novellhall Chapter 82 The Expectation of the First Formal Visit
Chapter 82 The Expectation of the First Formal Visit
Seeing her like this, Jiang Weihai knew she was truly frightened, and hurriedly explained, "These kinds of people don't do anything productive; they're always causing trouble. They know everyone, not just you, but all the young women and wives in the nearby villages..."
He hesitated to say anything further, then awkwardly replied, "Anyway, they're not good people. But since you're living in the factory now, they won't dare mess with you, so don't be afraid."
"Then... will they provoke other innocent lesbians?" Zhuang Qingxiang asked softly.
Jiang Weihai scratched his head: "They, they... all I know is that last year a female educated youth committed suicide by jumping into a river. It's said to be related to them, but... they don't admit it, and they have no evidence. They were only in the police station for two days before coming back."
He's definitely a repeat offender!
Zhuang Qingxiang harbored resentment and kept thinking about how to take revenge.
I was in a daze when I went back with Jiang Weihai.
When she got home, the familiar atmosphere greeted her, and she remembered that she now had a home, a job, and was safe. She was no longer Zhuang Qingxiang, who was living in a cowshed.
As if her soul had returned to its place, Zhuang Qingxiang regained consciousness and thanked Jiang Weihai.
"Thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened if I had run into those two people."
Jiang Weihai quickly became modest and polite, saying a few pleasantries, and then advised, "You shouldn't leave the factory for the next couple of days. If you need to buy anything, just tell me. If you absolutely have to go out, go to the nearest Dongya Village, don't go to any far away places."
"I know," Zhuang Qingxiang replied. "Anyway, thank you."
Her gaze fell on the large rooster Jiang Weihai was carrying, and she immediately said, "Chef Jiang, I'm stewing chicken tonight. Would you like to come over and try it sometime?"
Jiang Weihai was stunned for a moment, then visibly panicked.
"Can I...can I?"
"Why not? It's just a meal. Consider it my way of thanking you for protecting me today," Zhuang Qingxiang smiled.
Jiang Weihai walked with an odd posture, staggering a bit, and occasionally grinning foolishly.
Master Jiang got angry at his behavior and slapped him on the back of the head: "What are you grinning about? Did you even listen to me? I told you to spend more time with Zhuang Qingxiang!"
Jiang Weihai's face immediately turned red: "We... are fine."
"You guys..." Master Jiang looked at his simple-minded son in disbelief. "What do you mean by that? You think it's great? You've actually won her over?"
Jiang Weihai scratched his head and honestly said, "I don't know either... but she asked me to come out for dinner tonight."
Master Jiang was overjoyed and instinctively wanted to slap his son again, but then he remembered something and instead patted Jiang Weihai on the shoulder.
He nodded with a look of great satisfaction: "Alright, you haven't disappointed your father! Trust me, you won't regret marrying Zhuang Qingxiang. With her cooking and pastry skills, you two will definitely make a good living together."
"I know," Jiang Weihai replied. "She...she's a very good person."
She's beautiful and skilled; if it weren't for having two children, she probably wouldn't have had the chance.
Master Jiang excitedly circled around twice and immediately decided to prepare a gift for Jiang Weihai to take to dinner that evening.
This is considered a formal visit; I can't go empty-handed.
In the evening, Jiang Weihai, neatly dressed with waxed hair, pushed his bicycle, two mesh bags hanging from the handlebars containing canned goods, malted milk powder, peach crisps, and more...
These are all quite rare items; bringing so many on a first visit is a very generous gift.
He had visited Zhuang Qingxiang's place many times, but this time he was particularly nervous, standing at the door for a long time before finally knocking.
The door opened, and out came Sun Yongxian.
"Master Jiang," Sun Yongxian greeted, "You've finally arrived! I was about to sneak a bite."
Jiang Weihai stiffened.
"What are you standing there for? Come in!" Sun Yongxian shouted and went inside by herself. She didn't even go inside the house, just stood outside the kitchen drooling.
"Sister Zhuang, is it ready yet? Let me have a bite first," she said coquettishly.
"Yongxian, can't you be a little more mature? You're not a child anymore." Shi Peiran couldn't stand it anymore and reminded his wife that there were outsiders present.
After giving the reminder, she turned to look at Jiang Weihai, her eyes flashing slightly, and smiled: "Young Master Jiang, you look very smart today."
Jiang Weihai was completely dumbfounded.
Wasn't he invited to dinner? Why are Teacher Sun and Doctor Shi both here?
"Master Jiang, why did you bring so much stuff?" Shi Peiran asked again.
Zhuang Qingxiang and Sun Yongxian heard this and looked over at the same time, only then did they see the two net bags hanging on Jiang Weihai's handlebars.
Jiang Weihai was not good with words to begin with, and with the three of them watching him, he was so nervous that he was sweating profusely.
"I...I...I can't just come here for free..." he managed to come up with a reason.
There was no way to say that these things were gifts prepared by his father for his first formal visit.
"Master Jiang, you're too kind," Zhuang Qingxiang said hurriedly. "You should take all of this home after you finish eating. I can't accept it! We were just lucky today to be able to buy a big rooster. Let's stew it and have a good time together."
"That's right, that's right," Sun Yongxian chimed in. "Master Jiang, you're being so polite, it makes Peiran and me feel so inferior."
They brought gifts, but not as many as usual.
Jiang Weihai was sweating more and more, unsure of what to say.
Zhuang Qingxiang noticed his expression was off, so she changed the subject and told them to go inside and have some tea, saying it would be ready soon.
Shi Peiran smiled and led Jiang Weihai into the house, even pouring him a glass of water.
"Master Jiang, you're sweating a lot. Are you nervous?" he asked, staring at Jiang Weihai.
Zhuang Qingxiang and her wife couldn't tell anything, but as a man, he knew very well Jiang Weihai's intentions.
They've dressed up specially and brought generous gifts; have they come to propose marriage?
Ha... Does the factory manager even know about this?
"I...I'm not nervous," Jiang Weihai stammered. "It's just...a little hot."
He's fat and naturally gets hot easily. Tonight, he even wore a Zhongshan suit to look presentable, and the collar was suffocating him.
Shi Peiran chuckled, "Little Jiang, don't be nervous. We often come to Sister Zhuang's place for a free meal. Since you're here today, we're all family now. Let's all come for free meals together from now on."
Jiang Weihai wanted to say no, since he and his father were both cooks and their family wasn't short of food.
Before he could even speak, Shi Peiran said with a smile, "This is the first time I've seen Master Jiang dressed so formally. If you didn't know better, you'd think you were here to freeload a meal. But if you didn't know better, you'd think you were here to propose marriage."
Large beads of sweat appeared on Jiang Weihai's forehead.
"I...I..."
"I know you're not like that. Sister Zhuang said that you two are revolutionary friends, good colleagues, and good friends. Sister Zhuang doesn't have those kinds of feelings," Shi Peiran interjected.
Jiang Weihai was like a deflated balloon; all his anticipation from the afternoon had vanished, so much so that he had no appetite for a pot of fragrant stewed chicken that evening, finding it tasteless and unappetizing.
Even when he left, he was so distraught that he forgot to take the things out of the two net bags.