Chapter 131 - 128: Hongying’s Home
After the meal, Nuonuo grew sleepy and soon fell asleep. The two new friends then had a long chat and discovered their thoughts and hobbies were very similar, which brought them even closer. It turned out their core values were a perfect match.
It gets dark early in the winter, so Zhou Lian didn’t keep her. After all, Zhang Hongying hadn’t told her family where she was going, and they would worry. Zhang Hongying carried the bag Zhou Lian had insisted she take, humming a song happily all the way home.
Her home wasn’t far from Zhou Lian’s, just two or three alleyways away. Pushing open the door, she saw the house was full of people and froze for a moment. She didn’t think much of it, simply handing the bag to her mother and saying happily, "Mom, my good friend gave me this. Let’s cook it for dinner tonight!"
Zhang Hongguo, Zhang Hongying’s eldest brother, cleared his throat and asked sternly, "Yingzi, where have you been? Why didn’t you come home for lunch?"
Zhang Hongying, who was helping Mrs. Zhang take things out of the bag, replied nonchalantly, "At my friend’s house. Her cooking is delicious."
"Friend? Which friend?" Zhang Hongjun, Zhang Hongying’s second brother, asked with a frown. "Our sister has a few classmates she talks to, but we’ve never heard her mention a good friend."
"A new one. My classmate, Zhou Lian. Mom, you know who I’m talking about, right?" Taking out a tomato, Zhang Hongying began to munch on it without even washing it. She had wanted to do the same at Zhou Lian’s house but had been too embarrassed. She answered her second brother’s question distractedly.
The whole family just watched as she devoured a tomato bigger than a grown man’s fist in just a few bites. She glanced at the table, still not satisfied, her hand reaching out before pulling back. ’There were only four in total,’ she thought. ’I ate one. Of the three left, I should probably save one for my nephew. That only leaves two... with so many of us, no one will even get a proper taste!’
She reluctantly tore her eyes away from the tomatoes and noticed her father, mother, eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, second brother, and second sister-in-law were all staring at her. Confused, she asked, "Why is everyone home? Did you not have to work today?"
"Yingzi, have you seen what time it is?" Eldest Sister-in-law was exasperated with her. It wasn’t that they had a bad relationship—in fact, it was because they were so close that she didn’t bother being polite.
"Ah, it’s six o’clock! How did it get so late?" Zhang Hongying exclaimed in surprise, glancing at her watch. ’She and Zhou Lian had only talked for a little while, and now it was already this late!’
Second Sister-in-law poked her forehead. "It’s almost dark! You left early this morning saying you were going to the store. What on earth were you buying that took until nightfall? You silly girl, you were gone all day without a word to Mom. Don’t you know we would worry?"
Looking up at the six pairs of eyes waiting for her answer, Zhang Hongying said guiltily, "I was just so happy, I forgot!"
"What made you so happy? Explain yourself," Father Zhang said sternly, tapping the table. His daughter was innocent and obedient; she never made her family worry. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
"I ran into my classmate at the store. She had bought a lot of things, so I helped her carry them home. She invited me to stay for a meal, and we just talked for a while and lost track of time," Zhang Hongying said with a pout. It wasn’t as if she had done it on purpose.
"So this is that classmate, Zhou Lian, you were telling Mom about," Brother Zhang said, more a statement than a question, as he rubbed his forehead. For the past few months, his sister had been chattering on about this classmate at home every single day, her admiration palpable. Just the other day, Wang Song had even written him to ask who this Zhou Lian was, complaining that Yingzi’s letters to him were mostly about her.
"Yep, that’s her! Everyone at school says she’s arrogant and looks down on people, but I knew she wasn’t like that. We talked this afternoon, and we just clicked!" Zhang Hongying said excitedly, eager to share her good mood with her family.
"She gave you all this? Where did she get it from in the middle of winter?" Zhang Hongjun asked, his brow furrowed. These were rare items. ’Did this Zhou Lian give them to her because she knows who Father is?’ he wondered.
"She’s a picky eater and doesn’t like cabbage or radishes or things like that. Her husband grew all this especially for her. He really dotes on her! The food she made for lunch was so delicious. I complimented her, but she said her husband is an even better cook. She said when he comes back, she’ll definitely invite me over for a meal so I can try his cooking."
Mrs. Zhang shot her second son a glare, then turned to her daughter with a smile. "Is this Zhou Lian the one you’re always telling me about?"
When her daughter nodded, she continued, "Is she the one whose husband carries their baby to take her to and from school every day? The one you said was such a handsome man and beautiful woman, and that the teachers all think highly of?"
Zhang Hongying nodded vigorously. "You remember everything, Mom!" she said with a laugh.
"Yes, I remember," Mrs. Zhang said with a smile. "But, Yingzi, did your classmate remember who *you* were?" Of course, she remembered. Her daughter talked about Zhou Lian every single day. Mrs. Zhang had even asked around a little and learned that she was a fine young woman. ’Her personality is a little...’ she mused. ’Not bad, just... She probably can’t be bothered with socializing with her classmates, or perhaps she just doesn’t think they’re on her level.’
"She didn’t remember my name at first, but she knew we were classmates."
Second Sister-in-law laughed out loud. "Oh, you are really something else," she said, then asked, "So, did she agree to be your good friend?"
"Of course! She said I’m smart, innocent, and enthusiastic, and that I’m the kind of girl no one could bear to hurt," Zhang Hongying said, showing off.
"She really said that? What were her exact words?" Mrs. Zhang asked, a strange look on her face.
"She said, ’Your mother is a very wise woman, and you’re a child who was raised with a great deal of love. You’re a good person—very smart, but also very innocent and enthusiastic. No one would have the heart to hurt you. You will be happy for the rest of your life.’ That’s exactly what she said," Zhang Hongying answered honestly.
Father Zhang and Mrs. Zhang exchanged a glance. "Why don’t you tell us everything that happened today?" Father Zhang said.
Seeing her parents’ attitude, Zhang Hongying was a little flustered, but she still dutifully recounted everything in detail, from running into Zhou Lian at the store to leaving her house.
"Yingzi, you’ve made a good friend. When you have the chance, you should invite her and her husband over as guests," Father Zhang said, smiling at his daughter.
"I know she’s great, but just now, you and Mom..."
"You said this friend of yours is only twenty-three, yet she acts with such a steady, grounded maturity. She isn’t vain or showy, and she’s intelligent but has principles. Your mother and I were just surprised that a young woman in her early twenties could be as you described. That shows real wisdom," Father Zhang said with a smile. The truth was, he had been afraid this Zhou Lian had befriended his daughter intentionally after finding out about his position. His own daughter was too naive; he worried she would be deceived. However, this Zhou Lian seemed like a person worth knowing. With her looking out for his daughter and offering a bit of guidance, Yingzi wouldn’t be taken advantage of at school.
"Exactly! She told me that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to friends. If you have one or two true confidants in your life, you’ll have no regrets. She said you have to learn to cherish what you have instead of aiming too high or envying others. Because who knows? While you’re busy envying someone else, they might be envying you. When I heard her say that, I thought it made so much sense!" Zhang Hongying said excitedly.
The members of the Zhang family exchanged glances. As they listened to Zhang Hongying ramble on excitedly about how wonderful Zhou Lian was and all the things Zhou Lian had said, they all began to smile. It seemed Yingzi was finally growing up and had found a true friend.