"Hehe, it's okay. Don't feel guilty." Zhao Tiancheng sat there and laughed. This girl is just so straightforward; she doesn't want others to ask her for money.
"How can you do that? You don't earn money easily, and you still have to support us. It's too much of a burden for you."
Zhao Tiancheng just smiled. This girl, she's always so protective of her own people.
"Besides, Aunt Wang is pregnant, so there will definitely be a lot of expenses in the future, and we also need to save money for the baby's education."
Just then, Jiang Mingyan came over to call everyone to eat. Looking at the sumptuous lunch on the table, Zhang Hongmei felt that she had an appetite.
At the dinner table, Zhang Hongmei listened to their conversation without interrupting, assuming that if she spoke, the conversation would end.
After the meal, Zhang Hongmei helped clear the table. Then everyone sat in the living room drinking tea.
"Dad, should I go pick up Mom?"
"I'll go, you young people can talk amongst yourselves," he said, handing an envelope to Kong Yushun.
"I'm going to pick up your Aunt Wang and take her home. In a little while, could you help me distribute this month's living expenses to everyone?" After saying that, she smiled and left without paying attention to everyone's awkwardness.
Shen Yunfang brought over apples, one for each person. Zeng Zhongkang picked one up, peeled it, and then handed it to Zhang Hongmei.
Zhang Hongmei was used to it and didn't pay much attention, but the others understood and felt that the two of them should be a couple. Those who knew the truth wouldn't say anything.
"Aren't you guys going to the bookstore? I'm going to the mall. It's almost Chinese New Year, and I need to buy myself some new clothes. Whether I have money or not, I can't go home for the New Year anyway, so I might as well treat myself a little."
“I’m going to the mall too. Hongmei, you’re right, I should treat myself. Besides, it’s cold here in winter, I need to buy a warm coat,” Kong Yushun said with a smile.
Everyone else agreed, and what was supposed to be a bookstore trip turned into a shopping trip.
"Aunt Chen, are you coming along too?"
"Hehe, I'm not going. I'm making beef bone soup. You can drink it when you get back."
"Okay, is there anything you need? I'll bring it back for you."
"No need, I don't need anything. Sister Wang has prepared warm clothes for me. You go ahead and have fun."
"Hongmei, I'm not going either. I'll stay home and read." Cheng Guangxu really didn't want to go. What's so great about shopping?
"You should still go. You should change into warmer clothes and shoes."
In the end, everyone went together. The group of fourteen was quite a sight. Zhao Haozheng didn't go; instead, he stayed home to wait for his parents.
I walked there; it was only four stops, so it took about half an hour.
"Let's split up. We girls can go shopping on our own. We'll meet up here in two hours, and everyone can come to my house for dinner tonight."
“I’ll stay with you.” Zeng Zhongkang looked at Zhang Hongmei stubbornly.
"It's too inconvenient for you to come with us. It's mostly women buying clothes, and some of them might want to try them on. It'll be awkward for you, a grown man, to be there. Don't worry, it'll be fine."
Zeng Zhongkang fell silent. He himself felt awkward, but he also felt uneasy letting her out of his sight.
Everyone nodded in agreement and split up. The four girls headed straight for the women's clothing section.
Zhang Hongmei immediately took a liking to a pure white cashmere coat. It featured a stand-up collar and a very defined waist.
"Madam, please hand me that."
"Hongmei, isn't this too expensive?" Wang Mingxia asked Zhang Hongmei in a low voice.
"You're worrying too much. They're rich; what's a mere dress to them?" Jiang Mingyan said sarcastically. She immediately regretted it; she'd also liked the dress, but it cost over five hundred yuan—even with all her money, it wouldn't be enough. Yet, the other person bought it with just a casual remark, so she was jealous.
Zhang Hongmei glanced at her indifferently, took the clothes handed to her by the sales clerk, and went to the fitting room.
When Zhang Hongmei came out, everyone around was stunned. The clothes seemed to have been tailor-made for her, fitting her perfectly in every way.
Zhang Hongmei stood in front of the dressing mirror and looked at herself. She thought she looked alright and went back to the fitting room.
After changing into her own clothes, she said, "Madam, I'll take this one. Please give me the receipt."
Dong Yuping didn't say anything, but she liked the dress herself, and thought that all women would like it.
"Ma'am, do you still have this dress in larger sizes?"
"Yes, this is a medium size. A large size would require a bust measurement that is five centimeters larger than this one."
Is it this color too?
"Yes, there's also a camel-colored one. Let me show it to you."
"Then bring over that large-size white one too."
If the three of you are in a hurry, go look elsewhere, but don't go too far.
All three shook their heads. The previous incident had left a shadow in their hearts, so how could they dare to act alone?
The sales clerk brought over both coats. Zhang Hongmei looked at them and ultimately chose the white one. The two coats cost a thousand yuan, which was no small sum.
Later, Zhang Hongmei bought two pairs of cashmere pants, two cashmere sweaters, and a short denim jacket. She also bought two pairs of boots, one ankle-length and one knee-length, but neither of them were high-heeled; flat boots were more comfortable.
After she finished buying her things, the other three people followed behind her without buying anything.
"Hongmei, aren't you buying it?"
"No, I only have thirty left. I'll spend it all if I go buy two wool scarves later."
"You've already spent 1,500 yuan, you should have finished buying everything by now," Wang Mingxia said with a hint of envy.
Zhang Hongmei rolled her eyes inwardly. What business is it of yours if I spend my own money?
"Do you have anything you want to buy?"
"It's too expensive, I can't afford it," Dong Yuping said awkwardly.
"Me too, even if I took out all my money, it wouldn't be enough to buy a single piece of clothing," Wang Mingxia said regretfully.
"We can look around some more; maybe we'll find something that fits your price range?"
All three shook their heads. "We brought our own cotton-padded clothes, enough to get through the winter."
Since that's what they said, Zhang Hongmei stopped trying to persuade them. Carrying her bags, she reached the stairwell and saw Zeng Zhongkang waiting there.
I gave him all the bags, and then bought two scarves and a hat. That completed my winter clothing preparations.
"Zeng Zhongkang, didn't you buy it?"
"No, I don't need it, and besides, I don't trust you."
"What's there to worry about? I'll wait for you on the first floor. Why don't you go buy what you need? It's going to snow soon, so don't catch a cold."
"I have it, don't worry."
Since everyone said they didn't need it, I stopped trying to persuade them.
The five of them sat down on the chairs downstairs and waited for the men to come down.
"It's almost Chinese New Year, and they have this custom here too," Jiang Mingyan said enviously, looking at the locals who were also carrying large and small bags.
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