Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 218: Going to An City Together

Zhou Miaqing, feeling sympathetic, tightly grasped Tang Jing’s hand, "Being able to go to university proves that you’re different from them. Your future life surely won’t be like that. Look, we managed to save a significant amount of money in just half a month. You have to believe that during the two-month summer vacation, we can earn even more.

And during the winter break... life will only get better and better. Plus, if possible, you can pursue graduate studies. The higher your education, the greater your chances of staying in a big city, and the better future in-laws you can find. You wouldn’t want your job assignment after graduation to be back in your hometown, right?"

Although Zhou Miaqing didn’t spell everything out, Tang Jing could still catch the underlying meaning.

She smiled at Zhou Miaqing, "Thank you, Miaqing. I will strive to change my life."

The two girls smiled at each other.

The two-day train journey was tiring, but fortunately, it was only two days.

When Zhou Miaqing stood with Tang Jing at their doorstep.

Miaqing’s mother thought she saw a ghost, stunned for a long moment before letting out a sharp scream, "Old Zhou, your daughter is back!"

They lived in an apartment building. When Miaqing’s mother shouted, dozens of families stuck their heads out.

Miaqing’s father dashed out from the apartment next door, laughing foolishly as he rushed to Miaqing, "My precious daughter, you’re finally back! Eh? And this is... your classmate?"

Zhou Miaqing quickly introduced Tang Jing to her parents.

Knowing that the two girls had earned money from a stall, Miaqing’s parents were very enthusiastic towards Tang Jing.

They rummaged through the boxes and prepared a sumptuous meal for them.

"Xiao Jing, since you’re here, you should enjoy yourself. There’s a lantern show at the park, and there’s a riddle-guessing event. It’s so lively! Most shops on the street will open the day after tomorrow. Let Miaqing take you around, and taste the local snacks."

Miaqing’s mother talked non-stop, offering various suggestions.

Zhou Miaqing hurriedly interrupted, "Mom, don’t get any ideas. I need to contact Xinyue, as we still have to return the remaining goods to her and settle the accounts. I can’t put my mind at ease with this hanging over."

Miaqing’s mother scoffed, "Settling accounts! Do you think you’re a big boss? How much money is it? A hundred bucks?"

Seeing her mother’s disdain, Zhou Miaqing got excited. She stood up, closed all the doors and windows of their house, and even drew the curtains, then cleared her throat and lowered her voice, "I’m afraid it’s going to shock you!"

Miaqing’s father put down the newspaper, adjusted his glasses, and cooperated by asking, "How much?"

Zhou Miaqing held up five fingers.

"Five hundred?"

"Such little ambition! It’s five thousand!"

As soon as she said it, Miaqing’s parents’ expressions changed dramatically. They looked at each other, finally settling their incredulous gaze on their daughter.

"You’re kidding..."

Miaqing’s mother finished, seeing her daughter and Tang Jing very nonchalant, she believed it halfway, "Oh my! Is it really five thousand? You earned five thousand in just half a month?"

Zhou Miaqing shook her finger, "Wrong! It’s not us, but me! If you add us together, it would have surpassed ten thousand!"

"Hiss!" Miaqing’s mother gasped and grabbed Miaqing’s father’s arm, "Old Zhou, quickly support me, did I mishear?"

"No, you heard it right, it’s indeed five thousand!" replied Miaqing’s father.

Only then did he fearfully start scolding the two kids, "You traveled with so much money by train yourselves, weren’t you afraid of being targeted by bad people? Why didn’t you tell us about such an important issue, at worst, dad would have bought a train ticket to pick you up!"

Zhou Miaqing, being told off, wasn’t angry and continued eating with a sly smile.

Tang Jing felt envious, secretly deciding that she, too, wanted a family like this one day.

Because the two kids had to take a large sum of money to find Chen Xinyue, Miaqing’s parents were worried and decided to accompany them to An City.

With no choice, Zhou Miaqing called Chen Xinyue to explain the situation.

They agreed to depart on the fourth day of the new year.

An City was at the southernmost part of the provincial city, with a climate even warmer than the provincial capital.

Only after buying the tickets did Miaqing’s father start worrying, "Isn’t it a bit abrupt for us to show up as a family at someone else’s house during the New Year?"

Miaqing’s mother rolled her eyes impatiently, "You’re only realizing this now! Hurry out and see if you can buy some nice gifts. They helped our daughter earn so much money; cheap stuff won’t do."

Thus, the couple set out to shop for gifts.

Meanwhile, Zhou Miaqing took the opportunity to take Tang Jing out to let her experience the southern winter.

Early the next morning.

The four of them boarded the bus with a pile of luggage and New Year gifts.

Now that the national highway was repaired, the road wasn’t difficult to travel. They chatted and laughed along the way, reaching the An City bus station by 4 PM.

Zhou Miaqing went to a kiosk to call Chen Xinyue.

Before long, Chen Xinyue and Chen Ruiyu appeared in front of the four of them.

The siblings wore elegant clothes, looking strikingly handsome and beautiful.

Miaqing’s mother praised them as soon as she saw them, "What beautiful children, what handsome kids, I wonder what kind of parents can have such beautiful children."

Chen Xinyue and her brother were a bit shy from the compliments.

The two led them to a parked car across the street. Chen Wenjun got out and exchanged pleasantries with Miaqing’s parents, warmly inviting them into the car, "The car can’t fit too many, you all get in, and the siblings will ride their bicycles."

"This... this is too embarrassing!" Miaqing’s father felt a bit uneasy.

Chen Wenjun handed him a cigarette, "It’s fine, they are used to riding their bikes. It’s not far from our place, and considering you have a lot of luggage, I drove here. Come, get in the car."

It was the first time for the four of them to sit in such a private car, and no one dared to speak to Chen Wenjun along the way.

Chen Wenjun had to take the initiative to chat with them, talking about various topics, and it wasn’t until they reached Nanyu that everyone became a little more familiar.

The siblings arrived shortly after the car pulled into the garage.

Upon seeing Chen Xinyue, Zhou Miaqing and Tang Jing simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

Once she parked her bike, the two girls flanked Chen Xinyue on either side.

"Wow! Your family actually has a car. Previously Ji Fang mocked you for having a princess complex, but it turns out you’re truly a princess!" Zhou Miaqing exclaimed in awe.

Tang Jing nodded vigorously in agreement, "Even if you’re not a princess, you’re a lady of a grand family. My goodness! I never thought I would sit in a car in my lifetime!"

She still couldn’t quite process it all.

Chen Xinyue chuckled helplessly, "What are you saying! My family isn’t much, my parents are just doing business with a more comfortable economy, we are at most a well-off family."

"Your well-off is different from our well-off!" the two girls said in unison.

When they reached the riverbank and saw the tin boat, realizing that the Chen family lived on an island, the expressions of the four were quite colorful.

The tin boat traveled across the river, and looking from afar, they could see Gao Lei’s mansion on the island.

Zhou Miaqing was amazed, "What place is that? It looks so grand!"

"Oh, that place, that’s Uncle Gao’s family. They usually don’t live there, only occasionally vacationing for a few days," Chen Xinyue said casually.

The more everyone was convinced that the Chen family was extraordinary.