Zhou Jiao quickly wiped her face, then switched into a long-sleeve shirt with a white base and light blue flowers, paired it with dark blue work pants, and braided her long hair, folding it over.
When she ca out, Qiao Na looked at her own outfit she had just changed into and pouted at Zhou Jiao, "Jiao Jiao, could you put a few patches on mine too?"
Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes at her and laughed, "Stop playing around, why patch it if it’s not torn?"
Qiao Na mumbled, "Is it the sa though?"
Seeing her like this, Zhou Jiao chuckled, pulling her along with the other two back to the room. She really couldn’t understand why every ti she wore an outfit, it would make others envious. To think she had been wearing this one for two whole years already, it made her feel sorry for herself. Returning to Beijing was actually worse than being at ho.
Starting the year before last, that "priceless" sheepskin coat of hers had been hidden at ho, let alone all sorts of fur coats in her space. Those days wrapped in a heavy military coat at school were enough for her.
But life had to go on... Apart from sweaters that wouldn’t draw much attention, nothing could be taken out now to avoid trouble.
She had just thought about taking this ti to knit a few more sweaters for her family, but unexpectedly Qiao Na was already soliciting their opinions. This girl was a drama queen!
"...Maybe there is so yarn here that doesn’t require coupons, should we go check it out? Think about how to entertain ourselves outside?"
Zhou Jiao smiled silently, waiting for the opinions of the other two. She didn’t mind and went with the flow. Before coming, she had brought two luggage bags, plenty of ways to cover up.
"Didn’t you just say you were broke?"
"Oh my, that’s just my backup money. Let’s go check the prices here. If it’s cheaper than in Beijing, let the family send money over."
One of the girls nad Xie Fang nodded, "Sounds good, I need to stock up on so toilet paper too."
Without objections, Zhou Jiao followed them back to the room to hang up the wet clothes, and then together they went to find Da Yi and the counselor. As expected, female students applying were all approved.
Zhou Jiao knowingly observed the counselor’s unnatural expression. Still too young! How his wife managed to win him over, she couldn’t fathom. According to the insider gossip, he was formidable back then, breaking through and winning the beauty.
"Write down what you need on a paper, and I’ll have soone buy it."
As soon as the counselor said this, the female students, afraid of being implicated, quickly backed away and ran off.
As the hostel was in the city, with departnt stores and post offices nearby, the teachers felt comfortable letting them go out, although the return ti was tightly controlled.
Zhou Jiao passed by the post office, standing there to let them go ahead to the mall; she would catch up with them later.
"Let’s go together. I need to send peace-of-mind to my family too."
Zhou Jiao glanced at Xie Fang and nodded, agreeing. This ti, other than Qiao Na, the family backgrounds of the four were pretty good. If she could think of sending a telegram, so could they!
To make up for her son’s regrets, Zhou Jiao especially sent a telegram addressed to little Zhang Mingxuan. She also took out four letters she had written on the train, adding a few lines about the upcoming schedule.
When writing to Zhou Xiaozheng, she specially included a code on it, conveying a ssage hinting sothing found. As for what was found, there was no need to say; both father and daughter understood each other well.
Zhou Jiao could already imagine her father’s excited smile. Telling him was because she was still worried she might have overlooked sothing. With the Liang Family around, so matters needed to be handled carefully.
After sending the registered mail, Zhou Jiao also bought so envelopes and stamps. If they ended up in a remote place far from a post office, she could still ask soone from the unit to help send them out.
Xie Fang, who had sent out her telegram and was waiting on the side, brightened up at the sight of this. How could she forget these details? She quickly bought so too.
This ti, during the shuffled regrouping, she kept a keen mind and persistently asked the counselor so she could be in the sa group as Zhou Jiao and Yi Jiefang. Unlike Qiao Na, who liked noise, her goal was profit.
Xie Fang’s uncle worked in the education departnt, and her father was an officer at the police station. Though the Xie Family might not stand out in Beijing, a low position didn’t an they were less inford.
No matter how Zhou Jiao never publicly declared her family’s address, claiming her family is from the Northeast, following the Lin Family’s series of scandals, within a certain range, how could she remain concealed?
At the end of last year, by chance, the Xie Family learned that their most outstanding daughter was actually in the sa school and class as a young couple from the Zhou family, and were pleasantly surprised.
They imdiately pulled Xie Fang into the study, revealing so background on Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao. Of course, these backgrounds were rumors; the truth? Even the top insider, Shi Dashen, couldn’t be sure.
Xie Fang then understood that one day becoming friends with Zhou Jiao would bring benefits beyond her imagination. Unfortunately, no matter how she tried to get close, Zhou Jiao remained consistent to everyone. What frustrated her further was Zhou Jiao never encountering any trouble, leaving her unable to lend a hand.
Now, regarding the beautiful aspiration of becoming Zhou Jiao’s friend, Xie Fang had stopped dreaming. Being able to get familiar through this internship and enter that circle already satisfied her greatly.
Zhou Jiao couldn’t know the other’s intentions. Even if she did, she wouldn’t care. Such people existed everywhere. Besides, was that circle so easy to enter?
Without parental connections and matching backgrounds, you’re not one of them, who would care about an outsider? Look at her new cousin, sure, everyone knew him, but who treated him as family?
In all these years, aside from Zhang Guoqing integrating, she hadn’t seen any unexpected appearances. Even if Zhou Jiao never actively explored, she knew the circle was complex, with subcircles and subgroups. More than enough circles. If it were up to her, she’d stay away from circles to avoid trouble.
Departnt stores, the red words on the frieze, wooden stair handrails, wooden shelves, glass countertops, sales clerks always behind counters, cold cream, Seagull shampoo, and rolls of floral fabric...
Honestly, Zhou Jiao found nothing appealing to shop for. The sa nationwide. She’d rather spend the ti walking outside or ordering shrimp wonton noodles at a restaurant.
Considering Cheng Ruzhu might contact her after work, Zhou Jiao suggested leaving when they ca out empty-handed. Even buying toilet paper required local coupons; what was there to shop for?
"We should have asked the teacher for local coupons earlier, left too quickly," remarked Qiao Na midway.
Zhou Jiao smiled, kept her head down, and continued walking.
Upon returning, they did find Yi Jiefang and others distributing tickets, but unfortunately, they were al tickets for today’s lunch and dinner, not likely anything else.
"Don’t wander aimlessly. It’s chaotic here; I’ll take you out on a rest day."
Listening to this, Zhou Jiao felt awkward. Gender differences, this guy really acted like she was a sister, but he should still be mindful of appearances, not noticing their classmates eavesdropping.
She smiled and shook her head, "No need, your tasks are heavy this ti, rest up. My aunt knows we arrived today, she should co by this afternoon."
Yi Jiefang understood her aning; when Cheng Ruzhu ca with her credentials, she could take Zhou Jiao away. Hearing this, he imdiately rolled his eyes at her, thinking, is having an aunt that impressive? He also had an older brother coming by!
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