Chapter 1226: Chapter 1190: Mao Li’s Intentions
“Wow…”
Song Tan couldn’t help but click his tongue, holding his phone: “They really are quite efficient, aren’t they?”
Not only efficient, but everyone is so concise, with no questions or objections. It’s like they’re all just tools!
Zhang Yanping leaned over: “Add
to the group chat, so I can arrange als and accommodations later.”
Song Tan had just added him to the group when the previous na, [Chen Yuan], already replied:
[Chen Yuan: I can now buy tickets for February 8th, the eighth day of the lunar new year. If all goes well, I can be on site by 5 PM]
[Zhu Xinyu: I can currently buy a ticket for the afternoon of February 8th, expected to arrive on the 9th]
[…]
Zhang Yanping had just entered the group and saw everyone reporting their arrival tis, which left him dazed.
Scrolling through the chat history on Song Tan’s phone, he couldn’t help but be speechless: “Are you not celebrating the Spring Festival? Tickets are hard to buy during the New Year, yet you want people to arrive on the sa day…”
Uh…
Song Tan wasn’t really familiar with the hustle of Spring Festival travel.
“But many people will be back to work on the eighth, so tickets should be easier to get.”
“Easier, yes, but they’re from everywhere, near and far, and so have to transfer between trains… Forget it, let
handle it!”
He re-edited the ssage:
[Hi everyone, I’m Zhang Yanping, responsible for arranging your accommodations. I just spoke with the boss, and you can check in anyti from February 6th to 10th, no need to rush.]
This ssage made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Arriving on the sa day during the Spring Festival isn’t impossible, but it’s a bit tricky to buy tickets right now.
Yet, these workers can arrive on ti; they eventually worked out that concentrating the arrivals on February 9th would be best.
Chen Yuan, being the first to respond, soon received a private ssage—
[If anyone arrives early, it might be good to wait at the hotel and take a look at the work environnt.]
[Sure, let’s do that]
…
Lao Song’s family finalized their hiring plans with pressure, while in Yuncheng District, Aunt’s family was exceptionally happy.
It was Xiao Nian, and luckily Aunt was decisive, using the pork brought from Song Tan’s ho to cook a pot of mixed stew. The little stove was burning under it, and the pot bubbled with tiny bursts, the cabbage and tofu mixing with the aroma of at, enveloping the room…
Uncle Zhu Jun and son Zhu Lingqi were so distracted by the sight that they couldn’t even focus on scrolling through videos on their phones, only sneaking peeks at the kitchen.
After a while, Song Hongi finally spoke up: “Dinner’s ready.”
Father and son leaped up from the sofa and rushed to the kitchen, scooping rice and serving dishes, leaving Aunt speechless:
“It’s not the first ti you’re having this at, look how impatient you are…”
Indeed, it wasn’t their first ti. When the pig was slaughtered, Wu Lan had packed plenty of pork belly and various greens for her. The carrots and cabbages stored well, and thanks to Aunt’s ticulous planning, there’s still so left.
The at had been eaten every now and then, yet half of it was still left in the fridge…
Yes, half the month had passed, and from just a few kilos of at, half remained.
Despite Aunt’s grumbling, once she sat down, her first chopstick reached for the pork. While eating, she sighed:
“It’s just no good during the festival; the food budget suddenly goes up a lot.”
Uncle echoed her sentint with a nod: “Everyone’s stocking up for the New Year; the supermarkets are so busy they stay open half an hour later every night. It’s frantic; even the herbal teas at the entrance aren’t being delivered.”
They hadn’t refilled their teapot in days.
Suddenly, son Zhu Lingqi spoke up: “Mom, I ran into Auntie on my way ho after work. She said she wants to introduce
to soone. I said no need, but she ntioned coming over to talk to you tonight.”
“Coming to talk to ?” Song Hongi was stunned, then shook her head: “What’s there to talk about with ? If there’s soone suitable, just go for it.”
Uncle was more composed: “Don’t rush. Our family’s tradition is thrifty, and many young won these days don’t et this standard. You may clash in values in the future.”
“Son, observe and learn.”
Zhu Lingqi nodded earnestly: “There’s a girl at my workplace who’s nice. I’ve seen her several tis bringing her lunch, and it’s quite simple, almost always cabbage and tofu.”
“Good!” Uncle nodded: “That’s nice, observe more!”
While they were talking, the phone rang suddenly, and Aunt looked at it, letting out a “tsk”:
“It’s really your Aunt! What’s up with them? Acting all high and mighty every day, last ti Tantan’s words were so sharp, they barely exchanged a sentence, and now out of the blue they’re contacting again…”
Aunt cautioned: “Son, I’m telling you, just look at your older cousin and uncle, you’ll realize your aunt’s taste is off. Whoever she introduces, don’t you dare listen to her.”
Zhu Lingqi agreed wholeheartedly.
And just then, Aunt answered the phone.
“Sister-in-law, what’s up?”
Argue or not, if the ties are not completely cut, one has to maintain a semblance of manners.
Aunt ate while chatting.
Mao Li didn’t show a hint of discomfort, rather she acted as though there’d never been any rift, warmly saying to her: “Did Lingqi tell you? Such a big guy, and you parents don’t seem to worry… I know a nice girl who would match him perfectly.”
“Oh.” Aunt wasn’t very interested: “Our Lingqi isn’t in a rush…”
“You see, as a mother, he’s of age already! Dating for two years and then marrying, in a blink, he’ll be 30.”
“Let
tell you, the girl I found teaches Ziyi. You know nowadays private English tutoring is popular, right…”
“University student! She’s very capable, asked how life is in our hotown village… How long has it been since we’ve seen the elderly there? How should I know?”
Aunt just quietly listened, finally realizing Mao Li’s main topic tonight:
“By the way, Hongi, what day are you planning to return ho for the New Year? Your brother can’t let go of mom and dad. He spent a few thousand yuan on a TV for the old man, we could leave together— Hongi? Hongi?”
Aunt furrowed her brow. The phone was slapped onto the table. After a while, she picked it up again:
“Sister-in-law, sorry, what were you saying? Oh dear, you know this portable stove, I’ve had it for ages. When I turned it off, it wouldn’t go out… burning alcohol!”
“Nowadays a box of alcohol has gone up a lot, I fiddled with it for a while to turn it off—what were you saying? My brother’s getting appliances for dad?”
“Alright, I was just saying I spent over 20,000 on appliances before, felt a bit pinched. Just pay
back half, and it’ll be like the two of us splitting the cost.”
“`
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