"So that’s how it is," Lu Zhiwei understood immediately, but still couldn’t help saying as he looked at the fruit trees that seemed unlikely to survive, "These might not make it; next spring, I could help you..."
"No need, no need, it’s all just kids messing around. Come on in, it’s too hot outside." Ruanlin Family’s matriarch declined smoothly without any change in her expression, smiling as she invited them inside. Then, she went to get two cups of cool tea that had already chilled and handed them to the two men.
The two workers helped deliver the desk upstairs, and after having a cup of cool tea downstairs, they left in their tricycle.
Ruanlin Family matriarch invited the couple to stay for lunch. The couple had something in mind for their visit and readily accepted.
However, Ruan Jiaojiao had not expected that their visit this time would be for this reason—
Sitting in the main hall of the new building, Zhao Li glanced at Ruan Jiaojiao. The usually bold and decisive woman now seemed somewhat shy as she said to Ruanlin Family’s matriarch, "Auntie, I won’t lie to you, I really have an unreasonable request this time, and I hope you will agree to it."
Ruanlin Family’s matriarch thought she needed some kind of help and immediately replied, "You say it, if there’s anything we can do to help, we will for sure."
Zhao Li smiled faintly, then glanced at Ruan Jiaojiao again, her eyes full of affection, "The thing is, as you know, the family planning policy has been strict these years, and I’m someone who really likes daughters. Yet, I only managed to have two darn boys, it’s really... Over the years, I’ve always been fond of other people’s daughters, but I’ve never liked any child the way I like Jiaojiao. I really child so much! See, can I... adopt her as my goddaughter?"
Zhao Li knew that establishing godparent relationships was usually done between two families that were especially close, and they had only known the Ruan Family for a few months.
But what she said was true - she fell in love with Ruan Jiaojiao the moment she laid eyes on her! Ever since she met her, she’d been so antsy, having long wanted to establish a godparent relationship but waiting for the right opportunity, hoping the families would get to know each other a bit better first.
This was her second visit to the Ruan Family, and by all accounts, she should have waited longer, but she just couldn’t. She really liked the child, terribly so.
Impatient, she wanted to establish the relationship first, fearing any changes in the future or someone else beating her to it.
Ruan Jiaojiao had been peeling a chocolate wrapped in gold foil when she heard the request. She froze, then looked up incredulously at her.
Wasn’t Zhao Li supposed to be Wa Yiting’s godmother? The novel said their relationship was so good, almost like that of a real mother and daughter!
Why did she suddenly want to take her as a goddaughter?
Ruan Jianguo and Ruanlin Family’s matriarch were also surprised by the request.
They hadn’t expected Zhao Li to make such a suggestion.
And Xiu Xi, who had gone unnoticed, shot Zhao Li a sharp glance when he saw the change in Ruan Jiaojiao’s expression. He quickly averted his gaze before anyone could notice, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything.
"Auntie, do you think it’s possible?" Zhao Li gazed at Ruanlin Family’s matriarch with hope in her eyes.
Ruanlin Family’s matriarch was truly at a loss for words.
Establishing godparent relationships was quite common in the countryside, but none of her ten children had initiated such an arrangement, and they hadn’t bothered. She didn’t expect someone to come asking for it now.
If it were in the past, she might have agreed.