Chapter 80: Keeping The Appointment
After returning to the hotel, Su Ning slept dreamlessly through the night until the next day.
She got up early in the morning, finished the chores in Peach Blossom Spring, ate a hearty breakfast with Little Round Circle, and with the appointment at the Zhang Family on her mind, didn’t delay any further and took the prepared gifts to head to the Zhang Family.
……
Huaijiang Alley, Zhang Family.
After many years, their daughter returned in such a cruel way, and Zhang Fu and Hu Yingtao were naturally grief-stricken and heartbroken, unable to let go for a long time.
If their daughter hadn’t left them the cute and sensible Xiao Qiu, they really wouldn’t have been able to get through this ordeal.
Every time they looked at Xiao Qiu and thought of her background, the old couple felt both hatred and an irresistible pity.
The dead knew nothing and felt nothing, but the living had to carry on. Even for the sake of their son and granddaughter, they had to grit their teeth and endure.
Especially after learning that although their daughter died of illness, the injury was man-made, avenging her and seeing the beast who harmed her get the retribution they deserved became their greatest motivation.
The couple held each other and shed tears at night, then comforted and consoled one another. After these few days, though they looked even more aged, their mindset gradually turned around.
Today, the great benefactor of their Zhang Family, their newly recognized goddaughter, was coming for her first formal visit, and the two rarely relaxed their furrowed brows, showing rare smiles on their faces.
Zhang Fu and his son, who had gotten up early before dawn, were already dressed in old clothes and busy with a thorough cleaning inside and out, while Hu Yingtao took Xiao Qiu to line up to buy fresh ingredients.
As the grandmother and granddaughter hurried back, turning the corner home, they happened to run into the person carrying big and small bags.
“Ning Ning!” “Aunt, Aunt!”
Hearing the calls from behind, Su Ning quickly turned around, a flash of joy in her eyes, “Godmother, Xiao Qiu.”
Thump thump thump~
Letting go of Granny’s hand, Xiao Qiu immediately ran toward her, her smiling little face with eyes involuntarily turning red.
Sister Ning, who had given her help and warmth in her most heartbroken, helpless, confused, and lost moments, was an irreplaceable presence in Xiao Qiu’s heart.
Even though Grandpa, Granny, and Uncle were all very very good to her, the closest relatives besides Mom herself, Sister Ning was different…
Tilting her little head up, hugging her leg tightly, Xiao Qiu’s childish voice carried a heavy nasal tone, “Sister Ning, Xiao Qiu missed you so much, why did you only come now?”
“Good girl, didn’t I rush over to see our Xiao Qiu as soon as I finished being busy?”
With both hands full, Su Ning could only bend down, pressing her face against hers, then softly comforting her, “Sister Ning missed you so much too.”
“Really?”
“Realer than real.”
“Hehehe~”
Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, full of joy in her heart and eyes at her words, her tone also lifted, “Sister Ning, let me help you carry!”
“Ning Ning, what did you bring all this?”
After the two finished their affectionate hug, Hu Yingtao came forward with the back basket on her back and vegetable basket in hand, her eyes full of unconcealable happiness.
But seeing her carrying so many things, she couldn’t help but sound a bit reproachful, “Coming to our home and still being so formal. Didn’t we say not to bring anything? We have everything at home! Look, your hands are all red and purple from the straps!”
Without waiting for her to reply, she turned her head and shouted through the gate, “Old Zhang, Qi Zi, come out quick, Ning Ning is here!”
“Coming!”
“Ning Ning is already here?”
Two sets of footsteps, one after the other, quickly sounded from inside the gate.
Creak—
Taking off the hat made from folded newspaper on his head, Zhang Qi showed a big smile and stepped forward helpfully.
“Brother Zhang, you help Godmother, I can carry mine.”
“Nah, no need for me, leave it for Dad to fawn over her.”
“Grown man and still talking nonsense!”
Laughingly scolding him, Zhang Fu’s feet were very honest as he turned to help the old woman, smoothly taking the vegetable basket from her hand.
The family entered the gate chatting and laughing.
Unlike other families’ flowers, plants, and fruit trees in the Zhang Family courtyard, a paulownia tree was planted snugly in the corner of the wall.
The straight trunk towered half a head above the roof, sunlight filtering through layers of branches and leaves, speckling the ground with fragmented light spots.
A thicker horizontal branch held a swing twisted into a big figure-eight with thick hemp rope, gently swaying in the wind.
“This paulownia tree, Dad insisted on planting it the year Nannan was born.”
He said it was clear breezes and bright moon shining on the hall, phoenix perching on the paulownia tree…
Shaking his head and suppressing the pain in his eyes, lest the old couple in front hear, Zhang Qi changed the subject, “Ning Ning, what good stuff did you bring? It weighs a ton!”
“Yesterday when I went out on business and returned to the hotel, I got lucky and bought some fruit, and some are snacks I made myself.”
Knowing his intent, Su Ning smiled and went along with his words instead of pressing.
The space had several bountiful harvests in a row, and her underground storage room was already overflowing with fine grain and even various meats that were hard to buy on the black market.
Luckily, the storage vessels were immortal methods, so no worry about whether things would fit.
Because of Sister Qin, this visit she could only bring some fruit, and fearing Zhang Fu and his wife couldn’t handle it, she specially added spring water to make some pastries.
“You made them yourself? Heh, didn’t expect that, Ning Ning, you have this skill?”
“Not as good as my maternal grandfather’s craftsmanship, but at least edible.”
“Tsk, sounds like modesty!”
Any female comrade nowadays who can whip up decent hard dishes is considered fit for the hall and the kitchen, top-notch and presentable.
After all, besides restaurant chefs, which family has extra grain to spare for learning pastries that are neither filling nor hunger-satisfying.
Zhang Qi stuck out his thumb in praise, “This skill is already very good and impressive!”
Zhang Fu, who overheard a bit ahead, turned back with a smile, “Oh? Pastries Ning Ning made herself, then I must taste them properly later!”
“You and Godmother eat more, if you like them, I’ll make more when I get back and mail them to you.”
The three adults and one child halted their steps at her words.
Zhang Qi put the things in his hands on the table and was the first to ask, “The work issue is settled? Preparing to go back to Xiangnan?”
“A friend is helping, said it can be resolved tonight. The business trip is just these few days, probably leaving tomorrow or the day after.”
Seeing their faces change quickly, Su Ning smiled sweetly, revealing the little dimple at her mouth, “For work reasons, I might have plenty more business trips to Shanghai City, so Godfather and Godmother better not mind me visiting too often then.”
“What silly talk, we’re thrilled if you come home!”
Thinking of her job nature, business trips really were routine; even if she went back this time, she might turn up in Shanghai City again someday.
Zhang Fu patted the old woman’s hand; he didn’t bring up the matter they had discussed before at this moment, but the reluctance in his heart finally dissipated quite a bit.
Xiangnan, that place where Nannan was trapped for years, they were definitely going to go.
“I’ll go make dinner quick, you three men keep Ning Ning company and chat well.”
Hu Yingtao, who had also come around, looked at her with a smile again, “Ning Ning, sit and rest first!”
“Godmother, let me help you…”
“No need, no need, how could we need your help? This is all routine work for me, it’ll be quick.”
“Yes yes, Ning Ning, sit sit, your Godmother’s cooking is top-notch around here, you’ll see soon.”
Hu Yingtao took back the vegetable basket from the old man’s hand and turned straight to the kitchen without letting her say more.
Xiao Qiu, standing stunned in place, looked at Granny’s departing back, then turned to Su Ning not far away.
Unsure whether to go help Granny like these past days or stay to accompany Sister Ning longer.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Qiu?”
“Sister Ning…”
The little one’s face was so conflicted it was as if words were written on it; Su Ning chuckled and beckoned her, “Go on, accompany Granny, and after dinner Sister Ning will play with Xiao Qiu specially, okay?”
“Okay~”
Twiddling her fingers, seeing how Xiao Qiu’s little face had gained some meat after just a few days back at the Zhang Family, she sweetly smiled at her before trotting off to the kitchen.
“Brother Zhang, has Xiao Qiu’s household registration been resolved?”
“Getting someone to handle it, some trouble but it can be done.”
“That’s good.”
Whether she gets oil and grain subsidies is minor; in a year or so when she reaches school age, that’s the big deal.
Next, she chatted casually with the father and son of the Zhang Family, mostly them asking about Xiangnan matters and Su Ning selectively answering what she knew.
Through these questions, she vaguely sensed their intentions. Since they didn’t spell it out, she didn’t point it out either.
