Chapter 75 Another Year
The next morning, the two put on their new clothes, took their gifts, and went to the tenement.
Wu Peng wore shiny leather shoes, a sharp suit, and a dark gray woolen overcoat, which he idly left unbuttoned.
But it actually looks pretty good. Yao Fanghua couldn't resist giving it a smack.
Wu Peng returned the kiss triumphantly. Anyone who saw him would take a second look at his outfit.
Yao Fanghua was wearing a long down jacket over a thick sweater and thermal pants; despite the freezing weather, she wasn't going to be out of style. Even just that down jacket was enough to turn heads.
When they went out, Wu Peng wouldn't let Yao Fanghua ride the bike; he insisted she sit on the back of his bike. The basket couldn't hold all their things, so Yao Fanghua had to carry them, with one hand around Wu Peng's waist. Aside from Wu Peng's back shielding her from the wind, it was no easier than riding the bike herself.
Upon entering the alley, Wu Peng greeted everyone in turn. He addressed the aunties and uncles sweetly, and even stopped to offer them cigarettes.
Some people looked at Wu Peng from afar with confused eyes, until he spoke and they saw Yao Fanghua, and then they realized that this was Wu Peng.
Once inside the tenement, Wu Peng acted even more like an outsider. As long as Yao Fanghua didn't treat him like an outsider, he absolutely wouldn't consider himself one. What others thought was unimportant.
Li Chunying was so flattered by Wu Peng's down jacket that she couldn't stop smiling. Wearing a Hong Kong-made down jacket, Wu Peng was like her own son.
She ran across the street to show Aunt Zhong, and then ran into the alley to show other people. She only allowed them to look, not touch, especially if any child had dirty hands, she would slap them back.
Wu Peng kowtowed to Grandpa Yao. After he finished kowtowing and stood up, Grandpa Yao handed him five yuan, brand new bills.
Yao Fanghua was about to refuse on his behalf, but Wu Peng took it, saying, "Thank you, Grandpa. This is the first time I've received New Year's money since I grew up."
Grandpa Yao smiled. He'd almost lost all his teeth, and only Wu Peng and Hua Hua ever brought him soft cakes when they visited. Despite his age, the old man was very shrewd. He knew he could give the New Year's money to Wu Peng, but definitely not to Hua Hua. His children and grandchildren were watching; if he gave it to Hua Hua, all his unmarried grandchildren and great-grandchildren would come looking for him. Oh dear, how much would he have to give away, all for nothing? Just thinking about it made him feel bad. He wasn't senile; he'd rather buy eggs, add a spoonful of brown sugar, and drink it every day. That way, he could live several more years.
Wu Peng took the money and immediately handed it over to Yao Fanghua.
Yao Fanghua smiled and put the money in her pocket.
Grandpa Yao laughed even harder when he saw this.
Yao Fangfang found the scene jarring. She should have seized the opportunity with Wu Peng back then. Before Yao Fanghua returned, she definitely had a chance. She should have been more proactive. Her mother was right; the Wu family was definitely hiding money. But in the blink of an eye, Yao Fanghua was back, and Wu Peng had changed. He never spoke to her alone again, and even avoided her to avoid suspicion. And the person she thought was a better match had gotten together with someone else.
Yu Bei found the scene before him even more jarring. His fists clenched, and his eyes turned red. Now he finally believed it.
Seeing Yu Bei's reaction, Li Qiuli finally realized that Yu Bei was talking about Hua, the Hua of Yao Fanghua.
Li Qiuli looked at the couple opposite her, especially at Yao Fanghua, such a radiant person, who was said to be a technical cadre in the factory. No wonder Yu Bei had been thinking about her for so many years.
To prepare a lavish lunch for Wu Peng, Li Chunying spent the entire morning running Zhang Xiuxiu, Yao Weimin, and Yao Fangyuan around like headless chickens. Wu Peng felt utterly humiliated by them; comparisons breed resentment, and Li Chunying found them utterly displeasing today, venting her anger on them. As for Yao Weiguo, she simply considered him her eldest son dead.
He's half-dead all day, doing nothing but sitting by the window, head down, studying. He's failed the exams for so many years, yet he's still stubbornly insisting on taking them. Is taking the exam the only path in the world? I really want to kill him!!
Because of Yao Weiguo, Li Chunying finally found Zhang Xiuxiu agreeable. Yao Weiguo was unworthy of Zhang Xiuxiu, and Zhang Xiuxiu was pitiful, stuck with such a man—even worse off than her. He managed everything at home and outside, and the man wouldn't even give her a break. The worst part was that Zhang Xiuxiu never hit or scolded Yao Weiguo; she provided for him, fed him, and clothed him. Even when Yao Weiguo lost his temper, she would appease him. They were both incredibly crazy. Li Chunying was furious and really wanted to knock some sense into them.
Yao Deyi escaped unscathed, and held the two bottles of fine wine, smelling them again and again.
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