I’m here today to tell her about the class reunion tomorrow.
"Where are we going? There aren’t any restaurants open right now, no place to et."
"The community activity center in the west side of town. It’s open for the New Year, and there’ll be a community stage play tomorrow, along with various snacks. We’ll bring so refreshnts and hot water, just sit together and chat." Actually, it’s just their classmates of similar age going. There are two young girls in the class who can’t really connect with them.
"I still have to take care of my granddaughter. I probably can’t make it."
"That place is an activity center for our entertainnt, you can bring the kids along. Old Li said he’ll bring his grandson along too. But his grandson is already three years old, much older than so of our granddaughters."
"Is the activity center cold?"
"Not cold, it’s warm there, warr than the beds at ho. It’s just for the morning, I’ll co pick you up tomorrow and we’ll go together. I’ll help with your granddaughter."
"Alright then." This New Year felt lonely for Liang Hongi, the first ti her daughter and son weren’t around, leaving her feeling empty inside.
Xiao Gu stayed with her for two days, and is now at the orphanage helping the director take care of the children.
Luckily, her granddaughter was there to keep her company, making it less lonely.
The kids are coming back tomorrow. She was planning to help them tidy up their rooms.
Probably have to wait until the afternoon.
The next day, Liang Hongi bundled Little Star up so much she looked like a at dumpling. She packed milk powder, water, a bottle, diapers, and paper — a big bag of stuff.
Seeing all these items, Liang Hongi suddenly lost the desire to go out.
Once there’s a child at ho, going out becos inconvenient.
If Qin Xiu hadn’t strongly persuaded her to go, she really wouldn’t have wanted to.
Arriving there without hot water or heating, if her little granddaughter caught a cold, it wouldn’t be worth it.
Liang Hongi used a stroller to push Little Star, and went on the bus to the west side with Qin Xiu.
Must say, this community activity center is really big, it’s two whole floors.
The first floor has a card room, a dance hall, a rest area, and a children’s playground. Inside, seven or eight large stoves are burning, and once you step in, it’s warm.
Must say, it’s much warr than at ho. No wonder there are so many people here during the New Year.
Probably most are here to enjoy the warmth. "Hongi, when is your shop opening? My son’s wedding reception depends on it."
"Just for you, we’re opening on the eighth. Isn’t that accommodating?"
"Yes, yes. Very accommodating. Thank you, Hongi."
"Oh, we’re all classmates, no need to be polite."
Liang Hongi is considered young among this group of old classmates, also pretty, and amiable. The classmates like interacting with her. Once they all knew the hotpot restaurant on Steel Road was hers, they beca even more enthusiastic.
Being welcoming has its benefits — her son is getting married after the New Year, and with good relations, a single word made them offer a favor, giving her lots of face.
"Old Li, is your youngest son getting married? Will you invite us?"
"Of course, I must invite you. I’ll visit each of you personally to invite."
Being with them, they mostly talked about their children or work-related matters. Liang Hongi held Little Star while chatting, but Little Star started crying.
The little girl is probably hungry. Lin Wan asked Qin Xiu to hold the child for her while she went to the water room to fetch hot water. She t Du Guangjun there by chance, really unfortunate, as she had been avoiding Old Du for several days before the New Year.
Didn’t expect to run into him so soon, Liang Hongi was most afraid of encountering Old Du right now.
That cautious feeling he gives her always makes her feel guilty, which she doesn’t like.
"Hongi, you ca too?"
"Yes, Old Du cos here often," Liang Hongi said awkwardly, smiling.
"So old friends are here playing cards, where’s Little Star?" Du Guangjun knew before the New Year that Liang Hongi’s children had gone out of town, leaving her alone to take care of the child.
On New Year’s Eve, he visited her ho to deliver New Year’s goods, but Liang Hongi refused to take them no matter what.
Oh well, it’s been quite so ti, shouldn’t there be so response by now?
"My classmate is helping watch her. I better not talk to you now, Little Star is hungry. I need to make her milk."
"Alright, go ahead. I’ll find you later."
"No, no need. You go ahead and have fun." She didn’t want her classmates to misunderstand and think there was sothing between them.
Du Guangjun expected she would say that, so he just smiled and said nothing more.
Liang Hongi hurried back, fed Little Star until she was full, then assisted her with peeing. The girl seed excited seeing so many people around and started laughing endlessly.
Liang Hongi placed Little Star in the stroller, where Old Li’s grandson played with her nearby. Bringing the child out wasn’t too chaotic.
A few classmates chatted for a while, then when it seed ti, they all prepared to leave. At that mont, Du Guangjun arrived promptly.
He called out "Hongi," and Qin Xiu nudged Liang Hongi with a look, realizing this could lead to a misunderstanding.
"Ready to go? I’ll drive you." Du Guangjun walked straight to Liang Hongi’s side, ignoring others’ gazes.
"Everyone says it’s not needed. My classmate and I are on the sa route, we’ll head back together."
"Oh dear, Hongi, I suddenly rembered I need to go to the grain station, can’t accompany you back. This gentleman is willing to drive you, so you should go back with him. No ti now, I’ll leave first." As Liang Hongi spoke, Qin Xiu "cleverly" interrupted with perfect timing, then quickly wrapped her scarf and left with the classmates.
Leaving Liang Hongi standing with Little Star, frowning.
Seeing the opportunity, Du Guangjun quickly stepped forward to take over the stroller, smiling, "Let’s go, I’ll drive you ho. It’s snowing outside again, bringing a child along makes taking the bus inconvenient."
Liang Hongi glanced at the sky and decided not to delay, "This ti I’ll trouble you."
Though the sky was clear earlier, it suddenly began to snow. Once outside, seeing the snowflakes, Liang Hongi was worried the child might get cold. She imdiately took the child out of the stroller, held her close, then tightly swaddled her in the blanket.
"There’s a trolley coming up front, just in ti to catch it," Du Guangjun said, pointing ahead.
Seeing the trolley nearing the stop, Liang Hongi hurried forward. She bumped into a wide green figure, inadvertently colliding with soone holding Little Star.
A familiar scent made Liang Hongi pause.
The person took a step back, quickly apologizing, "Sorry, sorry. I’m in a hurry, my apologies."
Then lifted his foot and headed to the activity center. When Liang Hongi snapped out of it and glanced at the green figure, the back looked very familiar.
"Hongi, you alright? Here, let hold Little Star." The sudden event made Du Guangjun, who was walking ahead, realize the person they bumped into had already entered the activity center.
Interrupted by Du Guangjun, Liang Hongi reluctantly replied, "No need, I’ll hold her. Changing hands all the ti might freeze the child. Let’s hurry, or we might miss the trolley and have to wait for the next one."
At this, Du Guangjun quickly pulled Liang Hongi towards the bus stop.
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