"It’s settled," Liu Fengsheng pointed ahead, saying, "My house is just up ahead not far from here. How about we go there now to make the call, would that be convenient?"
"Convenient, convenient, I’ve finished making my sales for the day; it’s just too much trouble for you all," Fang Pingying quickly nodded.
"What trouble? Sister Fang, why so formal with ? It’s just making a call, such a simple thing." After speaking, Xiao Ling pulled Fang Pingying and Luo Honglan forward.
Xiao Ling’s house was indeed not far behind the supply and marketing cooperative, and it was the sort of better-quality blue brick house that was not commonly seen at this ti, completely whitewashed on the outside, with two stories, resembling a small Western-style building from afar.
In the past life, this house might not have been worth much, but at this ti, having a house in the town already counted as quite remarkable. After a few years, when the land prices here go up, this house would be worth quite a bit of money.
As soon as they entered the house, a middle-aged woman in her fifties ca out to greet them.
Seeing Xiao Ling bringing two guests back, the woman smiled and greeted Fang Pingying and the others, smiling, "Oh, Xiao Ling has brought guests back."
"Yes, this is Sister Fang and Sister Hong Lan." After Xiao Ling finished speaking, she pulled the woman over to introduce her to Fang Pingying, "This is my Aunt at ho, you can call her Aunt Zhou."
"Aunt Zhou." Fang Pingying paused, wondering if it was appropriate for them to also call her ’Aunt’ since she was Xiao Ling’s aunt.
But generally speaking, as she was an elder, calling her Aunt was not wrong, so Fang Pingying pulled Luo Honglan to greet her.
Actually, at first, Fang Pingying was a bit unclear about the woman’s identity. Given her age, she could have been Xiao Ling’s grandmother; it seed unlikely she was really an aunt, and it also seed she wasn’t managing their family affairs, just doing housework.
However, later on, seeing that Liu Fengsheng also called her Aunt, and observing the woman busily moving around the house doing various chores, Fang Pingying understood—she must be a housekeeper hired by Liu Fengsheng’s family, no wonder everyone called her Aunt.
Looking at the furniture in Xiao Ling’s house, which was all relatively high-end, Fang Pingying couldn’t help but feel puzzled. How could a director of a town’s supply and marketing cooperative be so wealthy?
But soon, Xiao Ling explained Fang Pingying’s doubts, "Sister Fang, do you think our house looks shabby? Actually, this house isn’t ours. My dad was transferred here for work. They assigned it to us from the supply and marketing cooperative, and said it’s the best house in town. But it’s far worse than our house in the provincial city."
Fang Pingying was startled and then asked, "Your family is originally from the provincial city?"
Xiao Ling nodded, "Yes, I used to study in the provincial city, but my dad got transferred to work here for a year or two, so I switched schools to co here. But actually, I really didn’t want to co, the schools here can’t compare to the one I went to in the provincial city."
As soon as Xiao Ling finished speaking, Liu Fengsheng walked out of the room with a sowhat serious expression and said to Xiao Ling, "Xiao Ling, how many tis has dad told you not to always complain about bad things? Think more about what you have..."
Xiao Ling, seemingly afraid of being scolded by her dad, surreptitiously stuck out her tongue and then intentionally pulled Fang Pingying to change the subject, "Alright, alright, I’m going to take Sister Fang inside to make the call, stop nagging."
It was evident that although Liu Fengsheng was sharp and clear-eyed at work, he was sowhat helpless when it ca to dealing with his beloved daughter.
He gave a resigned smile, nodded at Fang Pingying, "Miss Fang, you go inside with Xiao Ling, the phone is in the inner room."
Xiao Ling led Fang Pingying into the inner room, which seed to be Liu Fengsheng’s living quarter, decorated extrely sparsely with only the essentials and devoid of any ornantal items.
Fang Pingying, sharp-eyed, noted that the room lacked any trace of a female touch, and although she and Xiao Ling had known each other for a while, she had never heard Xiao Ling ntion anything about her mother.
Could it be that her mother never relocated to the provincial city?
But another thought crossed Fang Pingying’s mind—perhaps there were marital issues between Xiao Ling’s parents, and Xiao Ling followed her father.
However, these were personal family matters. Since Xiao Ling did not bring them up, Fang Pingying did not inquire either.
She walked over to the telephone and dialed the number Luo Zhiyong had left her at their ho.
Coincidentally, it was Luo Zhiyong who answered the phone. Fang Pingying, hearing his voice, excitedly exclaid, "Zhiyong."
Luo Zhiyong easily recognized Fang Pingying’s voice over the phone and responded with equal excitent, "Pingying, is that you?"
Fang Pingying, touched by the gentle voice on the other end, felt a sudden sting in her nose, and afraid he might notice sothing was off, she just nodded silently without speaking.
Realizing later that Luo Zhiyong couldn’t see her actions on the other end of the line, she took a deep breath and quickly spoke up, "Yes, it’s ."
Luo Zhiyong chuckled softly over the phone, asking, "Where are you calling from? I sent a telegram back ho a few days ago after I arrived; did you not receive it?"
"I haven’t received it yet; I suppose I’ll get it once I’m back ho, and the commissary will deliver it," Fang Pingying felt it improper to speak too much in soone else’s place, so she quickly brought up the most important matter, "By the way, I’m visiting the troops tomorrow."
"Coming tomorrow?" Luo Zhiyong’s first reaction was to worry whether his mother had caused so trouble at ho or quarreled with Fang Pingying again, and he anxiously asked, "Did sothing happen at ho?"
Fang Pingying, not wanting him to worry, quickly shook her head and reassured, "No, nothing’s wrong, I just missed you and thought it’d be better to go to the troops earlier."
Hearing Fang Pingying’s words ward Luo Zhiyong’s heart. Being apart for just a few days, he too had been missing his wife at ho.
In fact, he had been contemplating whether to have Fang Pingying co and stay for a while. Previously being alone in the army, he never felt uneasy, but now with a wife, everything felt awkward.
Whether he was training outside or working in the office, he was fine, but once he returned ho alone, his mind was filled with thoughts of his wife, feeling as if his life was incomplete without her.
Therefore, Luo Zhiyong imdiately responded with a smile, "Alright, when you arrive tomorrow, I’ll co to pick you up."
Fang Pingying, hearing the eagerness in Luo Zhiyong’s voice, softly chuckled on her end, feeling slightly relieved as she had been initially worried he might be displeased with her visit.
She laughed and said, "I haven’t bought the ticket yet; I need to go to the county tomorrow to buy a train ticket, so I guess it will be around the sa ti as your trip."
Luo Zhiyong guessed it was the sa train and thus instructed her, "Got it, just be careful on your way, perhaps let my dad or Zhiming take you to the county. I’ll wait for you at the exit of the train station tomorrow. If I don’t see you, don’t go ahead; in case you get lost." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian to read.)
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