chsdbacks Chapter 239: Shopping
Chapter 239: Shopping
He Daqing looked at the two men angrily and said, "Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui, don't cause me any trouble. It's perfectly reasonable for me to be allocated housing. I'm the canteen director of the textile factory. Besides, I've already transferred all my previous houses to my children. I don't own a single house under my name. If you're so capable, go find Director Wang."
The two were about to speak when their spouses pulled them aside. Qin Huairu also tugged at He Daqing, saying, "Daqing, forget it, we're neighbors." He Daqing snorted and led Qin Huairu home.
The second aunt advised Liu Haizhong, "Old Liu, stop arguing. We've been to Director Wang's place, and he'll be even less welcoming if we go again." The third aunt also said to Yan Fugui, "Find out the situation first." Yan Fugui nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Yan Jiecheng walked over and asked Yan Fugui, "Dad, who was that pretty woman in the yard just now?" Yan Fugui was furious and angrily cursed, "All you do is think about women. You don't have a proper job and you're just messing around. You're a good-for-nothing." Yan Jiecheng looked bewildered, and Auntie quickly smoothed things over, telling him not to ask anymore.
Liu Haizhong was pulled back to the backyard by his second aunt. Looking at the deaf old lady's house, he felt even more annoyed.
On the He family's side, He Daqing was still cursing the two of them, while Qin Huairu comforted him, "They're just jealous. Everything we did was compliant with regulations, and they can't find any fault with it."
He Daqing nodded: "I know, it's just that they kept pressing me with questions, and that made me unhappy."
"We're neighbors, we see each other all the time, don't make things awkward," Qin Huairu advised.
He Daqing thought for a moment and said, "I know. Go to the door and see if the furniture delivery person has arrived yet. Let's put the things in the two rooms of the deaf old lady openly." Qin Huairu agreed and went to the door.
On the other side, Zhang Lei and his group of five had already reached the street corner. Ye Shuqi said with a smile, "Boss, hurry up and ride your bikes, take Qiu Nan with you."
Zhang Lei hopped on his bicycle and said to Ding Qiunan, "Get on." Ding Qiunan glanced at Ye Shuqi and sat on the back seat.
As Zhang Lei stepped onto the bike, Ding Qiunan was startled and grabbed his waist. Zhang Lei felt a soft sensation on his back and coughed awkwardly, "Sorry, I thought you had it in your hand."
Ding Qiunan looked embarrassed and said, "It's my fault for not holding on tight." Zhang Lei told her to grab his clothes, but Ding Qiunan still held on tightly to the back seat.
Four bicycles rode towards Wangfujing. Midway, Ye Shuqi saw that Ding Qiunan was having difficulty sitting and called out, "Qiunan, hold on to Zhang Lei's waist, or you might fall off."
Ding Qiunan blushed deeply: "This is fine with me."
"It's okay, I don't mind at all, what are you afraid of?" Ye Shuqi said.
Ding Qiunan's hand, which was gripping the back seat, had gone numb, so she had no choice but to grab Zhang Lei's waist as she had instructed. Zhang Lei's heart fluttered at her touch, but he continued to pedal.
Upon arriving at Wangfujing Department Store, Zhang Lei locked up his four bicycles and silently followed behind the four women. After a while, Ye Shuqi walked up to him and asked with a soft laugh, "Honey, isn't Ding Qiunan pretty? Do you like her?"
Zhang Lei glared at her: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I saw her with her arm around your waist, how dare you say you don't like her?" Ye Shuqi pressed.
Zhang Lei retorted irritably, "What are you thinking? I'm your man."
"I introduced her to you because you're my man," Ye Shuqi said.
Fearing she would go further and further astray, Zhang Lei urged, "Alright, hurry up and shop. I'll buy whatever you like." Ye Shuqi smiled and agreed.
The group walked to the place selling face cream, and Ye Shuqi pulled Zhang Lei, saying, "Honey, let's buy some face cream for Qiu Nan."
Zhang Lei was taken aback: "Didn't I buy it for you?"
"You've bought so much for me, but Qiu Nan hasn't bought anything yet. It's her first time here, and we can't let her go back empty-handed," Ye Shuqi said.
Zhang Lei nodded: "Okay, you guys choose, I'll pay."
The four girls strolled around the mall. Ye Shuqin and Ye Shuqi were very enthusiastic towards Ding Qiunan, buying a lot of face cream, shoes, and clothes. Ding Qiunan looked at the things in her hands and quickly stopped them, saying, "Shuqin, Shuqi, don't buy anymore, we can't carry any more."
Ye Shuqin smiled and said, "Qiu Nan, this is your first time visiting our home. This is a token of our appreciation. The money is all earned by the husband. He's capable enough to support another one like you." Ding Qiu Nan blushed upon hearing this.
Zhang Lei only then realized that his two older sisters were trying to find him a wife, and his mind went blank. He pulled Ye Shuhua to a corner: "Shuhua, what's going on with your two older sisters? Do you know?"
Ye Shuhua feigned ignorance: "Honey, how would I know? When guests come over, isn't it only right to buy them something?"
"You call this buying a little something? It's almost cost me more than a month's salary," Zhang Lei said helplessly.
"This money was well spent; it will pay off," Ye Shuhua said with a smile.
Zhang Lei pressed them to tell him if they were hiding something from him, but Ye Shuhua kept her mouth shut and told him to ask his eldest and second eldest sisters. Zhang Lei looked at her like this and felt helpless.
However, Zhang Lei did not show favoritism. He also bought a lot of things for Ye Shuqin, Ye Shuqi, and Ye Shuhua, and even bought more than he had for Ding Qiunan.
After they finished shopping, Zhang Lei was looking for his bicycle when Ye Shuqi, holding Ding Qiunan's arm, said, "Qiunan, my man is great, isn't he? He's handsome and capable. He spent so much money today without batting an eye. This is just the tip of the iceberg for him."
Ding Qiunan looked at Zhang Lei in the distance, and her interest grew even stronger. At first, she thought Ye Shuqi was exaggerating, but looking at the things in their hands, she realized how strong Zhang Lei's purchasing power was. In this situation, except for the New Year, no, even during the New Year, they might not be able to buy so many things.
When Zhang Lei got home in the evening, he was exhausted after shopping all day. He looked at the four women carrying big bags and laughing and joking. He thought women were amazing creatures. They never seemed to get tired while shopping. They would compare clothes from store to store, but in the end, they might not even buy anything. He felt helpless.
He stopped joining their conversation, turned around and went into the kitchen to prepare meat and vegetables for hot pot that evening.
Ye Shuqin didn't realize for a while that Zhang Lei wasn't in the living room. She quickly went to the kitchen and saw him busy at work. She said apologetically, "Honey, let me do it. It's all my fault for losing track of time while we were chatting."
Zhang Lei hugged her and said with a smile, "It's okay, you two continue chatting. I'll be done soon anyway. We were planning to have hot pot anyway, so it's no trouble at all."
Ye Shuqin breathed a sigh of relief and agreed with a smile: "Hot pot is good, it's lively and fun."
As the two were talking, the door was pushed open and He Yushui walked in. Seeing that there were guests in the room, she was a little flustered: "Sister Shuqi, I didn't know you had guests."
Ye Shuqi quickly waved her hand: "It's alright, it's a good opportunity for us to get to know each other."
Ding Qiunan laughed and chimed in, "That's right, it's good to have another friend."
He Yushui smiled and sat down at the table, introducing herself earnestly: "My name is He Yushui, and I also live in this courtyard."
Ding Qiunan also gave an introduction, and the group quickly resumed their lively conversation.
The living room was filled with laughter. Zhang Lei smiled and shook his head, sent Ye Shuqin away, and turned around to take out a piece of mutton from his personal space and began to cut it.