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

On that vacant lot, the basic structure of the small house has been completed, and now asbestos tiles are being laid on top.

Zhuang Chaoying and Lin Dongzhe helped on the ground.

Just then, Wu Jianguo ran out of his yard in a panic. Perhaps he was running too fast, because he stumbled and fell to the ground.

Ignoring the pain, she quickly got up and called out to the two of them, "Dongzhe, Teacher Zhuang, have you seen my Shanshan? Is she in your garden? I asked Xiaojun, but he doesn't know where Shanshan went either."

Lin Dongzhe stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Uncle Wu: "Brother Tu Nan took Sister Shan Shan to see the high school entrance exam results. They've been gone for quite a while."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jianguo breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

No matter what, Shanshan is still my daughter. If something really happens to her, it will be terrible.

But Shanshan is something else. She's started talking back lately. This morning, Zhang Amei said a couple of things to her, and she insisted on arguing. She just wants a peaceful day, why is it so hard?

He frowned slightly: "Okay, Uncle is relieved. Your Aunt Zhang said a few words to her this morning, and I was afraid that Shanshan might do something rash, so I quickly went out to look for her. I'm relieved to see her with Tu Nan."

Just then, thunder suddenly rumbled in the sky.

The clouds in the sky were dark and heavy, and the light dimmed.

Lin Dongzhe looked up at the sky: "Hurry up and cover the roof, it's going to rain!"

Just as he finished speaking, Lin Dongzhe suddenly remembered that Tu Nan and Shan Shan hadn't taken umbrellas when they went out.

He frowned slightly, thinking to himself that the two of them were big kids, and getting a little rained on shouldn't be a big problem.

Uncle Zhuang's popsicles are all gone, and Xiaoting just went to the resident affairs office to buy some. It wouldn't do for Xiaoting to get wet in the rain.

"Uncle Zhuang, come and help me!"

Zhuang Chaoying had planned to rest for a while, but she didn't expect to fall asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

Hearing Lin Dongzhe's call, he groggily opened his eyes and replied, "Coming!" Then he put on his gloves, got up, took the asbestos tile from Dongzhe's hand, and continued working.

"Uncle Zhuang, I'm going to check on Xiaoting. She went out without an umbrella, and it looks like it's going to rain soon."

Zhuang Chaoying looked up at the dark, heavy clouds and nodded: "Go quickly, Dongzhe."

Lin Dongzhe went home, grabbed an umbrella, and then hurriedly ran towards the dormitory area.

But just as they were halfway there, large raindrops began to fall in a pattering down.

He quickly opened his umbrella, but his pace didn't slow down at all; he continued running forward in the rain.

At that moment, he saw a girl in the distance wearing a light pink dress. The girl's figure looked somewhat frail in the rain.

She was also carrying a basket in her hand.

Lin Dongzhe recognized Xiaoting at a glance and quickly ran over, holding the umbrella over her head. Looking at Xiaoting's soaked clothes and hair clinging to her cheeks, he said, "Xiaoting, why didn't you find somewhere to take shelter from the rain? You'll catch a cold if you get wet."

Xiaoting slightly raised her head, raindrops sliding down her cheeks. She handed the basket in her hand to Lin Dongzhe, holding it in front of her chest: "It wasn't raining when I came out of the living quarters, but it started raining halfway there. I didn't expect it to rain so hard. Luckily, you came."

Lin Dongzhe took the basket, and with his other hand he tightly grasped Xiaoting's arm, pulling her towards him: "Don't talk yet, let's go home quickly, don't catch a cold."

After saying that, he led Xiaoting towards home, tilting the umbrella as much as possible towards Xiaoting, while exposing half of his own body to the rain.

Lin Dongzhe took out a neatly folded handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Xiaoting with a hint of nervousness: "I washed this handkerchief carefully with soap. Use it to wipe the rain off your face. I know you've always been clean and particular. If you don't like it, I'll keep it."

He instinctively felt a mixture of anticipation and worry that Xiaoting might refuse.

Xiaoting slightly raised her head, looked into Lin Dongzhe's sincere eyes, gently took the handkerchief from his hand, and smiled faintly, saying, "Thank you!" She then wiped the raindrops dripping from her head with the handkerchief as she walked away.

Seeing this, Lin Dongzhe's lips unconsciously curled up, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly tilted the umbrella further towards Xiaoting and said, "You're welcome. Hurry up and go. Go back and drink some ginger water to warm yourself up! This rain is chilly, so don't catch a cold."

Xiaoting nodded obediently and replied, "Mmm!"

The two quickened their pace, and when they reached the alley entrance, they ran into Brother Tu Nan and Sister Shan Shan, who were rushing over on their bicycles in the rain.

Rainwater streamed down their hair and clothes.

Seeing this, Lin Dongzhe said, "Sister Shanshan, you and Xiaoting hold up your umbrellas." With that, he ran into the alley.

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Meanwhile, Wang Fang's small house was finally completed.

Zhuang Chaoying stood by the window, looking at the heavy rain outside. Dongzhe had gone to pick up Xiaoting. The child was clever and should be fine.

Ah Ling took an umbrella with her when she went out this morning, so she'll probably be back soon.

He checked the time; it was already past four o'clock. He figured he'd just have a simple meal today.

He turned and went into the kitchen to cook some noodles.

Soon, the water in the pot boiled, and the noodles were put in.

Zhuang Chaoying carried the cooked noodles out of the kitchen. As soon as she entered the main room, she saw Xiaoting and Tunan, who were soaked to the bone, standing at the door.

Zhuang Chaoying hurriedly put down the noodles in her hand and stepped forward: "Xiaoting, go to the small house and change your clothes quickly. Tunan, change in the main house. Don't stand here, be careful not to catch a cold."

Xiaoting responded, turned around and quickly walked into the small house. She took out a clean vest and pants from the wardrobe, and then wrung out the water from her hair.

After tidying himself up a bit, he took the dry clothes and walked to the door, calling out towards the main house, "Brother, here are your clothes." He then tossed the clothes to Zhuang Tunan and closed the door of the small house.

Inside the main house, Zhuang Tunan took off Shi Tou's shirt, went shirtless, wiped himself down with a towel, and changed into dry clothes and trousers.

"Tu Nan, how did Shan Shan do on her exam?"

Zhuang Tunan picked up a towel and vigorously rubbed his hair: "Shanshan did really well on the test. Out of a possible 580, she got 563. It's good that she can go to high school."

After listening, Zhuang Chaoying nodded in satisfaction. Shanshan's good grades were inseparable from her own hard work. Effort and reward are ultimately proportional, and this excellent result is the best proof.

Shanshan got into high school; this was the most important step in changing her life.

Zhuang Chaoying stood up and called out towards the small house, "Xiaoting, have you changed your clothes?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiaoting pushed open the door and came out.

Zhuang Tunan quickly handed Xiaoting a towel: "Dry your hair, or you'll easily catch a cold."

Xiaoting took the towel: "Thank you, brother!"

Zhuang Chaoying looked at the two children, then turned and went back into the kitchen to prepare some brown sugar ginger water.

On rainy days, drinking some ginger water can warm you up and help prevent colds.

In no time, the steaming hot brown sugar ginger water was ready.

He took three bowls, filled them with the contents, and even brought one for Lin Dongzhe.

Zhuang Chaoying carried a bowl of ginger water out of the kitchen: "Xiaoting, Tunan, come here. Dad made some brown sugar ginger water. Take this bowl to Lin Dongzhe. He must be cold after running around outside. Let him drink some to warm up."

Xiaoting obediently picked up the bowl and went out the door. "Lin Dongzhe, open the door!"

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