Chapter 14: Fu Family
“Don’t panic when you encounter something; think of a way to solve it first. You’ve always done very well in this regard.”
Fu Chenggong let out a long sigh and quickly changed the subject. “It’s just that you’re too good at it and don’t know how to rely on us old folks. Yatou, you must remember that you’re never alone; we are here, right behind you.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Although she tried hard to restrain herself, she still couldn’t hold back. These profound words carried the old man’s genuine concern and reluctance to let her go. She was moved, nothing but moved.
“Alright, alright, don’t cry until you look like a little tabby cat. When Yingzi and Tingzi, the two siblings, come back later, they’ll laugh at you, ha.”
“Take a look first and see if you’re satisfied with the job. While the person hasn’t left yet, if there’s anything, Grandpa can still pull some strings for you!”
She hastily wiped the tears from her face. Su Ning sniffed, then opened the first envelope as he suggested.
There were two work quotas, both for permanent positions: one salesperson at the Xiangnan department store, and one purchaser in the purchasing department of the textile factory.
Both were quite enviable and hard-to-get positions. One was sheltered from wind and rain, while the other, though requiring hard work running around everywhere and frequent business trips, offered relative freedom.
Right now, job positions in the city were one radish one pit. Getting these two work quotas must have cost countless favors and a great deal of effort.
The words “thank you” circled around her mouth once but were swallowed back down. The old man didn’t like hearing such polite and distant words, and she also felt that verbal thanks were too pale and useless.
She was immensely grateful for the decision to come to Xiangnan, no matter how complex and perilous the future situation might be…
This time, it was her turn. She would do her utmost to protect Grandpa Fu and prevent the tragedy from happening again!
“So, yatou? The salesperson position at the department store has pretty good salary, benefits, and treatment. It’s suitable for little girls like you…”
“Grandpa Fu, I want to go to the purchasing department of the textile factory.”
“Hm? Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Once again beyond his own expectations, Fu Chenggong didn’t object right away. “The purchaser’s job isn’t that easy to do.”
“I know~”
She gave him a playful smile, her bright eyes sparkling with dazzling light.
“This job is great! It allows you to gain a lot of knowledge and experience, and you can come back to visit you from time to time!”
In this country where you need an introduction letter for every place, who else but truck drivers and purchasers from major factories and state-run units could travel freely across the nation?
The job involved some hardship in traveling, but it was indeed as she said.
Fu Chenggong, who had always been open-minded in this regard, said no more and chose to respect the child’s decision.
“Take this one too.”
“What’s this? Such a big package…”
With just a glance, Su Ning pushed the bulging envelope back. “Grandpa Fu, you know I don’t lack these things, and I can’t accept them.”
“Heh, showing off to me now? Is that the issue of lacking or not?”
“Yours are what that old thing, your maternal grandfather, left for you. These are from me, your grandpa. How could they be the same?”
Fu Chenggong slapped the things back into her hand again, smirking proudly like an old rascal. “Your Grandpa Fu may not match your maternal grandfather, but I get double pay every month at least!”
“What’s this? Not taking it means you look down on my stuff? Think it’s too little?”
“Okay, okay, stop! I’ll take it, take it!”
“Aha, that’s more like it!”
……
Laughter from the old master boomed from the study room, leaving the few people who had just entered the yard exchanging bewildered looks.
“What’s my grandpa doing, amusing himself alone at home? Did he drink too much?”
“You rascal, how do you talk!”
While Li Hehua puzzled in her mind, her hands didn’t slow down. She gave her youngest son’s head a hard knock. “Just like your dad, you love getting thwacked.”
Walking at the end was Fu Ying, whose face was an exact match for her younger brother Fu Ting’s—ten out of ten. She wore a checkered short-sleeved blouse with a bubble skirt, but her movements were bold and brisk, not matching the ladylike style at all.
Her sharp eyes spotted the yellow feed bag placed not far under the stone table in the courtyard. Her slender, upturned phoenix eyes widened in shock, joy bursting forth instantly.
“Sister Ning Ning, is that you?!”
“Sister Ning arrived so early? Hey, wait for me!”
Hearing her daughter’s words, Li Hehua, equally full of surprise, couldn’t be bothered to beat that slippery little rascal anymore and strode quickly into the main hall after her.
“Ow~ Sister Ning Ning!”
No sooner had she stepped into the room than she bumped into the two coming out of the study. The brightness in Fu Ying’s eyes increased several degrees. She let out a strange yelp and dashed to her side, hugging her tightly.
Long time no see, the beautiful Su Ning had become even prettier!
Pink hearts nearly bubbled up in her eyes. Fu Ying had a full-on fangirl expression and even let out a contented sigh while hugging her.
If only… that certain eyesore squeezing in wasn’t there, it would be perfect!
“Hey, big sis, you’re still so weird. Stay away from my Sister Ning!”
The same face on Fu Ting didn’t look feminine at all. Even if it didn’t match current aesthetics, one had to admit it was an exquisitely handsome boy.
“Auntie, Ying Ying, Tingzi.”
“Aiya, Ning Ning, when did you arrive? Are you hungry? Auntie will go make you something delicious right now!”
Li Hehua was used to her pair of children’s behavior and found it an eyesore, so she simply ignored them completely. Facing such a soft and sweet dream daughter, she didn’t care about those two at all.
“Hmph!”
A heavy nasal hum sounded, and only then did the mother and her two sons realize they had overlooked something.
“Dad.”
“Grandpa.” “Grandpa.”
Fu Chenggong had a heh-heh expression: Could you be any more perfunctory?
Besides competing with him for his good Ning’er, what use were these filial sons and grandsons? Toss them out!
“Yingzi, Tingzi, you two stop clinging to Ning Ning like maggots. Don’t you know how heavy you are? You think you’re still little kids?!”
The two maggots: Heh, dear grandfather?
They were maggots? Then count one by one—none of the three on top could escape!
“Sister Ning Ning, come to my room. I have so much to tell you~”
“I want to go too! I…”
She pried off the two guys gripping her arms tightly, steadied her mind, and then looked toward the two elders in the main hall with feigned ease.
“Grandpa Fu, Auntie, then I’ll go chat privately with Ying Ying first~”
“Hahaha, go ahead, you two sisters.”
“Go on, Auntie will call you two sisters when the meal is ready!”
Fu Ting couldn’t believe she would leave him out alone. He widened his watery eyes and pointed at himself with his index finger, his tone full of grievance. “Sister Ning, what about me?”
“What about you? You’re everywhere.”
Li Hehua smiled extra kindly, grabbed his back collar, and dragged him outward. “Go help your mom, ah, eldest son!”
“I don’t want to, I want to stay with Sister Ning…”
Now turned from active to passive, Fu Ying—who was half-pushed and half-hugged into the room by the eager Su Ning—had no attention left for the guy howling for help.
“Sister Ning Ning, sit down quick. Let me tell you…”
As she sat on the bed’s edge, Su Ning raised her hand to interrupt, her face showing a seriousness Fu Ying had never seen before.
“No rush first. Ying Ying, let me ask you: lately, have you been getting especially close with a male classmate?”
