"Mom and Dad, we have guests!" Huang Xiuhong called out before even entering the door.
Huang Youliang and his wife Zhang Yuping hurriedly came out to greet them.
Huang Youliang is almost sixty years old this year. He is tall and has a loud voice.
Upon seeing Zhao Zhenzhu, Huang Youliang and his wife smiled and said, "What a rare guest! Please come in, please come in."
Huang Youliang was specially summoned back from the brigade headquarters by Zhang Yuping.
In Peach Blossom Town, it's customary for the head of the household to host guests when they arrive, demonstrating the importance the family places on them.
"Hello, uncles and aunts, I am Zhao Zhenzhu." Zhao Zhenzhu was a little flattered.
"Girl, you're so pretty," Zhang Yuping said with a smile, holding Zhao Zhenzhu's hand.
"Thank you for the compliment, Auntie. Xiuhong is much prettier than me," Zhao Zhenzhu replied.
Which parent doesn't like to hear others praise their child?
Sure enough, Zhang Yuping's smile became even more genuine.
Zhang Yuping thought Zhao Zhenzhu was a good person to get along with. She was generous, had a sweet tongue, and knew how to talk.
At this moment, Huang Youliang saw the basket in Huang Xiuhong's hand and his brows furrowed.
"Where did you come from?" Huang Youliang asked.
Tao Da Niang's basket looked too similar to the one He Bo had used the day before yesterday, which made Huang Youliang a little wary.
"It was given to me by Aunt Tao," Huang Xiuhong said in a muffled voice.
Seeing Huang Youliang's somewhat surprised expression, Zhao Zhenzhu explained, "Uncle, Aunt, you've raised a wonderful daughter! If it weren't for Xiuhong's help that day, Grandma Tao would have almost fallen. At her age, a fall is no small matter. Grandma Tao originally wanted to come and thank you in person, but she had to go to Beijing, so she asked me to make the trip instead."
Huang Youliang breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it wasn't given by that kid He Bo, he's already being paranoid.
Having said that, Zhao Zhenzhu stopped hiding her thoughts and stood up to put the items in the basket onto the table one by one.
Aunt Tao prepared a generous gift, including two cans of malted milk powder, two scarves (one red and one green), two pieces of woolen fabric (one bright red and one navy blue), two bottles of wine, and several packets of pastries.
Zhang Yuping and Huang Youliang were both stunned.
These things add up to at least sixty-seven, oh no, I mean over a hundred.
After all, apart from a few packets of pastries, everything else was a rare find. You simply couldn't buy it in Peach Blossom Town.
"Pearl! I heard from Xiuhong that Aunt Tao's family isn't well-off. We appreciate your kindness, but we can't accept the gift. Take it back with you when you go home!" Zhang Yuping said after she came to her senses.
"Grandma Tao's family isn't well-off? Who said that?" Zhao Zhenzhu asked, somewhat surprised.
Tao Jiadong and Wang Jing, a married couple, have high salaries; together they earn about 120 yuan a month.
Tao Jiadong's two children are both serving in the army, and each of them sends Tao's mother a few dozen yuan a month as a filial gift.
As for Aunt Tao herself, she wasn't an ordinary old lady. She was the kind of person who could stay in a VIP ward when she went to the doctor.
“Xiuhong said when she came home last time that Aunt Tao was wearing patched clothes and the tellers at the supply and marketing cooperative looked down on her. Isn’t that true…?” Zhang Yuping looked at Huang Xiuhong.
"Sister Pearl, I misunderstood. I thought Aunt Tao's clothes weren't very nice, so I assumed her family wasn't well-off," Huang Xiuhong said embarrassedly.
"Auntie, this is a thank-you gift from Aunt Tao to Xiuhong. Please accept it without worry! Otherwise, Grandma Tao will blame me for not handling things properly," Zhao Zhenzhu said with a smile.
“But… these things are too valuable, we really can’t accept them.” Zhang Yuping said with some fear.
Zhang Yuping's simple belief is that the more work you do, the greater the reward will be.
Huang Xiuhong helped Aunt Tao up, and Aunt Tao gave her so many gifts. This is obviously unreasonable!
Zhang Yuping was unwilling to take advantage of others.
"Grandma Tao said that Xiuhong's kindness was almost as good as saving a life. These things are a small token of Grandma Tao's appreciation, so please don't refuse them," Zhao Zhenzhu said with a smile.
“His dad, look…” Zhang Yuping looked at Huang Youliang, who was sitting to the side, with pleading eyes.
"Pearl, can you tell us who Aunt Tao really is?" Huang Youliang asked.
What rural old lady would be so generous? It's not surprising that Huang Youliang had his doubts.
"Uncle, do you know Tao Jiadong, the new town party secretary?" Zhao Zhenzhu asked with a smile.
“I know him. Our village team leaders just went to a meeting in town the day before yesterday. Secretary Tao is really approachable!” Huang Youliang remarked.
“Aunt Tao is Tao Jiadong’s mother,” Zhao Zhenzhu said.
"What?" Huang Youliang exclaimed in surprise.
No wonder Secretary Tao came over to shake his hand after the meeting that day!
Tao Jiadong also praised Huang Youliang, saying that the cadres of Huangjia Village Brigade had done a good job. The helpful spirit of the villagers of Huangjia Village is commendable.
At that time, Huang Youliang made quite a splash in front of the village leaders.
After returning to the village, Huang Youliang couldn't recall what good deeds the brigade cadres of Huangjia Village had done recently.
Huang Youliang only found out today after Zhao Zhenzhu mentioned it. Tao Jiadong had praised his youngest daughter, Huang Xiuhong, the other day!
This is truly...
Huang Youliang became happier and happier as he thought about it, and couldn't help but rub his palms together.
Zhao Zhenzhu originally did not want to reveal Tao Da Niang's identity.
But who told He Xiaobo to give her such a difficult task today?
In order to plead for He Bo, Zhao Zhenzhu thought long and hard and decided to invoke Secretary Tao's name.
This is Zhao Zhenzhu's little scheme.
Huang Youliang and Zhang Yuping are clearly people who love children.
In case she speaks up for He Xiaobo later and angers Huang Youliang and his wife.
For Tao Jiadong's sake, Huang Youliang and Zhang Yuping probably wouldn't immediately turn against her and kick her out.
Zhao Zhenzhu never wanted to experience being kicked out of someone's home while visiting.
"Uncle, there's something else I wanted to tell you today..." Seeing that Huang Youliang was in a good mood, Zhao Zhenzhu decided to strike while the iron was hot and quickly mention He Bo.
"Xiuhong, Xiuhong! Guess who I just saw?" Before Zhao Zhenzhu could finish speaking, Huang Shujuan called out loudly as she walked into Huang Youliang's house.
"Shujuan, we have guests at home. If you have something to say, I'll talk to you later when I have time." Huang Xiuhong stepped forward and stopped Huang Shujuan.
The main room of Huang Youliang's house faces the front door.
As soon as Huang Shujuan entered the room, she could see several people sitting in the main room, and the table was covered with gifts.
"Xiuhong, another marriage proposal came to your door today? You're so lucky. Lately, every person who comes to propose brings such valuable gifts," Huang Shujuan said sourly.
Huang Shujuan mistook Zhao Zhenzhu for a matchmaker.
The things on the table looked very valuable, and Huang Shujuan's eyes turned red with envy.
(Zhao, the matchmaker, Zhenzhu: I'm speechless. Am I really going to have a personal feud with the matchmaker profession today?)
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