Villa No. 8 in the Garden Community was really lively during the period before the Chinese New Year. Neighbors who usually had no contact with each other came to the Chen family one after another to deliver New Year's goods. Chen Jianguo and Zhang Meiling did not want to accept the gift without doing anything. Besides, although their daughter was not an active soldier, she was still a public official. Therefore, the two of them warmly welcomed all the visiting neighbors, but did not keep any gifts.
A few years ago, the property management company held an owners' meeting and proposed to return the semi-open courtyard in front of each household to the owners for their own management. The participating owners voted unanimously in favor of the proposal.
Yang Ming even went to Chen Jianguo to explain that the shed in front of Villa No. 8 was no longer considered an illegal structure and didn't need to be demolished. However, Qingshan felt that having two plastic sheds in front of the door was indeed an eyesore. Old Mrs. Sun also understood and joined her granddaughter in cleaning up the front yard, ready to plant some beautiful flowers and plants in the spring.
Zhang Meiling was busy dealing with the neighbors and didn't have any free time until the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. She got up early to clean the house. Old Mrs. Sun and Qingshan kneaded the dough while one made some patterns and steamed a large pot of date buns.
The atmosphere of the New Year is getting stronger and stronger in the Chen family. Qingshan can't help but think of Luo Zhentian in the capital. Wen Yuan is on a mission in another place and can't come back. The staff arranged by the state to take care of Luo Zhentian also have to take New Year leave, leaving the old man alone to guard the huge courtyard. How lonely and deserted he must be.
Qingshan rolled his eyes and asked Zhang Meiling, "Mom, what if there's an elderly person whose spouse passed away early, whose children are not around, whose only grandson is still serving in the army, and who has to stay home alone even during the Chinese New Year? Isn't that pitiful?"
Zhang Meiling was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to hear such things. She sighed and said, "Isn't this just an elderly widower? Oh, how can he not be pitiful? If I knew someone like that, I would take him home to celebrate the New Year!"
Qingshan's eyes lit up, and he was delighted: "Mom, you said this, don't regret it!"
Zhang Meiling was completely bewildered, not knowing what her daughter was up to. She muttered, "Regret? Regret what?"
Qingshan stared at Zhang Meiling, picked up the phone with a smile and dialed the Luo family's number.
"Hello? Uncle Wang, this is Qingshan. Is Grandpa here?"
When Zhang Meiling heard her daughter call the person on the other end of the phone "Grandpa", she felt inexplicably nervous: Could the lonely old man this girl was talking about be Xiao Luo's grandfather, Commander Luo?
While talking to Luo Zhentian, Qingshan made faces at her mother who was already stunned. Zhang Meiling was so angry that she wanted to hit her with a broom.
After the call ended, Zhang Meiling couldn't help but ask, "Xiaoshan, Mr. Luo is a national leader. How can he come to our ordinary people's home to celebrate the New Year?"
"In my eyes, he's just an old man who needs his children's care and longs for family warmth. He's so happy to be in our house! Anyway, Grandpa will be here tonight. I'll go clean up his room!"
Zhang Meiling chewed over her daughter's words and laughed self-deprecatingly. She was right. National leaders are human beings too. If her daughter and Xiao Luo get married, they'll be a family. What's wrong with just spending the New Year together? She was in her forties, but she couldn't see things as clearly as a teenager. She was really going backwards as she got older.
Zhang Meiling turned around and went to the underground warehouse to sort out the rice, flour and vegetables that Qingshan had "bought" and make a bowl of seafood noodles to welcome the old man in the evening.
On the other side, Luo Zhentian hung up the phone and said to Wang Dahai with a smile: "Xiao Wang, pack some clothes for me. Qingshan asked me to go to her house for the New Year!"
Xiao Wang moved quickly, finding clothes for Luo Zhentian while teasing the old commander: "Commander, Commander Zhou Dabao asked you to go to his house for the New Year, but you didn't want to. I asked you to go to my house, but you didn't agree. Miss Chen asked you to go to Lian City, and you agreed immediately. It seems that Miss Chen is still very popular!"
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