Sister Zhao looked at the basket of donkey meat buns and flatbreads, and the bag of lunch boxes that Chen Lan handed over, and hastily waved her hands, saying, "Xiao Chen, what are you doing? You've bought too much! How can they, an old man and his grandson, eat so much? I only need two donkey meat buns and two flatbreads."
Chen Lan was a person who disliked trouble and being indecisive. So she said, "Sister Zhao, if they can't finish it for lunch, they can eat it for dinner. Besides, it's already bought, and food can't be returned. And if you don't take it back, I have nowhere to put it!"
At this moment, Old Man Zhang spoke up, persuading, "Hongmei, stop arguing with Xiao Chen and don't worry about it. Xiao Chen and Xiao Xu, as a couple, are honest people. They sincerely want to thank you. Since the things are already bought, just accept them quickly! If you don't accept them, where will they put them?"
After speaking, Old Man Zhang turned to the couple and said, "Xiao Chen, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Eat quickly. I'm going to my second brother's house, and I'll take Hongmei back. You two don't need to see her off. As for the lunch boxes, Hongmei can return them to you another day."
Hearing Old Man Zhang's arrangement, Chen Lan and Xu Mingxuan no longer insisted on seeing Sister Zhao off.
So Xu Mingxuan very politely said, "Then we'll trouble you, Brother Zhang. Sorry to bother you."
Old Man Zhang took a bite of a donkey meat bun and waved his hand dismissively, "I say, Xiao Xu, if you're still so polite with me, it makes us strangers."
Chen Lan saw that most of the dishes on the table had been eaten, leaving only a few flatbreads and two donkey meat buns. So she put all the untouched donkey meat buns and flatbreads from the table into the basket she had prepared for Sister Zhao.
Zhao Hongmei saw that the couple was truly sincere and not at all forced. She no longer dwelled on the fact that there were too many things.
Besides, these were all good things, made with high-quality flour, and with donkey meat buns. Her elders and grandson really needed to eat some refined grains to replenish their strength. Thinking of this, Zhao Hongmei no longer refused.
The couple and Er Zhuang saw Old Man Zhang and Zhao Hongmei off. Chen Lan finished her meal in a few bites. She took out three tissues from her pocket and handed one to Xu Mingxuan and one to Er Zhuang.
Then, while wiping her mouth, she said in a low voice, "Brother Mingxuan, Er Zhuang, let's go outside and wait for the children. I have something to discuss with you two."
After speaking, she searched her system warehouse with her mind. After a long search, she couldn't find any unwritten bags. So she found a clean flour bag from the system.
Seeing Xu Mingxuan nod, she said again, "Brother Mingxuan, wait for me for a moment. I'll give the bag of buns to Jiayao and the others."
Then, from her pocket, which was actually her system warehouse, she took out a white cloth bag. After giving the cloth bag to Jiayao, she called out to the four children. The couple and Er Zhuang then walked out of the State-run Restaurant one after another.
The couple and Er Zhuang walked across the road together and stood on the opposite side of the State-run Restaurant, waiting for the children.
Chen Lan turned her head and saw that there was no one around. So she said in a low voice, "Brother Mingxuan, Er Zhuang, do you think my arrangement is okay? For the matter of hauling things back this afternoon, can I assign it to you, Er Zhuang, and the four children?"
Seeing Er Zhuang nod, Chen Lan continued, "Brother Mingxuan and I will continue to search for treasures in the scrap metal recycling station. Father-in-law said there are many rare books, ancient calligraphy, and famous paintings in those piles of things in the yard. These things are very valuable in later life. If we don't get these things out in time, their final fate will be a fire. I'm worried that if things drag on, and the people at the recycling station return tomorrow, it will be difficult for us to act."
Xu Mingxuan thought for a moment and asked, "Lan'er, it's broad daylight now. How will we handle the vehicle for hauling things back?"
Chen Lan thought about it when Xu Mingxuan mentioned it. This was a bit difficult. So many things, and not a single vehicle would not do.
Seeing Chen Lan frowning and not speaking, Xu Mingxuan said, "Lan'er, if it doesn't work, I can go back to my unit and borrow a car."
Chen Lan shook her head like a rattle drum. She immediately said, "Brother Mingxuan, don't take risks. They are just looking for a handle against you. You're walking right into it. This is like a birthday star eating arsenic - seeking death."
Er Zhuang also repeatedly objected, "Yes, Brother, Sister-in-law is right. If you do that, you're handing them a handle. This method won't work. Let's think of other ways."
Chen Lan's words amused Xu Mingxuan. So he asked, "Then Lan'er, Er Zhuang, do you two have any good ideas?"
Er Zhuang shook his head. Chen Lan also shook her head and said, "Brother Mingxuan, you wouldn't believe it, but this time I really don't have any good ideas. We can only wait for Sister Zhao to come back this afternoon and ask her to find her director for help. I think her director is so eager to sell that broken house because some important person has heard rumors about coming to Harbin to inspect. Otherwise, why would she suddenly care about that broken house that no one has inquired about for years? So I believe her director will definitely have a way, and will strongly support it."
Xu Mingxuan thought that this was the only way. So he said, "Lan'er, then the three of us should go to the scrap metal recycling station now and prepare in advance."
Chen Lan smiled and teased, "Brother Mingxuan, I didn't expect you to be in a hurry too?"
Xu Mingxuan replied, "How can I not be in a hurry? I want to arrange everything today so that tomorrow we'll have time to accompany Er Zhuang for a good walk around the city and buy some local specialties. It's not easy for him to come to Harbin. If it weren't for my business, he wouldn't have come to Harbin. If someone asks him what he saw in Harbin, how would he answer? He can't say he didn't see anything and only stayed for a few days. If he thinks back in the future about finally coming to Harbin and seeing nothing, how regrettable would that be? Anyway, we can also buy some Harbin specialties to bring back to Jiamusi for colleagues I have a good relationship with."
Chen Lan thought that it was true. She had almost forgotten that Er Zhuang was returning to Jiamusi the day after tomorrow. She just didn't expect Xu Mingxuan to be so thoughtful.