Zhang Meilian patted Xinyan on the shoulder: "That’s right. Our family had some issues before, so we never got to visit and thank you. I heard you started school, so I prepared some things you might need."
Xinyan felt a bit embarrassed: "You’re really too kind, there’s really no need for this."
As they spoke, they arrived at the small courtyard where Xinyan lived. Zhao Jianlan saw her father waiting there and ran over with a smile: "Dad."
Zhao Huaiqing was all smiles when he saw his daughter.
Zhang Meilian introduced cheerfully: "This is my husband, Zhao Huaiqing, you can just call him Uncle Zhao."
Xinyan didn’t know Zhao Huaiqing and had no memory of him in her past life, so she obediently greeted him: "Hello, Uncle Zhao."
Zhao Huaiqing nodded at Xinyan with a smile.
The gate opened, and they invited the guests into the courtyard. Seeing them move things down from the small cart, Xinyan asked, "Uncle Zhao, Aunt Zhang, why did you bring so many things over?"
Zhang Meilian helped move the items down: "This stove is one we used before and had been idle. I knew that Mr. Gong gave away everything in the yard before leaving, and since you could use it, I brought it over."
Xinyan saw the cart was also loaded with coal balls, and she truly felt warmed.
They helped stack the coal balls neatly. Zhao Huaiqing had borrowed a coal ball from someone’s stove earlier, so the stove was ready to use now.
After moving the other items inside the house, Zhang Meilian then said: "All right, I had Uncle Zhao buy you some buns, eat something, and we’ll be off."
Xinyan hadn’t even had the chance to say her thanks before Zhang Meilian urged them to leave, as if being chased by wolves.
Watching the family of three walk away, Xinyan turned back into the house. Besides about two pounds of white flour, there were ten eggs, a bag of salt, a bag of brown sugar, and four still-warm big buns, which was quite generous.
The most important part was the second-hand stove they delivered, which she really needed, and they even brought so many coal balls.
Just as she had gotten everything settled, she heard someone outside speaking and looked up to see Jiao Sini: "Sister-in-law."
Jiao Sini wasn’t one for formalities: "Xinyan, come and give your sister-in-law a hand."
Xinyan immediately jogged forward: "Sister-in-law, you all, really..."
Before she could finish her polite words, Jiao Sini interrupted her: "Earlier, I didn’t visit while you were staying at Director He’s place. Now that you’ve moved out on your own, of course I have to help. If it weren’t for you, our Wensheng might have lost his life. We’ll never forget what you’ve done for us."
Xinyan didn’t know what to say.
Jiao Sini set down the basket she was carrying: "Don’t disdain them, these are just some small things."
In the basket, there was ground yellow millet flour, cornmeal, bean flour, and about two pounds of millet. Though not much, there were quite a variety, along with homegrown green onions, chives, and zucchini.
What Xinyan didn’t expect was that at the very bottom, there was a small double-handled iron pot, just enough for her to cook for herself.
To explain the Zhao Family’s gift, at least both of the Zhao couple were cadre members, with good salaries. But for Jiao Sini’s family, only her husband Wu Xiangxing had a job, and apparently, they had four kids to raise.
Xinyan was truly touched: "Sister-in-law, really..."
Jiao Sini patted Xinyan’s arm: "You know our situation, this little iron pot is borrowed from my parents. A few days ago when Mr. Gong left, I also came over and took a blanket back, knowing there was nothing left in the yard."