After exchanging a few words with Li Long, Zhou Xiujuan pointed outside and said apologetically:
"Li Long, you and Old Chen carry on chatting. I have to take the boy to school, and then get to work myself. If you haven't eaten, I can have my mother-in-law make you something later..."
"Go ahead, Sister-in-law. I've already eaten. I had breakfast before coming over. Brother Chen and I are practically family. No need to stand on ceremony."
"All right, you two carry on. I'm off." Zhou Xiujuan picked up a slightly worn cloth bag from the sofa and headed out with it.
After lifting the door curtain and stepping outside, Zhou Xiujuan said quietly to the child:
"Zhixin, go say hello to Uncle Li and tell him goodbye. We're leaving."
Was this boy called Chen Zhixin?
The boy lifted the curtain and took a step into the inner room, looking a little embarrassed as he said to Li Long:
"Hello, Uncle Li. Goodbye, Uncle Li!" Then he turned to head back into the outer room.
Li Long quickly caught hold of him, pulled a ten-yuan Great Unity note from his pocket, and pressed it into the boy's hand.
"Zhixin, this is my first visit, and I didn't know what would make a suitable gift. Take this money and buy yourself a pencil case or something outside the school."
"Xiao Li, Xiao Li, you can't do that! Don't give the boy money. We don't do that..." Chen Hongjun hurried over to stop him, but Li Long pushed him back lightly and said with a smile:
"As an elder, it was already rude of me not to bring a gift for our first meeting. He has to take this money. All right, all right. Sister-in-law, hurry and take him to school. Don't be