The next morning, when driver Xiao Guo picked up Shen Heping for work, he took a detour to bring a basket of fresh fruits to Dou Qianqian from the Han family and Xiao Mingming and Xiao Zhuzhu from the Liu family. Meng Tao didn't have to go out. She stayed at home to play with her son and Xiao Wangcai for half a day. Before noon, she sent Xu Zhen, the children and the dog to the Xu Mansion, and then went to the wedding banquet herself.

After the wedding banquet, Meng Tao went directly to Xu's house to accompany her son and hug little Tangyuan.

My aunt said that even though Tangyuan is only four months old, he can understand and feel what is happening around him. Last night, Xiao Yunhai called for his mother and cried, which made Tangyuan sad. He didn't have a tantrum at that time, but after Xiao Yunhai came home, he started crying and didn't sleep well all night.

Meng Tao felt distressed and sad. Little Yunhai was just over one year old and he missed her terribly when she was away for a few days. Little Tangyuan was only four months old, and her eldest cousin and her husband would feel even worse.

But for the sake of work and career, there is no other way.

A few days later, after attending a wedding banquet, Meng Tao "received" the consignment of specialties and distributed some to several relatives and friends. She personally delivered the ones to the Liu and Xu families, and took her son and Xiao Wangcai to play with Xiao Mingming and Xiao Zhuzhu.

When they arrived at Liu's house, both adults and children were very happy to see each other. The weather was hot, so Han Shufang and Wang Cuixi spread a reed mat on the ground and moved all the toys on it. The children played there and it was also convenient for them to interact with Xiao Wangcai. The adults sat next to them and talked, ready to take care of them at all times.

Han Shufang and Wang Cuixi looked through the several large cloth bags that Meng Tao brought, and exclaimed in admiration at the good things inside. They were from other provinces and had never seen some of them before, so it was an eye-opener.

Meng Tao also brought two sets of jade jewelry for each of them, a complete set, from earrings, necklaces, peace lockets to bracelets and rings. Although they were not top-notch, they were all made of jade materials with extremely good water quality. Jade became popular again in China and was worth no less than a million.

Han Shufang and Wang Cuixi were born in the old times and had worn jewelry before. They could tell at a glance that the jade was precious, so they carefully put it away and complained that Meng Tao was wasting money. Why did she buy such an expensive thing? They asked her to take it back: "It's not popular now. We don't need it at our age. You are young, so maybe you can wear it again in the future if you keep it."

Meng Tao smiled and said, "What do you mean you are old? You are not even sixty years old. I call you two grandmas because of our seniority. In fact, you look very young. Look at your black and shiny hair, and your white and smooth skin without wrinkles... If you dress up a little, people will think you are only forty years old when you go out."

"This kid is just talking nonsense."

Han Shufang complained, but subconsciously touched her hair, feeling very happy: in the past two years, thanks to the supplements sent by Taotao and Shen Yu, her body has changed a lot, and she feels younger and younger. The most obvious thing in appearance is that her and the old man's hair have turned black, and the wrinkles and dark spots on their faces have disappeared without noticing. When she was walking on the street with the old man and the child that day, someone mistakenly thought they were the child's parents.

"Grandma Liu, I'm not talking nonsense. You know what? When Shen Yu and I went to Hong Kong, we saw people who were the same age as you two or older, wearing makeup, cheongsams and jewelry, and their whole bodies were shiny and exquisite. When we went to the border, we also saw many people wearing gold and jade. I think it will gradually become popular in China in the future, so I bought a lot. My mother-in-law and I have some, and my grandmother's relatives also gave some to me. I brought these specially for you. Don't worry, these are everywhere on the streets over there, and the vendors are everywhere trying to get people to buy them. Buy one get one free, it's very cheap."

"real?"

"Of course it's real. This jade is so cool and comfortable to hold in the summer. Even if you can't wear it outside, it's nice to play with it indoors."

Which woman doesn’t love jewelry? Han Shufang and Wang Cuixi were already tempted, and after Meng Tao insisted, they happily accepted it.

Wang Cuixi put on a bracelet and played with it happily. Han Shufang put on a string of jade beads as round and transparent as longan, and asked with a smile: "Look, am I shiny all over too?"

Meng Tao said, "Yes, yes, it's so beautiful!"

The three women, big and small, laughed out loud.

Liu Yongsheng squatted on the ground to pick up toys for the children. He turned around and saw two women putting on all the jade jewelry. He was very speechless and warned them: "Don't go out like this, or something bad will happen."

Han Shufang said, "I have locked the door. Just play in the room for a while and then put it away immediately."

Just as they finished speaking, they heard the gate of the courtyard being knocked. Han Shufang and Wang Cuixi were startled and hurriedly put away their things.

I asked Xiao Mingming to open the door, thinking it was a neighbor, but it turned out to be Liu Jianye and Xu Yulin who returned.

Liu Yongsheng asked: "Why did you two go home? Today is not Sunday, what happened?"

Xu Yulin: "Today our class came here to do some voluntary labor. The teacher heard that our families live nearby and approved us to come back to visit. We just need to be back to school before lights out at night."

Liu Jianye and Xu Yulin sat down and drank a glass of water, then talked with Meng Tao about the purchase of Northeastern medicinal materials. Now they are in charge of it. The people they found there are trustworthy and capable, and the business is going well.

Han Shufang and Wang Cuixi went to the kitchen to busy themselves. Little Zhuzhu started crying when she couldn't see her grandmother. Liu Yongsheng was at a loss, so Xu Yulin picked up Xiao Yunhai and Xiao Zhuzhu, one in each hand, and took them to the yard to play. When they saw their grandmother, Xiao Mingming and Xiao Wangcai followed them.

Liu Jianye took the opportunity to lower his voice and said to Meng Tao: "Do you have time next Sunday?"

"What is it?"

"Just... please help me look after a girl!"

"Seeing a girl? Are you dating someone?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. Don't let them hear you."

"This is still sneaky, you have to bring it home."

"No... I, I haven't accepted it yet. That girl always writes to me, sends me food, and knits me sweaters."

"Oh, you're so proactive, it means the girl likes you very much. If you feel good about it, then go for it. What are you afraid of?"

"I dare not talk about it casually. Yulin's lesson is still there."

"Brother Yulin only writes letters but never meets in person. Can you meet in person?"

"She often comes to school to see me."

"Can anyone enter your school casually?"

"Her mother is a teacher there, and she also works in a nearby government agency."

"The conditions are very good. You should meet her more often and get to know each other. How can you know if you are suitable for each other without talking?"

"Yulin also said so, but I am worried that I don't have a comprehensive understanding. I would like to ask you, the 'family and friends group', to take a look first. You have a good eye."

"Thank you for your trust. Even the best judgement can make mistakes sometimes. You should invite her to your home to play. If the whole family thinks it's good, then it's really good."

"No, how can we bring her home without getting to know her? You know, my mother and aunt don't care whether we talk or not. Whenever they see a girl, they want us to marry her right away."

Meng Tao laughed: "Are you determined to put this important task on my shoulders? If there are any consequences, don't blame me."

"It's absolutely not my fault! Next Sunday, she asked me to go to the Red Star Theater to watch a movie. This is the tenth time. If I don't go, it will seem like that... You can come then."

"Okay, I'll give you some advice."

(End of this chapter)