Hu Xibing shook his head and said, "What’s there to be courteous about? It’s all trivial matters."
"Anyway, thank you. I’m heading back now."
"Go ahead, I’ve seen ’Big Master’ and Grandma worrying about you the entire time."
Chiang Xiao nodded and quickly ran towards her home.
She hadn’t even reached Osmanthus Alley when someone called out to her.
Chiang Xiao turned around, her eyebrows lifting in surprise.
Zou Xiaoling had already run up to her, panting heavily, unable to catch her breath to speak. She had seen Chiang Xiao from a distance and had run so hard to catch up with her that her heart almost leapt out.
"Teacher Zou, is there something you need?"
Chiang Xiao thought she had no particular connection with Zou Xiaoling.
The only connection might be that she had changed Chiang Baohe’s fate, which also affected Zou Xiaoling’s. But Zou Xiaoling couldn’t possibly know that.
"Chiang Xiao, have you not been home these past few days?" Zou Xiaoling finally caught her breath. "I need to talk to you, can we sit somewhere?"
"I’m in a hurry to get home and, besides, I’m carrying so much stuff I don’t feel like walking anymore. Why not come to my place?" Chiang Xiao really didn’t want to carry all these items to another place. The weather was so hot that one would sweat just walking a few steps.
Moreover, she wanted to get home as soon as possible to set her grandparents’ minds at ease.
"To your home..." Zou Xiaoling bit her lower lip. "Alright, let’s go."
She reached out her hand. "Let me help you carry some things."
Seeing that Chiang Xiao was holding quite a lot in both hands, which seemed very heavy, Zou Xiaoling felt a tinge of complexity in her heart. She remembered what Yu Chunyu had told her, that Chiang Xiao was a very calculating girl, and if one wanted to distance themselves from Ho Laidi’s family, it would be best to ask for Chiang Xiao’s help.
Yu Chunyu had also mentioned that Chiang Xiao’s family was now living well probably because she had won over that man, who must have given her a lot of money!
"No need, I can carry them."
Many of the things Chiang Xiao was holding couldn’t be placed in ’Space’, or else they couldn’t be given to her family.
Zou Xiaoling didn’t insist and followed Chiang Xiao to Osmanthus Alley.
When they knocked, Ge Xiaotong came to the door, and as soon as she saw Chiang Xiao return, she was instantly delighted. "You naughty girl, you finally decided to come home!"
"Auntie, are you alone at home?"
If she wasn’t alone, it definitely wouldn’t be her turn to open the door, especially as she was pregnant.
"Yes, my dad and the others have gone up the mountain, and my mom and aunt went out to sell roasted Lizi. And who is this?"
Ge Xiaotong didn’t recognize Zou Xiaoling.
"She’s Teacher Zou from the town middle school."
"Teacher Zou, please come in." Thinking that Zou Xiaoling would be teaching Chiang Xiao next term, Ge Xiaotong warmly welcomed Zou Xiaoling in, busy offering to boil water for tea and presenting a plate of roasted Lizi and a dish of Lizi cake for her, showing great hospitality.
Meanwhile, Ge Xiaotong said to Chiang Xiao, "During the days you were gone, my mom and aunt had nothing to do and got inspired by the tea snacks, so they made this Lizi cake. You should try it too, I think it’s not as exquisite as Aunt Ah Yu’s tea snacks but still tastes pretty good."
Having put away her things and washed her hands and face, Chiang Xiao returned, took a piece of Lizi cake to taste, and her eyes sparkled.
The craftsmanship was indeed not as refined as Aunt Ah Yu’s, but the sweet chestnut flavor was delightful. She had intended to suggest to Ge Xiaotong that they could make more Lizi cake to sell along with the roasted Lizi, but with Zou Xiaoling present, she chose not to elaborate for the time being.