As soon as the two of them stepped out of the courtyard, they saw Zhang Guiying coming out from the No. 1 courtyard, looking disheveled.
"aunt."
Zhang Guiying turned around, saw her niece, quickly patted the dust off her clothes, straightened her collar, and smiled broadly, "Wenwen, what brings you here?"
"Auntie, I came to see you. What are you doing here?"
"Nothing, I just went to the toilet."
Zhang Xiaowen took Zhang Guiying's hand and asked, "Auntie, are you no longer staying at your second cousin's house?"
Zhang Guiying's expression changed, and she quickly said, "That's right, Sun Hu wants to eat my food, so your cousin's wife asked me to go over and cook for him for a few days."
Seeing her aunt's expression, Zhang Xiaowen understood.
She felt too embarrassed to ask too many questions in front of He Yan.
At this moment, Wang Xiong, a young staff member from the neighborhood office, walked over.
How's the cleaning of your toilet going?
Zhang Guiying's face turned bright red instantly. She didn't dare to look at her niece's face and whispered, "Finished sweeping."
"Please wait a moment, I'll go in and check."
After Wang Xiong walked away, Zhang Xiaowen whispered, "Auntie, are you cleaning the toilet? What happened?"
“It’s nothing, it’s all Jiang Xuan’s fault.” Zhang Guiying gritted her teeth in hatred. “I won’t let her get away with this.”
"I think my cousin's wife and Comrade Jiang have a pretty good relationship."
"Your cousin's wife is full of shit, she's completely controlled by others."
Connecting this to what Jiang Xuan had just told Ma Xiaolan—that he only went to Xiguan Road on Saturdays and Sundays—Zhang Xiaowen said, “Auntie, I have a question for you. I heard a rumor that Comrade Jiang got into Ningzhou University. Is that true?”
"It's true."
Zhang Xiaowen and He Yan: ?
They looked at each other, utterly astonished.
"She really is a college student? How is that possible?"
"Who knows? Ningzhou University has been open for a while now, and she only recently went to school. But I heard some people say that her university spot was taken by someone else, which is why she was a little late. Pshaw, I think she must have pulled some strings to get in."
Getting into Ningzhou University through connections is naturally impossible.
Zhang Xiaowen understood this principle, but her mind was in turmoil.
How could that be? How could she possibly be a college student?
He Yan was so shocked that she couldn't come to her senses for a long time.
What she's most worried about right now isn't Ningzhou University, but that design draft.
If they really lose, do they really have to kowtow?
The thought of it gave her a heart attack.
*
Private room on the second floor of Ningzhou State-owned Red Chili Sichuan Restaurant.
Lu Shengye arrived first, accompanied by his grandfather Lu Rongde.
Before long, Jiang Xuan, along with He Yinhua, Hu Tao, and Dian Dian Fan Xing, went over.
Dot and Star were both wearing the clothes that Walnut had just bought.
Dian Dian was wearing a military green stand-up collar jacket and brown corduroy overalls.
Fanxing was wearing a white blouse and dark blue flared pants.
In just a short while, Dian Dian's clothes were already dirty.
Although Lu Rongde had never met He Yinhua, he had heard of her. Seeing the mother and daughter reunite, he was quite gratified. His poor granddaughter finally had someone to cherish her.
"Xuanxuan's place is spacious, so you can stay there without worry."
Hu Tao also said, "That's right, why don't you live with me? I'll have someone to talk to."
He Yinhua said with a smile, "I won't be living at home for the time being. Over the years, I haven't helped Xuanxuan once. I plan to help Xuanxuan sell guanbing (a type of pancake) near the school from now on."
As she spoke, she looked at Jiang Xuan with eyes full of love.
Jiang Xuan nodded and said, "Grandpa, Aunt, my mom can't stay idle, so I was thinking of having her stay at the school for the time being."
Hu Tao took a sip of water. "That's good. You can visit your mom after class. She seems quite weak and needs some care."
Just then, Wang Yingqiu and her daughter Lu Tingting came in.
Wang Yingqiu was quite far along in her pregnancy; her belly looked like it had a pot on it.
Lu Tingting was carrying a military green cloth bag.
"Dad, eldest sister, you've arrived."
Lu Rongde and Hu Tao both nodded.
Lu Rongde: "Where are Pei'an and my little sister?"
"Dad, Pei-an went to the military region and we don't know when he'll be back. My little sister said she's going to pick up a book from a classmate and will be here in a bit."
Lu Tingting also called out to everyone one by one.
Wang Yingqiu patted Diandian and Fanxing's little heads, "Happy birthday, my two darlings."
Fanxing nodded, "Thank you, Grandma."
Lu Diandian seemed to have a cleanliness obsession and was unhappy when others touched his head. He wiped his head unhappily and didn't say anything.
Upon seeing He Yinhua, Wang Yingqiu walked over, supporting her back, and sat down next to her. She took He Yinhua's hand affectionately and said with a smile, "Oh my, you must be my mother-in-law. I just heard in the yard that you were coming. Everyone said you are young and beautiful, and now that I see you, it's true."
He Yinhua was a little puzzled.
Judging from Wang Yingqiu's age, it's impossible for her to have a son as old as Lu Shengye.
More importantly, despite her large belly, Lu Shengye remained completely indifferent when she came in.
Moreover, given her advanced age and pregnancy, it's highly likely that this woman isn't Lu Shengye's biological mother at all.
She's both a stepmother and a second-time bride.
The Lu family's relationships seem far too complicated.
She looked at her daughter with heartache, wondering how she would handle these relationships in the future.
“If I didn’t know that your mother-in-law has a daughter as big as Xuanxuan, I would have thought you were under 30.”
He Yinhua smiled awkwardly and said, "What are you saying, my dear mother-in-law? I'm almost 40 years old."
"Oh, then we're probably about the same age. What's your zodiac sign?"
"Born in the Year of the Dragon".
"What a coincidence! I was also born in the Year of the Dragon. What month were you born in?"
"I was born in the first month of the lunar calendar."
“I was born in March, so I’ll call you sister.” Wang Yingqiu said very affectionately, “Sister, this is my daughter, her name is Tingting. Tingting, quickly call her auntie.”
Lu Tingting nodded politely and said, "Auntie."
"Please sit down, child."
Lu Tingting sat down quietly next to her mother.
Wang Yingqiu said, "Look at you, kid. Didn't you say you had a few questions to ask Xuanxuan? Go ask her! What are you doing sitting here?"
"I'll ask again later," Lu Tingting said softly.
"Oh dear, you should go ask her quickly, in case your sister HyunHyun has other things to do later."
Wang Yingqiu was furious. That brat was so inflexible.
Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "Tingting, did you bring the questions? Let me show them to you."
"I brought it."
Wang Yingqiu beamed and pulled He Yinhua along, "Sister, I really envy you. Look how outstanding Xuanxuan is. I wish my Tingting could also get into university like Xuanxuan."
"Tingting is such a studious child, she will definitely pass the exam."
"Then I'll take your kind words, sister."
Lu Rongde glanced at his watch and said, "Xiao Ye, let's serve the dishes first."
"Okay." Lu Shengye strode outside.
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