Chapter 304

The other party had another purpose, and this day's chat was not so enjoyable.

Zhi Xia went to get her some peaches and suggested going next door to sit for a while.

Liu Ling seemed to realize that her purpose was too obvious, smiled awkwardly, got up and went with her.

It was rare for Pei Jing to come back. At noon, he took Chenye and Little Sixth to drink with friends and left. Zhi Xia took the children next door and asked Sister Zhang to come and help so that everyone could have lunch together.

As soon as An Zhiqing took Liu Ling away, the old madam's face collapsed.

The old master secretly signaled to her, "The children all have their own lives and families. Why do you still manage so much? Isn't it just to make yourself comfortable in vain?"

The old madam moved her mouth, but didn't say anything more. Instead, she stood up, "Zhi Xia, take Wanqing with you. Grandma will take you two to a place. Leave the little ones at home for your grandfather and Sister Zhang to take care of."

Ever since Old Pei passed away, the old master's life had become increasingly dull, and he was no longer as happy in spirit as before.

Apart from occasionally going out to play chess with a group of old men, he would spend most of his time staring blankly in the recliner in the yard.

Lately, the old madam had also become thinner. Even though Zhi Xia had been trying her best to nourish their health.

The place the old madam took Zhi Xia to was a small alley. From the outside, there was nothing suspicious about it, but when the door of a household was knocked open and they went inside, it was a different world.

She had not expected that this turned out to be a hidden tailor shop.

"Mrs. An, you are here..." A girl came out and intimately held the old madam's arm.

"I heard that you have picked up your grandfather's skills. So I brought my granddaughter to take a look." The old madam was obviously very intimate with the other party too. "I just got back and didn't have a livelihood. I still have to eat." The girl's smile was slightly bitter. It was evident that life was not so good either.

The old madam comfortingly patted the back of her hand and introduced, "Zhi Xia, this is Su Ying. Her grandfather used to be the famous old tailor in our Jin City. At that time, the clothes in our family were custom-made at their fabric store."

Of course, they also had some business dealings. But it’s better not to mention those old affairs.

Su Ying greeted Zhi Xia affectionately. Zhi Xia also responded hastily.

The old madam asked Su Ying about things like whether she had a partner. It suddenly reminded Zhi Xia of her two unmarried older brothers at home, and she couldn't help but look at her more carefully.

Su Ying didn't mind either, answering them one by one and leading them into the room.

While talking with the old madam, she didn't forget to greet Zhi Xia from time to time, praising Wanqing a few words occasionally. She was able to handle the two of them without making people feel neglected.

"Mrs. An, you came today to help with my business, right? I just happen to have a few pieces of good fabric suitable for making cheongsams here. Do you want to take a look?" Su Ying smilingly asked the old madam, "There are also a few pieces of bright colored fabric suitable for Zhi Xia. Why don't you take a look together?"

"It's a bit inappropriate to wear cheongsams now. You might as well look to make me an everyday dress." The old madam pulled Wanqing and didn't forget to exhort her, "Also make a few stylish ones for Zhi Xia and this little girl."

The old madam chose the fabric and subscribed to the style with a catalogue.

Zhi Xia looked at the catalogue. The clothes in it looked as if she had drawn them herself, they were indeed quite nice.

Seeing Zhi Xia stare at it several times, Su Ying said, "The styles in this booklet were drawn by me, and only one piece of clothing is made for each style. The ones you choose will be taken out."

The tailor shop had just opened, and it was still operating according to the traditional model from years ago, only serving long-time old customers. So business was not very good.

Of course, the prices were not affordable for the average working-class people either.

Zhi Xia understood that this was equivalent to private customization where only one piece of clothing was made for each style, which could completely avoid the embarrassment of wearing the same style as someone else.

The old madam got a set for herself, two sets for Zhi Xia, two sets for Wanqing, the summer clothes were very thin, yet they paid more than three hundred dollars, and that was the price after paying in cloth bills.

Even Zhi Xia couldn't help gasping heavily.

When they left, the old madam reluctantly held Su Ying's hand, "Little Ying, call your grandfather to come to my house for a casual dinner tonight, okay? I originally wanted to invite him personally, but unfortunately he went out. Just in time my little grandson will come over tonight too. Remember that you two used to be childhood sweethearts." The Su family was sent away two years before Zhi Xia returned. Now they had only been back for a few months. There were only this grandfather and granddaughter left in the family. The Elder Su was already in his sunset years. So she was anxious to find someone for Su Ying to rely on.

The obvious matchmaking tone, yet Su Ying didn't show any objection at all, "Then grandpa and I will go bother Mrs. An tonight."

After leaving, Zhi Xia asked, "Grandma, are you arranging a blind date for my fourth brother?"

The old madam didn't deny it either, "You siblings were born together. Look at you, your kids are already going to elementary school, and your fourth brother still hangs out with other guys all day. Isn't it time to hurry up with the marriage?" As for your third brother, it can't be helped. He has to go abroad. I can’t let him find a partner and let her wait for him to come back."

Moreover, the old madam had her own selfish reasons. No matter Zhou Nan or the two daughters-in-law above, none of them were to her liking. Coming from a prestigious family herself, she knew well the importance of inheritance.

Among these grandchildren, the one she worried about the most in terms of temperament was the fourth one. Su Ying had inherited the Su family's skills and was also the Su family's only successor. She had watched Su Ying grow up since she was a child. If Su Ying married into the family, it would be a good match between her and the fourth brother, and their personalities could complement each other.

In a relationship, especially when one was prone to impulsiveness, it was necessary to have someone more steady to look out for him more.

From Su Ying’s side, there didn’t seem to be any problem, she just didn’t know what the fourth brother thought.

The things the An family got back this time were not even one tenth of what they originally had. Most of the places and items were severely damaged, not to mention those that had been donated.

Of course, they were relatively lucky that at least the family members were intact.

Other families were not so fortunate, like the Su family, there were only Elder Su and Su Ying left, and Elder Su was already in his sunset years. So she was anxious to find someone for Su Ying to rely on.

The blind date was also something they had previously agreed on, it just happened that the fourth brother had not come back until now.

When she returned home, An Jingzhi and Zhou Nan were already there, and An Zhiang was sitting on the side with an obvious dissatisfied look on his face.

As soon as he saw Zhi Xia come back, he immediately stood up and pulled Zhi Xia aside, saying that he wanted to hide away in peace next door.

Zhou Nan impatiently urged Zhi Xia, "Keep an eye on your fourth brother and don't let him get away."

After they went out, she asked, "Fourth brother doesn't want to go on a blind date?"

An Zhiang’s answer was straightforward, "What’s the point of a blind date? Like my big brother, marry a wife, give birth to a kid, then don’t see each other once in six months or a year? How comfortable it is to be alone. I also don't have to deal with all those messy things."

Zhi Xia patted his arm unhappily, "Don't talk nonsense like that. Your big brother lives far away, but isn't it very easy for you to come back now?"

An Zhiang looked at her aggrievedly, "You don't understand."

Once he married, things wouldn’t be so harmonious anymore. How could he do whatever he wanted like when he was alone.