Zhang Hongmei wondered if she had been rejected. "It's okay, it's just a personal hobby. If it doesn't work out, I'll figure it out myself slowly."
Liu Jingze was also shocked by his master's rejection. How could this be?
"Brother Jingze, did you come back from your hometown? I'm telling you, I also got into the Capital University."
"That's great, congratulations Wenhui."
Liu Jingze was chatted with by the two elderly people and a little girl in the family. Zhang Hongmei felt superfluous, but she felt embarrassed to leave immediately, so she could only stand in the yard.
"Brother Jingze, do you think it's a good idea for me to apply for the political science major?"
"Wenhui, your personality isn't suited for this. You should consider other departments."
“I told you you weren’t suited for political science, but you wouldn’t believe me. You should just stick to Chinese literature.” Zheng Jixian was ostensibly scolding his granddaughter, but his face was full of doting affection.
"You three, hurry inside, and this little girl too, come inside and have some tea."
"Sorry, I forgot. Come in and sit down." Zheng Jixian also invited the group.
"Brother Jingze, who is this younger sister?"
“He’s from our village. He also got into the Capital University and came here to study.”
"You also got into the Capital University? Brother Jingze, I heard that this year's national college entrance examination top scorer is from your area?"
"Yes, it's this girl. She was eight points short of a perfect score in all four subjects."
"Little sister, you're amazing! We'll be able to go to the same school from now on." Zheng Wenhui went over and took Zhang Hongmei's hand.
Zhang Hongmei felt particularly uncomfortable and gently struggled.
"Hehe, I was just lucky."
"Jingze, have lunch at home. I'll make you some pancakes. Wenhui also saved some fish for you. I'll go get it and thaw it so we can stew it."
Zhang Hongmei looked around and felt that she could now suggest leaving.
"Mr. Zheng, I'll head back now. Brother Jingze, I can go to the post office by myself."
"Master's wife, I won't stay for dinner. I'll come back another time."
“Brother Jingze, it’s been almost two months since you last came. Why don’t you stay for dinner? My grandpa keeps talking about you.”
"It's alright, young lady, please stay and have a meal with us."
"Really, it's not necessary. I still need to send a letter home, so I'm sorry. Jingze, I can manage on my own. And you can take this gift inside."
"No need, I haven't taken on any apprentices, and I don't accept gifts."
Liu Jingze stepped forward, wanting to say something to Zhang Hongmei, but felt his clothes being tugged. He turned around and saw that it was Wen Hui.
Zhang Hongmei saw it too, smiled, and thought to herself: This beauty and Liu Jingze are quite a good match.
"Brother Jingze, I'll head back now. Goodbye, sir."
After saying that, Zhang Hongmei pushed the cart out of the yard.
As Liu Jingze watched Zhang Hongmei leave, his heart suddenly tightened. "Master, I'm going back too."
"I'm asking you to stay for dinner." Zheng Jixian's tone was a bit forceful.
"Yes, that girl has already left. She'll be fine. You can go back after you finish eating."
Zheng Wenhui clung to Liu Jingze's clothes and wouldn't let go.
In the end, Liu Jingze had no choice but to stay for dinner.
Zhang Hongmei rode her bicycle home first, carried all the gifts into the warehouse, and then rode away on her bicycle.
When I got to the post office, I found the same woman who had sold me the stamps last time. "Comrade, could I do you a favor?"
"What's up?"
"I waited until Huang Zhong, who drove to H City to deliver mail, came and told him to go to a fellow villager's house for dinner. My name is Zhang Hongmei."
"Okay, got it. He'll probably be here next Monday. Leave him a note. Are you from the same city?"
"Yes." Zhang Hongmei took out a pen and paper from her bag, wrote a few words, and handed them over.
"Thank you." Zhang Hongmei left the post office and decided to go to the square to take a look.
I asked around for directions and then rode my bike there.
I saw a photo studio on the way and decided to ask if I could take pictures.
"Comrade, are you taking a picture?"
"Comrade, I'd like to ask if it's possible to film on location?"
"Outdoor location? I understand, that should be fine. I'll go arrange it." The young man went into the back.
They came out shortly afterward, followed by a middle-aged man.
"Dad, I want to bring that camera from Country D with me."
Go ahead, but be careful.
Zhang Hongmei was overjoyed; she hadn't expected it to actually work.
The young man, carrying a tin box, said, "Let's go, comrade, where do you want to go?"
"A square, a city gate tower, a park, the Great Wall. Is that alright?"
"We can't do the Great Wall today, there's not enough time. We'll have to wait for another opportunity."
"Thank you, comrade."
"My name is Liu Jingzhang. What's your name?"
"Zhang Hongmei, that's my name."
The two soon arrived at the city gate. Zhang Hongmei followed Liu Jingzhang's instructions and stood wherever he told her to.
Liu Jingzhang looked at the pretty young girl through the camera lens and unconsciously took more than ten pictures.
Afterwards, the two went to the square and took more than ten photos. When they got to the park, they took more than twenty photos.
Zhang Hongmei was so tired that she didn't want to move anymore; she was both exhausted and hungry.
However, Liu Jingzhang was particularly excited. "Zhang Hongmei, we took more than fifty photos today. Each one is four cents. How many do you want to keep?"
"Hehe, keep them all. I'll choose a few to print more when the photos come out."
"It costs two cents to print one photo. You can come and pick it up in three days. I'll be leaving now."
"Okay, thank you, Comrade Liu. I'll come pick it up Saturday morning."
The two parted ways, and Zhang Hongmei, starving, rode her bicycle home.
It was already four o'clock in the afternoon when Zhang Hongmei saw Liu Jingze standing at the door from afar.
"Brother Jingze, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were back so early." Zhang Hongmei opened the door and pushed the cart into the yard.
"Hongmei, where did you go?"
Zhang Hongmei frowned, clearly disliking Liu Jingze's tone of voice.
"It's nothing, I just went to the square and the park. Also, don't go looking for a photographer anymore. I had one taken today, and the photographer was very enthusiastic."
"Oh?" Liu Jingze noticed Zhang Hongmei's frown and realized that his tone was a bit off, so he stopped talking.
"Brother Jingze, I'm cooking, do you want some?"
Didn't you eat lunch?
"No, do you want some?"
"I'm not hungry yet. What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."
"No need, there are still sesame seed cakes. I'll just drink milk powder. You can go do your own thing."
Zhang Hongmei went into the kitchen, boiled water, made a bowl of milk powder, and ate the sesame seed cakes while they were still cold.
Zhang Hongmei didn't go to the dining room; she ate her fill in the kitchen. Liu Jingze followed behind Zhang Hongmei.
"Brother Jingze, you really aren't going to eat?"
"I'm not hungry, you can eat by yourself. Don't do this again. You're still young, you need to eat on time."
"I know, I forgot to bring lunch."
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