That evening, Zhao Dazhuang sat next to Director Shi, while Liu Xiue sat with Shi Yang’s mother, and Zhao ii squeezed in with Shi Yang.
During the al, Shi Yang rarely indulged and didn’t dare to eat much; he’d just taste a dish to try it and then stop, turning to assist Zhao ii with her al.
Director Shi raised his glass to Zhao Dazhuang: "All these years, I’ve been indebted to you and your wife for looking after Yangyang and his mother. I’ve kept all of this in my heart, and I’m truly grateful. Look, I’m a few years older than you, so from now on, just call Brother instead of Director Shi; it sounds too formal."
Zhao Dazhuang, being a sentintal person, was deeply moved by Director Shi’s words. Holding his glass warmly, he alternated between taking bites and sips, drinking heartily.
With soone of Director Shi’s status, social drinking couldn’t be avoided. He had so capacity, but overwheld by genuine emotion today, by the end of the al, both were a bit tipsy.
Zhao Dazhuang and Director Shi hugged each other and uttered quite a few nonsensical things.
Zhao Dazhuang, being a chubby man with a beer belly, had his face flushed from drinking, feeling overheated, he directly lifted his short-sleeved shirt, exposing his belly.
Director Shi, usually well-grood and dignified, had his shirt collar pulled open. At first, while slightly drunk, he was mindful of his appearance, but as he drank more, he beca warr, breaking into a sweat, and eventually unclasped his shirt buttons, leaving it open.
Director Shi was grateful to Zhao Dazhuang’s family of three for sincerely taking care of Shi Yang and his mother, acknowledging the hardship they endured. No need to speak of distant events, just this recent hospitalization showed that they were truly kind-hearted people.
Zhao Dazhuang, on the other hand, was mindful of the enrollnt spot Zhao ii received for primary school. Without Director Shi’s help, he would have run himself ragged, and yet it might not have worked out. Whether Zhao ii could attend a good primary school greatly impacted her future; it was a major life event.
Director Shi embraced Zhao Dazhuang, speaking from his heart: "Old friend, from now on, let’s treat both our families as one. If you face any difficulties at ho that I can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask. Don’t treat as an outsider."
Zhao Dazhuang patted Director Shi’s back: "Big Brother, rest assured, your wife and Yangyang are entrusted to us. We’ll take care of them. My ii has been close to her Brother Yangyang since she was little. My wife and I have always regarded him as our own child, and we like him very much, so please, don’t be courteous with us."
Director Shi was genuinely a bit drunk that day, with red-rimd eyes and words tinged with liquor: "Back then, I really ssed up! I wanted to act noble even after being disgraceful! Yangyang is my own son, and Xu Jing is my wife, the mother of my child. I kept worrying about that rubbish conscience, and now the child isn’t close to , and my wife acts like a stranger. I truly regret my actions!"
As soon as Director Shi finished speaking, the entire table fell silent; no one expected him to reveal such things.
Xu Jing’s eyes turned slightly red, reaching out to grab a tissue and gently pressing it to her eyes.
Zhao ii was busy eating the prawns her Brother Yangyang had peeled, suddenly sensing the atmosphere was off. She lifted her head in confusion, looked around, and turned to whisper to Shi Yang, only to find Shi Yang sitting bolt upright. His fingertips holding the chopsticks were slightly pale from exertion, and he pressed his lips tightly together, seemingly suppressing sothing intensely.
Zhao ii was adept at reading people’s expressions, knowing it wasn’t the ti to interrupt carelessly. With a mouthful of shrimp, she chewed noisily, and under the table, her chubby little hand quietly grasped Shi Yang’s left hand resting on his leg. She was surprised to find it clenched into a fist, trembling slightly.
Zhao ii gently rubbed the back of Shi Yang’s hand, and Shi Yang turned to look at her.
At this mont, Shi Yang’s eyes were astonished and shaken, with emotions surging inside, yet he outwardly maintained a calm appearance. As he looked at Zhao ii, and she grinned at him with an innocent, charming smile, the knot in Shi Yang’s heart suddenly loosened, his gaze landing on the two hands stacked one over the other, gradually calming his overexcited heart.
That evening, Director Shi personally helped Zhao ii’s family get a taxi and sent them off. Shi Yang and his mother stayed, waiting for Director Shi to arrange for a driver to co and drive the car away.
After entering the house, Zhao Dazhuang was still acting drunk, singing loudly all over the place, making Zhao ii laugh until she bent over. Liu Xiue, helpless, poked Zhao Dazhuang’s head, ultimately unable to resist joining in the laughter with a chuckle.
After Shi Yang recovered, he returned to school, but having missed over a month of coursework, catching up was challenging. Director Shi arranged with Shi Yang’s class teacher to allow him to study at the teacher’s ho and help him catch up on the curriculum.
Because of this, Zhao ii couldn’t even see Shi Yang on weekends.
Liu Xiue, whenever she brought snacks or fruits for Zhao ii, never forgot to bring a share for Xu Xu as well. Being kind-hearted, when she heard Zhao ii describe Xu Xu, she figured his family’s financial situation might not be great.
On Thursday evening, Liu Xiue proactively asked Zhao ii, "ii, didn’t you promise to invite Xu Xu over to play? The weekend is almost here; tomorrow at school, ask Xu Xu when he can co over, so I can prepare in advance."
Zhao ii had almost forgotten about it but rembered when her mom ntioned it, "Okay, I’ll ask him tomorrow."
When Xu Xu heard Zhao ii really invited him over, he was so touched his eyes reddened a bit. His large, glossy black eyes fixated on Zhao ii, replying incoherently, "I can co any day, tomorrow? Or maybe the day after tomorrow?"
Zhao ii thought for a mont, "Then co over to my place on Saturday; you’ll still have Sunday to go ho and do howork."
Zhao ii was used to doing howork on Sundays, so she assud others did the sa.
Xu Xu agreed without hesitation, "Alright."
Zhao ii and Xu Xu arranged a eting ti and place, setting it for Saturday morning at nine o’clock at the school’s entrance.
Liu Xiue and Zhao Dazhuang often heard Zhao ii talking about Xu Xu, but today was the first ti they t him in person.
Xu Xu’s mother, knowing he was visiting a classmate’s ho, specially changed him into clean clothes and packed a small bag of ho-fried soybeans.
Xu Xu accompanied Zhao ii to Liu Xiue’s grocery store to report in, hurriedly greeting Zhao ii’s parents politely, "Hello, Uncle and Auntie, my na is Xu Xu."
Xu Xu had a lovely appearance, with thick brows, big eyes, and a bright smile. After greeting, he shyly lowered his eyes, eyelashes casting shadows on his fair face, resembling a doll displayed in a cabinet.
Born with a particularly endearing look, Xu Xu was liked by all his teachers at school, who always treated him kindly.
Liu Xiue was evidently chard by his appearance, warmly stepping forward, holding Xu Xu’s hand, and examining him carefully, finding him increasingly delightful. The child was indeed too pretty and cute.
With kind eyes, Liu Xiue invited, "My ii often talks about you at ho. Co, I’ll take you and ii back ho to play. I’ll make braised pig trotters for lunch, how about that?"
Xu Xu, hearing about the pig trotters, lifted his head in surprise, his big eyes blinking, a bit excited, "Really?"
Liu Xiue’s heart softened imdiately, turning back to instruct Zhao Dazhuang to watch the store. Before leaving, she casually grabbed a few popular snacks from the shelves, giving each child a sandwich ice cream, the most expensive item in her store. Usually, she wouldn’t even let Zhao ii have it unless Shi Yang was around.
Xu Xu politely thanked her for the ice cream and, before leaving, rembered to bid Zhao Dazhuang farewell. Zhao Dazhuang, who also liked Xu Xu, cheerfully advised, "Feel at ho here, play however you want!"
Xu Xu was genuinely happy, his face radiant with a smile, "Thank you, Uncle."
Zhao Dazhuang waved his hand, thinking Xu Xu was a really nice kid—polite, well-behaved, and seemingly worry-free. Then he turned to look at Zhao ii, who was bouncing alongside Xu Xu, full of energy, and he couldn’t help but switch to a mode of admiring other people’s children. Tsk tsk, look at other people’s kids, how are they raised...
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