Volume 22 Annie Baby

  Li Wei finished shopping and looked at her future brother-in-law, who had two hands full of bags that resembled grapes. Rubbing his hands, he said with a bit of embarrassment: "Little sister-in-law, why don't you let me help you carry these things to the train station so you can head back?"

  Ding Anping and Cheng Fei looked at each other, neither of them dared to put the child on the bus and let her go home by herself.

  It's really not possible to not go home, after all, Li Wei's behavior is also called running away from home. The family doesn't know what kind of anxiety they're in. There's no phone at home either, otherwise it would be good to send a message.

  Although Li Wei repeatedly assured that she was fine going home, Cheng Fei and Ding Anping still decided to send her home, and if they hurried, they could catch the last bus back.

  Two men were about to take a bus to the car station, when Ding Anping suddenly remembered something: "Oh, you wait for a while, I'll go make a phone call." After saying that, he ran to the nearby post office to make a phone call.

  Not two minutes later, he ran out again, looking quite pleased. "Don't worry," he said to Cheng Fei, "I just called my dad's unit and it turns out he's on his way back from a business trip. I'll get our driver, Old Liu, to give you guys a ride. It'll be faster that way, but we have to wait until they're off work before they can come."

  Cheng Fei didn't want to trouble him, and she hadn't decided yet if she would develop anything with Ding Anping. She didn't want to owe him too many favors, so she immediately refused: "Don't bother, I'll just..."

  "Alright, alright, let's take a stroll around the mall before we leave." Li Wei's cheerful voice came from downstairs.

  Cheng Fei is so annoying, this broken kid is so hateful! How did her sister educate her children? Look at her, she's as shallow as a eyelid, it's like she doesn't even exist!

  Li Wei didn't think that much, since the handsome guy was destined to be her younger sister's husband, she should give him more opportunities to show off, it's a win-win situation, no matter how hard her younger sister struggled, it would be useless.

  At the same time, I have a great impression of my future brother-in-law. It turns out that his father is a high-ranking official in the municipal public security bureau, and his mother is also a leader in the education bureau, belonging to the offspring of cadres. In her previous life, after marrying her sister, she didn't interact with relatives much, and their marriage only lasted for about four or five years. Li Wei had only seen her brother-in-law a few times, he was very polite and gentle, with a kind of detached calmness, giving the feeling of being high above everything.

  Now there is an opportunity to get in close contact. Li Wei's heart leaned heavily on her chest. Ah, kiddo. You also have times when you are careful and humble, but can't get in. It feels like this little brother-in-law has become a normal person with a normal human flavor.

  Considering that in the future, Old Cheng's daughter will be married off to someone else. Although the freshness period is a bit short, Li Wei still decided to interact more with Ding Anping. This guy not only has a capable family but also became a member of the police force. However, since his marriage to Little Aunt, it seems that none of her relatives from her maternal grandmother's side have had any dealings with him. Li Wei decided to first collect some "protection fees" on behalf of her maternal grandmother.

  Ding Anping pulled Li Wei along, while Cheng Fei trailed behind them reluctantly. They took a quick glance at the nearby shops and Li Wei bought a small package of chestnut cake for the twins amidst her busy schedule. The expensive treat was worth it, as it tasted great. Then, they were dragged away by Ding Anping's little sister and nanny to his home, which wasn't far away. According to Ding Anping, his mom was out on a business trip and only his younger sister, who was around the same age as Li Wei, and the nanny were at home.

  Ding Anping's home is on the first floor. A middle-aged woman in her 40s opens the door for him. Ding Anping introduces Cheng Fei as his classmate to the woman, who is called Zhang Ayi. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Li Wei roughly knew that this was the nanny. She has become a bit sensitive to these two words now.

  Ding Anping's living room is quite spacious. The decoration is also the old-fashioned red floor, wooden sofa covered with white gauze, and tea table. In one corner, there is a standing piano also covered with white gauze. On top of it, there is a vase with roses inserted. According to today's standards, the whole room should be quite fashionable. But in Li Wei's eyes, it seems quite nostalgic.

  They had just put down their things. A little girl ran out of a room, looking curiously at the two strangers, especially Li Wei, seemingly with some doubt.

  She was puzzled whether Li Wei was puzzled or not, and suddenly burst out laughing, haha, isn't this the little beauty who bumped into me at the wedding banquet with my grandfather? It's really true that you can meet anyone anywhere in life hehe.

  The little beauty looked at Li Wei's smile, suddenly remembered where she had seen Li Wei before, and immediately stared: "Who are you? What brings you to my home?"

  "Oh, this is my sister Ding Annie, now in the fourth grade of elementary school. Annie, don't talk to guests like that, you're two years older than them, this is your cousin Li Wei, and this is your cousin Cheng Fei." Ding Anping was slightly displeased with his sister's impoliteness, his voice a bit stern.

  But Li Wei felt that this life's fate was a bit mixed up.

  Obviously, the Dings' family education is quite good. The little beauty Ding Annie, although still a bit unhappy, politely greeted: "Hello, Sister Chengfei."

  "Alright, that's a good kid, go ahead and take Li Wei out to play." Ding Anping affectionately patted his little sister's head, saying with satisfaction.

  Ding Annie obediently pulled up Li Wei's hand and dragged her towards her own room with some force, seemingly unable to calm down.

  Li Wei smiled and followed Ding Annie into her room, after all, she had been busy for half a day, how could she not give her little aunt's husband some benefits and get close to her little aunt. After walking for a while, she felt a bit hot, took off the small white hat on her head, put it on Ding Annie's desk, sat down in the chair beside it, and smiled at Ding Annie's room.

  The decoration is similar to the living room, with a feminine pink and blue floral bedspread. There are several plush toys and dolls on the bed, looking like they've just been played with, one doll is even lying naked with its clothes thrown aside. Next to the desk is a bookshelf of the same color, filled with books of all colors.

  Ding Anni saw Li Wei come in and didn't even glance at her, showing mutual disdain. She raised her snow-white face: "Do you have a doll that can change clothes?" She picked up the doll with some showiness and said to Li Wei.

  Li Wei took a look at Ding Annie, just a slightly spoiled little girl, but this kid really looks good, wearing a simple white cotton dress with a princess-like flavor, and the proportions of her body are not bad either, when she grows up, she will definitely be a beauty.

  She looked at the doll in her hand, this kind of doll was everywhere more than a decade later, although it's a bit childish, since I'm under the same roof, might as well play along for a while: "I don't have that kind of doll, but I can make doll clothes, pants, and skirts. Oh, I can even make her a wedding dress, want to try?"

  Ding Anni's eyes lit up immediately, her doll only had one set of clothes: "Really?"

  Li Wei nodded slightly: "Of course, do you have beautiful fabrics? Unwanted old clothes are also okay, they must be beautiful, oh right, yarn is also fine, we can also give her a new hairstyle..."

  Li Wei was originally just fooling around with the kids, but as she played along, she also got into the mood. Ding Annie had found a lot of materials, and they were all very beautiful. Women, after all, are forever immune to beautiful things. The two of them worked together, making several sets of clothes, accessories, and wigs for the dolls. Li Wei was good at sewing, having spent hours as a child competing with her grandmother to mend socks. This skill came in handy now, and Ding Annie was enthusiastically helping out. As they successfully made one beautiful little dress after another, their excitement grew, and they had a great time playing together, something that Ding Annie rarely did with others.

  Especially Ding Anni, looking at the set of small skirt clothes, these are all made by herself, feeling a great sense of accomplishment, directly attributing Li Wei's efforts to her own credit.

  Time passed quickly without her noticing, until Ding Anping and Cheng Fei came to call her back home, only then did she realize that the sky was already darkening. And Ding Anping's father had also returned home from work, which made Cheng Fei, who was not mentally prepared, a bit flustered, and looking at Li Wei buried in the pile of fabrics made her secretly angry.

  Ding Anping's father was in his forties, less than fifty years old, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and dark long trousers, looking elegant and refined with the demeanor of an elder. Ding Anping resembled his father.

  Ding Anping's father warmly greeted Cheng Fei and Li Wei: "Cheng Fei, don't be polite, sit down, good, I often hear Anping mention you, why didn't you come over to play? My wife and I are busy with work, when we're free, bring your little niece over more often. Li Wei, bring Li Wei over to play more often, it's just that Annie is alone at home and quite lonely."

  It seems that Ding Anping's father still knows her little aunt.

  Cheng Fei felt a bit embarrassed: "En, okay. We won't disturb Uncle Ding's rest anymore, let's go back first." Who? Who put her in such an awkward situation?!

  Li Wei pretended to be a good baby and didn't make a sound. Alas, it wasn't that she was shy, but rather, how should she address him? Li Wei suddenly discovered that her younger aunt was there, and her generation inexplicably became one level lower. If she called Ding Anping's father "Uncle Ding", it might be a bit inappropriate, and if she upgraded to the next level, oh dear, calling him "Grandpa Ding" was really too embarrassing for her. So, she could only pretend to be shy.

  Ding Hong also noticed Cheng Fei's unease, so he didn't detain her for long. After a brief conversation about their studies and daily life, he had Driver Liu send Cheng Fei and the others back home.

  Ding Annie, who had some opinions about Li Wei when she first came in, was reluctant to see her leave and watched as she walked out the door. Her father, Ding Hong, found this very amusing and patted his beloved daughter on the head: "Don't worry, baby, next time we'll have your brother bring that little friend over for you to play with."

  Ding Hong had been through the officialdom for a long time and his eyes were very poisonous. Although it was the first time he saw Cheng Fei and Li Wei, he could see that they were both outstanding girls, although they were not old, but their temperament was not deceiving. Especially Cheng Fei, he had heard his son mention several times, that was a high school top student with unlimited prospects, and today's meeting proved to be very impressive, from a man's perspective, his son Ding Anping did not disappoint him.

  So, no matter how harmonious some superiors may seem at times, the invisible threshold really exists between people, and there are still differences.

  Li Wei walked out of Ding Anni's house and let out a long sigh, finally not having to call someone "grandfather" anymore. This place is unbearable, even that little thing Ding Anni has grown taller than her by a whole generation, what kind of world is this!

  I'd rather not come to this place in the future, it's a waste of time and makes me feel inferior!

  So, after searching the village and finding Li Zhaoxing and Cheng Min in a flurry, they returned home with anxiety and disappointment. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard the sound of laughter and joy coming from inside the house. They exchanged a glance, quickened their pace, and stepped inside to find both of them furious.

  They only saw their eldest daughter, who had been caught everywhere but failed to capture, eating and talking with two younger ones with flying eyebrows and colors. And the audience was also smiling and asking questions with a smile, what a harmonious family picture!

  Li Zhaoxing and Cheng Min simultaneously shouted in unison without discussion: "Li Xiaoming, how dare you come back!"

  The laughter and chatter came to an abrupt halt.

  Three little faces looked up at him with simultaneous fright.

  An old face is also unhappy at the same time.

  Old man Cheng Enjiu was delighted, his granddaughter had just returned, and even his old daughter-in-law came, especially her classmate, the young man was very considerate, and brought him two bottles of Wuliangye liquor, the young man looked good too.

  The old man was in a good mood, but was interrupted by two people who didn't see eye to eye. Old Master Cheng became displeased and turned around with a glare: "What are you two arguing about? If she really didn't dare come back, what benefit would you two have? Besides, my eldest granddaughter is clever, how could she get lost? It's just that she went into the city to see her aunt. This matter will be settled like this, don't take it out on the child, Xiaoming, don't be afraid, Grandpa will take charge."

  Seeing Grandpa being so protective of her, Xiaoming just let it be.

  Cheng Min reluctantly called out "Dad", but was interrupted by the old man: "Alright, alright, do what you need to do, kids have a sense of propriety, nothing will happen."

  Li Wei nodded in agreement, thinking to herself that Grandfather was indeed wise and powerful, and it would be even better if he didn't call her Xiaoming in the future.

  Li Zhaoxing didn't say anything, but he somewhat agreed with the old man's words. This little devil at home was indeed not stupid and sometimes more meticulous than his mother. Since nothing happened after coming back, it was good. He sat down at the dinner table, poured a cup of wine for the old man, and started eating himself.

  It's often said that men have broader minds than women at times.

  Cheng Min's expression turned stern, and she glared at her daughter who had just let out a sigh of relief. She thought to herself, "You little brat, you're asking for it. If you do that again, I'll strangle you to death." Then, she turned around and went into the kitchen to get the hot dishes from the pot.

  It's nothing compared to Li Wei's extravagant spending of over 60 yuan on a bunch of useless stuff, so it's not unbearable.

  Li Wei's runaway incident came to a perfect end under Grandma's behind-the-scenes manipulation.

  The next day I went to school as usual.

  Now their family's buns and steamed buns have been sold by someone in various places, including this school, so at lunchtime, Li Wei directly went to take a few buns, but Li Wei still brought some fruit for the children in a small rice box.

  An hour's lunch break, apart from eating, there is still plenty of time. The twins and Wu Feng went out to play, Li Wei sat in front of the classroom window looking at the May sky fluttering with willow catkins, alas it was also this time last year that she was hit by her elder sister-in-law, then...

  It's all like a dream now.

  Li Wei, who was in a daze, felt a slight itch on her face and touched it to find a willow catkin. It was white and soft, so she stretched out her hand outside the window and let it drift away with the wind. On the playground, there were boys running around, girls jumping rope in groups of three or five, and colorful bows and ribbons fluttering on their heads and dresses, decorating their carefree childhood...

  Wait... Li Wei suddenly remembered her hair accessory business and quickly took a closer look.

  It was found that now girls' heads, apart from using rubber bands to tie their hair up and then tying a thin ribbon-like strip into a bow, which is a relatively high-end decoration, the vast majority are still just rubber bands. There are also slightly better rubber bands, like the kind Li Lin and Wu Feng often wear, which have a layer of colored coarse woven fabric wrapped around the outside of the rubber band, with some even having gold or silver threads mixed in. However, although these look a bit nicer, they're not very durable and easily come undone. As for the dazzling array of hair accessories that Li Wei knew would appear years later, at least in their area, Li Wei still hadn't seen them yet.

  So, headache, I'm coming for you.