Chapter 353: Catching Attention

Both sets of parents couldn’t help but admire the good fortune of whichever family had produced such outstanding children. Despite the young girl’s appearance with glasses, it was clear that she would not be lacking in charm once they were removed.

Zuo He carefully arranged the bedding in a relatively good spot for her, personally making her bed. Mingcheng went to assist, while Zuo Hao greeted the other two girls.

“Hello, this is my younger sister. She’s a bit younger than you, so please take care of her in the dormitory,” Zuo Hao introduced.

The two girls shyly nodded and smiled. Their parents quickly added, “Yes, you all are classmates and roommates now, so take care of each other and watch out for your little sister.”

Wang Qian thanked them politely and took a moment to observe the two girls who had arrived first. Despite their accents indicating they were from the south, their attire suggested they were city dwellers rather than rural folk.

“Ladies, let me introduce myself. I’m Wang Qian,” she said, initiating introductions. Since the younger Wang Qian had already spoken, The two girls then introduced themselves as well. One was Zhu Shan from Hunan, and the other was Hu Lianduo from Zhejiang. Both were three years older than Wang Qian, making it fitting to address them as elder sisters. Zhu Shan was slightly older than Hu Lianduo by a few months.

The three girls met for the first time, with Wang Qian feeling unfazed, but the other two seemed a bit shy, especially when faced with the three handsome young men, causing them to stumble over their words.

Wang Qian couldn’t help but chuckle silently as she observed the girls’ reactions to the boys, noting the typical teenage infatuation. She watched as the boys, expressionless, efficiently hung up the mosquito nets for her.

“Qianqian, you can handle your clothes yourself. We won’t tidy up for you,” Zuo He remarked.

Mingcheng, aware of the girls’ modesty, refrained from organizing his sister’s wardrobe.

Once everything was in order, Zuo He planned to go out and bring back a pot of hot water for Wang Qian to enjoy later. The girls’ father quickly followed, not sure where to find the hot water, deciding to accompany Zuo He. They sensed that these three were not ordinary, given their demeanor and presence—certainly more than just regular soldiers.

Aside from being curious about Zuo He and his companions’ backgrounds, the two fathers were also intrigued, contemplating the possibility of these handsome young men becoming potential suitors for their daughters.

“Where are you boys from?” one of the fathers asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

Grinning, Zuo He replied, “Sir, we’re from the northeast.”

Playing it safe, Zuo He’s response wasn’t entirely false, as they had indeed come from the northeast for the exams.

The other man’s expression fluctuated as he pondered the distance to the northeast. He hesitated at the thought of marrying his daughter off to such a far-off place with a different climate. If only they were in the capital, his daughter could stay there, equipped with a university degree that could secure a good job. In comparison, the northeast seemed less appealing, with plenty of good young men in the capital.

On the contrary, the man who spoke first didn’t share the same sentiment. To him, there was nothing wrong with the northeast. Conditions could be good there too, and young men like the ones before them probably had decent backgrounds.

“What do your parents do? Do you have someone special?” the man finally asked, getting to the point.

Amused internally, Zuo He replied, “Sir, my parents are soldiers. As for someone special, hehe, I actually have a little sweetheart at home.”

The man felt deflated upon hearing this. He had hoped to find a potential son-in-law but realized the young man was already taken.

“What about the other two? Do they have partners?” the man persisted, now turning his attention to Zuo Hao and Mingcheng.

Zuo He found the situation amusing. Did they really appear as easily recruitable sons-in-law? Since Zuo Hao and Mingcheng showed no interest, he decided not to tease them further, “Well, they’re mostly taken.”

The two men, feeling a bit disappointed, lowered their heads. It seemed the good young men were already accounted for, leaving them with nothing to do.

Zuo He chuckled at the disappointed expressions of the two men, then fetched hot water for Wang Qian. Mingcheng and the others had almost finished packing up. Glancing at his watch, Zuo He realized it was nearing noon. “Qianqian, let’s go to your cafeteria for lunch.”

Understanding their concerns about the cafeteria food, Wang Qian agreed to go, knowing they could decide on their next steps if needed.

After asking if Zhu Shan and her family would join, both sets of parents interested in the school cafeteria food quality, they locked the room and headed there with their meal utensils. Wang Qian had brought extra sets just in case her siblings needed them.

Observing that the families only brought one set of utensils each, Wang Qian made sure to hold onto her own set tightly. They managed with what they had.

The cafeteria was crowded, but the queue was orderly. Zuo He and Zuo Hao went to collect food with meal tickets, while Mingcheng got rice with a grain ticket, waiting in line with his siblings.

Seeing the crowd ahead, Wang Qian felt a bit anxious. “Is your school cafeteria like this?”

Mingcheng nodded with a smile, “Similar, but not as crowded as yours.”

Once Zuo He returned with the food, his siblings were still in line. Zuo Hao, holding the trays in hand, approached a girl with a smile and struck up a conversation. Whatever he said worked like a charm, as the girl surprisingly allowed him to cut in line.

After purchasing the main dishes for the four of them, Wang Qian couldn’t help but admire Zuo Hao’s skill.

“Zuo Hao, you’re amazing! Your charm seems to have worked wonders. I bet that girl will be dreaming about you tonight,” Wang Qian complimented.

Zuo He chuckled, acknowledging his brother’s talent. In crucial moments, their eldest brother truly shone, employing all sorts of tactics effortlessly.

“Oh, come on. I just chatted with her for a bit. She felt sorry for me, that’s why she let me cut in line. But Qianqian, I must say, the food in your cafeteria doesn’t seem as delicious as what we have at home,” Zuo Hao remarked.

Observing the dishes Zuo He brought back – two vegetarian dishes, one meat dish, and a few steamed buns – Wang Qian couldn’t help but notice the simplicity of the meal, lacking richness.

Looking at the price on the meal tickets, Wang Qian couldn’t help but exclaim at how cheap it was. Only five cents for a vegetarian dish and twenty-five cents for a meat dish. With a twenty yuan subsidy from the school each month, she realized she might not need to spend any of her family’s money. This amount should be sufficient for her meals.

With a mischievous grin, Wang Qian continued, “Zuo He, the food may not be as good as home, but it’s so affordable. I can manage on just over ten yuan a month. I can even buy books with the extra money. If all else fails, I’ll go home once a week for better meals. Oh, it seems like this might not be enough for you guys to eat, though.”

Wang Qian was initially concerned that the food on the table might not be enough for them, but Zuo Hao reassured her, “Qianqian, let’s eat lightly for now and have a proper meal at home later. Today, Grandpa Wu promised to bring the retired military dogs and soldiers he found for you all. After returning home, we’ll have a meal with them. Let’s just fill our stomachs for now and see how the cafeteria food tastes. If it’s not good, you can go home. We don’t mind spending a little extra on the bus fare.”

After tasting the food, the brothers found it surprisingly decent, not overly oily and quite palatable. Zuo He noticed Wang Qian enjoying her meal and felt relieved. Despite her rural upbringing, he knew she had a refined palate and was particular about what she ate. He had been worried she might not adapt well, but seeing her enjoy the food put his mind at ease.

After the meal, the brothers headed back home to attend to pending matters. With the new school year approaching, someone had to be at home, especially considering what might be hidden in the cellar, a fact Mingcheng was well aware of.

In the afternoon, Grandpa Wu kept his promise and brought two military dogs and two retired soldiers along. He introduced the two men to Mingcheng.

“Mingcheng, although they are dog trainers, they are also skilled in military matters. Don’t hesitate to give them orders if needed, but remember, they need to be paid fairly as they have families to support,” Grandpa Wu emphasized.

Mingcheng learned that the two men, Sun Zhiming and Han Zhengdong, were acquaintances of Grandpa Wu from the past. Knowing this, Mingcheng welcomed them warmly and briefed them on the family’s situation.

The two men, aware that Mingcheng and his companions were military school students, regarded them with admiration, almost saluting before remembering that the students had already left the service. Despite being students, their ranks were undoubtedly higher than those of the two men.

Both men felt fortunate to work for the Wang family. Mingcheng and his companions had military backgrounds, which made them somewhat closer to the military life. They cherished their time in the army but knew that one couldn’t stay in the military forever.

“Sun, Han, this is our current situation. You’ll be helping with household tasks and overseeing deliveries. I’ll provide more detailed instructions later. Since Grandpa Wu recommended you, rest assured about your wages. We won’t mistreat you. Let me arrange accommodations for you first,” Mingcheng explained.

Upon returning with the purchases, Zhang Weiguo was relieved to see new faces at home. With the children all at school, he had been worried about the safety of the house being left unattended. Having extra help now was a welcome relief.