If someone born in the 1990s or 2000s in 2022 listens to what Cao Zhiqiang is saying now, he will definitely denounce Cao Zhiqiang as shameless, ruthless, despicable, and a scumbag!
However, for adults living in the 1980s, Cao Zhiqiang's words are typical of a good man who loves others.
The reason is very simple, that is, the reasons Cao Zhiqiang said, especially the reasons for waiting for the other party to go to college, are really too noble.
The legal age for marriage is not low enough, but Cao Zhiqiang postponed the marriage for the sake of Qinghong going to college. No matter how you look at it, it means that you can tolerate a big belly and be high-spirited.
Moreover, Cao Zhiqiang also promised in front of his sister that he would give this house to Qinghong as long as Qinghong graduates from university. This is even more sincere.
After all, in this era, it has never been heard of a man giving a woman a house before getting married, even if it is a wealthy man.
As for regretting the debt, Qinghong's mother is not worried.
Because in this era, everyone is still very rule-abiding. Generally, if you agree to something, you will basically not default on it, otherwise no one will believe you.
Not to mention, Cao Zhiqiang treats Qinghong really well.
Let’s not talk about arranging a loan for the other party, nor that all of Qinghong’s clothes are expensive. Just look at the 500 yuan pocket money Cao Zhiqiang gives Qinghong every month. Not many people can do that these days.
In the eyes of people of this era, if a man is willing to spend a lot of money on a woman, he likes her and feels sorry for her.
Since Cao Zhiqiang is willing to spend so much money for Qinghong and is willing to give him the house, he is not determined to fall in love with Qinghong and want to live with Qinghong. Why else?
What's more, the joy on Qinghong's face cannot be concealed, and even a fool can see her love for Cao Zhiqiang.
Qinghong did not refute Cao Zhiqiang's words, which proved that what Cao Zhiqiang said before was true. At least the fact that he gave Qinghong 500 yuan a month was definitely true, otherwise Qinghong would not have refuted it.
"Xiao Cao, you are serious."
After hearing what Cao Zhiqiang said, Zhao Meifen's expression immediately softened and she said with a kind face.
"It's rare that you are willing to think about Qinghong so much. Qinghong is lucky to meet you."
"Mom!" Wu Qinghong immediately pouted a little shyly, seemingly complaining, "Stop praising him, he doesn't deserve it!"
"Yes, yes." Cao Zhiqiang quickly giggled and scratched his head, "Auntie, Qinghong is right, you don't need to praise me. Although I also know that I am very good, the things I did for Qinghong are all deserved.
Who made him my partner? If I don't love her, who will love her? "
"Did you hear that?" Cao Jiajia smiled and assisted, "Meifen, it seems that our two families will become in-laws in the future. The wedding banquet will be a matter of time."
Zhao Meifen nodded with a smile, but soon frowned slightly and said: "Xiao Cao, although I appreciate your approach, you are not married after all. If you just live together like this, will you be gossiped about?"
"What's there to gossip about?" Cao Zhiqiang smiled.
"Auntie, it's inappropriate to say this. This is the capital, not your county town. The place is small and the circle is small. When you talk about so and so, you almost know everyone.
In a city as big as Beijing, if you don't want to interact with anyone, no one will check your household registration.
Especially where we live, the situation is different.
Look at the residents in this neighborhood. In fact, the population density is very low. Residents in different compounds don’t often communicate with each other unless they are in the same compound.
But there are only two people in this courtyard, Qinghong and me, and there are no outsiders at all.
Therefore, as long as we do not take the initiative to interact with others, no one will gossip about us.
At most, you can ask the neighborhood committee or the street.
But I only need to say that Qinghong is my god-sister and she is staying here temporarily to study, so that doesn’t matter. "
"Yes, yes." Cao Jiajia followed, "Meifen, this is the capital, which is different from where we are. Here, unless you live in a unit or in a compound, otherwise no one Mind your neighbor’s business.”
Zhao Meifen nodded: "Okay, then I..."
Just as she said this, she was suddenly interrupted by a shout at the door. Someone came to deliver food.
At this point, Zhao Meifen stopped talking about this topic. Instead, she held Qinghong's hand and chatted with Qinghong.
Cao Zhiqiang, as for Cao Zhiqiang, trotted out, welcomed the food delivery person in, and asked people to put the food on the table.
While the dishes were being arranged, the waiter called out the names of the dishes:
"Braised pork belly, sweet and sour carp, braised prawns, braised sea cucumbers with green onions, first-grade tofu, rainy shrimps, hibiscus chicken slices, crispy roast duck, shredded pork in Beijing sauce, radish collection, shredded yam, stir-fried rapeseed, cold fungus, Tiger skin pigeon eggs, egg fried rice, steamed buns, and vegetables are all here for you!”
After the waiter announced the names of the dishes, he quickly put the food on the table.
Only then did Zhao Meifen, Cao Jiajia and others look at her with surprise, smiled and gave Cao Zhiqiang a hand, then took the one dollar tip from Cao Zhiqiang and left happily.
As soon as the waiter left, Zhao Meifen immediately said: "Oh, Xiao Cao, you ordered too many dishes, right? You can't eat them at all!"
"Yes." Cao Jiajia also frowned, "Zhiqiang, we are all family members, so there is no need to go to such trouble.
Besides, you prepare such a big table of hard dishes, including chicken, duck, fish, sea cucumber and so on.
This, this is too luxurious, right?
After eating this meal, the rest of your life will be miserable, right? "
"What's this?" Cao Zhiqiang laughed, "I can't eat enough of these small dishes."
"No, Zhiqiang." Cao Jiajia said, "You are doing this in such a grand way that we can't use our chopsticks. Why don't we retreat?"
"Yes." Zhao Meifen also said, "It's too expensive. There's no need for this. It's just a daily meal."
"This is commonplace." Cao Zhiqiang said with a smile.
"What? You said this is commonplace?" Cao Jiajia glared and said, "Who are you trying to fool?"
Immediately afterwards, Cao Jiajia shook her head and said: "Zhiqiang, I know you are a good person, but you can't pretend to be fat!
How come you can't afford fifty or sixty yuan for this meal?
Spend so much money just to treat us to a meal?
No matter how much you earn, you can't waste it like this.
There are a lot of places to spend money now, so why not waste money on food and drink? "
Cao Zhiqiang laughed: "It doesn't matter whether it's money or not, anyway, to me, this is really just a small amount of money.
And to be honest, when I called the restaurant to order a meal, I just asked for a set meal, and I didn’t specify any specific dishes. I just said that I wanted to invite relatives.
So these dishes are not what I ordered, they are included in the set menu.
However, I often order and have their food delivered to this restaurant, so they know my taste.
These dishes are actually home-cooked dishes that Qinghong and I usually eat, and they are not considered luxury items. "
"Is this true? Are these the home-cooked dishes you usually eat?" Zhao Meifen frowned and asked.
"Of course it's true." Cao Zhiqiang said, "Why would I lie to you?
For example, this braised sea cucumber with green onions and this first-grade tofu are Qinghong’s favorite foods. I order them almost every time. Don’t you think so, Qinghong? "
"Yes." Wu Qinghong nodded with a smile and said with a proud expression, "Mom, Zhiqiang is right, these dishes are really nothing, they can really only be regarded as home-cooked dishes.
If Zhiqiang really wanted to hold a big banquet, he would have served abalone, ginseng and wings, or simply take you to Peking Restaurant to eat Tan's cuisine. It can't be that simple. "
After listening to Wu Qinghong's words, Zhao Meifen and Cao Jiajia looked at each other, then neither of them spoke, and stared blankly at the table full of hard dishes again.
Just kidding, these two people might not be able to eat the food on this table even during the holidays.
But here, it’s Cao Zhiqiang and Wu Qinghong’s home cooking?
Isn’t this gap too big?
Is this the daily life of rich people?
"Don't worry." Cao Zhiqiang suddenly said with a smile.
"Sister, aunt, these are home-cooked dishes, not worth much money, and I can't eat enough.
As for the taste of the food, this is indeed a problem.
But it’s okay. I still have many colleagues in the publishing house. If we have any leftovers, we can pack them up and give them to them.
Okay, don't talk about that, let's get started.
If you don't eat it, the food won't taste good when it gets cold. "
But Cao Zhiqiang said so, but looking at the table full of hard dishes, neither Zhao Meifen nor Cao Jiajia, including Cao Jiajia's two children, only dared to look at it and did not dare to move.
"Eat, why don't you eat?" Cao Zhiqiang picked up the chopsticks with a smile, and then took the initiative to look at Xia Wenfang and Xia Wenxuan, "Wenfang, Wenxuan, you two use your chopsticks!"
Xia Wenfang and Xia Wenxuan still didn't move. Instead, they looked at their mothers together.
Cao Jiajia sighed, picked up the chopsticks and said to Zhao Meifen: "Meifen, it's rare for my brother to show his kindness, so don't let me down. If you don't eat it, it will be bad if it gets cold."
"Yes, Mom." Wu Qinghong also took the initiative to pick up a chopstick of braised sea cucumber and put it in the bowl in front of Zhao Meifen, "Mom, try this braised sea cucumber with green onions. I often eat it here. It's delicious."
Zhao Meifen looked at Wu Qinghong, then nodded, and was the first to pick up the chopsticks, pick up the sea cucumber roasted with green onions in her bowl, and gently put it into her mouth.
As Zhao Meifen moved her chopsticks, Cao Jiajia also smiled and picked up a piece of braised pork, then blew it a little before putting it in her mouth and eating it.
When they saw Cao Jiajia using her chopsticks to eat, the two little guys Xia Wenfang and Xia Wenxuan looked at Cao Zhiqiang and Wu Qinghong eagerly.
"Eat, why don't you two eat?" Cao Zhiqiang asked.
Cao Jiajia smiled and said: "That's right, they are watching you. You, the master, don't move your chopsticks, but they don't dare to move their chopsticks. This is the rule."
Cao Zhiqiang opened his mouth, then smiled and shook his head. He simply picked up the chopsticks and put a piece of braised pork into his mouth.
After Cao Zhiqiang moved his chopsticks, the two children, Xia Wenfang and Xia Wenxuan, rushed to pick up the food and eat it.
Just kidding, these two children have long been greedy for the food on the table in front of them. It’s just that maybe their family education is strict, and they have received many instructions from their mother before coming here, so they don’t dare to be the first to use chopsticks.
Of course, the main reason is probably brother-in-law Xia Siming's tutor.
Because Cao Zhiqiang knew that although his brother-in-law Xia Siming was also from the capital, he was actually from Ludong, and the Xia family was a big family with many rules.
Under normal circumstances, according to Ludong's rules, children are not allowed to eat with adults at the table.
Even if the child comes to the table to eat, the adult must use the chopsticks first, and then it is the child's turn to use the chopsticks.
But what Cao Zhiqiang didn't expect was that Xia Siming went to Southwest China and brought this set of rules with him. He really didn't know what to say.
In this way, everyone had a great time together, talking and laughing and having a family dinner.
After eating and drinking, Wu Qinghong went back to school as soon as possible. After all, she had classes in the afternoon.
After Qinghong left, Cao Zhiqiang packed up all the leftovers in order to avoid embarrassment, and then went out with the leftovers on the pretext of going to work.
As for the house, I will leave it to my sister and Qinghong’s mother for the time being.
Of course, Cao Zhiqiang was not just making excuses. He really wanted to take this opportunity to inspect the place below.
After all, his classic signed reprint of "The Farthest Distance in the World" and "Shattered Void" with fantasy martial arts features have just been released not long ago. He should also visit various stores to see the specifics. Sales status.
Sitting at home and listening to reports from my subordinates is not intuitive enough after all.
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