"Mom, I feel like a lot of uncles and older brothers are peeking at you."
Zhang Hongmei just smiled and didn't say anything. She hated the way others stared at her, but there was nothing she could do about it.
With so many people, I really didn't feel any malice; this place is pretty good.
When the food arrived, everyone stopped talking and chose what they liked to eat.
I don't know who said it, but they just said, "It's snowing."
Annie ran outside to take a look and then came back. "Mommy, Mommy, it's really snowing!"
"Hehe, it's great that it's snowing. A good snow promises a good harvest, it's a good omen."
"Mom, shall we go have a snowball fight tomorrow? And go skiing too?"
"It depends on how much snow it gets. If the weather allows tomorrow, we can go out and have some fun, but we can't go too far. We'll stay home. It's too dangerous to drive out."
"Can't we go to the ski resort?"
Zhang Hongmei shook her head. It was really impossible to go out; the roads were too slippery. She hoped the snow wouldn't be too heavy, as she had to go back tomorrow.
Today's buffet was very lavish, including roast turkey, a must-have dish for Christmas, but Zhang Hongmei didn't like it. She ate very lightly, not because she deliberately avoided meat, but because she lost interest in it after only a little bit.
This isn't a good sign. So I tried eating some steak and roast lamb leg.
After finishing her meal, Annie ran to the piano. For the past three years, she has played the piano on Christmas Eve.
Huang Meihua sat down opposite Zhang Hongmei. "Have you eaten?"
"I'm full. I noticed you haven't eaten. Shall I get you some salad?"
"No need, I'm too tired to have any appetite."
"That won't do. You should wait for me. I'll go get the fruit salad. That way you won't gain weight."
As Huang Meihua ate her salad, she felt a pang of sadness, realizing that even her own daughter wouldn't think of her.
"Godmother, my godfather has drunk too much. Please go and persuade him!"
"Fine, I'll talk to him. He really doesn't care about himself at all. At his age, what could make him so excited?"
The gathering lasted for more than three hours, and Zhang Hongmei accompanied them as they saw off their clansmen. "Annie, your wish for tomorrow cannot be fulfilled."
"It's okay, you can play at home too."
The servants were busy, and it took them more than an hour just to clean up the mess.
"Annie, let's take a bath and go to bed. Mom is really tired today."
The next morning, Zhang Hongmei practiced Tai Chi in her room, and there really wasn't much snow falling outside.
Before Annie woke up, he quickly packed his luggage. He'd be home soon; tonight was the gathering for all the international students, and he wanted to make an appearance.
After breakfast, Zhang Hongmei suggested going home. Annie was a little reluctant, but she knew that her mother was going home for the holiday, so she didn't say she wanted to go back with her because she wanted to stay home with her grandparents and father for the holiday.
Huang Meihua loaded a car full of things for Zhang Hongmei. "There are many people in the family, so take all of this back. The things in front are gifts for Xinyi and Ningning, and the things in the back are food."
"Thank you, godmother. I'm going back now." Carlos watched Zhang Hongmei drive away from upstairs, feeling extremely sad.
Ultimately, we weren't meant to be. I feel my heart sink into despair.
Everyone has their own responsibilities and no right to be willful.
Anne came over and took her father's hand. Like him, she watched the car drive away from home. She could still remember this scene clearly even when she was old.
Zhang Hongmei drove very slowly; although the snow wasn't heavy, she was afraid. It took her an hour to get home. The snow in front of her house had been cleared, the gate was open, and she drove straight in.
Zeng Zhongkang came out first. He was relieved to see Zhang Hongmei.
"Don't just stand there, quickly call them out to move the things."
The others came out when they heard the noise, but none of them made a sound.
Cheng Guangxu kept muttering, "Hongmei, you're finally back! I was thinking that if you hadn't come back this afternoon, I would have come to pick you up."
"How could I not come back? Haven't the other ten arrived yet?"
"Yeah, it should be soon."
The group made two trips, and Zhao Haozheng carried in the last gift for Wang Xinyi and Ningning, which was in the back seat of the car.
"Hongmei, go check on Ningning, she keeps crying. My mom said she's looking for you."
Zhang Hongmei followed Wang Xinyi into her room.
The little one had just finished feeding when he saw Zhang Hongmei come in. He chuckled and his eyes crinkled, making him look especially adorable.
Zhang Hongmei took it. "Ningning, did you miss your sister? Have you been a good girl?"
"Put him down quickly, otherwise he'll get used to holding him and never take him off the shelf again."
Zhang Hongmei smiled and laid him down, but she didn't leave. Instead, she sat down beside him and played with him.
All ten people who came together spontaneously helped Shen Yunfang cook.
Lunch was especially lavish, reflecting local customs and the festive atmosphere.
Their lease on the apartment had expired and they didn't renew it. Now they both have jobs, although they don't earn as much as they did selling steamed buns, but the jobs are respectable and related to their professions, so no one has any objections.
The three girls weren't very satisfied; they didn't want to buy the clothes they liked.
After dinner, everyone sat in the living room chatting. Kong Yushun looked at Zhao Tiancheng and said, "Mr. Zhao, we all have jobs now, so we don't need your living expenses."
"It's okay, you all have it tough too."
“Mr. Zhao, really, it’s not necessary. We know that although the government is nominally paying for it, you’re still paying out of your own pocket. We can support ourselves by selling steamed buns and working.”
"That's what you earned through your own hard work, so I'll still give you what I owe you. There's no need to refuse."
Wang Minxia was relieved after hearing Zhao Tiancheng's words; she had been unwilling to accept the living expenses when they first discussed not having them.
Why not? Just like Zhao Tiancheng said, it was something she had worked hard for, but all the boys agreed, and Jiang Mingyan didn't object, so even if she wasn't satisfied, she could only accept it.
Zhao Tiancheng is quite savvy. Although he only contributed a small amount of money, the government will definitely provide him with significant benefits when he sets up a factory back in China. How could he possibly suffer a loss?
"Mr. Zhao, we feel so sorry!"
"Hehe, don't be shy with me, it's the country and the people who are nurturing you."
Everyone nodded, of course they knew that was the case. But after all, it was Zhao Tiancheng who provided the money.
Zhao Tiancheng glanced at Zhao Haozheng, and the father and son were very in sync; he immediately changed the subject.
Everyone got excited when they talked about work. Han Guangtai and his group got jobs and could report for duty tomorrow; Cao Binggang and his group could go to the experimental fields tomorrow; and the rest of them, who were all economics majors, were really broadening their horizons at the trading company.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com