Chapter 35: Arrival

Tang Xiaorou looked at the aggressive woman, and couldn’t help but laugh.  The woman clearly assumed they wouldn’t pay, hence the sarcasm and the push.

“Who says we won’t pay? Twenty-eight yuan, right? We’ll pay.” She took twenty-eight yuan and a cloth coupon from her bag. “Here’s the money and coupon.”

Seeing the money and coupon, Lu Shan was stunned. She hadn’t expected these poorly dressed people to actually pay.  Were they bluffing?

But she had gritted her teeth to buy the dress. Now she could get the money and coupon for free, so she took it.

Grabbing the money and coupon, Lu Shan’s face lit up.

However, Tang Xiaorou said coldly, “Since you’ve taken the money and coupon, take off the dress.”

“Wh… what…”

Lu Shan was incredulous. She pointed at Tang Xiaorou’s nose and shouted, “You shameless woman! You want me to take off my dress in public?  Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you paid! This isn’t over. I’ll get even with you!”

Tang Xiaorou rolled her eyes. “When did I say you had to take it off in public? You can go to the restroom or find a private place. Just take off the dress and give it to us.”

“No way. It’s my dress. Why should I give it to you?”

Tang Xiaorou raised her voice.

“Everyone, judge for yourselves. This woman said my daughter dirtied her dress. We paid the full price, and she accepted the money and coupon.  Therefore, the dress should belong to us. Don’t you agree?”

The onlookers nodded, agreeing with Tang Xiaorou.

“Exactly! They paid the money and coupon, essentially buying the dress. You should take it off and give it to them.”

“Right. Besides, the dress isn’t even dirty. I don’t see any stains. She’s probably trying to extort money.”

Lu Shan, seeing the tide turning, couldn’t speak. She coldly snorted. “Fine, I’ll take it off.  Just you wait. I’ll go to the restroom.”  She took her change of clothes, pushed through the crowd, and went to the restroom.  When she returned, she held the dress.

“Hmph… Here’s the dress.”

Lu Shan threw the dress at Tang Xiaorou.

Tang Xiaorou coldly snorted, caught the dress, and looked at the onlookers. “Does anyone like this dress? None of us can wear it. If anyone wants it, I’ll give it to them.”

“Wh… what do you mean?”

Lu Shan didn’t expect this. Did she dislike the used dress?  It was her first time wearing it, and it was practically new.

Of course, some onlookers wanted it. Haicheng clothing was known for its style and quality, and this dress clearly wasn’t cheap.  Getting a free dress was tempting.

“I, I, I want it!”

“I, I, I, I want it too!”

Many raised their hands.

Tang Xiaorou looked at the first woman who spoke. “Ma’am, you were first, so the dress is yours.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Tang Xiaorou smiled and gave her the dress. “The dress is yours now.”

The woman, overjoyed with the dress, explained that her family didn’t have many cloth coupons.  They usually saved them for making clothes for her husband and children, never splurging on things for herself.

Getting a practically new dress for free brought a huge smile to her face.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Lu Shan watched Tang Xiaorou give away the dress, her eyes reddening with anger. “You…”

The train’s arrival announcement sounded. Tang Xiaorou ignored Lu Shan and turned to Grandma Yao and Qin Xueqiong. “Grandma Yao, Mom, let’s get off.”

“Okay.”

Lu Shan watched them leave, stamping her foot in anger. She also got off at this station, but didn’t see them again.

Tang Xiaorou and the others had already left the train station. “Mom, Grandma Yao, I’ll ask about transportation.”

Before Tang Xiaorou could ask, Grandma Yao spoke. “Xiaorou, we won’t all fit in the family quarters.”

Tang Xiaorou had considered this. “We probably won’t. I plan to rent a place nearby.”

“I have an old house in Nanjing. If it’s still there, we can stay there.”

Tang Xiaorou was surprised. “Grandma Yao, you have a house in Nanjing?”

Grandma Yao sighed. “It’s from my mother. She was from Nanjing. But it’s been so many years, I don’t know if the house is still there.”  A hint of nostalgia filled her eyes.

“Where is it? Let’s go check it out.”

Grandma Yao took a deed from her bag. “Xiaorou, look at the address. I only visited once as a child and haven’t been back since. I don’t remember where it is.”

Tang Xiaorou looked at the deed and was astonished.

It wasn’t just an old house; it was a garden, and in a prime location in Nanjing.  Its existence was now questionable.

“Grandma Yao, put the deed away. I’ve memorized the address. But let’s go to Shen Huaixu’s unit first and see if there are any suitable houses.  After we settle in, we’ll check on your house.”

“Okay.”

Seeing Tang Xiaorou’s efficient planning, no one objected.

However, the car was crowded, and Tang Xiaorou had Grandma Yao sit on the luggage. The bumpy ride finally reached its destination.

“Phew… Finally arrived.”

Qin Xueqiong felt dizzy from the ride.

Grandma Yao also felt unwell, and Yao Bingcheng supported her, his eyes filled with worry.

Tang Xiaorou asked for directions and took them to the military district guesthouse. “We’ll stay here tonight.”  She looked at Grandma Yao and Qin Xueqiong. “Grandma Yao, Mom, go to your rooms and rest. We’ll eat later.”

“Okay.”

Xiaoliang and Xiaoyan were also tired and went to their rooms with Qin Xueqiong.  Tang Xiaorou and Yao Bingcheng went out.

“Bingcheng, let’s go to the unit first.”

“Okay.”

As soon as they arrived, they heard Shen Huaixu’s astonished voice. “Tang Xiaorou, what are you doing here?”