It should be noted that Song Lan also bought cashmere scarves for her family in Shisong Village, planning to give them to them when she returns home on Sunday.
Of course, there was one person Song Lan hadn't forgotten either: Fu Wenhan.
"Comrade Song, you've gone to a lot of trouble. The color of this scarf is very nice, but I can't accept it!"
Wu Dong pushed the cashmere scarf on the coffee table in front of him toward Song Lan. It wasn't that he didn't know what was good for him; there were rules, and he couldn't make mistakes!
"Take it. Since Song Lan has already bought it and is giving it to you, refusing it like this is clearly disrespectful to her."
The cashmere scarf was rolled up and wrapped in kraft paper. The one Song Lan gave to Wu Dong was gray. At that moment, Qin Yanzheng glanced at the scarf, then looked at Wu Dong and said, "You've taken good care of me for so long, thank you for your hard work. If you don't accept the scarf, I'll have to contact my superiors..."
Although Wu Dong didn't know what Qin Yanzheng was going to say next, he knew that if he insisted on refusing, he might not be able to complete the mission and would be transferred away from here by his superiors.
If that's the case, it would be truly disgraceful for him!
After all, he had never failed to complete a mission perfectly, so he couldn't afford to fail on this one.
"Okay, I'll accept it. Thank you, Comrade Song! And thank you, Comrade Qin!"
Reaching for the cashmere scarf Song Lan had given him on the coffee table, Wu Dong stood up and said, "I'll go get Comrade Qin some foot bath water."
"Comrade Wu, you go wash up, I'll do it."
As Song Lan spoke, she got up and quickly disappeared outside the living room door.
-
The next day.
After breakfast, Song Lan's family, young and old, went to work or school. When they got off work at noon, except for Qin Yanzheng and Wu Dong who hadn't returned, Song Lan picked up the two little ones from kindergarten and they entered the house almost at the same time as Qin Boyan and his sister.
"Sister-in-law."
"Um?"
In the kitchen, Qin Yaxin was sitting in front of the stove tending the fire when she suddenly called out to Song Lan. Song Lan paused in her noodle-cutting motion, looked at Qin Yaxin, and responded with a smile.
"There seem to be people in the Cui family's yard next door."
After Zheng Laidi's family moved to the tenement, the courtyard next to Song Lan's house became empty. Well, to say it was empty is an understatement; it's more accurate to say that the new owners hadn't moved in yet. However, this afternoon, the new residents moved in.
"What do you mean, 'seems like'?"
Qin Boyan walked into the kitchen, leaned against the door frame, and said, "That's because there are new residents in the neighboring yard."
Song Lan nodded in agreement: "It really is a new family of four who moved in. I brought the fifth and sixth children into the courtyard and happened to see the lady of the house next door coming out of the living room. She greeted me first, and out of politeness, I exchanged a few pleasantries with her."
The family told me they were from Beijing; the husband and wife both worked in a machinery factory, and they had a son, fifteen, and a daughter, seventeen. They had come with them and said they would go to the town's middle school that afternoon to complete their enrollment procedures.
"What do you think of that family's character, sister-in-law?"
Qin Yaxin asked.
"I don't know."
Song Lan shook her head and then said, "It's not appropriate to judge someone's character based on just a few words, but from my observation and what Comrade Li said, she seems to be a reasonable woman."
Without a doubt, the "Comrade Li" that Song Lan mentioned was the female homeowner of the new neighbor's house. Her surname was Li, her given name was Yao, and she was thirty-seven years old.
"Where are the others?"
Qin Yaxin asked again.
"I didn't see it; everyone was probably inside at the time."
Song Lan replied, sprinkled some dry flour on the cut noodles, and then casually picked them up and shook them to prevent them from sticking together before putting them into the pot.
"Qin Yaxin, when did you become a busybody?"
Qin Boyan glanced at Qin Yaxin with disdain and said, "They're just neighbors. Although we see each other all the time, we'll at most exchange greetings when we bump into each other. Do we need to know every detail about their family and their situation?"
"Second brother, you're really annoying, you know that?"
Qin Yaxin looked at Qin Boyan with the same disdain: "I was just a little curious, so I couldn't help but ask my sister-in-law one more question. Besides, when did I ever want to find out the details about the neighbors? Honestly, you can't slander people like this. You're just spouting nonsense!"
"You use idioms so fluently, you've really made something of yourself!"
Qin Boyan leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, shaking his left leg. His smile was nonchalant. He didn't respond to Qin Yaxin's words, but Song Lan found his demeanor and leg-shaking manner quite frivolous. So, Song Lan spoke up:
"Second brother, haven't I told you that you should stand properly, sit properly, and eat properly? Have you forgotten all of these things?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Boyan immediately stood up straight and answered honestly, "I haven't forgotten, I remember everything!"
"As the saying goes, 'The face reflects the heart,' and one can judge a person by their appearance. From the outside to the inside, the face determines destiny. I never say anything nonsense in front of you, my second sister, or my fifth and sixth children. As long as you remember what I say, it will not do you any harm in the future."
"I see."
Qin Boyan showed remorse and said, "My sister-in-law always talks to us about principles of conduct, urging us to be strict with ourselves, not to lose sight of the bigger picture for small things, and to improve our inner character."
Don't forget about your outward appearance; it's best to be consistent inside and out. Otherwise, it will negatively impact your future sooner or later.
Simply put, those seemingly minor flaws that we overlook in daily life can one day become stumbling blocks to our progress.
"Since you understand this so clearly, why can't you control your words and actions?"
Song Lan said with a hint of helplessness, "With the way you were just now, do you think your superiors would have a good impression of you? Would they entrust you with important tasks?"
Qin Boyan honestly shook his head.
Song Lan: "It's never too late to admit your mistakes and correct them, understand?"
Qin Boyan nodded and said "Mm".
Song Lan: "Sister-in-law, I hope you truly understand, and not just trying to appease me."
Qin Boyan shook his head vigorously: "Absolutely not, I didn't lie to my sister-in-law, I really know I was wrong, and I won't act so carefree again."
Unable to hold back, Qin Yaxin burst out laughing. She said, "Second Brother, you actually realize how carefree you were just now?!"
"Second sister, you must also remember that girls can have their own personality, but gentleness and elegance are essential. And your personality also depends on whether it is annoying or not. For example, if you wear your thoughts on your face, or if you get into a fight and start yelling like a shrew, it will damage your image."
Hearing what Song Lan said, Qin Yaxin felt that she shouldn't have been so talkative. Now, she had just finished making fun of her second brother and was immediately scolded by her sister-in-law. How unlucky she was!
Regardless of what Qin Yaxin was thinking, she appeared obedient and said to Song Lan, "Sister-in-law, I understand. I will control my temper and practice calligraphy more often to calm my mind and cultivate my character."
Upon hearing this, Song Lan nodded in satisfaction.
next door.
"Mom, who were you talking to in the yard earlier?"
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