1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 150 My cousin's relationship with the boss is unusual; she rose to power through men.
"to make."

Having achieved his goal, Wang Fan readily agreed.

"I'm planning to"

Seeing that he agreed so readily, Gu Bin's eyebrows relaxed: "I'll go to Shanghai with Xi Yu on the 10th. We'll go ahead of time and take her to play around Shanghai for a few days before school starts."

"number 10?"

Wang Fan was stunned for only a second before quickly replying, "I'll go with you, so we can look out for each other on the way."

"You can go if you want, just book your sleeper ticket in advance."

He would go along, as expected, and Gu Bin didn't show much surprise: "Also, buy Liu Lei's, Li Liang's, and Wu Meng's tickets at the same time."

"Liu Lei is going to Shanghai too?"

Li Liang and Wu Meng were one thing, but Wang Fan was genuinely surprised that his cousin was going to Shanghai: "What will happen to the company if she leaves? Who will bring in clients and build relationships?"

"Xi Yu wants her cousin to come to Shanghai for a few days."

Gu Bin gave him a cool sidelong glance and gave his reason for leaving early.

"Okay, then."

Upon hearing the name Lin Xiyu, Wang Fan helplessly ground his back teeth.

What can you do when he has a fiancée?

They had just gotten engaged, and were in the throes of a blissful marriage; nothing mattered more than his fiancée.

No matter how unwilling he was, he had no choice but to accept it.

-

When my cousin came back from outside, she was overjoyed to see that the puppy had miraculously regained its energy.

"Manager, my admiration for you is boundless. From now on, you are my parents. For the sake of Cola's healthy and happy growth, I've decided to let it recognize you as its godfather. Don't you have a Pekingese of the same breed, a male dog? Let Cola become its wife, and then we'll be in-laws."

"Stop!"

Li Xiao's head ached from her cousin's long, rambling rant. Helpless, she could only interrupt her: "You actually came up with the idea of ​​having a dog recognize me as its godfather?"

"hey-hey."

My cousin was going all out for the puppy, shamelessly continuing, "As long as you allow Cola to come to the company every day, it doesn't matter if he doesn't call me godfather."

Li Xiao was furious: "So you just want to find a free babysitter for Cola and then cling to me, huh?"

"I can't help it either."

My cousin laughed bitterly: "Before getting it, I never imagined that puppies were so delicate and prone to illness."

"That's irresponsible of you."

Li Xiao scolded with a dark face: "If you can't afford to raise it, don't buy it."

“I didn’t want to either, but Wang Fan insisted on buying it.”

My cousin confessed to Wang Fan without any hesitation.

"That's because you didn't refuse."

Li Xiao already had some doubts, and hearing this only confirmed his suspicions.

My cousin's relationship with Wang Fan is unusual; she's a woman who rose to power through men.

"Wang Fan is our boss."

His cousin, unaware of his thoughts, continued to bring up Wang Fan: "If the boss wants to buy it, how can I not give him face? Even if you gave me a hundred lives, I wouldn't dare."

"In my opinion, you're very bold."

Li Xiaoyue listened and became more and more convinced that her guess was correct, and she looked at her cousin with considerable dissatisfaction.

"Jingle Bell"

Just then, the phone on his desk rang, interrupting his thoughts.

"Hello, Dingsheng Decoration."

Hearing the phone ring, my cousin quickly got to work, picking up the phone before I could: "Wang Fan, what a coincidence! We were just talking about you. Yes, Xi Yu did mention it to me, but I don't know exactly how many days ago, she didn't tell me either."

Li Xiao rubbed her ears impatiently a few times, her brows furrowing more and more as she listened to her cousin and Wang Fan's familiar tone of voice.

"You're looking for the store manager? He's here, in his office. Okay, I'll give him the phone."

After telling Wang Fan about her own affairs, her cousin handed him the phone.

Li Xiao didn't dare to be negligent, so she took the receiver and politely greeted the person in the receiver.

Wang Fan told him over the phone that his cousin was going to Shanghai soon, and asked him to prepare in advance and arrange for new people to take over her work.

"Okay, I understand. I'll arrange it as soon as possible."

After Wang Fan finished speaking and put down the phone, his face had turned very ugly.

"What's going on?"

Even if my cousin had poor eyesight, she could tell something was wrong at that moment.

Even if the shop manager has a sour face, he has to put up with it for the sake of his puppies.

It's her own fault for not knowing how to raise a child; she can only suck up to him and ask him to take care of Cola.

"What did Wang Fan say that made your mood suddenly turn sour, and you look so heavy-hearted?"

"What do you think it should be?"

Instead of answering, Li Xiao asked a question, looking at her coolly.

It couldn't be because of that.

My cousin isn't stupid; she guessed something from his tone: "The boss said I'm going to Shanghai, which must have put you in a difficult position, right?"

Li Xiao scoffed: "Since you already know, why ask again?"

"Actually, it's not that I wanted to go."

Seeing his unfriendly tone, the older cousin felt it necessary to defend herself: "It was my cousin who wanted me to go. She's going to study in Shanghai, and it's her first time going so far away from home, so she's bound to miss home. Other students are sent off by their parents, but my second aunt is busy with work and can't get away, and my younger brother is too young to help. So, I, as her older cousin, have to put in the effort and make the trip in place of my second aunt."

"That's a good reason."

Li Xiao didn't believe it from the bottom of her heart, but because of her close relationship with her boss, she had to keep it to herself and couldn't show it.

The two were clearly not on the same wavelength, and they suspected and speculated about each other, yet they had to suppress their feelings and restrain themselves for their own purposes.

"Wang Wang Wang."

The puppy saw its cousin, barked happily twice, and waddled in with its short legs.

"Thank you for today, I'll bring it again tomorrow."

My cousin seized the opportunity to pick up the puppy, said a few words, and ran away in a flash.

"Tsk."

Li Xiao clicked her tongue, watched his departing figure, and rubbed her temples with a headache.

-

The wall of the courtyard on the first floor of Qinglong Back Street was knocked down, a back door was opened, and a small room of only 3 square meters was added to the courtyard.

My uncle used his connections to get the paperwork done, and they ran another telephone line to our house and installed a new public telephone.

The public telephone was installed in the small hut, serving as a makeshift telephone booth.

My aunt had experience running a phone booth, so she also subscribed to newspapers and magazines, and sold cigarettes.

After finishing his chores at home, my uncle finally got his wish and started driving a taxi. He and my aunt's second brother worked in shifts, day and night, 24 hours a day. For the first month, my aunt and second brother drove during the day, and my uncle drove at night.

Driving late into the night drains his energy, and after handing over his shift the next morning, he would be so sleepy when he got home that he could barely keep his eyes open and would fall asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed.

My aunt felt sorry for my uncle, so she didn't let him worry about other things at home. She took care of the children, ran the phone booth, and helped supplement the family income.

The renovation company hired new employees and no longer needed anyone to do odd jobs, so Lin Xiyu gave up the idea of ​​working. During the time before school started, she stayed at home to accompany her grandmother, help her aunt take care of the children, and look after her little cousin.

Life gradually settled into a routine after the relocation, and the days passed uneventfully.

As the start of the school year draws ever closer, those who are about to leave home inevitably feel a touch of sadness at parting.

The day before the engagement, Chen Xiulan went all out and spent 200 yuan to buy a large, wheeled, vermilion-colored Peony brand leather suitcase from the supply and marketing cooperative. She wanted to impress her daughter and have her use the suitcase to pack her clothes and take it to Shanghai.

"200? That's so expensive! You're really willing to spend that much?"

When Grandma heard the price of the suitcase, her eyes twitched involuntarily.

"This suitcase must be worth a third of my second sister's salary, right?"

Uncle was disturbed from his sleep and looked a little dejected. He scratched his messy hair and kept clicking his tongue in disbelief. He couldn't believe that his second sister, who was usually so stingy and would split every penny in half, had actually changed her ways and was willing to spend such a huge sum of money to buy a pretty but useless suitcase.

"How many clothes can a suitcase hold? A woven bag would be better."

Grandma and Uncle both felt the same way, thinking that the money was a bit of a waste.

"Xi Yu is going to university in Shanghai."

Chen Xiulan had her own reasons: "Shanghai is different from other places. It's a bustling metropolis with many wealthy people. I thought I should buy my daughter something decent so that she wouldn't be looked down upon at school."

Grandma scolded her, dissatisfied: "She's going to school, not socializing. There's no need to compare yourself to others."

"Even though Shanghai is very prosperous, the students are still very simple and honest."

The uncle nodded in agreement: "Children from wealthy families are less likely to get into good universities. On the contrary, the poorer the area, the more children with good grades there are."

"That's the truth."

Grandma gave her uncle an approving look, but her gaze toward her second daughter grew increasingly displeased: "Your brother understands this simple principle, but you, a teacher, are confused. I think you've been living too comfortably lately and have gotten a little carried away."

I'm not arrogant.

Chen Xiulan blushed as her mother scolded her, and explained with an embarrassed smile, "The divorce case isn't over yet, how can I be living comfortably? I was just thinking that since Xiyu and Xiaobin are engaged, I should at least get her some decent luggage and items. Our family doesn't care, but we still need to save face for our in-laws."

"You plan"

Grandma frowned deeply: "How much living expenses do you give her each month?"

"what?"

Chen Xiulan didn't expect her mother to be so quick-witted, immediately bringing up living expenses. She stammered for a long time before finally managing to say 100 words.

"You only have 100 yuan a month for living expenses, and you want to spend 200 yuan on a suitcase?"

Grandma laughed in exasperation: "You, as a mother, are really good at calculating!"

"It's not that I don't want to give more."

Chen Xiulan herself felt it was too little and was a little embarrassed: "It was Xiyu who refused. She said she had earned a lot of money from her job and it was enough for her to spend. I had to persuade her a lot before she agreed to give me 100 yuan a month as a token of my love as a mother, so that she wouldn't feel bad about herself while she's away from home."

"Xi Yu is a good child."

Grandma felt a little better: "Having such a thoughtful and filial daughter is your blessing."

Xi Yu does have some money.

Upon hearing this, the uncle spoke up for the second sister, saying, "I heard Leilei say that she made quite a bit of money shooting brochures for a decoration company, about a thousand yuan. With the commission from her part-time job, she should be able to afford to go to university."

“What Xi Yu earned was her own.”

The grandmother dotes on her granddaughter and can't stand a word that's unfavorable to her: "I've made the decision. I'll give her at least 300 yuan a month for living expenses. She doesn't want it. I told her that she and Xiaoyi are both your own children, and you must treat them equally."

"Okay, I'll listen to Mom. I have no objection."

Chen Xiulan also felt guilty towards her daughter. Hearing her mother's words, she showed no dissatisfaction but instead breathed a sigh of relief.

"Second sister, this suitcase."

The uncle glanced at Grandma's face, then smiled and advised her, "I think you should return it. It's really not worth spending two hundred yuan on something like this. You'll only have three hundred yuan left each month, which will be a bit tight. It's better to return it and keep some money for yourself, so that you won't be in such a rush if something happens and you need money."

"I will not back down."

Chen Xiulan became stubborn, her face full of reluctance: "I rarely buy my daughter nice things, and you all have to criticize me. From now on, Xiaoyi and I don't need your help. If we really need money, we won't lend it to you or make things difficult for you."

"Hey, hey."

The uncle blushed and explained with an embarrassed smile, "Second sister, don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant."

"Fine, if you won't give me a refund."

Grandma knew perfectly well that not all the dowry had been spent; there was still 5 left.

This money was supposedly saved as a dowry for their daughter, and it could also be used in emergencies.

Besides, Gu Bin hired someone to help her with the divorce case, so even if she wins, she can still get a share of the family property.

So, all things considered, she still has some savings, so there's no need to worry too much.

"Little brother, this box is too heavy, can you help me carry it up?"

Upon hearing that the suitcase didn't need to be returned, Chen Xiulan's earlier unpleasantness vanished instantly.

"to make."

Without saying anything more, her uncle took the house key, hoisted the suitcase onto his shoulder, and went upstairs.

-

"Mom, why are you back at noon?"

Lin Xiyu had no idea that while she was out buying a steamed bun, her family members almost had a falling out over buying her a suitcase.

Returning from the street, she carried steamed buns into the house, intending to make lunch. It was rare to see Chen Xiulan at home, not attending school.

"It's Friday today, so there are fewer classes."

Chen Xiulan wanted to give her daughter a surprise, so she didn't mention the suitcase.

"She had something urgent to attend to and came out briefly."

Grandma saw through her daughter's thoughts and intentionally helped her keep it a secret: "I have to go back this afternoon to pick up Xiaoyi."

"Wow, time flies, tomorrow is Saturday."

Lin Xiyu couldn't hide her joy at the thought of getting engaged tomorrow, and her steps became much lighter.

Without thinking much, she went to the kitchen, boiled water, chopped vegetables, and made tomato and egg soup.

"Xi Yu is gone. Mom will have to cook and help take care of the kids. She'll be busy now."

Looking at her well-behaved and sensible daughter, Chen Xiulan felt a pang of reluctance.

"you do not say."

The uncle also sighed.

"When children grow up, they will eventually have to leave."

Grandma saw it clearly: "Even if you don't go to school now, you'll still get married in the future. Think positively, take good care of yourself, and don't cause trouble for your children. That's better than anything else."

"I really admire my mom."

My aunt, who rarely has time, smiled and flattered me, saying, "You can think things through and you're always cheerful. I've never seen your mother with a frown on her face."

"That was after my third brother got married, and Mom finally put her mind at ease."

Chen Xiulan knew him well: "In addition, the standard of living is better than before, and life is more comfortable, so we don't have as much pressure as before. You don't know how Mom got through the days when Dad was sick when my third brother was a child. It broke my heart to see it."