After lunch, Zhou Li was about to leave. She took her son, who was in high school, by her hand, but before leaving, she took Xu's mother's hand and whispered a few words to her.
Xu's mother looked troubled, but what could she do? She only had one sister-in-law, and her brother worked away from home all year round, so she naturally hoped that her family could have a better life.
In the end, she nodded and agreed.
Xu Lai didn't notice what was happening on their side. She cleared away the dishes and prepared to have Xu Yan wash them while she rinsed the water.
Zhao Qingyun took over the task, but Xu Lai objected, saying, "Don't move. There's no reason to let a guest wash the dishes."
Zhao Qingyun had already taken the bowl and rinsed it with water, and said, "Why haven't I heard you say this before? Haven't I washed enough bowls before?"
Xu Yan was speechless; he felt like he had become a huge, bright light bulb.
He took Zhao Qingyun's bowl away and said, "You two hurry up and leave, I'll wash it by myself."
Xu Lai couldn't help but laugh, "Then I'll trouble you, Xiao Yan."
...
As Zhao Qingyun was about to return home, Xu's mother called him back. She looked back and, seeing that Xu Lai was not there, said, "Xiao Zhao, I wanted to ask you if you have any way to get Xiao Hang into No. 1 Middle School."
Zhao Qingyun frowned slightly and asked, "I think that child should already be in high school."
Xu's mother nodded, still somewhat nervous, after all, it was something Xu Lai was most sensitive about, and her son-in-law's aura of authority was too strong.
She continued, "He's currently studying at a vocational high school, but your aunt thinks his grades are pretty good and wants to transfer him to the No. 1 High School so he can get into a good university."
Zhao Qingyun considered it for a moment. It wasn't difficult. For him, it was just a matter of making a small request and giving face.
He asked, "Can his aunt help him transfer it herself?"
Xu's mother was taken aback by his question, and then said, "Yes, yes, she can turn around by herself, but she doesn't know anyone at school."
There was one more thing she didn't say: if you wanted to transfer schools, it wasn't impossible, but it would cost money. She heard that transferring to the top high school would cost at least 50,000 yuan, and if you wanted to get into the honors class, it would cost at least 100,000 yuan.
Zhao Qingyun thought for a moment and said, "I'll talk to Xu Lai, and then I'll let the principal know."
Upon hearing this, Xu's mother became anxious and quickly said, "I've already spoken to Xiao Lai, and she agreed. Otherwise, why would I have come to tell you myself, right?"
Although Zhao Qingyun found Xu's mother a bit strange, she thought that Xu Lai had agreed to it after all, so she nodded and said, "Okay, I'll contact them when I get back."
He asked Secretary Chen to find the contact number of the principal of No. 1 Middle School, dialed the number, and when the principal answered and heard his purpose, he quickly said, "No problem, he can enroll after the New Year."
"Then I'll trouble you, Principal Lei. Let's have dinner together another day," Zhao Qingyun said politely.
Principal Lei smiled and said, "Okay, okay."
Zhao Qingyun then approached Xu's mother, saying, "It's already been arranged with them. You can have your aunt take the child there."
Xu's mother thought to herself that he was indeed fast. After Zhao Qingyun left, she received the news and called Zhou Li, lowering her voice: "Li, it's settled."
Zhou Li slapped her thigh excitedly, "That's good, that's good."
...
As the Lunar New Year approached, Zhao Qingyun prepared to return to City B. This time, he brought Xu Lai along. Having learned from his previous experience of not being accepted when he proposed, he specifically asked her for her opinion.
Xu Lai was quite happy to oblige. "You've already met my parents, so I should visit your parents. As the saying goes, even an ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws sooner or later."
Zhao Qingyun pinched her earlobe. "It's okay, don't be afraid, you're not ugly."
Xu Lai gave her family a heads-up: "This year, Zhao Qingyun and I will be going back to City B for the Lunar New Year's Eve. I will be back before New Year's Eve."
Grandma stood up. "Why so suddenly?"
Xu Lai walked over and helped her grandmother sit down. "It's not sudden anymore. We can't let him stay here forever and not go back for the New Year."
Grandma thought for a moment and said, "That's true, but you're leaving for several days all of a sudden, and Grandma will miss you."
Xu Zhicheng couldn't help but say, "Alright, Mom, she'll get married someday too. You're already so reluctant to let her go for just a week. What will you do later?"
The night before leaving, Xu's mother went to Xu Lai's room and gave her several thousand yuan. "Take this and buy some gifts for others before you visit, otherwise they will say we are impolite."
Xu Lai was busy folding clothes when she took the red envelope out. "I don't want it. I have my own money."
Xu's mother stuffed it into her suitcase, saying, "Take it. It's yours, and what we're giving you is just a small token of our appreciation."
Xu Lai didn't say anything, and Xu's mother closed the door and left.
Xu Lai sat down on the edge of the bed, took out the red envelope, and felt that it was quite thick. For her in college, it was a huge sum of money. If it were her back then, she would probably be very happy to receive such a sum of money.
But now she's 28, and she's no longer the Xu Lai who was short of money and worked hard to earn it. These few thousand yuan are no longer that important to her.
She put the red envelopes in the drawer, intending to return them to them when she got married.
The next morning, Xu Lai prepared to go to the airport. Her grandmother stood at the door to see her off, and even after she got into the car and drove a distance away, her grandmother's small figure could still be seen.
Zhao Qingyun noticed that she seemed a bit down, so he told her a joke to cheer her up. Xu Lai couldn't help but say, "Stop joking around and focus on driving."
They spent several hours on the plane, and by the afternoon, they had arrived at B City Airport.
As soon as they stepped out of the airport, a cool breeze blew towards them. Zhao Qingyun pulled her scarf tighter, took her luggage in one hand and led her to find Uncle Wang's car with the other.
Zhao Qingyun looked around and saw Uncle Wang's car parked over there, so she pulled Xu Lai over. Uncle Wang took the suitcase and said, "Get in the car quickly."
Along the way, Uncle Wang glanced at Xu Lai several times through the rearview mirror, making Xu Lai feel rather awkward.
Zhao Qingyun noticed that she was uncomfortable, so he started a conversation with Uncle Wang.
Suddenly, the car came to a familiar scene. Xu Lai opened the window, pointed in a direction and said, "Look, that building is where I work, on the sixteenth floor."
Zhao Qingyun looked in the direction she was pointing. "So this is it."
The twenty-first floor is where their company's partners are located. He had been there a few times before, but it was clearly not meant to be, and they never met.
Back at the Zhao family home, Ms. Yingqiu was already waiting. She came out to greet them when they arrived.
Xu Lai could still hear Zhao's father's voice, "Don't go out, it's windy outside. Just wait at the door."
She couldn't help but think that it was no wonder Zhao Qingyun's emotions were so stable and his personality so gentle; it was all thanks to his parents' teachings.
Xu Lai had just gotten off the plane and was thinking of buying some gifts, but Zhao Qingyun said to go another day because it was too rushed today, so she gave up on that idea.
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