He was silent for a while, then said, "For those who give generous gifts, return with two boxes of high-end pastries, a roast duck, and so small trinkets. As for Second Brother, I’ll privately give him so cigarettes and liquor because those special supplies will be useful to him. Don’t send the fabric and other things you planned to give Sister-in-law and the others this ti. Wait until later to privately give them to Big Sister."
"Haha... I guess Big Sister will give similar gifts to the three of our families this ti. That’s quite difficult for her. Instead of waiting, we’ll deliver them ourselves tonight. She won’t ntion it to anyone else," Zhou Jiao said with a smile.
She was really worried that Zhang ili’s way of gift-giving might upset her brother-in-law. She better send them over quickly to make ands. She suspected that Zhang the Second might return generous gifts. However, since the oldest one doesn’t manage internal affairs, and given that Huang Cuilan is used to being frugal, the situation would be different.
Zhang Guoqing nodded. His oldest sister’s living conditions are not as good as Second Sister’s, but she is always generous to her brothers. Both her husband’s family and her own family require New Year gifts, so it’s likely to be a tight year.
Seeing that everything was fine, Zhou Jiao pulled Zhang Guoqing into the next room. Many pastries, snacks, and toys were mixed up together, and Aunt Fen hadn’t sorted them. She didn’t say anything, just pointed at the list of New Year gifts and smiled at him, asking him to help organize the gifts.
Zhang Guoqing pulled out a bamboo basket from the corner, which still had half a basket of potatoes inside. He didn’t know who sent them, and Aunt Fen never ntioned it, and of course, it wasn’t recorded on the list. He couldn’t help but sigh. He began to suspect that if so people sent inexpensive things, this aunt wouldn’t ntion them? Those were all social obligations.
"Jiao Jiao, could you ask Aunt Fen to co over for a mont?"
As soon as Zhou Jiao saw him, she knew he was angry. To Zhang Guoqing, it’s not that light gifts could be ignored. He particularly valued sincerity. It would also be a good opportunity to remind Aunt Fen that this family isn’t hers.
Leaving the room, Zhou Jiao called out to Aunt Fen in the kitchen.
The other party responded early on, but it took over half an hour for Aunt Fen to show up.
Zhou Jiao smiled helplessly and said, "Aunt Fen, could you check to see who sent the potatoes in the room? Xiao Wu is waiting for you over there."
"Potatoes? I honestly forgot about them. Wait, let think," Aunt Fen said, walking and frowning in thought.
Once she entered the room, she saw Zhang Guoqing checking the list. The items initially piled in one place now had a small pile behind him. It was clear that so items on the list hadn’t been matched yet.
Aunt Fen stopped, looking around. Seeing Zhang Guoqing look up, she said with a smile, "Xiao Wu, the person who sent over the potatoes is nad Wang. He also sent two wild chickens and a piece of venison. He said you would know who he is. Haha, Xiao Wu, I made the two wild chickens and the venison. Is that alright?"
"It’s fine. Besides him, who else sent things over? Think about it carefully. Even if soone brought a single onion to the door, I have to return the courtesy," Zhang Guoqing replied, shaking his head.
Since they’ve already eaten it, what else could he say? The couple are not stingy people, but quite a bit of food was left at ho. This morning, when he went to the warehouse to get sothing, it was already empty. Luckily, he hadn’t handed over those supplies. It seed he needed to find another maid.
"The surrounding neighbors and the families ahead all sent sticky rice balls and tofu. An old man nad Ye sent over two fish. The original hoowner, Mrs. Liu, gave a bag of milk candies, saying her relatives brought them from outside. Aunt Wang from the neighborhood committee also brought a pound of raw pumpkin seeds for Jiao Jiao. And there were seven or eight young guys who brought things over, saying they were your friends. When they didn’t see you, so took their stuff back..." Facing Zhang Guoqing’s eyes, Aunt Fen’s voice grew quieter and quieter.
Zhang Guoqing no longer paid attention to her, squatted down, and began sorting things. So words no longer needed to be said. If she were sensible, she should have suggested leaving. If it weren’t for Zhao Dashan being involved, he would have asked her to leave right there. Jiao Jiao was right; no one understood moderation.
The atmosphere beca awkward. Zhou Jiao left for the bedroom midway through Aunt Fen’s sentence. Seeing that all the items the woman ntioned were missing, yet she didn’t inform her, an anger welled up inside her. Fortunately, Zhang Guoqing discovered it in ti; otherwise, both of them would have been embarrassed to face others.
Aunt Fen stood where she was for a mont, then said she still had so work unfinished in the kitchen and went back hurriedly, asking Zhang Guoqing to call her if he needed anything.
Zhang Guoqing sorted out the items and returned to the bedroom, asking Zhou Jiao to check the wardrobe and boxes for any abnormalities. Although they had stored away the valuables before returning to Beijing, there were still many things left at ho. At this point, he was very disappointed with Aunt Fen! He had thought she was good, but it hadn’t been long since they were away from ho, and her true colors were already showing.
Zhou Jiao whispered her speculations into his ear. She thought that the son’s character might be the problem. Being educated doesn’t necessarily an knowing how to behave. During this period, the mother and son had been living here, so how could they not notice their inappropriate behavior?
She asked Zhang Guoqing to quickly check the study. She had already checked the master bedroom in the morning. She found that except for so movent in the wardrobe, everything else seed normal.
Zhang Guoqing went to the next room, looked around, and returned to the bedroom, saying, "Luckily you were smart and moved most of the books. The bookcase has been tampered with, and the drawers rummaged through. Ten sheets of xuan paper have been taken, which amounts to almost two sheets missing, but the newspapers are untouched. There are too many brushes to know if any are missing."
"Let her go! Don’t tell Uncle Dashan the truth; just make up an excuse. I’ll stay at ho with our son during lunch, and you can go deliver the gifts. Is that okay?" Zhou Jiao said, frowning.
Zhang Guoqing quickly replied, "You stay ho and watch the kids. Leave the rest to . Before we eat, I’ll visit a few neighbors."
"Do you know which ones?"
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. He roughly guessed that the elderly folks he t during morning exercises were among those who sent so gifts. They had already prepared a lot of soft pastries for the elders.
He packed a box of Beijing preserved fruits and a box of Hang City Osmanthus Cakes for each family, making them look substantial in the black bag. Zhang Guoqing, satisfied with how it looked, took the additional gifts Zhou Jiao prepared for the two families next door. After exchanging a few words with her, he headed out.
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