Song Yingying did not return to China this year. She wrote back in December saying she was going to see penguins somewhere. In short, she was not coming back this year. Song Rongrong also did not return to China as usual, because she was worried about the cost of the airfare.
It wasn't until the third year of junior high that the entire Song family sat down for a proper family gathering.
Xu Guiying and the others were busy with the Qian family's affairs and were delayed. Mo Hong had an extra case to investigate during the Spring Festival, so he only had time on the third day of the Lunar New Year. On the other hand, Song Zhicheng's wife, Lu Hui, had a relative pass away, so she also only had time on the third day of the Lunar New Year.
During the Chinese New Year period, Phoenix Pavilion did quite well, with both the main store and the new store basically packed with people every day.
Xu Songyuan worked at both shops in rotation, spending one day overseeing one shop. People he knew from Luo'an Town who saw him at Phoenix Pavilion were amazed by how much he had changed, becoming a big boss in the blink of an eye.
Regardless of whether the other party was being sincere or just being polite, Xu Songyuan accepted it with a smile, saying it was just good luck, and then gave their table a 10% discount.
Chen Zhou is still working at the main store. She is now in charge of cashiering. Xu Songyuan has increased her salary to 28 yuan a month, which is enough for Chen Zhou. Her monthly rent is only 4 yuan. She often eats at the store, or cooks at home or eats at school. Her expenses are not high. In addition, with the scholarship from the school, she has saved nearly 400 yuan since moving to Heping Lane.
On February 18th, school started, and Qian Yu'an, Song Jianmin, and Chen Zhou went to school to register together.
Qian Yu'an is almost five months pregnant with twins. Her belly is quite large, and when she walks around school, everyone avoids her for fear of bumping into her.
After reporting for duty today, Chen Zhou will also have to go to the store to help out.
Qian Yu'an wanted to return to Heping Lane, and Song Jianmin couldn't let his second sister-in-law go back by herself, so he planned to go back with her.
Qian Yu'an noticed the conflict on Lao Wu's face and couldn't help but smile. "You haven't been to the main store for a while, have you? Go to the store, I can go back by myself."
Song Jianmin's eyes widened immediately. "No, I have to take you back."
Chen Zhou: "Then Song Jianmin, you should go back quickly."
Chen Zhou was in a hurry to leave.
Qian Yu'an pursed her lips, then quickly smiled and said, "I'm going to the bookstore near the night market to buy a book. Want to come along?"
Since it was on the way anyway, Song Jianmin had an excuse.
Song Jianmin touched his nose, glanced at Qian Yu'an, smiled at her, and said, "Let's go then, let's go together."
Chen Zhou had already packed his schoolbag and was completely unaware of what the two were saying. He only heard the final conclusion that they were going together.
Let's go.
On the way there, Qian Yu'an walked between the two men. She didn't mean to, but Song Jianmin and Chen Zhou claimed they wanted to protect her, and since the pregnant woman was the most important, they walked in the middle.
Song Jianmin: "Chen Zhou, what have you thought about what happened last time?"
After he finished speaking, Chen Zhou's expression turned strange, and he fell silent.
Upon seeing this, Song Jianmin immediately jumped up in anger!
"Chen Zhou, what do you mean?! Second Sister-in-law was there too, are you going to go back on your word?!" Song Jianmin glanced at Chen Zhou casually, then continued to stomp his feet, "You promised me back then!"
This all happened before the Lunar New Year.
Song Jianmin was tall and handsome, and he was generous and wealthy. Every now and then, female students in the department would confess their feelings to him. After Song Jianmin politely refused, the girls would give up and leave quickly. However, there was one girl who was really stubborn. Song Jianmin rejected her three times, but she still wouldn't give up!
During the fourth confession, Song Jianmin couldn't help but ask the girl why she liked him.
The girl's answer was also quite bizarre, making it hard to stay calm.
—Song Jianmin, you don't know, you look a lot like a little dog my grandma used to have. I was only six years old then, and your eyes are so similar…
Upon hearing this, Song Jianmin froze on the spot, feeling embarrassed and ashamed all over. He glanced at Qian Yu'an and Chen Zhou beside him, who were trying not to laugh.
So Song Jianmin pulled Chen Zhou aside and said that he already had a girlfriend, his eyes pleading for help, telling Chen Zhou that he absolutely had to agree, otherwise he would definitely be pestered to death by this girl.
Chen Zhou agreed, almost as if possessed.
Upon seeing this, the girl burst into tears, but thankfully she never came back.
The story gradually spread.
Song Jianmin had a close friend who insisted on meeting Song Jianmin's girlfriend...
Song Jianmin refused outright; was that giving him face?
Can I just see you whenever I want?
Is Chen Zhou a commodity in a cabinet?
However, Chen Zhou only knew about what his classmate wanted to see, but he didn't know about Song Jianmin's feelings for his daughter, let alone Song Jianmin's intention to get information out of her.
At this moment, Chen Zhou thought for a moment and replied, "I only agreed to it because it was for the sake of acting, don't overthink it!"
Song Jianmin persisted, "Then put on another show."
Chen Zhou scoffed, "Impossible!"
Song Jianmin: "What will it take for you to help me?"
Chen Zhou smiled and said, "That's easy, just say you broke up with your boyfriend, right?"
Song Jianmin glared at Chen Zhou, "So you're repaying kindness with enmity now! Have you forgotten who used to peel potatoes for you and wash dishes for you every time you went to the shop? Fine, now you think you're all grown up. That's just who I am. My life is just so miserable. Not only was I kicked out of my home, but even my best friends won't help me..."
Qian Yu'an, who had been silently listening to the two of them, was speechless.
Chen Zhou frowned and stared at Song Jianmin. "What if word gets out and everyone misunderstands? How am I supposed to find a partner then?"
After saying that, Chen Zhou looked away and immediately took Qian Yu'an's arm. "Sister Yu'an, let's ignore him! He shouldn't be working in the factory; he should be performing in operas!"
Qian Yu'an chuckled and looked back.
The fifth brother stood there with a resentful look on his face.
Qian Yu'an casually replied, "Fifth Brother is doing well."
Chen Zhou's lips twitched slightly, but in the end he pretended not to hear and said nothing.
Song Jianmin quickly caught up and said that Chen Zhou had no conscience.
The two argued all the way, and Qian Yu'an's ears were about to explode.
They arrived at Phoenix Pavilion quickly. As soon as they entered, before they could even see who was inside, a loud and angry shout rang out.
"Well, Chen Zhou, you've been hiding here for the past two years! Do you know how long we've been looking for you?! You don't live far from home, so why don't you come home and stop caring about us...?"
As she spoke, the middle-aged woman standing not far from the door immediately burst into tears, her face filled with sadness and an expression that made Chen Zhou appear as an ungrateful wretch who didn't go home and didn't care about his parents.
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