Luo Zhiyong’s perfunctory replies were as uncomfortable for Xu He, who sat beside him, as cat’s claws scratching her heart. Normally, a man would seize every opportunity to speak more, especially with a girl as pretty as her, and would even talk when there was nothing to say.
But Luo Zhiyong answered only what was asked, and his replies were extrely brief, leaving her with no good way to continue the conversation.
After all, her liking for Luo Zhiyong was still hidden in her heart, and what she wanted now was just to get closer to Luo Zhiyong, trying to make sure she stayed in his mind so things could move forward slowly over ti.
With Luo Zhiyong’s responses, she simply didn’t know how to proceed.
Seeing that she had finished her questions, Luo Zhiyong prepared to leave to walk around the village and stood up saying, "I’m going to..."
But Xu He pretended not to notice Luo Zhiyong’s intent to leave, and while blinking, she asked, "Oh, by the way, Brother Zhiyong, when are you going back to the provincial city this ti?"
Luo Zhiyong had already stood up and did not sit back down. He stood and replied to Xu He, "Tomorrow. I ca back because there’s sothing I need to do."
"That’s perfect. I was planning to go to the provincial city in a few days too. Tomorrow I’ll go with you, ok?" Xu He, fearing rejection, blinked timidly, "This is my first ti going to the provincial city, and my parents are worried, and I’m a bit scared too. I’m not sure how to find the place my uncle ntioned."
Without much thought, and considering doing a favor for soone in the village, Luo Zhiyong imdiately agreed, "Alright then. You should co early tomorrow; we’ll probably head to the village’s main road to catch the bus, don’t be late."
"Great! Then I’ll go back and pack my things." Xu He was elated. She didn’t know that Luo Zhiming would also be leaving tomorrow and thought she would get to spend ti alone with Luo Zhiyong, so she couldn’t wait to go ho and pack. She then smiled sweetly at Luo Zhiyong, "Brother Zhiyong, I’ll head back now."
Zhiyong watched her leave happily, shook his head with a smile, thinking the girl was so delighted about going to the provincial city.
Just as Luo Zhiyong was about to step outside, he suddenly rembered that he seldom ca back ho, and perhaps he should visit his in-laws. After all, it would be bad if people gossiped about it since they lived in the sa village.
So, he grabbed so money, went to the village store, and bought so canned foods, milk powder, and a few pounds of fruit and headed to Fang Ping’an’s place.
Early that morning, both Fang Ping’an and Li Yuchun were at ho. When they saw Luo Zhiyong, they were both surprised. Fang Ping’an spoke with a smile, "Zhiyong, what brings you back all of a sudden?"
"Dad, mom." Not wanting to ntion the affair that Zhiming had with another woman outside, Luo Zhiyong simply replied, "I ca back temporarily due to so matters and am leaving tomorrow. I was free today, so I thought I’d co to see you."
While speaking, Luo Zhiyong handed over the items he was carrying.
Li Yuchun reached out and took the items without any reservation, asking with a smile, "What’s the matter that brought you back in such a hurry?"
"Nothing much, just so military affairs. Once I’ve handled it, I’ll leave." Luo Zhiyong pointed to the items in Li Yuchun’s hands, feeling slightly embarrassed, "This is sothing I bought for you both. It was a rush coming back, so I didn’t prepare anything special, just bought these in the village."
"Look at you, buying more stuff. Don’t be so polite next ti you co." Li Yuchun politely said as she invited Luo Zhiming to sit down. "By the way, how is Xiu’er doing in the city? Has she found work?"
As soon as Li Yuchun finished speaking, Fang Ping’an sitting beside her looked at her displeased and then added, "And Pingying, they’ve been in the provincial city for a while now, how are things going for them there?"
Luo Zhiyong knew why Fang Ping’an felt this way; probably didn’t want him to think that they were too biased towards Fang Xiu and Fang Pingying. Clearly, he was Fang Pingying’s husband. He ca to visit them, but Li Yuchun only asked about Fang Xiu.
Luo Zhiyong also knew a bit about their family affairs; naturally, their own daughter and the adopted daughter couldn’t be compared on the sa level.
He felt a bit sorry for his wife, but didn’t show it on his face.
He simply continued on the topic Li Yuchun had asked about, "It’s okay, the two of them, along with Hong Lan, work together, the job is light, it’s pretty good."
"The two sisters working together, now I can rest easy. With Pingying looking after Xiu’er, nothing bad will happen," Li Yuchun said delightedly upon hearing this, then she asked Luo Zhiyong, "By the way, Zhiyong, how much can they earn in a month working in the city?"
Luo Zhiyong knew that Li Yuchun and his own mother Zhou Yui were of a similar nature; if they knew the children earned a lot, they’d be thinking of ways to skimp so for themselves, so he didn’t specify and just gave a rough idea, "Around 20 or 30 dollars. The wages for those helping out in the stores in the city are all about the sa, not too high."
Li Yuchun bead upon hearing this, "30 dollars is quite a lot, how much can we save in a year at ho? When you go there, rember to remind Xiu’er for , tell her to work well, save more money, and co back early for the New Year, just say that Mom misses her."
"They’re all grown up, already married, what’s there left to miss?" Fang Ping’an, seeing Li Yuchun acting like an intractable paper lantern, repeatedly ntioning only Fang Xiu, was slightly irritated and deliberately retorted with a snort, "Look at Pingying, she never makes us worry extra."
"Pingying is just obedient, unlike Fang Xiu, who never did much work at ho and has a bad temper, throwing tantrums easily. This is the first ti she’s gone out to work; of course, I’m worried." Li Yuchun finally realized what she had done and made a "nothing to hide" explanation to Luo Zhiyong, "Zhiyong, that’s the situation, right? Actually, both are my daughters. I love them the sa."
Luo Zhiyong definitely didn’t want to comnt on this matter and simply smiled in agreent.
After sitting for a while with Fang Ping’an, Luo Zhiyong said he had to go back. Li Yuchun, not wanting to go through the trouble of making a special al just for Luo Zhiyong and also because there wasn’t much food at ho, didn’t ask him to stay for dinner and simply saw him out the door.
Seeing Luo Zhiyong leave, Fang Ping’an looked at Li Yuchun unhappily and said, "Do you even have a brain? Today, Zhiyong ca back to see us, and all you talked about was missing Xiu’er. Doesn’t that make Zhiyong feel uncomfortable, like we are treating Xiu’er and Pingying differently?"
Li Yuchun knew she had been negligent earlier since Fang Pingying never needed her to fuss or ask too much. She was accustod to dwelling on Fang Xiu alone and didn’t rember everything else.
But she refused to admit it, "How have I treated Pingying poorly? I’ve raised her since I picked her up as a child; I haven’t deprived her of food or drink. It’s almost the sa as with my own daughter."
"You know exactly how you treat people, and so do others. Don’t keep saying that." Fang Ping’an sighed as he looked at her, then expressed his worries, "I just want to remind you, including Pingying, we only have two daughters. When we get old in the future, we’ll have to rely on them. But think about it yourself, between Zhiyong and Zhiming, who do you think we can count on more? We need to plan for our old age."
(To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian to read.)
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