Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1223 You'll understand in the future

Xiaohong leaned against Xiaowei, thought for a while, and said, "So, I guess I'll have to try to get closer to my colleagues from now on? What if most of them are guys? Won't they think I have some kind of crush on them? What if they misunderstand and try to take me to a hotel one day?"

Everyone looked at Xiao Hong, and Xia Maosheng couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Aunt Wang laughed and patted Little Red on the head. Bei Bei quickly blew on it, saying, "Mommy, let me help you. Does it hurt?"

Uncle Wang said, "Women are a rather special group in the workplace. You won't have to worry about promotions within a certain range in the future. Just don't isolate yourself from others and don't make them dislike you. You don't need to go out of your way to get close to anyone."

We'll see how things go at what level you reach; generally, there shouldn't be any major problems. It's both easy and difficult for women to get by in the workplace; take it slow.

Aunt Wang started serving the food, and Uncle Wang said, "Let's go, let's eat. Think carefully about what I told you today."

Everyone got up and moved to the dining table.

Uncle Wang said to Xiao Wei, "It's decided, everyone's moving over there, right?"

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Let's move. All of us will move there, and we'll use the ones in the middle that are next to each other. As for the others, we won't force them; it's up to them. Anyway, the elevator buildings here will be operational this year."

Xia Maosheng said, "My parents moved in with us. My eldest and second eldest sisters aren't moving; they're waiting to move to this apartment building with the elevator."

Xiao Wei's dad pushed open the door and came in, saying as he changed his shoes, "This kid doesn't even wait for me to eat anymore. Looks like I'm going to be marginalized."

Xiao Wei's mother said, "You eat so much all day long, why don't you say you'd come home on time? You could at least call home, don't you have five cents on you?"

Xiao Wei's dad washed his hands and sat down at the table. Bei Bei picked up a pair of chopsticks and tried her best to hand them to him, saying, "Grandpa, eat quickly."

Xiao Wei's father took the chopsticks with a beaming smile: "My eldest granddaughter is the best."

Aunt Wang asked Xiaowei, "What about Xiaohui's side? Does he need a separate building?"

Xiao Wei said, "Where are his old things? In the annex? We can just move them there for him. Let him occupy a whole building, since they're next to each other anyway. He and Chen Xiao can live there if they want, or move in if they don't."

Xiaowei's dad said, "Your uncle and fourth uncle aren't going over there, they won't even go upstairs in the elevator, they're just staying here. I didn't try to persuade them, we'll talk about it later."

Xiao Wei said, "If you don't want to go that way, then don't. Let's go to the building with the elevator; it's more convenient. What will you do when you get older and have to climb stairs?"

Xiao Wei's father said, "It's just a few steps of stairs. Walking back and forth isn't even worth a whole row of land. Consider it a form of exercise. If they don't want to move, then they don't have to."

Xiao Hong asked, "Where's my brother Wang?"

Xiao Wei's dad said, "He's moving; he'll be going upstairs in the elevator."

Xiao Wei said, "We'll put up a notice explaining how residents can use the elevator and how much it will cost. Then we'll sign a management agreement that covers all aspects of management, including how property and sanitation fees are collected."

Geng Hui nodded.

Xiao Wei's father said, "I feel that collecting property management fees and such is difficult."

Xiao Wei said, "Those who don't want to pay don't have to go; it's not mandatory."

Xiao Hong asked, "When should we go? I need to ask for leave."

Xiao Wei said, "Tomorrow, it's already the 28th, and the big day is the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll go to the county, let Beibei go home for a day, then we'll go to the city on the 30th, and then on the 2nd we'll take Beibei to play in the city for a day, and come back in the evening."

Beibei asked, "Daddy, shall we go to that...that children's playground?"

Xiao Wei said, "Go, play inside all day, have your fill."

Beibei's eyes immediately turned into crescent moons, and she smiled happily.

Uncle Wang said, "That one in the city? What's so interesting about that? It's been around for years, built in the 80s, it's an old park."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "I'm from the 80s and I've never been there before, so this is a good opportunity to experience it."

Xiaowei's mother said, "That's right. We've never taken them out to see the world before. Xiaowei was only eight years old when the park opened, just starting elementary school."

Xiao Wei asked, "Mom, you still know that park is open?"

Xiaowei's mother said, "How could I not know? It was all in the newspapers. I even told your dad back then that I would take you and your brother out for a trip. We were poor back then. A trip to the city for the whole family, including food, entertainment, and lodging, would cost at least fifty yuan. We couldn't afford that. We would also have to use grain coupons."

Xiao Hong said, "From now on, we can go wherever we want, as long as we don't leave Earth. Why bring up the past when it's from a bygone era?"

Xiaowei's mother said, "That's what you say, but how can you forget something? You'll understand when you're older. A person is just a child, and you'll never forget any mistakes you've made."

Xiao Wei said, "Why don't I feel that way? If I don't feel it, what do you owe me?"

Xiao Wei's dad said, "It's not exactly a debt, more like a regret. Which parent doesn't want the best for their children, to have everything they need? But our abilities are limited, so it's ingrained in our hearts that we feel we're shortchanging our children. You'll understand when you grow up."

Xiao Hong asked, "Does the two-day weekend start this week or next week, Dad?"

Uncle Wang said, "It will be implemented starting May 1st. May 1st is Monday. Which week do you think it is?"

Xiaohong said, "Then I'll have to ask for four days off? Four days? Four days or five days?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'll be back on the night of the 2nd. It'll be four days, with a Sunday in between."

Uncle Wang said, "From now on, we'll only get two days off a week. I'm starting to not know how to manage. What are we going to do on those two days? We're already busy enough for six days a week. How are we going to manage five days a week? I can't figure it out."

Xiao Wei's dad said, "Just do it the way it should be done. It's just one more day off. What's there to worry about?"

Xiao Hong said, "That's right, it's good to sleep at home too."

Beibei asked, "Mommy, what about me? Do I get to rest for a few days?"

Xiao Hong said, "You should rest for a couple of days too, let's all rest for a couple of days."

Xiaowei's mother said, "Oh my god, that's right! School's closed for two days now, the kids will have something to do."

Uncle Wang said, "That's only sixteen days less of class per semester, which is about half a month."

Xiao Wei's dad said, "That's for sure. They'll miss out on a lot of learning. Now those who don't do well in school and don't like to study will be even worse off."

Xia Maosheng said, "You'll get used to it. There's no point in thinking about it."

Xiao Wei said, "When school lets out in the summer, our whole family will go to Kyoto. You should all be prepared and make all the arrangements."

Uncle Wang said, "How am I supposed to prepare? Ask for leave? Xia, you go ahead. I'll pass. Your aunt can go with you."

Xia Maosheng said, "Uncle, I'll stay home with you. We'll live together as father and son, and I'll cook for you."

Everyone laughed; the joke about Uncle Wang not being able to cook could be played for a lifetime.

Xiao Hong said, "Isn't it a two-day weekend? I'll fly there on Friday afternoon and fly back on Monday morning, stay for two days."

(End of this chapter)