Chapter 949

Zhou Anqin entered the school, unaware that what had just happened had already spread through campus, and her name was gradually becoming known to many.

“Auntie, hello!”

Zhou Anqin greeted the dorm supervisor warmly, then passed the flowers through the window and placed them on the table.

“Auntie, these are for you—I hope you have a good mood every day.”

The dorm supervisor stared in shock for a long moment; by the time she regained her composure and tried to thank her, Zhou Anqin had already gone inside.

The auntie picked up the flowers, her eyes slightly damp, yet her smile grew brighter.

Inside the dorm, only Deng Lanxia, Gao Yujing, and Wen Yingluo were present.

Because Deng Lanxia was waiting for news from Zhou Anqin, she hadn’t gone out today.

As for Gao Yujing and Wen Yingluo, they simply preferred stillness over activity.

Zhou Anqin smiled and said: “Did Gao Xue and Huang Yu go down the alleyways to run into their idols?”

“Yes!” Gao Yujing chuckled, then asked for Deng Lanxia: “How did it go?”

Deng Lanxia watched Zhou Anqin expectantly; Wen Yingluo put down her book and looked over.

Zhou Anqin gave an OK sign: “No problem.”

Gao Yujing looked unsurprised—Zhou Andong’s sister helping a classmate find a job? Of course it was just a word.

Besides, she herself was tempted, since she also needed a job—just not as urgently as Deng Lanxia.

Wen Yingluo exhaled, smiled, and picked up her book again.

Deng Lanxia climbed down from the top bunk and bowed deeply to Zhou Anqin.

“Don’t do that!” Zhou Anqin grabbed her arm. “I told you—we’re family now, sisters. This makes me feel nothing but sadness.”

Tears instantly spilled from Deng Lanxia’s eyes; only she knew what this job meant to her.

“Alright, from now on, you’re my real sister.”

Zhou Anqin smiled and pulled Deng Lanxia to sit beside her on the bed: “I met the Dicos manager—she’s truly kind. As soon as she heard your story, she agreed immediately.”

“The early shift is 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.—you definitely can’t do that. The regular shift is 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., full day on Sundays, and on weekdays you can work 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.—half-day, with dinner provided in the evening.”

“The standard salary for a server is 210 yuan a month, not counting bonuses. You get paid per day worked; if you don’t come, no deduction. Bonuses are separate.”

Such good conditions? Deng Lanxia couldn’t believe her ears: “R-Really?”

“Of course it’s real!” Zhou Anqin checked the time. “Dicos is busy right now. I’ll take you over soon—you can start tomorrow.”

Then Zhou Anqin turned to Gao Yujing: “Sister Jing, I asked about you too—come with us now and take a look.”

Gao Yujing froze; a warm current surged through her. She’d never told Zhou Anqin she needed a job—but Zhou Anqin knew anyway.

“Okay!” Gao Yujing nodded quickly.

………………

The next day, Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu finally found time, pushed Old Zhou, and spent half the day accompanying Grandma and Grandpa around RT-Mart, eating lunch there.

In the afternoon they strolled around Tiananmen, had duck for dinner, and when they returned to the hospital and stepped out of the elevator, they saw a man crouching by the ward door—it was Zhang Zhonghui.

“Old Zhang!” Zhou Andong called out. “Damn, why are you sitting alone out here?”

“Waiting for you!” Zhang Zhonghui stood up. “If I hadn’t called Old Wu, I thought you’d already left.”

He then greeted Old Zhou and Yuan Liying: “Old brother, Sister-in-law!”

Zhang Zhonghui had only visited during Old Zhou’s surgery, and that day there were too many people—Yuan Liying had seen him but forgotten.

As for Old Zhou, he didn’t recognize him at all.

Zhou Andong introduced him: “This is Zhang Zhonghui, CEO of Qinchi Liquor.”

“Mr. Zhang!” Old Zhou extended his hand and shook Zhang Zhonghui’s; he felt embarrassed. “Didn’t recognize you just now.”

Zhang Zhonghui smiled: “I came the day you had surgery. Forgetting is normal.”

The group entered the room. Zhou Andong lifted Old Zhou onto the bed, then stepped out: “Sit down!”

Zhang Zhonghui sat on the sofa. Zhou Andong noticed the bloodshot eyes and asked: “Didn’t sleep last night?”

Zhang Zhonghui nodded, rubbing his face. “You don’t know—I’ve talked myself hoarse trying to get foreign exchange, almost on my knees calling them Grandpa.”

Zhou Andong laughed—he knew well how hard it was to secure foreign exchange.

“How much are you planning to invest?”

“Ten million!” Zhang Zhonghui said. “I’m going to Xiangjiang with you.”

“No problem!” Zhou Andong nodded. Zhang Zhonghui had secured ten million U.S. dollars—he must’ve agreed to plenty of conditions. “Old Wu is coming too.”

“He told me,” Zhang Zhonghui said. “Wu gave me the account. The money was wired at noon.”

Zhou Andong pulled out cigarettes and offered one to Zhang Zhonghui: “No rush with the money—we can transfer it after we reach Xiangjiang.”

“Since we’ve decided, it doesn’t matter when we wire it,” Zhang Zhonghui took the cigarette. “Have you booked the tickets?”

Zhou Andong lit his cigarette with a lighter: “Don’t worry about tickets—tomorrow at 8:30 a car will pick us up for the airport.”

Zhang Zhonghui checked the time: “Alright. I’ll go to the Beijing liaison office. I’ll be at the hospital at 8 a.m. tomorrow.”

Zhou Andong, Jian Qiu, and Zhang Zhonghui left together, returned to the hotel, and packed their luggage.

It was just a few changes of underwear—all of Jian Qiu’s. Zhou Andong carried only a backpack with toiletries.

As for clothes, they could buy them in Xiangjiang—no need to haul them all the way there.

………………

August 31, 1993, Lunar July 14, Tuesday!

After washing up, Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu dragged their luggage out of the hotel and had a simple breakfast on the roadside.

When they reached the ward, Wu Hongkang and Zhang Zhonghui were already waiting.

Zhou Andong checked the time: “The car should be here soon—wait a bit.”

No sooner had he spoken than someone knocked on the ward door. Jian Qiu opened it to find a young man in military uniform, carrying two Mao Yis.

“Hello, I’m here to pick up Mr. Zhou.”

“Mom, Dad, I’m leaving,” Zhou Andong stood up. “Grandpa, Grandma, stay here comfortably—I’ll be back.”

“Alright!” Grandpa and Grandma smiled. “Go quickly, don’t delay.”

“Also!” Zhou Andong said to Yuan Lu and Yuan Zhe. “School starts tomorrow—I’ve arranged a tutor. Study hard.”

“Don’t worry, Big Brother!” Yuan Lu and Yuan Zhe were still very sensible. “We’ll study hard.”

Outside the hospital, they saw a Hongqi parked there—especially the license plate—and Wu Hongkang and Zhang Zhonghui barely held back their excitement as they got in.

What they hadn’t expected at all: they were flying to Xiangjiang on a dedicated aircraft.