Chapter 69: The Worn-Out Pickup Line

“I’m fine. I can eat and dress warmly, and I have everything I need. You don’t need to send anything else to me. Didn’t I tell you? I’m learning medicine now, and I have my own salary. Don’t worry about me. Just take care of yourself at home.” Jiang Nian answered one by one.

Jiang Qinghe: “That’s good. Take good care of yourself. You don’t need to worry about anything at home. Now, Xiaodie has started working too, and she’s even paying living expenses to the family. Dad’s salary is so high, and he can’t spend it all. If I don’t give it to my daughter, who will I give it to?”

That matter-of-fact tone made Jiang Nian feel a sense of closeness. “Okay, then I’ll take what Dad gives me. Tell my brother and Xiaodie for me. Tell them not to send me money anymore. Isn’t your sister-in-law pregnant? They’ll have a lot of expenses in the future. Xiaodie just started working, and her salary is definitely not high. She has to pay living expenses to the family and send me ten yuan every month. She might not even have enough left for herself. Since you can’t spend all your money, be nice to Mom. You’re an old married couple now. She’s been with you for many years. We’re all grown up now. Don’t worry so much. Just live a good life with Mom…”

Jiang Qinghe said to her, “You’ve been in the countryside for a while. Why are you more talkative than me?”

Jiang Nian didn’t get angry. “Well, I’m just looking out for you. You’re not young anymore. You have a bad temper and you’re fussy. You don’t know anything about life, and you love to point fingers and boss people around. You also love to throw tantrums. You like to be in charge and make everyone listen to you. The only good thing is that your salary is high and your treatment is good. Besides Mom, who else can tolerate your temper?”

“I think you’re calling to annoy me. I’ve spoiled you for nothing.” Jiang Qinghe couldn’t help but reflect. Was he really that bad?

“Hehe…” Jiang Nian chuckled mischievously and sighed. “Dad, I’m serious. I’m not here, and my brother is a man. My sister-in-law is pregnant. She’ll have to rely on Mom to take care of you. Otherwise, you won’t even have a hot meal! You’re my real dad. You care about me, and I naturally care about you.”

“You, your little mouth is so chatty. You’re much more eloquent than before.” Jiang Qinghe sighed. “Don’t worry. Your Dad knows what he’s doing. I’ve been suppressing her all these years. It’s actually because I’m afraid that if she gets too comfortable, she won’t be good to you and your brother. I have a bad temper, but besides not letting her give me children, I haven’t treated her and your mother poorly in terms of food and clothing. As long as she lives a peaceful life, your Dad is not a heartless person. Even if I die before her one day, I will definitely make sure her life is taken care of. I will leave her enough money to live on.”

“My Dad is healthy. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Well, I’ve been taking the medicine you left for me before you left. I feel like my body is much stronger than before. My waist doesn’t ache anymore, and my back doesn’t hurt anymore. I used to get colds every time the seasons changed, but this year, I’ve been fine.”

The father and daughter chatted on the phone for a long time. Finally, someone behind them urged, “Comrade, you’ve been talking for over ten minutes. There are people behind you waiting.”

The phone bill was quite expensive. It was too extravagant to use it to talk about these trivial things.

Jiang Nian realized that time had passed quickly.

Jiang Qinghe on the other end was also reluctant to hang up, but seeing the factory director who had already walked back and forth at the door, he reluctantly said goodbye. “Daughter, the phone bill is quite expensive. Dad is relieved now that you’re okay. Remember to write letters and call home if anything happens. Don’t wrong yourself.”

“I know, Dad. I’ll hang up. Take care of yourself.”

“Comrade, that’s eleven minutes. Two cents a minute. That’s two yuan and two cents.”

Jiang Nian paid and walked out of the post office.

She took a deep breath of fresh air and headed straight for the supply and marketing cooperative.

Meanwhile, Li Qing and her group had just left the supply and marketing cooperative after buying some things. They missed Jiang Nian completely.

The supply and marketing cooperative in the city was much bigger than the one in the town. The management was more organized, and there were many more people, especially in the area selling snacks and candy. Jiang Nian couldn’t even squeeze in.

She simply stepped out of the crowd and went to the watch counter. Without blinking, she spent forty yuan and a ticket to buy a Seagull watch. She also bought an hourglass for two yuan.

This was for Ye Zhiqiu. She was her apprentice, so she was her own. Jiang Nian wouldn’t be stingy with her.

Besides, Ye Zhiqiu really needed a watch to keep accurate time. She didn’t have to keep taking off her own watch for her.

The Mei Hua brand watch on Jiang Nian’s wrist was bought by Jiang Qinghe when the original owner was an adult. It cost over two hundred yuan.

As for the hourglass, it could be used as a small desk ornament. The most important thing was that it could only time ten minutes, which was not as convenient as a watch.

She asked the salesperson if they had any bicycles. She was led to the second floor.

She bought a bicycle for one hundred and seventy-five yuan. She paid for it with a ticket, just like the watch.

Then she went downstairs. There were fewer people shopping downstairs, so she squeezed into the crowd.

The city really had a lot more things. There were many kinds of candy alone. The more expensive ones were Great White Rabbit candies, the cheaper ones were fruit candies, and the medium-priced ones were butter candies and corn candies. It was almost New Year’s, so she bought some of each. She also bought white sugar cookies and canned food.

Fortunately, she had exchanged a lot of tickets at the black market last time.

Right, I still owe Zhang Er a cotton jacket. I’ll also buy a pair of rubber shoes for Ye Zhiqiu to wear. Otherwise, it’s too inconvenient on rainy days. Cloth shoes get muddy with every step and are easy to slip.

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, she was already sweating slightly.

She took the receipts from the supply and marketing cooperative, rode her newly acquired bicycle back to the police station to get a steel stamp on the bicycle and get a license. Only then did it become her personal property.

She put all the other things she bought into her space. With a bicycle, it was more convenient to get around. She then went for a stroll around Jianglin City.

The bus back wouldn’t leave until the afternoon, so she wasn’t in a hurry.

After she had seen enough, she stopped in front of a state-owned restaurant. The aroma of food wafting out made her realize it was noon.

She walked into the state-owned restaurant. There were quite a few people eating inside.

Jiang Nian chose an empty table and sat down. She ordered a plate of dumplings.

I have to say, these dumplings were white and plump. When she took a bite, the filling was so tender that the juice flowed out. They were really good.

Because she didn’t lack oil and water, Jiang Nian’s appetite was much smaller than those who could eat several bowls of rice. After eating half a plate of dumplings, she couldn’t eat anymore.

It was shameful to waste food in front of everyone.

She was about to pack it up when she saw a little boy standing next to her, swallowing hard.

Judging by his clothes, his family wasn’t well-off.

“I’ve already eaten. Do you mind?”

As soon as Jiang Nian finished speaking, she saw the little boy shaking his head frantically.

But he was still polite. When Jiang Nian handed him her chopsticks, he started eating voraciously.

“Thank you, pretty sister. I’m full.” The little boy put down his chopsticks and ran away.

The waitress next to her said, “Comrade, you’re so kind. This kid doesn’t have a father. His mother raises a whole family by herself. Sometimes, when they’re really hungry, they come to our restaurant. Our chef feels sorry for him, so sometimes he gives him some leftover food.”

But these white and plump dumplings were something she wouldn’t even eat herself, let alone give them to someone else.

Jiang Nian smiled. She took out a lunch box from her shoulder bag and asked the waitress to pack two portions of dumplings. Then she left.

By the window, Song Yanbai and two other people were eating together. They saw Jiang Nian’s back and couldn’t help but ponder.

He was sure he hadn’t seen this woman before, but her walking posture and back gave him a familiar feeling. It was strange.

His companion reached out and waved his hand in front of his eyes, teasing him. “What are you looking at? What’s wrong? Our famous old iron tree is finally going to bloom when it sees a beautiful woman?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I just think she looks familiar, but I can’t remember where I’ve seen her.”

“There’s no one you, Colonel Song, can’t remember. What are you talking about?”

“That’s not necessarily true. A beautiful and kind woman, who wouldn’t find her familiar?”

Song Yanbai didn’t want to pay attention to these two abnormal people. He lowered his head and finished his food in a few bites. Then he stood up and left.

Jiang Nian had just pushed her bicycle when she saw a tall, handsome man stop in front of her. “Comrade, I think I recognize you. Have we met somewhere?”

Jiang Nian raised an eyebrow. “Your pick-up line is really unoriginal.”