Chapter 40 Chapter 40 What Xia Li didn't know was that when she turned...
He returned to his hotel from outside at night.
This kind of hotel must be located in a relatively remote place, in an alley, so the accommodation fee is cheap.
People like Jiang Dong who walk alone at night with a bag in their hands can easily attract some people's attention.
Jiang Dong walked and walked and stopped in a dark alley.
He was caught off guard at first, and when he reached the middle of the alley, he heard a strange noise behind him.
So he simply didn't move forward and turned around to look. Sure enough, a young man, seemingly young, slowly emerged from the alley behind him. Looking ahead, as expected, there was also a person in front of him.
In this situation of being attacked from both sides, it is easy to know what will happen next.
Robbery is naturally one of the fastest ways for young people who don't follow the right path to make money, but if the target of the robbery is him, Jiang Dong thinks that it is really not worth it.
Compared to the people here, he certainly didn't have much money, but he still had a few hundred yuan. This was Xia Li's "kindness" that had been left for him, and Jiang Dong only discovered it before leaving.
But even so, these two people couldn't take the money from him. He had to use it on the way back with the child. He could do whatever he wanted on the way, but he couldn't let the child suffer the same hardship.
These two young robbers were habitual criminals. They waited for someone to run out of money, then targeted single individuals. They preferred those who looked like outsiders, as they wouldn't be able to do anything about them. Furthermore, to be on the safe side, they usually moved from place to place. However, when they saw a good prospect, they wouldn't be picky, regardless of whether they were locals or not.
Today, the two of them were playing in the game hall on the street and they ran out of money. They had no choice but to come out and squat.
They found an alley that was not too busy and not very bright. After choosing the location, one person hid at the front intersection and the other hid at the other end of the alley. By then, they would be in control, get the money and live happily.
When the two men saw that Jiang Dong seemed to have noticed something, they no longer hid and showed up directly. After all, there were two of them, and they had knives in their hands, so they were not afraid of anything.
Approaching little by little, with confidence.
When they got to Jiang Dong, the man who came out of the alley started to threaten him: "Be smart, give me all the money and I'll let you go."
He also put on a ferocious look, twirling the knife in his hand, obviously wanting the trapped person to be more sensible and not resist or play tricks.
Jiang Dong's expression didn't change after hearing this. He took a deep breath, threw his bag against the wall behind him, and glanced at the two of them in turn.
The two young men, full of youthful energy, thought to themselves: "Wow!"
He rushed forward with a knife in hand.
Jiang Dong was naturally not afraid. When he was out in the world, these young people were probably still staying at home. The ups and downs of driving in the past few years could not be summed up in the word "peaceful". There were so many things that happened on the road and met so many different people.
It's not like there haven't been times when I risked my life. I've experienced that.
Therefore, they do have some strength to fight. These two people are just show-offs, and their courage comes from the knives in their hands and their companions.
Sure enough, Jiang Dong subdued the two men in a short while. He himself was fine, just a kick in the pants, but the two men who were beaten by him would probably be in pain in their backs and legs for a few days.
After being warned several times, Jiang Dong didn't want to cause any trouble, so he patted his pants, picked up the bag by the wall and continued walking.
Only two young men were left leaning against the wall, breathing in the cold air with their mouths clenched, and stealing glances at the man who was gradually walking away.
Jiang Dong has visited several places in the past two days but found no clues. He plans to visit the remaining places tomorrow.
Xia Li was also preparing to take Jiang Zai to kindergarten when the appointed time came.
His aunt asked Charlie to prepare a small schoolbag for him, and when the child carried the schoolbag, he looked like a student.
After get off work, Xia Li went to the luggage mall again, visited several stores and chose a backpack that she thought Jiangzai would like.
It had a tiger pattern on it, and the colors were bright enough to catch a child's eye from a distance. Xia Li was glad she hadn't brought Jiang Zi with her, though this kind of thing would only be accepted if the child had come and chosen it themselves.
But after all, she was just a kid who had just started kindergarten, so she chose to fool people as much as she could and do whatever was easiest for her.
It was like the other kids she saw in the luggage mall—oh my god, it was horrible. The kid insisted on getting that expensive bag, crying and yelling, but the parents probably didn't agree because they didn't want to exchange it, so the kid just fell on the floor of the store and cried.
Xia Li happened to be in the store as well. Seeing this, she quickly picked out one that she had previously thought was acceptable, paid hastily, and quietly avoided the child before leaving.
After she brought the small schoolbag back, Jiangzai was very respectful and excited. He held the schoolbag and looked at the little tiger on it again and again, smiling with his little mouth.
After looking at it for a while, he wanted to put it on his back, but he didn't know how. His arms kept twisting around the small backpack, but he couldn't put it on his back properly.
Jiangzai likes this kind of schoolbag very much, which is different from the schoolbags of his brother Mingming and his friends at home.
The children in my hometown all go to preschool. Parents just think it’s nice to have a place to help take care of the children. They don’t expect these children to become great scholars in school, as long as they don’t make trouble.
Therefore, it is enough to have something like a schoolbag. Don't expect parents to go to the county store to buy one. Parents can make one with fabrics at home if they are in a good mood. If they are good, they can even sew patterns and lace on it. Otherwise, they can just rely on the older siblings to use the schoolbag.
Jiangzai was naturally very excited to have a small schoolbag that was both nice-looking and unique. He really wanted to carry the schoolbag, so he looked at Xia Li eagerly.
Charlie bent down towards him and said, "Ginger, just say, 'Please help me, Mom!' and I'll help you carry this schoolbag."
Jiangzai blinked his eyes and said softly, "Please, Mom, help me." His tone was full of desire.
Charlie laughed and helped him carry it up while explaining how to do it.
The backpack was hanging on his shoulders. Xia Li saw that it was indeed a different look when he carried it. She patted Jiangzai's shoulder and said, "Go, carry it on your back and let your aunt see it. Our Jiangzai has become a good student."
His aunt was in the room, and Jiangzai obediently ran over and let his aunt see his little schoolbag.
He stood in front of Xia Pingzhi and took two steps in a similar manner. Although there was some shyness on his face, one could also see that he was very proud.
Xia Pingzhi happily pulled him into her arms and kissed him on the forehead, "What a good boy."
At the dinner table, Xia Li and her aunt talked about sending Jiang Zai to kindergarten the next day. They recalled the things they had prepared and thought that they had to get everything they needed on the first day of registration.
Then he gave Jiangzai some instructions, such as if he was hungry or felt uncomfortable, he should tell the teacher in time and not act naughty.
The three of them always have something to talk about when they are together. Xia Li talks about her work, Xia Pingzhi talks about the latest happenings at home and on the nearby streets, and now the two of them will talk more about Jiang Zai, so that Jiang Zai can feel involved as well.
Before going to bed, Xia Li carefully checked Jiang Zai's schoolbag and other reporting items in the living room under her aunt's instructions, and left only after confirming that everything was correct.
She went to her aunt's door again, knocked gently, and then turned it open.
"Aunt, is Jiangzai asleep?" Xia Li leaned in and asked softly.
Xia Pingzhi nodded and said, "Go to sleep. I thought these kids were so excited with each other that they wouldn't be able to sleep at night, but who knew they would fall asleep as soon as they touched the bed." As she said that, she gently covered Jiang Zai's body with the thin blanket again.
Xia Li also came over and sat down on the bed on Jiang Zai's side, staring intently at the child's peaceful sleeping face: "Aunt, why does it feel like a dream?" She had never imagined that there would be such a moment in her life.
Destiny is truly a strange thing. No one can predict what their future life will be like. Whether it is good or bad, it may come from any choice they make in the present.
The next day the whole family went out.
The three of them ate at home and then walked over. Aunt Jiang had taken them there before, and after checking the time, it only took about eleven or twelve minutes. The two of them could just stroll over and back without feeling tired.
Charlie also went with her bag today.
On the way, I saw a neighbor who had gotten up early to exercise. The old man was older than my aunt, and he was in good health and spirits. He went out to exercise every day except when it was windy or rainy. When we met, we stopped to chat for a while. When he learned that Jiang Zai was going to school today, he quickly said "congratulations".
When you are almost at the entrance of the alley where the kindergarten is, you can see many children and parents coming to school.
Some of the children even came here by car. The car drove to the entrance of the alley and stopped, and then the children and their parents got out. Some were sent by their parents, and some were sent by their grandparents.
The children in the small class were all on their first day of school and they looked smaller than the children in the large class.
The parents were all very cautious, and they felt like they were facing a great enemy when they sent their children to the classroom. After handing the children over to the teachers, the teachers told the parents to leave if they had anything to do. It would be difficult for the children to adapt to the environment if they stayed there all the time.
Parents had many good thoughts when their children were at home, but once they encountered this situation, it was difficult for them to bear the hardness to let their children leave them alone in an unfamiliar environment.
The parents all looked hesitant.
Afterward, the teacher urged the parents to leave one after another, and the classroom erupted in tears. Some children, perhaps silent at first, were moved to tears by the sight of so many others. Few children remained silent. Charlie checked her watch and urged her aunt to leave early so she could see them again in the afternoon.
"Jiangzai, are you going to cry later? Don't cry, or I'll come to pick you up in the afternoon." Xia Li warned.
Xia Pingzhi opened the bag and repeated, "There's water in the cup. If you're thirsty, Jiangzai, open it and drink. I taught you how to open it before. There are also biscuits in the box. Eat them when you're hungry."
Xia Li felt helpless watching this scene. It was time to leave. There were so many teachers in the kindergarten, and they would even provide fruit and snacks mid-afternoon. Why would they let the children go hungry and thirsty?
She had nothing to worry about. If there were any questions, she could just ask the child when he returned home in the afternoon.
In the end, Jiang Zai didn't cry when he saw the two people leave the classroom. Although he felt a little reluctant, he was generally relieved.
Xia Li went to work carrying her small bag. She had told him yesterday that she would be a little late, so she was not too worried.
Xia Pingzhi returned home the same way she had come. She wanted to stay out longer, like the other parents, or even skip lunch and have a quick lunch outside. She was worried her child wouldn't be able to adjust on the first day and would come out crying without her parents around.
Xia Li persuaded her to go back. She had always felt that Jiang Zai was not the timid type and that it would be fine for them to leave for a while. Besides, the child could understand what they said. He had been saying the same thing yesterday and today. He knew he wouldn't get lost. He could just play for a while after lunch and then go home.
Xia Pingzhi thought about it and decided to buy some vegetables on the way back and cook them for the child in the evening, just in case the child doesn't like the food at kindergarten today.
She was really worried, but she felt at ease because she had something to do.
So, Xia Pingzhi ate lunch absentmindedly at home, took a short nap, and then began to count the time. Before three o'clock, she packed up and prepared to go out.
At worst, you can just wait outside for a while.
There were already parents waiting outside the kindergarten. They were chatting idly, but they were all worried about their children and came here early.
How pitiful are the hearts of the elders in the world!
When Xia Pingzhi saw Jiang Zai, the little boy was waving to her happily in the kindergarten. It seemed that he had a good day.
Just live happily.
Xia Pingzhi hadn't realized the complicated procedures for picking up children, and she didn't know if it was because it was the first day. The teacher had to check the guardian's name in the registration book and then ask the child who it was before releasing them.
She stood aside and waited until the teacher asked, "Is Jiang Yi's parent here?" She quickly answered, gave her name, and confirmed her relationship with Jiang Zai before taking him home.
Along the way, Xia Pingzhi asked Jiang Zai if he was doing well in kindergarten. Jiang Zai answered happily, and she felt relieved when she saw that.
An old man and a young boy, holding hands, walking together.
Walking on the sidewalks on both sides of the road, the shade of the trees casts golden light of the setting sun, and cars and motorcycles pass by quickly on the road.
Passing by a fruit shop, Xia Pingzhi saw mangoes for sale and simply stopped to ask Jiang Zai if he wanted to eat some. Jiang Zai nodded happily.
He likes to eat this, it is fragrant, sweet and delicious.
Xia Pingzhi picked two and asked the proprietress to weigh them.
"Let's cut it up when we get back and let Jiangzai eat it."
Xia Li hurried back home as soon as she got off work in the afternoon. After getting off the bus, she quickened her pace and walked very fast with her long legs.
I passed by the braised food shop I often go to and thought about buying some. I stopped for a moment, but then I worried that my aunt had already bought some. I decided to go home first and see what was going on. If not, I could come back later; it wasn't far away anyway.
So she continued walking forward while pulling the shoulder strap of her small bag back onto her shoulder. This was just a habitual action, as she was worried it would fall.
She knew her aunt. Even if her aunt didn't buy this braised food, she should have bought other things. She was the kind of person who wanted to give all the good things to someone she loved so much.
I don't know what my aunt is doing with Jiang Zai at this moment. She rejected all the invitations from her coworkers today, saying that there is a Sichuan restaurant with very good food. There are not many similar restaurants here, so everyone wants to go there to try it together.
She was very greedy today. If she guessed wrong, she would have to come out and buy it later.
At the same time, in the convenience store next to the braised food shop that Xia Li almost set foot in, Jiang Dong was holding a bottle of water and waiting for the boss to give him change.
He walked out of the store with the bottle of water, unscrewed it, and took a big gulp. He had just walked all the way from the front to this street. He had finished the water he had brought with him in the morning. He saw a store next to him and went in to buy a bottle of water.
However, when he finished drinking the water and looked around habitually, Charlie had already turned the corner and disappeared, what a coincidence.
When Charlie returned home, it was as if she had taken off her shackles and changed. She was no longer a glamorous adult, but became a child.
She dropped her shoulder bag and casually picked it up in her hands, then rushed into the kitchen: "Aunt, what delicious food have you made?"
She had a smile on her face.
Xia Pingzhi scolded her, "How can you be so grown up and rush into the kitchen to beg for food right after work? How come you and Jiang Zai act like siblings?"
Xia Li started to act coquettishly with her, and then she saw Jiang Zai sitting on a small stool holding a stainless steel bowl and eating something. She leaned over to take a look and said, "Wow! He's eating mango!"
Xia Li squatted in front of Jiang Zai and refused to move: "Little Jiang Zai, can you feed your mother one?"
Poor thing, there were only a few mango pieces left in Jiangzai's bowl, but Xia Li showed with her attitude that she still wanted to eat it.
"There's another piece in the cupboard. You can peel it and eat it, Xia Li." Xia Pingzhi had specially left it for her. How could she not leave it for her?
But Xia Li didn't want to peel it. She opened her eyes and pretended to look at Jiang Zai pitifully.
Jiangzai was not stingy and used a spoon to scoop another piece for his mother. Xia Li opened her mouth and took a bite, then felt a rich and sweet smell.
Then another piece was brought to her mouth. After eating it, Charlie felt temporarily satisfied and quickly moved away.
She didn't dare to continue snatching Jiangzai's food so blatantly.
After finishing the vegetables, Xia Pingzhi remembered something and asked Xia Li if she had bought any of the braised food from that shop. Xia Li said she didn't dare to buy any and explained why.
Xia Pingzhi smiled when she heard this and said that she and her niece had the same idea and she was also afraid of buying too much.
So, she untied her apron and said, "Then I'll go buy some now."
Xia Li didn't let Xia Pingzhi go and said she would go herself.
But Xia Pingzhi said she was going to buy some seasoning powder. Xia Li didn't know what it was, otherwise she wouldn't have gone out.
At this time, Jiang Zai saw his aunt going out, so he quickly put down the bowl in his hand on the cupboard, took Xia Pingzhi's hand, and said that he also wanted to go out.
Xia Pingzhi was also happy to have someone to accompany her: "Okay, then Jiang Zi and I will go over, Xia Li, you stay at home and look after the house, we will go pick out some beef that Jiang Zi likes to eat, okay?"
Jiang Zai has recently taken a liking to going out shopping and buying things. As long as Xia Pingzhi is willing to take him with her, he will be happy even if he just shops around and doesn't buy anything.
So the two of them went out again.
Xia Pingzhi walked out of the alley slowly, holding a shopping bag she had woven herself in one hand and holding Jiang Zai's hand in the other.
When Jiang Dong saw the small figure of Jiang Zai, he was extremely excited. He wanted to rush over and hug his son immediately. He even ran forward several steps.
But the next moment he realized that he did not know the middle-aged woman with Jiangzai.
Jiang Zai obviously knew her, and was even very close to her. His son knew that it was difficult to get close to someone at first, and only when he truly recognized someone would he show this kind of affection.
Her whole body is so relaxed, and her little face smiles from time to time.
Who is this woman, and where is Charlie?
In the end, he did not rush over and take the child away, which made Charlie regret it.
He followed the two of them and watched the woman buy a lot of things before she walked back with his son.
He followed them all the way until the two disappeared from his sight and entered the gate.
Jiang Dong stood at the door for a long time, staring straight ahead, as if he could see through the door and see the person he wanted to see inside.
While her aunt and Jiangzai were out shopping, Xia Li washed her hair.
Her hair is quite long, and although the weather isn't as hot as it was two months ago, she still sweats and needs to wash her hair frequently. Washing her hair early in the morning or late at night isn't a good idea, as it won't dry easily. So she usually washes her hair after work, eats, and does other things. By the time she goes to bed, her hair is already dry.
She dawdled for a while, and just as she finished washing, her aunt and Jiangzai came back. They rubbed her hair with a towel to absorb the water. They always had to absorb a few percent of the water first, and then let it dry slowly.
She walked back and forth in the yard drying her hair. It dried faster outside than inside the house, so Charlie didn't go in.
Suddenly, she heard someone outside the door shouting, but it was not clear, as if someone was asking from a long distance, "Who's there?"
When Charlie heard the noise, she didn't even bother to dry her hair. She simply tidied it up and opened the door to check what was going on.
After going out, she stood on the steps at the door with a towel in her hand, looking around carefully.
"It's strange. Someone clearly heard the sound, so why is there no one here?"
Charlie's eyes became confused. She thought that maybe she had heard it wrong, so she continued to comb her hair with her hands, turned around and slowly walked back.
What Charlie didn't know was that after she turned around, a black figure slowly walked out from an inconspicuous corner of the alley.
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