Zhai Qingping froze for a moment: “Comrade Feng has a boyfriend?”
“Of course she does,” Old Lady Li declared with certainty.
Zhai Qingping furrowed his brow and stared at Old Lady Li: “Are you telling the truth?”
“You think I’d lie to you? You can ask any neighbor in this area. Everyone knows about the Feng family’s eldest daughter – she’s been popular with boys since childhood. She started dating even before graduating high school. We’ve all been waiting for their wedding banquet.” Old Lady Li raised her voice, speaking as if it were absolutely true.
There was some truth to her words.
Zhai Qingping’s face darkened completely. A wave of anger at being deceived surged in his heart. If she already had a boyfriend, why did she attend the social dance?
Was she keeping her options open?
“Who is her boyfriend? What’s his name? Where does he live?”Zhai Qingping asked bitterly, his voice low.”
Seeing his reaction, Old Lady Li knew this naive young man was just one step away from falling into her trap. She immediately brought up the main character from this morning’s neighborhood committee incident: “The young man’s surname is Zhang. His father is the director of the Xicheng Cotton Mill. I heard he’s the only son in their family. He and the Feng family’s eldest daughter were high school classmates and have been together for a long time. Rumor has it that once they marry, the Feng girl will get a clerk position at the cotton mill. How enviable…”
Zhai Qingping couldn’t stand to hear more. Such detailed information at least proved that this Zhang classmate existed.
“I see. Thank you,” Zhai Qingping said before turning to leave.
“Hey, young man, where are you going? Aren’t you waiting for the Feng girl?” Old Lady Li called after him with feigned concern, though her eyes gleamed with triumph.
Zhai Qingping didn’t respond. He needed to go to the Xicheng Cotton Mill to inquire about this Zhang classmate, but he didn’t owe this old woman any explanations.
Time was tight – he had to quickly uncover the truth and still make a perfunctory visit to the hospital.
At that moment, Wang Ma returned from grocery shopping and happened to pass by Zhai Qingping as he strode away briskly.
Noticing his military uniform, Wang Ma suddenly recalled the tall soldier who had appeared outside the Feng family’s courtyard yesterday evening. The build looked similar – could it be the same person?
Wang Ma stopped and called out “Hey!”, but the other party acted as if he hadn’t heard, keeping his eyes straight ahead and quickening his pace, quickly putting distance between them.
Coincidentally, Wang Ma then spotted Old Lady Li standing in front of her employer’s gate. Immediately forgetting about Zhai Qingping, she rushed over and shouted: “Li Ahua, what are you doing lurking around our gate?”
Old Lady Li retorted: “Who’s lurking? Can’t I take a stroll?”
Wang Ma shot back: “Others can stroll without problem, but when you linger around someone’s gate, even if nothing gets stolen, the ground wears thinner by two inches!Seeing that the naive young man was already far away and unlikely to return, Old Lady Li proudly put her hands behind her back: “I’m in a good mood today, won’t bother arguing with you.” I’m leaving.”
Seeing Old Lady Li actually leave, Wang Ma frowned, feeling that something wasn’t quite right. She pushed the courtyard gate but it didn’t open, so she rushed inside shouting: “Mingyu, Mingxue, are you in there?”
“Wang Ma’s back! Brother, let’s open the gate!”
The twins cheerfully ran out from the building. Hearing their voices, Wang Ma breathed a sigh of relief.
At 5 PM, the department store still had two hours until closing, but Yu Jingqiu wasn’t a salesperson – she worked regular nine-to-five hours.
As she tidied her desk, she asked her daughter if she wanted to shop around the department store before leaving.Feng Mingshu had been genuinely busy all day and was preoccupied with her own future plans, leaving her with little energy. “Mom, I don’t want to go shopping, and there’s nothing I want to buy. Let’s go home.”
Yu Jingqiu didn’t press further and led her listless daughter through the first floor of the mall toward the exit when her gaze suddenly paused, settling on a sparsely populated counter.
“Mom, why did you stop?” Feng Mingshu noticed her mother halting and asked in confusion.
Yu Jingqiu withdrew her gaze and smiled at her daughter. “That young man from yesterday evening—will he be waiting outside our house again today?”
Feng Mingshu’s cheeks warmed at the teasing, but she firmly denied it. “Mom, I already told you he won’t come again. I made things clear to him.”
Yu Jingqiu chuckled. “Alright, I won’t ask anymore. Let’s go.”
Zhai Qingping, pressed for time, hurried to a quiet counter and randomly pointed at a product for the salesperson to weigh. Just then, he faintly sensed someone’s gaze from behind and turned to scan the area.
“Comrade, do you still want this?” the salesperson asked after weighing the item.
“Yes, please pack it for me.” Not spotting anyone unusual, Zhai Qingping turned back, swiftly paid with money and coupons, grabbed the packaged item, and dashed off.
Half an hour later, he arrived breathless at Zhou Jinshan’s hospital bed, casually placing his purchase on the bedside table. “A consolation gift from the political commissar—to help you recover.””
“The political commissar is truly kind,” Lu Xiangqian’s eyes lit up as he picked up the gift. “Hey, wait—this is chocolate! It’s what women like, all girly. Lao Zhai, why did you pick this?”
Zhai Qingping naturally wouldn’t admit he hadn’t put thought into it and raised an eyebrow. “Want it or not? If not, give it back.”
“Of course I want—”
Before Lu Xiangqian could finish, the entire pack of chocolate changed hands, landing in Zhou Jinshan’s grasp.
“This is my condolence gift,” Zhou Jinshan declared flatly, getting out of bed and slipping on his coat before stuffing the chocolate into his pocket to assert ownership.
“I’ve been diligently keeping you company here. You should at least share a piece or two to help me recover,” Lu Xiangqian retorted, reaching unceremoniously for Zhou Jinshan’s pocket.
Zhou Jinshan blocked his hand and instead shoved some money at him. “Lao Lu, the meat dishes in the cafeteria are just as nourishing. Go get some. I’ll see Lao Zhai out.”
With money in hand, Lu Xiangqian forgot about the chocolate and cheerfully counted it. “Three whole yuan? Lao Zhou, you’re unusually generous today. But why do you need to see Lao Zhai off? He’s got legs to walk himself.”
Zhai Qingping hadn’t expected Zhou Jinshan to escort him, but this remark made him laugh in exasperation. “Lao Lu, you’re burning bridges a bit fast, aren’t you?”
Lu Xiangqian mimicked his raised eyebrow. “You came to visit Lao Zhou without bringing food or money—just did a quick errand. What bridge are you even talking about?”
The two had always enjoyed bickering, but Zhou Jinshan cut in, “Enough, you two. Lao Zhai, are you leaving or not?”
Zhai Qingping nodded and followed. “Yes, I need to hurry. The political commissar timed me—a minute late won’t do.”
Zhou Jinshan gave a noncommittal shrug.
Once they left the hospital, the dim street was nearly empty. Zhou Jinshan suddenly stopped and turned to Zhai Qingping. “Before coming to me, you went somewhere else.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement.Zhai Qingping wasn’t particularly surprised, knowing full well how remarkably perceptive his roommate always was. He couldn’t help but smile wryly, “I did go somewhere else first. I went to see that Comrade Feng from yesterday’s social gathering.”
A barely noticeable ripple stirred in Zhou Jinshan’s eyes as he gazed toward the dim streetlights ahead, his tone light and detached: “Did you see her?”