Chapter 143
In the past years, there are very few people who have not suffered hardships. Take Cheng Shuangmin for example, he also went through a lot.
Such a young and talented top student was thrown into a remote countryside right after he was admitted to university. His hands, which he used to write with, could only dig for food in the fields day after day for ten years. Isn't he miserable?
Of course it was hard, but he finally struggled out, so now he can be busy every day with full energy, because he also knows that the hard days are really over.
As for young people, they may be better off. For example, Shi Xiaoyu has not suffered any specific hardship. But living in this era, no one can eat enough when growing up, so it is certainly not the case that they are very happy.
But suffering will eventually pass, and people must always look forward.
Good times are about to begin, and we cannot always stay in the past and stand still.
Moreover, Shen Wen is the one favored by Yan Jianshun. He praises her for her ability and potential, so she should cheer up, do a good job first, and then get a high income and enjoy high benefits, and her life will naturally become better.
After hearing what Xia Qingtang said, Shen Wen was shocked and stopped immediately.
Xia Qingtang looked back at her and found that her eyes were red, with turbid tears rolling in them. She couldn't help but sigh and whispered, "Secretary Shen, I'll go to the toilet with you to clean up. You're a clerk, and you haven't gotten off work yet. It's not good to be seen by others."
Although Shen Wen is indeed not young anymore, she obviously lacks a lot of experience in this area of work.
She doesn't understand yet that as a clerk, if she is seen crying in the factory, the news will be talked about for days.
"Okay, okay." Shen Wen nodded, and quickly wiped the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand. Then he looked around like a thief, and found that no one was paying attention to this place, so he said in a panic: "I'm sorry, I've caused you trouble again."
"No, it's not a big deal. What kind of trouble is this?" Xia Qingtang smiled and pulled her aside. "Don't be so polite. We will be colleagues in the same office from now on. If I help you now, you can help me in the future."
"Yes, you are right..."
Xia Qingtang took Shen Wen to a public toilet outside the second workshop and asked her to wash her face with cold water. Only after her eyes were no longer red did the two of them walk out.
Shen Wen's emotions had calmed down by now. She whispered, "Secretary Xia, this factory is really different. Even the toilets in the workshop are so good."
"Yes, it is said that foreigners requested it to be built this way. The female employees here also like to be clean. Usually they will bring their own rags to wipe the mirrors and sinks, so that everyone will feel more comfortable when washing their faces and applying facial cream here." Xia Qingtang said: "So, you are so lucky to work here now, and you will be happy in the future."
Shen Wen nodded and looked at Xia Qingtang with gratitude: "Thank you, you are right. I am really happy to be able to work here now. I...especially thank Assistant Yan for giving me this opportunity."
"You should also thank yourself. Assistant Yan is a man who doesn't keep idle people. If you don't have the ability, he will never keep you. You should know that you are the only candidate selected from so many candidates. This is such a proud thing." Xia Qingtang said sincerely.
A faint smile slowly appeared on Shen Wen's face. She pondered for a while and whispered, "I will work hard and live up to Assistant Yan's high expectations, and I will also live up to myself."
"That's right! Work hard in the future, get enough salary and food coupons every month, and you can eat whatever you want and buy whatever you want. How great!"
As they were talking, the two of them walked downstairs to the office building. Because it was time to get off work, Tan Hongmei and others on the first floor had already come out.
Seeing that the two of them had just returned, Tan Hongmei immediately asked, "Xiao Xia, are you back from the workshop?"
"Yes, I was called over just now." Xia Qingtang smiled.
Tan Hongmei said, "Then hurry up, it won't be good if you have to wait too long for the bus."
"Yes, I'll go up and get the things now." Xia Qingtang pulled Shen Wen and said, "Secretary Shen, let's move faster, otherwise we will miss the bus."
"Okay." Shen Wen also followed Xia Qingtang and hurried upstairs.
As expected, all the colleagues had already come out, only Shi Xiaoyu was still waiting for Xia Qingtang in the office.
Xia Qingtang looked at Cheng Shuangmin's table and said, "Is Lao Cheng not back yet?"
"Yes, but it's okay. I'll ask the driver to wait for him for a while." Shi Xiaoyu said indifferently.
She and Cheng Shuangmin took the same bus route, so when encountering this situation, she would take the initiative to say hello to the driver and wait for Cheng Shuangmin for a few more minutes.
Xia Qingtang quickly packed up her things, locked the table and went to greet Shen Wen: "Secretary Shen, where do you live? See who's on your way."
Shen Wen said: "I applied for a dormitory and moved in this morning. I can go directly to the dormitory later."
"Oh, that's how it is." Xia Qingtang said with a smile, "Then Xiaoshi and I will go catch the bus first."
"Okay, goodbye." Shen Wen smiled at her.
Xia Qingtang and Shi Xiaoyu ran downstairs hand in hand, and Shi Xiaoyu whispered, "Why does Secretary Shen live in the dormitory?"
"What's wrong with living in the dormitory?"
"Except for busy people like Assistant Yan, the rest of the people who live in the dormitory in our factory are unmarried people. Look at Secretary Shen, she is already this age, her children are waiting to go to elementary school, right? Why would she live in the dormitory?"
Xia Qingtang said: "But, she came from the county town. If she doesn't live in the dormitory, does she have to go back to the county town every day?"
"That's right, hahahahaha, I actually forgot about this." Shi Xiaoyu laughed, and after a while she said, "Then if she works here, she won't be able to take care of the child, which is also very difficult."
"Working here and earning more money will be good for the children," Xia Qingtang said. "Some sacrifices have to be made."
"Yes, for example, it's good to work here, but it's too far away. We have to stay here all day if we come here in the morning. Last time my dad was not feeling well, I didn't know until I got home from work in the evening. If it were in the past, my dad's colleagues would have run to the bookstore to tell me. Now they can only find my husband. Fortunately, he is a good person and is willing to help me take care of my family." Shi Xiaoyu said softly.
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Actually, husband and wife are one. It's enough to have him help you. Next year, the family quarters of our factory will be completed. When the time comes, you can apply for a place to live. Let your lover live here, it's actually the same thing."
It is said that the staff can be assigned a small suite with two rooms and a small toilet, so many people are looking forward to the completion of this family quarters.
Although Shi Xiaoyu's current house has two rooms, there is no toilet in the house. She has to use the public toilet during the day and can only use a spittoon at night, so she has been thinking about using her quota to apply for a better accommodation here.
At this point, Shi Xiaoyu's face darkened, and she said, "I'm afraid this won't work."
"What's wrong? Your lover doesn't want to live here?"
"Yes, he said that this place is too far away, not as convenient as where we live now, and too far from his parents' home, and his parents will be inconvenient if they have a headache or fever. He also advised me not to worry, and wait a few years when he is old enough and promoted, he will be able to get a better house." Shi Xiaoyu sighed heavily, "But I really want to live here. Although this place is a bit remote, it is a big place. I, a young staff member, can get a small suite with a small toilet, which is much more comfortable than living in the city. Another thing is that I don’t want to be so close to my parents-in-law. I also told you that my mother-in-law is not a bad person, but she likes to point fingers at our family. I was too lazy to cook last night, so I bought a few biscuits from a private person, mixed with malted milk and ate them with my wife. As a result, my mother-in-law came to borrow a pair of scissors and saw it, and she scolded me. It’s not a big deal, but I just feel unhappy. But she is his mother after all, and I can’t quarrel, so I can only bear it. I have always thought that when the house of our factory is built, my husband and I will move in, and it will be much more peaceful in the future. But... Alas..."
Xia Qingtang patted her on the back and said, "Then let's discuss it carefully. Or, when the family quarters here are completed, you can bring him over to have a look. Maybe he will be attracted by the neat and beautiful new house when he sees it."
How could someone who has seen a spacious and bright new house still be willing to live in an old, old and crowded house?
Shi Xiaoyu immediately became cheerful: "Yes! When the family quarters are built, I can bring him over to have a look! When he sees such a beautiful new house, I don't believe he won't be moved!"
As they were talking, they had already walked to the shuttle bus, so they said goodbye to each other and got on buses of different routes.
Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, so there is no night shift today. Those who work only have a full-day shift and go home after work.
Xia Qingtang saw Hu Yanhui as she stepped into the car. She immediately walked over with her bag on her back and sat down next to him: "Brother Hui, Auntie is going to make those bacon dumplings again tomorrow, right?"
Hu's mother knows how to make a very fragrant bacon rice dumpling. All she needs to do is put a little bit of bacon cut into pieces, add chopped bamboo shoots and mushrooms, and add some soy sauce. The rice dumpling will be so fragrant that it can be smelled from miles away. All the neighbors of the Hu family will be attracted by the aroma.
Xia Qingtang had eaten this zongzi several times before, so she had a deep memory of it. She also asked about the recipe and planned to imitate it and make it herself this year.
Hu Yanhui smiled and said, "Yes, my mother will start making rice dumplings tonight. She will put them on the coal stove and simmer them slowly before going to bed. When we wake up the next morning, we can eat well-cooked rice dumplings."
"Then I'll do it in the evening too, but I don't know if it will be in time. I haven't soaked the glutinous rice yet." Xia Qingtang said.
"If you want to eat some, I'll ask Yanni to send you a few tomorrow. You don't have to make them yourself."
"No, no, no. Zongzi is such a delicious thing, don't give it to me. Just eat one for yourselves." Xia Qingtang quickly refused.
Bacon and glutinous rice are both good things, so how can we always eat other people's food for free?
Although there are no idle people in the Hu family now, Hu Yanhui will get married soon, so it is not a bad thing to be a little frugal.
Hu Yanhui smiled and said, "Then I'll make some peanut cakes tomorrow and give them to you when I go to work the day after tomorrow?"
"Okay, but you can't give me anything this time. You've already given me a lot last time. If you want to give it to me this time, I will spend the normal money to buy it." Xia Qingtang's attitude seemed very determined.
Hu Yanhui could only say: "Okay, then I'll let you buy it back."
"Thank you, Brother Hui. I will buy as much as you have. I will share it with my grandma and some colleagues." Xia Qingtang thanked him happily.
Hu Yanhui talked about Hu Yanni's recent situation again, saying that she seemed to have gained a little weight recently, and everyone in the family was very happy.
"Yes, Yanni has indeed grown up, and I am happy to see it." Xia Qingtang nodded silently in his heart and expressed his affirmation to Luo Xiangqian.
He looked careless, but he really took good care of Hu Yanni. All the milk powder, malted milk, honey and other things he could get were sent to the Normal College. Hu Yanni had no shortage of skin care products, so her health naturally got better and better.
They chatted all the way until they reached Central Road. Xia Qingtang said goodbye and jumped out of the car.
"Huh? Jinxuan? Are you here to pick me up?"
As soon as he got off the car, Xia Qingtang saw Xie Jinxuan's tall and graceful figure. He was wearing a white shirt, light brown trousers and black cloth shoes. He looked simple and refreshing, and his temperament was very much like a very famous movie actor recently.
This year, a very sensational movie was released. Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan both went to the cinema to watch it twice. Shi Xiaoyu was even crazier. She had gone to watch it four times, but she still felt unsatisfied.
The male protagonist in the movie looks a bit like Xie Jinxuan, but judging from the facial features, Xie Jinxuan is more delicate.
Xie Jinxuan smiled and held her hand: "Yes, Aunt Liu said she would go to her house for dinner tonight, so I came here to pick you up, let's go directly there."
"Okay, I really don't want to cook today." Xia Qingtang said, and took off the backpack and handed it to Xie Jinxuan, "It's heavy, you help me carry it."
Xie Jinxuan tested the weight and said with a smile, "Is the bonus inside?"
"Yes, one pound of brown sugar and three pounds of white rice are all good things." Xia Qingtang said: "The employees are very happy, and I am happy too."
Xie Jinxuan looked at her gently and said, "Let's give the brown sugar to Aunt Liu later. It will be useful tomorrow."
"Okay, since we still have brown sugar at home, we can take the white rice back. We'll make some stewed rice the day after tomorrow." Xia Qingtang said, "Sixth Aunt sent so many potatoes yesterday, we have to find a way to finish them all."
The two of them walked hand in hand to the small western-style building. As soon as they walked in, they heard Xie Jinyun's crisp voice. He said proudly: "I got a very high score in this exam. The teacher said that the second place is far behind me!"
"How high is it?" Xie Jinxuan asked as soon as she entered the door.
"Brother? Sister-in-law? You're back!" Xie Jinyun jumped over, holding a few papers in her hands, "Let me show you, and you'll know how high your scores are!"
He looked so smug, and it was adorable.
Xie Jinyun has grown a lot taller and her face has started to change. The baby fat she had before has slowly faded away, and her facial features have become more angular, and she looks more like Xie Jinxuan.
Although he has not fully grown yet, it is obvious that in two or three years, Xiaoyun will become a very handsome young man.
Xie Jinxuan took the test paper and saw that the score was indeed very high, with full marks in mathematics. He couldn't help but touch his brother's head and said with a smile: "It is indeed a very high score. It seems that you have worked really hard this semester. Congratulations, you will definitely be able to get into a good university."
"Of course, I've already said that I want to go to Beijing to study at a university. How embarrassed I will be if I can't do it?" Xie Jinyun pulled back her own test paper, then smiled and said, "Brother, I did so well in the test, is there any reward? Just now, grandma said that she would give me one dollar pocket money, and mom also gave me one dollar, what about you, brother?"
"Brother will give you one dollar too." Xie Jinxuan smiled and flicked her brother's head, "Why do you remember to ask for money?"
"You can buy nice things with money. Brother, you have no shortage of money, so you don't know how important money is." Xie Jinyun snorted.
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Who said your brother doesn't need money now? He is studying now. He doesn't make money, but he gets food rations, which are only enough for him to eat."
"Ah... does that mean brother has no pocket money?" Xie Jinyun was stunned.
"It's okay, I'll give it to you." Xia Qingtang took out a dollar from his pocket and handed it to Xie Jinyun, "Here, keep up the good work. If you get first place in the final exam, I'll treat you to a meal at the Provincial Capital Hotel."
"Really?" Xie Jinyun was so happy that she jumped three feet high.
"Really? A gentleman's word is as good as gold." Xia Qingtang said with certainty.
Xie's mother said, "Qingtang, don't spoil Xiaoyun. Why are you going to eat at a big restaurant in the provincial capital? A meal there costs a lot of money."
"It's okay, Mom. My income is much higher now than before. It's okay to take Xiaoyun over for a meal during the summer vacation." Xia Qingtang said with a smile.
Grandma said, "Is your new electrical appliance factory really that profitable? I've heard from others that the workers' wages seem to be a few dollars higher."
"Yes, so our clerks' salaries will have to be a few dollars more. Moreover, because we are very busy and often have to work overtime at noon, we have also been given overtime bonuses since last month." Xia Qingtang said.
Xie's mother said, "There are bonuses for working overtime? It seems that this factory run by foreigners is different."
"Times have changed. If this had happened in the past, you would definitely have been scolded." Grandma said in a low voice.
Xie's mother smiled and said, "Mom, if it was before, foreigners couldn't come in here."
“It’s true!”
Everyone laughed together. Aunt Liu followed the sound and came out, smelling of fried food. She said, "Qingtang is back? Go wash your hands and eat some fruit. We have fresh loquats at home today!"
"Okay, thank you Aunt Six! I'll go wash my hands now." Xia Qingtang immediately ran to the bathroom, saying as he ran, "I still have some brown sugar in my bag. Let Jinxuan give it to you!"
Grandma said, "Brown sugar? It was given to Qingtang by his work unit, right?"
"Yes, one pound of brown sugar and three pounds of white rice." Xie Jinxuan said as she took out the bag of brown sugar and handed it to Aunt Six.
Aunt Six was amazed: "Everyone gets so many?"
"Yes, everyone does."
"No wonder everyone wanted to work in this factory before. Those who didn't get in cried for several sessions at home," said Aunt Liu.
"It's so difficult for that factory to recruit people. At first, they want people who have graduated from high school, and then they want people to be in very good health. The youngest child of the Wan family was not admitted. I saw that child was in good health. How come he failed?" Grandma asked curiously.
Xie Jinxuan knew about this before, and he even asked Xia Qingtang for the reason on behalf of the old Wan family, so he said: "Qingtang said that when they were recruiting workers, they had to do some related tests to see if they had good physical fitness, and the youngest one did not pass the test."
"What test did you do?" Xie's mother asked curiously.
"The youngest child didn't pass the running test, so it was determined that he didn't have enough physical strength." Xia Qingtang walked out, then sat directly next to her grandmother and started looking for loquats.
Xie's mother took out a small basin from under the coffee table, which was filled with bright yellow loquats. It looked particularly tempting.
"Ah, that's delicious." Xia Qingtang quickly picked up one, peeled it, and took a bite. Although it was a little sour, it was still delicious.
Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Don't eat too much. Eat a few to whet your appetite. You'll be eating soon. I made fried cakes today. Eat more."
"Okay." Xia Qingtang nodded obediently, but still ate seven or eight in one breath before stopping.
Xie's mother was very busy with work recently, so she didn't have a good chat with Xia Qingtang. Today, when she had some free time, she quickly asked about Xia Qingtang's work content there.
Xia Qingtang briefly described the work he was going to do, and Xie's mother nodded as she listened: "It seems that your work over there is very hard."
"If you don't count the translation work that came unexpectedly, it wasn't that hard," Xia Qingtang said. "The main thing is that the translation work was a little difficult, and it was always a surprise attack. Sometimes I had to put down other work at hand and go to the workshop to help with translation. When I came back, my train of thought was interrupted and I had to start all over again. This was the hardest part. What's more, my English level was just so-so, so I was always nervous. However, I disguised myself very well, and no one could tell that I was nervous. Everyone thought I was confident."
Mother Xie smiled and pinched her little face: "Our Qingtang, from what he said, it was obvious that he was an old worker, but from his face, he looked like a student."
"Yes, I think Qingtang's face looks younger than before." Grandma also said.
Xia Qingtang said: "I have to thank my grandma and mom for that, because you are so kind to me and always give me good food to eat, so I have good nutrition and naturally have a tender face."
With adequate nutrition, not only did Xia Qingtang's face become more youthful, but he even grew one centimeter taller after marrying Xie Jinxuan.
Don't underestimate this one centimeter, it's all earned from the good things you eat.
Both grandma and Xie's mother were amused. Xie's mother said with a smile: "Qingtang's little mouth is really adorable. You are in the factory, those people must like to interact with you, right?"
"It's OK. The employees really don't hate me. Foreigners like me too and always give me snacks. Oh, by the way, I received another piece of chocolate today." Xia Qingtang said, and took out a piece of chocolate from his pocket and handed it to Xie Jinyun, "Xiaoyun, you eat it."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Xie Jinyun quickly took it and took a closer look. She found that it was all in foreign language, so she said, "Was it given to you by a foreigner again?"
"Yes, they like to eat this, and all kinds of candies. They put a lot of sugar in their tea." Xia Qingtang said: "And the coffee, every time you see Director Pete put four or five sugar cubes in it."
After the factory was fully operational, Xia Qingtang and his colleagues went to the big canteen to eat several times, but eventually returned to the small canteen because there were too many people.
The small canteen prepares a limited variety of dishes every day, but the advantage is that there are fewer people, so they can see Director Pete sitting in the canteen drinking coffee every one or two days.
"What is a sugar cube?" Xie Jinyun asked curiously.
Xia Qingtang gestured: "It's a small cube of this size, specially used to put in coffee. That kind of sugar is very fine, it melts after throwing it in for a while, it's quite convenient."
"Sister-in-law, have you tried it?"
"Yes, Director Pete invited us for coffee once before, and we used sugar cubes," said Xia Qingtang.
"What does that coffee taste like? Is it delicious?" Xie Jinyun became even more curious.
"It's not very tasty, very bitter, and has a burnt smell. It's still not tasty even with sugar, but it tastes good when you add milk. So, coffee is not tasty, but milk coffee is tasty." Xia Qingtang said.
Grandma also smiled and said, "I also drank coffee in Shanghai when I was young. It did have a burnt taste, and I couldn't drink it without milk. Come to think of it, I haven't seen coffee in many years."
Xie Jinxuan said: "The Provincial Capital Hotel now has coffee and also makes a variety of breads and cakes."
"Yes, yes, I heard about it too." Xie Jinyun said, "Some of my classmates have been there and brought a very nice-looking bread to school."
Grandma said, "Your grandfather brought back bread. You ate it. Our canteen also made it. Didn't you eat it often?"
"The bread grandpa brought back is a little different from the one my classmates brought. It's not the round kind of bread. Theirs is shell-shaped and filled with stuffing. They say it's very sweet. I really want to try what it tastes like..." Xie Jinyun licked her lips.
Xia Qingtang said, "How about this, if Xiaoyun does well in the final exam, I will treat the whole family to a meal at the Provincial Capital Hotel, and we can all try the coffee and bread, how about that?"
"That will cost a lot of money," said grandma.
"It doesn't matter. I have money." Xia Qingtang said, "Let's just decide it. Leave it to me."
Aunt Six came out of the kitchen again: "Can I go then?"
"Of course Sixth Aunt has to go! Is there any need to say that?" Xia Qingtang said, "If Sixth Aunt doesn't go, Xiaoyun and I will cry."
Aunt Six laughed happily because of her amusing words: "Okay, then let's go and try it together and see what that coffee is."
Xie Jinyun immediately said: "Then I have to take the exam seriously, but don't worry, according to my grades, I will be in the top three at the end of the semester, and the chance of first place is the greatest."
Aunt Six said, "Let's eat quickly, and then you can go back to study. Xiaoyun, we are all counting on you!"
"Okay, leave it to me!" Xie Jinyun patted his chest, looking serious.
The biggest difference between him and Xie Jinxuan is that he is simpler. He did not experience the hardships that Xie Jinxuan had to go through, and with the love of his parents, he is still as innocent as a child.
But his family likes his innocence and Xie Jinxuan, as an older brother, is also very serious about protecting his brother's innocence.
Grandpa Xie and Xie Chengye did not get off work as usual. Everyone else sat down at the dining table, while Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan went to the kitchen to bring out dinner.
There are fragrant fried cakes and pumpkin millet porridge. The fried cakes are divided into two types: those with brown sugar filling and those with pickled vegetables filling. Each one is as big as a palm, all brown in color, and look particularly tempting.
Aunt Liu took out a plate of fried cowpeas and a small dish of fermented bean curd and placed them in the middle of the table, and dinner began.
Xia Qingtang first took a fried cake stuffed with brown sugar and took a bite. The hot brown sugar stuffing immediately flowed out and dripped onto her palm. She quickly lowered her head to lick it, then bit it carefully.
This pot of fried cakes was loved by everyone. They ate all the fried cakes in one go with millet porridge.
Xie Jinxuan said, "Don't you need to leave some for Grandpa and Dad?"
Aunt Six said, "The old man has a good meal today, so there's no need to save any for him. Your father has something to do, and we don't know when he'll be back, so there's even less need to save any for him."
"That's right, as long as we are full, that's fine." Grandma smiled and said, "Jinxuan is always like this, always worrying about this and that."
"Jinxuan is kind and considerate." Aunt Six said, "If you ask me, there is no better guy in this whole compound than our Jinxuan."
“Me, me, me!” Xie Jinyun immediately raised her hand, “And me!”
"You are not a boy yet, you are a child." Aunt Six said with a smile, "You are the best child in our compound!"
"Ah...that's fine!" Xie Jinyun also became happy and immediately took the empty bowls and basins to the kitchen to wash them.
After cleaning up, Xia Qingtang chatted with her grandmother and Xie's mother for a while. She and Xie Jinxuan went home to wash up after Grandpa Xie came back from get off work.
"Oh, I forgot to soak the glutinous rice..." Xia Qingtang only thought of this when he returned home.
"Do you want to make the rice dumplings yourself?" Xie Jinxuan asked.
"Yes, I want to try the rice dumplings made by Yanni's mother. Put a little bit of bacon, bamboo shoots and mushrooms, mix them with soy sauce, and they are delicious." Xia Qingtang said, "I should come back and soak the glutinous rice first, so that I can make them after dinner."
"Soak now?"
"No, let's talk about it tomorrow. Now that I'm full and come back, I suddenly just want to lie down." Xia Qingtang said: "Today is another busy day... I also have to be responsible for leading the new colleagues."
"What do you think of your new colleague? Is he easy to get along with?" Xie Jinxuan walked over and began to massage Xia Qingtang's shoulders as he lay on the sofa.
"She is a woman in her thirties who used to work at the county supply and marketing cooperative. She looks very haggard and old, and seems very timid... She should be a good person. As for other things, I don't know yet."
"He worked in the county supply and marketing cooperative before? But he was admitted to university? It seems that this person's experience is also quite novel."
"Yes, my colleagues are also very curious. But this new colleague doesn't look like someone I can chat with. I'll let the teacher ask him after we get to know him better." Xia Qingtang showed an expression of enjoyment. "Yes, yes, yes, use a little more strength on the left side, yes, ah... very good, comfortable."
Xie Jinxuan said: "I'll get you some hot water. After you take a bath, I'll give you a full body massage."
"Okay." Xia Qingtang threw him a wink, "You'll have to work hard again today."
Xie Jinxuan really worked hard that night. She first gave Xia Qingtang a proper relaxing massage, and then gave her an informal massage. The two of them didn't turn off the lights and go to bed until very late.
When she woke up the next day, Xia Qingtang felt even lazier. She didn't want to move at all. After getting dressed and washing up, she leaned on the sofa and read a book, completely putting the matter of making rice dumplings behind her mind.
"Are you not going to make zongzi anymore?" Xie Jinxuan asked, "Do you want to soak glutinous rice?"
"No need, I don't want to move. Let's go over there and eat ready-made food at noon." Xia Qingtang sighed, "It's a bit hot and humid today. I don't want to move at all."
"It's going to rain today." Xie Jinxuan looked at the weather outside the window and said, "If you don't want to move, then don't move. Aunt Six wanted us to go over and eat ready-made food. You've been working too hard recently, and you don't take a nap at noon. You keep studying English. It's a rare opportunity to rest, so just lie down."
"Okay, I'll just lie down." Xia Qingtang lay comfortably in the living room for the whole morning. At eleven o'clock, Xie Jinxuan picked him up, and the two went to the small western-style building together.
Aunt Six was busy in the kitchen. Only Grandpa Xie and Grandma Xie were sitting in the living room, listening to the radio and reading the newspaper.
"Hello, Grandpa, hello, Grandma." Xia Qingtang ran over and sat down next to her grandmother. "Where are Mom and Dad?"
"I went to talk to someone at his house. Xiaoyun is still doing her homework." Grandma touched Xia Qingtang's braids and said, "It looks good today when you comb it like this."
Today she didn't wear her hair into two braids or a high ponytail like she usually does at work. Instead, she braided her long hair into a tilted braid, which went around the right back and rested on her shoulder. She used wire clips to hold the loose hair on both sides and tied a bow at the end of her hair with beautiful scraps of cloth, which looked very charming.
Nowadays, there are more young people dressing up on the streets. Xia Qingtang is also a young person, so naturally she wants to dress up. Although she can't dress up in any special way when she is at work, she always wants to dress differently when she is on vacation.
"Does it look good? Thanks, grandma. Next time I go out to play with Jinxuan, I'll tie my hair like this." Xia Qingtang smiled sweetly.
Grandpa Xie put down the newspaper, took a few glances at Xia Qingtang's hairstyle, nodded and said, "It really looks good. If she wears a long skirt, it will be even better."
"Yes, why aren't you wearing a skirt?" Grandma said, "Don't you like the skirt I made last year? Then I'll make you a new one. The daughter-in-law of the old Wang family is very good at making dresses. I'll order two for you. Has your size changed? Do you want to be measured again?"
Xia Qingtang said: "I feel like I've gained some weight this year, so I should measure myself again."
Xie Jinxuan said: "The waist circumference is the same as last year, and the rest of the body just needs to be slightly loosened by one centimeter."
"Ah...how did you know..." After Xia Qingtang said this, he felt like he was being stupid. Of course Xie Jinxuan knew. Who else knew her body better than him?
Grandma nodded: "Okay, I'll make a note of it. I'll go find Lao Wang tomorrow. I heard that there are new styles of skirts this year, which are different from the previous ones. I'll see what kind of skirts I can make later."
"Anything is fine, just don't wear it in bright colors." Xia Qingtang said, "Otherwise you won't be able to wear it to work."
"Don't worry, I will make you more common colors and only focus on the style." Grandma touched Xia Qingtang's head again.
Xia Qingtang hugged her arms and leaned over: "Thank you grandma, it's great to have you, I'm so happy."
Grandma smiled happily: "Grandma is also very happy, I just like to dress up our Qingtang."
Xia Qingtang leaned against his grandmother, and without saying a few words, he fell asleep.
She didn't wake up until Xie Chengye and Xie's mother came back from outside.
Xia Qingtang was surprised: "I fell asleep? How could I fall asleep? I got up so late in the morning and then lay on the sofa, how could I fall asleep..."
She herself found it unbelievable, after all, she rarely felt so sleepy.
"Yes, you fell asleep." Xie Jinxuan squatted in front of her and whispered, "You don't have a fever, and you don't look sick... Is it because you are too tired from work?"
Xia Qingtang frowned slightly: "I don't think my work is that tiring..."
"Do you want to go to the hospital? You are so sleepy, I think you must be feeling unwell." Xie Jinxuan said, "I'll take you to the hospital this afternoon, okay?"
"Ah, do I have to go to the hospital because I want to sleep?" Xia Qingtang was a little reluctant. After all, no one likes to go to the hospital.
But grandma said, "Let's go and have a look. He has suddenly become very sleepy. I'm afraid it's not a simple reason."
Xia Qingtang was shocked: "It's not a simple reason? Could it be that I'm really sick?"
"No, no." Xie's mother said, "What I mean is, is it possible that you are pregnant? Because if you suddenly become pregnant, you will become sleepy."
Xia Qingtang shuddered: "Impossible!"
She quickly looked at Xie Jinxuan. They both used the family planning products they brought back from the hospital every time and almost never missed any.
But she had heard from doctors before that even if she used birth control products, the chances of success might not be 100%.
Xie Jinxuan was also slightly panicked: "Logically speaking, this shouldn't happen..."
"Why are you two panicking? Can't we go to the hospital this afternoon and find out?" Xie's mother said, "I know you are still studying and definitely don't want to have a child at this time. Qingtang has just joined a new unit and is very busy at work. He is also highly regarded by his superiors. This is the best time to develop his career. But having a child is fate and cannot be driven away."
"Yes, just go to the hospital to confirm and you'll know. If you really are pregnant, then give birth to the child. You don't have time to take care of the child, but you have Xiaoliu and I. I'm not that old, and I'm healthy. I can take care of your child until he goes to elementary school." Grandma held Xia Qingtang's hand and said with a smile.
Xie Jinxuan pondered for a moment and said, "That makes sense. If the child is really coming, it's not impossible to have it. Our family is not short of money, nor is there a shortage of people to take care of it."
Mother Xie nodded: "Yes, if our family has more children, they will come to enjoy happiness, what are you worried about?"
Xia Qingtang touched her flat stomach, still confused: "I still feel something is wrong... But it's better to go to the hospital for a check-up."
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