Chapter 05 Departure

They are capable of doing such a thing as finding someone to impersonate someone. Judging from Ye Minshu and Ji Ze's attitudes, there will definitely be more to this matter.

Lin Qiao's matter couldn't wait, so after much deliberation, Master Ji decided to let his second son go. First, Ji Duo was the one he trusted the most, and second, his eldest son was away on a business trip, so he had no better choice than Ji Duo.

Ye Minshu and Xiaoze, the mother and son, will definitely not go. Xu Li has time, but she doesn't have enough momentum and I'm afraid she can't suppress the Lin couple.

It's just that his son is the one he trusts the most and has the most ideas, so he was really afraid that his son might not agree or have other arrangements.

Ji Duo did frown upon hearing this, but still agreed, "Okay, I'll arrange it."

The old man was relieved, "Remember to open the letter of introduction as well." Fearing that Lin Qiao would think too much, he also explained, "Your work is more important, take care of this first, and we'll deal with the rest when you come back."

This letter of introduction is obviously a marriage introduction letter.

What Ye Minshu did was really unkind, and it hasn't been resolved yet. The old man really doesn't know how to tell Lin Qiao, so he might as well express his attitude and give Lin Qiao some reassurance.

As long as the stall problem at home can be solved, Lin Qiao is not in a hurry.

In fact, if this matter was not so difficult, marrying into the Ji family would be the fastest solution with the least subsequent troubles, and she would not insist on fulfilling this marriage contract.

The original body

She was really cruel to her uncle and aunt. If she didn't get married and didn't get away with the Ji family's marriage, they could sell her once and they could sell her a second time. It was already the 21st century and there were still people who sold their daughters for tens of thousands of yuan and dared to beat the children in front of the police. She really didn't want to gamble with the couple's integrity.

Besides, she and the young man were engaged and had given a betrothal gift. If the other party had no shame, he could have insisted on the marriage. Even if she settled down in Yandu, he could have come to her house as her fiancé.

Lin Qiao stood up and thanked Mr. Ji solemnly, "Thank you, Mr. Ji."

"Hey, why call me Mr. Ji?" The old man waved his hands, "Old Lin and I are close friends, you can just call me Master Ji."

It was just a title, Lin Qiao readily responded, "Thank you, Grandpa Ji."

The old man responded, and the deep scar between his brows finally relaxed. "It's too late today, and it's not safe to drive at night. I'll ask your grandmother Ji to clean up a room for you. You can stay at home for one night and leave after dinner tomorrow."

The wedding date is set for the day after tomorrow, so it's still in time to leave tomorrow. Lin Qiao naturally has no objection, "That's perfect. I'm quite tired after sitting in the car all day."

She lowered her head and took a bite of the apple in her hand. "I bought this apple for you, but let me eat it first."

This was said playfully, and the atmosphere in the ward was relaxed. Grandpa Ji smiled, "Eat if you want. If it's not enough, I'll ask your grandma Ji to peel more for you." He looked at Xu Li again, "Ask Xiao Zhang to cook a few more dishes tonight, and make Qiao's favorite."

"I know. I see you're eager to have someone to cheer you up at home."

Xu Li smiled and responded, cooperating with Lin Qiao to change the topic, "When people get older, they always want to be more lively around them. Unfortunately, your uncle Ji and his family are all busy and can only go home a few times a month. Usually, we two old people eat together."

At this point, he suddenly remembered something and said, "You should call me uncle, right?"

"My father was born in 1938."

"You should call him uncle. Our Ji Jun was born in 1936."

After all, Old Master Ji was in poor health and had just gotten angry, so he looked tired before he could even hear a few words from them.

Lin Qiao saw this, threw the fruit core into the trash can, and said goodbye.

Ji Duo, who was sitting on the bed next to her, stood up and said, "I'll stay with her tonight. Mom, you go back with her. I'll ask Xiao Fang to take you back."

"Aren't you going out tomorrow?" Xu Li hesitated.

"You don't need me to drive when you go out."

Ji Duo insisted on sending the two people downstairs. Xu Li thought that she still had to arrange for Lin Qiao to stay, and it would be more convenient for her to go back than her son, so she didn't say anything else. She explained a few things that needed to be paid attention to, and got into the car with Lin Qiao.

When the car arrived at the gate of the courtyard, the nanny that Lin Qiao had seen before just came back from outside carrying a basket of vegetables.

"Are you going to buy food?" Xu Li smiled as she got out of the car and called her, "We have guests at home, so add two more dishes tonight."

Then he turned around and asked Lin Qiao: "Is there anything you want to eat? I'll ask your Aunt Zhang to make it for you."

It seems that this Aunt Zhang is indeed the nanny who takes care of Grandpa Ji's daily life. Lin Qiao is a guest and is not familiar with the Ji family's eating habits, so naturally she will not order random dishes. "How can I order? You just cook normally and I will try your home-cooked dishes."

"Then buy two pounds of pork and some Chinese toon sprouts. Chinese toon sprouts are fresh now and are delicious when used to make noodles or fried eggs."

Aunt Zhang quickly responded, and Xu Li turned back to look at Lin Qiao, "The Chinese toon buds at your house should be ready by now, right?"

"Almost." Lin Qiao said, "It's colder at home than in Yandu. When I left, the Chinese toon was just beginning to sprout."

When she passed by Aunt Zhang, she looked at her with an obviously unnatural expression on her face.

After all, she had just stopped the person outside the door, and soon the person came back with the hostess. The hostess treated her very close, and anyone would feel uneasy.

Ye Minshu asked the other party to stop her, and she was just following orders. Lin Qiao didn't make things difficult for her before, and now she won't take advantage of Xu Li's different attitude towards her and argue with her. Instead, she smiled at her and said, "Sorry to trouble Aunt Zhang to make an extra trip."

"No trouble, no trouble." Aunt Zhang shook her head quickly.

This reaction was too cautious. Xu Li could guess about 70% of it with just a little thought.

She smiled and helped Lin Qiao open the door, "Come in."

It is not easy to own such a courtyard house in such a location, but the Ji family is even more low-key than expected.

The courtyard was simply decorated, with no carefully maintained flowers or trees, and no expensive ornaments. There were only grape vines and fruit trees planted in the corners, and a simple swing hanging quietly under the tree, tied with a thick hemp rope.

Xu Li noticed her gaze, "That was made by your Grandpa Ji for Xiao Ling. She thought the hemp rope rubbed her hands, so she only played with it twice and stopped. Your Grandpa Ji also forbade us to take it apart, so it has been there for several years. You have to wipe an extra place when you clean it."

On the way here, she told Lin Qiao about the family situation. Lin Qiao knew that Grandpa Ji had two sons. The second son was unmarried, and the eldest son Ji Jun had a son and a daughter. Xiaoling was Grandpa Ji's granddaughter, who just turned thirteen this year.

Who would have thought that Mr. Ji, who held a high position and seemed to have a bad temper, would actually tie the swing to his granddaughter with his own hands.

However, no matter how low-key they are, the Ji family still has everything they should have.

As you enter the door, you will see a set of old-fashioned sofas, a fruit plate filled with apples and bananas on the coffee table, and a 24-inch color TV opposite.

Judging from the condition, this TV is quite old. China started importing TV sets in large quantities only after the reform and opening up last year. Before that, all TV sets, whether imported or domestically produced, were provided to government departments. This is very rare in private homes.

Xu Li turned on the TV and sat on the sofa with Lin Qiao to chat, "I remember you were born in 1962, right?"

"I was born in 1962 and just turned 18 last month."

If she had not been an adult and could not receive the state subsidy for the underage children of martyrs, Lin Shouyi and his wife would have kept her for a while longer just for the money. They would not have sold her to someone so soon.

"Then you should have graduated." Xu Li asked tactfully, not saying whether it was junior high school or high school.

In fact, the countryside is different from the city. There is a lot of housework. It is okay for boys, but many girls don’t even have the chance to finish junior high school.

Yandu is not a rural area. As long as you can work, it doesn't matter whether you study or not. You can't live without education. It's not easy for Lin Qiao to make a living under her uncle and aunt. If she doesn't have the opportunity to study, regardless of whether the engagement is successful, it's best for her to go to school for a few more years.

Unexpectedly, Lin Qiao actually said, "I graduated. I graduated from high school last year."

Xu Li was a little surprised, so Lin Qiao explained: "Grandma said that there is no harm in reading more books. My grandfather suffered from lack of education."

When the war was raging, when you went to the battlefield you just had to put your head on your belt and be lucky enough to survive. No one cared whether you were educated or not.

But after the war, the difference between educated and uneducated people became apparent. If Grandpa Lin knew a few words, he could have found a job as a worker, and there was no need to go back to his hometown to farm. Therefore, the old couple always attached great importance to education. Lin Qiao's father also joined the army after graduating from junior high school.

When Lin Qiao came to her, the old lady felt sorry for her because she lost her parents at such a young age, and was reluctant to let her work so early. No matter how difficult life was, the old lady insisted on letting her study, and supported her until she went to high school.

Xu Li had not seen this old lady Lin very often, but from what Lin Qiao said, she felt that she must be a very wise person. "Your grandmother is right. You should read more books. Whether you are a worker or a farmer, the country needs knowledgeable people to build it."

As she was talking, Aunt Zhang came back from buying groceries. Xu Li got up and went to check in the kitchen, then cleaned up a room for Lin Qiao in the backyard.

"This is where Xiaoling lives when she comes back. I've changed the sheets and quilt covers. If you need anything, come find me in the front yard."

She looked like a meticulous person, and she brought a thermos and two glasses and placed them on the desk by the window.

Lin Qiao also put the schoolbag he brought with him on the table and thanked the other party generously.

After being nervous for several days, this was the best sleep Lin Qiao had had since his time travel. After all, the problem that had been bothering him was finally solved.

After breakfast the next morning, Xu Li packed some breakfast. When she arrived at the hospital, Ji Duo's jeep was already waiting downstairs.

It takes at least seven or eight hours to drive from Yandu to Shahe Village, where Lin Qiao's hometown is. Hearing that Ji Duo had already eaten, Xu Li told him to take good care of Lin Qiao. As she watched the jeep drive out of the hospital, she noticed another breakfast on the bedside table.

"The eldest son's wife just came." Old Master Ji had no expression on his face.

Apart from other things, Ye Minshu was impeccable in taking care of Ji Jun and the old couple. She had just made the old man angry yesterday, so she naturally had to show some respect today, but from the tone of the old man's voice, it was clear that he was not very happy.

Xu Li sat down beside the bed. "Are you still talking like you did yesterday?"

Mr. Ji said nothing.

Xu Li knew it at a glance and sighed, "Actually, Lin Qiao is a good girl. She is smart, courageous, and rarely aggressive. When I took her home yesterday, she didn't show anything on her face. She was neither humble nor arrogant, and she didn't try to please others, nor did she act pretentiously."

Too huge a gap will often make people's mentality unbalanced, either giving rise to envy, jealousy, or inferiority.

However, Lin Qiao remained calm from beginning to end. He was not overwhelmed by the flattery, and he would not pretend to be noble and disdainful for the sake of face.

"She just came from a poor family, but her education and upbringing were no worse than others. Her grandmother was also a good teacher and she even sent her to high school."

"She even went to high school?" Old Master Ji was also a little surprised when he first heard it.

When the two families were engaged, the old couple wanted to take Lin Qiao to Yandu to raise her. After all, in Yandu, Lin Qiao could get better care and education. Unfortunately, something happened to Lin Qiao before she was old enough to go to school, and the contact between the two families was cut off.

Xu Li nodded and said, "I graduated from high school last year. But I'm just saying, you can decide whatever you want."

Anyone can interfere in Ji Ze's marriage, but her status is awkward and it is not so easy for her to intervene.

Xu Li looked out the window and took the initiative to change the subject, "It looks cloudy today, maybe it's going to rain."

Ji Duo also noticed that something was wrong with the weather. The sky was gloomy and filled with dark clouds that seemed like they would come down at any time.

Before leaving the city, he asked the driver, Xiao Fang, to turn around and buy some Daoxiangchun snacks. He put some on the front seat and some next to Lin Qiao. "It might rain today. If you can't find a place to eat, just eat something."

Ji Duo is a man of few words and doesn't like idle chatter. This is the longest sentence he has said to Lin Qiao since they got in the car.

Lin Qiao nodded and took out a fried crispy ring from the paper bag. Before he finished eating one, raindrops started falling outside.

By the afternoon, even with the wipers on, the pouring rain still made the front windshield blurry. Driver Xiao Fang carefully watched the road ahead and said, "No, it's raining too hard. If it continues like this, we won't be able to drive tonight."