Chapter 125: My Son is Such a Charmer!
Chapter 125: My Son is Such a Charmer!
Half an hour later, Jiang Xia exited the department store with 13,775 yuan and 5 jiao 5 fen.
Zhou Fu and Zhou Chengxin, father and son, supported each other as they followed the couple from behind.
In their entire lives, they had never seen so many one yuan notes piled up, and their legs felt weak, yet they had to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
They couldn't understand how Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia could remain so calm and collected, as if they were carrying only 70 cents in their pockets.
Jiang Xia felt that keeping the money at home was unsafe. These past few days, Zhou Mu had checked the courtyard gate three times before going to bed to ensure it was locked, and she didn't dare to leave the house during the day.
Jiang Xia suggested, "Why don't we open an account at the bank and deposit the money? We can withdraw it when we need it."
Zhou Fu agreed, "That's definitely safer, but it's too troublesome to have to go into the city to withdraw money every time we need it."
Zhou Chenglei had the same idea, as keeping the money at home was never truly safe. "Let's open an account at the town's credit union; it's closer."
There was only one bank in town, the rural credit union.
"Then let's open an account in town." At that time, the internet was not yet developed, and cross-bank withdrawals were not possible, so it was indeed necessary to find a bank close to home.
So the family hurried back to town on their bicycles to open an account.
However, they couldn't go much faster because Jiang Xia had fallen asleep again. There was no way around it; it was around one or two in the afternoon, the perfect time for an afternoon nap.
Moreover, sitting at the back of the bicycle was boring, and Zhou Chenglei's riding was steady, so she dozed off without realizing it.
When Zhou Chenglei noticed that Jiang Xia was asleep, he slowed down and signaled for his father and older brother to go ahead.
But Zhou Fu and Zhou Chengxin wouldn't hear of it. Jiang Xia was carrying a huge sum of money! What if she lost it? So they rode their bicycles slowly behind him.
Zhou Chengxin couldn't help but admire Zhou Chenglei. Under the scorching sun, he pedaled leisurely, not even willing to wake Jiang Xia.
His father was the same!
He felt completely at ease, even smiling as if he had found money.
Along the way, they encountered Wen Wan.
Wen Wan had also come by bicycle and was resting by the roadside. She felt like she was about to get heatstroke.
She had finished her water and was both hot and thirsty.
The sun was too intense, so Wen Wan followed Jiang Xia's example, wrapping herself up tightly. She wanted to take off her hat and gloves, but she dared not.
Despite working in the fields, her skin was still fairer than most people's, a natural beauty. However, she couldn't compare to Jiang Xia, who was a shade darker. Thinking that even Jiang Xia, with her fair skin, was afraid of the sun, Wen Wan decided not to take off her hat.
Wen Wan held her breath, determined to surpass Jiang Xia in every way.
Just as she was hesitating whether to take off her hat and gloves, she saw Zhou Chenglei and the others approaching on their bicycles from a distance.
Wen Wan didn't want to interact with Zhou Chenglei, but she was truly thirsty!
If she didn't drink some water soon, she felt like she might die.
Zhou Chenglei saw someone ahead, but Wen Wan was so well-wrapped that he couldn't recognize her. He was about to pass by.
But as they drew closer, the person reached out to stop them and shouted, "Brother Zhou! Uncle Yongfu! Brother Zhou!"
And Jiang Xia was woken up by her again!
Zhou Chenglei: "..."
Zhou Chenglei felt a movement at his waist and gently stopped the bicycle. He squeezed her wrist and asked, "Are you awake? Do you want some water?"
Jiang Xia, who had been sleeping with her head against his back, nodded and then straightened her body, moving her head away from his back. "Yes."
Zhou Fu and Zhou Chengxin also stopped their bicycles.
Wen Wan glanced at Zhou Chenglei and then looked at Zhou Fu. "Uncle Yongfu, I'm so thirsty, and I feel a bit heatstroke. Do you have any water? Can you give me some? I've run out of water, and the weather is so hot."
Zhou Fu and Wen Fu were primary school classmates and old friends. Moreover, heatstroke could be fatal during the hot summer, and they were from the same production team. They couldn't just ignore Wen Wan, but Zhou Fu had just finished his water. He asked Zhou Chengxin, "Do you have any water in your water bottle?"
Zhou Chengxin: "I just finished drinking, doesn't Alei have some left?"
Zhou Chenglei unscrewed the water bottle and handed it to Jiang Xia behind him, "There's not much left. Jiang Xia slept the whole way and didn't drink any water, so she needs some too. There's a mountain stream not far ahead. Big Brother can go fill up there, it's very close, just ahead."
Unlike them, Jiang Xia didn't grow up in the village, so she wasn't used to drinking water directly from the stream or well without boiling it first. Drinking raw water could easily upset her stomach, so the water in the bottle had to be saved for her.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Fu immediately said, "Yes, there's a mountain stream ahead. Let's go fill up some water and wash our faces while we're at it. It's too hot!"
Zhou Chengxin quickly agreed, "Then let's go! I want to wash my face too. It's been so hot along the way, I think another typhoon is coming."
Zhou Fu suggested to Wen Wan, "Xiao Wan, quickly ride your bicycle and join us to get some water."
Wen Wan watched as Jiang Xia took small sips of water, unconsciously swallowing her own saliva. Her mouth was so dry that she didn't have a drop of saliva left. She said, "Uncle Yongfu, I can't even ride my bicycle anymore."
Zhou Fu frowned, feeling that Wen Wan was a bit troublesome, but as the daughter of his old friend, he couldn't just ignore her. Heatstroke could be serious, and he wouldn't feel at ease if something happened to her. So he said, "Ah Xin, you take Xiao Wan to get some water."
Moreover, Zhou Fu was a bit superstitious. He believed in the idea of good deeds bringing good karma and accumulating blessings leading to good fortune.
He had a kind heart and wouldn't repay kindness with ingratitude, nor would he ignore someone in need. Wen Wan's face did indeed look unwell.
Zhou Chengxin taking Wen Wan wasn't an issue, but Wen Wan also had a bicycle. "Then what about her bicycle?"
Zhou Fu looked at Jiang Xia, "Xiao Xia, why don't you ride it?"
Jiang Xia nodded, "Sure."
Then she handed the water bottle to Zhou Chenglei.
Zhou Chenglei took it, screwed the lid back on, and said, "Dad, you ride Xiao Wan's bicycle."
Zhou Fu immediately agreed, "Alright! I'll ride Xiao Wan's bicycle. It's bigger, and Xiao Xia might not be used to riding yours."
So Jiang Xia rode her own girl's bicycle, Zhou Fu rode Wen Wan's big bike, and Zhou Chengxin accompanied Wen Wan as they continued forward for a few hundred meters until they reached the mountain stream.
They stopped their bicycles by the roadside and walked down a small path.
Zhou Chenglei asked them to go first while he and Jiang Xia stayed above to watch over the bicycles.
After the three of them had washed their faces and filled up a bottle of water, Zhou Chenglei finally pulled Jiang Xia down to join them.
The mountain stream water was cool and refreshing. Jiang Xia washed her face and hands, feeling rejuvenated.
After washing his hands and face, Zhou Chenglei noticed a tree nearby with red flowers. He led Jiang Xia over, plucked a flower that hadn't fully bloomed, removed its calyx, and held the flower to Jiang Xia's lips, "Take a sip."
Jiang Xia took a sip, her eyes brightening with surprise, "It's sweet! Nectar?"
Zhou Chenglei smiled and nodded, knowing that she hadn't tasted it before, "Do you want more?"
"Yes!" Jiang Xia nodded.
So Zhou Chenglei turned to pick more.
The three of them on the road above watched, one plucking flowers and the other collecting nectar.
Wen Wan had just finished drinking a whole bottle of stream water and washed her hands and face, feeling refreshed. She watched the two of them with mixed emotions.
Zhou Chenglei was indeed a great man.
Capable and wealthy, attentive and caring, and even with a touch of romance, he was the ideal husband material.
If only she could have been reborn earlier!
Zhou Fu smiled as he watched his son picking flowers for his daughter-in-law. His son was truly skilled at pleasing his wife! Today, he had unlocked a new level of affection, and tomorrow, fortune would surely follow!
In the end, Zhou Chenglei plucked all the flowers from the tree, both the blooming and the buds. He also picked a flower and tucked it behind Jiang Xia's ear.
Jiang Xia felt embarrassed and laughed as she took it out, giving him a playful glare.
Zhou Chenglei smiled, took the flower she had removed, and placed it on her straw hat. Then he took her hand and said, "Let's go!"
(End of Chapter)
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