Chapter 71
After Xie Jinxuan left, Xia Daming breathed a sigh of relief, then took a sip of tea from the cup and tasted the mung bean cake: "Delicious."
"If it tastes good, eat more." Xia Qingtang said, "These are all bought by Xie Jinxuan to entertain you. You will be at a loss if you don't eat them. There are melon seeds, peanuts and biscuits at home. I told him not to buy snacks, but he went and bought them anyway."
Xia Daming smiled: "My son-in-law is really a good person. It's rare for a child raised in such a family to have no airs or temper at all."
Xia Qingtang understood Xia Daming's feelings. She used to think that children raised in cadres' families were like Kong Liangchao and Kong Liangjing, arrogant and looking down on others. But in fact, there are so many people in the world, and children raised by well-educated and qualified families are different. It has nothing to do with the family conditions.
"It's not that rare. The row where grandpa lives is not much different in status. Their children are all pretty good. Some are a little arrogant, but they don't look down on others. They are just confident in themselves. After I married in, everyone in the compound knew that I was a front-line worker in the cotton mill. The people in that row of houses didn't look down on me. On the contrary, some people who lived in the tube building liked to talk about me, saying that Xie Jinxuan had no taste or something. Of course, they definitely didn't dare to say it in front of me. I can see it. After all, Jinxuan has a good character and good looks. Who doesn't want to marry their daughter to him? People envy me, which is understandable." Xia Qingtang laughed and said, "Anyway, people who bully others by taking advantage of their power are definitely rare. Take Jinxuan's good friend Lao Luo for example. His family is also a big leader. He is very generous and has a good relationship with people."
Xia Daming nodded quickly, "My son-in-law is a good man, so his friends must be good people too, that's for sure. I'm not worried about the people around my son-in-law, but I'm a little worried about your brother. That Xiao Wu... she has a female classmate who came over. I happened to go to deliver something to your brother that day, and I saw her at Xiao Wu's house. That girl is very impressive, but... she doesn't even look at people straight in the eye. Alas... there's nothing we can do. Although your brother is not a live-in son-in-law, the house he lives in now is rented by the old Wu couple. Tell me, how can he hold his head up? But Xiao Wu doesn't want to live in our shack."
"Dad, you don't have to worry about Xia Qinghai. He is so smart. No matter how Wu Jinfeng's female classmates look down on him, he can always keep Wu Jinfeng under control. As for living in someone else's house, isn't that exactly his purpose? He also didn't want to live in the shack at home, that's why he married Wu Jinfeng. He has thought of everything a long time ago, and he knows how to deal with it." Xia Qingtang said the truth. In her previous life, she felt that Xia Qinghai had no ability, but for some reason, Xia Qinghai in this life has changed a lot. He has become more scheming and better at using his brain.
Xia Daming said: "Your brother has changed a lot since he came back from the countryside. You too, I don't know when it started, but you and your brother have both become different..."
"Change is a good thing. What's good about staying the same?"
Xia Daming chuckled for a while. He finished his mung bean cake and drank a sip of tea. Xia Qingtang then stuffed him with a piece of egg cake. He took a bite and looked outside the door. He whispered, "Your house is quite clean. Do you usually clean it?"
This was to ask Xie Jinxuan if she would do the housework, so Xia Qingtang told the truth: "I clean the house with him. If he works overtime and comes home late, I will clean more. When he is not busy, we take turns cleaning. His workplace is close, so he will come back at noon to collect the quilts and wash large clothes. It is too cold in winter, and he doesn't let me wash thick clothes, so he is responsible for it. As for meals, he gets up early in the morning, and after exercising, he goes to the canteen to buy some steamed buns and flower rolls. We eat and then go to work. I usually cook dinner. As long as he doesn't work overtime, he will wash and cut the vegetables and put them there, and cook rice. When I get home, I can cook directly and eat soon. Sometimes we also go to grandma's house for dinner, and Aunt Liu will make delicious food and send it over. Most of the time, we don't have to buy vegetables, and Aunt Liu will buy them and bring them over. We don't have children now, so I am very satisfied with the current living situation."
The family had no shortage of money or food, and even had someone to help with grocery shopping. Even more than a decade later, it was considered a very happy life.
Xia Daming nodded again and again: "It's not easy to find a son-in-law like this. He is a good worker and is willing to do so much housework. It's not easy."
In their cotton mill, since both husband and wife are usually employees of the factory, their incomes and family backgrounds are similar, and with the three-shift work schedule, there is generally no distinction between who does the housework; whoever is not working and is free will do it.
Of course, there is a hierarchy. For example, Xia Daming's cooking is not delicious, so Zhao Meizhen and Xia Qingtang usually cook. Zhao Meizhen does more, but Xia Daming also does a lot of other housework. Sometimes, when Zhao Meizhen sees that he is working too hard, she will take the initiative to do more so that he can rest more.
But Zhao Meizhen loved her son very much. Xia Qingtang started learning to cook at the age of ten, but Xia Qinghai learned to cook in a hurry until he was about to go to the countryside. Because she heard that the meals for the educated youth were prepared in turns, Zhao Meizhen was afraid that her son would starve in the countryside, so she made him learn to cook.
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "It's not easy for Xie Jinxuan to be like this. It's mainly because she was well-educated at home. The Xie family has always had Aunt Six doing housework, but Xie Jinxuan and his brother have to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen every night. Xie Jinxuan has always washed her own clothes. In their Xie family, children have to do what they can. Unlike our family, we have ordinary conditions, but we raised a son so preciously. If Xia Qinghai hadn't had to go to the countryside to join the production team, I'm afraid he wouldn't have to wash his own clothes for the rest of his life, right?"
Xia Daming smiled bitterly and said, "Your mother favors your brother. You will never forget this in your life, right?"
"Yes, I won't forget. These are things that have already happened. Even if I forget, they have already happened." Xia Qingtang poked his head out and saw Xie Jinxuan walking into the yard from outside, so he smiled and said, "Jinxuan, is grandma happy?"
"I'm happy. Everyone likes to eat such fresh fruit. My mom also said that she will thank dad later."
Xia Daming said quickly, "What's there to thank you for? I wanted to buy cigarettes and alcohol, but I can't afford anything good, and I'm afraid you won't be able to use what I bought. So I can only go to the suburbs to pick these fruits and bring them here, just to eat them for fun."
Xie Jinxuan opened the screen door and walked in. He said, "Fresh fruit is harder to come by than alcohol and cigarettes. Actually, my grandpa doesn't smoke. My dad smokes, but not very often. He also doesn't drink much alcohol, only a couple of glasses during festivals. So the fruit you brought here is actually the best. Not only will my grandma be happy, but my mom will love it, too. Oh, by the way, let me wash half of this one so we can eat some while it's fresh."
"Okay, okay, wash them quickly, I want to eat them." Xia Qingtang said with a smile: "It's good when the weather gets warmer. Before, we only had oranges and dates to eat, but spring is coming, and then there will be loquats, apricots, plums, peaches...all kinds of fruits will come out, just thinking about it makes me happy."
The planting technology in that era was not very good. By the 1990s, Xia Qingtang remembered that the output and variety of fruits had become much richer. In addition, the transportation conditions had improved, and they could eat a lot of fruits from other places. That was the most exciting thing.
Xia Daming asked, "Does Qingtang like to eat fruit?"
Xie Jinxuan said in the kitchen: "Yes, Qingtang likes to eat fruit very much."
Xia Daming's face darkened: "I didn't know this before..."
Xia Qingtang waved her hand, took a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus glutinous rice cake, and said, "It's normal that you don't know about this. We hardly buy fruit to eat at home."
The Xia family does indeed seldom eat fruit. Zhao Meizhen doesn't eat it herself, nor does she buy it for her son. However, she saves the money for her son, so it's still the same thing.
Xia Daming smiled awkwardly: "You like to eat fruit. When loquats are available, I will get some for you."
Xie Jinxuan said, "Dad, don't worry. When there are more fruits in the future, I will buy some for Qingtang to eat. Grandma and the others will also often send some fruits over. As long as Qingtang likes to eat it, she will be the first one to think of in the family."
Xia Daming rubbed his hands: "That's good, that's good..."
Xie Jinxuan came out carrying the washed mulberries. It was indeed a lot, at least half a basin. She did not throw away the broken ones, but put them in a bowl and would give them to the chicken feeder over there later.
He placed the bowl on the coffee table, and Xia Qingtang immediately grabbed a handful and tasted it: "Not bad, quite sweet, you guys try some too."
Xie Jinxuan also grabbed a little to eat, while Xia Daming only took a few, tasted them and then stopped touching the fruit. However, he did eat several pieces of snacks and drank two cups of tea.
Seeing that he was reserved, Xie Jinxuan took the initiative to chat with him and also talked about their life here as a young couple, such as going to the movies and visiting the park during their breaks, and occasionally going to the state-owned restaurant to eat different meals.
Xia Daming looked very happy. No matter what Xie Jinxuan said, he would smile and nod, then look at Xia Qingtang again, as if to confirm whether Xie Jinxuan was lying.
We chatted until 10:50, when Xie Jinxuan said, "It's almost time for us to go over. Grandma wants to talk to Dad before lunch."
Xia Daming suddenly became nervous again. He rubbed his hands, glanced towards the bathroom, and asked uncertainly, "Is that where we go to the bathroom?"
"Yes, Dad, go to the bathroom." Xie Jinxuan simply took him over and said, "The white towel hanging there is mine. Dad can use it to wipe his hands after washing them."
Xia Daming nodded and hurried in and closed the door.
Xie Jinxuan then returned to Xia Qingtang and helped her clean up the table.
After cleaning the table, Xia Daming came out. His hands were wet. Looking at the clean floor, he quickly wiped his hands on the hem of his clothes.
Xie Jinxuan didn't say anything, just put the key to the house in her pocket, and the three of them went there together.
When they got to the small western-style building, grandma was waiting in the yard. She was sitting on a small chair, listening to the radio. When she saw them coming together, she immediately stood up and said enthusiastically, "Dad, you are finally here. Come in, come in. Our old man is here too. You are lucky to come in time."
When Xia Daming saw the extraordinary grandeur of the three-story Western-style building and that his grandmother was wearing simple clothes but had a noble and elegant temperament, he immediately became nervous again. He walked into the Xie family's yard with his hands and feet together, and he was shaking slightly as he stood there.
Xia Qingtang could actually understand his feelings, so he whispered, "Dad, don't be nervous. This is not a dangerous place, and the people inside won't eat people."
Xia Daming was amused and couldn't help but say, "What are you talking about, kid..."
Grandma walked down the steps with a smile, and then shook hands with him: "Qingtang is right, this place is not a place of danger, and the people in my family will not eat people."
Xia Daming quickly shook hands with her, called her aunt, and thanked her for taking care of Xia Qingtang.
"It's my duty to take care of Qingtang. You have raised a very good girl. Qingtang is beautiful, smart and capable. Everyone in our family likes her. Not only our family, but also the neighbors here often praise Qingtang. I don't know how many people envy our family. They all say that Jinxuan has good vision and is good at finding people." Grandma took Xia Daming and led him into the house while talking.
As soon as I walked in, I smelled the aroma of food.
Grandma shouted loudly: "Qingtang's father is here! Come out!"
Xie Chengye and his mother hurried down from the second floor, and the old man also slowly walked out from the study on the first floor, and everyone walked to the living room.
The moment he saw the old man, Xia Daming was at a loss and so nervous that he couldn't speak.
This man is a big leader in the province. The most important leader he has ever met in his life is Director Qi of their factory. Xia Daming always feels a little nervous when he sees Director Qi. Now that he sees such a big leader, he doesn't know where to put his hands and feet. He doesn't know how Xia Qingtang could have lived here for so long.
The old man was very gentle. Seeing that he was nervous, he asked Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang to sit down with him and drink some water to calm down.
At this time, Xie Jinyun came downstairs wearing a new coat. When he saw Xia Daming, he said, "Hello, uncle. I am my brother's younger brother. My name is Xie Jinyun. Everyone calls me Xiaoyun. You can call me that too."
Seeing the child, Xia Daming calmed down a little and whispered, "Hello, hello."
Then he reached into his trouser pocket and took out a small folded red paper package, asking Xia Qingtang to give it to Xie Jinyun.
Xie Jinyun quickly waved her hands: "I can't accept this."
"Take it... take it..." Xia Daming said nervously, "It's just a little pocket money."
Xia Qingtang said, "Please accept it. It's not easy for my dad to come here. You are a child, so it's only right for you to receive some pocket money. Please accept it and use it to buy pencils and study hard. My dad will definitely be very happy."
"Okay then, thank you uncle for the pocket money." Xie Jinyun then took the small red envelope and put it in her pocket very seriously.
Seeing Xie Jinyun accept the red envelope, Xia Daming suddenly felt a lot more relaxed. In addition, the old man and Xie Chengye had been talking to him about some things in the cotton mill. These were all related to his work, and he understood them and could chat about them. Gradually, he was not so nervous anymore.
Aunt Six came over at the right time, her face full of smiles: "Lunch is ready, shall we start eating now?"
Grandma said, "Yes, eat now."
The old man stood up and said, "Xiao Xia, let's go and have dinner together. I heard from Qingtang that you can drink quite well, so let's have a couple of drinks at noon."
Xie Chengye also said, "Yes, Lao Xia, drink a little at noon. It doesn't matter if you get drunk. We have an empty room upstairs. If you drink too much, just sleep here. Let Jinxuan take you to work tomorrow. It won't delay you."
Xia Daming said quickly: "I'll just drink a little. I have to go back in the afternoon. I came here today without telling Qingtang's mother. If I don't go back, it will be exposed."
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that he might have said something wrong, and quickly looked at Xia Qingtang like a child who had done something wrong, fearing that he would cause trouble for her and make her life difficult in her husband's family.
Xia Qingtang said, "Dad, don't be nervous. I've already told everyone about what happened between me and my family. They all know it, and they also know that I will never associate with Zhao Meizhen in my life. But let's not talk about these unhappy things today. Since we're here for dinner, let's eat well and then talk about happy things."
"Yes, say something happy." Grandma smiled and said, "Since you are going home in the afternoon, then eat more vegetables and drink less alcohol at noon. It will be okay to drink two glasses, right?"
"Two cups are fine..." Xia Daming looked at Xia Qingtang with complicated eyes, but before he could say anything else, Xie Chengye pulled him to the table and sat him down.
The Eight Immortals Table can seat nine people, but today in order to entertain important guests, a huge round table was covered on the Eight Immortals Table, so that more than a dozen people can be seated.
Aunt Liu had already put the food on the table. She roasted a chicken, stewed a fish with tofu, and made a few of her signature stir-fried and cold dishes. They could be eaten with wine or as a side dish with rice. It was truly a sumptuous meal, almost as good as the New Year's at home.
The rice was cooked with potatoes, but there was not a single potato in the guest's bowl. Xia Daming looked at his own bowl and felt embarrassed.
Xie Chengye poured him a glass of wine: "Old Xia, don't be polite at home. Qingtang is your child, and now he is also our child. We are a family, so eat more and don't be polite."
Xie's mother also took clean chopsticks, picked up a big chicken leg and gave it to Xia Daming, and then picked up the best fish for him.
Xia Daming was flattered: "I'll do it myself...I'll do it myself..."
"Okay, you can help yourself with the rest. Eat more. There's a lot of rice. Add another bowl after you finish." Grandma smiled and said, "If you think our food is good, you can come often in the future."
Xia Daming was being watched by so many people that he could only take a bite of the chicken leg. His eyes immediately widened: "It smells so good!"
The Xia family hadn’t eaten chicken for many years. This braised chicken leg might be the most delicious thing Xia Daming had eaten in recent years.
While biting the chicken, he looked at Xia Qingtang opposite him and saw another chicken leg in her bowl. Her grandmother was still picking out the part of the fish with the least bones for her. He immediately felt a little sad.
In the Xia family, Xia Qingtang could not eat such food. Even if the family cooked good food, Zhao Meizhen would never put it in Xia Qingtang's bowl. As the youngest child in the family, she had never been taken care of like this...
Xie Chengye came over with his glass and clinked glasses with him: "Come on, Lao Xia, let's have a drink!"
Xia Daming sniffed, smiled and picked up the wine glass: "Okay, let's have a drink!"
The meal was a great success. Xia Daming ate chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, fried dumplings, and drank good wine. He felt satisfied from the stomach to the brain. He sat there looking at the Xie family and kept laughing.
Xia Qingtang was also very satisfied with the meal, and she was also very happy. From the food on the table, she could see how much the Xie family valued her. They cared about her, so they entertained her father with such high standards, and even didn't mind that they had never met her mother until now.
Not only were they nice to her, they also treated her with great respect.
This kind of respect is not superficial, it can be seen from words, actions and every detail.
Of course, she also knew that half of this respect came from the Xie family's own cultivation and quality, a small half came from her good relationship with Xie Jinxuan, and the rest came from the fact that she herself was a pretty good lesbian.
If she was still as muddle-headed and ignorant as she was in her previous life, didn't like working and never studied and improved herself, then even if the Xie family was well-educated and even if she had a good relationship with Xie Jinxuan, the Xie family would not pay so much attention to her.
She felt very lucky that she entered into such a marriage and such a good family just when she was making good changes.
Xia Qingtang lacks love deep in her heart. Zhao Meizhen and Xia Daming never took good care of her as a child, so the Xie family is a very special existence to her.
She likes being with her grandmother and Sixth Aunt. They treat her like a child and take care of her like a child. Even if she doesn't want to admit it, even if she has learned to love herself now, she still likes this feeling. This is different from the love Xie Jinxuan has for her, so she cherishes it as well.
Of course, Xie's mother and Xie Chengye were also very good to her, but they were usually busy with work and had to take care of the young Xie Jinyun, so they didn't pay much attention to their eldest son and daughter-in-law.
But this kind of attention is just right. It is said that grandparents are closer to each other. Xia Qingtang keeps such a distance from her parents-in-law, which makes it easier for them to get along with each other, and there is absolutely no mother-in-law and daughter-in-law problem.
Xia Daming came today to see how his daughter is doing in her husband's family. Although he is not well educated and doesn't talk much, he is not a fool. Through the meal and conversation, he has already realized that the Xie family really treats Xia Qingtang well.
It wasn't because his relative-in-law came that she was pretending. Grandma's movements and eyes were so skilled in taking care of Xia Qingtang, which showed that this was how they usually got along.
Although the other elders were not as caring as grandma, they were all very kind to her. Even the little kid Xie Jinyun showed respect and love for Xia Qingtang in his words.
They all said that Xia Qingtang knew a lot, was smart and studious, but Xia Daming had raised this girl for so many years and never thought so...
So she didn't want to go back to her parents' home, so she preferred to stay here, not because the conditions here were good or the house was big, but because the people here all knew how good she was...
Xia Daming sat there, watching Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan holding hands and talking in low voices, and his heart felt more and more at peace.
After the meal, Xie Jinxuan and his brother helped Aunt Six to clean up and wash, while the others moved to the coffee table, sat down to drink tea and chat, and sober up at the same time.
Seeing Xia Qingtang sitting next to her grandmother and eating candied fruit, Xia Daming said, "Qingtang, don't you need to help clean up?"
Grandma smiled and said, "Jinxuan and Xiaoyun have gone to clean up, so Qingtang won't be needed. She has beautiful little hands, so it's better for her to do less work. When they are white and tender, she will be so proud to hold them out."
Xia Qingtang nodded: "My hands are indeed getting better and better looking. I also apply clam oil."
Grandma said, "I saw that Old Liu's yard has Impatiens planted. Why don't we go and get some to dye our nails with."
"Dye your nails? The company will tell you about it, right?" Xie Chengye asked.
"No, some people dye their nails now. Xiao Ji in our office dyes her nails, and they look pretty good. No one says anything about her." Xie's mother also said, "Qingtang's hands are already pretty. If she dyes her nails, they will look even better."
Grandpa Xie smiled and said, "Why ask people for Impatiens? If you want to dye your nails, we can grow some in our yard and use them all the time."
"That's a good idea, Chengye. Go get some flower seeds and we'll plant them in the backyard," said grandma.
Xie Chengye took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "Okay, I'll ask someone about the flower seeds tomorrow."
Xia Daming held a cup of tea and listened to their conversation for a while. When Xie Jinxuan and his brother came back from the kitchen, he said, "It's almost time for me to go back. Thank you for treating me like this today. To be honest, I haven't eaten such delicious food in many years. Now that Qingtang is living so well with you, I am very happy and relieved. From now on, Qingtang will be in your hands."
Grandpa Xie immediately said, "Don't worry, Xiaoxia, Qingtang will be fine here. If he doesn't live well, just come find me."
"Yes, thank you." Xia Daming stood up and bowed to Grandpa Xie.
Afterwards, the whole family sent him out together. Grandma repeatedly said, "Xiao Xia, come and play when you are free. Now you know the place. Qingtang is not at home, so you can come and sit with us."
"Okay, thank you." Xia Daming walked to the entrance of the yard and said, "No need to see me off. I can walk out by myself. I remember the way out."
Xie Jinxuan said: "Dad, let me ride my bike to take you home."
"No, if you ride your bike to take me back, it will be bad if someone sees us."
"Then I'll take you to the gate of the compound." Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang went together to see Xia Daming off.
When they were halfway there, Xia Daming suddenly said, "Qingtang, you've suffered so much at home, and now you're finally living in a place of comfort. I'm very happy, especially happy. From now on, you don't have to worry about anything at home. No matter what happens at home, don't worry about it. Just live a good life with Xiao Xie, and live your own life. Your mother and I are sorry for you, so from now on, you don't have to worry about us!"
He said this with such finality that it sounded like he was swearing an oath.
Xia Qingtang said: "That's what I said, but the law stipulates that when you get old, I still have to pay for your support. If you get sick, I will definitely be responsible. So you don't have to say such things. You are indeed not good to me, but what can we do? We have to act according to the law."
After hearing this, Xia Daming didn't know whether he was happy or sad. He said, "Then I will try to stay healthy so that I can die smoothly when I'm old, and try not to cause you any trouble."
"That's a natural death, which is a great blessing. It's not bad if you think so." Xia Qingtang said with a smile: "When I get old, I also hope it will be like this."
Xia Daming then laughed and said, "That's true. Now that I think about it, people like me may not be so lucky. But I still hope it will be like this so that I won't cause you any trouble in the future."
"Then take care of yourself." Xia Qingtang said calmly.
Xia Daming looked at Xie Jinxuan again and said, "Son-in-law."
"Yes." Xie Jinxuan stopped and looked at Xia Daming seriously.
"Thank you, thank you for being so good to Qingtang, and thank you for your family being willing to treat her well. My trip today was not in vain! Don't see me off, go back and have a rest, I'll be out now!" After saying that, Xia Daming suddenly quickened his pace and walked out alone.
Xie Jinxuan wanted to catch up, but was stopped by Xia Qingtang. She said, "Don't go. He's crying. If you go, he'll be embarrassed."
Xie Jinxuan was stunned for a moment, staring at Xia Daming's hurried back for a while, and sure enough, she saw him walking and then wiping the corner of his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Your father is not a bad person, but since he is not a bad person and he knows how to regret, why couldn't he be nicer to you, his daughter, before?" Xie Jinxuan was full of doubts.
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Because this is what ordinary people do. Ordinary people will do many things that they will regret, but some people can find a way to forgive their regrets, but some people can't."
Xie Jinxuan said: "Do you also have a lot of things that you regret?"
"Now I don't have any, not a single thing!" Xia Qingtang held Xie Jinxuan's big hand, then looked straight into his gentle eyes and said, "Since I met you, I have been a lucky person who will never regret it."
Xie Jinxuan burst out laughing: "Do I have such a big role?"
"Of course, don't underestimate yourself." Xia Qingtang subconsciously leaned into his arms, "You are really very good..."
"Jinxuan! Xiaoxia! Why are you standing here?" Luo Xiangqian's loud voice suddenly rang out from the other side of the intersection.
Xia Qingtang jumped out of Xie Jinxuan's arms like lightning, and then stood there seriously: "We just sent the guests out."
"Where are the guests?"
"I'm leaving."
Luo walked forward, and seeing that there was no one around him, he quickly lowered his voice and said, "Jinxuan, have you been to the bank?"
"I'll go in the afternoon, don't worry. Come to my house in the evening and I'll definitely give you the money." After Xie Jinxuan said that, she pulled Xia Qingtang back.
In the afternoon, after Xie Jinxuan went out, Xia Qingtang accompanied her grandmother to do needlework for an hour, then went home to read a book for a while, and then went to the kitchen, intending to cook while waiting for Xie Jinxuan to come back.
As a result, Xie Jinxuan hadn't come back yet, but Luo Xiangqian, who was scratching his head, came instead.
"Jinxuan hasn't come back yet, why are you so anxious, Old Luo? Does that person need money tonight?" Xia Qingtang asked curiously.
She was sitting at the kitchen door, picking vegetables.
Luo Xiangqian said, "I wasn't in such a hurry at first, but he came to me just now and said he needed the three hundred yuan tonight, so I came to check it out. It's not that I'm rushing you, it's just... I'm really a little anxious."
"What about your friends?"
"I told him to go home first. I'll take the money to him on my bike and I'll make sure it doesn't delay his business." Luo Xiangqian said, "What time did Jinxuan go out? Why hasn't she come back yet?"
"After talking to you at noon, he went home, got his bag and went out." Xia Qingtang was not in a hurry at all, because Xie Jinxuan still had to go out to get news, so it was normal for him to come back late.
"It's already past four o'clock, why hasn't he come back yet?" Luo Xiangqian was so anxious that he was turning around. He couldn't sit still, so he stood in the corridor and stretched his neck to look over there.
Xia Qingtang said casually: "Your friend is in such a hurry to use so much money, has he been cheated by bad people? Have you helped to investigate? Borrowing money is not a big deal, but I am afraid that your friend has been cheated."
"It shouldn't be that she was cheated. I know a little bit about this, although I didn't ask specifically. But my friend is a good person, a very good girl. Really, she only asked me for help because she had nowhere else to go. Tell me, if I don't help her, then what am I?"
Xia Qingtang was surprised: "Your friend is a girl?"
"Yes, it's a girl. What's the matter? Didn't I tell you she's a girl?"
"You don't have any." Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Lao Luo, what is your relationship with this girl? To be able to borrow 300 yuan, it must be more than an ordinary relationship, right?"
Lending three hundred yuan to someone who has no connection with you, even someone with the looks of Xia Qingtang wouldn't dare to say that he could find such a "friend".
Luo Xiangqian said quickly: "Don't talk nonsense, she and I are just ordinary colleagues! There is nothing innocent between us, she is a good girl!"
"Since she's a good girl and you think she's good, then you can date her." Xia Qingtang said, "Didn't you say last time that you wanted to find a partner?"
Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang had a good relationship. Luo Xiangqian felt envious when he saw them and said many times that he wanted to find a partner.
Luo Xiangqian stopped walking, he stood outside the screen door and whispered: "As for me, I'm not good enough, I'm not worthy of her."
The meaning of this statement is very clear. He likes her, but because he feels that he is not worthy of the girl, he chooses to be a good colleague and friend.
"You are a very affectionate person." Xia Qingtang said, "But I think you are a good person. You have a good character, a generous personality, are warm-hearted and kind, and you are not bad looking and tall. What kind of girl is that who is not even worthy of you?"
Luo Xiangqian is really a nice young man. If Hu Yanni hadn't thought about finding a partner now, she would have wanted to introduce Luo Xiangqian to Hu Yanni.
Luo Xiangqian scratched the back of his head and said, "How can I be that good? You, Xiao Xia, are praising me so much that I feel embarrassed!"
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "I'm telling the truth. You can also ask others. Everyone knows that you have very good conditions. You, don't belittle yourself. If you really like someone, just give it a try. Maybe they will like you too."
Luo Xiangqian paused for a moment, then said, "What if she doesn't like me? Then we can no longer be friends. Forget it..."
Xia Qingtang wanted to persuade him, but she heard Luo Xiangqian's cheering voice: "Jinxuan is back!"
Xia Qingtang put down the vegetables and walked to the corridor.
Xie Jinxuan pushed her bicycle into the yard, looking surprised: "Xiang Qian, what are you doing? Are you waiting for the money to come back?"
"Yes, I'm just waiting for the money to come back. Please give me the money quickly and I will send it to my friend now!" Luo Xiangqian rubbed his hands anxiously.
Seeing that there was no one in the yard, Xie Jinxuan took out an envelope from her bag and handed it to him.
Luo Xiangqian happily packed the envelope and said, "Thank you, I'll send it to her now! Thank you!"
After Luo Xiangqian ran out, Xie Jinxuan asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"He said his friend came to his house and needed money tonight. Oh, and that friend was a woman, his female colleague."
Xie Jinxuan smiled: "Female colleague? He has a crush on her, right?"
"Yes, he did, but he didn't dare tell the other person, saying that if the other person didn't like him, they wouldn't even be friends anymore." Xia Qingtang said.
Xie Jinxuan frowned and said, "That's not right."
"What's wrong?" Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan walked into the house together, and then continued to sit at the kitchen door to pick vegetables.
Xie Jinxuan said as she changed her shoes: "Think about it, she asked Xiang Qian to borrow 300 yuan. What kind of relationship would it take for him to lend her so much money? Since Xiang Qian agreed to lend it, it's obvious that this is not an ordinary relationship. Brothers are one thing, but between male and female colleagues, who would lend someone so much money if there is no special relationship? I think that female colleague knew that Xiang Qian liked her, and because she knew this, she asked Xiang Qian to borrow money."
Xia Qingtang was stunned for a moment: "If that's the case, then Lao Luo is...being used by someone?"
"He is a rough man, and probably won't think too much. He just hopes that the female colleague won't take advantage of him again." Xie Jinxuan came over, squatted opposite her, and whispered, "I asked about the Jia family."
Xia Qingtang immediately sat up straight: "How is it? Has their family ever done anything bad? It would be best if they could be sent to a jail."
Xie Jinxuan shook her head: "It was just some insignificant little things, small problems at work, between neighbors, and between relatives. Not to mention arresting them, even the company wouldn't punish them."
There must be nothing wrong with what Xie Jinxuan found, and Xia Qingtang's heart sank slowly.
Seeing that her expression was not right, Xie Jinxuan whispered: "Do you need that Jia Guangrong to be arrested?"
"What use do I have for him... I just wish he would be locked up forever." Xia Qingtang took a deep breath, looked into Xie Jinxuan's bright eyes, and said slowly: "If, I mean if... I design a plan to get him arrested, do you think it's feasible?"
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