novellhall Chapter 286 Distant Niece
Chapter 286 Distant Niece
Because of her relationship with Jin Guilan, Zhuang Qingxiang paid close attention to the affairs of Deputy Director Li's family.
She watched as Jin Guilan meticulously planned her daily grocery shopping, cooking, and childcare. To others, she seemed like a well-off woman who had no worries about food or drink and lived a life of luxury, but in reality, she was all show and no substance.
Because Jin Guilan had told her that Deputy Director Li's salary wasn't given to her, since she earned her own salary at work, and her household expenses came from her salary.
After she stopped going to work, Deputy Director Li said that she had savings, so she should spend her savings first, and that his money should be saved for important matters.
But how much savings does Jin Guilan have?
My salary has to cover household expenses, raising children, and social obligations, so I can't save much money at all.
Because she and Deputy Director Li were both employed and received salaries, they never asked their children to pay for living expenses.
Over time, she became very strapped for cash, and had to carefully budget her daily expenses.
Zhuang Qingxiang felt heartbroken for Jin Guilan whenever she thought about Lu Congyue talking about how Deputy Director Li arranged jobs for people.
She even wanted to ask, "Deputy Director Li said he was saving money for when something big happens, but what exactly is a big deal? A family's life is just about daily necessities, and finding a job for the children should be the most important thing, but he doesn't care at all. What big thing could there be? National affairs?"
Just as she was considering whether to hint at it to Jin Guilan, Jin Guilan unexpectedly brought a woman to see her.
"This is my distant niece, Jin Lili. She helped take care of my child before, as I mentioned to you," Jin Guilan introduced with a smile. "She happened to be visiting me, so I brought her along. She can help me look after the child."
Jin Guilan and Zhuang Qingxiang had originally planned to go shopping at the department store together today, but Jin Lili said she wanted to come along too, so they had no choice but to bring her along as well.
Upon hearing the words "distant niece," Zhuang Qingxiang instinctively looked at Jin Lili.
My first impression of him was that he was young, around twenty years old.
My second impression of her was that she wasn't particularly pretty; she was just an ordinary girl.
But even the most ordinary-looking person will have some charm because of their youth.
At least compared to women of Jin Guilan's age, she is delicate.
Zhuang Qingxiang sighed inwardly; at that age, she could be Deputy Director Li's daughter...
Jin Lili noticed Zhuang Qingxiang looking her over, and immediately met her gaze with a smile: "Hello, sister."
She is very well-behaved and sensible.
Zhuang Qingxiang blushed with embarrassment: "This generational hierarchy is messed up. Sister Jin and I are sisters, you..."
"Oh? But I see you're so young and beautiful, sister..." Jin Lili said, looking embarrassed. "I really can't bring myself to call you 'auntie'."
Jin Guilan laughed heartily: "Oh, don't worry about so much, let's each do our own thing."
Perhaps because Zhuang Qingxiang was giving Jin Lili a lot of face, Jin Guilan treated Jin Lili better, and even praised Jin Lili in various ways.
"My niece has really done a lot. She took care of my grandson right after he was born. She worked so hard for the past two or three years helping out at my house. Now that she's gone, I'm exhausted and my back is aching. Sigh, when she came to my house, she was just a child, only seventeen years old."
Zhuang Qingxiang's thoughts drifted: Could it be that Deputy Director Li had taken advantage of that girl when she was only seventeen or eighteen? He's truly inhuman.
She didn't hear what Jin Guilan said after that; she was too preoccupied with these thoughts.
Jin Guilan called her twice, urging her to get ready to leave.
Zhuang Qingxiang snapped out of her daze, quickly dressed the two children in their padded jackets, and put them in the stroller.
"Sister Zhuang, let me help you push it," Jin Lili offered. "I'm good at this."
"Yes, you can let Lili do it. With her around, it'll be easier for you," Jin Guilan said with a smile.
"Together, together," Zhuang Qingxiang quickly said. How could she really entrust the child to a stranger?
Jin Lili's personality seems to be very similar to Jin Guilan's; she is also someone who talks to herself and is very outgoing.
The conversation gradually shifted from the children to Zhuang Qingxiang and Lu Congyue.
Before she even stepped out of the compound gate, she started asking about Lu Congyue.
"I heard Director Lu is very good to Sister Zhuang and the children. You two must have a very good relationship, right?"
Zhuang Qingxiang smiled and said, "It's alright."
"Sister Zhuang, how long have you been married to Director Lu?" Jin Lili asked again.
Zhuang Qingxiang noticed that Jin Guilan kept giving Jin Lili meaningful glances, but Jin Lili acted as if she didn't see them.
Zhuang Qingxiang didn't want to continue this topic, so she smiled and changed the subject: "Sister Jin, which department store should we go to?"
"The No. 1 Department Store, it's nearby," Jin Guilan said casually.
Zhuang Qingxiang thought for a moment, "I've been there several times already, there's nothing new there. How about we go to the Second Department Store instead?"
Jin Guilan replied nonchalantly, "Whatever."
Zhuang Qingxiang's eyes never left Jin Lili's face, and when she saw her expression stiffen slightly, she chuckled inwardly.
She didn't believe Jin Lili would dare go to the Second Department Store with Jin Guilan.
When she runs into a colleague and they exchange a few words, Jin Guilan will know that she works at the Second Department Store and will definitely wonder how she got the job.
Sure enough, Jin Lili immediately said, "The Second Department Store is too far away, and we have to change buses. It's inconvenient with a small child. Let's just shop nearby instead."
Jin Guilan agreed, nodding and saying, "That's true, we have to reverse, it's too much trouble with a child."
Zhuang Qingxiang smiled and said, "Then let's go to the nearby department store. We'll just be browsing around anyway."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Jin Guilan suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my, look who's that? Isn't that your Director Lu?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Qingxiang looked up and saw Lu Congyue walking towards them, quickly reaching them.
"Director Lu, what brings you back at this hour?" Jin Guilan greeted him.
Lu Congyue smiled politely, greeted her, and then said to Zhuang Qingxiang, "I came back to tell you that Director Dai said he wants to come and see you."
Zhuang Qingxiang was taken aback: "When?"
"Probably this morning," Lu Congyue said in a deep voice, then looked at them, "Are you heading out? Should I tell Director Dai to reschedule?"
"No need, we're just going to browse the department store. Since Director Dai is coming, I won't go," Zhuang Qingxiang said with a smile.
"Okay, you decide. I'll go back to work now."
After Lu Congyue finished speaking, he smiled at Jin Guilan and the others, and then hurriedly left.
Zhuang Qingxiang apologized to Jin Guilan, saying that guests were coming to their house and she couldn't go shopping with her at the department store.
"What's there to apologize for? We were just going out to kill some time. If you have something to do, we can make another appointment." Jin Guilan waved her hand. "Go back quickly, we're going back too."
He called for Jin Lili to leave, but his calls went unanswered.
"Lili, what's wrong? Why are you spacing out?" Jin Guilan was startled.
Jin Lili snapped out of her daze: "Huh? No, it's nothing."
Actually, she was stunned by Director Lu.
That young, tall, and handsome man was actually the director…
Li Weixing is only the deputy director, and he's already quite old.
Compared to Director Lu, they are utter trash.