Cai Wenli smiled after hearing this, "It's good to try, it's good to try."
At this moment, Cai Wenli's mother, Lu Qiaohong, came out and looked at Cai Wenli, asking, "Wenli, hasn't Jingru returned to celebrate the New Year?"
Liu Jingru came to pay New Year's greetings every year, but she didn't see her this year, so Lu Qiaohong was a little confused.
"She's back. Her friend is also celebrating the New Year at our house. She's with her friend now. We'll see if they come over for dinner later," Cai Wenli explained.
If Xia Lin didn't come for dinner, Liu Jingru definitely wouldn't come either.
"Then let's invite them over together. Should we let two children eat outside during the New Year?" Lu Qiaohong said displeasedly.
She felt Cai Wenli hadn't handled this well. What was the matter with letting two children eat outside during the New Year?
Besides, Lu Qiaohong also missed Liu Jingru.
"I'll mention it to them later," Cai Wenli said with an embarrassed smile.
After all, if Xia Lin didn't come, she couldn't say much.
"Okay, be sure to let Jingru and them come for dinner." Lu Qiaohong finally nodded with satisfaction.
Peng Gaojie and the other two were slightly stunned. Liu Jingru's friend was most likely Xia Lin.
This was already very obvious.
Zhou Lu looked at Peng Gaojie, and he also looked at her. Both of them saw a complex look in each other's eyes.
They wanted to curry favor with Xia Lin, but they were also afraid, a mix of love and fear.
It was like a new car, loved dearly, wanting to drive it, but also afraid to drive it.
Saying they didn't want it, but their bodies were honest, playing hard to get.
For the entire morning, Xia Lin and Liu Jingru stayed at home by the fire, while the national "Little King" and others sent Xia Lin New Year's red envelopes.
Xia Lin's hands were getting sore from receiving red envelopes. Although the money was negligible to everyone, isn't the New Year all about joy?
At this moment, Liu Jingru's phone rang. Seeing that it was Cai Wenli calling, Liu Jingru answered and asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Your maternal grandma wants you to bring Xia Lin over for dinner. You can watch a movie after you finish eating," Cai Wenli said.
"I'll ask Lin'er," Liu Jingru said, holding the phone and whispering to Xia Lin, "My maternal grandma wants us to go for dinner. How about we go for dinner and then go to the movies?"
"Okay, I'm already at your house. You decide," Xia Lin nodded.
Liu Jingru nodded, holding her phone, and said, "Mom, we'll come over at noon."
"Okay, then hurry up. Wear more clothes when you go out, it's cold," Cai Wenli instructed before hanging up.
The two tidied themselves up at home before going out. They arrived at Liu Jingru's maternal grandmother's house around noon.
Upon learning that Xia Lin would be coming, Peng Gaojie called his uncle, Peng Gui, in advance to report the situation.
"Uncle, Xia Lin is coming to Zhou Lu's maternal grandmother's house for dinner later," Peng Gaojie found a corner and quietly called Peng Gui.
Peng Gui on the other end of the phone was overjoyed and said, "Remember to be polite to her. I'll find something to report to Vice Governor Qu."
"Uncle, I know." Peng Gaojie wouldn't dare to be impolite to Xia Lin. He wouldn't hesitate to kneel down and call her great-grandma.
"Okay, then be flexible and keep in touch." Peng Gui instructed and hung up.
It was the first day of the Lunar New Year. While others were on vacation, they were not.
After all, those on vacation were grassroots workers. Business had stopped, but other essential units had staggered shifts. Leaders like Vice Governor Qu had no holidays at all, working non-stop all year round.
Qu Mingwei's phone rang. Seeing that it was Peng Gui calling, Qu Mingwei thought Peng Gui was going to wish him a Happy New Year.
"Xiao Peng," Qu Mingwei called after answering.
"Vice Governor Qu, Happy New Year. I wish you a Happy New Year, good health, and great fortune in the Year of the Tiger," Peng Gui first wished Qu Mingwei a Happy New Year.
"Good, you too. Happy New Year," Qu Mingwei nodded.
Their relationship was such that Peng Gui and Qu Mingwei wouldn't exchange many pleasantries, especially about career advancements.
"Vice Governor Qu, I have something to report to you," Peng Gui said softly.
Qu Mingwei was slightly surprised. Did he have to report work on New Year's Day?
"Go ahead," Qu Mingwei asked.
"Xia Lin will be visiting my niece's maternal grandmother's house today to pay New Year's greetings and will have lunch there," Peng Gui briefly explained Xia Lin's visit.
Qu Mingwei was stunned. This was an extremely important figure!
Qu Mingwei was silent for a long time and said, "I don't have anything to do at noon. Why don't we go to your in-laws' place to pay our respects?"
Qu Mingwei thought for a long time and finally decided to go and say hello.
After all, it was the New Year, and paying a visit to make acquaintances wouldn't hurt anyone and would seem sincere.
He dared not expect to latch onto a powerful figure, but at least making acquaintances would be of great help in the future.
"Vice Governor Qu, that's fine. I'll communicate with my nephew," Peng Gui said, his face lighting up, and quickly agreed.
After today's event, if he could build a good relationship with Xia Lin, when he was assigned to a position in the future, it would at least be a city-level unit, or he could even become a magistrate in a county.
"Okay, I'll trouble you," Qu Mingwei replied.
Hearing Qu Mingwei's polite tone, Peng Gui was overjoyed and quickly assured Qu Mingwei, "Vice Governor Qu, don't worry, I'll complete the task."
After they hung up, Peng Gui called Peng Gaojie.
When Peng Gaojie told Lu Qiaohong about this, the old lady didn't know anything about it. Upon hearing that Vice Governor Qu was coming to pay New Year's greetings, she was so frightened that her blood pressure soared, and she quickly agreed.
This was Vice Governor Qu, a great leader that ordinary people rarely saw.
When Peng Gaojie went out to call Peng Gui back, Lu Qiaohong was still in shock but beaming. She looked at her eldest daughter and said, "Wenmei, Lulu married a good husband. For this old woman to see such a great leader, it's truly glorious."
Everyone knew that Peng Gaojie's uncle was Vice Governor Qu's secretary, but they didn't expect him to have such great influence.
"Hehe... Children have their own blessings," Cai Wenmei chuckled, looking very happy.
Cai Wenmei herself knew that Liu Jingru's classmate seemed to have a very high status. She had learned some things when her daughter got married last time, but she wasn't very clear about the details.
After all, even Peng Gui didn't know Xia Lin's exact identity.
In short, she was very formidable. Cai Wenmei, an outsider, wasn't even qualified to know. Zhou Lu had mentioned to her mother that Jingru's classmate had very strong connections.
"Quick, quick, heat up the dishes. We're waiting for Vice Governor Qu to arrive," Lu Qiaohong urged.
It was truly a blessing from past generations and extraordinary luck for such a high-ranking official to visit their home for New Year's greetings.
..............
(ps: Happy New Year, prosperity in the Year of the Tiger. There are mothers-in-law all over the country. I'll be direct, hand over your lucky money. Asking for gifts during the New Year isn't too much, is it? Every bit counts. Being certified by a great author would be even better, mua! (*╯3╰))