Chapter 642: Chapter 282: They Really Rolled Out the Red Carpet for Us!
"No lie, she’s... just a tad less accomplished than you."
"How old is she this year?"
"20."
"She’s only 20 and can be the manager of your company?"
Zhang Jingdong twitched his nose: "Partly because of her abilities, and partly because... I really value her, so she could get to that position."
Zhou Zhou was silent for a while, then suddenly slammed the gas pedal, and the already super-fast Porsche 911 instantly sped away.
Although Zhang Jingdong wasn’t afraid of fast driving, he was still taken aback by Zhou Zhou’s sudden "madness."
"Zhou... Zhou Zhou... you’re not trying to take us down together over her, are you?"
Zhou Zhou was instantly amused: "You wish! I’m not that desperate!"
"Then why are you speeding?"
"If we don’t hurry, we won’t get back before dark!"
"Where’s this we’re heading?"
"You’ll know when we get there!"
Zhang Jingdong noticed a hint of shyness and determination in Zhou Zhou’s eyes, and suddenly realized something.
Over an hour later, Zhang Jingdong suddenly saw the word "Xiang Tan" on the street.
Another half hour later, the car unexpectedly drove into the countryside.
Zhang Jingdong became even more curious and couldn’t help but ask: "Are we going to a teacher’s former residence?"
Zhou Zhou smiled mysteriously: "No."
As soon as she said that, she took a turn and parked the car under a big pagoda tree.
"Here we are, get out of the car..."
After saying that, she got out of the car on her own.
Zhang Jingdong, having come this far, had no choice but to follow suit and get out of the car too.
Zhou Zhou led him to a nearby courtyard and then called out loudly: "Grandma!"
Zhang Jingdong was instantly enlightened, a wave of anxiety flashed through him, then quickly subsided.
Soon, a kind-looking old lady emerged from the house.
Upon seeing Zhou Zhou, the old lady’s initially somewhat bewildered face immediately blossomed with a smile.
Her originally slow steps also quickened significantly, as she went up to tightly grasp Zhou Zhou’s hand and kept looking at her.
The two conversed in dialect for a few words; even though Zhang Jingdong didn’t understand a single word, he could largely guess what was happening from their expressions and actions.
Zhou Zhou then turned and pointed at Zhang Jingdong to the old lady.
Only then did the old lady realize Zhou Zhou had brought someone home and immediately greeted Zhang Jingdong with a smile.
Even though Zhang Jingdong still couldn’t understand, he proactively approached the lady and bowed: "Hello, Grandma!"
Finally, the old lady led them into the house.
Although the house looked old from the outside, the inside had been meticulously maintained by the lady, and the walls were adorned with various beautifully shaped embroideries.
The old lady said something to Zhou Zhou and then went outside, returning soon with two plates of osmanthus cakes.
Zhou Zhou then said to Zhang Jingdong: "My grandma’s osmanthus cake is really delicious, you should try it!"
Zhang Jingdong promptly reached for a piece and took a bite.
After chewing it carefully, he gave the lady a thumbs up: "Grandma, your osmanthus cake is really delicious. I’ve never had such good osmanthus cake before!"
The smile on the lady’s face immediately grew even brighter.
For the next hour or so, Zhou Zhou chatted away with her grandma.
Zhang Jingdong, unable to speak the language, couldn’t interject a single word and subsequently focused on handling the two plates of osmanthus cake on the table.
Finally, Zhou Zhou said something to the old lady, after which the lady asked them to wait a moment and went out again.
At this point, Zhou Zhou took out the money she had prepared beforehand and tucked it under the pillow.
She then turned to Zhang Jingdong and said: "Let’s go."
The two exited the master bedroom and went to the living room.
The old lady then emerged from the west room and handed over a large paper bag full of osmanthus cakes.
Taking two steps forward, she handed it to Zhang Jingdong.
Zhang Jingdong was slightly taken aback, then directly took it: "Thank you, Grandma!"
At this moment, the old lady made an effort to say in unfamiliar Mandarin: "You two take care!"
Zhang Jingdong was momentarily touched and replied: "Grandma, don’t worry, I’ll definitely look after Zhou Zhou well!"
The old lady nodded, and her eyes suddenly became a little wet.
Zhou Zhou then said a few more words to the old lady, after which the three of them left the house.
Following several exchanges of hand-waves, Zhang Jingdong and Zhou Zhou finally exited the courtyard.
At this moment, Zhou Zhou couldn’t help it and began to cry.
Zhang Jingdong quickly embraced her.
On the way back, Zhang Jingdong half-jokingly said: "Now I understand why you’re so beautiful; your grandma must have been an absolute beauty in her youth, just like you!"
Zhou Zhou finally managed a smile: "My grandma was prettier when she was young. Back then, men from ten miles around wanted to marry her, but she waited for my grandpa for a whole five years before she finally married him."
Zhang Jingdong sighed and said: "That’s truly rare; in their era... tsk, not easy!"
Saying this, Zhang Jingdong suddenly remembered something and then said: "No worries, we aren’t any less remarkable; didn’t you also wait for me for over twenty years?"
"And we’re even a cross-provincial couple, who would have thought you, a Xiangnan girl, would end up with me, an East River guy!"
Zhou Zhou’s glance at this point held a hint of shyness: "My grandma and grandpa were together for over 40 years."
Zhang Jingdong then pulled Zhou Zhou’s delicate hand and said: "Don’t worry, as long as you live to be 100, I can definitely live to be 101; surpassing them will be absolutely no problem for us!"
"That’s what you said!"
"No kidding!"
Zhou Zhou was thoroughly happy now, and suddenly veered the car onto a quiet road.