With Xu Qingqing around, those hard - to - restore cultural relics could all be handed over to her. Then he could slack off as he pleased.
"Teacher Wang, don't worry. My parents are both engaged in work related to cultural relics. They fully support and understand my job. They won't be angry."
Xu Qingqing smiled as she opened the car door and waved to the team members inside.
"Thank you all for sending me back. See you later."
"By the way, I'll give you two days off to recover. Come back to the base in two days."
Wang Lide looked at Xu Qingqing kindly. The more he looked at her, the more he felt he had found a treasure. Fortunately, he hadn't driven Xu Qingqing away back then.
Xu Qingqing didn't refuse the vacation. After all, there was still work to be done at Lu Qi's place. She had to at least restore Mr. Bai's vase before she could focus on the work of the special action team.
When she got home, Mrs. Xu was extremely worried about the wound on Xu Qingqing's neck. She fussed over her, her face full of distress.
After learning that Xu Qingqing had fought against tomb - robbers to protect precious cultural relics, her face was full of pride for her daughter.
"Those tomb - robbers are getting more and more rampant! Qingqing, you've done something your father has never been able to do. I'm really happy for you!" Mr. Xu looked at Xu Qingqing with a look of contentment on his face.
"Dad, I'll keep working hard." Xu Qingqing said with a smile, her misty peach - blossom eyes full of determination.
"Mom just bought a black - boned chicken. I'll stew chicken soup today to nourish you well." Mrs. Xu pinched Xu Qingqing's small face with a pained expression. "No wonder you've lost weight these days."
Xu Qingqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had only been away for a short time. How could Mrs. Xu tell that she had lost weight?
"Thank you, Mom." Xu Qingqing hugged Mrs. Xu's waist and sniffed the familiar scent on her. She felt so at ease. "I really want to hug Mom like this for a lifetime."
The peace of the family soothed the last bit of uneasiness in Xu Qingqing's heart from what she had experienced that day.
"You silly girl." Mrs. Xu's eyes welled up with tears. She patted Xu Qingqing's head. "If you don't let go of Mom, how can Mom cook the soup for you?"
Poor girl! She had been working so hard!
Xu Qingqing let go of Mrs. Xu. Mrs. Xu wiped away her tears and went to the kitchen to make the soup.
Xu Yiyi came over and climbed onto Xu Qingqing's lap. Her eyes sparkled with admiration. "Mom, how did you break free from the tomb - robbers? Tell me!"
Xu An'an also hugged Xu Qingqing's leg. Her big eyes blinked as she looked at Xu Qingqing expectantly. "Mom, tell us quickly!"
Xu Qingqing smiled and hugged the two children. She vividly told them how she had used scissors - hold to knock down the tomb - robbers.
"Mom is so amazing!" Xu An'an covered her small mouth and stared at her in surprise.
Xu Yiyi touched the gauze on Xu Qingqing's neck. Her eyes were full of distress. "Mom, does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore." Xu Qingqing held the little hands of Xu Yiyi and Xu An'an and taught them earnestly.
"Yiyi, An'an, those cultural relics are the treasures of our country. Mom and the people in the special action team are protecting them and fighting against the bad guys.
"When you grow up, you'll take on this important responsibility. Do you understand?"
"Mom, we understand!"
Xu Yiyi and Xu An'an both nodded seriously.
"Mom, don't worry! I'll learn restoration skills in the future and be Mom's successor." Xu An'an proudly raised her little head.
"You're really Mom's good children." Xu Qingqing hugged the two children tightly and pressed her face against theirs.
The next day, Xu Qingqing woke up early in the morning. Maybe she was used to being busy these days and couldn't sleep in.
Autumn had arrived. The weather was getting cooler. The leaves were slowly turning yellow, and in a few more days, they would start to fall.
Xu Qingqing replaced the clothes in her wardrobe with thicker ones. After busying herself for a whole morning, she clapped her hands in satisfaction. She went to the balcony for some fresh air and saw a car parked outside the opposite villa. People were carrying luggage inside.
The happy smile on Xu Qingqing's lips disappeared. She held her head. Her headache was back.
She had actually forgotten about this. Lu Chuanbai was coming to live here!
There would be no more peaceful days from now on.
After breakfast, she took the two children to kindergarten. When Xu An'an saw the grilled sausages at the stall outside, she couldn't move her feet.
This child had been obsessed with grilled sausages since they returned to the country.
Xu Qingqing didn't stop her. She bought one for each of the two children and told them to finish quickly and go to school.
"You little girl, I don't have any money! If you want money, go find your dad!"
A sharp female voice scolding a child came from across the road. Xu Qingqing looked up and saw a woman with big curly hair, delicate makeup, bright red lips, and high - heeled boots on her feet.
The woman was impatient with a little girl, who was crying pitifully.
Xu An'an recognized that the little girl was her good friend Liang Qiutong. She quickly finished the grilled sausage and said in a slurred voice as she grabbed Xu Qingqing's hand. "Mom! Qiutong is being scolded by her step - mom!"
Saying that, Xu An'an was about to go over. Xu Qingqing quickly grabbed her. "Wait a minute. Let's listen to what they're saying first."
They should at least figure out the reason for the argument before going to stop it.
"Please, teacher said we have to pay the money today. Otherwise, I won't be able to go. Please."
Liang Qiutong was crying so hard that passers - by all cast curious glances. The woman felt uncomfortable being stared at and actually turned around to leave. But Liang Qiutong followed her.
"The autumn outing fee..."
"Money, money, money. That's all you think about! The little money your dad gave me isn't even enough for me. If you want money, go ask your dad for it!"
The woman roughly shook off Liang Qiutong's hand. Liang Qiutong fell to the ground, and the woman got into the car and drove away.
"Wuwuwu... Don't go!"
"Qiutong!" Seeing her friend being pushed down, Xu An'an exclaimed. Seeing that there were no cars on both sides of the road, she ran over to help Liang Qiutong up.
Xu Qingqing heard Liang Qiutong's cries. She frowned and looked at Xu Yiyi. "Yiyi, what kind of money do you have to pay?"
Xu Yiyi blinked her eyes and looked at Liang Qiutong, who was lying on the ground, with sympathy. "It's the money for our kindergarten's autumn study tour. It's 2800 yuan in total. Grandma has already paid for us."
"I see..."
No wonder she hadn't heard the two children mention it. She would have to pay the money back to Mrs. Xu when she got home.
Xu Qingqing took Xu Yiyi and ran over. She helped Liang Qiutong pat the dirt off her body and asked with concern. "Qiutong, are you hurt?"
"No." Liang Qiutong shook her head with tears on her face.
What should she do now? If she didn't pay the money, she wouldn't be able to go on the autumn study tour, and Teacher Su would definitely scold her!
"Auntie, can you call my dad for me? I want to go to my dad to get the money. Otherwise, Teacher Su will scold me."
Because Liang Qiutong always paid the money the latest, Su Xiaoyue would secretly scold and mock her in class.
Xu Qingqing stroked Liang Qiutong's head. "Qiutong, don't cry. Auntie will pay for you first. When your dad gives you the money, you can give it back to me, okay?"