"Aunt Wang, shall I help you tidy up?"
"Great, I even brought you a gift."
"There are also gifts?"
"Hmm, I bet you'll like it."
Uncle Li went to help start the fire, so Xiao Li stayed here to help arrange some decorations; the heavy lifting was his job.
It was all tidied up in half an hour. Aunt Li cleans the guest rooms almost every day, so all I had to do was tidy up my own belongings.
Zhang Shouyi came over too. "Is it ready? The dumplings are in the pot, we can eat soon."
"Okay, have you finished reading your documents?"
"Yeah, the food's ready. What if you don't call me to eat if I don't finish watching it by now?"
"Tch. How can you even say something like that?"
Wang Xinyi handed a wooden box to Zhang Hongmei, saying, "This is a gift for you when we first meet. I hope you like it."
Zhang Hongmei didn't stand on ceremony and took it, opening it to find a set of yellow jade chess pieces. The pieces were particularly smooth and warm, indicating they were old objects.
"Aunt Wang, isn't this too expensive?"
"No, I heard from Shouyi that you are good at chess, so I gave you this. Oh, it was a gift from my grandfather."
"You should keep this very meaningful item for yourself."
"Hehe, I dare not refuse such a generous gift from an elder. Please accept it. I believe you will not overlook such a meaningful piece."
"Hehe, the pressure is immense."
Zhang Shouyi took the box from Zhang Hongmei's hand. "You go to the dining room first, I'll put it in the study for you."
Zhang Hongmei took it again, saying, "I'll go. I've locked the study."
When the three of them arrived at the dining room, the dumplings had just come out of the pot. The steaming white dumplings, with their bright green chive filling still visible, looked incredibly appetizing.
After finishing his meal, Zhang Shouyi drank a cup of tea and left, as he couldn't stay outside for too long.
Wang Xinyi smiled and said to Zhang Hongmei, "Shall we digest our food? Women need to take care of themselves."
"Okay, shall we play a game of chess when we get back later?"
"Okay, let me see your skills."
The two chatted and strolled around, with Wang Xinyi telling her interesting stories, and they quickly developed a tacit understanding.
I bumped into Shan Mianzhi at the school gate; what a small world!
"Chairman Shan."
"Hongmei, Aunt Wang, do you two know each other?"
"Yes. You two know each other too?"
Wang Xinyi simply smiled gently. "Yes, I have a good relationship with his mother. Mianzhi, haven't you graduated yet?"
"No, I'm a senior this year. I was supposed to graduate at the end of the year, but because of the semester system, I will graduate next July."
"Hehe, this is not bad either, we can relax for a while longer."
"Yes, Aunt Wang, are you going home tonight? I'll take you."
"No need, I will be Hongmei's tutor from now on, and I will live with her from now on."
"Aunt Wang is attracted to this girl. My sisters are also waiting for your guidance."
"Hehe, Miss Shan is already very good, she doesn't need my guidance."
"Hehe, you're too kind. It's even better to say that about Zhang Hongmei."
"Yes, but I like her."
"Then there's nothing more to say." Shan Mianzhi shrugged; nothing could stop someone from liking something.
"Chairman Shan, it's getting late, we should head back." Zhang Hongmei could sense Wang Xinyi's coldness, so she spoke up to defuse the situation.
Shan Mianzhi chuckled and said, "Hongmei, you've really surprised me."
"Hehe, then wear glasses with a high prescription." Zhang Hongmei was a little angry at Shan Mianzhi's words.
"Hongmei, you're overthinking it. I didn't mean anything by it."
"Yes, what else could Chairman Shan mean? You're making me need to get new glasses tomorrow."
Dan Mianzhi squinted and thought to himself that this girl really had a keen sense of things.
“Hongmei, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I was just surprised. My father went to invite Aunt Wang himself, but he was refused. That’s why I asked this question.”
"Chairman Shan, I didn't mean anything by it. We should go back now."
Zhang Hongmei and Wang Xinyi turned and left hand in hand. Shan Mianzhi stood behind them and watched for a long time. Based on his understanding of Wang Xinyi, he knew she genuinely liked Zhang Hongmei. Even with Zhang Shouyi's influence, the two wouldn't have gotten along so well.
It seems I really underestimated Zhang Hongmei. I need to talk to my father about this when I get home.
Zhang Hongmei and Wang Xinyi, however, didn't take the matter to heart. Zhang Hongmei genuinely didn't care, while Wang Xinyi was quite pleased. This girl was very perceptive of emotions; in just two short hours together, she knew this girl was very polite and wouldn't interrupt others' conversations without reason. Therefore, she must have sensed her dissatisfaction and resistance. It seemed she had really made the right choice this time.
When the two returned home, Aunt Li had already boiled water. After washing up, they went to the study to play chess.
Zhang Hongmei was defeated in ten minutes. "Brother Zhang said that Old Zheng was defeated by you. Your chess skills are truly amazing."
"Hehe. Not as good as you say, but definitely better than Zheng Jixian. That old man is too arrogant. Learning from him will only waste your time."
"Hehe, you think so highly of me?"
"Yes, you are very insightful and perceptive."
"real?"
"Of course, I'll bring the guzheng back tomorrow and teach you to play it on Saturday and Sunday."
"I don't think I can do this."
"You'll know once you try it. It's getting late, let's get some rest."
After Wang Xinyi left, Zhang Hongmei started doing her homework; she still had two subjects' assignments to complete.
It's really not easy to finish my homework and go back to my room to sleep by 10 o'clock. This time is just like my high school schedule.
The next day, as soon as Zhang Hongmei got up, Wang Xinyi came over.
"Would you like to practice Tai Chi with me every morning?"
"Hehe, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on. I'll have to go out at least this Saturday and Sunday."
"Hehe, it's good for young people to have careers. But you should still learn when you have time."
“Okay, Aunt Wang, as long as I live in Xinyuan, I will definitely learn from you.”
"Okay, that's how it should be." Zhang Hongmei watched Wang Xinyi perform a round of Tai Chi and was extremely envious. Her movements were fluid and graceful, and she also possessed a woman's gentleness.
"Aunt Wang, even though I'm a layman, I think it's so beautiful. I'll definitely learn it properly."
"Hehe, if you want to learn, I'll teach you everything I know."
For breakfast, Aunt Li cooked cornmeal porridge and made egg pancakes. Zhang Hongmei felt that it was more comfortable to have someone cook for her than to cook for her herself.
When I arrived at the school gate, I saw Hao Dan standing next to her bicycle, pacing back and forth.
"Hao Dan, what's wrong?"
“Vice Chairman, that’s great! Our thousand copies of the study newspaper were snapped up by high schools in the capital without being sold abroad.”
Zhang Hongmei was a little puzzled: "Are there so many second-year high school students in the capital?"
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