Returning to the small mountain village of '86, intelligence updated daily.

Chapter 139 Details

Zhao Jianjun and his daughter left an hour late, but still arrived in the county town ahead of schedule. This is the advantage of having your own means of transportation.

Zhou Rui took his things and followed Zhao Jianjun home. He had been there several times before, and when Zhao Jianjun led him to the place, he recognized it at a glance.

This is on the outskirts of the city; a little further on are factories of all sizes.

The agricultural machinery factory whose director is surnamed He is also located here. It's not too late now, and there are many people coming and going, unlike a place like a mountain town.

The roads are also much wider, and many pedestrians in the middle of the road are riding bicycles or motorcycles. The people walking on both sides of the road are dressed quite well.

Zhao Jianjun led Zhou Rui through an alley from a side road on the main road, eventually arriving at the foot of a three-story residential building.

Several potted plants were placed outside the old-fashioned windowpanes, some with flowers and grass, others with scallions and cilantro. Clothes and sheets could be vaguely seen fluttering in the wind from the rooftop.

Zhao Jianjun took out a bunch of keys and opened the first door downstairs. The corridor wasn't too dark, as there were windows in the middle of the corridor. However, there was still a faint musty smell of water leaking into his nostrils, and the plaster on the walls was starting to fall off, revealing the bricks underneath.

Zhou Rui followed Zhao Jianjun up to the third floor. The stairwell was narrow, with two entrance doors facing each other.

Zhao Jianjun found the key and opened the iron gate on the right. After opening it, there was another wooden door. He then used a different key and continued.

turn on.

This is a method adopted by many urban residences.

After the two doors opened, a clean, bright and tidy room was revealed, though not luxurious.

"Little Ruizi, welcome home. You can treat this place as your own home from now on. We're all family, so don't be shy."

Zhao Jianjun made way for Zhou Rui to enter the house, and Zhao Qingya entered last.

"Brother Rui, welcome!"

Zhao Qingya had a pleasant voice. After entering, she invited Zhou Rui to sit down and rest, and then naturally took the things Zhou Rui was carrying.

The house is not small; it has three bedrooms, a living room, and a small balcony.

This was something Zhou Rui hadn't expected, but it made sense. Housing prices weren't skyrocketing like they were in later years, so it was normal for Zhao Jianjun, the factory director, to own a three-bedroom apartment in the city.

Even Zhou Rui felt that Uncle Zhao was being too modest, considering that the location was hardly in the heart of the county town, and the stairwell indicated that the house wasn't particularly nice.

However, even though the hallway looks dilapidated, it is still very cozy inside. This is largely due to Zhao Qingya. When Zhao Jianjun lived alone before, he was much more casual, at least not like now, with many beautiful artistic posters on the walls.

The Zhao family father and daughter only started staying here frequently after Zhao Qingya was admitted to high school.

This year is Zhao Qingya's last year of high school. She will start her second year of high school this month. Since it is a two-year high school, this will be her last year starting in the second half of this year.

When Zhou Rui entered the room, he was neither nervous nor embarrassed. After all, he was already there, and being coy would not suit his age. He simply expressed his gratitude appropriately.

"Uncle Zhao, then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

Zhao Jianjun laughed and led Zhou Rui to the empty room, which was very clean and tidy, and was not messy even though no one lived there.

"Hey, Ruizi, you'll stay in this room, Xiaoya will stay in the other one, and I'll stay in the remaining one. The mattresses are all clean, so don't be disgusted. Haha, if it were me before, I wouldn't have kept them so clean."

"What are you saying, Uncle Zhao? This is already very good."

After exchanging a polite remark, Zhou Rui and the two left the room. It was getting late, and Zhou Rui wanted to buy some groceries, since he couldn't just stay there for free.

However, this matter cannot be said openly, otherwise it will most likely be blocked. I can only find an excuse to go out quietly.

Thinking of this, Zhou Rui no longer hesitated and said directly, "Uncle Zhao, I want to go and see that agricultural machinery factory. My family bought our tricycle from their factory a few days ago, and I happen to have some things to take care of."

Zhao Jianjun looked at Zhou Rui suspiciously, but didn't interfere too much. He simply told him to let him go and to remember to come back for dinner later.

After Zhou Rui responded, he went out to find the supply and marketing cooperative and the free market. He was not shy and asked questions along the way, so he didn't waste any time.

Soon, Zhou Rui returned to the Zhao family with two jin of meat and half a jin of pig's head meat. However, he was a little embarrassed because he didn't have the key and couldn't open the door downstairs in the residential building.

In the end, Zhou Rui still unleashed his "lion's roar" and howled twice.

"Uncle Zhao—Xiaoya—please open the door for me! I'm locked out!" Zhou Rui called out twice. He heard footsteps in the hallway. When he opened the door, it was Zhao Qingya.

She asked, quite puzzled, "Brother Rui, how come it's so fast? Only a short while has passed, and you..."

As Zhao Qingya spoke, her gaze fell upon what Zhou Rui was carrying. She immediately understood what it was, and a hint of anger flashed across her face.

"What are you doing! Going to buy groceries? Are you worried we won't have enough meat for you?!"

After Zhao Qingya finished speaking, she glared at Zhou Rui with a strange emotion in her eyes. She felt that Zhou Rui was being distant and didn't treat her family as one of his own.

However, Zhou Rui doesn't think that way. He's deeply influenced by social etiquette and believes that everything he does is predetermined. So he tries his best not to be someone who eats and drinks for free; that's his stubbornness.

Zhou Rui just laughed it off, then entered the residential building and went up the stairs.

Zhao Qingya sulked for a while and then went upstairs.

Inside the Zhao family's house, Zhao Jianjun looked at the meat Zhou Rui brought and understood. In fact, he had already guessed it, after all, he was not as naive as Zhao Qingya.

However, he did not stop Zhou Rui. The two had a tacit understanding. Through the previous transactions, he roughly knew what kind of person Zhou Rui was.

If Zhou Rui isn't allowed to buy groceries and contribute to the economy, he'll probably move out the next day.

Zhao Jianjun only exchanged a few polite words and accepted the gift. Zhao Qingya, who arrived shortly after, pouted and looked at Zhou Rui with a hint of grievance and anger.

She thought that Zhou Rui disliked her family.

"Okay, Xiaoya, it's alright. We bought them to eat together, they're all from our own farm, don't think about it anymore, okay? Wait..."

"How about I cook for you myself?"

Zhou Rui is a rather clueless straight man. He has never coaxed a girl in either his previous life or this one, so his words are rather clumsy.

When Zhao Qingya saw Zhou Rui looking anxious and scratching his head, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Brother Rui, you're so silly~"

"Hey, how dare you laugh at me? You're asking for it!"

Zhou Rui stepped forward and started playfully fighting with Zhao Qingya.

Zhao Jianjun watched this scene without stopping it, but a smile inadvertently appeared on the corner of his mouth.