Chapter 97
The day of the college entrance examination is approaching, but Meng Wanqiu and Pei Xingzhi still need to go to work.
Early in the morning, the couple finished their breakfast, packed up their things, and prepared to go out.
"Xixi, when you wake up later, go to Grandma Feng's house by yourself, okay? Don't run around." Meng Wanqiu pulled down the quilt that covered Xixi's head, revealing her round little head.
"Got it~." Xixi was still holding the bottle in one hand, with her little tiger doll on the other side. She replied in a sleepy and babyish voice.
Meng Wanqiu touched her head and didn't say much. She always gave her instructions like this, and the little one knew what to do.
After mom and dad left, Xixi slept for more than an hour. During this time, Aunt Feng came to check on her. Seeing that the little one was still sleeping, she didn't urge her to get up.
In this cold winter, if the children want to sleep a little longer, just let them.
The wide kang was covered with a thick quilt, with a small bulge in the middle. The bulge moved, then stopped. After a while, it moved again, and then a furry little head popped out from under the quilt.
Meng Wanqiu had just pulled Xixi out, and then she crawled back into bed with her. In winter, Xixi didn't even want to stick her head out.
Although she was awake, Xixi still didn't want to get up. She gathered the quilt with her little arms, wrapping herself tightly with only her head exposed, like a small dumpling.
Xixi yawned lazily, glanced around, and called out in a small voice, "Grandma!"
No one answered.
Xixi was not disappointed and continued to lie in bed, staring at a certain spot with unfocused eyes, like a piece of wood.
Not long after, Xixi regained consciousness. She rolled over and crawled back into the quilt, only to see a bulge moving back and forth inside the large quilt.
call--
After coming out of the quilt, Xixi's hair had turned into the thorns on the back of a little hedgehog, all standing up due to static electricity. She didn't notice it yet, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.
I'm almost suffocating Xixi!
Then, Xixi took out her clothes one by one from the quilt.
It turned out that Xixi was looking for clothes to wear today in the quilt.
Xixi is now three and a half years old, and Meng Wanqiu and Pei Xingzhi have already taught her how to dress herself.
Every night, Meng Wanqiu would prepare Xixi's clothes for the next day and place them next to her pillow. In winter, she would put the clothes inside the quilt to ensure that she would be warm when she woke up the next day.
After finding her clothes, Xixi put them on one by one, starting with her top, then her base shirt, then her base sweater... and finally her cotton-padded jacket, making a total of five pieces. After putting her clothes on, she put on her pants, tucked her calves into the trouser legs, then stood up and pulled her pants up, and so on, one by one.
The movements are still a bit unfamiliar, slow and not smooth.
But for a three-and-a-half-year-old child, being able to dress himself is already a very impressive thing.
After the clothes were delivered, it felt like a big thing had been accomplished. Xixi pursed her lips and clapped herself, "Xixi is great~"
After changing her clothes, Xixi pulled the quilt on the kang neatly, tidying up every corner. Then she placed the little tiger doll next to her pillow, patted its belly, and said in a baby voice, "Little tiger, good boy~ Go back to sleep. Xixi is going to get up."
There was a three-layer ladder next to the kang with handrails on both sides. Xixi put her hands on it and walked down step by step. At the bottom of the ladder were her shoes.
The ladder was made for Xixi by her father. Since she was two years old, Xixi started sleeping alone in the room next to the couple.
The height of the kang is almost one and a half times that of Xixi. Afraid that Xixi might accidentally fall when getting in and out of bed, the thoughtful father Pei made a small ladder for his precious daughter.
Although Xixi was able to get in and out of bed skillfully after she turned three, she was still used to walking on the small ladder that her father made for her.
After putting on her shoes, Xixi ran towards the door with her hair flying all over the place. Unfortunately, the little girl didn't notice at all and kept calling Xiaohui's name as she ran.
When I opened the door, my little friend Xiaohui was already waiting there. When he saw Xixi, he came over, wagging his tail quickly and licking Xixi's hand when she touched him.
Xiao Hui's licking made her hand feel itchy, and Xixi giggled, "Haha... Xiao Hui, please don't lick me, it's so itchy haha..."
After playing with her friends for a while, Xixi closed the door of her room, took Xiaohui by the hand and ran to the Feng family next door.
"Grandpa and grandma, I'm here!"
Uncle Feng, who was reading a newspaper in the yard, heard the little guy's voice before he saw anyone. The corners of his mouth curled up, "Xixi, don't run. The road is slippery. Don't fall."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xixi ran in, with Xiaohui following closely behind her.
Aunt Feng, who happened to hear the noise, came out and saw Xixi's wildly flying hair. She burst out laughing, "Xixi, what's wrong with your hair?"
Xixi ran to Uncle Feng's side, touched her hair with her hand when she heard what he said, grabbed a strand and pulled it to the side, looking at it with squinted eyes.
"Hair? My hair is still there."
Uncle Feng and Aunt Feng were amused by the cute look of the little guy and burst out laughing.
Xixi was confused, but when she saw her grandparents laughing, she also started laughing happily.
Uncle Feng rubbed her little head lovingly and pressed down her hair. "It's okay. Ask grandma to comb it again later."
Aunt Feng also smiled and waved to the little one, "Xixi, come here and wash your face with grandma."
Xixi ran over happily and responded loudly, "Okay!"
Uncle Feng smiled as he watched the old man and the child enter the house, then put on his reading glasses again and started reading the newspaper.
At the end of last year, Buxuzi came once. During that time, Meng Wanqiu told him about the Feng family. Buxuzi did some calculations and learned some information.
The old couple's child Feng Liang is still alive, but his exact whereabouts cannot be determined. They can only comfort the old couple that when the time comes, their family will be reunited.
When these words were spoken, Uncle Feng and Aunt Feng were overjoyed. Before this, the couple had only persevered because they held on to the faint hope that their son was still alive.
But they actually don’t know what the real result will be, they just don’t want to think about it or reflect on it.
Now that they are told that Feng Liang is still alive, the old couple are already very satisfied. They did not dare to try to find out his whereabouts. Now the Taoist priest says that their family can be reunited again, which is already a blessing from God.
After Xixi washed her face, Aunt Feng re-braided her pigtails. She also made a bowl of noodles for the little one with a big appetite, and waited until she finished eating and washed the bowl before she finished.
In the morning, Xixi spent time with the old couple.
It's not quite right to say that they were just killing time, because Uncle Feng had been teaching the little guy to read. Although in Xixi's heart, she was just playing house with her grandfather.
Because Xixi often comes over, Aunt Feng thoughtfully bought her a lot of picture books, just in case the little one would be bored.
At noon, Xixi had lunch with the old couple, and then took an hour nap at her grandmother's house. She was later woken up by Zhu Junze who came to visit.
"Xixi, we are going to ski on the small slope behind the factory later. Do you want to go?" Zhu Junze was lying on the edge of the bed. He just started junior high school this year, and he is almost 1.6 meters tall.
Xixi was still confused, staring blankly at Zhu Junze.
Zhu Junze pinched her little face amusedly and repeated it in a good-tempered manner.
Now Xixi heard it clearly and immediately turned over and said, "I want to go!"
"Okay, brother will help you put on your clothes, and we'll go together later." Zhu Junze picked up Xixi's coat, put it on her, and helped her change her shoes. His movements were very skillful.
Ever since Xixi was born, Zhu Junze has always loved this little sister. He often comes home to see her. He can help her change her clothes and shoes, and even make milk powder.
"Remember to bring your gloves, Xiaoze and Xixi." The old couple felt relieved when Zhu Junze took Xixi out to play.
"I understand." Zhu Junze agreed while hugging Xixi.
In winter, Xixi became a little reluctant to move. In addition, Meng Wanqiu and Pei Xingzhi worked during the day and were busy studying at night, so they had to find time to accompany Xixi.
Every time other children in the alley came to ask Xixi to go out and play, she was unwilling to go out.
It’s not good to stay at home all day. They advised Xixi to go out and play, but she didn’t listen. The old couple were a little worried.
When Zhu Junze came this time, Uncle Feng and Aunt Feng were eager for him to take Xixi out.
"Brother, please put me down. I can walk by myself."
Patting Zhu Junze's shoulder, Xixi asked in a baby voice.
"Okay." Zhu Junze put the man down, "Then hold your brother's hand. If you slip, I can catch you."
Xixi obediently held Zhu Junze's hand and said, "Brother, there are a lot of people over there, what are you using to ski?"
"There are quite a lot of them. You can use anything to slide, bamboo boards, wooden boards, and even plastic bags."
"Plastic bag! Won't that get your butt wet?"
"Haha, if you get wet, just go home and change clothes. But don't worry, we use bamboo boards."
"Oh~" Xixi nodded thoughtfully.
Behind the 715 Factory is a hillside with no trees, just smooth grass. In winter, when the snow falls, it becomes a natural ski slope, and the children in the town love to run here.
To get here, you have to pass through the July 15th Square. It was afternoon work time and there were many workers in the square. The combination of two children and a dog was very eye-catching.
As children of factory workers, many people actually knew Zhu Junze and Xixi, but they were not familiar with each other and did not say hello.
But they still met someone they knew.
"Junze Xixi, why are you two kids here? Are you looking for your parents?" The person who spoke was Su Lili, and there was a young man beside her.
"Aunt Li/Aunt Li!" the two greeted.
"Oh, our Xixi is getting more and more beautiful. Do you want to go to my aunt's office to play?" Su Lili likes Xixi very much. Not only is she cute and pretty, but she is also sensible and a sweet girl.
Today Xixi was wearing a small yellow cotton-padded jacket with a hood and white fluff on the edge. She paired it with black cashmere pants and had a pair of gloves tied together by a string hanging around her neck. One of her hands was held by her brother, and the other hand was in her pocket.
When the hat is put on, the little face is surrounded by a circle of white velvet on the edge of the hat, which makes the face look even more pink and lovely. On the palm-sized face, with curled eyelashes, bright eyes, a small and cute nose, and pink lips, she looks just like a doll in the window.
Su Lili felt itchy, so she hugged the little guy and played a wooden horse on her face, which made Xixi laugh.
"Thank you, Aunt Lili, but Xixi and I are going to play in the back mountain, so we won't be going to your office."
Zhu Junze explained to Su Lili, but Xixi next to him was looking at the young man behind Su Lili curiously.
She has never met this uncle.
Noticing Xixi's gaze, the man smiled gently and took a few steps forward to stand beside the group. "Lili, whose child is this?"
Su Lili laughed, "This is your old family's child."
The man's name is Yu Jing. He is a new employee who just came to the 715th not long ago. He works in the technical department. In the past two years, Pei Xingzhi has also been promoted and is responsible for leading this group of new employees.
"Is it Mr. Pei's child?" Yu Jing asked in surprise.
Normally, in the department, Engineer Pei was always serious and taciturn, speaking and doing things very decisively, never saying anything nonsense. It was unexpected that such a cold and aloof person like Engineer Pei actually had such a lovely daughter.
"That's right!" Su Lili nodded with a smile, and then introduced Zhu Junze.
Zhu Junze is not simple either. Brother Zhu and Sister Gao are both the first batch of old employees of the July 15th. Now the canteen is under the management of Brother Zhu, and Sister Gao is also the second in command of the personnel department.
Speaking of which, the two little guys have one of the best family backgrounds among the second generation of the 715 Factory.
Hearing that it was the old family's child, Yu Jing took out a bag of donkey rolls from his pocket. The white and soft glutinous rice balls were coated with sweet and soft soybean powder, which was so fragrant.
"Here, this is for you to eat."
Xixi looked at her brother, shook her head, and refused in a baby voice: "Thank you, uncle, you can eat it yourself."
"It's okay, don't be polite, I have more." After saying that, Yu Jing took out another pack.
Yu Jing likes Su Lili, so he asked her out for dinner this time. After dinner, he specially bought two packs of donkey rolls for them to eat together.
Now that he has two children, he won’t eat it and will give the remaining portion to Su Lili.
"Xiao Ze, you two take them. Your aunt will go buy some more later." Su Lili smiled at Jing and was quite satisfied with his actions.
Yu Jing is good-looking and she has some feelings for him. Now that they are officially in contact, Yu Jing has a good attitude towards children, which makes her like him a lot more.
At the repeated requests of the two adults, Xixi and Zhu Junze accepted it after expressing their gratitude.
After they separated, Xixi asked Zhu Junze in a low voice, "Brother, does that uncle like my aunt?"
"Ah!?" Zhu Junze blushed. He was only eleven or twelve years old. It was too early for him to like these things.
"Uh, I don't know." Zhu Junze didn't know what to say. He felt that he shouldn't tell his sister these things now.
Xixi didn't get an answer from her brother, but she didn't get discouraged. She went home in the evening and asked her father, who knew everything.
When we arrived at the small hill behind the factory, we saw many children playing there.
Some were playing snowball fights, some were rolling snowballs, some were making snowmen, and many were skiing.
The older children all brought their homemade skateboards and slid down the high slope. As more people skated, the snow on the ground was compacted and gradually solidified into ice, making it more slippery.
"Xixi, be careful. Walk to the side and watch out for the people above. Don't get bumped into." Zhu Junze carefully protected Xixi behind him and walked on a slightly less slippery place.
"Xixi, you're here. Come here quickly. We kids are playing here."
Xixi looked towards the source of the voice. The people who spoke were actually other children in Xinghua Lane. They were all born in the same year as Xixi, or were one or two years older than her.
There is a small slope over there. It is not as steep as the one Zhu Junze and his friends played on, nor as high as theirs, so it is safer.
"Okay, I'll be there right away." Xixi answered loudly.
"Brother, you go play with your classmates. I'll go find Erya and Xiaoxiu." Xixi turned and said to Zhu Junze.
"Okay, go ahead." Although he said that, Zhu Junze still took Xixi to her little friends and watched the little girls play for a few rounds before leaving.
"Xixi, why don't you go out today?" Erya's full name is Zhang Xiaoya. She has an older brother who has already gone to school and is playing with Zhu Junze's group.
Xixi chuckled and said, "I overslept."
Xiaoxiu held Xixi's hand and said, "Xixi, come with me. My sister made me a big skateboard. The three of us can skate together."
Xixi, Erya and Xiaoxiu were born in the same year. Xiaoxiu is two months older than her and Erya is one month younger than her. They have been playing together since they could talk and are nicknamed the "Three Little Golden Flowers" by the adults in the alley.
The skateboard that sister Xiaoxiu made for her was actually just a piece of wood with a snakeskin bag on top. The three little ones sat on it, twisted their buttocks, and slid down in a flash.
The three of them shouted excitedly, and the cool breeze blew into their mouths, but the little guys didn't care at all.
After sliding to the bottom, the three little ones climbed up, each picked up a corner, climbed back up, and started queuing for the second round.
After playing three or four times, Xixi noticed something was wrong.
They were in the fifth position in the queue, when suddenly a tall and strong boy came up from below, and without queuing, he squeezed in front of the child in the front.
The child who was originally ranked first dared not say anything and quietly moved to the side.
The second boy in line was unhappy, "Why are you cutting in line? Everyone is queuing."
The tall boy turned around and waved his fist. "I just cut in line, so what? If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll beat you to death~"
Seeing the boy’s fist which was half the size of his head, the child shut his mouth in grievance and dared not say another word.
The tall boy snorted triumphantly, squatted down and slid down.
The kid who was originally in first place tugged at the boy's clothes and said, "Forget it, he's taller than us."
Xixi couldn't help but tilt her head, thinking that this strong boy who cut in line was so annoying, like the black bear monster in the comic book.
"It's Li Tao. He is very bad. He even stole my malt sugar before." Erya said in a low voice.
Xixi turned her head and asked, "Who is Li Tao?"
"Xixi, don't you know? He is Uncle Li's child. My mother said he is about the same age as us. After he was born, his mother sent him back to his grandparents' house. He just came back just now." Xiaoxiu explained.
Li Tao is the child of Li Xuezhi and Qu Miao. When Li Tao was in the womb, he grew too big and almost took Qu Miao's life when he was born.
Later, Qu Miao took Li Tao back to her parents' home to recuperate. She did not bring Li Tao back and left him at her parents' home. She only brought him back recently.
Xixi opened her mouth wide, squeezing out the dimples on her cheeks, "He's so big."
Arya burst out laughing.
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