Chapter 240
In addition to being worried about his mother, Zhou Wanli also had to help carry the luggage. He brought bedding for the old lady.
After getting off the train, he bought a train ticket for that day on the spot as he had to rush back to work.
I just asked someone to buy a sleeper berth when I came here, so this time I didn’t think about using connections to buy a sleeper berth, so I bought a seat ticket.
Zhou Wanli knew that Jiani was trying to find connections with the Qiu family. He was in a hurry this time and had no time to visit the Qiu family. He was worried that if they knew he was coming, they would make a big fuss to entertain him. He didn't want to cause trouble for his in-laws, so he just asked Zhou Jiani to convey his greetings and explain the reason to the Qiu family. He told them that he would definitely visit Mr. Qiu next time he came.
Then I went to see the yard that my daughter "rented", and my first impression was that it was spacious.
He was still a little bit unconvinced: "Is your family the only one I rented to?"
Zhou Jiani nodded: "I don't plan to find a roommate."
Jiang Xinfeng liked it very much. Seeing that the yard was so spacious, she didn't have to go out for a walk. She could just walk around in circles in the yard every day to exercise her body. Then she could sit in the yard to bask in the sun and feel very comfortable.
"This yard is nice, this yard is great..." Jiang Xinfeng looked around and even went to the west room to check out the newly bought sewing machine. Seeing it just sitting there bare, she said, "I'll sew two covers for it later."
One is the cover after the machine head is buckled in, and the other is a cover made according to the sewing machine head.
The old lady was willing to play around, so Zhou Jiani let her do what she wanted. She then took them to see other houses, all of which were empty. She said, "We were in such a rush that we haven't gotten much furniture yet, but our house is fully stocked with toiletries and cooking utensils for daily use."
Jiang Xinfeng said bluntly: "Enough is enough, enough is enough."
After having lunch at a nearby state-owned restaurant, Zhou Jiani arranged for her grandmother to go back and rest, and sent her father to the train station.
When they arrived at the station, she handed over the steamed buns, fried cakes, and pickles she had bought from the state-owned restaurant, and also packed twenty salted duck eggs and preserved fruits and snacks she had bought in advance for her father, and kept reminding her father to keep an eye on his wallet.
Zhou Wanli said, "Don't worry, I will take care of it. I'll leave your grandma to you. Please take good care of her."
Zhou Jiani also made promises.
She had classes in the afternoon, but she took a day off today and returned home from the station. When she entered the house, she was carrying two large net bags full of seasonal vegetables and meat.
The old lady was old after all, and she hadn't slept well on the train. She had just woken up when Zhou Jiani came back. When she saw her granddaughter coming in, she asked, "Have you finished making that hairband?"
Zhou Jiani took a teacup and poured a glass of water to her grandmother, handed it to her, nodded, and told her what happened after the New Year.
Hearing that her granddaughter and her family had found a way, Jiang Xinfeng nodded in relief. She opened the canvas bag on the bedside table and poured out all the hair bands she had collected recently. She smiled and said, "I have saved exactly 200."
"Great! We'll work on the decorations over the weekend." Zhou Jiani hugged her grandmother's arm and said with a smile, "Grandma, I'll pay you."
Jiang Xinfeng grinned and said, "What kind of salary do I need? Sewing is not tiring. If it weren't for the fact that my family only has visitors, I could do more."
"No, don't keep your head down while sewing. Your neck will hurt after a while." Zhou Jiani leaned on her grandmother's shoulder and said, "Wait until Saturday. On Saturday, let my classmate's mother come over to show her the way. Then she can come over to work during the day. Using a sewing machine is not only faster, but the stitches are also neater..."
"Just help keep an eye on her and keep her company... Oh, she'll bring her granddaughter over during this time, so just let the little girl play at home."
Jiang Xinfeng nodded repeatedly, then asked about Qiu Zeming, saying, "Zeming has been fighting on the front lines for several years now. I'm worried every time I think about it. When will the war be over?"
Zhou Jiani received a letter from Qiu Zeming a few days ago. At the beginning of this year, a counterattack was officially launched on the front line. She was very worried during that time. However, the most tense stage of the war has ended, and Qiu Zeming should be back soon.
But after all, there was no way to be sure, and Zhou Jiani didn't want her grandmother to worry about it all day long, so she said, "It's almost there, it's almost there."
Seeing that her granddaughter didn't say much, Jiang Xinfeng didn't ask any more questions. Instead, she talked about the Qiu family: "Since you are here, you have to go see the old man at home."
Zhou Jiani: "After you've settled in and adjusted for a few days, I'll pick a time for us to go over for dinner."
Jiang Xinfeng agreed.
But I didn't expect Du Yunxin to come over in the evening.
Zhou Jiani was busy cooking when she heard someone calling at the door. She hurried out to open the door and saw that it was Du Yunxin and Qiu Dongshu.
"Aunt Du, Uncle Qiu, why are you here?" Zhou Jiani smiled and let them in.
Since I had talked it over with Du Yunxin that day, I later told her the address of the house. Du Yunxin also came to see it. I also asked Zhou Jiani about the time when the elderly people in her family would come over. After work today, I decided to come over to see my grandmother-in-law.
Jiang Xinfeng held Du Yunxin's hand affectionately and talked to her, while Zhou Jiani hurried to pour them some water.
Du Yunxin was very thoughtful. Although she had verbally told Zhou Jiani before that they would go to her house for dinner after the old lady settled down, it was still a bit lacking in etiquette. Today, she and Qiu Dongshu came to visit and formally invited her, which would also let the in-laws know their attitude.
Jiang Xinfeng was indeed happy. After dinner, when the Qiu couple left, she kept telling Zhou Jiani, "Your parents-in-law are very particular people. They know a lot about etiquette."
At night, the two of them were lying in bed talking. Zhou Jiani said, "I've applied to the school for day study. I'm not sure if I'll be approved. Is it okay for you to live alone before then? Or how about asking my classmate's mother to come and stay with you for a few days?"
Jiang Xinfeng patted her granddaughter's hand and said with a smile, "What's wrong with that? Don't bother me. Before I went to Qiyang to live with your parents, I lived in an independent courtyard in my hometown for many years."
"That's different. This is a strange place."
"That's not to be afraid of. Your parents-in-law came tonight in military uniforms. Even a commoner like me can tell whether they are cadres by their clothes. Do you think people living under the imperial city don't understand? Otherwise, I would say that your parents-in-law are very particular and know the ins and outs of things very well."
Zhou Jiani thought about it and it made sense. Du Yunxin came to see the yard that day, also wearing a military uniform, probably just to support her.
The grandparents talked for a while. Jiang Xinfeng asked a few questions about Liu Ailing and talked a few gossips about Lu Cuilan showing off at home before falling asleep.
The next day, Zhou Jiani rushed to the school and told Lv Minjuan about asking her mother to come over to get acquainted with the family over the weekend. Lv Minjuan quickly agreed, saying, "No need to wait until the weekend. There's only one class this afternoon. I'll take my mother over after class. She's been thinking about making hair ties in the house lately, and the neighbors who live in the same yard are always snooping around to find out. The sooner we move there, the more peace of mind we'll have."
Zhou Jiani thought about it and said, "You know the approximate address. I'll pick you up at the intersection."
After class in the afternoon, the two left together. Zhou Jiani went home and told her grandmother about it. The old lady was bored at home today, so she cleaned up the dead corners that Zhou Jiani had not cleaned. The more she looked at the yard, the more she liked it. She was thinking about planting a few pots of flowers, but she was worried that she would not be able to live in the rented house for long, and moving would be a problem when the time comes.
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "I've signed a contract with them for several years. I'll take you out to buy some seeds and pots when I have time. You can plant whatever you like."
Jiang Xinfeng smiled again and exclaimed: "Okay, this yard is really generous, really nice!"
Zhou Jiani estimated the time and went out to pick up Lu Minjuan and her three generations of grandparents and grandchildren.
Lu Minjuan's mother's surname is Zhang, and her name is Zhang Huaihua. She was carrying a large cloth bag in her hand, which contained the cloth sent by Zhou Jiani and the finished hairbands.
She still spoke in a soft voice and greeted Jiang Xinfeng politely: "Auntie."
She then called Feng Ya and asked her to call her "Grandma".
"Laonianlaojin" means great-grandmother. Zhang Huaihua was used to calling her that in their local way. Jiang Xinfeng didn't mind and responded with a smile. She praised her as a "good girl" and gave Fengya two cents to buy some candy.
Zhang Huaihua quickly refused, and after some hesitation between the two sides, he finally accepted it.
Lu Minjuan followed Zhou Jiani in calling grandma.
Zhou Jiani invited them to sit in the main room, but Zhang Huaihua couldn't sit still. After sitting for a while, she said she wanted to go and see the sewing machine.
Zhou Jiani carefully cleaned up a workshop, installed a set of old tables and chairs, and prepared a large wooden ruler, scissors, chalk, etc.
The brand new sewing machine is placed under the window, which has good lighting and is bright.
Zhang Huaihua smiled and said, "Jianni makes it quickly. Can I try it?"
"Let's try it. There's no fuse either. There's a wire reel over there..."
Zhang Huaihua turned on the sewing machine and started to work on the thread guide and wind the bottom shuttle. You could see how happy she was.
Lv Minjuan whispered to Zhou Jiani, "My mom really loves a sewing machine. She doesn't have one at home, and she's always been envious of the neighbor's sewing machine. But my dad wouldn't buy one for his family, saying it's a waste of money... Later, when my brothers got married, they all bought sewing machines, but they didn't let my mom use them..."
Her eyes were a little red, and she thought to herself that after she graduated and started working, she would save money to buy a sewing machine for her mother so that her mother could have her own sewing machine.
Zhang Huaihua really likes it. She doesn't have one, so she borrowed a sewing machine from her neighbor and learned how to use it. It's obvious that she really likes it. Although she doesn't use it often, she has memorized the operating steps. Now she looks very skilled when she uses it.
I took some scraps of cloth that were so broken that they couldn't be broken any further, folded them up and tested the machine, and was very busy.
Feng Ya thought it was interesting because she had never seen a sewing machine before.
Although several of her uncles had it at home, she had never seen it.
Jiang Xinfeng exchanged a few words with Zhang Huaihua from time to time, and the two of them got along quite well.
Zhou Jiani went to prepare the meal. Lv Minjuan felt embarrassed and whispered, "I'll give you food coupons tomorrow."
Zhou Jiani rolled her eyes at her and said, "Why give me food coupons? Aunt Zhang is officially employed now. In addition to the original labor fee, I will also get a meal at noon."
Lu Minjuan widened her eyes: "Jiani, you don't have to take care of me like this..."
"It's not about taking care of her. You give Fengya the food coupons." Zhou Jiani said with a smile.
Lu Minjuan felt her eyes getting hot and said, "That's also caring."
Takes too much care of her.
I went to the Qiu family for dinner on Friday night, and Bai Haoyang and Yu Wanxia came over early on Saturday morning, and the house suddenly became lively.
Bai Haoyang had met Jiang Xinfeng several times, and he was a very outgoing person. In addition, Jiang Xinfeng knew that this boy was dating Su Meiqiao's daughter, so he was even more like a family member. Jiang Xinfeng spoke to him with even more warmth.
After finishing the decorations, Bai Haoyang went to deliver the goods on Sunday morning. When he came back at noon, he told Zhou Jiani and the others, "When I went there, I ran into several female students handing in their Moments. They must be Liu Ailing. I don't know where they are from. They were whispering about Liu Ailing, but they kept pronouncing it as Qiu Ailing. It made me feel so uncomfortable..."
Zhou Jiani was stunned: "Qiu Ailing? Are you sure it's Qiu Ailing, not Liu Ailing? Could it be that they are not the same person at all?"
Bai Haoyang: "It was her, because Liu Ailing also went, accompanied by a male comrade. However, they both arrived later and were obviously acquainted with those female classmates. It's just that they didn't look at each other well."
"That gay guy should be the one I heard about last time...what was his name?"
"Xin Yougang!"
"Yes, Xin Yougang."
A strange look flashed across Zhou Jiani's face, but she thought she might be overthinking it.
College students come from all over the country, so it is normal to have accents. Just like in their dormitory, they don’t speak Mandarin in private conversations. They will only switch to Mandarin to explain when their accents are so strong that others can’t understand them. They often laugh and make a scene because of pronunciation issues.
Although Zhou Jiani told herself not to let her thoughts wander, she still remembered that the people who took tutoring classes with Qiu Ailing at that time said that they were all surprised that Qiu Ailing did not pass the exam last year.
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