Things had indeed grown distant with Chen Qing.

Xia Xiaolan still remembered when she asked Chen Qing to help borrow books for review, how his face turned bright red. She had never flirted with Chen Qing, and after his confession, she had rejected him cleanly without dragging things out.

Several times when she came looking for him, she couldn’t find him – some coincidence, but certainly some intentional avoidance too.

If Chen Qing wanted to distance himself from Xia Xiaolan, she couldn’t do anything about it.

Perhaps staying too close would prevent Chen Qing from moving past his innocent crush.

Xia Xiaolan could only respect Chen Qing’s approach and maintain an appropriate distance – it was probably better for both of them. University life was so exciting; that Chen Qing would gradually forget about her.

Young people’s crushes were pure and genuine. Xia Xiaolan had never belittled Chen Qing’s confession, but this was all she could do.

April 5th was the Qingming Festival.

At this time, Qingming wasn’t yet a legal holiday, and the school hadn’t mentioned any break. Liu Fen had gone to Yang City to get stock and hadn’t returned, while Grandmother Yu was making date cakes at home.

“Eating Sanzi, date cakes, and eggs make it a proper festival celebration,” Grandmother Yu said, referring to southern Henan Province’s customs.

‘Sanzi’ were thin strips of flour dough, deep-fried until crispy – people in southern Henan loved them.

Date cakes needed no explanation – Xinzheng produced excellent dates, and eating date cakes had been a tradition in southern Henan for many years. As for eggs, in times of underdeveloped productivity, they were always considered good for nourishment.

Grandmother Yu even directed Xia Xiaolan to “steal” a willow branch to put above the door, saying it was tradition.

During these years of Reform and Opening Up, not only the economy was reviving but also various “traditions.” Although school didn’t break for the holiday, Xia Xiaolan could bring food from home for her roommates. She tried learning to make Sanzi from Grandmother Yu but was mercilessly criticized for her technique.

Grandmother Yu made extra to share with the neighbors. With Liu Fen away these days, Xia Xiaolan went to the store at noon to check the accounts and deposit the earnings from all three stores into the bank.

While depositing money, Xia Xiaolan ran into Police Chief Ma from the local station.

“Why are you depositing money? You’re just a student – your mother is too trusting!”

“Uncle Ma, my mother went to restock inventory, I’m just helping temporarily.”

What did Liu Fen have to worry about? Whether it was four-digit or five-digit amounts, Xia Xiaolan would dare to carry it across the country. Being alone, avoiding secluded alleys and dangerous places – Xia Xiaolan understood these precautions more deeply than others.

Especially when carrying money, she would be extra careful.

The electric shock device Zhou Cheng gave her hadn’t been used much since starting university, but she carried it again these days. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t afraid of being robbed – she was cautious because she feared someone might take both the money and her life.

This money wasn’t worth more than her life – if someone tried to rob her, Xia Xiaolan would hand over the money directly.

Chief Ma didn’t know Xia Xiaolan’s thoughts.

Many people thought that students weren’t adults, and how could a minor handle so much money?

His judgment wasn’t wrong – this family indeed lacked a capable man, otherwise, why would they send a student to handle this?

Chief Ma didn’t say much more, but walked with Xia Xiaolan for a while, telling her to be careful and suggesting that store staff should accompany her when depositing money.

Xia Xiaolan felt that although Chief Ma looked fierce, he was quite warm-hearted and righteous. The store staff mentioned that police officers patrolled nearby, so Xia Xiaolan knew Ma had genuinely arranged for this.

That meal had been worth it – Ma took two cartons of cigarettes and was more dedicated than if he’d received twenty thousand yuan.

If the Qingming Festival had gift-giving customs, Xia Xiaolan would have given Chief Ma something more.

When she mentioned this while getting date cakes, Grandmother Yu pondered thoughtfully: “This Chief Ma seems a bit too enthusiastic.”

Too enthusiastic?

Xia Xiaolan thought Chief Ma seemed quite upright – had she misjudged him?

If others had said this, Xia Xiaolan would have just listened and forgotten it, but Grandmother Yu had experienced much in life, so Xia Xiaolan couldn’t take it lightly. Since Manager Wu had introduced him, Xia Xiaolan planned to ask Wu about him.

She checked the calendar – Zhou Cheng’s birthday was Thursday, April 18th, and she definitely couldn’t go then. She planned to go earlier, tentatively setting April 13th to visit Hebei Province.

Last year for Zhou Cheng’s birthday, Xia Xiaolan gave him a Rolex watch.

Zhou Cheng quite liked watches, so Xia Xiaolan could give watches every year without issue, and she had indeed prepared one this year too.

But beyond that, she wanted to do more for Zhou Cheng.

This was a sign of deepening feelings – before she only wanted to buy things for Zhou Cheng, but now besides spending money, Xia Xiaolan didn’t spare time and effort either.

Zhou Cheng’s biggest concern now was probably the Shi family situation.

Xia Xiaolan had been very busy lately and didn’t know how Guan Hui’e was handling it. Though she couldn’t give Chief Ma gifts for the Qingming Festival, she could bring Grandmother Yu’s date cakes and Sanzi to the Zhou family.

“Child, you’re too considerate.”

Xia Xiaolan said Grandmother Yu made them and brought some for them to taste, including portions for Zhou’s parents. Guan Hui’e didn’t know what to say.

Grandmother Zhou’s favoritism had a reason – when Xia Xiaolan said she would change, she truly changed to be beyond reproach. If one were to say Xia Xiaolan always used the money to buy gifts, this time she brought homemade items, showing genuine thoughtfulness.

“Auntie, I want to visit Zhou Cheng in a few days. He must be very concerned about the Shi family matter. I haven’t helped you handle the Shi family situation lately – how is Mrs. Shi’s eyes’ recovery?”

“What help do you need to offer? I see you have many classes at school and you’re busy with your family’s two stores. Don’t worry about the Shi family matters. It’s not a big issue – Mrs. Shi has been discharged from the hospital, and her eyesight has recovered quite well. They didn’t want to continue staying at the guesthouse, so I rented a small courtyard for them to live in.”

A house needed to be big enough to accommodate a whole family. Guan Hui’e had been worried about finding a suitable place when Kang Wei said he had an empty courtyard, so Guan Hui’e paid to rent Kang Wei’s courtyard.

The Shi family had moved into the house a couple of days ago.

Guan Hui’e had a good impression of Mrs. Shi. As soon as she was discharged, Mrs. Shi said she wanted to dismiss the helping nanny, even though Guan Hui’e was paying. Mrs. Shi didn’t want to take advantage of the Zhou family’s kindness.

Guan Hui’e still used her position as a doctor to ask Mrs. Shi to rest for another half month, promising the nanny would leave after finishing this month.

Regarding work, it was settled in Botong County, and now Zhou Guobin was helping with the transfer to Beijing.

The Shi family’s settlement in Beijing wouldn’t be a big problem.

“When you go to the college, tell Zhou Cheng not to worry. I can handle this matter well.”

Why go to Hebei in a few days? Wasn’t it just Zhou Cheng’s solar calendar birthday?

“About Sister Wei… has her attitude changed?”

Xia Xiaolan still asked this question.

Guan Hui’e frowned: “I don’t understand her either. She still doesn’t want me to tell Mrs. Shi the truth. Every time I face Mrs. Shi, I feel uneasy in my heart.”

Xia Xiaolan thought for a moment:

“Then before I go to Hebei, I’ll personally visit the Shi family.”