Qiao Dong Ying looked at him like she was looking at a ghost. Disbelief was written all over her face.
She never thought that Shen Tian You would like her!
That's right. He liked to cling to her since he was little. She thought it was a brother's liking for his sister and she never thought about it in other ways!
After all, there was a five-year age difference between them!
She stabilized her mind and uttered: "Tian You, stop joking. Besides, this joke isn’t funny at all!"
Shen Tian You didn't expect that she would think that he was joking with her and became more emotional: "Elder Sister Ying, I'm not joking. I can't be more serious. I love you, more than anyone else. Since you can have a blind date with other men, why can’t you give me a chance?"
He was also a man!
Qiao Dong Ying forcefully pulled her hand back: "Tian You, do you know that you are five years younger than me? In a few years, I will be thirty years old. You’ll still be a young man at that time. At that time, you will dislike me for being older than you!"
"I won't! The difference of five years isn’t the difference of fifty years old. I don't think there is any problem with this age difference. Grandfather is also younger than Grandmother. They can be together, why can't we be together?"
The corners of Shen Tian You's mouth drooped, like a big dog that was disliked by others. He looked pitiful as well as having an expression of being unwilling to accept defeat and wanted to argue.
His eyes were like two hot flames. Like it could burn everything up. Qiao Dong Ying dared not look directly into his eyes: "...that's different. Anyway, you are still little..."
Shen Tian You roared angrily in embarrassment: "I'm not little anymore!"
He was taller than her. His hands and feet were bigger than her. His body was also bigger than her. Except being younger than her, he wasn’t little in any way!
It was unknown what Qiao Dong Ying was thinking as she was suddenly blushing a little. Then she returned the fierceness three times back, "Why are you yelling so loudly? You want to be fierce with me?"
"I didn't." Shen Tian You's aura instantly dropped. Suddenly, he was like Columbus discovering the New World. He leaned over and said, "Elder Sister Ying, are you blushing?"
Qiao Dong Ying's face became even hotter and she yelled at him: "Shut up! I'm not blushing!"
After finishing speaking, she turned around and went back into the room, leaving Shen Tian You at the door alone.
Shen Tian You watched her back, exuding an aura of ‘Elder Sister Ying doesn't want me, Elder Sister Ying ignores me, Elder Sister Ying yelled at me’. The exact vibe of a resented husband. If there was a tail behind him at this time, it must be hanging down on the ground in frustration.
The gaze behind her seemed to be scorching. So Qiao Dong Ying walked even faster with a sense of fleeing.
Thinking of what Shen Tian You said just now, her heart was beating so hard that it almost jumped out of her throat!
Once back on to her seat, her face was still red. Qiao Dong He glanced at her younger sister and curiously asked: "What did Tian You tell you? Why is your face so red?"
Little Qi Jin grinned when he heard this, "Second Aunt is embarrassed. Face is red. Like a monkey's butt!"
Qiao Dong Ying took him into her arms and patted him on the butt: "Laughing at Second Aunt? Do you dare any more?"
Little Qi Jin stretched out his short hand towards Da Qiao and pretended to cry: "Third Aunt, help me...Second Aunt spanks little Qi Jin's rosy, th=ender butt!"
Hearing the word ‘rosy and tender’, everyone couldn't help laughing.
What kind of words was this little guy learning? Knowing to use rosy and tender at such a young age!
When everyone was laughing, two people's faces were as red as cooked shrimp.
These two people were Qiao Dong He and Luo Jun Liang. The former gave the latter a pointed look, while the latter looked embarrassed.
——
It was late at night. Everyone had dispersed. Qiao Dong Ying stayed and squeezed into bed with Da Qiao.
The watery moonlight shone in from the window lattice. It was like a layer of white frost had been spread on the ground. Qiao Dong Ying rolled around on the bed. She couldn’t fall asleep.
Da Qiao whispered: "Elder Sister Ying, what's wrong? Do you have something on your mind?"
"No." Qiao Dong Ying subconsciously denied. Then she quickly added, "Da Qiao, if, I mean, if Huo Chi is younger than you, will you still be with him?"
When Da Qiao heard her words, she was reminded of the time when she called Huo Chi younger brother when they were little. The corner of her mouth curled up: "Yes, as long as he is still him."
If Huo Chi still treated her that way and put her in the most important position in his heart, why would age matter?
Qiao Dong Ying felt that she made it sound too simple: "But if Huo Chi is younger than you, would you care about other people's eyes? Also, women always age faster than men. If you are older than him, wouldn't you worry about looking like his elder sister when you're with him in the future?"
The mouths of the world were sometimes sharper than knives. Like who married well, who and who married poorly, which couples quarrel all day long...basically someone will always talk about it.
Da Qiao slightly wriggled her body and said: "Grandfather is younger than Grandmother. I think they are wonderful. As for other people's eyes. No matter what you do well, someone will talk. Why should you care?"
The relationship between her grandfather and grandma transcended age, identity and background, and time. Their actions told them that loving someone can really be a lifetime thing.
"That’s right, no matter what I do, people will talk. But the funny thing is, I haven't been able to do anything well. So it's normal to be talked about."
When Qiao Dong Ying thought of the love between her grandfather and grandmother, she was very envious. At the same time, she felt that she wasn’t worthy of such a beautiful relationship.
Da Qiao frowned. She propped her body on her elbows and her eyes fell on the other’s face, "Elder Sister Ying, why do you think this? Everyone has different talents. Like Elder Cousin Brother, his talent is in making dishes. An Jie is good at studying. Little Dong Yun can sing. Everyone is skilled at different things. Elder Sister Ying, you just haven't found what you are good at for the time being!"
Qiao Dong Ying knew that she was comforting her but she was really truly lost: "But what if I can't find something I'm good at all my life? What if I'm just a mediocre person?"
Da Qiao was silent for a while: "The situation you mention also exists. It’s not a terrible thing to be without talent. I think the most terrible thing is losing faith in life and self-confidence."
Qiao Dong Ying remained silent for a long time before she sighed, "You are right."
A lot of people understood these truths but it didn’t mean that they could live their life well.
Da Qiao crawled over, wrapped her arms around her waist, and put her head on her chest, "Elder Sister Ying, you will be fine. I have confidence in you!"
Qiao Dong Ying thought of her grandparents who had traveled all the way to school to comfort her. Looking at her younger sister in front of her, she felt warmth in her heart. However, her mouth said a different thing, "Alright. Quickly get up. My chest is already very flat. If you keep pressing it down, it will become a basin!"
When Da Qiao heard this, she chuckled: "Elder Sister Ying, you can't blame me for this. That place is a flat river from the start!"
Qiao Dong Ying retaliated by tickling her: "Alright, you dare to laugh at me? Let's see how I’ll sort with you!"
In the entire Qiao Family, Da Qiao had the best body figure- long legs, thin waist, and proud breasts. Simply envious to death!
Da Qiao was ticklish and begged for mercy while laughing.
The moonlight spilled in. The room was full of exquisite laughter.
——
The next day, before Shen Tian You left, Qiao Dong Ying hid in the room and didn’t go out.
Shen Tian You felt helpless. But before leaving, he left her a letter and asked Da Qiao to pass it on for him.
Da Qiao smelled the slight change between the two of them.
Qiao Dong Ying looked at the envelope that Da Qiao handed over. Her heart was beating fast, but she forced her composure on her face, "That brat, what can't he say in person. Why write a letter?"
Da Qiao didn't save any face and exposed her on the spot: "But Elder Sister Ying, you have been hiding in the room all morning. Tian You can't see you even if he wants to see you?"
Qiao Dong Ying: "..."
See it but don’t speak it. Only then, they can still be sisters.
But obviously the entire Qiao Family, including Da Qiao, didn't understand this. Qiao Family were well-known for being good at jabbing remarks.
Once Da Qiao went out, she opened the envelope with trembling hands. She saw a line scrawled on it: Elder Sister Ying, I love you, and I mean it!
Seeing the words ‘I love you’, her whole body trembled and she almost threw the letter out!
She thought that after sleeping through it, his mind should be clearer. Unexpectedly... he still dare to say such a thing!
She held the letter in a daze for a long time. Finally, she decided to deal with this matter passively.
Shen Tian You was still studying. It was impossible for him to come here every day. Gradually, he will let go as the encounter reduces.
Besides, boys of his age are forgetful. Maybe he won't like her after a while. Or he might fall in love with a girl of the same age in school.
She found a lighter with the intention to burn the letter. But when she saw the flame igniting the letter, her heart wavered. She extinguished the flame.
In the end, the letter was hidden by her.
Huo Chi's company had developed a lot. The three of them often had to travel around on business. Meaning even less time to meet Da Qiao.
But no matter how busy they were, the two of them would have at least two or three phone calls a week. If they were in the same city, they would have a meal together no matter what.
Huo Chi took the initiative to tell Da Qiao all his whereabouts. He also told her not to worry about him and couldn't hold anyone else in his heart except her.
Da Qiao was assured about him. While Huo Chi was very worried about the people around her. He would occasionally nag her to not talk to other boys and if anyone dared to pester her, she must tell him!
Every time she listened to his nagging, Da Qiao wanted to laugh: "Elder Brother Huo Chi, I think Grandpa Huo named you wrong. You should be called Huo Vinegar. Vinegar from eating vinegar." Vinegar jar’s vinegar.
A clear and soft voice came from the phone. Embarrassment was on Huo Chi’s face, but he was reluctant to hang up the phone.
After hanging up the phone, the phone bill came to ten or so yuan.
One of the people who co-founded the company with him laughed at him and said, "From what I see, you should hurry up and marry Junior Sister Qiao home. Lest you make phone calls like this every day. The money you earn will go to the phone company!"
Another person remarked: "I don't think it's useless to marry her home. You have to make Junior Sister Qiao smaller, put her in his pocket, and follow him around. This way, he can feel at ease!"
"Hahaha, you're right! But seeing how affectionate the two of them are every day, I think I should find a match too!"
"Come on. We're exhausted every day. Which girl would be willing to be with us? Huo Chi is smart enough to chase Junior Sister Qiao long ago!"
Huo Chi let them tease him. If possible, he really wanted to make Da Qiao smaller, put her in his pocket, and they could be together all the time.
——
After the reform and opening up, housing prices had been changing day by day, especially in big cities like the capital. Housing prices rose even faster.
First branch had been saving money before and wanted to buy a house similar to a courtyard dwelling. After a few years of observation, An Ping felt that his ability to make money couldn’t keep up with the speed of rising housing prices. The most important thing was that the courtyard dwelling was really too expensive. .
So after discussing it with his grandparents, he decided to buy a house!
In the early ‘80s, commercial housing had appeared in big cities like the capital. Right now, first branch wanted to buy commercial housing.
What they bought was a newly built community with a good location and a reasonable house design. Huo Family helped them by making arrangements and they got the best price.
First branch bought one with four bedrooms and two living rooms. A total of 150 square meters. An Ping used all his savings to buy it. However, in this way, the next expansion plan for the restaurant had to be postponed.
First branch's family moved into the new house in time for the New Year. On the day of warming up the house, everyone gave them various practical things.
Some gave furniture, while some pooled together to send electrical appliances. All of which can be used by first branch. This way, first branch saved a lot of expenses.
Although Wan Chun Ju regretted not being able to buy a courtyard house, she was immediately proud as a peacock when she thought how their first branch was the first to buy a house in the capital.
"Oh, when my family An Ping was born, I knew he would be rich and powerful in the future. Now you see it. A 150 square meters house, he bought it just like that. Not a penny borrowed from others!"
"Actually, there is no need to have too many sons. If useful, one is enough! Not everyone is as lucky as me to have such a good son as An Ping!"
Although Wan Chun Ju's pride was distasteful, the people in the other two branches sincerely congratulated first branch.
As uncles, Qiao Zhen Jun and Qiao Zhen Min thought An Ping did wonderful. At the beginning, they thought he was simple-minded and not good at studying. That was why they were worried that he wouldn’t be able to support the first branch in the future.
Never thought it was them who was overthinking in the end.
Actually, Qiao Zhen Jun and Qiao Zhen Min didn’t earn any less than An Ping, but their companies need too much capital. If they spend so much money to buy a house, it will definitely affect the company's development.
Especially Qiao Zhen Min. Because he had been in conflict with Wu Kang Bao, it can be considered a large financial dent. They probably won't buy a house in the next two years.
After seeing first branch's house, he became more motivated. His nephew had already bought a house. He, the uncle, can't lag behind!
He must give his family a good life!
Qiao Zhen Jun thought the same way and felt that the pressure was even greater.
Right now, the courtyard house where their second branch lived was under Da Qiao's name. Even if Da Qiao didn't mind, they can't live in it forever.
So they must march on!
——
The heavy snow danced as the year came to an end again.
As a fourth year student, Da Qiao finished the final exam earlier than other students from other years. Then the holiday began.
This day, she received a call from her Elder Cousin Sister Qiao Dong He. She asked her to help pick up little Qi Jin from the nursery. There was something wrong with a student at the school. She might not be able to go back until very late. While Luo Jun Liang, he went on a business trip a few days ago .
Da Qiao said it was no problem, hung up the phone, and caught a ride to the nursery to pick up little Qi Jin.
While waiting for the bus, she saw a thinly dressed woman walking in front of her. That woman’s side profile looked familiar.
The next moment, the woman was knocked down by a man and fell to the ground with her face facing Da Qiao.
Da Qiao recognized her right away. No wonder she looked familiar. It turned out to be Gou Sheng's wife, Da Zhi.
When she saw her two years ago, she was dressed very fashionably. So arrogant and proud. But now, she was so thin that she was almost out of shape. Her face was haggard. In this cold winter weather, she only wore two very thin clothes.
Da Zhi was about to swear. Unexpectedly, when she looked up, she saw Da Qiao. Her whole body trembled. Without bothering to swear, she shot up and ran away as if there was a ghost chasing her behind.
Da Qiao:? ? ?
Da Zhi ran with all her might. People in the production team said that Da Qiao was the reincarnation of the cursed star. She believed it was true!
She encountered Da Qiao a few times. Each time she was unlucky afterwards!
Two years ago, she was Xiao Da Yang's mistress. Later on, Xiao Da Yang was dismissed by the Education Department and she was severely beaten by Xiao Da Yang's wife. That ugly woman went around announcing she was destroying other people's families. This resulted in her being unable to return home.
In the past two years, she couldn't find a job. Nor could she find a rich man. So she could only sell her body for a living.
But in the past two weeks, her lower body had been itchy. Don’t know which stinky man infected her. Worried that something would happen, she made way to the hospital for an examination. WHat she didn't expect was to meet the plague god, Da Qiao on the way. How can she not be afraid?
She faintly felt her misfortune was coming.
Sure enough, two days later, the hospital's inspection report came out. She was infected with syphilis!
Holding the inspection report, she fell to the ground and burst into tears.
However, this was a future story.
At this moment, Da Qiao reached the nursery.
As soon as she stepped into the nursery, she heard little Qi Jin's loud cry, which almost blew off the ceiling.
Startled, she rushed in quickly.
Entering the classroom, one could see little Qi Jin with his chin raised and howling with tears and snot spilling out. The two teachers next to him were coaxing him with snacks and toys. But it didn't seem to work.
"Little Qi Jin, what's wrong?" Da Qiao felt pained when she saw her nephew crying like this.
Seeing his favorite third aunt coming, little Qi Jin felt even more aggrieved: "Third Aunt... little Qi Jin was bullied... waa waa waa..."
When the two teachers heard this, they felt their heads get bigger.
Da Qiao took little Qi Jin into her arms. After much difficulty, he finally calmed down. She took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears and asked him, "Little Qi Jin, tell Third Aunt what happened?"
She didn’t notice any signs of little Qi Jin being injured or bullied. This was the reason why she didn't lose her temper or question the teacher immediately after she came in.
It was clear little Qi Jin felt aggrieved. That’s why she wanted to get to the bottom of this matter.
Little Qi Jin leaned into Third Aunt's arms. His eyes were red from crying. He answered with his mouth flattened, "Third Aunt, my mom made duck eggs for me. But someone stole the duck eggs... waa waa ..."
Little Qi Jin loved duck eggs. Every day when he came to the nursery, Qiao Dong He would cook a duck egg for him to eat for lunch at noon. And someone stole the duck egg today!
Hearing little Qi Jin's complaint, the two teachers were even more embarrassed. They repeatedly expressed that they would investigate this matter clearly and the nursery school would compensate little Qi Jin with two fresh duck eggs tomorrow.
When Da Qiao heard this, she didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.
When she heard little Qi Jin's cry just now, she thought he had been bullied a lot. Stolen duck eggs never crossed her mind.
But then again, why would someone steal duck eggs? ? ?
After washing little Qi Jin's face, Da Qiao took him home.
At this time, Wang Yan Sheng, who was in the army, received a call from Shen City’s police station. They said they had caught a murderer who claimed to be his younger brother.
As Wang Yan Sheng held the phone, the veins on the back of his hand were bulging. He asked in a low solemn voice, "What did he say his name is?"