Chapter 24 Our family of five went on a trip too...
This Dragon Boat Festival, Nie Qingqing's meat-filled rice dumplings were very popular. A few days later, the children were craving them, and so was she. Since rice dumpling leaves were still available, Tang Guizhi bought some and soaked the glutinous rice.
“Back then, when we were poor, you and your brother wanted to eat meat, but it would take you half a year to get any. Mom still feels heartbroken when she thinks about how poor we were back then. Now we have the means. If Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan, and Xiaoyin want to eat sweet cakes and glutinous rice balls, why not make them? We're just sitting at home with nothing to do.”
Nie Qingqing can be quite charming and coquettish in front of Tang Guizhi.
"Mom, then make a lot more. Song Zhao loves it. Also, send some to Shu Mei's family. Director Yu also loves it. He snatched Song Zhao's share last time. He's such a grown man, yet he still craves this."
Tang Guizhi smiled and said, "Aren't you craving some too? Go wash your hands and wrap some zongzi."
Nie Qingqing and Song Zhao carried out the basin to hold the glutinous rice. Sister-in-law Zheng Fanghui washed the bamboo leaves. The weather was neither too hot nor too cold around the Dragon Boat Festival. The whole family gathered around to wrap meat dumplings and jujube dumplings. It was such a happy moment that Tang Guizhi would be willing to wrap dumplings every day.
"Song Zhao, go back to your room and work on your documents," Nie Qingqing said. "I'll call you when it's time to eat."
Song Zhao thought, "People aren't machines; I need rest too."
"Nonsense, who wouldn't let him rest?" Nie Qingqing looked at him and smiled, without saying a word.
Song Zhao is clumsy; she can only wrap zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) a little faster than tangyuan (sweet rice balls). It turns out that participating in family activities can bring her such inner peace.
"By the way, that 'king of roasted nuts' signed a contract and paid money at your law firm, does he go there often?" Song Zhao asked.
Nie Qingqing said, "He has already paid the money. Of course, Lawyer He went to him. Lawyer Xiao Zhu said that Mr. Yan is a low-key private enterprise leader with a long-term vision. She even became pitiful, saying that Mr. Yan's wife died several years ago and he has never remarried. He is a devoted person. Her attitude changed so quickly, as if she had never judged people by their appearance."
Song Zhao asked, "Attorney Zhu, you wouldn't have those kinds of thoughts about Mr. Yan, would you?"
In that respect, regarding feelings, Attorney Zhu is only in her early twenties, while Mr. Yan is over forty, a twenty-year age difference. Where would feelings come from? It's all about weighing interests, but it's not that serious.
Nie Qingqing laughed and said, "Of course not. Mr. Yan is very stingy. He's still wearing cloth shoes. He also has a grown son. If Xiao Zhu wanted to be a stepmother and take a share of the property, no one would be stupid. She wouldn't do that, and Mr. Yan wouldn't like someone like her."
Song Zhao said "Oh," and then asked, "What kind of person would Mr. Yan like?"
Nie Qingqing looked at him; he was talking so much today, and there were children around.
She could talk about the adult world with Xiaoyin, but Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan were too young for her to talk about.
She bent down and started wrapping the zongzi: "How would I know? I've only seen it twice, I don't know, why are you asking?"
Song Zhao: "I was just curious."
Nie Qingqing: "Actually, I was quite curious too, but Attorney He never talks about his clients' private matters at work. However, that Mr. Yan was really nice. He ate a whole zongzi for the Dragon Boat Festival. He really gave me face. Attorney He wasn't angry with me either."
Song Zhao said, "If she's angry, it's at her apprentice. Did her apprentice get scolded?"
Nie Qingqing shook her head: "No, it's still the same. Their master-disciple relationship can't be ruined by such a small thing. Luckily, I didn't complain about it before."
Song Zhao couldn't understand why Attorney He didn't restrain his apprentices from causing infighting regardless of the situation: "Attorney He, in teaching your apprentices, should not only teach them professional skills, but also the principles of being a good person."
Nie Qingqing didn't care about other people's business: "They're just colleagues, why bother with so much? It has nothing to do with us."
...
The zongzi were wrapped and ready to be cooked. Nie Qingqing followed her sister-in-law to the kitchen to cook the zongzi. They would have zongzi as their main dish for lunch, along with a few stir-fried dishes. They cooked the zongzi in one pot and stir-fried the dishes in another, which was quick.
Xiaoyin was washing her hands, and her father was waiting beside her. After she finished washing, Xiaoyin gave her father a break, but didn't leave. She asked, "Dad, why are you asking so many questions about Mr. Yan? Are you afraid that Aunt Qingqing will be liked by him?"
Song Zhao's expression remained unchanged: "No, I just like listening to her talk about work. Couples should communicate more. If she forgets when she's busy, then I'll ask her more often."
Xiaoyin said, "Aren't you afraid that Aunt Qingqing will find you annoying?"
Xiaoyin had just found her dad's questions a bit nagging, so she was worried that Nie Qingqing would find it annoying and reminded him not to be a bothersome husband.
Song Zhao thought to himself, "It can't be that bad." Unable to answer his daughter's question, he directly asked Nie Qingqing.
"Qingqing, Xiaoyin is worried you'll find me nagging. Do you find me nagging?"
Nie Qingqing ran out and laughed, reassuring him: "Is there anyone in this family who talks more than me? I like people who can talk, and I will never complain about anyone nagging."
Song Zhao was pleased and said to Xiao Yin, "Did you hear that? Don't worry unnecessarily."
...
Actually, the zongzi incident did have an impact on Attorney Zhu. On both occasions when she went to Mr. Yan's place, Attorney He was accompanied by another lawyer, not her apprentice.
Attorney He knew that Mr. Yan didn't like her apprentice, so she couldn't bring him along and cause him trouble.
During her lunch break, Nie Qingqing heard a vendor outside hawking roasted chestnuts. She recognized the voice and knew the vendor's chestnuts were delicious, so she hurried downstairs to follow him. Unexpectedly, she ran into Meng Hongliang's son downstairs.
Uncle Meng and her mother-in-law, He Suwen, met during the time when her father-in-law was divorced and sent to the countryside.
At that time, Uncle Meng's wife had passed away many years ago, and he took good care of his mother-in-law who had just divorced. Otherwise, the two of them would not be together now.
Nie Qingqing paid for the roasted chestnuts and quickly caught up. Sure enough, she saw Uncle Meng's son enter the law firm. Not wanting to run into him, she hid outside.
A short while later, when Attorney Zhu couldn't find her, he yelled angrily, "Nie Qingqing, where are you? Quickly pour me some tea!"
Nie Qingqing didn't answer until Uncle Meng's son left before she came in.
Zhu Shizhen was annoyed: "Someone came by just now, what were you doing?"
Nie Qingqing waved the roasted chestnuts in her hand and handed them to her: "I bought you roasted chestnuts. Didn't you say you wanted to eat some? There were street vendors outside shouting their wares, so I went down and bought some for you."
Actually, Nie Qingqing bought them to take back to the children, but now a serving of chestnuts can calm Lawyer Zhu down, which is a very worthwhile thing.
Zhu Shizhen's attention was immediately drawn to the chestnuts, his anger subsided, and he even said, "Oh, it's just a consultation, there's no benefit to it."
She peeled a roasted chestnut and put it in her mouth, a smile spreading across her face. "You have a good eye for picking chestnuts; they're softer, sweeter, and more fragrant than the ones I bought."
Nie Qingqing: "Yes, the owner of this shop makes really delicious roasted chestnuts. I heard him shouting and went out to buy some."
Zhu Shizhen said, "I'll give you the money and treat you to a meal."
Nie Qingqing gave a number, took the money, and asked, "I wasn't here just now, what did that person want to ask? Did it stop our law firm from making money?"
Zhu Shizhen had mixed feelings. She looked down on Nie Qingqing for being a stepmother, but sometimes she couldn't bring herself to dislike Nie Qingqing.
She said, "I didn't want to say this, but since you're also a stepmother, I'll tell you. That man just now said that his father wants to find him a stepmother and asked how to ensure that his children's property won't be divided up by the stepmother."
As expected, Nie Qingqing guessed it again: at this age, the most difficult thing to discuss is property when remarrying.
Nie Qingqing hurriedly asked, "Then what did you say?"
Zhu Shizhen: "Making a will or signing a prenuptial agreement is such a simple thing."
Nie Qingqing praised, "You're really skilled."
Zhu Shizhen grabbed a handful of chestnuts and gave them to her: "It's alright, after all, you've been following your master for two years. Here, have some chestnuts."
...
The Meng family children began to be wary. Rationally, Nie Qingqing knew this was normal, but emotionally, she naturally sided with her own family. That's how people are; they naturally side with those who are unrelated to them, but when it comes to things that concern them, she couldn't bring herself to side with outsiders.
She called Song Zhao, but he was busy with something important and said he would be late getting off work. He then asked, "Qingqing, is something wrong on your end? Is it urgent?"
Nie Qingqing said, "I don't have anything important to say, just a small thing. I can't wait to share it with you. You go ahead with your work, I'll go to the electronics factory after get off work."
As soon as it was time to leave work, Nie Qingqing slipped away. Song Zhao had something to do today, so she waited there for a while. When Song Zhao came out, his expression was very serious.
Something really serious must have happened: "Why do you look unhappy? What's wrong?"
Song Zhao pressed his temples, still suffering from a headache: "Ji Yun, do you still remember her?"
“I remember,” Nie Qingqing said. “Yunli said that Ji Yun likes you and wants to steal you away, but you were slow to realize it and didn’t admit it.”
"Jealous?" Song Zhao felt a little pleased.
Nie Qingqing assured, "It's not your fault, why are you jealous? She's her, and you're you. Why would I be jealous? Does today's trouble have anything to do with her?"
"Yes, Ji Yun is back. This time she's trying to take shortcuts again. You won't even accept a box of tea. I can't get through to my family. After He Tonggui resigned, Yu Wenhui had no use, so we're trying to get through to Qi Yujiao. This time, Director Yu is very vigilant. As soon as he found out, he talked to Zhigao. Zhigao knew what was going on and cooperated, extricating himself and Director Yu from the situation."
Leaking state-owned asset secrets is not as simple as being dismissed; it can lead to imprisonment, so of course people dare not act recklessly.
He Zhigao was still quite lucid, otherwise he would have implicated his uncle.
"And what happened next?" Nie Qingqing asked. "How did the factory handle it?"
Song Zhao said, "Zhi Gao and his wife probably discussed it beforehand. Qi Yujiao pulled back from the brink and confessed on her own initiative. She can forget about staying at the factory. Zhi Gao resigned voluntarily. Ji Yun will conduct a separate investigation, which is not our business."
Nie Qingqing was terrified. Ji Yun was incredibly bold; she dared to do something like that.
Doesn't she consider that she'll implicate Director Yu's family? What will Shumei do then? She doesn't care about other people's families at all.
...
Song Zhao guessed that she had something to say, which was why she called. He asked, "I told you about my business, what about yours?"
Nie Qingqing said, "My matter is a small matter compared to what you're talking about. Uncle Meng's son is worried that our mother will take a share of his family's property in the future, so he consulted our law firm today."
That was indeed a small matter. Song Zhao was very objective and didn't think it was outrageous. He said, "It's understandable for adult children to worry about their stepmother taking away their property."
Nie Qingqing: "That's what they say, but she's our own mother. We understand that his family is worried, so let's make it clear before the marriage. Whether she's willing or not, it's up to her to decide."
“Alright, let’s go there after we have dinner back in Huazhi Lane.”
...
He Suwen knew about this, and her son and daughter-in-law kindly reminded her, so she spoke up.
“I knew this would happen. Let me tell you, I never coveted Lao Meng’s property. We had already agreed that the house we live in now belongs to your father and will be left to you and your brother in the future. Lao Meng said that if he passes away before me, I can live in the smallest of his three houses. I made it clear to them that after I am gone, the house I live in will still belong to his children.”
Song Zhao was displeased: "Mom, what are you saying? Why do you want to stay at someone else's house? If you stay here and Cheng Dong dares to say no, I'll beat him up."
"Don't talk nonsense. This is your father's house. No matter what, we can't let other men move in. As for me, where can't I retire? If all else fails, there are nursing homes."
Nie Qingqing felt bad listening to this and comforted her mother-in-law: "Chengdong can help my second aunt's daughter Zilan with her studies. He's not the kind of person who would drive away his own mother. You can stay there with Uncle Meng. If Uncle Meng is gone, you will definitely move back to our own home."
He Suwen looked at Nie Qingqing, shook her head in denial, but after thinking about it, she realized she had no reason to refute it.
"If I hadn't seen what you've done over the past six months, I would have really thought you were lying to me."
Nie Qingqing laughed and took her mother-in-law's hand: "Why would I lie to you? You have two sons, and they will be the ones taking care of you, not me. Why would I be unwilling?"
This is to give your mother-in-law a heads-up, so she won't expect you to take care of her in the future.
That makes sense. She's a second wife; they've never lived together before, so there's no emotional connection. Why should anyone take care of her?
He Suwen said, "Since you're here, I'll also say something. Lao Meng and I aren't planning on having a banquet. We'll just invite a few old friends over for a meal at home. That way, it'll look better for your dad. I still can't understand why he won't remarry."
How can I explain this? My father-in-law is heartbroken, and he's also having problems in that area, but I can't tell my mother-in-law this.
He Suwen urged them to go back: "When Lao Meng and I are having dinner, none of you should come, so as to avoid trouble and discomfort."
...
By June, the weather was getting hotter and hotter. He Shumei was at home preparing for childbirth. Director Yu spent more than 100 yuan to buy an electric fan in preparation for her postpartum confinement during the hot summer.
Song Zhao also wanted to buy them, and this time he bought three, one for each room, costing more than four hundred yuan. He could endure the two or three months of summer.
Song Zhao wanted to buy: "What's the point of making so much money if you don't enjoy it? We can endure it, but the kids are afraid of the heat. Can you bear to see them not sleeping well all summer?"
Nie Qingqing rolled her eyes at him; how could she not know his little scheme?
When it gets hot, she becomes too lazy to move, especially at night, when even being close to him is too hot, and she will push him away. Song Zhao is different; he would rather be hot than not hold her.
An electric fan is definitely a must in summer. Without a fan, how can Xiaoyin do her homework in the heat?
"Then let's buy them," the whole family said, and Song Zhao ended up buying two more than he should have, spending over three hundred yuan more than he should have. Nie Qingqing, with her perfectly valid reason, couldn't argue with that.
“Mom is busy taking care of several children all day long. She doesn’t even have an electric fan. How can we have one before her? Tanggao sees that her older and younger siblings can use fans, but she doesn’t. We can’t be biased and let the children become estranged over a hundred yuan.”
Tangyuan thought it made a lot of sense: "That's right, if Sister Tanggao doesn't have any, then I don't want any."
Xiao Yuan: "Dad is right, let's buy one for Sister Tanggao."
The fan was bought for her parents' family, so what objection could Nie Qingqing possibly have? She happily went home to deliver the fan.
Tang Guizhi felt both distressed and pleased: "You've been wasting money again."
My sister-in-law didn't expect to buy them one. Although it was supposed to be for Tanggao to cool her down, Tanggao always sleeps with her grandma. This second fan is definitely for her and Nie Weibin. She was really happy.
...
With the fan, summer was much better. Nie Qingqing kept checking the electricity meter, worried about this month's electricity bill.
Song Zhao laughed and said, "I've already bought the fan, so I won't be too worried about the electricity bill. You can calculate it at the end of the month. Even if it's on day and night, the fan won't use much electricity."
Nie Qingqing couldn't quite put her finger on it. She only felt the pinch when buying a fan, but she was constantly worried about the electricity bill. It was kind of funny when she thought about it.
...
It wasn't even summer vacation yet, and He Shumei went into labor half a month early, because she was angered by Zhigao.
The cause was indeed infuriating. Qi Yujiao lost her job because of Ji Yun's affair. She couldn't find a job for herself, but she helped her older sister's niece get a job first.
Although she was just a temporary worker, at least she was able to establish herself here. She even paid for a house for her niece so that her older sister and niece could move out.
She has moved out, but she left a set of toiletries at home. Her niece comes over for meals every other day. Sometimes Qi Yujiao is home, and sometimes she is not.
In front of Nie Qingqing, He Shumei scolded Zhigao and his wife: "I don't know what my sister-in-law is thinking. Her son and daughter-in-law are young, how can there be an unmarried girl in the middle? Even relatives are not allowed. When I reminded her, she said I was thinking nonsense. Xiao Qi's niece is an unmarried girl no matter what. Zhigao is young and vigorous, it's really not appropriate for them to live together like this. Don't laugh at me for saying this, Yu Zhengmin is almost forty years old. If I look at him a few more times, he will take the initiative. Men rely on their self-awareness. Do you think Zhigao has that kind of self-awareness?"
It doesn't seem like he has one, otherwise how could he have gotten together with Qi Yujiao and abandoned his fiancée?
Nie Qingqing touched her protruding belly: "In another half month, the baby will be born. You don't have the energy to deal with their affairs right now. Even if you do, no one will appreciate it."
"That's right. They even said I was meddling in other people's business, and even my brother gave up and told me to mind my own business."
...
Not long after that conversation, trouble ensued.
Qi Yujiao felt sorry for her niece and called her back on the weekend. Then she went shopping but forgot her bicycle key. She ran back to get it and saw her niece and He Zhigao hugging and kissing in the kitchen, inseparable. The pot was sizzling and the food was burnt, but the two of them didn't care and didn't hear the door open.
Qi Yujiao couldn't stand this. He Zhigao was someone she had chosen reluctantly among a group of people, and their feelings for each other weren't that deep.
But her niece was someone she genuinely loved and cared for in order to repay her older sister's kindness. She even found a job for her after losing her own, and yet the niece actually seduced her uncle.
Qi Yujiao couldn't bear the betrayal. I heard that she grabbed her niece by the hair and slammed her head against the wall. She didn't ask them why they were having an affair, but only asked her niece why she hurt her aunt.
Zhigao was muddle-headed and confused. Not only did he refuse to admit his mistake, but he also pushed Qi Yujiao away, protecting his niece and preventing Qi Yujiao from touching her.
...
He Shumei was so angry about the farce that she had a stomachache and went into labor early. Fortunately, it was the weekend and there were many neighbors around, including Nie Qingqing, who was also at home. Together, they took her to the hospital, and thankfully, both mother and child were safe.
At the hospital, Factory Director Yu and his mother-in-law were both there, as were Nie Qingqing and Song Zhao.
Yu Wenhui rushed over, ignoring the condition of the mother and child, and grabbed Factory Director Yu, asking, "I'm at my wit's end. What should we do about Zhigao's situation?"
Factory Director Yu's mind was entirely on his wife who had just given birth, so he couldn't care less about He Zhigao's matter.
He was both angry and anxious: "This kind of mess should be handled as it is! Zhigao is not a child anymore, let him make his own decisions."
Yu Wenhui refused to leave the hospital, saying, "His father isn't here, so you, his uncle, have to make the decisions."
Factory Director Yu didn't tolerate her this time: "My wife just gave birth, and it was premature. She can't take any more of this. Call Zhigao's father and discuss it with your family."
...
After leaving the delivery room, He Shumei was still worried about He Zhigao and asked someone how he was doing.
Nie Qingqing said, "Zhigao ran away and went to his grandparents' house. Xiao Qi smashed up the house. Her niece and her older sister ran away overnight. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would keep asking, but I was also afraid you would worry. My mother said that you must take good care of yourself during your postpartum period. Director Yu will call your brother to discuss it. Don't ask anything. Just take good care of yourself during your postpartum period."
Holding the baby in her arms, He Shumei was overwhelmed by the tenderness of becoming a new mother, and she couldn't care less about anything else.
“You’re right. I’m not going to get involved in Zhigao’s affairs anymore. He’ll take responsibility for his own actions.”
...
He Zhigao's matter eventually needed to be mediated. During the mediation, He Zhigao returned, with an attitude of "take it or leave it."
He even had the nerve to act aggrieved, saying, "My relationship with my niece Qi Yujiao was consensual. It takes two to tango. I didn't force anyone, so how can you blame only me? Isn't Qi Yujiao at fault? Leaving her adult niece at home in the summer, dressed so lightly every day, I reminded her, but she didn't think there was a problem. Now that I couldn't resist the temptation, she's blaming me? Why don't you blame her?"
Enraged by his twisted logic, Factory Director Yu slapped him, yelling, "Your head is full of fallacies and heresies! In the end, it's because you can't control yourself!"
He Zhigao retorted, "We're all men, what are you pretending for? Can half the men in this world control themselves? Even if half can, I just happen to be the other half. Are we here to talk or to argue?"
The mediator asked Qi Yujiao what to do, and said that if they divorced, He Zhigao's father said he could give compensation. Given He Tonggui's current financial situation, he could give 3,000 yuan, which is equivalent to three years' salary for Qi Yujiao.
Unexpectedly, Qi Yujiao refused to divorce him, telling the mediator, "I don't want money, I want He Zhigao to admit his mistake and promise not to cheat again."
...
Nie Qingqing, listening outside the door, was furious. What good would a guarantee do?
When she discovered that Tangyuan's father no longer liked her, she knew that trying to win him back would only make her feel wronged, so she decided that divorce was better than suffering for the rest of her life.
To clear his name, He Zhigao immediately wrote a guarantee, temporarily ending the farce, but only temporarily.
When she got home for dinner, even the neighbors in Huazhi Lane asked, "Qingqing, what was the outcome of the mediation for Director Yu's nephew? They're not even divorced yet, what are they thinking?"
Nie Qingqing: "The mediator asked Qi Yujiao, and she said that if she divorced and found someone else, it would be the same. If she divorced, she would be remarrying, and the conditions of the person she found might not be as good as Hejia's. So she didn't want to divorce."
People commented, "You can't say that. You found someone pretty good after your divorce."
That's right, but Qi Yujiao was unwilling to take that risk.
After the mediation was resolved, He Zhigao stayed at home for a few days. Somehow, he managed to coax Qi Yujiao into coming and going with him, and she seemed to be fine.
Then He Zhigao went to the special economic zone to find his father.
Surprisingly, the relationship between Yu Wenhui and Qi Yujiao, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, actually improved.
...
July is the hottest time of the year, but even this temperature can't dampen Tangyuan's enthusiasm. As soon as the holiday started, Tangyuan couldn't wait to go to Xiaoyuan's mother's house to play.
The night before, he was busy packing clothes, toothpaste and toothbrush, and told Nie Qingqing, "Mom, I can wash my own clothes. I heard that Grandma Xu has a washing machine. I'm so smart, I'll learn it after you teach me once. You don't have to worry."
Xiaoyin packed her schoolbag, stuffing all her summer homework inside. Then she thought about it and realized she hadn't brought her paintbrushes and drawing paper.
She said to Nie Qingqing, "Aunt Qingqing, I will look after my younger brothers, so you don't need to worry. I estimate that after about half a month, Mom will get impatient and make us come back."
Xiao Yuan only took a few things, and he was looking forward to returning home soon.
Song Zhao asked Nie Qingqing, "How are you going to get there tomorrow? You can't ride alone with three children, so I'll give you a ride."
Nie Qingqing had made up her mind, of course she wouldn't go by bike: "We'll take the bus, you don't need to go."
Song Zhao was actually pleased. Qingqing was able to be friendly with Yunli, but she wouldn't let him see her, which meant she cared about him. This feeling made him feel sweet.
...
Early in the morning, Nie Qingqing took her three children to Yun Li's house. She wondered what they were talking about that made them so happy.
Yun Li, beaming with joy, discussed with Nie Qingqing, "A friend of Cheng Tian's owns a hotel in the special economic zone and invited us to visit. Cheng Tian is also planning to go and investigate to see what business opportunities we can pursue. I was thinking, Xiao Yin and her two younger brothers, either come with us or wait until we return before coming over. What do you think?"
This is such a bad coincidence. Except for Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyin and Tangyuan were all looking forward to it.
Summer vacation is two months long, do we really have to go now? Can't we wait a week?
Even if it's just for a week, it's acceptable for the children.
Nie Qingqing felt a little disappointed, but Yun Li's reasoning was quite valid; she had also said that the children could go and play together.
She could only force a smile: "I'm fine with anything. Let's ask the children what they think. Xiaoyin, Xiaoyuan, Tangyuan, would you like to go to the Special Economic Zone?"
Tangyuan really wanted to go, but he wasn't an unreasonable child and always followed the rules outside: "I'll listen to my sister."
Xiao Yuan, always following along, chimed in, "I'll listen to my sister too."
The agreement was suddenly changed, and Xiaoyin was sad. She didn't want to go that far, and she knew it wasn't realistic for her and her two younger brothers to go with her.
"Mom, I have too much summer homework, so I won't go. My younger brothers are still small. If you and Uncle Ji take care of them, plus the baby in your arms, how will you have the energy to play? We'll come over when you get back."
Yunli thought the same thing, but she didn't bring it up because she was afraid of disappointing her child.
Xiaoyin's thoughtfulness made her especially gratified: "Xiaoyin is the most sensible one."
Ji Chengtian knew that the children had been wronged this time, and he wanted to make it up to them: "When we come back from the special economic zone, we will bring you gifts."
Tangyuan immediately chimed in, "Then I can't wait, Uncle Ji, can you mail it back first?"
Ji Chengtian was amused: "Tangyuan is the smartest. As soon as we got there, she picked out gifts for you and sent them back."
Nie Qingqing tapped Tangyuan's head: "You child, you really don't act like an outsider."
...
Nie Qingqing still had to take the bus to send the three children home, so she told Yun Li and the others not to see them off. When she reached the intersection, she couldn't help but look back. Ji Chengtian was hugging Yun Li, and Yun Li was holding the baby in her arms. What a happy family of three.
Xiao Yuan was happy to be able to go home, while Tang Yuan was disappointed that she couldn't go play with them. But she would be fine in a little while. Only Xiao Yin was sad inside.
Nie Qingqing tried her best, but she still couldn't stop the family ties from slowly drifting apart over time and distance.
She put her arm around Xiaoyin's shoulder and comforted her, "I also envy those who can travel. Let's find some time every year, even if it's just to stay overnight, so that our family of five can go on a trip, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Tangyuan immediately perked up: "Mom, you keep your word!"
Xiao Yuan trusted Nie Qingqing's words the most: "Aunt Qingqing always keeps her word."
Xiaoyin nodded and forced a smile: "Okay, I'm really looking forward to our family trip, and we'll bring my uncle, aunt, Tanggao and Grandma Guizhi along too."
...
When Nie Qingqing returned home and told Song Zhao about it, Song Zhao immediately made arrangements, finding a place, scheduling a time, and asking for leave, treating it as something that needed to be done immediately.
Song Zhao's seriousness caught Nie Qingqing off guard, and she scolded him, "What's wrong with you? I said I was going out to play, not now."
Song Zhao: "We promised the children that we should do it sooner rather than later. It's nearby, so it's easy to arrange. All we need is for you, me, and your older brother to take a day off on Saturday, leave early in the morning, stay overnight, and come back on Sunday evening. It'll be a real two-day trip. The more I think about it, the better it seems. Your task now is to go to the law firm and get the leave approved."
Nie Qingqing herself made the promise to the children. Song Zhao had arranged everything, so she didn't need to worry about it. What else was there to say?
She's happy to go out and have fun, but she feels there's no need to rush.
But the children were impatient, and even Xiaoyin was excitedly looking forward to it. She went to ask Lawyer He for leave.
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