Chapter 186: How Could Jiang Xia Be So Stupid?
Chapter 186: How Could Jiang Xia Be So Stupid?
Jiang Xia replied, "I was at the publishing house picking up some books, so I'm a bit late. Are you done shopping?"
Zhou Li smiled, "We're done. The things in the mall are really good, but they're so expensive. I couldn't bear to buy anything."
Jiang Xia asked Zhou Zhou and Zhou Wen Zu, "Did you buy anything?"
Zhou Wen Zu pouted, "Second Auntie bought us candy. My mom forgot to bring money."
She had promised to take him to the city's mall to buy whatever he wanted.
But when it came time to pay, she said she forgot her money!
Why go shopping without money?
She got his hopes up for nothing!
This was Zhou Wen Zu's first time in a mall. He had only been to the town's supply and marketing cooperative and never to a mall. His classmates had told him that the city's mall was much bigger than the cooperative, with a far greater selection.
His classmates were right! The mall was indeed much larger than the cooperative!
One of his classmates had bought a video game console from the city's mall, and he wanted one too. He had searched the entire mall to find it.
He had been so hopeful, only to be deeply disappointed.
Jiang Xia guessed that Tian Caihua wouldn't be willing to buy too many things for the children, but she never expected her to outright say she forgot her money!
"So, is there anything you want to buy?"
Zhou Zhou shook his head, "No."
Zhou Wen Zu said, "Auntie, I want to buy a video game console."
A video game console? That could easily lead to addiction!
Jiang Xia wasn't being stingy; she was concerned about Zhou Wen Zu becoming addicted to games. After some thought, she said, "If all of you get a perfect score on the midterm exam, Auntie will buy one! Whoever gets a perfect score can play with it, and those who don't can't."
Zhou Wen Zu's eyes lit up, "Alright."
He had just started second grade, and he thought getting a perfect score would be easy, as he often achieved it in first grade.
Zhou Li smiled, "You're such a loving auntie to these kids."
Jiang Xia, hearing her flattering words, merely smiled. She glanced at her watch; it was ten minutes to five-thirty.
"I'll take the two kids to buy something. You wait here, okay? I'll be quick."
Tian Caihua's pearls hadn't been sold yet!
Assuming Jiang Xia was going to sell the pearls, she immediately said, "I'll come too."
Zhou Li also wanted to show off in front of Jiang Xia, but the mall's items were expensive. If Jiang Xia bought something too pricey, she wouldn't be able to bear it either. So, she smiled and said, "You go ahead. I'll wait here for Guo Hua. Take your time and choose carefully. I'll ask him to wait for you."
Tian Caihua smiled, "Okay, thanks, Second Auntie. Be sure to wait for us!"
Zhou Li smiled, "Don't worry!"
Jiang Xia also thanked her, then took the two children into the mall.
Tian Caihua immediately asked, "Are you going to sell..."
She patted her backpack but couldn't bring herself to say it.
Jiang Xia said, "Sister-in-law, let's sell yours next time. I just sold mine."
Tian Caihua shrieked, "You sold yours? Why didn't you wait for me?"
Jiang Xia glanced at her and calmly said, "Wasn't Sister-in-law supposed to accompany Second Auntie shopping? Do you want her to know that you're selling pearls and that we found so many in the sea?"
Tian Caihua huffed, "When did I say I'd accompany her shopping?"
Of course, selling pearls was the priority!
Jiang Xia said, "Weren't you inviting her to shop together when you arrived?"
Tian Caihua: "..."
It seemed she had indeed said that.
Oh, how infuriating! If only she had kept quiet!
She had just spoken without thinking!
Jiang Xia took the two children to a sports store, where she bought a pair of table tennis rackets and a pair of badminton rackets. She got two table tennis balls and ten badminton shuttlecocks, as they were prone to damage.
Sports were beneficial for physical and mental health, and the school had a table tennis table, which would allow Zhou Zhou to play with the village kids at school and in the village.
Then she bought a soccer ball and two jump ropes. After spending almost all the money she had, Jiang Xia finally stopped.
Zhou Wen Zu was so excited that he pulled at Jiang Xia, jumping and running around. Auntie was the best! He also wanted to live with Zhou Zhou and Auntie.
Jiang Xia smiled, "You two go back and play with your brothers. You can also play with the village kids, but remember to bring everything back home afterward, don't lose them."
Jiang Xia thought these sports items were suitable for both boys and girls, and except for the jump ropes, they required more than one person to play. Playing soccer on the beach would surely attract many children to join in. With Zhou Zhou playing more with the kids, his personality should become livelier.
Tian Caihua watched as Jiang Xia bought so many things, spending over a hundred yuan. She thought, She must have sold the pearls for a good price, or she wouldn't be so generous!
She couldn't help but regret inviting Zhou Li to go shopping with her; otherwise, she could have sold her pearls.
The four of them exited the mall, and it was precisely 5:30 pm, but Zhou Guohua's tractor had not arrived yet.
Jiang Xia, fearing the two children might get hungry on the way, went to buy some pastries and steamed buns, thinking they could eat them on the road.
After waiting for another twenty minutes, it was almost 6 pm, and Zhou Li was getting anxious!
She looked left and right, then anxiously asked, "Why haven't they arrived yet?"
At that moment, a jeep stopped at the mall entrance, but no one got out of the car. Jiang Xia glanced at it but didn't pay much attention.
The people in the jeep, however, looked at Jiang Xia several times but were still unsure.
After another five minutes, Zhang Rong came out and saw that Jiang Xia was still there. He approached her and asked, "Younger sister, hasn't the village tractor arrived yet?"
Jiang Xia turned and smiled, "Yes. Has Second Brother finished work?"
"Yes, I just got off work and was about to leave," Zhang Rong said, then waved to the people in the jeep.
The people in the jeep, upon seeing him talking to Jiang Xia, confirmed her identity. He immediately unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.
Zhang Rui walked up to Jiang Xia, saluted, and loudly greeted her, "Hello, Sister-in-law!"
Zhang Rui, in his uniform, showed such respect to Jiang Xia, deeply impressing Zhou Li and Tian Caihua! Zhou Li secretly sized up Zhang Rui and then glanced at the license plate of the jeep, her heart racing.
Was this car assigned to him?
What position must one hold to be assigned a car?
Someone like him was calling Jiang Xia 'Sister-in-law' with such reverence!
Moreover, was this person the manager of the jewelry store inside the mall? When they passed by the jewelry store earlier, she heard the staff addressing him that way.
Zhou Li gained a firsthand understanding of Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei's connections for the first time.
Jiang Xia smiled and replied, "Hello, Third Brother!"
Zhang Rui was younger than Zhou Chenglei but older than Jiang Xia. Since she called Zhang Rong 'Second Brother,' she decided to call Zhang Rui 'Third Brother.'
Zhang Rui was flattered, feeling as if he had taken advantage of the Battalion Commander. He quickly said, "Sister-in-law, just call me Little Zhang!"
Zhang Rong said, "Younger sister, it's getting late. Don't wait anymore. Let's go eat first, and then Zhang Rui can drive you back."
Zhang Rui immediately agreed, "Yes, Sister-in-law, let's go eat!"
Tian Caihua's heart stirred. She had only dined at a restaurant in the city once, and that was years ago when she came to the city with Zhou Chengxin to sell fish for the production team.
Zhou Li was also a bit tempted. It would be nice to have a meal with such a person and become familiar with them.
Jiang Xia felt embarrassed and politely declined, "No need. The tractor should be here soon. It wouldn't be good for us to not be there when it arrives."
At that moment, another black sedan pulled up, and the window rolled down. "Xiaxia!"
Jiang Xia looked over, "Dad."
Jiang Fu got out of the car, "What are you doing here?"
Zhang Rong and Zhang Rui quickly greeted him, one calling out and the other saluting.
Jiang Fu smiled and returned the greeting with a salute.
Then he asked Jiang Xia, "Where's Alei? It's so late, and he's not home yet. Is he staying here tonight?"
Jiang Xia smiled, "He went out to sea. I won't be going home tonight. My eldest sister-in-law and my nephew and niece are here, and my father-in-law and mother-in-law are waiting at home. I'm worried they'll be concerned. The village folks will be coming with the tractor soon, and I'll ride back with them."
Only then did Jiang Fu look at Tian Caihua and Zhou Li.
Tian Caihua was a bit intimidated by Jiang Fu's aura and stammered, "F-Father-in-law."
Zhou Li smiled and spoke warmly, "Father-in-law, I'm Xiaxia's second aunt."
Jiang Fu's tone was gentle, and he smiled, "Hello."
Jiang Xia taught the two children to call him 'Grandpa.'
Both children obediently called out, "Grandpa."
Jiang Fu smiled and responded, "Good kids," as he patted their heads. As he withdrew his hand, he casually checked his watch and then looked at Jiang Xia, "Why don't you have dinner with Dad first before heading back? Don't let the kids go hungry."
Zhang Rong smiled, "I was just saying the same thing."
Jiang Xia shook her head, "I bought steamed buns to eat on the way. I don't know when the tractor will arrive, and I don't want to make them come here for nothing."
Tian Caihua blurted out, "Second Aunt can wait here for her nephew, right, Second Aunt?"
Having a meal, and then being driven back in a jeep or a car, why take the tractor? The tractor is slow and not as comfortable as a car!
Moreover, Zhou Guohua hasn't arrived yet, who knows when he will come? It will be very late by the time we get back to the village by tractor!
Why is Jiang Xia so foolish?
Tian Caihua wished she could agree on Jiang Xia's behalf!
Zhou Li: "..."
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(End of Chapter)
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