Light Speed ​​War

Chapter 241: A Beautiful Woman's Visit

Early the next morning, there was a knock on the door outside the courtyard. In July, it gets light early.

Zhou Yuan's mother had already gotten up and was making soup for her son. When she heard the knock on the door, she quickly opened it and saw Hui Mei covered in sweat and panting.

"Hui-mei, what's wrong?"

“Sister Zhou, after I called my sister last night, my sister and her family of three took the train to Beining around 10 p.m. last night. My sister said that today is July 7th, a Saturday, and they don’t have to work.”

"Huh?" Zhou Yuan's mother was surprised, not expecting this family to be so fast; they really were soldiers. "When will they arrive at the train station?"

"The train journey will take a full day and night; they will arrive at the train station around 11 p.m. tonight."

"11 pm tonight? Let's go pick them up tonight."

"Sister Zhou, no need to pick them up. They've been to my house twice already, and each time they were picked up and dropped off by a private car. They're staying at a big hotel here tomorrow night, so you don't need to worry about them. Everything is arranged by someone."

A private car? When Zhou Yuan's mother heard "private car and private driver," she immediately thought of the impressive car from the National Day celebrations. It seemed that Hui Mei's brother-in-law held a high-ranking position. No wonder Guo Di used to work only in the community committee, but now he works in a department in the city.

"Then I'll arrange a welcome dinner for them tomorrow."

"You can arrange it for tomorrow noon. My sister said she's taking the train back to Sutang tomorrow night, and my brother-in-law and niece have to go to work, so they both took a day off."

"They've really worked hard, sister. I'll call Brother Zhang, Brother Pan, and Aunt Wu to come over tomorrow morning to help out and keep them company. You should come too, it's Sunday tomorrow, no work, let Guo Di come over for a few drinks as well."

"Okay, I'll tell him."

After saying that, Hui Mei left the courtyard. It was the first time Zhou Yuan's mother had handled such an important matter, so she first splashed cold water on her face to calm down.

Zhou Yuan's mother quickly sorted out her thoughts and hurriedly ran to several neighbors' houses, especially Brother Zhang, Brother Pan, and Aunt Wu. When they heard the situation, everyone was first taken aback, and then they became inexplicably excited. They knew that Hui Mei's brother-in-law was no ordinary person; he was a high-ranking official. If Zhou Yuan married Hui Mei's niece, they would all be proud. If they encountered any difficulties in the future, they could turn to Zhou Yuan, and perhaps the problems would be solved.

A dozen or so uncles and aunties discussed it for a while, and then went about their own business. Some went to the vegetable market, some to the supermarket, and some to their own fields. They were even more excited than during the Chinese New Year.

Zhou Yuan's mother returned to the courtyard and began searching through the various rooms. "Mom, why are you so busy so early in the morning?"

"Son, I have good news for you. Your Aunt Hui and her niece, along with their family of three, will arrive in Beining tonight. They will come to my house tomorrow morning."

"Huh? No way? So fast?"

"It's true, my dear son. Get up and get dressed and washed up."

"What are you doing? What about tomorrow?"

"Just treat today as practice. You can't learn to cook in a day. I always tell you to pay attention to your appearance, but you never listen."

"Okay, Mom, I'll get up."

"By the way, wear that white shirt tomorrow, and wear your dad's dress pants tomorrow. He doesn't wear them much."

"Okay. Mom, what are you looking for?"

“I’m looking for good wine. Your dad has a lot of good wine in his collection. Let me look for some first.”

Not long after, Zhou Yuan's mother brought a cardboard box to Zhou Yuan's room. "Mom, you're all sweaty, let me wipe you off." Zhou Yuan wiped the sweat off his mother's face with his washcloth.

"Son, I can't read. What kind of wine is this?"

Zhou Yuan had never drunk baijiu before. He squatted down and looked at the cardboard box. "Mom, Maotai liquor."

“Maotai liquor? Maotai liquor?” Zhou Yuan’s mother muttered a few times, then lowered her head and pondered for a long time, seemingly trying hard to remember. “Ah, that’s it.”

"Mom, how do you know this is good wine?"

"I remember the day you were born, your dad treated us to a meal, and that's the wine we drank that day."

"Yes, that's it. I'll take it to the lobby, you can rest for a bit."

“Son, you’re still recovering, don’t get too worked up. Mom can do it.”

After saying that, Zhou Yuan's mother bent down and picked up the cardboard box. Zhou Yuan knew that the cardboard box contained six bottles of Maotai liquor.

"Son, are you done washing up? There's chicken noodle soup in the pot, you can eat first, I'm not hungry yet, I'll eat later."

"Okay. Mom, it's hot, so try not to make things too complicated. They're here, but it's not like the rank and file are coming."

"You silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? This is a major event in your life, how can you treat her rudely? Besides, she traveled for a whole day and night by train to get here. Tomorrow in front of everyone, you'd better think carefully before you speak. Sigh, you silly child."

Upon hearing his mother's words, Zhou Yuan immediately felt embarrassed and began to think about what he should do.

"Mom, do you have tea and cigarettes?"

"Oh dear, cigarettes?" Zhou Yuan's mother exclaimed. She knew her husband couldn't possibly keep cigarettes; cigarettes weren't like alcohol.

"I'll have Brother Zhang go to the supermarket again later."

"Yeah, it's pretty hot today, and it won't be much different tomorrow. Are you running out of fans at home?"

"Your uncle and aunt will bring their electric fan over tomorrow."

"Mom, this noodle dish is delicious."

"Son, eat more, chicken noodle soup, don't waste it."

"Ah."

"Son, don't read while eating, you're so disobedient. Hey, not bad, son, you're handsome."

After Zhou Yuan washed up, his mother put on a white shirt and black trousers. "Will you wear this tomorrow? It's hot today, so take it off first. I can wash it and it'll dry. You can wear it again tomorrow."

"Okay." Zhou Yuan ran back to the house and changed into a short-sleeved T-shirt and mid-length trousers.

Zhou Yuan's mother washed Zhou Yuan's clothes again, and soon the rumbling sound of the washing machine came from inside. That was the sound of the washing machine spinning the water.

Zhou Yuan's mother hung the clothes out to dry in the yard, then started eating breakfast. She lifted the lid of the pot and saw there was still quite a bit of noodles left. "Son, wasn't the chicken noodle soup good? How come there's still so much?"

"Mom, I'm full, I'm not hungry, you eat."

When Zhou Yuan's mother saw him reading in the room again, she shook her head, but tears welled up in her eyes.

Yesterday was cloudy, not hot, but today the temperature has suddenly risen. It's only seven in the morning, and the sun is already blazing like a scorching fire. Zhou Yuan's mother has brought out the clothes, blankets, and other items in the house to air them out.

Zhou Yuan was reading in his room. Although the electric fan was on, the air it was blowing was scorching hot.

"Sister Zhou, someone has come to see Xiao Zhou."

Around 9:30, Hui Mei suddenly ran in from the yard, her eyes still looking outside. Zhou Yuan's mother came out of the house and washed her hands.

Just then, a tall, pretty woman in a white dress walked in through the courtyard gate, followed by a group of children, each holding a few candies.

Zhou Yuan's mother looked closely and exclaimed, "Xiao Mei, what brings you here?" She then quickly ran over and took the gift box and the large watermelon in the red plastic bag for Xiao Mei.

"Auntie, I came to see Brother Zhou. Is he feeling better?"

"Xiaomei, thanks to you, he's much better now. Thank you so much. Look at you, buying so much stuff in this hot weather."

"Auntie, I'm relieved that he's feeling better."

"Sister Zhou, who is this?"

"Oh, Hui-mei, she was the nurse who took care of my son Xiao-zhou during his hospitalization. She's a very nice person."

"Hello, ma'am, my name is Xiaomei, and I work at Friendship Hospital."

"Oh, hello, I'm Sister Zhou's neighbor. You're such a beautiful girl, just like someone who came out of a TV show."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Hey girl, do you have a boyfriend? I'll introduce you to one."

Xiao Mei blushed and said, "Auntie, I'm still young, there's no rush."

"Son, come out quickly, look who's here!"

Zhou Yuan was fast asleep when his mother's shout startled him awake. He put on his slippers and went out of the house.

"Xiao Mei? What brings you here?"

“Brother Zhou, can’t I come? Your house is really hard to find, it’s such a long alley. Your courtyard house is really big, much bigger than mine.”

"Hey, this is my ancestral home. Aunt Hui, Xiao Mei, Mom, come inside quickly, it's hot outside."

"Oh dear, really. Xiaomei, come inside quickly."

Everyone entered the main room, and a group of children also entered. Zhou Yuan's mother found some candy in her room and gave a few to each child.

Zhou Yuan brought out the electric fan from his room and turned it on along with the fan in the main room.

Xiao Mei first looked around the main room, then looked at Zhou Yuan, "Brother Zhou, you look much better. You should be able to go back to work in five days without any problems."

"Thank you so much, Dr. Cao and all of you, especially you."

“Brother Zhou, these are all our duties.”

"Xiaomei, Huimei, please sit here."

Zhou Yuan's mother brought over two bamboo chairs and placed them facing the two electric fans.

"Sister Zhou, I'm going back now, I have things to do at home. Xiao Mei, Xiao Zhou, you two chat."

After Hui-mei finished speaking, she turned around and prepared to leave the main room.

"Hui-mei, have some watermelon before you go, there's no rush." ​​Zhou Yuan's mother pulled Hui-mei and forced a large slice of watermelon on her. Hui-mei had no choice but to sit down and start eating the watermelon.

Xiao Mei took the watermelon handed to her by Zhou Yuan's mother and prepared to sit down. She looked at the bamboo chair but didn't sit down. Zhou Yuan saw this and quickly moved a mahogany chair from the big table. "Xiao Mei, sit here."

Xiao Mei smiled, revealing her neat, white teeth. "Thank you, Brother Zhou." With that, she lifted her skirt, sat down on a mahogany chair, and slowly began to eat watermelon.

Zhou Yuan's mother also gave some watermelon to each child.

A moment later, Huimei got up, threw the watermelon rind into the trash can, and said, "Sister Zhou, I have to go now, something has come up at home."

"OK then."

Zhou Yuan's mother saw Hui Mei out of the main room, and the other children followed Hui Mei out as well, leaving only Xiao Mei and Zhou Yuan in the main room.

"Xiao...Xiao Mei, how did you get here?"

"I drove here."

"drive?"

"Yes."

"Have lunch at my house."

"You're welcome. I have to go to work later."

"So busy?"

"Yes, that's how it is in hospitals."

After Xiaomei finished eating the watermelon, she got up, threw the watermelon rind into the trash can, and then sat back down in her chair.

"Xiaomei, you're working so hard at the hospital, can't you find another job?"

"I guess I'm used to it. If I changed jobs, I don't know what I would do."

"Once I start working and get my salary, I'll go to your house to visit your parents."

"Really?" Xiaomei's eyes lit up, her eyes widened, her double eyelids and long eyelashes sparkling.

"Xiaomei, you are so beautiful."

Xiao Mei blushed. "Brother Zhou, you have to keep your word. I told my parents you'd be coming to my house in a while."

"Huh? Let me check the date." Zhou Yuan got up, walked to the east wall of the main room, flipped through the calendar, and turned to Xiao Mei, saying, "Then let's do next Sunday, July 18th, which is the 7th of the lunar calendar."

"You really know how to pick a date." Xiao Mei smiled at Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Yuan smiled slightly.

"Brother Zhou, it's settled then. I'll take the whole day off that day."

"A full day off? Isn't that a hassle?"

"Brother Zhou, there's no trouble at all, you're overthinking it."

"Okay, it's settled then. I'll go there on the morning of July 18th."

"Oh, right, you don't know my building number and apartment number yet? How about I drive over and pick you and your aunt up?"

"I don't know if my mom is going or not, I'll ask her later. I'll take a taxi to your house, you're so busy all day, it's rare for you to have a break."

"Okay, if you need me to come pick you up, just call my home phone. Let me write down my address for you."

"it is good."

Zhou Yuan got up, preparing to go back to his room to get paper and pen. Xiao Mei also got up and followed behind Zhou Yuan. Hearing footsteps, Zhou Yuan turned around and saw Xiao Mei following him, and smiled slightly.