Zhang Yunxiao did not chase after Chu Xuanxuan, but waited outside the tailor shop for a quarter of an hour before Feng Mingshu came out and said a word to him.
He wished he had never heard those words.
The boy's eyes reddened, and he insisted on an answer: "Why? Why did you change your mind after only a few days?"
"Is it because of Chu Xuanxuan? There's nothing between us. I just take better care of her because of our parents. If you don't like it, I'll never talk to her again..."
Seeing Zhang Yunxiao's stubbornness and panic, Feng Mingshu was somewhat puzzled.
Because she was certain that the most ambiguous thing between the two of them was that they agreed to take the entrance exam for Bincheng University. Many classmates had made similar promises, so it wasn't a big deal. They were still far from getting to the point of making a real relationship.
After repeatedly confirming that she had a clear conscience, Feng Mingshu interrupted him: "Zhang, I'm going on a blind date soon. Your constant visits might cause misunderstandings with my date, which isn't good."
Hearing her words, Zhang Yunxiao was stunned. His mouth hung open, and his eyes were full of disbelief: "You're going on a blind date?"
"Yes, I'm going on a blind date. The other person is a very nice person." Feng Mingshu smiled sweetly, her lips curving upwards.
Uh, what she was thinking about was braised pork.
...
Zhang Yunxiao was in a daze, not knowing how he got back to the family building. When he saw Chu Xuanxuan laughing and talking with his mother in his house, his eyes widened and he blurted out, "Why did you come to my house?"
"How can you talk like that?" Zhang's mother noticed something was wrong and immediately scolded her son, "Apologize to Xuanxuan right now."
Chu Xuanxuan's eyes reddened with grievance, but she spoke up for him understandingly: "Auntie, I don't blame Brother Yunxiao, he's just in a bad mood."
Mrs. Zhang immediately became alert: "What's wrong with him? Xuanxuan, tell me the truth, did he go to see Miss Feng again when he went out earlier?"
Chu Xuanxuan peeked at Zhang Yunxiao, then bit her lip and shook her head: "Auntie, I won't betray Brother Yunxiao."
"You silly girl—"
"Mom, don't bother anymore. He's going on a blind date, and he didn't even like me!" Zhang Yunxiao roared, stormed into the bedroom, and slammed the door shut.
Startled by her son's actions, Zhang's mother stepped forward to knock on the door but stopped. Turning her head, she saw the happy expression on Chu Xuanxuan's face and felt a little uncomfortable, but she didn't show it on her face. She said considerately, "Xuanxuan, you've had a long day. Go back and rest first."
"Auntie, I'm not tired..."
"Xuanxuan, be good and go back to rest first. When your brother Yunxiao gets better, I'll invite you over to talk to Auntie."
Chu Xuanxuan was immediately comforted, thinking that this was because Zhang's mother valued her, and happily said goodbye and went back.
The Chu family lived in another apartment building, or more accurately, a dormitory-style building, while the Zhang family lived in an apartment building for experts.
The latter was built in the 1950s for Soviet experts. It has a separate kitchen and bathroom and an area of about 100 square meters. After the Soviet experts left, it was distributed to factory leaders of sufficient rank, as well as workers with special skills and contributions.
The Chu family were ordinary workers who were allocated a room in a tenement building. The room, about twenty square meters, was divided in two by a curtain. Inside were bunk beds for the children, and outside were the couple's bed and a dining table, making it quite cramped.
Yu Xiuchun was knitting at the dining table when she saw her daughter return. She immediately asked her about her progress with the factory director's son.
Yes, Zhang Yunxiao's father was the factory director and his mother, Wang Sujuan, was the director of the women's committee of the trade union. Their only son was naturally coveted by many people.
Chu Xuanxuan successfully secured a position next to Zhang Yunxiao, and she was very pleased with herself. Although she had been angered by Feng Mingshu at the tailor shop today, she was still satisfied with the current outcome. She happily told Yu Xiuchun about her relationship with Zhang Yunxiao and how much Wang Sujuan valued her.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Yu Xiuchun slammed the half-knitted sweater onto the table, poked Chu Xiaoxiao's forehead, and scolded, "You stupid girl, you've been cheated and you're still helping them count the money!"
"Wang Sujuan clearly used you as a stepping stone to squeeze out Feng Mingshu, and then she turned around and kicked him out. You're still smug about it? What are you so smug about!"
Chu Xuanxuan was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears: "Mom, what you're saying isn't true, Auntie likes me..."
"How could I have given birth to such an idiot like you? If she really liked you, she wouldn't have sent you back just now!"
After scolding her daughter, Yu Xiuchun threatened, "I, Yu Xiuchun, am not one to be trifled with. If you, Wang Sujuan, dare to use my daughter, you'd better give me your son as a son-in-law!"
"Mom, you have a way, right?" Chu Xuanxuan stopped crying and grabbed Yu Xiuchun's hand with hopeful eyes.
Yu Xiuchun snorted: "I naturally have a way, but we can't let the Feng family get away with it. We need to find out if that brat is really going on a blind date, so we don't fall for her feint!"
...
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the weather is getting colder every day. Feng Mingshu likes to stay in her mother's room on the first floor, where the quilt is warm and cozy. This morning, she inevitably woke up late again and even missed breakfast.
This small Western-style building was built during the Republic of China era. Back then, the Feng family was wealthy and loved to enjoy life. The building was equipped with a modern water heating system that could provide heating 24 hours a day.
So when Feng Mingshu said in the tailor shop that she didn't want anything extravagant that day, she felt a little guilty. But with the experience of those fifteen years in her previous life, she had become much thicker-skinned, and that little bit of guilt quickly dissipated.
She picked up her watch from the bedside table and glanced at it. It was a quarter past eight. She wasn't hungry and planned to stay in bed a little longer when she vaguely heard a commotion outside.
She immediately got up, hurriedly put on her clothes, opened the door and went out, only to see Yu Xiuchun arguing and struggling with Wang Ma at the entrance of the living room.
"What right do you, a mere servant, have to kick me out? I am your mistress's own sister! Where is she? Tell her to come out and see me!"
"I already said, Madam has gone out on business. Even if you are Madam's relative, you should still show proper etiquette. How can you barge into someone's home when the host is not around?"
"Pah! Do I need a servant like you to teach me manners? You're just a lackey, get me some tea right now, and bring me some snacks and fruit..."
Seeing that Yu Xiuchun was putting on airs, Feng Mingshu walked over and sneered: "This is the new China now. My family doesn't have any servants. Wang Ma works as a housekeeper in my house. She earns her living by her own labor, just like a salesperson or a train conductor. There is no distinction between high and low, noble and lowly. Go back to your own home and put away that outdated set of ideas you have."
Seeing Feng Mingshu refute her relatives and save face for her, Wang Ma's eyes reddened, and she choked out, "Little..."
"Aunt Wang, don't call me Xiao Mingshu anymore, I'm all grown up now." Feng Mingshu took Aunt Wang's arm, her tone coquettish.
Wang Ma came to her senses and changed her address: "Okay, drop the 'little' part. From now on, Wang Ma will call you Ming Shu. There's some porridge and eggs warming on the stove, Ming Shu, go and eat."
The two were holding hands and talking intimately, while Yu Xiuchun across from them was about to explode with anger: "You brat, now that you're all grown up, you're so sharp-tongued and disrespectful to your elders! I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your mother!"
Yu Xiuchun raised her hand menacingly, and Wang Ma immediately stepped forward to protect her, but she was no match for the person who came in from outside the door. He grabbed Yu Xiuchun's wrist, causing her to scream in pain, "Where did this wild man come from? Let me go!"
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