Upon entering the residential area, Wang Dabao saw Section Chief Hu standing in a prominent position, looking towards the entrance. He immediately understood that Hu was worried Wang Dabao wouldn't be able to find his way home.
"Wow, I knew you were handsome, but I almost didn't recognize you after this makeover. If you ask me, you should go into acting."
Section Chief Hu came up to him, patted him on the shoulder, made a few jokes, and then got into the sidecar and headed home.
Wang Dabao carried the bag and followed Section Chief Hu into the house.
The living room is right in front of you, a layout very much in line with the style of a cadre's family in this era.
A long, three-seater sofa with two single-seater sofas on either side, also with classic gray sofa covers.
Hearing the noise, Section Chief Hu's wife, Zhang Guiqin, came out of the kitchen.
"Da Bao is here! Oh my, this young man is really energetic. He could definitely charm a lot of female workers in the factory."
Zhang Guiqin's words were true; even now, many female staff members in various departments still think about Wang Dabao.
During the Spring Festival, Section Chief Hu's mother went to her second son's house, and Section Chief Hu's son, daughter-in-law, and grandson did not live with them. Now only the two of them are at home.
However, Wang Dabao still brought health supplements for Section Chief Hu's mother, malted milk powder and some uncommon foods for the children at home, and two bottles of good wine.
When Zhang Guiqin saw that Wang Dabao had brought so many things, she immediately glared at him.
"You silly child, I understand that it's your first time bringing gifts, but how much money must all this cost? If you do this again, I won't let you in. We're not strangers, this isn't just polite talk."
"Yes, Auntie, I've noted it all down. Besides, these didn't cost much; they're just a small token of my nephew's appreciation."
Wang Dabao sat on the sofa and talked happily.
Zhang Guiqin turned to her husband, Section Chief Hu, and said, "From now on, invite Dabao to our house for meals more often, and make sure he doesn't bring anything."
Section Chief Hu nodded hastily, looking every bit the henpecked husband, which left Wang Dabao stunned.
Soon, Xiao Zhenguo and his family also arrived with gifts.
Wang Dabao spotted Xiao Su at a glance, and his eyes lit up instantly.
Xiao Su wore a bright red coat today, which perfectly matched the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
The black slim-fit trousers perfectly showcased her long legs, and she wore a pair of brown leather shoes, exuding an elegant and graceful aura.
Her hair was styled in a ponytail and tied with a handkerchief, and her slightly made-up oval face was even more beautiful.
Xiao Su and Wang Dabao exchanged a glance, smiled slightly, and blushed a little.
Mr. and Mrs. Xiao Zhenguo were extremely hospitable to Wang Dabao, repeatedly expressing their gratitude to Section Chief Wang.
Section Chief Hu, unable to bear listening any longer, quickly interrupted.
“This is at home, there’s no section chief here. Zhenguo, you and your sister-in-law can just call him Dabao.”
"Yes, Uncle Xiao, Aunt Xiao, just call me by my name, otherwise it will seem too formal."
Wang Dabao continued.
We've already set our sights on that girl, so we have to try and get closer to her, right?
Furthermore, Xiao Su bringing him dumplings on New Year's Eve must have been done with her parents' consent and knowledge, so the couple probably knew something about it at that time.
You can tell from the way Xiao's mother looks at Wang Dabao that it's not much different from how a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law.
The first time Xiao Zhenguo and his wife met Wang Dabao was on the night Xiao Su disappeared. Xiao's mother was preoccupied with her missing daughter and didn't pay much attention to Wang Dabao.
Looking at it now, I couldn't be more satisfied.
If I could really become her son-in-law, I'd be so happy I'd wake up in my sleep.
Seeing Xiao's mother constantly pulling Wang Dabao aside to ask him all sorts of questions, Section Chief Hu's wife, Zhang Guiqin, kept giving him meaningful glances, signaling him to go to the kitchen to help her, leaving the two young people alone.
Finally, through Zhang Guiqin's tireless efforts, they managed to get Xiao Zhenguo and his wife, along with Section Chief Hu, into the kitchen.
Only Wang Dabao and Xiao Su remained in the living room.
Wang Dabao sat on the long sofa where he was chatting with Xiao's mother, while Xiao Su sat on a single sofa.
The two seemed to have forgotten the scene of holding hands on New Year's Eve. Their reunion felt both strange and familiar, and neither of them spoke for a moment.
This made the four people who were secretly observing from inside the kitchen extremely anxious.
Zhang Guiqin casually walked out and said, "We're still a while away from having dinner. Why don't you take Dabao for a stroll downstairs in our cadre building, Susu?"
Zhang Guiqin learned from Section Chief Hu and Mr. and Mrs. Xiao Zhenguo that the two children had feelings for each other and were overjoyed.
It's clear that the two of them were just sitting there in the living room because they were afraid that with four adults present, the two children would feel awkward. That's why they came up with the idea of having Xiao Su take Wang Dabao downstairs for a walk.
Wang Dabao and Xiao Su exchanged a smile and stood up together.
"Um, Uncle Xiao, how about letting Susu wear your cotton-padded coat? I think she's wearing a bit too little," Wang Dabao said to Xiao Zhenguo with a smile.
Xiao Zhenguo was clearly taken aback, but his mother reacted quickly and pulled the cotton-padded coat off Xiao Zhenguo.
Actually, it wasn't cold inside; it was just that Xiao Zhenguo hadn't had time to take off his coat yet, and later, when he went into the kitchen, he couldn't take it off at all.
However, Xiao's mother was even more ruthless. She came out carrying Xiao Zhenguo's cotton-padded coat, but instead of putting it on her daughter, she smiled and handed it to Wang Dabao.
Even now, Wang Dabao still understands.
Smiling, he took the cotton coat from Xiao's mother and draped it over Xiao Su's shoulders amidst the cheerful gazes of the others.
This left Xiao Su somewhat flustered, and her ears turned red.
The two walked out of Section Chief Hu's house one after the other.
"Do you believe they're watching us from the window?"
Wang Dabao looked at Xiao Su's fair and rosy face, which was frozen, and laughed.
Xiao Su chuckled, like a snow plum blossom blooming in the cold winter, "It seems we're thinking the same thing, and they're probably still talking about us."
As the two had expected, Section Chief Hu and his wife, along with Xiao Zhenguo and his wife, were all huddled by the window at that moment.
"Oh my, look how well they match! Da Bao is handsome, and Su Su is beautiful. They're a match made in heaven."
Zhang Guiqin beamed with joy as she watched the two children strolling along the path downstairs and couldn't help but say something.
"Who says otherwise? Last month, I told Da Bao I'd introduce him to someone, and he kept putting it off. But the moment he met Su Su, they hit it off immediately," Section Chief Hu remarked, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
Xiao's mother stared intently at her daughter and Wang Dabao's departing figures, her eyes filled with joy: "Dabao is indeed a very good child. If Susu and Wang Dabao can get together, her father and I will definitely treat him as our own son."
"Yes, this child has no one left in his family and has made a huge sacrifice for the country. Su Su's mother and I also want to have the opportunity to take care of this child."
Xiao Zhenguo exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes resolute as he spoke.
At this moment, the four elders upstairs looked at the two downstairs with satisfaction on their faces.
Wang Dabao and Xiao Su strolled along the paths in the residential area.
A cold wind blew gently by, and Xiao Su wrapped her cotton coat tighter around herself. She glanced at the tall and upright Wang Dabao beside her, and her heart was filled with sweetness at that moment.
The two walked slowly, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up. After turning a corner, Wang Dabao once again took Xiao Su's delicate and warm hand in his.
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