Cherry Blossoms for a Long Time (Part 6)

 In fact, Grandpa Zheng had already applied for a public housing unit for Yingqi's family in the military compound.

However, Grandma Gu refused to move out of the old house, so Grandpa Zheng had to rent it out and give the rent to Yingqi every month to help with household expenses.
He told Yingqi that it was what she deserved, something her father had earned with his life.
When the great flood struck, if it weren't for Gu Yingqi's father driving a truck loaded with earth and stones into the breach without hesitation, a third of the residents of Yanhai City would have been affected and left homeless.
Gu Yingqi felt no pride in her father for this; instead, she felt he was somewhat selfish, since it was his choice that led to her becoming a posthumous child. If she could choose now, she would hope that the flood would have destroyed the entire city of Yanhai. At least then, she, still in her womb, could have been submerged with her family forever, never to be separated. Perhaps, they could have become three free fish, living together day and night in the rivers and seas.
He lacked his father's awareness; he had endured nearly twenty years of injustice and contempt as an orphan.
In the air-conditioned office, Han Dong across from him was playing games again, while Gu Yingqi was using the internet to gather various materials for the company. He didn't want to owe the company too much.
After all, the Zheng family had done so much for his family. Even if what they did was, as Han Dong said, merely a small favor, it was still a tremendous kindness to Yingqi.
These kindnesses filled Yingqi with a strange anxiety.
Many nights, he even decided to accept Grandpa Zheng's request to join the army and leave Yanhai far away. But the next day, when he saw his grandmother's frail appearance, he abandoned the idea.
He could only work desperately to minimize his debt to the Zheng family.
However, the Zheng family's kindness seemed impossible to repay.
Shortly after the rainy season, Grandpa Zheng, having learned about the condition of Yingqi's old house from his granddaughter, actually hired a construction team, with Zheng Jiujiu supervising, to renovate their house while Yingqi was at work.
That evening, when Yingqi and Han Dong returned to the old town by bicycle, the old houses had been fitted with new tiles, and even the path from the house to the courtyard had been paved with brand-new tiles. What was Zheng Jiujiu doing at that moment? Wearing a yellow hard hat, she was standing on the high scaffolding, re-dragging the wisteria that had fallen to the side during the construction back onto the roof.
Han Dong beside her rang the bell and whistled at Zheng Jiujiu high up. Sunlight shone on Zheng Jiujiu's fair face, and the way she squinted as she looked in their direction made Yingqi unable to look directly at her. Yingqi parked her bicycle, and Zheng Jiujiu, having finished tidying up the wisteria, was happily climbing down the scaffolding, ready to show off to Yingqi, when she suddenly lost her footing, screamed, and fell from the scaffolding.
That time, Yingqi, instinctively rushing forward to catch Zheng Jiujiu, made a mistake; he shouldn't have hugged her head-on. Otherwise, how could saving someone result in a resounding slap on the left cheek?
Gu Yingqi, standing there covering his face, saw Han Dong beside him doubled over with laughter, while Zheng Jiujiu's retreating figure, disappearing around the street corner, was filled with rage.
He was even a little worried that Grandpa Zheng would soon send a whole company of guards to arrest him.
Fortunately, the "offended" Zheng Jiujiu didn't seem to report to the "commander."
Two days later, she even personally attended the inspection of the Gu family's old house renovation project. At that time, she was wearing denim shorts, her legs long and beautiful, and her high ponytail swayed from side to side with every step, making her look even more playful and cute.
After everything was settled, she stood before Gu Yingqi with her hands on her hips, and said to him with a sense of accomplishment, "How about that? When the rainy season comes again, you and Grandma won't be scrambling around anymore."
Her tone clearly showed she had already forgotten the "offense" she had suffered two days prior. She even lightly tapped Gu Yingqi's shoulder with her fingertips, smiling reassuringly at his apologetic expression: "No need to say 'thank you,' Gu Yingqi. Remember, you deserve all of this."
She spoke as if she were an angel Yingqi had waited so long to finally descend to earth, like starlight finally appearing in a long, dark night, like the only sweet lemon in the world.
Gu Yingqi looked at the newly renovated old house. On the side of the house, the huge osmanthus tree was covered in tiny yellow blossoms, their fragrance permeating half the city.
Opposite, in a recliner, Grandma, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan, was humming Kunqu opera along with the radio.
After a long pause, he finally mustered the courage to ask, "Zheng Jiujiu, didn't you used to dislike me?"
Zheng Jiujiu was taken aback by the question, tilting her head to look at him, a smile gradually spreading from the dimples at the corners of her mouth: "I suddenly realized that you're not so bad after all. We can still be friends, okay?"
She didn't give Gu Yingqi a chance to ask again. As she spoke, she turned around and walked towards Grandpa Zheng, who had somehow appeared at the front door.
Grandpa Zheng, with his hands behind his back, seemed quite satisfied with the project his granddaughter had overseen, smiling as he patted Zheng Jiujiu's head: "You did a good job on the task. Verbal praise!"