Yang Wang leaned over with a beaming smile and said, "A Xiu, do whatever you want. I'll be the one to earn money and support you!"
Hearing this, Hua Qingqing's gaze flitted between the two of them.
Oh, so they've officially confirmed their relationship?
Hua Qingqing got into the car and said, "Cousin, I've got to tell you, don't trust men too easily. They may sweet - talk you now, but who knows what kind of harsh words they'll say later. As women in the new era, we should follow the slogan of the new era: The society has taken on a new look, and women can hold up half the sky!"
Saying this, she stared seriously at Yang Wang.
"Yang Wang, I must seriously criticize you. Don't let old - fashioned ideas corrupt your mind. The idea of 'men work outside, women stay at home' is an outdated concept. A woman's value is not just about staying at home, giving birth, and taking care of her husband and children. My cousin can do whatever she wants. She's a woman of the new society, not a freeloader waiting to be supported!"
Don't mess up my employee, my talent!
Yang Wang was completely bewildered. What did I say? Can't I show my loyalty to my girlfriend?
He turned to Yu Linxiu with a pout and said, "A Xiu, that's not what I meant..."
Yu Linxiu gave him a soothing look but said, "Qingqing is right. I can't just rely on you. But Qingqing, give me some more time to think this through."
She wanted to go to school, but making this happen wouldn't be easy.
Just her family alone would be a huge obstacle.
Just imagining it made her feel suffocated.
Thankfully, she had a way to pay for her tuition.
If she agreed to Qingqing and went to work in the factory, at least she wouldn't have to worry about tuition fees.
But the salary was too high. She'd have to talk to Hua Qingqing about it later. Even if they were relatives, one couldn't just offer an unreasonably high salary.
...
As soon as Hua Qingqing parked the car under a tree, she saw a curly - haired head pop out from Granny Fang's room. It was a man in a flowery shirt and wide - leg jeans.
This trendy outfit brightened up the whole yard.
She and the curly - haired man stared at each other, and it seemed like he was also trying to recognize her.
Hua Qingqing thought the curly - haired man looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place him.
Maybe he was someone Hu Guihua had introduced for a blind date?
Hua Qingqing took a few more glances and then looked away.
It was none of her business anyway.
Just as she was about to go back to her room, the curly - haired man called out to her.
"Qingqing, why are you running away? You don't even say hello when you see someone."
Hearing his voice, the sense of familiarity grew stronger. She turned around and took another look. When she saw the man's eyebrows, which were somewhat similar to Yu Jianhua's, it suddenly dawned on her.
"Uncle Yu?"
"You're back?"
Yu Jianchuan took long strides and walked over in two quick steps, snapping his fingers.
"You're so heartless. You really didn't recognize me? I even brought you a gift."
Hua Qingqing calmly exposed him.
"Uncle Yu, you're so funny. You stared at me for so long just now, and you didn't recognize me either. We're both in the same boat."
Yu Jianchuan burst out laughing. "You've really changed as you've grown up. You've gotten fairer and plumper, and your personality has changed too. You even know how to joke with me. Alright, alright, wait here. I'll go get your gift!"
What did he mean by "fairer and plumper"?
She was just well - nourished.
Hua Qingqing was speechless. This uncle of hers didn't even know how to compliment people.
Yu Jianchuan went to get the gift.
Hua Qingqing went back to her room and suddenly remembered something. She had to attend Chen Mengshu's birthday dinner tomorrow.
She had to prepare a gift for Chen Mengshu!
Chen Mengshu loved reading and doing exercises. She'd give her the high - school freshman test papers she'd collected from somewhere else. Given Chen Mengshu's love for learning, this gift would probably hit the spot.
But just giving test papers seemed a bit too harsh. Well, she'd add something else.
Chen Mengshu liked sweets, so she'd give her a box of chocolates. There were still a few boxes left from what her mom had sent.
Together, they'd make a decent gift!
Just as she was thinking, Yu Jianchuan walked in with a package and placed it on the table.
"This is a gift I carefully selected for you in the south. Open it and take a look."
"Hey, why is there such a big table in your room?"
Hua Qingqing stood up, took an axe from under the bed, and carefully cut open the package bit by bit.
This action stunned Yu Jianchuan.
Hua Qingqing looked up at him with a grin. "I took this from my eldest cousin. It's a waste for him to use it anyway. He's taken the exam three times, and each time he did worse. He doesn't deserve to use good stuff."
Yu Jianchuan was taken aback. Reacting, he blurted out, "He failed again?!"
His look of disdain was obvious.
Hua Qingqing snorted. "Tell me about it. I think my eldest cousin will never pass the exam in his life. After all, he doesn't just study at school... Anyway, Uncle and Auntie are blind. They treat their useless son like a treasure, while my cousin, who could have gotten into college, is just a temporary salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. It's only been half a year since I last saw you, Hua Qingqing, and you've gotten so bold. You even dare to gossip about Big Brother and Sister - in - law in front of me."
Hua Qingqing glanced at him.
"Am I wrong?"
"No, you're absolutely right. I was just going to say that great minds think alike."
Hua Qingqing thought that this uncle of hers was really kindred spirits with her.
"I heard from your grandma that you're also studying at No. 1 Middle School? And you got first place in Nan County? You're amazing, Hua Qingqing. How about your tuition fees? Do you have enough?"
"Yes, I'm not short of money."
Hua Qingqing opened a corner of the package and vaguely saw a dark - colored lacquered surface.
She was taken aback and quickly sped up her actions.
Could this be what she was thinking of?
When the package was fully opened, a brand - new radio was sitting on the table.
Hua Qingqing was very surprised. A radio wasn't extremely expensive, but it wasn't cheap either. Why did Yu Jianchuan give her this?
How did Yu Jianchuan, who worked in the south, know that she'd gotten into No. 1 Middle School?
Did Yu Linxiu tell him?
Oh well, no need to think so much. Hua Qingqing picked up the radio and looked it over.
What else could a radio do besides listening to the radio?
It could play cassette tapes and listen to English. It would be great for studying.
Yu Jianchuan had put a lot of thought into this gift.
Hua Qingqing took a deep breath and showed a genuine smile. "Thank you, Uncle Yu. I'll make good use of this."
Yu Jianchuan was delighted.
"Use it freely. If it breaks, your Uncle Yu will buy you another one."
He sure had a big mouth.
Yu Jianchuan hadn't been back for half a year. No one knew what he was doing in the south, but judging from his generous demeanor, he must have made a fortune.
She wondered what the situation was like there. It should be suitable for selling schoolbags, right?
"Uncle Yu, how's the south? I went to the capital during the summer vacation. It's so beautiful there."
Yu Jianchuan described it vividly.
Hua Qingqing's eyes sparkled, and she immediately added Huacheng to the list of places to visit for market research.
She leaned over to Yu Jianchuan, forgetting about the radio on the table, and asked curiously, "Uncle Yu, what kind of job do you do there? Will you go back later?"
Yu Jianchuan's eyes flickered twice but he didn't elaborate.
"I just sell some small things with others. It's nothing special."