lcionline Chapter 318: Family Dinner
Chapter 318: Family Dinner
The lid of the thermal container was opened, and the aroma of the food quickly spread, making the roommates who were eating the soaked flatbread swallow their saliva with difficulty.But no one picked up their chopsticks to take the dishes.
Su Yu pointed to her own bowl, "We can get full eating this, Xiangxiang, thank your aunt for us."
"That’s right, we’ve got to cram foreign languages recently, no time to help at Xingfu Restaurant, definitely can’t eat for free."
"How can this be eating for free?" Lin Xiang picked up her spoon and served dishes into everyone’s bowl without a word, "Every bite of food given to you is not for free, just put it on the tab and help out when you’re not busy."
"This isn’t suitable."
"What’s not suitable about it?"
Zheng Miaoyue leaned lazily against the bed and said, "If Xiangxiang gives it to you, just eat it. Remember Aunt Lin’s kindness in your heart, and repay her when you earn money in the future."
"Yueyue is right, hurry up and eat."
Su Yu and the others couldn’t refuse, so they accepted Lin Xiang’s kindness.
Lin Xiang didn’t bother with them anymore, sitting at the table to continue writing her notes.
Today is already Tuesday, and the day after tomorrow is the teacher’s birthday; she needs to prepare the gift by noon the day after tomorrow, which is a bit tight on time.
Besides the teacher’s gift, she also needs to write about some techniques for greenhouse planting for Zhang Maoyan.
Zheng Miaoyue poked her head out from the top bunk, "Aren’t you going back to Xingfu Restaurant today?"
"Not going back."
"Then accompany me somewhere later?"
"No."
Zheng Miaoyue didn’t expect Lin Xiang to refuse so straightforwardly, "I haven’t even said where yet."
"I have a lot to do these two days, I’ll go with you on the weekend."
Time flew by, and it was already Thursday afternoon.
There were only two classes in the afternoon, and they ended at half-past three.
But getting from Huaqing University to the residential area at the Foreign Language University was quite a distance.
Lin Xiang returned to the dormitory, put down her textbooks, changed into the clothes and shoes she had just bought two days ago, redid her hair, and rushed out.
At the bus stop, Lin Xiang waited in the cold wind, when suddenly a bicycle stopped in front of her.
Cheng An pulled down the scarf covering his head, "Where are you going?"
"The teacher’s birthday is today, and I’ve been invited to a family dinner, I plan to take the bus over."
"Mr. Zhang Sr. lives in the residential area of the Foreign Language University, if you take the bus, you need to transfer twice, and the bus takes a detour, riding a bicycle is faster."
Lin Xiang had thought of riding a bicycle, but the one at home, made up of parts, had been taken by Cheng Jinyun, who has been going to Qi State every day these days.
So she could only take the bus.
"You ride my bike. I’ll have Ah Yun pick you up tonight."
"Thank you, Brother An." Lin Xiang wasn’t courteous with Cheng An, "I promise I won’t damage your bike!"
Lin Xiang rode the bike away, and Cheng An entered the school through the East Gate.
Beijing Foreign Language University.
Lin Xiang asked a few people and smoothly found the building of the residential area.
She had difficulty parking the bike since Cheng An only gave her the bike, not a lock.
The bike looked very new, and Lin Xiang was afraid it would be stolen while she was having the meal, so she rode it a bit further to a supply and marketing cooperative to buy a lock and locked the bike in the bike shed.
Mr. Zhang Sr. lived on the ground floor; usually, only the old couple lived there, and the children and grandchildren only came occasionally.
The set time was six in the afternoon, and when Lin Xiang arrived, it was already half-past five, and the house was full of people.
Mr. Zhang Sr. sat on the sofa, happily listening to his grandchildren’s blessings.
Upon hearing a knock at the door, Zhang Maoyan took the initiative to open it, "Lin Xiang, you’re here, come in."
Apart from Mr. Zhang Sr. and Zhang Maoyan, no one else in the room knew Lin Xiang. Seeing a stranger at the family banquet, the faces of Mr. Zhang Sr.’s children were not very happy.
"Maoyan, didn’t your aunt tell you, today is your grandpa’s birthday, it’s a rare family reunion, it’s not appropriate to bring your classmates over."
Zhang Maoyan, with his strong sense of tact, didn’t hear Aunt Zhang’s sarcasm and explained earnestly, "Second Aunt, Lin Xiang is not an outsider, she was personally invited by Grandpa."
"Dad?" The children simultaneously looked at Mr. Zhang Sr.
The smile on Mr. Zhang Sr.’s face faded a bit, "Lin Xiang is my only student, she came to attend my birthday banquet, who has an opinion?"
Dad has a student?
The children looked at each other, but no one dared to contradict Mr. Zhang Sr.
Unlike other families that were sent down, during the great upheaval, Mr. Zhang Sr. perceptively sensed something was wrong and arranged everything for his children and grandchildren early on, so even though he was sent down, no one else in the family was affected.
In fact, the year before last, after Mr. Zhang Sr. was exonerated, the organization not only reinstated him but also gave him considerable authority to compensate him.
It was because of this that the younger generation in the family not only dared not offend Mr. Zhang Sr. but also had to please him.
The connections he held could allow their careers to thrive.
But unexpectedly, Mr. Zhang Sr. did not help any of the younger members.
Upon hearing that their father had taken in a student, their first reaction was whether their father’s resources would lean toward this young girl.
Zhang Xiaogu did not care what others thought, she proactively greeted Lin Xiang, "You’re Lin Xiang, right? You look young, are you in your first year of university?"
Lin Xiang politely replied, "Yes, I just started university this summer."
"Just a few months into university, and already caught the eye of father to take in as a student, young lady, you must be quite capable." Aunt Zhang continued her sarcastic tone.
Lin Xiang smiled sweetly, "Auntie, you’re right, I do have a little talent."
"Hey, you kid..."
"Second daughter-in-law." Mrs. Zhang Sr. slowly opened her mouth, "This is the first time Xiangxiang has come to our home as a guest. As elders, you shouldn’t speak like this even if you don’t have to be too welcoming. If you have objections to your father’s decision, you can skip today’s family banquet."
Though Mrs. Zhang Sr.’s tone seemed calm, those who knew her well were aware that she was quite upset.
Aunt Zhang wasn’t someone who acted without thinking, knowing that both of the old couple were already very fond of Lin Xiang, she couldn’t continue to stand out.
"Xiangxiang, come to grandma."
Lin Xiang walked straight to Mrs. Zhang Sr. and sat beside her, acting gracefully and without any pretense throughout.
Mrs. Zhang Sr. held her hand, and just as she was about to speak, tears began to involuntarily roll down her cheeks.
"I’ve heard from old Zhang, during those years when he was sent down, if it weren’t for you and that child Ah Yun’s protection, he might have... He’s still so healthy now, thanks to the care you siblings gave him!"