Chapter 25 Is this what she thought?

Qian Xiaolan saw Han Xiangdong’s interest and continued, “My relatives can also get me things like cloth and cotton, but my husband and his brothers are doing this for the first time, so they’re a bit worried. That’s why I didn’t have them send those things this time.

” Han Xiangdong’s eyes suddenly lit up, and his excitement was evident, but he quickly masked it. Qian Xiaolan saw it clearly, curled her lips, and continued, “Polished rice with stones and sand in the supply and marketing cooperative costs 0.138 yuan per pound, and you need ration coupons. My polished rice is clean, without sand, and plump. How much can Boss Dong offer?” Han Xiangdong had already decided to keep this big customer, so he didn’t hesitate, “Four yuan per pound for rice and four yuan and five cents for flour. Sister, don’t think I’m offering a low price. It’s just that my men need to eat too. If I raise the price any higher, my brothers will be working for nothing.

” Two thousand pounds of grain would be 850 yuan. Qian Xiaolan wasn’t greedy, so she agreed. However, she asked for a bicycle ticket. Han Xiangdong smiled, “That’s lucky. I happen to have a brand new 28-inch Phoenix bicycle that I just bought today. I spent eighty yuan on the bicycle ticket and 178 yuan on the bicycle at the supply and marketing cooperative in the county.

 If you need it, I’ll give it to you for 240 yuan.” Was this a good deal? Was he trying to fool her with a used bike? As Qian Xiaolan thought this, she heard Han Xiangdong explain, “I was going to get that bike for my girlfriend, but now that you need it, I’ll give it to you at a discount. Let’s consider this a friendship. Next time you have good things, don’t forget about me.” Qian Xiaolan happily agreed and went to Han Xiangdong’s place to get the bicycle.

 Seeing that she wasn’t afraid of him robbing her and even dared to go to his house, Han Xiangdong couldn’t help but feel a little different. He hadn’t been trusted like this in a long time. Thankfully, he hadn’t lost his mind and thought of using extreme measures today.

*Qian Xiaolan rode her brand new bicycle, carrying 610 yuan, humming a song as she went to the supply and marketing cooperative. With Aunt Zhao’s help, she tied the stationery she had bought to the back of the bicycle. She rode the bike, wobbling a bit, back to Qinghe Village. When the people working in the fields saw her riding a brand new 28-inch bike back, with two sacks of things hidden on the back seat, they were all excited. Gu Shengli stood by the roadside.

When he saw Qian Xiaolan return, he quickly ran over. Qian Xiaolan got off the bicycle and pushed it as she walked towards the village school with him. In the presence of the school’s teachers and principal, who were excited, Qian Xiaolan unloaded the things from the back seat, handed the list to Gu Shengli, and gave him fifty yuan to pay for the desks and chairs. Gu Shengli didn’t take it immediately. He looked at her bicycle, “You spent a lot of money on this bike, didn’t you?” Qian Xiaolan nodded, “The bicycle ticket was eighty yuan, the bicycle was 178 yuan, and the stationery was 110 yuan.”

 Gu Shengli gasped, “That’s 366 yuan. You gave me fifty yuan. You don’t have any money left, do you?” Principal Lin immediately said, “Some of the desks and chairs can still be used. We don’t need to make too many. I’ll pay for the rest of the labor. You need to keep some money for yourself, Xiaolan.” Qian Xiaolan shook her head, “Principal, you’re not well-off either. If you spend this money, your wife’s medicine for a few months will be gone. I used to dig up herbs and sell them to the purchasing station. I still have some money left.”

 “Alright, don’t be so generous anymore. This is enough for me.” Gu Shengli frowned and took twenty yuan from Qian Xiaolan’s hand. He put the rest back into her hand. “Alright, you’ve been working hard all day. Go back and rest.” After taking the money and the things, Gu Shengli started to shoo her away. Qian Xiaolan smiled, waved to Principal Lin and the others, and pushed her bike back home. After she left, Principal Lin and Gu Shengli sighed, “Xiaolan has had a hard life since she was little. Her grades were so good, but her mother kept coming to the school to make a scene and wouldn’t let her continue studying. Now that she finally has some money, she’s attracting thieves, forcing her to spend it all.

Oh!” Gu Shengli also sighed, “She was born into the wrong family! Wang Juhua doesn’t deserve to be a mother.” A good child was beaten and suffered so much that she didn’t dare to speak up. Otherwise, why would she have suffered so much for so many years?

*Since Qian Xiaolan spent all her money, her house finally became quiet. However, she was a single girl living alone, and Hu Guifen was still worried. She would often bring Gu Yu Jiao over to stay for a night. Qian Xiaolan liked this feeling of being cared for. If she caught wild rabbits or chickens in her traps, she would occasionally send one over to Gu’s family for extra food. This made the Gu sisters-in-law, who had had some complaints about her, no longer dissatisfied.

If their families sent them anything, they would also send some to Qian Xiaolan. The people at the mule shed were aware of Qian Xiaolan’s situation, which made them feel complicated. They were happy for Qian Xiaolan that she had found such a good family, but they were also worried for themselves. That day, Rongqian asked Qian Qijin again, “Dad, how much longer?” This time, Qian Qijin smiled, “Just a few days.” Hearing this, everyone was happy.

 However, Rongqian was silent. When Qian Xiaolan brought a basket of herbs to the mule shed, she noticed that Rongqian was absent-minded while teaching her medicine. She looked at her several times, wanting to say something but stopping herself. She really didn’t know how to start. If she said it directly, would Xiaolan think she was lying? Qian Rongsheng had been looking forward to this day. Seeing his mother opening and closing her mouth several times without saying anything, he couldn’t help but become anxious. “Mom, if you don’t say it, I will!” Qian Xiaolan looked at him curiously. Rongqian glared at Qian Rongsheng and quickly said, “We’re going back to the city soon. Xiaolan, we’ve been together for all these years. Aunt Rong likes you very much.

Thinking that we’ll be separated soon, I feel very sad. I, can I adopt you as my goddaughter? I’ll write to you after I return to the city. We can stay in touch.” Qian Xiaolan secretly observed her expression for a while before looking up and smiling faintly, “As long as Aunt Rong doesn’t mind, I would be happy to. Godmother!” “Yes, yes, yes.” Tears immediately welled up in Rongqian’s eyes. Qian Rongsheng sighed in disappointment.

Oh, he was so close to being reunited with his sister. Rong Changhua shook his head disapprovingly, “Oh, Qian’er, Xiaolan is not someone who can’t handle things. Just say it. I believe she can handle it.” Qian Qijin nodded, “Yes, sooner or later, you have to say it. Just say it now.” Qian Xiaolan’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Rongqian with both trepidation and anticipation. Was it what she thought?