Hua Fengxiang could also tell that the conversation wasn't going well. She looked around and saw the sweater on the kang (a heated brick bed): "Sister-in-law, you're so skillful. Look how well you knitted this sweater. Unlike me, who's clumsy. Sister-in-law, teach me sometime."
Gu Lanyan is indeed skillful, and the sweater she knitted is indeed beautiful, as everyone in the village agrees. However, Gu Lanyan doesn't want to get too close to Hua Fengxiang: "I'm busy going to the market, so I don't have much time to knit."
Hua Fengxiang didn't feel rejected at all: "Then I'll come bother you on weekends whenever I have free time."
Hua Kai said, "Auntie, my mom goes to the market, so she might not be home on weekends. You'll just be wasting your time. If you want to learn to knit, go to the department store. They sell all kinds of yarn there and you can knit any pattern you want."
Hua Fengxiang looked at the blooming flowers and said, "Look at you, child, you just don't understand. We're relatives, and relatives have to keep in touch. If we don't keep in touch, we'll become distant."
Hua Kai said, "Aunt, we haven't seen each other for so many years, we've gotten used to it, so it would be quite awkward to force it, why bother?"
Hua Fengxiang blushed and said shamelessly, "What this child said, isn't everyone thinking differently as they get older? I really didn't appreciate the value of family ties before, but now that the children are all grown up, my thoughts have changed."
Feng Jianshe said, "I know I didn't do well in the past, and I didn't come here to visit because I had some conflicts with my parents. But we're all so old now, do you think a person can still be like they were when they were young, unable to let go of things?"
Hua Fengxiang stood up, took out a roast chicken and some cooked food from her canvas bag: "Brother, sister-in-law, what brings us all here? Please stay for a meal. I hope you won't mind? I brought my own food because I wanted to have a good chat with you."
Hua Kai is now certain that these two have an ulterior motive, but she doesn't know what it is. So she'll eat here and let them reveal their purpose, which will put her mind at ease when she goes back to school in the afternoon.
She said to Hua Wanjiang, "Dad, I'll help Mom cook. Why don't you invite Grandpa and Grandma over too? They can't not know that Aunt is eating here, can they?" She said this to see Hua Fengxiang's attitude.
Hua Fengxiang quickly said, "No need, no need, big brother, we just want to talk to you alone today."
Hua Kai thought for a moment, "Since we're going to keep it from them, we shouldn't call them. Otherwise, even if they come and don't say anything, it'll still be troublesome."
So Hua Kai said to Hua Wanjiang, "Dad, since it's the first time my aunt and uncle want to eat at our house, we can't be rude to them." As she spoke, she winked at Hua Wanjiang.
Hua Wanjiang received a look from his daughter and said, "Then I'll go to the cellar and get a cabbage."
Gu Lanyan said, "We happen to have enough meat at home, I'll go and thaw it."
Hua Fengxiang followed Gu Lanyan out and said, "Sister-in-law, let me help you."
Hua Kai looked at this abnormal person and sighed. Why is there no sincerity between people?
At this moment, Feng Jianshe spoke to Huakai: "How are Huakai's studies? Are you able to keep up? Children from our rural area don't have good English, so I guarantee they'll have some difficulty with their studies."
This was the first time Hua Kai had such a serious face-to-face conversation with Feng Jianshe, and she felt a little awkward, but she still politely replied, "It's alright, I can keep up."
Feng Jianshe didn't know that Hua Kai had gotten first place in the midterm exam, so he added, "As long as you can keep up, that's fine. I know some teachers at your school. If you need anything, just talk to your uncle."
Hua Kai said, "Thank you, Uncle-in-law, but I'm fine, so I won't trouble you."
"That's childish talk. Who could have known that they would need help all this time?"
“The director of our political education department is my friend. If it’s a small matter, just ask him. I don’t have any big problems.”
"You have quite a wide network of connections, you can even be friends with the director, you're quite capable, no wonder you can do business."
"Doing business was also a coincidence; I met a benefactor."
"That's right, your furniture store is so big, you're really successful."
At this moment, Hua Fengxiang came in and said to Hua Kai, "Your uncle likes successful children. Since you are so successful, your uncle will like you too. Over the years, I have never dared to let Hua Lin and the others come to my house. Hua Lin has been a petty child since she was little. You have been bullied by her a lot, haven't you?"
"The past is the past. I'm busy studying and doing business now, so I don't have much time to pay attention to Hua Lin anymore," Hua Kai said, not wanting to waste time chatting with Hua Lin.
“Look, look, these are the words of a promising child. How can Hua Lin compare to this level of vision?” Hua Fengxiang said, sitting down next to Hua Kai.
"You flatter me, Aunt. We each have our own strengths," Hua Kai said politely, without saying much.
Hua Fengxiang continued, "I haven't seen their strengths, but your aunt has. You not only opened a factory, but also such a big furniture store. You're really capable."
“I learned to draw from someone, and Captain Ye handles all the factory affairs,” Hua Kai added.
Hua Fengxiang looked at the blooming flowers and said with a worried expression, "If you don't ask anything, you won't be fooled in the future, will you?"
Hua Kai smiled and said, "I don't have any leverage to negotiate with anyone. Even if they try to cheat me, they won't get much out of me. My family is so poor, what's there to worry about?"
Hua Fengxiang finally found a flaw and said, "No, then, you two are also cooperating, right? If there's anything you can't decide, go find me and your uncle, and we'll help you analyze it."
Hua Kai directly refused, saying, "No need. My focus right now is on my studies. I might skip a grade next year, so I won't be investing too much in the factory for the time being. Captain Ye can decide what to do."
"Skip a grade? Is it possible to skip a grade in high school?" Feng Jianshe asked in surprise.
Hua Kai replied, "I'll give it a try. After all, I started school late and don't want to waste too much time. I don't want to go to a prestigious university in Beijing. I just want to go to a university in the provincial capital, which is closer to home, so it should be possible."
Hua Fengxiang winked at Feng Jianshe, then said to Hua Kai, "Kai Kai, why don't you entrust the business to me? You should focus on your studies. Your aunt is an adult and knows more than you. Even if I don't know something, your uncle will."
Feng Jianshe quickly echoed Hua Fengxiang's words, "Yes, yes, I do have some connections and friends in the city. You can rest assured that you can leave this business to me."
"I really don't want to trouble you, Auntie. I don't have the mind to think about these things right now." Hua Kai's mind gradually cleared.
"No, you're still young, don't be fooled," Hua Fengxiang said anxiously.
At this moment, Hua Kai fully understood Hua Fengxiang's intentions. She thought to herself, "Hua Fengxiang hasn't been in contact with me for so many years, she can't possibly have any good intentions."
But it's all good now, I've finally figured it out. I'll just have to tell my family to be careful of him.
She said to Hua Fengxiang, "Don't worry, Aunt. I really have nothing to be fooled. They helped us a lot when our family was in trouble. Even if I helped them for free, it was only right."
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