"Okay, then we'll wait to go to the big city to have fun, hahaha."
Everyone clinked glasses, changed the subject, and started chatting happily again.
The one who must feel the most sorry for her is Zhang Yan. She was close to Yu Jiu and Yu Caihong, but one of them went to university and left, and the other went to develop her career in a big city. Only she stayed here, as if she was drifting further and further away from everyone. Moreover, now that they are all gone, she really will have no friends left except for her husband and children.
So she was the one with the heaviest mood. Although she wasn't exactly sullen during the meal, she wasn't as happy as the others either. After the meal, Xu Zijiang and Yu Jiu took the two children home. Yu Jiu originally wanted to stay and chat with Zhang Yan a little longer, but little Yuanyuan was crying loudly from hunger, so she had to go home to feed and soothe Yuanyuan to sleep.
"Don't be upset. In a couple of years, when the puppy is a little older, I'll take you there to find the team leader and Yu Zhiqing, okay?"
The dog noticed Zhang Yan's disappointment and came over to comfort her, but Zhang Yan shook her head.
“It’s not that I want to go to a big city, I just feel that we’re all drifting further and further apart, and we don’t have the time or opportunity to be as close as we used to be.”
Gouzi didn't understand. Zhang Yan was usually quite carefree and had a fiery temper, like a little chili pepper. She rarely showed such delicate sorrow. For a moment, Gouzi scratched his head, not knowing how to comfort her. Fortunately, Zhang Yan adjusted herself.
"It's okay, I'll just make more friends in the future."
"Yes, yes, you can have your own friends. You don't have to revolve around us and the kids every day. It's not like we're not letting you have your own life. Come on, I'll take you to the department store to buy clothes tomorrow!"
I don't know how to coax a dog, but saying we're going shopping is always a good idea; women love shopping.
"You don't need coupons to buy clothes. Don't waste all those cloth coupons. You have to save them for the New Year. Your parents' clothes are worn out and patching them doesn't work anymore. Gou Dan has grown taller and his pants are too short. You've become a team leader now, so you should get a new set of clothes to look presentable."
Zhang Yan kept rambling on, all for the sake of the family, while Gouzi winked and smiled.
“Your clothes are old and need to be replaced. It’s okay, I’ll use your cloth coupons first. I’ll try to get some more cloth coupons in a few days. I promise to make new clothes for everyone in the family this year, without missing a single one.”
"You're just bragging!"
Zhang Yan laughed and punched him lightly, but Gouzi wasn't really bragging. Before Xu Zijiang left, he introduced Gouzi to some people, including key people who knew how to get cloth and meat coupons. Also, with Yu Jiu gone, a vacancy opened up at the department store.
Although her pastry counter is closed, the cosmetics counter still needs someone to fill in. Now that Gouzi is the team leader, he can't go to the department store every day anymore. Besides, he's a man and doesn't know much about selling cosmetics, so Zhang Yan can fill the vacancy perfectly.
Moreover, this time it's not a temporary job, it's a permanent one, replacing Yu Jiu's position. In addition to a salary, there will be benefits, such as issuing some ration coupons, etc. Anyway, by scraping together what we have, we can make the family much better off.
Gouzi and Zhang Yan's lives weren't bad at all; they were probably among the most comfortable in the team. So Zhang Yan had nothing to complain about and just lived her life diligently.
On the other side, no matter how reluctant Yu Jiu and Xu Zijiang were, they still had to leave when the time came. Quite a few people came to see them off, including Gouzi and Zhang Yan's family, Zhou Chunrong and his wife, and some people Xu Zijiang had helped before. They didn't know where they got the news that Xu Zijiang's family was leaving, so some boiled eggs, some made steamed buns, and some made pickled vegetables, and stuffed them into their hands before they got on the train, telling them to take them and eat them on the train. They were all dry food prepared for them.
Xu Zijiang wanted to decline, but these people were even more insistent than he was.
"Captain Xu, please take this. You're leaving soon, and we won't be able to give you anything anymore. This is the first and last time, so please take it. It's just a small token of our appreciation, and it's not worth much."
"That's right, we can't feel at ease if you don't take it, so please take it!"
Unable to refuse the warm invitation, Xu Zijiang had no choice but to accept it. The train was about to depart, and after some discussion, he and Yu Jiu boarded the train with their two children.
The train carriage doors closed and the train slowly started moving as soon as everyone was seated.
"We're leaving now, goodbye everyone~~~"
Little An'an pressed herself against the car window, waving frantically to everyone. Her voice was clear and childlike, filled with excitement and reluctance, and her chubby little face was full of melancholy.
Goodbye, take care, and come back to visit when you have time!
Gouzi and the others waved frantically from below, and Zhou Chunrong and his wife had red eyes. In the end, they even turned away to wipe their tears.
They'd almost become family over the years, but then Yu Jiu and Xu Zi suddenly decided to leave. Of course, it was hard to part with them, but all good things must come to an end, and adults should understand this better than children.
"The car has already driven far away and we can no longer see you. An'an, please sit still."
Yu Jiu sighed, touched the corners of her moist eyes, and then pulled An An back to sit properly to prevent her from falling.
"Mom, we're so popular! So many people came to see us off."
With her parents by her side, she quickly abandoned any feelings of separation. She was somewhat smug, her vanity greatly satisfied. Little An'an really enjoys being noticed and praised.
"They mainly came to see your dad off. It's because your dad is popular. Do you know why your dad is so popular?"
While asking questions, Yu Jiu put the things everyone had given her into a large bag and organized them so they wouldn't get lost. Xu Zijiang sat outside holding little Yuan Yuan, while Yu Jiu and An An sat near the window.
Why?
Little An'an sat opposite her, cupping her face in her hands and resting them on the table, watching her parents with curiosity.
"Because your father helped them, it's not easy to gain the affection and gratitude of others. You have to learn to help others without expecting anything in return."
Xu Zi interrupted, laughing as he took out a steamed bun and put it in his mouth.
Do you want some?
"I'm not eating, I'm not hungry yet."
Yu Jiu shook her head and refused, while little An An took an egg.
"I'll eat it!"
She loves eating eggs so much, and while peeling them, she would utter philosophical musings.
"Then forget it. I don't want to be liked by others. I don't like helping others. I prefer to do my own things and let others do other people's things. Gratitude can't put food on the table, and it's tiring."
"You little rascal, you're so clever."
Yu Jiu chuckled to himself, "Who can fool her now?"
"As long as you don't hurt anyone, it's your own business whether you want to help others or not. It depends on your mood. Mom won't force you. Here, put this mat down. I almost forgot."
As Yu Jiu spoke, she took out several cotton-stuffed cushions from her bundle. She had specially sewn these for long train journeys, so that they would be more comfortable to place under her buttocks and would not hurt as much if she sat for a long time.
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