Chapter 152 - She thought he wouldn't be back till next month. How was he here? (4)
Edited by Lulu
Seeing that her two sons truly looked like they had no idea about what had happened, Mother Tong finally told them about how Tong Xuelu had switched to working at the government-operated restaurant.
The others were surprised too after they had found out.
Cai Chunlan asked again, “Mom, did Tong Xuelu really switch jobs?”
With a long face, Mother Tong kept silent and did not reply.
Seeing that, Cai Chunlan tsked and said, “She surely isn’t the real daughter. Just look, she never came to visit us once after she was gone except for that one time when she had issues with little sister. And now she didn’t even tell us that she had switched to a different job!”
Mother Tong looked even more unhappy.
***
Tong Xuelu had no idea that Mother Tong had gone looking for her.
She started settling into her new job after working there for a few days.
With the exception of the annoying Tan Xiaoyan, the others were easy to get along with.
Liu Dongchang didn’t really bother Tong Xuelu, even though he was Tan Xiaoyan’s brother-in-law, because he wanted to keep up a good front. Furthermore, he wasn’t at the restaurant a lot.
After work that day, Tong Xuelu was about to return home with a bunch of lettuce.
She had just walked outside of the government-operated restaurant when someone stopped her. “Hey, crybaby!”
Tong Xuelu looked up and saw Xiao Chengping leaning against a pole. He had on a pair of white sneakers, a white Dacron shirt, and a pair of blue pants. He was frowning at her.
Before Tong Xuelu could say anything, Tan Xiaoyan was already excited.
She didn’t even care about her issues with Tong Xuelu. Grabbing Tong Xuelu’s hand, she asked, “Who’s that? Do you know him? He’s so fashionable!”
Tong Xuelu, “……”
That was all it takes?
Alright. So back in these days, Dacron and sneakers were all rarities. That would make him fashionable.
Unfortunately, she just didn’t have an appreciation for them.
She pulled her hand back and said, “Whether I know him or not is none of your business. If you have so much time, you should go look in the mirror!”
Tong Yanliang was so angry that she almost coughed out blood. “……”
Tramp!
Tong Xuelu didn’t care to engage with Tan Xiaoyan. Walking over to Xiao Chengping, she said, “Are you looking for me?”
Looking at the short and chubby woman looking at him, Xiao Chengping lifted his chin and said, “Let’s walk and talk.”
Tong Xuelu, too, didn’t want Tan Xiaoyan to listen in on their conversation, so she walked in front of Xiao Chengping.
Hearing their conversation, Tan Xiaoyan was so angry that she gritted her teeth.
Walking for a little while, Tong Xuelu said, “Now can you tell me what this is about?”
Xiao Chengping lowered his head and looked at her. “Crybaby, why didn’t you tell me last time that you aren’t the daughter of the Tong’s?”
He had been insanely busy since he had gotten back and only learned that Tong Xuelu wasn’t the Tong’s daughter yesterday. After asking around, he finally found out that she worked here and hurried over immediately.
Tong Xuelu gave him an odd look. “Why would I tell you? We don’t know each other that well.”
Xiao Chengping was bothered by what she had said. “We grew up in the same compound. How could you say that we don’t know each other well?”
“Alright. If you say so. So, what do you want to talk to me about?”
Tong Xuelu still had no idea what he wanted to say. It’s getting dark, and she just wanted to go home.
Xiao Chengping was even more bothered when he saw her you-are-annoying-and-I-don’t-really-want-to-talk-to-you look. Pulling an envelope out of his pocket, he handed it over to her and said, “This is for you.”
Tong Xuelu did not take the envelope from him. “What’s inside of it?”
Xiao Chengping’s neck thickened. “Just take it!”
But Tong Xuelu still didn’t take it from him.
He scratched his head and shouted, “It’s money! But don’t misunderstand. I pity you is all, being kicked out by the Tong’s and having a few siblings to take care of. That’s the only reason I am lending you money!”
“……”
Looking at his I-am-lending-you-money-but-don’t-dream-about-me look, Tong Xuelu felt very speechless.
“Thank you, but I don’t need any.”
She didn’t want to just take his money; besides, she didn’t need to borrow money from anyone either.
Having said that, she walked around him and kept on walking.
Xiao Chengping was anxious. He chased after her and wanted to shove the envelope into her hand.
Tong Xuelu struggled and refused to take the money. Suddenly, a warm voice came from one end of the alleyway––
“What are you guys doing?”
Tong Xuelu’s heart moved when she heard the voice, and she turned her head toward it.
She saw Wen Rugui standing at the end of the alleyway. The orange-yellow colored street light casted down on him, making his shadow very elongated.
He was looking at hers and Xiao Chengping’s hands. His long eyelashes covered his eyes, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Tong Xuelu lifted her brows.
Didn’t he say he wouldn’t have time to return till next month? Why was he here then?