Chapter 36: Jincheng Trip (Part 1)
The entire classroom was in an uproar over the term "child marriage." Someone approached Xu Ting, who had just spoken, and asked, "What's going on with child marriage?"
Xu Ting subconsciously glanced at Jiang Lili. She really didn't mean it; she was just used to it. Fortunately, Jiang Lili didn't get angry. Instead, she kindly explained to them, "It was just a joke from the adults."
"But he's so handsome, Jiang Lili, don't you really want to consider him?" Zhou Yang in the front row added.
"Compared to this, I think the college entrance examination is more important." After saying this, Jiang Lili ignored everyone and returned to her seat with the bag.
Ji Mingyue stared out of the classroom, her face thoughtful. Listening to the praise from the people around her, she regretted not looking up to see what that person looked like. She was now almost certain of one thing: as long as the target's attack value continued to decline, she would be unlucky. Just like her previous bad luck was due to Zheng Gaoyang's attack value decreasing, but today, when she ran into him on the way to school, his attack value began to rise again, and her luck returned to normal.
I don’t know what kind of person Jiang Lili’s childhood sweetheart is. If he is not easy to win over, my life will be difficult. Thinking of this, Ji Mingyue felt a little annoyed. This broken system is not a good thing either.
Jiang Lili returned to her seat and originally wanted to put the bag directly into the table, but it wouldn't fit in. She could only take out the things inside and stuff them in one by one. Seeing the six wrapped small boxes, she quickly guessed what the gifts were. This was his birthday present that he had been missing for six years.
On her first birthday after the Lu family moved out, Lu Jiaze sent her a birthday present, but due to the packaging, the present was slightly deformed. She wrote to him and told him that he didn't need to send it anymore. Gradually, their correspondence stopped. Thinking of this, Jiang Lili's eyes dimmed. She glanced at the six gifts and sighed. Forget it, I'll just keep them for now.
Lu Jiaze's appearance sparked a lot of discussion in Class 7. As more and more insiders from the cotton mill revealed their experiences, everyone learned more about him. Lu Jiaze, whose father was a secretary and whose mother was a doctor, came from a cadre family. He was tall and handsome, perfectly fitting the image of a Prince Charming from magazines. For a moment, everyone looked at Jiang Lili with envy.
Wu Juyue said to Ji Mingyue with a sour tone, "It was just a joke between adults, but they took it seriously."
"I don't know. I'll ask my dad when I get home today." Ji Mingyue only knew that Jiang Lili had a childhood marriage partner, but she really didn't know who the other person was or what the family situation was like.
"By the way, Mingyue, these are the key points that the teacher highlighted yesterday. Do you want to write them down?" Wu Juyue asked.
"No need, I have sorted out the key points myself." Ji Mingyue shook her head.
"Then try your best in the exam and strive to get first place." Wu Juyue didn't know her level, but that didn't stop her from hoping that she could surpass Jiang Lili.
"I'll try my best." Ji Mingyue nodded with a smile.
The two of them quickly stood up and left the classroom. There was nothing they could do. Almost everyone in the classroom was discussing Lu Jiaze and envying Jiang Lili, and neither of them could bear to listen any more.
At the school gate, Qiu Shaoli looked at Lu Jiaze walking towards her and asked, "How's it going? Did you see Lili?"
Lu Jiaze nodded: "I saw it."
"You're such a fool. I told you to just leave it at her uncle's house, but you insisted on making this trip." Qiu Shaoli gave him a reproachful look.
Lu Jiaze didn't say anything. He just wanted to give it to her personally. This was the agreement they made when they were children.
"Let's go. After National Day, you can go to school with Lili." Qiu Shaoli did not forget to look at the school environment while speaking. A few years have passed, and the school seems to have not changed except that it is getting older.
Lu Jiaze followed Qiu Shaoli into the car. When he heard the door open, Lu Xingqing looked up at the mother and son and said gently, "Did you see that girl?"
"Well, let's go, Grandpa." Lu Jiaze nodded.
Lu Xingqing told the driver to drive, then said with a smile: "Why don't I move back with you when the time comes."
He originally planned to come back and stay for a few days occasionally. After all, his eldest brother's family were all in Jincheng. Now he thinks it would be nice to move back together.
"Dad, it's up to you to decide, as long as you are happy." Qiu Shaoli said with a smile. She was quite happy for her father-in-law to come with them. She and Liangjun were busy with work, and he could look after Jiaze's studies, but she was afraid that her sister-in-law and others would not be happy.
"Let's talk about it when we get back." Lu Xingqing decided to go back and discuss this matter with his two sons.
"Okay, we'll listen to you. By the way, have Aiguo and the others said when they will come to Jincheng? I can ask Auntie to clean the room in advance." Qiu Shaoli asked. Since the Jiang family has come to Jincheng, they naturally cannot let them live outside.
"It should be number one." Lu Xingqing's voice was filled with regret. He really had forgotten about this.
"I think it's the night of the 30th." Lu Jiaze said slowly.
Hearing the certainty in his tone, Qiu Shaoli became curious: "Why do you say that?"
Lu Jiaze didn't answer her question, but curled his lips: "How about we make a bet?"
*
This morning was tough for Ji Mingyue. All she could hear was Jiang Lili's name. When school was finally over, she was the first one to rush out. Wu Juyue was even surprised at her speed: "Mingyue, why are you so fast today?"
"My dad is injured, so I want to go back early." Ji Mingyue made up an excuse.
When she returned, Ji Yushu had just bought the train ticket. Staring at the ticket in his hand, Ji Mingyue was a little curious: "Dad, your injury hasn't healed yet? Why are you in such a hurry to go buy supplies?"
"Well, if we don't go to the market soon, others will get ahead of us." Ji Yushu just went outside to take a look and found that the women's bag that Zhao Dacheng took last time should be selling well. Not everyone on the street has one, but most people have one. Maybe he can also consider these items.
"Is that so? Then be careful on the road, Dad." Ji Mingyue's eyes turned after she finished speaking. It was just right that while he was in Guangzhou, she could ask her third aunt's aunt to come over. Didn't Chen Guilan want to find a younger daughter-in-law for his youngest son? She would help her.
"Mom, have you contacted my third aunt and the others?" Ji Mingyue asked.
"What?" Ye Qiuju was still thinking about what to ask Ji Yushu to bring back for her from Guangzhou.
"Don't you want to see Yao Yan get humiliated?" Although Yao Yan spoke with full energy that day, she would cry if it really came to the point of divorce.
"I called her yesterday to test her opinion. She does want to come to the city, but she hasn't made up her mind yet. I'll call her tomorrow to ask." Ye Qiuju could understand Song Zhenzhen in this regard. It takes a lot of courage to leave your hometown and come to a place you are completely unfamiliar with.
"You should persuade her. After all, the city is much better than the countryside." Ji Mingyue's hatred for Yao has reached its peak.
"I understand. There's no point in being anxious about this matter. Besides, your third uncle is strictly controlled by Yao Yan, so he may not have the courage to do it." Ye Qiuju said.
"There is no cat in the world that doesn't steal fish. Just wait and see." Ji Mingyue sneered.
"Qiuju, where did you put my shirt?" Ji Yushu's voice came from outside. He always had to dress decently when he went to Guangzhou.
"I put it in Mingyue's room." Ye Qiuju said as she stood up to clean it up for him.
When it was time to eat, Ji Mingyue finally couldn't help but ask, "Dad, did Lili have a childhood engagement?"
"Why are you asking this suddenly?" Ji Yushu looked at her in surprise. The Lu family had moved to Jincheng a few years ago. Lu Liangjun would probably have been promoted by now. Thinking of this, his eyes were full of envy. This was the importance of having a good in-laws. Unlike him, he had been married to Jiang Yulan for so many years, but was still a workshop worker. Jiang Jianyi didn't even know to promote him.
"Today a boy came to school to look for Lili. Some people said that he was her childhood sweetheart. I was worried that she might fall in love too early, so I thought of asking." Ji Mingyue said as she lowered her head and took a bite of her meal.
"The Lu family is back?" Ji Yushu looked surprised.
"What Lu family?" Ye Qiuju tried hard to recall the things about Jiang Lili in her previous life, but unfortunately the newspaper did not mention it.
"This is the childhood sweetheart of Lili that Mingyue just mentioned. The Lu family is no longer an ordinary family. How could they still be willing to associate with the Jiang family?" If he hadn't divorced, he could still use this relationship to do a lot of things. Thinking of this, Ji Yushu couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
"Is it a cadre family?" In Ye Qiuju's limited knowledge, it is very powerful to have an official in the family.
"Well, I wonder what position Lu Liangjun holds now. He's so lucky." The obvious sourness in his tone made Ji Mingyue clench her chopsticks. It seemed that what the class said was true. Jiang Lili was so lucky! But it didn't matter. These things would slowly become hers.
*
At noon after school, when Jiang Lili was carrying her bag home, Zhou Qingfen was busy preparing lunch. Jiang Aiguo was on the phone with his classmate from the Railway Bureau asking about buying tickets. Jiang Lili immediately sat down next to him and said, "Uncle, can you ask if there are any tickets for the 30th? We'll buy one."
Jiang Aiguo glanced back at her and said, "The only available tickets are for the evening of the 30th. It will be dark when we get to Jincheng, and it will be inconvenient. How about we buy the morning ticket for the 1st?"
"Just buy a ticket for the night of the 30th. Then we can rest and have energy to play the next day. If we buy a ticket on the day of the 1st, no one will have recovered after getting off the train." The green train is very slow at this time. After being on the train for several hours, you will still feel the shaking when you get off. It is not suitable to play right away.
"Then we'll listen to you. We'll buy the ticket for the night of the 30th." Jiang Aiguo quickly said something to the person on the other end of the phone.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Aiguo looked at Jiang Lili: "Then we have to find a place to stay on the night of the 30th?" He just asked, and when they arrived in Jincheng, it was about twelve o'clock.
"Are you still worried about not being able to find a hotel near the train station?" Jiang Lili remained calm.
"Isn't this a waste of money? Uncle Lu has already said that we will stay at his house when we get to Jincheng, but we will arrive in the middle of the night, and we don't want to trouble others to wait for us until midnight." At this time, even if they go out to play, everyone still has to keep saving in mind. Anyway, they should save whenever they can. In his opinion, there is a free place to stay, but they choose to spend money to stay there, which is a pure waste.
"When you go out to play, do whatever makes you happy. Don't think it's a waste of money. Having fun is the most important thing." Jiang Lili was once again thankful for her correct decision. Between spending money to stay in a hotel and staying at the Lu family's house, she would definitely choose the former.
"What do you know, you little kid? Forget it. Just wait for your mom and grandpa to continue nagging you." Jiang Aiguo said, looking at her with a gloating expression.
"They won't." Jiang Lili shook her head.
"Sister Lili, what are you holding in your hand?" Jiang Qitong, who came out of the kitchen, saw the bag in Jiang Lili's hand at a glance.
"I'll take the things I brought back from school later." Jiang Lili explained simply.
"Uh." Jiang Qitong heard her say that and thought it was something related to study, so she didn't ask any more questions.
When the whole family was gathered, Jiang Aiguo talked about buying tickets. But to his surprise, the old man and Jiang Yulan nodded when they heard him say, "We've already bought them, so what else is there to say? And Lili is right. We can have fun after we have recuperated."
Well, it seems that he is the only one who is reminded to save money. Seeing this, Jiang Lili gave him a smug look.
Jiang Lili did not tell her family that Lu Jiaze came to the school to find her. She just took her things with her after dinner and told them that she needed to go back. Seeing this, Jiang Yulan went back with her. Anyway, she had to go to work soon, so it didn't matter where she took a nap.
Back home, Jiang Lili took the things out of the bag again, hesitated for a moment, then opened them one by one. The first and second gifts were small gadgets she had told him about before. The third gift was a pen. Calculating the time, she should have been in the first grade of junior high school at that time. The next gift was a notebook with a lock. The last gift was a sunflower doll. Was he hoping she would ace the high school entrance exam? Although these gifts were belated, his intentions were evident.
Jiang Lili glanced at the gifts she had placed on the table, then stuffed them all into the drawer, out of sight, out of mind. After doing this, she lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She had no desire to sleep. Before the Lu family showed up, she had almost forgotten about Lu Jiaze.
When she thought about the plot before, she focused all her attention on the people related to Ji Yushu, but forgot about the CP with Ji Mingyue, the heroine who traveled through the book. Even though the plot now found that it had completely deviated from the original development, some things seemed to be inevitable. The most important thing for this trip to Jincheng was to let Jiang Yulan have a comprehensive physical examination. After sixteen years of being together, she had long been her closest family member. She could not imagine the pain of losing her.
When Jiang Lili finally felt a little sleepy, it was already time for school. She yawned and went to wash up. When she looked in the mirror, she found that there was a dark spot under her eyes. She thought that she had to go to bed early tonight.
"Did drawing delay your sleep time?" Jiang Yulan, who was standing behind her, also noticed the blue color under her eyes and asked with a frown.
"No, I just arrived at my uncle's house and I'm a bit used to the bed." Jiang Lili explained.
"How about I finish class early every day and you come back to live here?" Jiang Yulan looked at her guiltily.
"No need for that. I'm adapting now, and I'm almost there. You want me to come back and sleep again. Isn't that a waste of time? Comrade Jiang Yulan, please relax." Jiang Lili said as she stretched out her hand to pinch her shoulders. It wasn't herself who was tired, but her.
Jiang Yulan was amused by her, and then she reminded her seriously: "If you are not used to anything, remember to tell me as soon as possible."
"I know. I'm going to class." Tomorrow is the 30th, and Jiang Lili is looking forward to going to Jincheng. She plans to have several of her elders go to the hospital for physical examinations. At this time, people are still somewhat hesitant to see a doctor, and the concept of physical examinations has not yet been widely promoted. It will probably take some effort to persuade them, so she needs to think of a good excuse in advance.
Fortunately, in the afternoon, there was something new to discuss in school, and the heat about Lu Jiaze's appearance gradually subsided. Jiang Lili couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
As the holiday approached, everyone's thoughts grew increasingly precarious. Ji Mingyue stared at the textbook in front of her, unable to comprehend a single word. According to them, the Lu family was now in Jincheng, so how could she possibly win him over? Could it be that the timeline for winning him over was during college? Before she could think clearly, she heard a classmate calling her from the door. She looked up and saw Zheng Gaoyang standing there waiting for her.
She walked to the door curiously and asked in a gentle voice, "Zheng Gaoyang, are you looking for me?"
"Well, isn't the monthly exam coming up? This is the notes I borrowed for you. Remember to take a look at them when you have time." Zheng Gaoyang thought that she used to go to school in the countryside, so her basic knowledge might not be that solid.
Although she was somewhat dissatisfied with his underestimation of her, Ji Mingyue smiled sweetly at him as she looked at the attack value rising above his head: "Thank you, I'm sorry for your trouble."
"It's okay, I'm glad I could help you." Zheng Gaoyang scratched his hair and said embarrassedly.
"Thank you very much." Ji Mingyue expressed her gratitude again.
When Ji Mingyue returned to her seat with her notebook, Wu Juyue's note came to her, asking her what Zheng Gaoyang wanted her to do. Seeing the question on her note, Ji Mingyue felt a little annoyed. Why did she like to dig deep into things? It was really annoying, but she couldn't break up with her. Once her strategy value dropped, she would be in trouble.
Jiang Lili didn't know about Ji Mingyue's worries. She was planning their trip to Jincheng in her notebook. It would take three days, and the physical check-up at the hospital would probably take one day. As for the rest of the itinerary, they would first go to the department store to check out the popular toys in Jincheng, and the rest would be to check in at the scenic spots in Jincheng. The Internet was not well developed at the moment, so they had to figure out the plan themselves.
As for the Lu family, Jiang Lili had already made up her mind. They would go there on the night of the 30th and check into the hotel directly. She also took the opportunity to politely decline the proposal to stay at the Lu family. At most, the two families would have a meal together at that time.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 30th. Jiang Lili had packed her luggage into her own backpack after going back home last night. After school, she would go home to take a shower and wash her hair and then set off for the train station.
During the last class, everyone's minds were already far away. The moment the bell rang, before the teacher left the classroom, someone shouted, "Holiday, holiday!" Jiang Lili couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips. It was such an enviable sense of relief. Maybe it was because she had been an adult once, so she couldn't do these "childish" behaviors at all. This was probably why some people said she was "pretentious".
Walking from the classroom all the way to the school gate, Jiang Lili's mood also soared, and her steps became faster. As soon as she opened the door at home, Jiang Qitong rushed into her arms: "Sister Lili, come on, we've been waiting for you."
"The train is at 8:30, it's still early." Jiang Lili pinched her cheek and pointed at the wall clock, indicating to her that they were waiting for time.
"Okay, let's eat first." Jiang Qitong looked at the short hand of the clock on the wall pointing to five and pouted.
"We are going to stay there for three days, and there will be fun for you." Jiang Aiguo soothed her in a gentle voice. After a while, the little girl's laughter could be heard everywhere in the house.
At exactly seven o'clock, the family packed up and set off for the train station. Although it was not Jiang Qitong's first time to the train station, she still looked up and around. This was a completely new place for her.
Jiang Lili stared at the waiting area at the station. She hadn't traveled far since she arrived here, and this was her first time riding a train. The green trains of today couldn't compare to the high-speed trains of the future. She heard Jiang Yulan beside her worrying about carsickness. Zhou Qingfen gently reassured her, "Don't worry, sister. The train runs very slowly, and the windows can be opened."
The train station was abuzz with people coming to meet each other, leaving, crying and laughing. At first, Jiang Qitong didn't understand why some people were crying. Shouldn't taking a train to have fun be a very happy thing? Jiang Aiguo explained to her seriously that not all people who take the train here are going to have fun. Some are going to work far away, and their families are reluctant to let them go, so they cry.
At the age of eight, she was already able to understand the meaning of parting. Upon hearing this, Jiang Qitong quickly hugged Jiang Aiguo and said, "It's a good thing that you don't have to go far away to work, Dad." Then, the little girl let go of Jiang Aiguo and hugged everyone. She thought, fortunately, no one has to go far away, otherwise she would be the one standing here crying.
Soon, the sound of ticket checking came over the radio, and the family headed towards the ticket checking line. Jiang Lili finally breathed a sigh of relief once they were on the train. It was so crowded. Jiang Yulan, who suffers from motion sickness, sat by the window. Jiang Lili sat in the middle, with Jiang Jianyi sitting on the outermost seat, and across from them sat Jiang Aiguo and his family of three.
Even with the windows open, the train still stank of various smells. Jiang Lili couldn't help but take a deep breath until she heard a humming sound. She knew it was the sound of the train starting. The wind blew in, and the air flowed through, making the smell less unpleasant. It was already dark, and looking out the window, it was pitch black. Jiang Qitong, who had been excited, quickly fell asleep on Jiang Aiguo. As expected, no one could resist the power of the biological clock. Jiang Lili yawned, and her eyelids grew heavier.
Jiang Lili was woken up by Jiang Yulan. She looked at her bewilderedly, "Mom, what's wrong?"
"We're almost there, wake up quickly." As soon as Jiang Yulan finished speaking, a reminder came from the radio in the car.
"Oh, so fast." Jiang Lili said and yawned again. At first she was worried that the four hours on the train would be unbearable, but she didn't expect that she would arrive there directly after a good sleep.
The train quickly began to slow down and enter the station. Jiang Lili also stood up and stretched her limbs to make herself more awake. The train slowly stopped, the carriage doors were opened, and everyone began to get off in an orderly manner.
The train station was still a bit chilly in the early morning, but luckily they all brought light jackets. Jiang Lili had just buttoned the last button of her jacket when she heard someone calling her. She couldn't help but frown. Turning around, she saw Lu Jiaze waving at her with a smile on his face. Before she could say anything, she saw Jiang Jianyi walking towards them with a cheerful look on his face. "Didn't we say we'd make our own arrangements tonight? Why did you bother coming all this way?"
"If I let you stay in a hotel, where would I put my old face? Hurry up, the room has been prepared for you." Lu Xingqing took Jiang Jianyi's arm and started walking.
This time, Lu Jiaze's father, Lu Liangjun, was also present. He had held a high position in recent years and carried an aura of his own, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Jiang Lili felt that the familiar Uncle Lu had returned. As she politely greeted the Lu family, Lu Jiaze had already walked over to her and reached for the backpack on her shoulder. Jiang Lili subconsciously took a step back. Lu Jiaze looked at her innocently, "Aren't you tired after carrying it for so long? Let me help you."
Jiang Lili hesitated for a moment, then quickly took off her backpack from her shoulder and handed it to him: "Thank you for your help." It was indeed quite heavy. She obviously didn't pack anything, so she didn't know why it was so heavy.
Because there were so many people, the Lu family sent two cars to pick them up. It was obvious that the Lu family had developed very well in recent years. Along the way, Jiang Lili was very quiet, which made Lu Jiaze a little uncomfortable: "Jiang Lili, are you sleepy?"
"A little bit." Jiang Lili said and yawned.
"We'll be there soon. Have a good rest. I'll take you to visit Jincheng tomorrow." The corners of Lu Jiaze's lips always unconsciously curled up when he spoke.
"I don't think it will be possible tomorrow. I have to take my grandpa and the others to the hospital for a physical check-up." Jiang Lili's words were a little unclear because she had just yawned.
"Go to the hospital, is anyone sick?" Lu Jiaze asked hurriedly.
"No, I'm taking my grandpa, my mom, my uncle, and my aunt for a comprehensive check-up." Jiang Lili wanted to keep a distance from him, but she also knew that when they arrived in Jincheng, he was more familiar with these things than herself.
"Then let's go directly to my mom's hospital. My mom is familiar with the place and it will be more convenient for her to take them there." Lu Jiaze quickly gave a suggestion.
"Okay, but I'll have to trouble Aunt Qiu again." Jiang Lili almost forgot that Aunt Qiu was a doctor, and almost forgot the resources in front of her.
"This is no big deal. I will have to trouble your family for at least half a month." Lu Jiaze reminded her again that he and her would soon be classmates.
"Well, then it's barely even." Jiang Lili pulled the corner of her lips helplessly.
The Lu family's house was nearly an hour's drive from the train station, and by the time they got back, it was almost two in the morning. Before they left, Qiu Shaoli and the others had asked their aunt to cook a midnight snack. She was getting everyone something to eat. Jiang Lili yawned. She had no interest in a midnight snack; she just wanted to sleep. When she looked up again, Jiang Jianyi had already eaten a piece of bread. Well, it looked like tomorrow's physical exam would have to be canceled.
Lu Jiaze followed her gaze and quickly understood her frustration. He smiled and said, "It would be better to go the day after tomorrow. Go to the hospital at dawn to get a form in advance, so we can have a more organized schedule tomorrow."
"This is the only way." Anyway, as long as I go for a physical examination, any day is fine.
"Come on, I'll take you to your room." Seeing that she kept yawning, Lu Jiaze reminded her.
"Okay, thank you for your help." Jiang Lili felt like her eyelids needed a matchstick to hold them up.
Looking at their backs, Qiu Shaoli suddenly smiled and said, "Was it Lili's idea to let you book the tickets for tonight?"
Jiang Aiguo swallowed what he had in his mouth and spoke after a long while: "Sister-in-law, how did you know?"
Thinking of Lu Jiaze's smug expression that day, Qiu Shaoli's smile widened. "I was just randomly guessing, but I didn't expect it to be right."
"That's right. Except for that girl Lili, no one would choose the evening ticket." Jiang Aiguo nodded as he spoke.
The Lu family's residence was a small Western-style building. Jiang Lili and the others were arranged to stay in the guest rooms on the third floor. Lu Jiaze took Jiang Lili to open the second room on the right side of the third floor and said softly, "This is your room."
"Thank you." Jiang Lili said, then looked up at him, indicating that it was time for him to leave.
Lu Jiaze didn't say anything, but just curled the corners of his lips: "What birthday present do you want this year?" Jiang Lili's birthday on her household registration book is August 28th, but in fact, August 28th is a lunar calendar day, which means that she hasn't celebrated her birthday this year yet.
"Isn't it still early?" Jiang Lili subconsciously wanted to refuse.
"It's already the eighth month of the lunar calendar, it's getting late." Lu Jiaze said. This year he should be able to say happy birthday to her in person.
"Yes, then the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon." Unfortunately, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not a legal holiday at that time.
Seeing this, Lu Jiaze curled his lips helplessly. Never mind. There were still more than twenty days left, enough for him to understand what she liked recently. He took a small step back and said, "Then you should get some rest early. See you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow." After he turned around, Jiang Lili closed the door directly.
She looked around her room and was pleasantly surprised to find a bathroom inside. After four hours on the train, she felt sticky all over and would feel uncomfortable if she didn't take a shower.
Coming out of the bathroom, Jiang Lili felt refreshed. It was then that she finally had time to take in the room's decor, which was dominated by a pale pink and purple hue. She remembered Aunt Qiu asking her what color she liked when she was little, and to avoid looking out of place, she had chosen pink and purple. So, was Aunt Qiu's promise to prepare a room for her true feelings?
The whole room was pink and tender, exuding a girlish atmosphere everywhere. Jiang Lili sighed and threw herself into the big bed. The bed was unexpectedly soft. Damn it, why would Lu Jiaze be Ji Mingyue's target?
No one could answer this question for her. Perhaps she was too tired, or the bed was too soft. Jiang Lili didn't even know when she fell asleep.
The next day, she was woken up by a knock on the door. Although her morning grumpiness wasn't severe, it was definitely noticeable. She had a cold face when she opened the door, but it was Jiang Qitong who was outside. The little girl didn't notice her anger and said sweetly, "Sister Lili, it's time to go downstairs for breakfast. Everyone should get up."
The last sentence successfully dispelled Jiang Lili's sleepiness. She rubbed her already tangled hair and said, "You guys go first. I'll be done soon."
"No, auntie said she has to watch you, otherwise you'll go back to sleep for a nap." Jiang Qitong followed her into the room, her little face full of seriousness.
"Okay, then you just sit there and wait for me." Jiang Lili said as she took out the clothes she was going to wear today from her bag. For convenience, she brought two long skirts, which would be just right to wear with a thin sweater in the morning.
"Wow, Sister Lili, you look so beautiful in a skirt. It's a pity that my mom doesn't let me wear a skirt, saying it's cold." Jiang Qitong pouted and complained. Little girls of this age just like skirts.
"It's okay, you can wear it next summer." My aunt has always been good with her hands. When the costume dolls came out, she asked her to make a one-to-one children's version for Tongtong.
"Okay, Sister Lili, hurry up. My stomach is growling. It's urging us to come." Jiang Lili touched her stomach and said in a serious tone, "Don't rush me. I'll go downstairs to eat right away."
Jiang Lili curled the corners of her lips in amusement. It was the first time she realized that this little girl was quite dramatic.
When she took Jiang Qitong out, the others heard the door opening and opened it as well. Then, the whole family came down from the third floor in a mighty procession. In the living room, besides Lu Jiaze's family and Lu Xingqing, there was also Lu Jiaze's uncle's family.
Uncle Lu Jiaze's family had been in Jincheng for a long time. They were considered the first group to go into business. Now Lu Liangxu's business was very successful. Jiang Lili was not very familiar with them, but Jiang Jianyi was very familiar with them. He patted Lu Liangxu on the shoulder and said, "Liangxu has become more energetic in recent years."
"Uncle Jiang looks younger and younger." Lu Liangxu also said with a smile.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang suggested, "Why don't you see your Hongzhe?"
"Hongzhe is in college now and usually only comes back during the winter and summer vacations." The speaker was Lu Liangxu's wife Li Shuhua.
When Jiang Lili mentioned Lu Hongzhe, she barely managed to recall a few things. Lu Hongzhe was only three years older than them, yet every time they met, he had a stern expression, acting like a little adult. She had even secretly suspected that Lu Hongzhe, like her, had returned with memories from a past life. Unfortunately, she had tried several times, but each time, Lu Hongzhe had looked at her like she was stupid. Besides being deeply traumatized, she also realized more clearly that IQ was truly innate, and it didn't change whether you were reborn or traveled through time.
Jiang Yulan and the Lu brothers grew up together, and she couldn't help but sigh, "Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, Hongzhe is already in college."
"That's right. Your children, Lili and Jiaze, are both in high school now. In three years, they should be going to college." Li Shuhua smiled and pulled Jiang Yulan along to chat. For a moment, the atmosphere was very friendly. Breakfast ended in a joyful atmosphere, and everyone continued with the previous topic.
The adults chatted, and the younger generation could only serve as a background. Lu Jiaze tugged at Jiang Lili's clothes like he did when they were little, and lowered his voice and asked, "Do you want to go out?"
Jiang Lili glanced over there and nodded quickly. This time, she was kind enough to take Jiang Qitong with her. When they came out of the living room, Lu Jiaze introduced her to the place with familiarity, and finally said, "Don't you like gardenias? There are gardenias planted in the yard outside the door. I'll take you there to see them."
"Okay." Jiang Lili nodded. It's better to look at the flowers than to use them as a background wall.
Eight-year-old Jiang Qitong was at an active age. She insisted on pulling Jiang Lili to walk backwards. Jiang Lili couldn't resist her and had to walk backwards with her until she bumped into a warm chest. She thought it was Lu Jiaze and quickly backed away: "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
Then she heard a chuckle from above her head, followed by a strange voice: "I remember you weren't so polite when you were a child."
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The author has something to say: I'm late. I don't know how I caught a cold. Then I found out my period has come. I'll give a red envelope to everyone who leaves a message before tomorrow's update.
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