As expected, Manager Lin went to the small room after dinner and talked with Meng Zikang for about half an hour. Meng Zikang obediently took his things and followed Manager Lin.
After the two of them left the courtyard, Aunt Gao asked Gao Cheng, "Where did Manager Lin take him?"
"It's hard to say, he probably found him a place to stay." Gao Cheng patted Gao Jiale, who was standing to the side, "He's gone, help your sister move her things back."
Seeing Gao Lan following behind, he said, "What are you going to do? Your brother is fine."
Gao Lan didn't even turn her head. "I'll go help Meng Dong tidy up. It must be a mess inside."
Gao Cheng smiled and shook his head. At home, she would nag her mother for ages about doing chores, but she was quite eager to help others.
Manager Lin didn't drink much earlier; judging from his appearance, he wasn't a big drinker. Gao Cheng hadn't felt comfortable drinking either. Now that everyone was gone, he plopped back down, glanced around the room, and saw that all three of his children had gone with him. He smiled and grabbed his wife's hand, "Don't put it away yet, go get a wine cup, let's have a drink."
Aunt Gao angrily tapped his head, "You, you drunkard."
Gao Cheng just grinned sheepishly at her. Aunt Gao only said a few words, but still went to get a wine cup and a pair of chopsticks, and sat down next to him.
Did you notice the look in our son's eyes today?
Hearing Gao Cheng say this, Aunt Gao hurriedly straightened up and looked outside, "What's wrong with you? Don't let the child hear that again."
Gao Cheng snorted coldly, "What's wrong with listening to that? I'm his father, and I can't control him."
"Alright, that's enough, you've already had too much without even drinking any."
Gao Cheng leaned closer to her, "Did you see? Even Manager Lin thinks this kid is pretty good. How about we...?"
Aunt Gao slapped him on the arm. "What nonsense are you talking about? If she passes the exam, she'll have to study for four years, and she also has a younger sister. How can our family afford to support her? Even if she comes down to find a job, no one will want her. Finally, there's a family from the countryside who works in the city. They said that her sister can come with her, but they can only support her up to primary school, no more."
Gao Cheng rolled his eyes at her. "Look at you, that kid is clearly ambitious, and you didn't even ask him what kind of family to marry him off to."
"Can you blame me? Last time she went to her maternal grandparents' house, Jiaqing's aunt made a fuss about finding her a husband. She just smiled and left. I knew she didn't agree, but they thought she was just shy. When I went back this time, they all told me about it, and I said she definitely wouldn't be happy, but they didn't believe me. They all said that given her current situation, it would be good enough if she could find someone at all. Listen to what they're saying, isn't that what Manager Lin meant today too?"
"Your sisters are just bored out of their minds. Your seventh sister is already this age and still doesn't have a boyfriend. Instead of finding her a husband, they're always worrying about other people's business."
Aunt Gao disliked hearing him say that the most. "Alright, what's wrong with my sisters? Don't talk badly about my family."
Knowing she was about to bring up those old grievances again, Gao Cheng quickly picked out a small yellow croaker for her. "Perfect timing, the children aren't here, eat up. Otherwise, when they come, you'll just be thinking about giving it to them again. This fish is really delicious, and it's even sweet, just your favorite flavor."
Since the fish was brought over, Aunt Gao had only tasted one bite. Knowing that her husband had noticed and cared for her, she felt a warm glow inside. She took the fish with her hands and ate it carefully.
On Xu Keke's side, Gao Lan was also asking her, "Are you really going to get married? Aren't you going to take the college entrance exam?"
Gao Lan initially admired Xu Keke because of her unwavering determination to go to university. In Gao Lan's eyes, no one around her was so resolute in pursuing something, unmoved by anyone's opinions. She found this remarkable and envied her. She hoped that one day she could be like that too, deciding to do something and resolutely pursuing it regardless of what others said.
"I still want to go to university, but what I'm thinking about now is where we'll live in the future."
Gao Jiale stood at the door, seemingly looking at something. Hearing their conversation, she turned around and interjected, "Didn't Manager Lin suggest you go to the stationery store? That job is actually better than going to university. You can go work at the stationery store first; you don't have to get married right away. If you don't agree, Manager Lin can't fire you from the stationery store."
Gao Lan clapped her hands. "That's right, brother, you're so smart. Meng Dong, you should go around to Manager Lin indirectly. Once you start working at the stationery store, tell him that you're still young, and your sister is still young too. Wait until your sister is older, and then in a few years, you can get married."
"You're quite good at using words, aren't you? When did you learn that? Your knowledge has been growing rapidly lately!" Xu Keke teased Gao Lan.
"Don't interrupt me, am I wrong?" Gao Lan looked at her defiantly, as if she wouldn't be done until she explained herself clearly.
Xu Keke sighed, "I told Manager Lin I needed to think it over before making a decision, and I really did. There are some things I haven't thought through yet. But I won't lie to Manager Lin. He's helped me so much; it wouldn't be right for me to do that. He's been so sincere to me; if I feel it's not right, I'll tell him honestly."
Gao Jiale said, "What if he finds out you're not marrying his nephew and then stops caring about you in the future?"
"Then let's ignore that. I'll think of another way."
If I did what you said, not only would my conscience bother me, but have you considered that if I changed my mind later, he would be even angrier? Even if I got a job at the stationery store, although he can't fire me, I would still be his subordinate. How would I do the work then?
Just like with your homeroom teacher, if you don't get along, how can you have a good time at school? If you're assigned to do chores, and someone else helps out at the library while you're stuck picking up wood at the school-run factory every day, how would you feel? And what would everyone around you think of you?
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