Chapter 246: Chapter 246: A mother and daughter's private conversation
Huang Jingping once again rode home in the personnel department car. Although it was only a van, she didn't have to squeeze herself into the minibus, and in the eyes of the neighbours, this was considered a kind of treatment. Moreover, the two vans were still marked with the provincial licence plate, so did they come specially to take her home?
Huang Jingping knew that Feng Yiping was still reluctant to go home to meet her parents with her, so this time, she didn't ask Feng Yiping to drive her home, and he couldn't drive her anyway, as he had classes to attend.
The HR employee who drove the car dropped Huang Jingping off at the entrance to her shop, helped her carry her suitcase down, said hello to Huang's mother, and without even drinking a mouthful of water, he was about to leave. He had heard that this was the boss's scandalous girlfriend, and he couldn't afford to offend her.
Huang's mother chased after him and, without giving him a chance to refuse, gave him a bottle of green tea and a packet of cigarettes. Thanks to the development of the economy, bottled drinks have also gained some market share in such small towns. Of course, no one is interested in the few yuan a bottle of mineral water.
The owners and proprietresses of the shops nearby came over enthusiastically to chat, 'Oh, Jingping is getting more and more beautiful!' This is what the proprietress said.
'It seems that Jingping is quite valued by the company. Every time you go home, the company sends a car for you. Among all the children who work outside, you are the only one who gets this treatment.' This is what the boss said.
'Jingping, next time you come back, ask your company to send you a nice car, so that we can also ride in it. Our son Xiaohua said that the Audi of their company's boss is not bad.' This is still what the somewhat jealous boss said.
Having lived in the town for more than three years, Huang Jingping knows the nature of these neighbours and acquaintances. If there is anything difficult at home, everyone will enthusiastically contribute ideas. However, if you stand out a bit, then there will be no shortage of such sour remarks, whether to your face or behind your back. So, she automatically ignores this last type of question. Does she have to say that I can buy several Audis with the money I spend on taxis?
'No, it's not a car, it's just a ride home.' Huang's mother heard this and took her hand. This child, she thought, is still so honest. "Let's go home first, everyone will come to dinner tonight!'
Once they got home, Huang's mother took her daughter into the room and looked her over from top to bottom. "You and Feng Yiping have been living together these days?'
'Yes, after I finished my work at the technical secondary school, I started living at his place.'
'What do you mean 'his place'? Your sister already told me everything. He lives alone now. Tell me, have you two...'
Huang Jingping understood what her mother was asking, and felt embarrassed. 'What are you talking about, Mum? We just live in the same house, we sleep in separate rooms, and besides, we're still young!'
'Hmph, don't give me that! There's no such thing as a cat that doesn't eat fish! And what's this nonsense about being young? The 18-year-old third son of the Wang family in Dongtou, over there, is younger than you, and last month he got a girl pregnant. The girl's family went to his house and caused a big scene, and everyone's been laughing about it ever since. Tell your mother honestly, and I won't tell your father. Did you or didn't you? This is a big deal, so don't hide it from me.'
'Oh, Mom, it's really nothing!' Huang Jingping's face turned red like a big apple.
'Really nothing?' Huang's mother looked doubtful. Her own daughter, if she wasn't bragging, was definitely outstanding among the families in town. Did that hot-blooded young man not have any thoughts?
'So what do you have?' Huang's mother still wanted to know the truth.
'Just holding hands,' Huang Jingping's head was about to touch her stomach.
'Just that?' Huang Jingping's mother couldn't believe it.
'Sometimes we hug,' Huang Jingping said, blushing furiously. She rushed out of the room, 'Mom, that's really all there is. I'm going to wash my face.'
She wiped her face with cool water a few times, remembering the last hug she had had before going back to her room in Nanlu. She felt Feng Yiping's reaction clearly. Oh, she was so embarrassed.
She took the towel off her face and saw her mother standing in front of her silently. She was startled and said, 'Mom, what are you doing?'
'Don't move,' said Huang's mother, taking in her daughter's appearance in the light of the sun outside. She seemed to see no change yet and nodded, 'You two are quite honest.'
Huang Jingping then understood that her mother was using her experience to see if her words were true. There is a lot of experience in this regard in the countryside, but most of it is of the kind that is not passed on from woman to man. The most impressive are the matchmakers, who can tell at just a glance whether a girl is still a virgin or not.
'Mom, I won't put up with this anymore!'
'Mom is just worried about you,' Huang's mother said, patting her daughter's head reassuringly. 'You look quite nice in that dress. He bought it for you, didn't he?'
'Yes, we went shopping together.'
'Tell me, do you think he might have a disease?' Having confirmed that her daughter had not been taken advantage of by Feng Yiping, Huang's mother then thought of another possibility.
Huang Jingping was about to follow up with her mother about the clothes, but she was still going on and on about it, which made her feel so embarrassed and angry that she said, "Mom, I'm really not going to talk to you anymore.'
'Okay, I won't say anything anymore," Huang's mother followed her daughter into the room, 'Grandpa's birthday is the day after tomorrow, did you buy him anything?'
'We didn't know what to buy, so we went to the province and bought some tonics. Here,' Huang Jingping took a large bag out of the suitcase and handed it to her.
Huang's mother opened it and saw that it contained royal jelly, propolis, deep-sea fish oil, etc. She must have spent quite a lot of money on it. She felt a little resentful, 'I've raised you until now, and you've never bought me anything.'
'You don't need it now,' Huang Jingping stopped what she was doing, smiled, put her arms around her mother from behind, and rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "Oh, wait a minute," she turned around and took an envelope out of the small bag, "this is for you, don't tell dad.'
Huang's mother knew at a glance that it was money. "What do you want money for?'
'He said that every month I should give the family an allowance of 500 yuan, and this is 3,000 yuan for the past six months.'
'No need. The family doesn't lack money right now. Besides, aren't you still studying? You're not working, so where would you get the money? Did he give it all?'
'Well, just take it, Mom. The family has spent a lot of money on my education. You're getting older every year, and it's only right to be filial to you.'
'Let me ask you, how do you manage your finances? Do you always ask him for money?'
'No, there are always a few thousand yuan in the drawer of the study. When you need it, just take it yourself.' Huang Jingping had never had to worry about these things since she was a child, and she didn't really care about them either, as she continued to pack her bags.
Huang's mother sighed. This child is really blessed. 'You can sort it out later. Mom wants to tell you that we can't take this money yet. We have to wait until you start working, and you can save up your salary and let me keep it for you. If you and he get married in the future, we can take it then. But right now, you're not married to him yet, and you're still using his money to study and subsidise your family. This isn't appropriate. You should take it back and give it to him.'
'Mom, it's fine, you can keep it. Yiping brought it all himself.' From the bottom of her heart, she had long considered Feng Yiping a family member. As a family member, what was the point of distinguishing between the inside and outside? Feng Yiping had honoured her parents on her behalf, and she felt that was only natural.
'My silly daughter, you don't care, but we can't let people think we're just after his family's money. We absolutely can't accept this money. And if you ever run out of money, just tell me and I'll give it to you. The shop is doing well, and it'll be a few years before your sister goes to university, so we don't really need the money.'
That evening, Huang Chengzhong and his mother discussed what had happened during the day. Huang Chengzhong sighed, 'Yiping is really a good boy. I didn't misjudge him. You did the right thing. We are only taking advantage of his kindness and we think he will have a bright future, not for any other reason.'
'We don't have to wait for the future. According to Jingping, he is already very successful.'
After Huang Jingping returned home, the house was a lot quieter. Feng Yiping was alone and suddenly lost his appetite to cook. For the past two days, he has been coping with it outside.
On Saturday afternoon, he sat alone in his study, going through documents, still listening to the Scarborough Fair interlude from The Graduate. Later, he got used to the voice of the singer, known as the 'Goddess of Moonlight', but she was quite unattractive. Now listening to the male version, he found it quite tasteful too.
At a little after two in the afternoon, he heard someone knock at the door. He was surprised when he opened the door and saw her. How did she find this place?