Hearing that it was Taiguo who bought the bicycle, Mother Qi first rejoiced, then furrowed her brow and muttered while touching the bike, "How much money was that?"
Qi Fenglian was truly happy. Being able to buy a bicycle meant that her younger brother was doing well, and she felt an indescribable envy.
"There are too many people here, letâs go back home and talk. By the way, Mom, have you had dinner yet?" Taiguo asked.
"How could we have eaten? Early in the morning, I just baked a few pancakes to eat on the bus," Mother Qi replied.
Taiguo then looked toward Cheng Su.
Cheng Su said, "They have also been on the bus for a few hours now, and we havenât prepared any food at home, and we wouldnât have enough time to cook. If we go to a restaurant, weâll have to take the car again to go back home. It might be better if I took them home first to settle down and rest, and you could go to a restaurant and have Old Song prepare a couple of fast food takeaways. This would be faster. Tonight, Iâll cook some nice food to welcome Mom and big sister home!"
Taiguo nodded and agreed, "Mom, big sister, then you go home first, Iâll be back after I pick up the food!"
"Alright."
Watching Taiguo pedal away, Cheng Su then led the two women to take the public bus.
Fenglian, while gently bouncing Baobao on her back, looked around and exclaimed, "This Qing City is really grand, so much more prosperous than our Flower County. The buildings here are so tall."
"Then big sister should stay a few more days," Cheng Su said with a smile, then asked, "Why didnât Dad come along?"
"If Dad could have come, I wouldnât have. Weâve planted wheat back home; if Mom comes over, we canât leave the house empty. The little brother and Pingping also need to go to school. I came because I was worried Mom would get lost on her own. Iâm sorry for the trouble!" Fenglian explained with a smile.
Mother Qi didnât like to hear such talk and said, "What trouble? Youâre visiting your brotherâs home, whatâs so troubling about that?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Cheng Su.
Cheng Su added, "Thatâs right, big sister, youâre welcome anytime, as long as you donât find it too boring."
Fenglian laughed and quietly tugged at her motherâs sleeve.
Cheng Su led them onto the bus, and on the way back to the compound, she cautioned that their house was small and theyâd have to make do.
Mother Qi and the others didnât mind at all. In their view, the fact that Taiguo had managed to obtain a house was already quite an achievement!
Upon entering, they found the house bright and clean, which made them hesitate to step inside.
"Come in and have a seat!" Cheng Su called out when she saw them standing hesitantly.
"Well, the house is so clean, and Iâm afraid my shoes are muddy!" Fenglian said, feeling embarrassed.
"No worries," Cheng Su said with a smile.
Mother Qi came around and didnât care anymore. This was her sonâs house, and therefore hers too; she had nothing to be afraid of walking in.
Taking advantage of Cheng Su going to get water, the two women looked around the room, stepping on the soft sofa and feeling a sense of unreality.
Removing her backpack, Fenglian said to Cheng Su, "Taiguoâs wife, this house youâve got is really nice, I think even the houses in our county canât compare!"
Cheng Su handed each of them a big porcelain jar of water and said with a smile, "Big sister, youâre mistaken. When I first came back home, it was quite rundown. I had to hire someone to renovate it, and thatâs why it looks so bright now."
Ah, so it had been renovated. How much money would that cost?
Fenglian was just thinking about it, but Mother Qi had already asked the question.
"It didnât cost much, just a hundred and something yuan! Mom, have a sip of water to moisten your throat!" Cheng Su was cautious and randomly quoted a figure.
Mother Qi, however, looked skeptical. She would have to ask her son later; they couldnât afford to squander money like this!