to visit Zhou Yunshan. He only went to see him when his garment factory was about to open.
Zhou Yunshan knew that he ran a clothing factory. Not only did he place an order with his factory, he also introduced him to several reliable tailors.
From then on, the two of them changed from boss and employee to partners.
During their cooperation, Zhou Yunshan developed feelings for Zhong Ming, but she did not bring it up. However, Zhong Ming had seen everything. Since he felt the changes in Zhou Yunshan, Zhong Ming didn't know what to do.
He could have chosen not to refuse or accept, and it would have been nice to cooperate like now. But he pretended to be ignorant when he knew the truth. Isn't this making him a scumbag?
"Dad, how do you feel about her?"
"Yunshan is a good girl. I can't find any faults with her. I also have some feelings for her, but I'm more than ten years older than her."
"Hehe, age doesn't matter. She's also a widow in her thirties. You're only in your forties. Don't worry."
Zhong Miao paused, as if he had figured something out, and laughed, "Dad, I see you have feelings for her too, but you have too many concerns. Besides age, you're also worried about me, right?"
"Well, I want to hear your opinion. If you have any concerns, I will reply to her immediately and give her a definite answer. You have to remember that no matter what, I will always give priority to your opinion."
"Dad, let's make an appointment. I want to meet the mother and daughter. I believe in your judgment."
"Okay, then let's find a time to meet her, sweetheart. Don't feel pressured. Dad doesn't have to find someone. If you don't like her, just tell me. She and I haven't reached that point yet, and Dad only has a slight crush on her. You have to remember that no one can compare to you."
"Of course I know, Dad." Zhong Miao was happy just now, but now she can't hold back her tears.
"Darling, don't cry."
"I'm fine, Dad. You should think more about yourself, not me. For me..."
Zhong Miao couldn't continue. "No matter what, Dad will base his decision on your opinion." How much weight does this sentence carry?
The old father always puts his daughter above himself, even above everything else.
How could she be so worthy to have such a good father?
Compared with the sacrifices her father has made over the years, those unhappy childhood memories are nothing to mention.
"Don't cry, baby. Dad is just thinking about himself. I just wanted to ask you first. Haha, don't cry. You are my daughter. If I don't listen to you, who should I listen to?"
"Um."
Zhong Miao was really happy for her father. His father had been single for more than 20 years, and it was not easy for him to meet someone he liked. He thought that the other person must be a very good person.
The best years of her father's life were spent on her. No matter how beautiful the girl around him was, he remained unmoved. He was devoted to raising and educating his daughter, and spent all his efforts on her.
Even though his daughter had no interest and no business talent to take over his business, he never felt disappointed.
Her father supports any decision she makes, acts as her indestructible shield, protects her from wind and rain, and allows her to grow freely. Even though she is a daddy's girl who cannot live without her father, her father is happy to protect her and coax her.
Now that her old father finally has someone he likes, how can she not be happy? Her father should pursue his own life, and as his daughter, she will always be with him.
-
The exhibition ended and the awards were given out. Zhong Miao won the gold medal and Li Qiumo won the silver medal.
Zhong Miao knew that what Li Qiumo had sent to the exhibition was one of his previous works, not his latest masterpiece, otherwise the two people's awards might have been reversed.
Zhong Miao had asked him this before, and the question was whether he had finished the painting yet. In fact, Zhong Miao thought that his painting was almost done and he could finish it if he worked harder. She really didn't know what he was thinking.
This time, people outside who don’t understand would think that he was outshined by her student.
Although paper information does not spread as fast as the Internet, a few phone calls caused quite a stir within the circle.
The gold medal winner of this year's Qingmei Art Exhibition is actually a freshman. My God, it's incredible.
When the exhibition brochures were printed and mailed to various art academies, Qingmei also received exhibition brochures from other art academies.
When the album was released, Zhong Miao, the dark horse among the students, inevitably attracted attention from all walks of life and became famous.
After Zhong Miao accepted interviews from two newspapers, he knocked on Li Qiumo's office door listlessly.
"Come in."
"If you ask me, you should have submitted this painting to the exhibition. Look, I've already been interviewed twice."
"Haha, you think that since you're the only one being interviewed, I can't escape either, right?"
"Well, the point is that everyone compares me to you as their mentor. How sad."
"Then what did you answer?" Seeing Zhong Miao's distressed look, Li Qiumo laughed.
"How else can I answer this? Teacher Li's best work hasn't been released yet, but this is already my best work."
"Hahaha, you're really good."
"What were you busy with just now? I think I saw someone leave your place. It was a woman. Are you in trouble?"
"What's the situation? It's you who has the situation. Here you go." Li Qiumo handed Zhong Miao a business card.
Zhong Miao took it without even looking at it. She went to the cabinet in the corner, took out a bottle of soda and took a sip first. This box of soda was placed here by her. She also had a box in the studio, so she didn't have to go out and buy some.
She took one look at the business card and almost threw the soda bottle away.
What a coincidence! Isn't this the talk show Pei Ze was on? "Hey, you're going on the show?"
"Not just me, but you as well. I originally wanted to invite the gold, silver, and bronze medal winners, but the bronze medal winner isn't local. What do you think about us going together?"
"Okay, thank you, Master. When will the show be recorded?"
"It's just these few days. The art exhibition just ended. The sooner the better while the heat is on. It depends on you."
"Okay, then the sooner the better. This show happens to be airing on weekend nights."
"You know a lot."
"Of course I know. Pei Ze has even been on this show."
"Really? That's such a coincidence." Li Qiumo only knew that Pei Ze ran a furniture factory. He didn't usually watch TV, so he really didn't know about this.
"Yeah, that's quite a coincidence."
"Okay, finish your drink and leave quickly. I'll also reply to them."
"Why do you keep chasing me away lately? I see Zhang Hang coming here often and staying for a long time. Has your most obedient disciple changed?"
"Hey, you're all debt collectors. Go draw your own and leave me alone."
"Okay, okay. Goodbye, my mentor."
Zhong Miao had just finished class in the afternoon and came to Zhou Yunshan's shop with Zhong Ming.
She was also curious about what kind of person could attract her father's attention. Her father used to be an investor and was surrounded by many beautiful women, but he was not interested in any of them. He had never even thought about remarriage.
Only after seeing him in person did Zhong Miao understand.
Zhou Yunshan is already in her thirties, but she doesn't look young at all. She dresses simply, but in a fashionable way, not at all tacky.
There are some fine wrinkles on her face, her facial features are not outstanding, and she is a little thin, but she does not look weak. Instead, she has a tough temperament.
She has been a widow for five or six years. She raised her daughter alone and had to do business to support her family. She faced all kinds of rumors. These experiences made her, who was originally weak, become calm and tough.
Zhou Yunshan was a little stunned when he saw Zhong Miao. This girl was so beautiful, she looked like a character in a painting.
"Hey, Brother Zhong, you didn't say your daughter is so beautiful."
"Haha, haven't you seen this?"
Zhong Ming and Zhou Yunshan had finally broken through the window paper. They became less polite in their conversation and became much closer.
"What a good kid." Zhou Yunshan liked him more and more the more he looked at him.
"Hello, should I call you Sister Zhou or Aunt Zhou?" Zhong Miao didn't know what to call her. She was only in her thirties, and it didn't seem right to call her auntie. Forget it, she might as well ask first.
"Hello, hello, you can call me whatever you like."
"Okay, then I'll call you Aunt Zhou." In order to avoid getting used to calling someone of a different generation, Zhong Miao still called her Aunt.
"You guys go inside and talk, I'll stay here to watch the store." Zhong Ming suggested that it would be better for the two to talk alone.
"Okay, Miaomiao, let's go inside."
Zhong Miao looked around and found that the store was quite large, about 100 square meters, with a small room in the corner where one could rest.
When I entered the room, I found it was very clean. There was a small bed, a small cabinet, a small desk and two chairs. Some junior high school study materials were placed on the desk.
"Miaomiao, come and sit down. Don't be nervous. Your father and I are both rational people and we won't embarrass you."
"Yeah, I know." Zhong Miao sat sideways on the chair next to the desk, just in the right angle to chat with Zhou Yunshan.
Zhou Yunshan took out some snacks and pastries from the cupboard and poured Zhong Miao a cup of hot water from the thermos. "My conditions are limited, so I don't have anything fancy. Please don't mind."
"How could that be? I have to thank you. It was you who gave my dad a stable job. Otherwise, he wouldn't even have a place to live."
"That's nothing. Even if he didn't hire your dad, he would have hired someone else. Let me tell you about the situation at home."
Zhou Yunshan smiled bitterly. "My husband passed away six years ago, and Tongtong and I were kicked out of the house by my parents-in-law. Oh, Tongtong is my daughter, her name is Li Tongtong."
"Well, my dad told me about Tongtong. She's a very good student."
"Yes, at that time I had no money and no job, so I had to go back to my mother's house. This store was opened for me by my mother's brother. Later, my brother got married and they went to the south together. Now some of the goods in my store are still sent by him from the south."
"When my brother was at home, my parents-in-law didn't dare to cause trouble. But after hearing that my brother was away on a business trip, my father-in-law started to act like a scoundrel. If I couldn't contain my temper and gave him some money for a few drinks, he would smash my shop. I couldn't get away from it."
"Alas, he hasn't been here since the Chinese New Year this year. I heard that the old man drank too much at the beginning of the year and had a serious cerebral thrombosis, leaving him paralyzed on one side of his body. My mother-in-law is a timid person and didn't dare to come to my house to cause trouble, so that's the end of the matter."
"Later, your father came back and said he had opened a clothing factory. I thought it didn't matter where I bought the goods from, and I could save on travel expenses, so I ordered some from your father. Your father is a good man, educated, knowledgeable, and good with children. After meeting you today, I am even more certain that he can raise a good girl like you. I was right about him."
"Aunt Zhou, what are you thinking now? Will you get married in the future, or just live together?"
"I haven't even thought about it. If your father is willing to get along with me, then we can consider the future. Even if I don't meet your father, I don't care whether we get married or not. It's just that it's too difficult for me to meet a father as good as yours at my age."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
