People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Chapter 362 Only state officials are allowed to set fires, but no surnames are allowed to light lamp

Xiaoting couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Aunt Song has finally become a mother of a college student, so she definitely wants to cherish the moment. If she doesn't take a lot of pictures, she'll feel like she's missing out. My mom has been a mother of a college student for four years, so she's experienced. Aunt Song is really enjoying herself right now."

Pengfei quickly caught up from behind and subtly separated Xiaoting and Dongzhe.

Seeing the two of them standing so close, it seemed they weren't planning to avoid people now that they were in college. He reached out and put his arm around Lin Dongzhe's shoulder, his voice low and carrying a warning tone.

"Lin Dongzhe, although we don't go to the same university, we're both in Shanghai. If you dare to bully Xiaoting, I won't hesitate to take the bus over here and settle the score with you."

Lin Dongzhe patted Pengfei's chest, assuring him confidently. "Pengfei, you can rest assured! We've been through thick and thin together, don't you know my character?"

Pengfei rolled his eyes at him and said irritably.

"It's precisely because we grew up together and I know you so well that I'm worried about you."

Dongzhe smiled and reached out to hug him back. "Let's not talk about that. By the way, I heard your school is in the Minhang campus, which is in the middle of nowhere. It takes a long time to get to our school by bus. Don't go out at night, okay?"

Pengfei nodded. "You're not so bad after all; don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Zhuang Chaoying turned around casually and saw five children walking behind her, chatting and laughing.

"Ah Ling, Xiao Song, do you two still remember when we went to Tongji University to catch those three mischievous monkeys?"

Song Ying affectionately linked arms with Huang Ling.

"Of course I remember! How could I forget? That time Tu Nan took us on a tour around the campus, and I was really shocked. He introduced us to the students in a very generous way: this is my mom and dad, this is my neighbor aunt, and this is my neighbor brother."

At the time, I thought, "If Dongzhe could introduce his classmates like that, saying, 'This is my mom,' and 'This is the neighbor's uncle/aunt,' and 'The neighbor's brother,' wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"After that trip to Tongji University, I told Wu Feng as soon as I got home that I had to get Lin Dongzhe into university no matter what. I never thought that my wish would actually come true!" Song Ying laughed as she spoke.

Zhuang Chaoying and Lin Wufeng followed side by side behind them.

Zhuang Chaoying shook her head with a smile. "This Xiao Song, so many years have passed, but he's still as impulsive as when we first met, his temper hasn't changed at all."

Lin Wufeng stared at Song Ying with doting eyes: "No wonder she kept greeting her roommates and classmates in the corridor, saying that she was Dongzhe's mother. She couldn't hide her pride at all."

Huang Ling smiled and took Song Ying's hand. "I can understand. Dong Zhe finally got into university, so he has to let Song Ying show off a bit."

"Sister Ling!~~~"

Song Ying called out coquettishly, and then the group burst into cheerful laughter.

The happier you are now, the sadder you will be when it's time to say goodbye.

Zhuang Chaoying hurried back to Xiaoting's dormitory and took out Pengfei's luggage.

This time, it means the children are officially becoming independent and starting a new chapter in their university life.

Xiaoting, Dongzhe, Tunan, and Wanshu stood at the grand gate of Fudan University, watching their parents, uncles, aunts, and Pengfei walk further and further away.

A gentle breeze stirred Xiaoting's hair. She pursed her lips, her eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them.

This was the first time she had left her parents. Watching their backs gradually disappear into the crowd, she suddenly felt a loss of belonging and could no longer hold back her tears.

Lin Dongzhe was initially a little sad. He was a thoughtful person and not heartless. But when he thought about being able to spend every day alone with Xiaoting, he secretly felt happy.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiaoting crying, and his heart ached. He secretly reached out and put his arm around Xiaoting's shoulder.

Tu Nan remembered that his parents had sent him off to college in the same way. Afraid that Xiao Ting would be sad because it was her first time leaving home, he was about to comfort her when he saw Lin Dongzhe's hand on his sister's shoulder.

He frowned. "Lin Dongzhe!"

Lin Dongzhe immediately let go of her hand and looked over. He saw Tu Nan and Wan Shu holding hands tightly. It's like the saying goes, "Only officials are allowed to set fires, while ordinary people are not allowed to light lamps." They are openly dating, while he was just comforting Xiao Ting. The difference in treatment is too obvious. People who have gone through the motions are treated differently.

"Brother, I just wanted to comfort Xiaoting."

Tu Nan pouted and glared at him fiercely.

"Xiaoting, your sister Wanshu and I live next door. If anything happens, just call my dorm building. Don't try to handle it all by yourself."

Zhang Wanshu chimed in, "Xiaoting, if there's anything you can't tell your brother, you can tell me instead."

Lin Dongzhe really wished he could get into Jiaotong University too, so he could stay away from Tu Nan.

Heavens above, earth below, how can we not escape the "surveillance" of these two brothers-in-law?

Xiaoting wiped away her tears. "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law, I understand."

Lin Dongzhe pursed his lips and looked at them. "Xiaoting, I'll take care of her."

Tu Nan believed Dong Zhe's words. Putting aside everything else, this kid was really good to Xiao Ting, he had been good to her since they were little. He just couldn't get over that hurdle in his heart.

. . . . . . . . .

Suppressing the bitterness of parting, Song Ying and Huang Ling boarded a minibus and headed towards Jiaotong University's Minhang campus.

The minibus bumped along the highway. Zhuang Chaoying looked out the window at the increasingly desolate scenery. This place was indeed "Minhai Wasteland," a world apart from the bustling city center.

Upon arriving at Jiaotong University, they busied themselves helping Pengfei complete his enrollment procedures.

Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling carefully made the bed, while Song Ying wiped the wardrobe clean and then neatly folded Pengfei's clothes and put them inside.

With everything arranged, Pengfei's eyes were slightly red, and Huang Ling also felt a little uncomfortable. She had been holding back when she sent Xiaoting off earlier. She walked to Pengfei's side and reached out to touch his back.

This was the first time Pengfei had ever taken the initiative to hug Huang Ling.

He tried to remain calm, his voice trembling slightly. "Uncle, Aunt, Aunt Song, Uncle Lin, you should go back quickly, it's getting dark soon."

Huang Ling gently patted Pengfei's back. "I put two hundred yuan in a hidden compartment in your luggage. Pengfei, your parents aren't with you, so your uncle and I are your temporary guardians. Don't be stingy. If anything happens, call home, or you can call Tu Nan, it's the same thing."

Pengfei forced a smile and nodded vigorously. He didn't stand on ceremony with his uncle and aunt; he remembered all the money. "I know, Aunt."

He waved to his elders and watched their receding figures. Pengfei could no longer hold back. He quickly wiped his face with his sleeve and walked firmly into the Jiaotong University campus, facing the autumn wind.

On the way there, the group of seven was lively and cheerful, with laughter and chatter filling the air; on the way back, only four lonely figures remained on the minibus.

Song Ying and Huang Ling remained silent the entire way, their cheerful demeanor from the journey gone.

Back in the alley.

Lin Gong and Zhuang Chaoying exchanged a glance, pointed to their respective dejected wives, nodded knowingly, and each took their wives home.

Zhuang Chaoying gently embraced Huang Ling, sat down on the sofa, and softly comforted her. "Ah Ling."

Huang Ling's voice was choked with tears as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Chao Ying, you know, why did we buy such a big house if it's just the two of us living here? Xiao Ting and Peng Fei have gone to school, and Mom and Dad have gone back to Changcheng."

When Zhuang Chaoying heard Huang Ling mention houses, she thought that since it was 1987, prices would skyrocket next year, leading to a nationwide buying frenzy.

The money in your hands will depreciate significantly in value; money only becomes yours when it's spent.

He's been thinking about whether he should buy a few more properties in Shanghai, hoping they could both preserve their value and perhaps even appreciate in value.

"Ah Ling, how much savings do we have now?"

Huang Ling lifted her head from his embrace, looking at him with teary eyes, both angry and aggrieved. "I'm crying so hard, and instead of comforting me, you ask how much money our family has. Zhuang Chaoying, are all men born from cracks in rocks?"

Zhuang Chaoying looked aggrieved. No, he was also thinking about his family. As he thought about it, he lay in A-Ling's arms and cried. He couldn't bear to part with Xiao-Ting either. Xiao-Ting had never stayed out overnight before. How could he not know how A-Ling felt?

"Okay, I didn't mean to just now. Don't cry. I know you're sad. Xiaoting and Tunan aren't going to be gone forever. Summer and winter vacations will be here soon." Huang Ling wiped away her tears and turned to comfort Chaoying, who was crying sadly on her lap.

As Zhuang Chaoying cried, she thought, "I'll walk your path and leave you with nowhere to go."

. . . . .