Zhai Qingping was taken aback: "Comrade Feng has a girlfriend?"
"Of course," Grandma Li said with certainty.
Zhai Qingping frowned and stared at Old Lady Li: "Are you telling the truth?"
“You think I’m lying to you? You can ask around the neighborhood. Everyone knows the eldest daughter of the Feng family. She’s been popular with boys since she was little. She even got a boyfriend before graduating from high school. We’re all waiting for her wedding banquet.” Old Mrs. Li said loudly, as if she really believed it.
There's a grain of truth in that statement.
Zhai Qingping's face darkened completely, and a surge of anger at being deceived welled up inside her. If she already had a boyfriend, why did she still need to attend the social dance party?
Are you looking for a better option while still employed?
"Who is her boyfriend? What's his name? Where does he live?" Zhai Qingping asked in a deep voice, still unwilling to give up.
Seeing his expression, Old Lady Li knew this greenhorn was just one step away from falling into her trap. She immediately brought up the main character from the neighborhood committee incident that morning: "That boy's surname is Zhang. His father is the factory manager of the Xicheng Cotton Mill. I heard he's their only son, and he and the eldest daughter of the Feng family were high school classmates and have been dating for a long time. It's said that once they get married, the eldest daughter of the Feng family will get a job at the cotton mill. That's something to be envied..."
Upon hearing this, Zhai Qingping could no longer remain silent. Such detailed information at least proved that the student surnamed Zhang did exist.
"I understand, thank you." Zhai Qingping turned and left.
"Oh, young man, where have you gone? Aren't you waiting for Miss Feng?" Old Mrs. Li asked with concern as he walked away, her eyes full of smugness.
Zhai Qingping did not respond. He was going to the Xicheng Cotton Mill to inquire about that classmate Zhang, but there was no need to explain this matter to the old woman.
He was pressed for time; he needed to quickly find out the truth and go through the motions at the hospital again.
At that moment, Wang Ma returned from grocery shopping and happened to brush past Zhai Qingping, who was walking briskly.
Upon catching a glimpse of his military uniform, Wang Ma suddenly recalled the tall soldier who had appeared outside the Feng family's courtyard yesterday evening. The figure looked quite similar; could it be the same person?
Wang Ma stopped and called out "Hey!" but the other person ignored her, looked straight ahead, and even quickened their pace, instantly creating distance between them.
Just then, Wang Ma spotted Old Lady Li in front of the main house's gate. Forgetting about Zhai Qingping, she rushed over and shouted, "Li Ahua, what are you doing lurking around in front of our house?"
Grandma Li: "Who's acting suspiciously? Can't I just take a stroll?"
Wang Ma: "Other people can stroll around without any problems, but if you stroll to someone's doorstep and don't steal anything, the ground will be thinned by two inches!"
Seeing that the greenhorn had gone far away and was unlikely to return, Old Lady Li smugly put her hands behind her back and said, "I'm in a good mood today, so I won't argue with you. I'm leaving."
Seeing that Old Lady Li had really left, Wang Ma frowned, feeling that something was not quite right. She pushed the courtyard gate but couldn't open it, so she rushed inside and shouted, "Mingyu and Mingxue, are you in there?"
"Wang Ma is back! Brother, let's go open the door!"
The twins ran happily out of the building, and Wang Ma breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the sound.
At 5 p.m., the department store still had two hours before closing time, but Yu Jingqiu was not a sales clerk; her work hours were from nine to five.
As she tidied the table, she asked her daughter if she wanted to go to the department store to buy some things.
Feng Mingshu had a very busy day, and with her mind preoccupied with her family's future plans, she couldn't muster any energy: "Mom, I don't want to shop, and there's nothing I want to buy. Let's go home."
Yu Jingqiu didn't try to persuade her anymore. She led her listless daughter across the first floor of the mall and walked out. Suddenly, her gaze stopped and she looked at a counter with few people.
"Mom, why did you stop?" Feng Mingshu asked, puzzled, when she noticed her mother had stopped.
Yu Jingqiu looked away and asked her daughter with a smile, "Will that man from yesterday evening still be waiting outside our house today?"
Feng Mingshu felt a little hot at the teasing, but firmly denied it: "Mom, I already told him that he won't come again. I've made it clear to him."
Yu Jingqiu chuckled: "Alright, I won't ask anymore, let's go."
Zhai Qingping was in a hurry and came to a less crowded counter. He randomly pointed to an item and asked the salesperson to weigh it. At this moment, he vaguely sensed a gaze behind him. He turned around and scanned the area.
"Comrade, do you still want it?" the sales clerk asked him after weighing the goods.
"Yes, pack it up for me." Zhai Qingping didn't see anyone, so he turned around, paid the bill quickly, grabbed the packed items, and ran off.
Half an hour later, he arrived at Zhou Jinshan's bedside, panting, and casually placed the things he had bought on the bedside table: "These are gifts for you, paid for by the political commissar. They're to help you recover."
"The political commissar is the best," Lu Xiangqian said, his eyes shining as he picked up the gifts. "Wait a minute, this is chocolate, something women love to eat. It's so effeminate. Lao Zhai, why did you choose this?"
Zhai Qingping, of course, wouldn't admit that he hadn't put in the effort. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Want some? If not, give it back to me."
"Of course we have to eat!"
Before Lu Xiangqian could finish speaking, the whole bag of chocolates was moved and ended up in Zhou Jinshan's hands.
"This is my gift of condolence." Zhou Jinshan got out of bed, put on his coat, and casually stuffed the chocolate into his coat pocket, declaring ownership in a nonchalant tone.
"I've been working so hard to stay by your side, you should at least give me a dollar or two to make up for it, right?" Lu Xiangqian reached into Zhou Jinshan's pocket without any politeness.
Zhou Jinshan brushed Lu Xiangqian's hand away, then casually pulled out a few bills and stuffed them into his hand: "Old Lu, the meat and vegetables in the cafeteria can also replenish your body. Go to the cafeteria and get some back. I'll take it to Old Zhai."
Once Lu Xiangqian got the money, he forgot all about the chocolate and happily counted it: "There are actually three yuan! Old Zhou, you're quite generous today. But why did you give Old Zhai a gift? He can walk on his own now."
Zhai Qingping hadn't originally intended for Zhou Jinshan to give him a gift, but upon hearing this, he was so angry he laughed: "Old Lu, you're too quick to kick me away after I've served my purpose!"
Lu Xiangqian mimicked his raised eyebrow: "You come to visit Lao Zhou, but you don't bring food or money, you just run an errand. What more do you want?"
The two had always loved to bicker, and Zhou Jinshan interrupted, "Can you two shut up already? Old Zhai, are you leaving or not?"
Zhai Qingping nodded and followed: "Let's go, I have to hurry. The political commissar gave me a deadline, I can't be even a minute late."
Zhou Jinshan made a noncommittal gesture.
After the two left the hospital, the dimly lit streets were sparsely populated. Zhou Jinshan suddenly stopped and turned to look at Zhai Qingping: "Before you came here, you went somewhere else."
This is not a question, but a certainty.
Zhai Qingping wasn't surprised. He knew his roommate had always been incredibly perceptive, and he couldn't help but smile wryly, "I did go somewhere else first. I went to see Comrade Feng from yesterday's social gathering."
A barely perceptible ripple appeared in Zhou Jinshan's eyes. He looked at the dim streetlights ahead and asked in a calm tone, "Did you see them?"
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