“We don’t distinguish between grandsons and granddaughters in our family. We’ll help out whoever we live with more.” Zhao Futang said calmly and confidently. “If I live with my daughter and son-in-law, I’ll help them too. If Leilei wants a crib, she can just say so. I’ll make one for her when I’m free.”
Deep down, he still loved his grandson, but he couldn't say it in front of so many people.
The granddaughter is a member of the Li family; she is loved by her grandparents.
Besides, no one in his family asked him to help make a small bed, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him, as the grandfather, to insist on doing so.
If he were to make a crib for his granddaughter, thus outshining his in-laws and causing conflict within his daughter's family, then he would have done more harm than good.
“Exactly, she’s always throwing tantrums like a child, acting like we all owe her something. She’s such a grown-up, yet she’s still so dramatic.” Zhao Jingwen had long disliked Zhao Lei. “Jingyu complains about us, and she complains about us too, as if we’ve abandoned them.”
Zhao Lei is three years older than Zhao Jingyu.
The two were sent away in the same year. Perhaps because the siblings were of similar age and had similar experiences, Zhao Jingyu became closest to Zhao Lei after returning.
They probably talked about their experiences of being sent away in private, and both of them complained about Zhao Futang and Yang Yuelan.
"It's my fault, really. If I hadn't taken her in years ago, none of this would have happened." Zhao Lianxiang originally thought Zhao Lei was complaining that her parents didn't treat her like family, but she didn't expect that the root of her complaints was that she was sent to her family when she was a child.
But as an aunt, she did raise her niece for over a decade; even if she didn't do anything special, she certainly put in a lot of effort.
Besides, she never forced Zhao Lei to call her "Mom." For all these years, Zhao Lei has always called her "Auntie."
“Sister, we can’t blame you.” Yang Yuelan had just returned after seeing Zhao Lei to the alley entrance when she overheard Zhao Lianxiang’s words. “If anyone is to blame, it’s us for not considering the children’s feelings. They are blaming us, it has nothing to do with you.”
If she could do it all over again, she wouldn't send the two children away.
No matter how tough or tiring it is, I will keep it with me.
"Alright, that's enough. It's all old news, there's no point in talking about it anymore." Zhao Futang was most reluctant to bring up these things. He stood up and said, "I'm going out to buy some groceries. I'm going to have a few drinks with Zhibin tonight, and we'll talk about the future."
"Okay, Yuelan and I will go cook." Zhao Lianxiang took a small stool and went to the kitchen. "I'll start the fire."
Zhao Futang is her younger brother, two years younger than her.
His four children are already married and have their own families, but she only has one son, and he's still unmarried. She's quite anxious about it!
When Zhao Futang arrived, no one expected him to stay for so many days. He didn't have much money with him, so Yang Yuelan gave him five yuan after receiving her salary for spending money.
He took the money and meat coupons to the grocery store and bought some cooked food and vegetables. He also bought the remaining crucian carp for one yuan and fifty cents.
Zhao Jingyu had nothing to do, and Zhao Futang didn't want to stay here anymore. He would go back to the village after he finished his work.
After Xu Qingning woke up, she sat down at her desk and started drawing.
Last time, Liu Caixia said that if I needed anything, I should come to her house. I guess she heard about Zhao Jingyu's situation and was too embarrassed to come.
If she doesn't come in a few days, Xu Qingning will go to the department store to find her. She can't just take a salary and ignore the sales situation.
Although she was very confident about sales, she still needed to get real feedback from the provincial capital.
Xu Qingning put down the blueprints in her hand and left the room during dinner.
A breeze picked up outside, and Yang Yuelan prepared the dishes in the yard and brought them into the living room. She had been busy all afternoon, cooking six dishes and making a stack of scallion pancakes, filling the house with a delicious aroma.
When Zhao Lianxiang and Yang Zhibin arrived, they bought apples. Yang Yuelan washed them and put them on the table. When she saw Xu Qingning come out, she quickly peeled and chopped them for her and put them on a plate so that she could soothe her throat.
Zhao Lianxiang pouted. She just couldn't stand how good Yang Yuelan was to her daughter-in-law, treating her like royalty.
Xu Qingning took the plate and offered it to everyone, but no one ate it. Zhao Jingwen and Yang Zhibin saw that Yang Yuelan had peeled the apple for Xu Qingning, so they felt embarrassed to eat it.
Zhao Futang waved his hand and said, "You can eat it yourself, we can take what we need."
Xu Qingning finally felt at ease and sat down to eat her apple. Occasionally, she would catch Yang Zhibin's gaze, but she would just smile and not speak to him.
She and Yang Zhibin are currently only relatives, nothing more.
Zhao Futang, Zhao Jingwen, and Yang Zhibin chatted more and more enthusiastically, and the three of them even drank some wine. Yang Yuelan and Zhao Lianxiang also sat down to eat with them.
Zhao Futang went out and bought some pig's head meat, mostly fatty and less lean. In this day and age, everyone loves to eat fatty meat, especially pig's head meat.
Yang Yuelan discreetly placed two lean pieces of meat into Xu Qingning's bowl, knowing that Xu Qingning didn't like fatty meat.
Zhao Futang and Zhao Jingwen didn't pay any attention, but Yang Zhibin did. He moved the plate of pig's head meat to Xu Qingning's side, and there were still several lean pieces on the plate. He said gently, "Qingning likes it, so eat more."
He knew very well what kind of person Zhao Jingyu was.
He felt sorry for her.
"Thank you, cousin." Xu Qingning smiled lightly. "I'll just have two pieces; too many will be too greasy."
She doesn't need other men's concern.
It's really not necessary.
"Oh, Zhibin, you can leave it with me." Yang Yuelan didn't think much of it and declined repeatedly, "She can only eat thin food. You're going to drink alcohol, so it'll be perfect as a dish."
"Then bring the fish soup over." Yang Zhibin very attentively moved the fish soup to Xu Qingning's side and said with a smile, "Fish soup should be drunk while it's hot; it won't taste good when it's cold."
He had no other feelings for her.
I just wanted to be good to her.
Xu Qingning smiled but didn't say anything.
If a warm-hearted man warms the wrong person, he has crossed the line.
Besides, he's in her house; he's acting a bit like a guest who's taking over.
Zhao Lianxiang looked at Yang Zhibin, then at Xu Qingning, and her face suddenly darkened. She suddenly remembered that when her son was in high school, he had pursued a female classmate, who seemed to be from the No. 3 State-owned Cotton Mill's residential compound.
But the matter was eventually dropped; Yang Zhibin never mentioned it again, and she never asked again.
Could that female classmate be Xu Qingning?
The old mother's heart clenched immediately. What kind of thing had happened?!
From now on, she'll have to make sure her son comes to their house less often. If he causes any trouble, they'll laugh at her to death...
Footsteps sounded in the courtyard, and Liu Dawei and Liu Caixia pushed open the door and walked in. Seeing the family eating, Liu Caixia smiled and said, "Oh dear, you're eating at home. We've come at the wrong time."
"Director Liu, you're too kind. You've come at just the right time. I was just about to go see you these past few days!" Xu Qingning put down her chopsticks, stood up, and said, "Dawei, why don't you have a few drinks with my dad and the others? Director Liu and I will go inside and have a few words!"
"Come, come, Dawei, sit down." Zhao Futang greeted Liu Dawei warmly.
"Okay." Liu Dawei sat down happily, and Yang Yuelan quickly got him a new bowl and chopsticks, and poured two glasses of water for Xu Qingning and Liu Caixia to take into the house. "You two chat, and call me if you need anything."
After Yang Yuelan left, Liu Caixia smiled and said to Xu Qingning, "Qingning, there's a clothing fair and a clothing design competition in the provincial capital in early December. Our company will be participating in the fair, and we'd like you to participate in the competition. Director Wang asked me to come and ask you if your body can handle it."
"Yes!" Xu Qingning readily agreed. "Don't worry, I'm fine with it, and I'd love to participate in a competition like this."
"Don't overwork yourself. If you really can't take it, just let me know." Liu Caixia didn't expect Xu Qingning to agree so readily. "I've already told Director Wang that we need to find someone to be your assistant."
“Director Liu, my due date is at the end of December, I can do it.” Xu Qingning loved participating in these kinds of competitions and laughed, “You don’t need to find me an assistant, I have one right here, my mom is my best assistant.”
A fashion design competition is not as simple as submitting design drafts; you also need to submit finished garments and design concepts.
She wasn't after fame or fortune, but only the prize money.
Thank you for the monthly vote.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com