Chapter 77: Asking for Forgiveness

Zhang Xiao poured a glass of water for her father and handed it to him. “Dad, have we heard any news about the girl who helped us that day?”

Zhang Jianjun replied, “No, I asked people in Chaoyang Commune, but they said they haven’t seen that girl. Maybe she’s not from around here.”

Zhang Xiao pondered for a moment and said, “That’s possible. She spoke standard Mandarin when she talked to me, so she might not be from this area.

Oh, it’s all my fault. I didn’t even ask her name. I haven’t properly thanked her either, and she even had to spend money to make that call. I feel really bad about it.”

Zhang Jianjun noticed his daughter was feeling a bit unhappy. “Maybe we’ll run into her again someday, and then we can properly thank her.”

Zhang Xiao nodded and sighed softly. “That’s all we can do now.”

Just then, someone knocked on the front door. Zhang Xiao glanced at her father, who shook his head.

“If it’s not someone Dad arranged to meet, then who could it be?” She set down her glass and hurried to open the door. Seeing who was outside, she exclaimed joyfully, “Brother, you’re back!”

Zhang Yue replied, “Why wouldn’t you welcome me back?”

Zhang Xiao smiled and said, “Of course we welcome you! Did you bring me any gifts this time, Brother?”

Zhang Yue snorted and swiftly entered the courtyard. “I knew it. The only reason you’re happy is because of the gifts I brought back, not because you actually miss your big brother.”

Zhang Xiao hurriedly ran up, linked her arm with her brother’s, and smiled. “How could that be? The gift is just a bonus. The main thing is that I miss you, big brother.”

Zhang Yue greeted their father inside and then asked, “Where’s Mom? I didn’t see her.”

Zhang Xiao’s expression faltered slightly. “Mom went to the medical room to change her medication. She’ll be back soon.”

Zhang Yue immediately stood up. “What happened? Is Mom injured?”

Zhang Xiao looked at her father sitting beside her with a headache. Seeing he had no intention of helping her out, she whispered, “I… I rode the bicycle with Mom and we went down to the base of the dam.”

Zhang Yue exclaimed loudly, “You little brat, what did you say? Where is Mom injured?”

Zhang Xiao lowered her head and said quietly, “Mom’s, um, her arm is broken, and she has a few scrapes on her body.”

Zhang Yue said, “Zhang Xiao, you’re really something. How could you ride the bicycle all the way down to the base of the dam on such a wide road? I’m really impressed by you.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the door, preparing to go to the medical room to meet Mom.

Zhang Xiao also followed out, feeling wronged as she said, “Brother, I was wrong, it really wasn’t intentional. Can you keep this secret from Big Brother for now? Otherwise, he’ll scold me to death. Please, Brother, I’m begging you.”

Zhang Yue harshly tapped her forehead with his fingers and said, “You’re already grown up. I need to see Mom’s condition first before deciding whether to agree or not.”

Zhang Xiao hurriedly said, “Okay, okay, okay. I’ll tell you, Mom is really almost healed.”

The siblings’ voices became fainter and eventually disappeared.

The next morning, Luo Qiao got up early, had breakfast, and went to the riverside to get ready for work. She happened to overhear a few women talking about Li Xiulan’s family affairs there.

Li Xiulan was looking for a son-in-law for Gao Taohua. This morning, two families came, and Li Xiulan declared that whoever offered the higher betrothal gifts would win the match.

They also mentioned they were waiting for Gao Taohua’s betrothal money to consider marrying their second son, Rulin, into her family.

Luo Qiao was listening intently when someone interrupted, saying, “Enough talk, here comes someone. Let’s not stir up trouble.”