Free Web NovelChapter 424: Chapter 421: A Girl Named Feng Ling
After settling in Zheng Fa, another person arrived two days later. By the end of June, five of Dingzi and Li Zhi’s old comrades had come, which was more than any of them had expected.
They had originally thought that having three people come would be a great outcome. Although the pay and conditions here were good, it was, after all, very far away. The trip back and forth was inconvenient, and moving here would likely mean relocating their entire family. No one wanted to leave their hometown, and no one wanted to abandon their parents. The tradition was to raise sons to care for you in your old age. Unless things were truly desperate, what parent would be willing to let their son leave home?
But since these men had the courage to come, the family would naturally make sure they were well taken care of and treated right.
Just as the new arrivals were getting settled, Gu’er received some news. The city’s nursing home was opening. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was in three days, and the city leaders would be attending. They had also invited Gu’er’s family to attend, hoping Gu’er herself would participate in the ribbon-cutting.
Although they likely wouldn’t get a prominent position, Gu’er and her family were the ones who had funded it. Like a sponsoring organization, they were guaranteed a place at the event.
But Gu’er wasn’t particularly keen on joining the bustle at a time like this. She was already more than six months pregnant, and the event was sure to be crowded. Newspapers and television stations would be there. It was certainly an opportunity to be in the limelight, but she had no need for that kind of attention. The baby in her belly was more important. If someone accidentally bumped into her and she fell, something could happen to the baby. It just wasn’t worth the risk.
However, the secretary who called them said he hoped they would send one or two people. After all, they were the ones who had paid for the nursing home’s construction. It would be awkward if they didn’t show up. He also told them to prepare a speech—nothing long, just something brief—as they might be asked to say a few words. Of course, the secretary also gave them a rough idea of what to write.
After some discussion, they decided that Li Zhi and Sun Jiaming would go. Li Zhi didn’t want to go on stage, so Sun Jiaming would be the one to speak. Li Zhi, meanwhile, would focus on networking with the other attendees. Gu’er stayed home with Marina. They could just watch the event on TV later, which was basically the same thing.
The day of the event arrived quickly. Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi dressed up for the occasion, both looking sharp and full of energy. No matter how you looked at it, this was a good thing, a matter of pride. Others wished they could attend but didn’t have the chance, so there was no reason for them not to take it seriously.
"Who would have ever thought we’d see a day like this?" Grandma Sun said, full of emotion. "Thinking back to how things were... I thought I only had a few days left. Who knew..."
"My dear sister, your greatest blessings are still ahead of you," Grandma Dingzi said. "Gu’er is going to give you a great-grandson, and in the future, you’ll get to see that great-grandson marry his own wife. You’ve got a long, good life ahead of you."
As Grandma Dingzi spoke, she herself felt that the longer she lived, the more energetic and spirited she became.
"I’d live so long I’d turn into an old sorceress," Grandma Sun joked.
Though she said that, her face was beaming with joy. Who wouldn’t love living such a comfortable and happy life?
Gu’er was teaching Marina how to knit. Marina had seen Zheng Xinghua knitting and thought it was absolutely magical, so she wanted to learn. Zheng Xinghua’s skills were excellent, but she was incredibly busy, knitting from morning till night while also having to watch the store during the day. Since Gu’er had free time and knew a little, she took on the task of teaching Marina the basics.
Gu’er discovered that Marina truly had no talent for this. It was nothing like when she had taught Xinghua, who picked it up instantly and could even figure things out on her own. With Marina, they had spent two days just on the very beginning—how to cast on—and Marina still hadn’t gotten the hang of it.
As for Gu’er herself, the sweater she was knitting for Sun Jiaming was still missing half a sleeve. She had planned to work on it during her pregnancy now that she had free time, but the elders and Cao Qiu wouldn’t let her. They said that knitting while pregnant—using needles—was like poking the baby in the womb. It could cause the child to be born with defects or even a pockmarked face.
Gu’er knew it was just a superstition, but since everyone was against it, she stopped knitting. While teaching Marina, she found a good amount of cotton cloth and started preparing to make diapers for the baby.
In the afternoon, Gu’er heard voices.
"We’re here. This is the place. Easy now, sir."
It was Sun Jiaming’s voice.
’Who’s here?’
Gu’er and Marina stood up.
At the doorway, besides Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi, stood two other people. One was an old man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies. His clothes were covered in patches, his face was a dense web of wrinkles streaked with dirt and dust, and he looked filthy. He held a broken stick in one hand and a chipped bowl in the other. Gu’er understood his appearance at a glance: he was a beggar.
The other person was a young woman. She couldn’t have been more than seventeen or eighteen. She wasn’t tall, maybe under five-foot-three, and was a bit thin. The first thing Gu’er noticed was her two thick, black braids. When the girl lifted her head to look at Gu’er, Gu’er saw a delicate, palm-sized face.
