Chapter 602: Disdain
Chapter 602: Disdain
Zhang Rui: "Sure, I have an invitation. I can give it to you."
Li Qiufeng, upon hearing that an invitation was needed, quickly declined, "No, that's okay. I thought it was open to everyone. I don't really want to go."
She was too innocent, and Zhang Rui could see through her pretense. She had wanted to go but was too shy to accept.
Zhang Rui said, "I don't have anyone else to give it to, and I don't need it myself. If you don't go, it will be wasted."
Li Qiufeng didn't believe it would be wasted; surely many people would want to go. "No, I won't go. It's too cold, and I don't want to leave the house. I'll stay home and knit a sweater."
Zhang Rui had specifically secured this invitation.
He had a mission of his own.
He said he wanted her to see the ceremony, but in truth, he wanted her to see him.
However, Zhang Rui didn't push further. Instead, he went into the study and handed the invitation to Zhao Chenglei, "My cousin might want to go. She's too shy to take it, so I'm giving it to you. You can give it to her!"
Zhao Chenglei and Zhang Rong looked at him.
Zhang Rong: "What's going on with you?"
When had he ever tried to secure such invitations?
Zhang Rui sat down, "What's going on? Nothing."
Zhang Rong: "Grandma wants you to visit the compound during National Day to see the Dong family's granddaughter. I agreed for you."
Zhang Rui was taken aback, "What? You agreed for me? If you agreed, you should go yourself. I'm not going!"
"Then what about Zeng Jing? Grandma from the Zeng family also approached our grandma. She wants you to come home during National Day for a family dinner."
Zhang Rui's head ached, "No, I don't have time!"
Was it that none of the girls in their families could find a husband? Were they all targeting him?
Zhang Rong: "Grandma thinks your cousin is a good match and wants to introduce her to you. Will you see her?"
"No! I won't see anyone! And a cousin? Haven't you heard that relatives can't marry?"
Wait, which cousin? Did he even have a cousin?
"Which cousin?"
"Lei's cousin."
Zhao Chenglei: "Stay away from my cousin."
Zhang Rui: "..."
Why should he stay away from her?
Was his fourth brother also being picky?
*
As the National Day holiday approached, the festive atmosphere grew more intense.
It was evident everywhere, from the school to the streets.
In the evening, Jiang Xia came home from class and, before even entering the courtyard, heard her father and mother playing with the children.
The children responded with "Mm-hmm."
Jiang Xia pushed her bicycle in, surprised, "Dad, Mom, why are you here?"
"National Day, we're here on business. Mom is back!" Jiang Father stood up, holding his granddaughter, and glanced at her: she had lost weight again!
His three grandchildren had grown fatter and taller, but his daughter had lost weight.
Jiang Xia gently pulled her daughter's soft, plump hand, "We plan to go back the day after tomorrow!"
Zhao Chenglei had booked the flight well in advance, for 2 PM on September 30th.
It was a Friday, and Jiang Xia had no classes that afternoon.
"I know. Dad and Mom will leave after the holiday, on the second."
Jiang Mother, worried, had come with Jiang Father, "We came to check on you. Has that person come looking for you?"
Jiang Father sighed; his wife was too anxious.
Who would ask such a question as soon as they arrived? They were supposed to be happy.
Even if he did come, there was nothing to fear!
The truth was the truth; his daughter was his daughter, and no one could take her away!
Jiang Xia: "No, why would he come? We have no connection."
Jiang Mother felt relieved. If he hadn't come in so long, he probably wouldn't come at all.
Jiang Father looked at his daughter, "You're already tired from studying and taking care of the children. Don't overwork yourself. You've lost weight again."
"Not tired, and I haven't lost weight. My muscles have just gotten firmer. I ride my bicycle every day, and the campus is huge. My legs have become really strong!" Jiang Xia patted her long, muscular legs through her jeans, making a "thud" sound, "They call me Iron Legs!"
Zhao Chenglei looked at Jiang Xia; she had indeed become stronger.
Jiang Father laughed at his daughter's joke, "Nonsense."
Jiang Dong: "Dad, you should look at me! I'm the one who's lost weight!"
Jiang Father shot his son a disapproving glance. "You’ve been freeloading off your brother-in-law, and now you’re as fat as a pig! How can you still be thin?"
"How is that possible?"
He exercises every day!
Zhang Fuyan smiled. "You really have put on weight!"
Jiang Dong: "…"
"Starting tomorrow, I’ll go back to eating at school!"
The whole family laughed.
Jiang Father then turned to his daughter. "If you’re too late when you return the day after tomorrow, you can stay at home or in your apartment. Your mother and I have already cleaned it up."
Every morning, Jiang Father would run to Jiang Xia’s apartment, clean the place, open the windows for some fresh air, and tend to the small vegetable garden on the rooftop.
He and his wife rarely ate at home, so the vegetables from the garden were enough for them, and sometimes they even had leftovers to share with their colleagues.
"Alright."
They would probably stay in the city for a night.
Their flight would land around four in the afternoon, and their aunt wouldn’t have a car to take them home, so they would return to the village together. The next day, they would have to go back to the city to catch the bus, which would be too much trouble.
So, they decided to stay in the city for the night and take the children for a health check-up. They would return to Cun Li the next morning.
But since their aunt was also in town, they wouldn’t stay at her place and would instead go back to their own apartment.
Jiang Mother didn’t want to wait for Jiang Father either. "I’ll go back with you. Can I still get a ticket?"
Jiang Father was on a business trip, and she had nothing to do if she stayed behind. With the children going back, what was the point of her staying?
Jiang Dong: "I’ll call and check."
After finishing dinner, he would send Zhang Fuyan home and then call to book the tickets.
*
The next morning, Jiang Xia had to rush to class. After feeding the children and having breakfast, she went to her room and said to Zhao Chenglei, "I’m off to school!"
"Put on a jacket; it’s windy outside." Zhao Chenglei, who was changing the children’s diapers, stood up and handed her a jacket.
He still ran every morning, and by the time he got back, the children would be waking up.
It had cooled down a bit in the early morning, and the wind was strong.
"Okay." Jiang Xia took the jacket and grabbed her backpack, then pushed her bicycle out the door.
Jiang Father, who had just finished his morning run, saw that her jacket was only draped over the handlebars. He picked it up and gestured to her.
"It’s windy, put it on! And let Xiao Dong take you."
Jiang Xia reluctantly put it on. "It’s not convenient."
She had to walk between two schools, and her class schedule was different from Jiang Dong’s. Riding a bicycle was more convenient.
"Button it up."
Jiang Xia obediently put on the jacket and buttoned it before leaving.
However, once she was a short distance away, she took it off. She rode fast and easily broke a sweat.
In the afternoon, after her classes ended, she got home at four. Jiang Xia and Zhang Fuyan accompanied Jiang Mother to go shopping.
They went to the Friendship Store, where Jiang Xia bought her mother a watch.
Last night, while helping the children bathe, Jiang Mother had accidentally dropped her watch into the basin, and it had stopped working.
Without a watch, it was inconvenient, so Jiang Xia decided to accompany her to buy a new one.
Jiang Mother liked a simple and elegant Longines watch.
It looked beautiful on her, but:
"It’s a bit expensive."
It cost over three hundred yuan.
Her last one only cost a hundred or so.
Jiang Xia: "It’s fine, and it looks great."
Actually, Jiang Xia wanted her mother to buy a Rolex, which would be more valuable.
But Jiang Mother didn’t like it.
Zhang Fuyan nodded. "It suits Auntie very well."
Jiang Xia paid for the watch as she told the salesperson, "We’ll take this one."
The salesperson, envious, said, "Your daughter is so filial!"
She wished she had such a good daughter.
Jiang Mother smiled.
Both of her children were very filial.
As they were about to leave, they saw Dong Yan.
(End of Chapter)
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