bestfiction Chapter 477 Xiao Zhou's First Visit, Zhuang Chaoying Forgot to Respond
Chapter 477 Xiao Zhou's First Visit, Zhuang Chaoying Forgot to Respond
Xiao Zhou prepared some gifts and would ask Pengfei from time to time what his uncle and aunt liked, worried that the gifts he prepared might not be to their liking.
Pengfei patiently comforted him.
"Your uncle and aunt are just like my parents, so don't be nervous. They are very nice and easy-going people."
She nodded and gave a soft "hmm".
Upon arrival at their destination, Xiao Zhou was greeted warmly by Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling, who pulled him inside and offered him tea and fruit, making him feel a little embarrassed.
They looked at the lively young girl in front of them. She had beautiful features and her every move exuded politeness and grace.
Xiao Zhou politely greeted the two elders and handed them the gifts. "Uncle, Aunt, Grandpa, Grandma, this is a small token of my appreciation."
Huang Ling accepted the gift, took Xiao Zhou's hand, and handed him a red envelope with a smile.
"Oh, it's fine if you come, why did you bring anything? This child is so thoughtful."
Xiao Zhou looked at the red envelope in his hand, then at Pengfei.
"Take it. My uncle and aunt are just like my parents."
"Thank you, Uncle and Aunt!"
The group of them had a very good first impression of this quiet and polite girl and nodded in approval.
She and Pengfei went to the same university and seemed to have a good relationship, so she told them to get along well.
Before he knew it, it was time for Xiao Zhou to take his leave.
Huang Ling quickly called out to Pengfei.
"Pengfei, take Xiao Zhou back to Wu County. It's not safe for a girl to travel alone."
After saying that, he asked Pengfei to go to the rafters in the kitchen and get some cured meat for Xiao Zhou. It was all prepared by Huang's parents for the New Year, and he told Xiao Zhou to take it home and try it.
Pengfei smiled and nodded, his gaze unconsciously drifting to Xiao Zhou, who was chatting with his maternal grandparents (as he called them, like Xiaoting).
At this moment, Xiao Zhou was holding his little sister in his arms, smiling brightly as he chatted happily with the old man.
He stood on a stool in the kitchen and reached for the cured meat hanging from the beam. Huang Ling held onto the stool beside him, muttering to herself.
"Be careful, don't fall."
Pengfei successfully took the cured meat. After getting off the chair, he bent down slightly, leaned his head towards Huang Ling, and lowered his voice.
"Aunt, what do you think of this Xiao Zhou?"
Huang Ling smiled and, just like she always did with Tu Nan, patted the dust off his back. "The young lady is quite polite and has a good personality. What, if I disagree, will you listen?"
Pengfei quickly said.
"Auntie, I brought her back so you could help me make a decision. No matter what anyone else says, it won't matter, but I'll definitely listen to your opinion."
Huang Ling gently nodded his head.
"Your mouth is just like it was when you were a kid, always trying to sweet-talk people. I think you two are a good match, you two should get along well. Also, your parents aren't around, there are some things they won't tell you. When dating, a guy has to be responsible, and you can't do *that* before marriage, Pengfei, do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Pengfei couldn't help but chuckle and carried the cured meat towards the kitchen.
As he reached the door, he turned to look at Huang Ling and winked mischievously. "I understand! Auntie."
Meanwhile, holiday tutoring classes are in full swing.
Because it boasted that the classes were taught by top students from prestigious universities, the news quickly spread throughout the local area.
Every day before dawn, parents bring their children to wait outside the tutoring center.
The classroom was packed, and the children were all listening attentively, their eyes shining with a thirst for knowledge. Of course, there were a few children who had been brought here by their parents, and the two boys in the back row were asleep again.
In just two months, the tutoring class earned more than he would normally earn in four months.
Moreover, since it's tutoring, meals aren't provided, which significantly reduces costs.
No, it's not that costs are reduced, it's that there are no costs! Hahaha, the houses are free, the teachers are free, hahaha!
Due to its high teaching quality and good reputation, the number of students enrolling is endless, and the profits are quite considerable.
In just two months, the tutoring center earned eight thousand yuan.
Making money like crazy, pure profit, no cost whatsoever!
After discussing it, Huang Ling and Song Ying decided to give each of the four children 300 yuan, and split the rest of the money equally between them.
........
In mid-November, Zhuang Chaoying was revising her novel manuscript, the desk lamp casting a warm yellow light on the paper.
A phone call made Zhuang Chaoying anxious; it was from the Kyoto Lu Xun Academy of Literature.
"Hello, Zhuang Anhe, this is Professor Wang from the School of Literature!"
"Have you forgotten about your dissertation defense? The year is almost over, and you're still not here? Hurry up and come defend your thesis!"
Hearing the voice on the phone, he suddenly remembered.
He had already put the thesis defense required for the creative graduate program out of his mind.
Zhuang Chaoying stared at the flip calendar on the cabinet. November 15th, only 45 days left until the deadline for her thesis defense.
During this period, he was so engrossed in writing his novel that he even conceived plot ideas while eating, completely forgetting about the important matter of his graduate thesis defense.
He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Teacher Wang, I've been busy writing lately and forgot."
"You, just like Yu Hua, think that getting a diploma is all you need to do. A degree is more important than a diploma. Hurry up and come to Beijing. Now, you two are the last two in our class who haven't defended their theses yet."
"Okay, thank you, Teacher Wang. I'll be right there."
Coincidentally, Director An and Lin Wufeng were also going to Kyoto to compete for advertising slots at midnight during the Spring Festival Gala, and they could go with Zhuang Chaoying.
Zhuang Chaoying knows Director Wang of Kyoto TV Station and can help them make an introduction to facilitate this cooperation.
Considering the tight schedule, Director An bought plane tickets directly, so he could go and arrive on the same day, which was much faster than taking the train.
On the morning of the day of departure, Xiao Yuyao rushed out of bed barefoot, wearing a pink thermal undershirt and trousers that hung crookedly on her body. Her chubby arms wrapped tightly around her father's neck, and tears fell in drops onto his woolen coat.
"Daddy, where are you going? Take Yao Yao with you!"
His daughter's sweet, childlike pleas made his throat tighten and his heart clench. Although her voice was still childlike, she could already express her thoughts clearly.
Huang Ling hugged Yu Yao, equally reluctant to part, but she still suppressed her emotions, waved to him, and gently gave him some instructions.
"Go quickly, come back soon, and take good care of yourself while you're away."
Zhuang Chaoying looked at his daughter and A-Ling, then turned away and secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. His daughter saw this, and then he and Lin Wufeng hurriedly walked out of the yard.
As he walked, he thought about how painful it would be if Xiaoyuyao went to daycare a year from now and he had to leave his daughter's side. He might even cry more than the child.
He didn't understand before why parents would cry so much when their child was starting kindergarten, acting like they were pathetic. But after becoming a father, he realized what it felt like, just like when Tu Nan got married and left them.
He suddenly felt that once his child went to daycare, he was no longer needed; it's something you only understand after experiencing it yourself.
.........