People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Chapter 363 The Upcoming Price Challenge

"Knock knock knock, Sister Ling, Teacher Zhuang."

Hearing the knock, Huang Ling pushed him away, then took out a handkerchief from her pocket and gently wiped her red and swollen eyes.

She took a deep breath, stood up, tossed the handkerchief to Chao Ying, and strode out.

"Song Ying." Huang Ling's voice was still slightly choked.

"Sister Ling, you two definitely didn't cook, come and eat with us."

Huang Ling nodded, forcing a smile. It was her sisters who were thinking of her. "Then Chao Ying and I will head over now."

Zhuang Chaoying, who was inside the house, heard their conversation. "Xiao Song, A Ling, you two go ahead first. I'll make a side dish, it'll be quick."

Huang Ling quickly walked to Song Ying's side and affectionately took her hand. "Song Ying, let's go, don't worry about him, he'll be there on his own in a bit."

Song Ying turned her head and looked at Sister Ling's red eyes. She remembered when she came back earlier, looking at the empty room, without the talkative Dong Zhe, she felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.

The air conditioner in Dongzhe's room had stopped working, and the whole house became eerily quiet, followed by a strange sense of loss.

If she can understand this feeling, then Sister Ling must feel the same way.

Despite her constant nagging about Dongzhe's shortcomings, she's eager to get him into university so she and Wufeng can finally be free.

But now that the child has really left home, it's as if the pillar of her and Wu Feng's support has been taken away.

Dongzhe became exceptionally sensible after his father left the compressor factory.

During the holidays, he would do his homework on his own without being prompted by adults, and he would also take the initiative to help with housework.

When Wu Feng was not home during the night shift, Dong Zhe would always wait at the factory gate early to pick her up after get off work.

When he feels unwell, he will thoughtfully pour hot water and get medicine.

Having just left home for school, Song Ying is already looking forward to Dong Zhe coming home for winter break.

“Sister Ling, you cried when Tu Nan went to college. I didn’t really understand what it felt like for a child to leave your side. Now I really understand. Wu Feng and I have discussed it. After Dong Zhe graduates and finds out where he works, Wu Feng and I will move to a house near Dong Zhe.”

Huang Ling patted Song Ying's hand and said with a wry smile, "Chao Ying said the same thing. He said that we should choose a spot between Tu Nan and Xiao Ting, not too far and not too close, just right. I think we adults are just so annoying. We get annoyed when the kids are around, but we can't bear to let them go."

Song Ying covered her mouth and laughed. "Sister Ling, what you said may be rough, but it makes sense. That's exactly how it is. Our children are our debts, and from now on, we'll have to catch up with them."

Just then, Lin Wufeng came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl of noodles and placed it on the table in the yard. "Sister Ling, please sit down. The noodles are ready. Why hasn't Teacher Zhuang come over yet?"

Huang Ling went to the kitchen, turned on the tap, washed her hands, and then came out to help put noodles into bowls. "He's making side dishes at home, he'll be here soon."

Zhuang Chaoying found a bag of ready-made fried peanuts in the kitchen cabinet and poured them into a plate.

Then he took out a dish of kimchi from the cupboard, picked some up, and put it on another plate.

He carried two plates of side dishes, walked out of the courtyard gate, hooked the gate shut with his foot, and headed towards Lin Wufeng's house.

Zhuang Chaoying strode into the courtyard, carrying two plates of side dishes, a smile on her face. "Engineer Lin, I'm here! I got some peanuts and pickled vegetables; they'll be perfect with these noodles!"

Lin Wufeng turned and walked to the refrigerator, opened the door, and took out four bottles of beer. "Sister Ling, Teacher Zhuang, from today onwards, we're completely free. Let's have a good drink together."

Huang Ling nodded, took the beer, opened it with a bottle opener, and then handed it to Song Ying next to her. "Drink it then."

The four of them raised their glasses in unison.

Zhuang Chaoying sighed softly, her gaze sweeping over the group of them, each with a bitter expression. "Cheer up. Before, we lived for our children, but now they've grown up, left home, and have to live for themselves. Cheers! A toast to ourselves, and a toast to our children leaving home and embarking on new journeys."

"cheers!"

After finishing a glass of beer, Song Ying's cheeks were slightly flushed. She picked up a peanut and put it in her mouth.

“Before, I was busy buying groceries and cooking after work so that Dongzhe could go to school and take exams. I didn’t even dare to turn the TV on, for fear of disturbing his studies. Now that he’s gone, I can turn the TV up as loud as I want, and I can go to the disco if I want.”

Lin put down his cup, reached out and gently patted Song Ying's arm, his eyes filled with affection. "Going to the dance hall is fine, I'll go with you."

Huang Ling leaned closer to Song Ying, a smile playing on her lips. "Engineer Lin is worried about Song Ying, afraid she'll be snatched away by another man."

Lin Wufeng laughed heartily and said in a serious tone.

"Of course! My Song Ying is only thirty-nine years old this year, in the prime of her life. In my eyes, Song Ying is especially beautiful and charming. I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her go alone. Even if she does go, I have to go with her so I can feel at ease."

"Sister Ling, if you go out, Teacher Zhuang will definitely be worried, right, Teacher Zhuang?"

Zhuang Chaoying smiled and gently replied, "Engineer Lin, we're even."

After finishing their noodles, Song Ying stood up and patted Huang Ling on the shoulder. "Sister Ling, let's go watch TV and let Wu Feng and Teacher Zhuang drink slowly."

Huang Ling looked at Zhuang Chaoying's slightly flushed face and said with concern, "Chaoying, eat some food and don't just keep drinking."

After finishing her beer, Zhuang Chaoying waved to Huang Ling and watched them walk into the house.

He thought about it and decided he still wanted to remind Engineer Lin about the soaring prices.

It's important to understand that next year will be the first year of price reforms, and this situation will continue until the early 1990s before prices gradually stabilize.

The money you have now, if you keep it until the 1990s, will have depreciated many times over.

. . . . .