Chapter 195: The Whole World is Dating ④
After Nie Qiu returned home, Nie Aifang was cooking dinner in the kitchen, while Nie Aiwen sat at the dining table reading a newspaper, clearly waiting for dinner.
Ever since they moved into this one-bedroom, one-living room, one-kitchen, one-bathroom house, Nie Aiwen would come over to mooch meals from time to time. When it got late, he wouldn’t leave. Because it was a one-bedroom, one-living room setup with only one room, Nie Aifang and Nie Qiu would both sleep in the room. Nie Aiwen would then voluntarily sleep on the newly bought second-hand sofa, drawing the curtain made by Nie Aifang, effectively creating a small room, which was even a bit larger than Nie Qiu’s previous room.
However, this sofa was quite good; when sleeping, the backrest could be laid down, and Nie Aifang had specifically bought a quilt for Nie Aiwen.
Nie Qiu wasn’t foolish; she could tell that the two of them were already together, but… she knew Nie Aifang didn’t know how to bring it up with her.
Nie Qiu put down a book she had bought from the Xinhua Bookstore, walked into the small kitchen, and helped Nie Aifang carry the prepared meal to the dining table in the living room. After all preparations were complete, the three of them sat down to eat.
Nie Aifang ladled some bone soup for Nie Qiu and said with a smile, “Qiu Qiu, it’s still early today. After we finish eating, let’s go to the night market together. I’ll buy you a couple of winter coats, down jackets, and autumn clothes. The weather is getting colder.”
Nie Qiu smiled and nodded, “Okay.” Regarding the demolition, their furniture and clothes were all buried under stones and rubble. If they were to find them to wear, they probably wouldn’t be wearable anymore.
After they rented this house, it came with all sorts of furniture. However, this furniture was too new and too expensive. Compared to sleeping on a Simmons bed, Nie Aifang was more enthusiastic about sleeping on a wooden board bed. Compared to a leather sofa, Nie Aifang was more willing to sit on a plastic stool. Moreover, the agent’s contract stated that any item, if slightly damaged, would be compensated at its price. Keep in mind, they wouldn’t be living there for just one or two months, but at least until Nie Qiu graduated from junior high school. Furniture, after use, would inevitably get a little damaged, right? It wasn’t like the old rosewood furniture. If they had to pay so much compensation for even a little damage, she might as well use her own furniture and go to the second-hand market. There were plenty of furniture and appliances in the second-hand market. Although they weren’t as good-looking as new ones, they were still usable. The landlord moved out the furniture, and they rented the house for four hundred yuan per month, paying one month’s rent in advance and a three-month deposit.
Nie Aifang spent two hundred yuan at the second-hand furniture market to buy a large double bed and two sofas. The table was new, indeed a wooden folding table costing over twenty yuan, and the stools were plastic high stools costing over ten yuan each.
In the kitchen, there was a honeycomb briquette stove for thirty yuan and a gas stove for one hundred yuan. Nie Aifang was still reluctant to use the gas stove.
It could be said that almost everything in the house had been sold, at least to the point where it wouldn’t affect their lives. However, Nie Aifang and Nie Qiu still hadn’t bought any clothes.
After the three of them finished eating, they went to the night market together.
The night markets in big cities were always the most bustling places. Compared to the reflective glass display windows and floors of shopping malls, the night market was filled with flashing neon lights and vibrant colors.
Nie Qiu looked at Nie Aiwen, and he didn’t seem uncomfortable at all. To be honest, she could tell that the skirt and shoes Nie Aifang had given her were genuine brands. Regardless of whether she and Nie Aifang recognized these brands, to be honest, from that moment on, she knew Nie Aiwen was a frequent customer at brand stores. She hadn’t expected Nie Aiwen to visit places like the night market.
The three of them chatted as they looked at the stalls lining the road. Nie Qiu looked around and fell a few steps behind. Nie Aifang and Nie Aiwen walked side by side in front. Nie Aifang was wearing a thin cotton floral dress, which didn’t quite match Nie Aiwen’s casual shirt and pants. Nie Qiu thought for a moment, then rushed forward and took Nie Aifang’s arm, smiling, “Mom, let’s go to the mall to look! The clothes in the mall are definitely better quality than those at the night market. Let’s go take a look. If I do well on my exam, you can buy me something as a reward, okay?”
Nie Aifang smiled indulgently, “Look at you, you haven’t even taken the exam yet! And you’re already talking about rewards. Alright, alright, let’s go to the mall to take a look. But I’m telling you upfront, no reward if you don’t do well on the monthly exam.”
“Okay, I’ll definitely do better than the monthly exam. Mom, let’s go!” She hadn’t actually intended to ask for a reward for herself; her purpose was to buy a gift for Nie Aifang.
After spending so much time together, she hadn’t been able to help Nie Aifang much. She had only made pan-fried dumplings, which allowed Nie Aifang to earn some money. The matter of the market… was just what she should do. Nie Aifang supported her, paid for her studies, and cared for her… this was also what she should do. However, she hadn’t given Nie Aifang any gifts. She thought she should also fulfill her filial duty, at least to let Nie Aifang and Nie Aiwen be together, without people saying an old woman wasn’t good enough for Nie Aiwen or something like that.
“Qiu Qiu, don’t worry. If your mom doesn’t give you a reward, I will. As long as you rank in the top five in your class, there will be a reward,” Nie Aiwen said with a smile. “Whatever you want, Uncle will buy it for you.”
Nie Qiu smiled, “Okay, okay!”
The closest mall to the night market was very large, after all, it was the most prosperous area in the city. The mall had a total of eight floors. The first floor was mostly for cosmetics, skincare products, gold, and silver jewelry. The second floor sold clothing.
They barely looked at the first floor and went straight up to the second floor.
Entering a brand store, Nie Qiu immediately spotted a red down jacket. She took the coat off the rack, held it up against Nie Aifang’s body a few times, and nodded with satisfaction, “Mom, try it on and show us.”
Nie Aifang shook her head, “I’m not buying clothes, why would I try them on? I bought several clothes at the market a few days ago. Not only for this year, but enough for next year too. We’re here to buy clothes for you today. Come on, let’s go to the stores that sell clothes for young people.”
Nie Qiu grabbed Nie Aifang’s arm and said with a smile, “Mom, I want to buy you a piece of clothing…”
Nie Aifang put on a stern face, “Where did you get the money to buy me clothes? Mom isn’t old yet! It’s not your turn to buy me clothes!”
“Mom, don’t you remember? After I was discharged from the hospital, Uncle gave me a hundred yuan, right? Auntie Li came to our house on Sunday and asked me to teach her English. I didn’t know… I didn’t know she was Uncle’s girlfriend, and I even accepted her tutor fee! Don’t worry, I have money,” Nie Qiu said with a smile.
“Even if you have money, you can’t spend it like this!” Nie Aifang didn’t have the habit of taking money from her child, but she was used to being frugal. How could she let Nie Qiu buy such expensive clothes for her? She looked at the price tag on the clothes and kept shaking her head.
