People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Lin Dongzhe ran back from outside, his little face flushed. He eagerly opened the door and immediately started complaining to Song Ying and Lin Wufeng: "Mom, I went to Grandpa Zhang's house to watch TV, and Uncle complained that my bottom was too big and that I was taking up their chair, but I was sitting perfectly fine! My mother also complained that I talked too much. I don't talk much when I watch TV, even if I don't understand it!"

Song Ying was sitting on the bed: "Don't watch TV anymore."

Lin Dongzhe pouted defiantly: "You complain that my butt is too big? I say, what's so special about a TV? My parents can buy me a TV too!"

Song Ying sat up in bed, looking at her son's sullen face. "Yes, we're going to buy a TV too. Mom will start saving money now."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wufeng stared wide-eyed at the mother and son, exclaiming incredulously, "What!"

That spendthrift woman, sigh!

Song Ying firmly repeated, "I'll start saving money next month, thirty yuan a month!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Dongzhe immediately beamed with joy: "We'll invite Brother Tu Nan, Xiao Ting, Xiao Jun, and Sister Shan Shan to come and watch TV. Our family isn't stingy."

Zhuang Chaoying, sitting in her house next door, listened intently to Lin Dongzhe's words, a smile gradually spreading across her face. "Ah Ling, you know, Lin Dongzhe is really interesting. He's mischievous, but very clever!"

Huang Ling was tidying up her clothes when she heard Zhuang Chaoying say, "Dong Zhe is such a mischievous monkey. Song Ying must be exhausted after a long day."

Zhuang Chaoying was silent for a while: "Ah Ling, you've been married to me for so many years, and you haven't been home to visit for several years. Why don't we take advantage of my and the children's vacation and go back to Changcheng to see your parents?"

Huang Ling, who had been looking down, turned around abruptly upon hearing this and gently placed her hand on Zhuang Chaoying's body. "Really, Chaoying!" But quickly, her eyes dimmed again, filled with worry: "The round-trip travel expenses for our whole family will cost a lot of money..."

Zhuang Chaoying looked at her. "I know you must miss your parents, go back and see them!"

Huang Ling's eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded vigorously. "Okay! Then I'll go back and take a look. Tomorrow I'll call my sister's workplace and get a letter of introduction."

Zhuang Chaoying smiled and said, "Okay, stop working and go to sleep!"

Huang Ling lay on the bed, her arm around Zhuang Chaoying's, her face resting on his shoulder. "Chaoying, you've changed!"

Zhuang Chaoying felt the weight on her arm, her body stiffening slightly unnaturally. She kept muttering to herself, "We're all sisters, it's nothing for sisters to link arms." "Oh? What's changed about me?"

"You've become more protective of our little family! I love you the way you are now. These days give me something to look forward to and something to hope for."

Just as Zhuang Chaoying's eyes began to droop and she drowsily closed them, she heard Huang Ling whisper in her ear, "Don't disappoint me again, Chaoying!"

Zhuang Chaoying didn't answer her directly, but silently gave her a definite answer in her heart: "No way!"

,,,,,,

The next morning, Zhuang Chaoying woke up slowly in the morning light, driven by his recent habit of buying groceries.

Turning his head to look at Ah Ling, who was still fast asleep beside him, a few strands of hair fell around her cheeks.

Zhuang Chaoying, as if possessed, reached out and gently pinched her face. The touch was soft and elastic, and the moment her fingers touched her skin...

Zhuang Chaoying seemed to suddenly realize that her actions were inappropriate and quickly withdrew her hand.

A faint blush rose to her face, and she wondered to herself: What's wrong with me? Why do I suddenly want to pinch her cheek?

He tried to find a reason for himself in his mind. Yes, it must be because her face looked too pinchable, just like when he was in college.

Girls often engage in these kinds of intimate, opportunistic gestures with each other; I was just doing it unconsciously.

Yes, that's it!

Zhuang Chaoying got dressed, picked up her shopping basket, and headed towards the state-run store.

I bought some loose dried tofu and also picked out a bunch of small green vegetables.

When I was almost home, I closed the gate and picked out three packs of Suzhou specialty pastries and two bottles of Moutai from the system shop in my mind. The price was 16.8 yuan, and I spent less than 18 yuan in total.

He carefully laid the vegetables on top of the wine and pastries, which were prepared for Sister Ling's parents.

After all, it would be impolite to go back empty-handed on my first visit in this capacity; it's basic courtesy.

He took out another package of pastries, intending to save them for Sister Ling and the children. Imagining the children's happy faces when they saw the pastries, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

Huang Ling woke up slowly and saw that Zhuang Chaoying had already returned. She sat up in bed and said, "Chaoying, you've already come back from grocery shopping. Why didn't you call me?"

Zhuang Chaoying walked over with a smile and placed the dishes on the table next to her: "I'm on vacation now and I'm writing lesson plans and other things at home. You must be tired from work, so get some more sleep."

Zhuang Chaoying used to cook when she lived alone, so she wasn't unfamiliar with cooking.

I didn't know how to start a fire before, but now I'm much more skilled at it.

Busy at the stove, I lit the fire, poured in the oil, and stir-fried the dried tofu in the pan. Soon, the aroma of the dried tofu filled the air. Then I added the bok choy and stir-fried it quickly, sprinkled on the seasonings, and a plate of stir-fried bok choy with dried tofu was ready.

At this moment, Song Ying was also cooking on another stove.

Smelling the aroma of Zhuang Chaoying's cooking, she couldn't help but praise, "Teacher Zhuang, Sister Ling is so lucky! I never expected Teacher Zhuang to cook so well; it smells so good!"

Zhuang Chaoying replied with a smile, "Engineer Lin is no less capable, Xiao Song, you're very lucky!"

The cooked porridge was served and placed on the table.

After breakfast, Huang Ling hurriedly went to the factory to get a letter of introduction and complete the leave application process.

Zhuang Chaoying tidied her clothes and went to the school to get a letter of introduction.

Everything went smoothly, and the bus tickets were quickly purchased for tomorrow noon, a direct bus from Suzhou to Changcheng.

In the evening, Tu Nan, Xiao Ting, and Dong Zhe went to the restroom together as usual.

"Dongzhe, my brother and I are going to Changcheng. From now on, you'll be going to the toilet by yourself."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dongzhe froze in his tracks, his eyes widening in astonishment: "What! You're going to Changcheng? What are you going to Changcheng for?!"

Zhuang Tunan held Dongzhe's hand and continued walking forward, patiently explaining, "Mom and Dad are taking Xiaoting and me to see Grandpa and Grandma. We'll be back soon."

Lin Dongzhe breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest: "That's good, it's good that you're back! Xiaoting, make sure you eat your fill at Grandma's house, don't be shy!"

Zhuang Xiaoting rolled her eyes at Lin Dongzhe: "I know!"

,

Zhuang Chaoying placed the wine and snacks she had bought today on the table, then turned to Huang Ling and said, "Ling, I asked someone to buy these for me. I'm going home to see my parents, so I can't go empty-handed."

After saying that, he picked up his water glass and took a sip to moisten his throat.

"Chaoying's parents won't mind." Huang Ling looked at the things on the table, her mind racing. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she looked at Zhuang Chaoying: "Chaoying, tell me the truth, do you have a secret stash of money?"

Zhuang Chaoying had just swallowed a mouthful of water when she heard this and choked, coughing violently.

After calming down, he looked at Huang Ling helplessly and said, "Ling, I kept a hundred yuan of my own money from last time."

After he finished speaking, his eyes unconsciously looked to the other side, not daring to meet Huang Ling's gaze.

Seeing his expression, Huang Ling became even more certain and, without any hesitation, walked over and held out her hand: "Give it to me!"

Zhuang Chaoying rummaged around in her cotton-padded jacket and took out the remaining sixty-two yuan. She secretly rejoiced that she had put all the other money in the system's shelf!

He handed it over, forcing a wry smile: "Ah Ling, there really aren't any left this time!"

Huang Ling glared at him, turned around and stuffed the money into her bag, but a big smile appeared on her face. She was secretly pleased with herself: I didn't expect Chao Ying to be so easy to fool. I didn't expect her to actually come out. This is really an unexpected gain!