Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 286 Excellent Service
Just as the two were gazing at each other tenderly, Zhang Shujuan came downstairs with Liu Jiajia, carrying a pile of clothes in her arms. She kept talking nonstop, "This child doesn't have any ideas. She nods whenever I ask her if she can, so I just picked out the clothes for her myself. I chose four summer outfits, enough for changing, six long-sleeved shirts for spring and autumn, four jackets, and six pairs of thin trousers, so that she won't be short of clothes if it's a humid southerly day."

We'll choose winter clothes below. I just thought these coats would be especially suitable, don't you think?

Zhang Shujuan deftly took out the six coats, each with a distinct style, and held them up against Liu Jiajia.

Chen Xinyue nodded and kept everything.

Based on the coat, I also selected six thick base layers and six pairs of jeans in different styles and colors.

The counter was piled high with these clothes and pants.

Then Zhang Shujuan went next door to select two pairs of sandals, two pairs of slippers, two pairs of sneakers, two packs of socks, and underwear for young girls, based on Chen Xinyue's shoe size.

She didn't say these things outright, but only showed them to Chen Xinyue.

Chen Xinyue nodded slightly.

Zhang Shujuan went to do the accounting and asked her employees to help with the packing.

Because there were quite a lot of things, Zhang Shujuan smiled and said, "Leave me your address and I'll have someone deliver them to you. It'll save you from having to carry around so many bags, which is quite inconvenient."

Chen Xinyue nodded in agreement, "Aunt Ge, Aunt Zhang's shop offers home delivery service, it's professional."

Ge Qiuyue understood and quickly gave the address. "That's perfect. I'll take Jiajia to see her mother first and explain the situation. She'll be able to live at school when school starts and definitely won't go back to that house. You go back and tell your mother so she knows."

Chen Xinyue agreed.

After Ge Qiuyue and Liu Jiajia left.

Zhang Shujuan walked up to Chen Xinyue and asked gently, "What's your relationship with that girl? I rarely see you spending money like this!"

Chen Xinyue lowered her eyes, "She's kind of my half-sister, isn't she?"

"From the Liu family?"

Chen Xinyue nodded.

Zhang Shujuan sighed softly, "Does your mother know about this?"

Chen Xinyue nodded again, "She knows."

Zhang Shujuan was relieved and pondered, "Those people in the Liu family are all bad. You should avoid contact with them in the future, so as not to upset your mother."

Zhang Shujuan and Lin Qin had known each other since they were young and knew each other well.

Chen Xinyue nodded obediently, "Aunt Zhang, I know. Please wait here for me for a moment. I'll buy her some more things, and I'll trouble you to deliver them to her later. I won't show myself."

Zhang Shujuan playfully scolded, "Doing good deeds anonymously? Fine, fine, I'll deliver it for you!"

After leaving the clothing store, Chen Xinyue and Xiao Jinlin went to the department store and bought a backpack, a girl's bicycle, and some small accessories such as girl's hair clips and scarves. They delivered all of these to Zhang Shujuan's shop.

When they got home, Lin Qin was already there. Seeing that they were empty-handed, she asked, "You were gone for so long? What did you buy?"

Chen Xinyue bluntly stated, "It was just some clothes, shoes, bicycles, backpacks, and the like. I spent over 3,700 yuan at Aunt Zhang's place and another 1,000 yuan at the department store."

"You spendthrift!" Lin Qin scolded, then turned and beckoned the two of them to go eat.

At this moment, Ge Qiuyue brought Liu Jiajia to the police station, and after applying, the two finally met An Meihua.

In just one day, An Meihua looked much more haggard. When she saw Liu Jiajia arrive with her entourage, she became very agitated. "Jiajia, where are your grandparents and uncle? Did they say anything?"

Liu Jiajia lowered her head in shame and shook her head.

An Meihua, furious, began to berate, "What are you doing here if you're not here?"

Ge Qiuyue shielded Liu Jiajia behind her and looked at An Meihua seriously, "Hello, Jiajia's mother, I am Jiajia's homeroom teacher."

Upon hearing that it was her daughter's teacher, An Meihua's face instantly turned red. She never expected that her daughter's teacher would see her in such a disheveled state.

Ge Qiuyue completely ignored her embarrassment and continued, "You got into trouble today, and Jiajia was at a loss. The police station contacted me and asked me to come and handle it. I think you may not know that after your accident, Jiajia had no one to rely on."

An Meihua hurriedly defended herself, "How could she be destitute? Didn't she go home? Isn't her aunt here?"

"Aunt?" Ge Qiuyue raised an eyebrow sarcastically. "Are you talking about that smoking woman who lies at home waiting to be served? I saw her after I brought Jiajia back. That woman ransacked Jiajia's room and didn't say a single word of concern from the moment she entered. Her attitude was extremely rude."

Dear Jiajia's mother, what I want to say is that such an environment is not suitable for Jiajia's growth. I think your family has a lot of things to deal with, and you are under a lot of pressure. Fortunately, some kind-hearted people in society are willing to sponsor Jiajia's schooling. I have already applied for her to live at the school. She can live at the school during her studies. There is a cafeteria there, and all her daily necessities have been bought. You don't need to worry about anything.

"Once you're out of the police station, you'll have more energy to deal with things at home. It's not too late to bring Jiajia back after you've settled down here and have a good living environment, don't you agree?"

Caught off guard, An Meihua looked at Liu Jiajia in bewilderment, "Jiajia, you agreed?"

Liu Jiajia nodded, choking back tears, large drops falling from her eyes. "Mom... I'm sorry, I don't want to be a burden to you, I don't want to be a drag on you. They said that as long as I work hard, they can support my studies until I graduate from high school, on the condition that I live at school and can't go back to the Liu family. If Grandma dies, my aunt will be in charge of the family. Let's all leave, let's not stay with that devil anymore. I... Mom, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

An Meihua seemed to have all her strength drained away, and she suddenly fell backward, her eyes unfocused.

Seeing that she remained silent, the police officers stepped forward and ended the visit.

Liu Jiajia was still crying when she walked out of the police station, and she cried all the way home.

Three days later, An Meihua was released.

She went to the hospital immediately, only to find out that Ma Cuihua was dead when she arrived!
"Nurse, my mother-in-law wasn't this seriously ill, why did she suddenly pass away? I already went to raise money, didn't I?" An Meihua collapsed in the hospital corridor, wailing loudly.

Family members passing by frequently looked around.

Someone couldn't stand it and said loudly, "Hey, don't make things difficult for the nurse. Your mother-in-law is really pitiful. She's lived her whole life, and now that she's old and sick, none of her children will come to visit her. Every time I pass by the ward door and see her waiting there, my heart aches."

The nurse explained in a low voice, "That day, a patient came in and was extremely angry, but the doctor managed to save her. Her vital signs are normal now. The first thing she did after regaining consciousness was to ask if her children had come to see her."

We contacted them for her, but none of them were willing to come. After the old lady found out, her spirits visibly sank, and she passed away in less than two days.