Era: After foreseeing the future, I changed my fate using spatial abilities.

Chapter 80 Keeping an Appointment
Back at the hotel, Suning slept soundly through the night without any dreams, until the next day.

After finishing the chores in Taoyuan early in the morning, I had a hearty breakfast with Xiaoyuanquan. With my mind on keeping my appointment with the Zhang family, I didn't linger any longer and headed to the Zhang family with the gifts I had prepared.

……

The Zhang family's residence in Huaijiang Alley.

After many years, their daughter returned in such a cruel way, leaving Zhang Fu and Hu Yingtao heartbroken and unable to let go of their grief for a long time.

If it weren't for their daughter leaving them with a lovely and sensible little Qiu, they really wouldn't have been able to get through this.

Whenever they looked at Xiao Qiu and thought about her background, the elderly couple felt both hatred and pity.

The dead are oblivious and indifferent, but the living must continue. Even for the sake of their sons and granddaughters, they must grit their teeth and endure.

Especially after learning that although his daughter died of illness, the injuries were caused by human intervention, the greatest motivation became avenging her and seeing the beasts who harmed her get their just deserts.

The couple embraced and wept at night, then comforted and consoled each other. Although they looked increasingly old over the past few days, their mindset gradually turned around.

Today, their great benefactor, their newly adopted goddaughter, made her official visit for the first time. The two of them were relieved to see their brows unfurrowed and their faces beaming with smiles.

Before dawn, Zhang Fu and his son got up early, put on their old clothes, and busied themselves cleaning inside and outside the house. Hu Yingtao took Xiao Qiu to queue up to buy fresh ingredients.

As the grandmother and grandson hurriedly returned, they turned the corner on their way home and bumped into someone carrying large and small bags.

"Ningning!" "Auntie, Auntie!"

Hearing the call from behind, Su Ning quickly turned around, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes, "Godmother, Xiao Qiu."

Thumb thump thump~
She let go of the old woman's hand and immediately ran towards her. Xiao Qiu's smiling face involuntarily turned red in her eyes.

Ning, who offered her help and warmth when she was most heartbroken, helpless, lost, and confused, is an irreplaceable presence in Xiao Qiu's heart.

Even though her grandparents and uncles treated her very well, and were her closest relatives besides her own mother, Ning was different…

With her little head tilted back, she hugged her leg tightly, her childish voice slightly nasal, "Sister Ning, I missed you so much! Why did it take you so long to come?"

"Honey, didn't you come to see our Xiao Qiu as soon as you finished your work?"

With her hands full, Su Ning could only bend down, press her face against hers, and gently comfort her, "Sister Ning misses you terribly too."

"Really?"

"It really couldn't be truer."

"Hehehe~"

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, her heart filled with joy as she listened to her words, and her tone rose accordingly, "Sister Ning, let me help you carry it!"

"Ningning, what did you bring?"

After the two finished kissing, Hu Yingtao came forward with a basket on her back and a vegetable basket in her hand. Her eyes were filled with undisguised joy.

Seeing how much stuff she was carrying, he couldn't help but scold her, "You're being so polite coming to my house! Didn't I tell you not to bring anything? We have everything! Look at your hands, they're all red and purple from being so tight!"

Without waiting for her reply, he turned around and shouted through the door, "Old Zhang, come out quickly, Ningning is here!"

"Hey! Here it comes!"

"Ningning has arrived?"

Two sets of footsteps, one after the other, quickly sounded inside the gate.

crunch--

Taking off the hat made of folded newspaper, Zhang Qi smiled broadly and, with great tact, stepped forward to help.

“Brother Zhang, please help your godmother. I can lift it.”

"Hey, why would I need to fawn over Dad?"

"How old are you, still spouting nonsense!"

Zhang Fu jokingly cursed, but his feet honestly turned around to help the old woman, taking the vegetable basket from her hands.

The family walked through the gate, chatting and laughing.

Unlike other families' flowers, grasses, fruit trees, and shrubs, the Zhang family had a sycamore tree planted in the corner of the wall.

The tree trunk stood taller than half a head above the roof, and sunlight filtered through the layers of branches and leaves, dappling the ground with scattered slivers of light.

A swing made of thick hemp rope twisted into a large figure eight hangs from the thicker horizontal branch, swaying gently in the wind.

"This sycamore tree was planted by Dad the year Nannan was born."

They say a gentle breeze and bright moon illuminate the grand hall, and a phoenix perches on the phoenix tree… Shaking his head to hide the pain in his eyes, Zhang Qi automatically changed the subject to avoid the elderly couple in front of him hearing, “Ningning, what good things have you brought? They’re quite heavy!”

“I was lucky yesterday when I went out to run errands and came back to the hotel. I bought some fruit and some food that I made myself.”

Knowing his intention, Su Ning smiled and chose not to press further, but instead followed his lead.

Her underground storage room had several consecutive bumper harvests, with fine grains and various kinds of meat that were hard to buy even on the black market now overflowing with countless items.

Fortunately, the storage containers were all made by immortals, so there was no need to worry about whether they could fit in.

Because of Sister Qin, she could only bring some fruit this time when she visited, and she specially added spring water to make some pastries in case Zhang Fu and his wife's bodies couldn't handle it.

"You made this yourself? Wow, I didn't know you could do this, Ningning!"

"It's not as good as my grandfather's cooking, but it's edible."

"Tsk, you can tell he's just being modest!"

These days, women who can cook decent dishes are considered to be both elegant and domestic, truly outstanding and presentable.

After all, apart from restaurant chefs, who has extra grain to feed students who are studying but can't fill their stomachs with pastries?

Zhang Qi gave a thumbs-up in praise, saying, "Having this much skill is already very good and impressive!"

Zhang Fu, who had overheard the conversation, turned around with a smile and said, "Oh? Pastries made by Ningning herself? I'll have to try them later!"

"Please eat more, you and your godmother. If you like it, I'll make more and mail it to you when I get back."

The three adults and one child stopped in their tracks upon hearing her words.

Zhang Qi put the things he was holding on the table and asked first, "Have you settled your work situation? Are you planning to go back to Hunan?"

"A friend helped and said it could be resolved tonight. My business trip will only last a few days, and I'll be leaving for the next day or two."

Seeing the rapid change in their expressions, Su Ning smiled, revealing a small dimple at the corner of her mouth. "Due to work, I may have many more business trips to Shanghai. Godfather and Godmother, please don't complain that I visit too often."

"Don't talk nonsense! We're overjoyed that you're coming home!"

Considering the nature of her work, business trips are quite common, and even if she returns this time, she might be transferred back to Shanghai someday.

Zhang Fu patted his wife's hand, not bringing up the matter they had discussed earlier, but the reluctance in his heart had dissipated considerably.

They will definitely go to Xiangnan, that place that has trapped Nannan for so many years.

"I'll go cook right away. You three should keep Ningning company and have a good chat."

Hu Yingtao, who had also turned around, looked at her with a smile on her face, "Ningning, why don't you sit down and rest for a while!"

"Godmother, I'll go help you..."

"No need, no need for your help. This is a job I'm used to doing, I'll be done in no time."

"Yes, yes, Ningning, please sit down. Your godmother's cooking is one of the best in our area. You'll see soon enough."

Hu Yingtao took the vegetable basket back from the old man's hand and, without giving him a chance to say anything more, turned around and went straight to the kitchen.

Xiao Qiu stood there dumbfounded, watching the old woman's departing figure before turning her head to look at Su Ning not far away.

I don't know whether I should go help Grandma like I have these past few days, or stay here and spend more time with Sister Ning.

"What's wrong, Xiao Qiu?"

"Sister Ning..."

The little one's face was practically screaming with distress. Su Ning cheerfully waved to her, "Go on, stay with Grandma. After dinner, Sister Ning will play with Xiao Qiu for a while, okay?"

"Good~"

She counted on her fingers, and seeing that Xiao Qiu's face had gotten a little chubby after only a few days back at the Zhang family home, she smiled sweetly at her before jogging after her to the kitchen.

"Brother Zhang, has Xiao Qiu's household registration issue been resolved?"

"It's a bit troublesome to ask someone to help, but it can be done."

"That's good."

Whether or not we receive the oil and grain subsidies is a minor matter; the important thing is to wait a year or two until we reach school age.

Next, I chatted casually with the Zhang father and son for a while. Most of the questions they asked were about Hunan, and Su Ning was responsible for answering the questions he knew.

Through these questions, she vaguely sensed their intentions. Since neither of them spoke of it explicitly, she didn't bring it up either.

(End of this chapter)