"He should be back around December." Xu Qingning always felt that Zhao Jingyu's return was a long way off.
It's early August now, and Zhao Jingyu will be back in a little over three months.
Two days ago, when Liu Yuzhen came to pick up the cheongsam sample, she also asked Zhao Jingyu when he would be back.
In Xu Qingning's eyes, when they asked Zhao Jingyu when he would be back, it was just like asking if he had eaten—a mere greeting.
“Yes, around that time.” Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei knew Zhao Jingyu’s return date even better than Xu Qingning. Wang Yaqiang’s face was flushed from drinking and his tongue was tied. “My brother said that as soon as the cargo ship docks, he will ask the captain for special permission to return that same day.”
“Jing Yu seems to have changed his personality after getting married. He was in a hurry to go home as soon as he got off the ship.” Wu Yong smiled, then realized that it was inappropriate for the eldest brother to say such a thing, so he quickly changed the subject. “Thank you for your hospitality, Aunt and sister-in-law. Thank you to my two younger brothers for drinking with me. Let’s get together again when I return from the south.”
“Okay, it’s a deal,” Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei replied in unison.
Luo Yao ate only a few bites before putting down her chopsticks and sitting quietly in her seat, without saying a word or showing any expression.
Upon learning that Xu Qingning was pregnant, her heart was shattered. It turned out that she had been indulging in wishful thinking all along.
After the meal, Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei warmly escorted Wu Yong and Luo Yao back to the guesthouse.
Yang Yuelan was busy clearing away the dishes. The two little brothers had eaten too much, and Xu Qingning was worried that they would have indigestion if they slept, so she took them for a walk in the yard.
Their large courtyard was only spacious near the main entrance; the rest of the area had been filled with small south-facing rooms or storage sheds, making it feel very cramped.
It got dark, and Xu Qingning didn't take them out. They strolled back and forth in the courtyard, and the two boys followed her obediently, chattering about how delicious the dinner was and how they wanted to eat more.
"You two are such little gluttons." Xu Qingning was amused by the two boys. Their mouths had become so picky; what would happen when they returned to the village?
It must be said that the two little ones are very adaptable.
I've been living here for almost two months and haven't said anything about going home.
"Third Aunt, I'm going to move to the city to live from now on," Zhao Chengjun said, speaking like a little adult. "Then I can eat delicious food."
“Me too.” Zhao Qiyuan nodded vigorously. “Grandma said that Third Aunt is pregnant with a baby. After the baby is born, we can play with him, right?”
“Yes, you two are his older brothers.” Xu Qingning looked at the two little brothers with special affection. “From now on, you two can take him to play, okay?”
"Okay," the two brothers answered in unison.
"Third Aunt, how did the baby get into your belly?" Zhao Qiyuan asked, looking up at her.
"Did he run in by himself?" Zhao Chengjun asked as well. "Is his third uncle, who isn't home, also his father?"
Xu Qingning was stumped by the two boys' question. She coughed lightly and said with a serious face, "Now go back and get your toothbrushes and toothpaste, brush your teeth and wash your faces, go back to sleep. You are not allowed to ask such questions again. Anyone who asks will have to copy the pinyin fifty times."
The two boys stuck out their tongues, too afraid to ask any more questions.
The elderly women, led by Wang Cuifen, sat at the gate to cool off, and could also catch all the information in the courtyard.
They know exactly which daughter has gone back to her parents' home, which wife has argued with her mother-in-law, and which husband comes home late at night.
Xu Qingning watched them from afar, not approaching, but continuing to stroll around the public area. The old ladies were too good at gossiping, so she avoided them if possible and would never provoke them.
The old ladies saw Xu Qingning leading the two boys around the yard and whispered among themselves, "They have guests tonight. Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei are drinking at their house."
"Zhao Jingyu isn't home. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are quite capable. Only an honest person like Yang Yuelan would think Xu Qingning is a good person. Be careful, things might turn out badly."
"Exactly, she's still restless even while pregnant. I heard that young wife can design clothes for people. A few days ago, Xiao Tingshen's mother even had her design a dress, which cost ten yuan!"
"What, ten yuan? Why doesn't she just rob us? That's too expensive."
"The cheongsam Liu Yuzhen wore recently was designed by Zhao Jingyu's wife. My goodness, it has slits on both sides and exposes her legs. It's as ugly as can be, and it only cost ten yuan?"
"I heard from Liu Yuzhen that Teacher Du and Manager Fang also asked her to design cheongsams. She's really good at getting things done."
"Hmph, a wife like that isn't easy to keep. Be careful she doesn't run off with someone else."
"That's right!" the old ladies said in unison, they also felt that Zhao Jingyu and Xu Qingning's relationship wouldn't last long.
Tang Wenya saw Xu Qingning leading the two boys to wash up at the public tap, so she also carried a basin over and sneered, "My father-in-law even argued with my mother-in-law because of the cheongsam you designed. Are you happy now?"
At her age, wearing such a revealing cheongsam was something even she couldn't stand.
Was Xu Qingning doing this on purpose?
"Tang Wenya, can you use your brain when you talk in the future?" Xu Qingning brushed her teeth slowly. "It was your mother-in-law who contacted me, not me. It was a clear price, and the money was paid for. What does your family's business have to do with me?"
As long as Liu Yuzhen is satisfied, that's fine.
Xiao Yaodong's dissatisfaction has nothing to do with her; she didn't design the cheongsam for him.
System: "Master, Xu Qingning is indifferent to these things. You need to strike at her heartstrings and tell her that Luo Yao is Zhao Jingyu's first love."
Xu Qingning teased it, causing it to shut down and damaging its functions.
It wants revenge!
"Little sister, no matter how hard you try, no matter how well your career develops, you will never become the leading lady." Tang Wenya received the system's notification and laughed, "Besides, Zhao Jingyu's first love has come. It's not certain whether he will want you when he comes back, so don't be too smug."
"Sister, I told you long ago that you can't trust what that garbage system of yours says." Xu Qingning knew immediately that it was the system that told Tang Wenya, otherwise how would Tang Wenya know that Luo Yao came from the Northwest?
Moreover, the system didn't seem to sense her true feelings, because she didn't see Luo Yao as a rival in love, but rather as a little fangirl who secretly admired Zhao Jingyu.
How could the system not know about such important information?
Yes, she was certain the system didn't know; otherwise, Tang Wenya wouldn't have said such a thing.
In other words, Tang Wenya's system is not as powerful as before; at least it can no longer retrieve messages from her side.
System: "Master, don't believe her. She's trying to sow discord between us again. Trust me, everything I'm saying is true."
“I know my sister doesn’t believe me, but it’s okay. You’ll know when Zhao Jingyu comes back. Don’t think that just because your mother-in-law got the meter reader job, she can put me above her. Let me tell you, Director Gao gave me two job openings to make up for it.”
Tang Wenya looked at Xu Qingning with a hint of smugness, "From now on, Chen Meili and I will be the librarians of the staff reading room. If your two sisters-in-law knew that there are so many openings now, what would they think of you?"
“I never promised to find them jobs. What they think of me is their business, I don’t care.” Xu Qingning certainly didn’t envy Tang Wenya. She smiled and said, “Sister, let me remind you, that Chen Meili is much smarter than you. If one day she takes a fancy to your husband, then you’ll be out of luck.”
"You, you're talking nonsense!" Tang Wenya was furious, not expecting Xu Qingning to turn the tables on her.
"You started talking nonsense!" Xu Qingning spat out her mouthwash.
The system panicked: "Host, confront her! Confront her!"
Second update.
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