novelslam Chapter 1111 Pulling is painful
Chapter 1111 Pulling is painful
Chapter 1111 Pulling is painful
"Hey - Second Uncle, what are you doing?"
Qin Huairu came in from the courtyard gate and saw Liu Haizhong walking towards Li's house with a basket of eggs in his hand.
She couldn't help but joked: "This, is it considered milk production, or a full moon?"
"I think it's a little early for the first birthday ceremony, right?"
"Go - Qin Huairu, stop messing around!"
Liu Haizhong knew that Qin Huairu said this to embarrass him for cramming at the last minute, and he felt embarrassed when there were many people in the courtyard at this moment.
His blushing was not because of Qin Huairu's teasing, nor because of the people in the courtyard who were laughing at him.
He is in his forties, almost fifty, and Liu Haizhong has never given anyone a gift in his life.
It is impossible to say that one does work entirely based on real ability and has never flattered others.
But as for gift giving, today's basket of eggs was the first time in his life.
"What about full-month gifts or first-year gifts? Second Master doesn't lack the gift money in this courtyard."
After an investigation by the organization, Liu Haizhong's one-year disciplinary order was lifted this month and he regained his official worker status.
After taking off the tight hoop on his head, he looked much more lively. He no longer looked so shameless as before, with his head lowered.
Of course, no matter how lively he is, he no longer has the arrogance he had when he was the second uncle.
With so many misfortunes happening one after another in his family, he just felt that he had escaped a disaster and should be grateful. In this day and age, people like Yang Yuansong and Yang Fengshan have all died, so what did he count for?
So, you see people in the yard looking at him as if they were watching a show and making fun of him, and whispering about him, but he doesn't really care about it.
But Qin Huairu was teasing him in person, and as an elder, he couldn't help but speak up.
However, he also wanted to take this opportunity to explain his purpose to prevent people in the hospital from making wild guesses and gossiping.
He first responded with an explanation about the gift money. He was not exaggerating. A lean camel is bigger than a horse. Even if their family experienced another misfortune, they were still stronger than ordinary families.
Even if what he did with the old man was embarrassing, he would not refuse the gift money that other people give for doing things properly. This is a symbol of life.
To be honest, on the Li family's side, he spent money as gifts for Li Xuewen's wedding, the birth of children, and Li Xuewu's wedding, the birth of children.
When Sha Zhu got married, had children, or attended Yan Jiecheng's funeral, he didn't neglect any gift money from anyone.
Qin Huairu teased him because she found it strange. Second Uncle's family gave money as gifts, but rarely did they give gifts as big as eggs.
"That's right, Guangfu is back," Liu Haizhong said with some shame, "He did something wrong and felt very embarrassed. He told me that he was taken care of by the martial arts students in prison. As a father, I have to show my appreciation."
"Second uncle, please stop doing this."
Li Xuewu heard the noise in the yard, and his family members heard it too. They all looked out the window at each other in bewilderment.
He also took the initiative to stand up and walked out of the house, smiling and saying hello to Liu Haizhong: "If you see me coming back, sit with me for a while, anything is fine, but you absolutely cannot carry this."
"Hey - Guangfu is back and we didn't even know about it!"
Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Congratulations, Second Master, this is a double blessing for you!"
"Double happiness, it's considered a reformation."
Liu Haizhong accepted Qin Huairu's deliberate rebuke calmly and said with a smile, "Don't flatter Second Master. It's embarrassing."
Li Xuewu took the initiative to come out to greet them, and Qin Huairu helped set up the stage. This was considered as a way for him to regain the face of his son to live in the courtyard again.
Today he went to the prison to pick up his son. Over the past year, Liu Haizhong has visited the prison once a month. Every time he goes, he can feel his son's growth and progress, which makes him feel very gratified.
On the way to pick up his son, he couldn't help but feel happy. Even though he had to put on the face of a strict father, his tone couldn't hide his joy.
But when he returned to the alley, Liu Guangfu hesitated before entering the yard. He stood at the gate and looked around for a long time, as if he didn't recognize this as his home.
Liu Haizhong called him to hurry into the yard, but Liu Guangfu no longer looked as if everything was new to him on the road, but seemed a little stiff and dull.
After he dragged her into the yard, she lowered her head, clasped her hands, and looked as if she was too ashamed to face anyone.
Liu Haixin felt pain and hatred in his heart. After returning home, the three of them wiped their tears and then fell into a long silence and awkwardness.
It was he who took the initiative to take Liu Guangfu to the bathhouse at the door to take a half-day bath, and then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a new short-sleeved shirt, new pants, and new cloth shoes.
Even with a clean set of new clothes, it was still difficult to remove Liu Guangfu's inner inferiority and loss.
Liu Haizhong knew that he should do something as a father, to do something for his son.
If he wants to help his son regain his dignity in life, he must get the recognition of his neighbors.
He couldn't take his son to visit every household to express his opinion. Not only would it be useless, but it would also put a heavy burden on his son and make him a laughing stock.
Therefore, to untie the bell, one must find the person who tied it. To solve the problem, one must grasp the main contradictions and key points.
He learned from Sha Zhu that Li Xuewu would come back to stay overnight, so he went out for a walk in the afternoon and finally found a basket of eggs.
"Learn martial arts, this egg is not something that Second Master asks you to do, please don't misunderstand."
Liu Haizhong no longer has the arrogance, and his unrealistic ambitions have disappeared. Instead, he has restored the essence of the workers of this era: simple, honest and sincere.
He said with some emotion: "I heard on the street that if parents don't discipline their children, sooner or later someone will discipline their children for you."
"This is absolutely true for me. It couldn't be more true."
In the surprised eyes of the neighbors in the yard, Liu Haizhong said: "I am not the kind of person who spoils my children. Everyone knows that when it comes to beating children, no one is more ruthless than me."
"But, over the past year, I have been constantly reflecting on which of my three sons I have made successful."
"No, not a single one. The top beam is not straight and the bottom beam is crooked. I am the one who made the mistake."
Liu Haizhong waved his hand and said, "I made mistakes in educating my child, and I am ashamed of it. Beating will not make a filial son. "
"But I have to say that Guangfu's transformation over the past year has really taught me a lot as a father."
He looked at Li Xuewu and said sincerely: "When you sent Guangfu in, I blamed you, but now I have to thank you."
"If it weren't for this, Guangfu wouldn't have grown up so fast, and he might have learned bad things. I lost face, but I got a good son back. This year is really worth it--!"
"Second uncle, you are not complaining, are you?" Old Seven stood aside and teased, "I saw you secretly asking for Director Li's backyard house!"
"Hahaha--!"
"Go! You are talking nonsense!"
Liu Haizhong heard the noise of the crowd and knew that his neighbors had listened to what he said, so his contempt and discrimination dissipated a lot.
Of course, he didn't dare to imagine that the people in the courtyard would still treat his son the same as before, but at least they wouldn't argue with him in front of him.
He handed the egg basket to Liu Yin who followed him out, and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't embarrass me. You must accept this."
"Uncle, you are so polite. We live in the same courtyard."
Liu Yin didn't want to take the egg, so she called Liu Haizhong and said, "I'm back from martial arts training. Come in and have a drink of water while you two chat."
Li Xuewu also did not take the egg. He smiled, held up his arm and invited him into the house.
"I heard what Shazhu said."
Liu Haizhong explained a little embarrassedly: "He said you should come back and stay overnight. I don't have any other intentions."
"Don't be so polite. You're making a fool of yourself." Li Xuewu asked him to leave first, and then asked Qin Huairu, "Come in and stay for a while?"
"I have something else to do at home—"
Qin Huairu knew what Li Xuewu meant, and seeing him coming to pull her, she had no choice but to follow Liu Haizhong into the house.
But he said with a smile: "Second Master doesn't want me to watch his fun."
"We are all neighbors living in the same courtyard. There is nothing funny about it."
Liu Yin invited Liu Haizhong and Qin Huairu to sit in the room, and said as she made some tea, "If we don't maintain it, we will be laughed at by outsiders."
Li Xuewu forcibly pulled Qin Huairu into the house. Liu Yin naturally knew what was going on. She was on guard against Liu Haizhong coming to the house to cause gossip.
In case Liu Haizhong said something here, or this basket of eggs caused any speculation, there must be a witness, and it must be made clear and understandable.
The Li family must invite Liu Haizhong in openly and send him out with a clear conscience.
Li Xuewu is her own son. He has ulterior motives and she can see clearly what he wants to do at a glance, so she greets Qin Huairu very warmly.
"Jingru and his wife are back. Did you just get home? You didn't know yet, did you?"
"I don't know if this little brat hates me or what, she won't come back even when I tell her to."
Qin Huairu complained with a smile, then looked at Liu Haizhong and said, "Second Uncle, did you pick up Guangfu today? I said I didn't see you on the way, so you must have asked for leave--"
"I took a day off and picked him up around nine in the morning."
Liu Haizhong looked at the Li family, nodded with some envy, and said, "I took him to change everything from head to toe."
"Reform yourself and start a new life."
"If you ask me, you see it clearly." Qin Huairu said seriously: "From what you just said, this is really not a bad thing."
She curled her lips, raised her hand and gently pulled her arm from her bangs, saying, "You know this alley yourself."
"Over the past year, many kids as old as Guangfu have died. They just disappeared without a trace, and their families don't even know whether they are dead or alive."
"Really?" Liu Yin asked in surprise, "Why haven't I heard of this?"
"Who can tell others about this?" Qin Huairu looked at Liu Yin and said, "If you ask them, they will say they are working in other places. Is that possible?"
"I haven't seen him for a year. What kind of job does he have at such a young age? Why doesn't he come home?"
"Ah—who says it's not?"
Liu Haizhong nodded, sighed and said, "I told Guangfu about the ones that were missing in the alley, and he was shocked himself."
"Before he was released, he promised me that he would behave himself after he was released and would never cause trouble again. I think he is now more decent than before."
"How can you say that about your own son?"
Liu Yin smiled and comforted him, "Children are young and naive, so it's inevitable that they will make mistakes. It's enough for them to know that they are wrong. We'll see what happens in the future."
"Who knows what he will be like in the future——"
Liu Haizhong took a sip of hot tea and said with a somewhat depressed look: "There is no book for him to study. He is not that kind of person."
"Even if this didn't happen, he would be unemployed after graduation. There are no jobs available at this time. There are so many people waiting at home."
After saying this, he looked at Li Xuewu, who had been silent, and said, "He told me that he wanted to be self-reliant. I can't just ignore him."
"I saw Yan Jiefang across the street, doing a good job with the West Yard Recycling Station."
Liu Haizhong asked in a pleading and negotiating tone: "Look, can you let Guangfu go with us to collect waste? I don't ask him for anything else. Whatever, I have to support myself with my strength first."
"This is a good thing. As long as he is willing to earn money through labor, he won't be embarrassed wherever he goes."
Li Xuewu stood up, holding the thermos and refilling Liu Haizhong with hot water, and said, "If you have agreed with Guangfu, I will tell Guodong in the evening. It's not a big deal. We can live in the same courtyard."
"Thank you so much—" Liu Haizhong finally felt relieved and said with a smile: "I told him about Yan Jiefang's earning money to support his family, and he himself is willing to collect waste."
"Yan Jiefang is about the same age as him, and he can earn enough to support his family. Why can't he, a grown man, earn enough?"
"Oh - or should I say, you really understand." Qin Huairu smiled and nodded in praise: "What's wrong with collecting waste? I make a lot of money every month. I make money by working hard. Who looks down on whom?"
She tilted her chin, pointed to the door and said, "As for Yan Jiefang, who would care about him before? He's a stinking bastard."
"But look at him now. He is very eloquent and takes the initiative to say hello when he sees me."
Qin Huairu spread her hands and said, "Take Teacher Yan's family for example, what kind of crap is that!"
"He can take the initiative to support his sister-in-law and earn money to support his family. Just based on this, have you seen anyone talking behind his back?"
"And now you still have to praise him for being kind and righteous. He limped while carrying the child on his back, but he didn't lose face or dignity. He actually saved his reputation!"
"What is face?"
She looked at Liu Haizhong and said, "His wife and children are crying with hunger, they have nothing to wear and nothing to eat. How can he be so successful outside and still think he has face?"
"It's good for the children and for Ge Shuqin. I really earned the money back in an honest way."
Qin Huairu said with full of admiration: "It's really useless for his parents to support this family. Which of the neighbors would not be convinced?"
"It's really encouraging—"
After hearing what she said, Liu Yin nodded in agreement and said, "During the Chinese New Year, I felt uncomfortable when I heard the noise next door."
"Ge Shuqin has a child and she herself has a leg problem. How can they live when they are all together and being talked about and pointed at?"
"How are they living? Aunt Liu, look at that young couple, they are living a good life!"
Qin Huairu curled her lips and introduced: "The third aunt didn't want to look after the children or cook for me, so Yan Jiefang was really ambitious and took care of the children and cooked for me herself."
"You said that people who collect scrap have no face and no money, and they don't eat well?"
She raised her eyebrows and said, "Yan Jiefang is very caring. He often buys meat for our family and milk powder for the children. I have seen it many times."
"Really--"
Liu Yin was also surprised when she heard this, and said, "You still have to make money down to earth."
"What do you think? The people on the other side are so angry that they are almost dying." Qin Huairu glanced at Liu Haizhong and whispered, "They are so angry that they are almost dying when they smell the meat!"
"I heard that, too—"
Liu Haizhong nodded and said, "It is said that Yan Jiefang took good care of the child. He did his best and the food at home was good too."
"He's lucky to have met a good person," Qin Huairu explained, pursing her lips. "Guodong saw that his legs were not in good condition, and he took the initiative to come to him and ask for help. He didn't even need to say anything, and he agreed to hire him."
"Given what he did before, he deserves to have bad legs and feet. Who can he blame?"
She pointed at Li Xuewu and said, "If it weren't for him, would Ge Shuqin have taken over Yan Jiecheng's class?"
"After Ge Shuqin joined the factory, she was assigned to work in the logistics department. How did she get to the duty room?"
"Didn't Xuewu secretly help her get a new position so that she would have more time to take care of the child?"
Qin Huairu curled her lips and said, "It's just learning martial arts. If you change to another one, who will take the initiative to help them quietly."
"I also heard that the old man said that he should learn martial arts and take care of us——"
Liu Haizhong nodded, looked at Li Xuewu and said, "When I came out, Guangfu told me that he was afraid that you would be embarrassed and didn't want me to trouble you."
"I said, what's the problem with this? You are wrong. Your second brother taught you how to be a man. Now that you have learned it well, beg your second brother to teach you how to do things."
He said, "I told Guangfu that I was not afraid of embarrassment. I knew your second brother was capable and we lived in the same courtyard. If I didn't ask him for help, who else could I ask?"
"That's right—"
When Liu Yin heard her son agree to help Liu Guangfu arrange a job in the West Courtyard, she smiled and agreed, "Living in the same courtyard, we all want everyone to be well and hope that the children will have a bright future."
"He only has this much ability, so we should help those who can." She looked at Liu Haizhong and said, "We don't expect anyone to think well of us, we just hope for the best for everyone."
"So, Uncle, you have to take the egg back."
Without waiting for Liu Haizhong to say anything else, Liu Yin smiled and said in a resolute tone, "Since he is willing to help, you have fulfilled his kindness."
"This—I—"
Liu Haizhong was so moved by Liu Yin's words that he didn't know what to say.
"Sister-in-law, I sent you these eggs with all my heart, don't even think about it..."
"He's the second uncle, we can't think wrongly."
Liu Yin smiled as she picked up the egg and placed it in Liu Haizhong's hand. She said, "I am happier to hear you say that learning martial arts is good than eating this egg."
"O sea, take it back"
The old lady sitting on the chair next to the eight-immortal table said, "We have lived in the same courtyard for many years. We can discuss anything. Just don't be suspicious and don't be too polite."
"Look at me--ah--"
Liu Haizhong also smiled sheepishly, stood up, looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Then I would like to thank you on behalf of Guangfu."
"Hey, Uncle, don't say that."
Li Xuewu stood up with a smile, shook his hand and said, "When I asked you to do something, I didn't bring eggs to see you."
"Hahaha--!"
Liu Haizhong felt more and more embarrassed, but he also felt more at ease.
Qin Huairu also stood up with a smile and said, "Second uncle, keep these eggs. When you learn martial arts and have your second child, you can send them to me."
"Okay! Hahaha, I will definitely come!"
With his bangs now looking good and a step down, he always had a smile on his face when he left the house.
Everyone in the yard was waiting to watch the fun, but they saw Liu Haizhong coming out again with the basket of eggs, still laughing heartily. Everyone opened their eyes wide, wanting to see what was going on.
Li Xuewu only sent Liu Haizhong and Qin Huairu to the door. Qin Huairu asked about the arrangements for the second half of the year at Red Star Primary School. When she heard Li Xuewu asking her to come to the back room for dinner in the evening, she declined a few times, chatted a little, and then went to the backyard.
After Li Xuewu and Liu Yin returned to the house, people in the yard began to discuss and speculate what Liu Haizhong had said to the Li family and why he was so happy even though the eggs had not been given away.
-
Dinner was eaten in the back room. After work, Li Xuewu went home to change clothes and picked up his mother to come to the compound. It was already late.
Besides, Li Xuewu had already agreed with Sha Zhu to prepare dinner in the back room, so Zhao Yafang and the old lady did not prepare dinner.
As soon as Liu Haizhong and his friends left, Shen Guodong came to call them for dinner. The family walked towards the back house in a mighty manner, which made the neighbors in the yard envious. After chatting and laughing, there was more discussion.
Some people say that Liu Haizhong is really stupid. When the other party told him not to accept gifts, he just took it back?
Some people also said that Li Xuewu was aloof and looked down on the basket of eggs, and did not want to have anything to do with the Liu family.
Some people even said that Liu Hai had evil intentions and was planning to frame Li Xuewu with a basket of eggs.
There are various opinions and views, some of which even begin to sound like conspiracy theories.
It was not until dinner time that no one knew who brought it up first, but it spread from one room to another and everyone knew about it. Liu Haizhong helped his son settle his next job.
Of course, we didn’t go to the Red Star Factory, but to the recycling station in the West Courtyard.
It was only at this time that everyone realized that Li Xuewu had confiscated the eggs from Liu Haizhong and arranged a job for Liu Guangfu.
No wonder Liu Haizhong was smiling so happily when he came out of Li’s house. But what did Li Xuewu want? Just to gain a good reputation for helping others?
Why doesn’t Yan Fugui believe it——!
When he heard the news, he suddenly felt that the stewed eggplant and potatoes on the dinner table tonight were tasteless and the meal was no longer enjoyable.
If we can’t compare to the good ones, can we compare to the bad ones?
He has three sons and one daughter, and Li Shun has three sons and one daughter, all of whom are about the same age.
Since we live next door to each other, of course we have to compare.
But later on, I couldn't compare with him, and I couldn't catch up with him. Living in this courtyard, I naturally had to find someone who was worse than me, otherwise I would die, right?
Therefore, the Liu family in the backyard became the object of comparison for Yan Fugui's life.
The Liu family also has three sons. The eldest sons of both families have proper jobs, but the eldest son of his own family had an accident and passed away this year.
Are you saying that you lost to the boss?
No, in Yan Fugui's opinion, an unfilial son like Liu Guangqi would be better off dead.
Let’s compare him with the second son. His leg was broken, and not only did he have no job after graduation, but he also had the bad reputation of marrying his sister-in-law.
This comparison is naturally with the third son of the Liu family, who is in prison!
Tian Ji won the horse racing!
No matter what happened to Yan Jiefang, he did not go to jail. This is a personal morality issue, has nothing to do with crime, and does not affect the lives of others.
Another thing is that the second child is now motivated, self-reliant, earns money to support the family, and has a good reputation.
So, there is no problem with the second one winning.
The second son of the Liu family?
Well, Liu Guangtian is indeed promising now. I heard that he has become a workshop foreman in Northeast China.
But, after all, he was in the Northeast, leaving his family and career behind, so his third child could definitely compete with him! He even had an absolute advantage!
Because the third child in my family is still in school, there is a possibility that he may go to college or become a cadre in the future.
What? You said that passing the college entrance examination and becoming a cadre is a delusion or a goal, not a career?
It can only be said that you are narrow-minded and do not understand Yan Fugui's mentality at this time.
In the blind date market of later generations, what does it mean when girls write "examination for civil service" in the occupation column?
Why--!
Yan Fugui’s mentality is like this: My third son is studying and preparing for college. There are unlimited possibilities in the future. Even if you are the class monitor, it won’t work for you.
but!
Why was it that the third son of the Liu family could find the same job as the second son from Li Xuewu as soon as he came out of prison?
This is unfair. After conversion, the comparison between the two companies is equal!
"Let's eat - what are you sucking on?"
Hou Qinghua glanced at Yan Fugui, who was frowning and sighing, and asked suspiciously, "What's wrong? It doesn't taste good? Don't want to eat? Are you feeling sick?"
"no--"
Yan Fugui glanced at his third son and eldest daughter, and thought to himself that he still had a chance, and that was if his eldest daughter could make it.
But daughters are raised by others, so no matter how successful they are, it has nothing to do with me.
How successful would my third son have to be to be able to surpass the other sons of the Liu family?
"I'm just feeling upset."
"My dad must be thinking about my second brother."
Yan Jiedi held a steamed bread in her hand, picked up an eggplant with chopsticks, and pouted: "I saw it all. My second brother's family is having stewed potatoes with meat and fried eggs with Chinese toon tonight. They smell so good."
As he said this, he sniffed carefully in the direction of his second brother's house, pursed his lips and said, "Yes, the smell of Chinese toon is really strong."
"Eating can't stop you from eating, right? If you don't want to eat, get off--!"
Hou Qinghua hates it most when people mention his second son at the dinner table, and he smells meat and Chinese toon. It's just that you have a good nose, can't I see that they are eating well?
Why are you angry?
Because when my son ate with them, the food he paid for had never been so good.
Now everyone in the hospital knows that Yan Jiefang loves his daughter-in-law Ge Shuqin and his children. He himself is reluctant to eat meat and eggs, and tries his best to provide nutrition for the mother and daughter, so that there are delicious food every day when he comes back.
Just tell me, who did Yan Jiefang put in this situation? It was her, the mother.
Why? When they lived together, she made her daughter-in-law and son suffer?
Yes, the food is not good when we eat together, but the family has to make a living, so we have to save money. What daughter-in-law eats like this!
Even at the Li family across the street, Zhao Yafang was never seen eating meat every day. At most, she ate eggs.
Now, Yan Jiefang cooks her own meals at home, and the food is much better than before, which makes her seem like a degenerate.
Another thing, what does it mean to forget your mother after getting a wife? At the beginning, his wife Yan Fugui was against her son raising his sister-in-law. If it weren't for her strong support as a mother, would he have succeeded?
Now, Ge Shuqin treats him like a treasure and pampers him every day, but he never seems to feel sorry for her as a mother.
Even if he just sent a bowl of meat and a few eggs, it would be considered that he had a conscience.
Every time she had dinner, she felt upset when she smelled the aroma of meat and vegetables.
What's the point of raising sons? They can't do anything and all they do is make you angry!
Thinking of this, there was a hint of resentment in his eyes when he looked at the third brother again.
Yan Jiekuang was thinking about eating meat at his second brother's family when he saw his mother looking at him.
"Mom, don't look at me! My sister-in-law brought you a bowl of food, but you were so angry that you said no, and you kept mumbling about it."
He held the rice bowl in his hands, shook his head and said, "If you ask me, you should have the ideological awareness of 'others eat while you watch, others sit while you stand'. Pulling is painful--!"
"roll--!"
-
"Zhang Xinmin, who is the most powerful person in this room?"
Sha Zhu was drunk again, but not to the point of being confused. With a red face, he teased Zhang Xinmin who was playing on the kang and asked, "Tell me, who is the biggest?"
"I said - I said grandma is the biggest!"
Zhang Xinmin pointed at the old lady and said, "Grandma is older than grandpa, and also older than second master."
Wen Saner's son is of the same generation as Li Xuewu, so naturally he has to call the old lady, the eldest grandmother and the second uncle grandpa and grandma.
At this moment, Fei Shanying pulled down her son's hand and taught him, "Don't point your finger at people when you talk, especially to grandma."
Zhang Xinmin is almost five years old now. He understands everything. He listens to his mother's teachings and nods to remember them.
Sha Zhu was still teasing him, saying, "No! You are the oldest in this room."
"Me? Why am I the biggest?"
Zhang Xinmin knew that he couldn't point his finger at people, so he shook his head in the direction of the old lady and said, "I'm not even as old as grandma. I'm only four and a half years old!"
“Look—!”
Sha Zhu leaned against the dining table, sitting on a long bench, looking at Zhang Xinmin on the kang, counting on his fingers, and said, "Your brother Wen Yuan, your brother Wen's family's Li Tang, our family's He Zhuang, your brother Wu's family's Li Ning and Li Shu, are all not as old as you."
"You are not only the brother, but also the uncle. Don't you think you are the oldest?"
Zhang Xinmin listened to his words and turned to look at the circle of little radish heads on the kang table. That was indeed the case. Six children were just the right size to fit together at one table.
The dinner tonight was very lively. While eating, the children on the kang were chattering and crying one by one. Then the whole group cried.
The younger generation has grown up, got housing through work, got married and had children. There have always been happy events like the addition of new members to this courtyard. If you really count, I don’t know how many children there are now.
It’s just that those who gathered together tonight are all good friends.
"Don't worry, Brother Biao will give you a nephew or niece this year."
Shen Guodong smiled and teased Zhang Xinmin, and asked him, "You have to prepare the red envelopes for the New Year. When your nephews and nieces come to you to wish you a happy new year, you can't return the gifts empty-handed, right?"
"Ah? --You want another red envelope?"
Zhang Xinmin was stunned for a moment and said in surprise: "I'm still young, how can I give you a red envelope?"
"But you are an uncle!"
Shen Guodong teased him, "We said auspicious words to your father during the Chinese New Year, and he gave us red envelopes. You should learn from your father too."
"But I don't have a red envelope——"
Zhang Xinmin looked at his mother in embarrassment and asked, "Should I give them red envelopes?"
He nervously pointed to the babies on the kang. They couldn't even crawl, so how could they become creditors?
"As long as they say auspicious words to you, I will give you money." Fei Shanying wiped her son's mouth with a smile and said, "You have to save money, otherwise you won't have any red envelopes to give out during the Chinese New Year."
"Ah? I still need to save money? But I don't even have enough money to spend--"
Zhang Xinmin was so worried that he held the small wallet hanging on his chest like a treasure.
"Hahaha--!"
Sha Zhu and Shen Guodong succeeded in amusing the child, so they laughed out loud, and Fei Shanying also smiled as she told her son about the custom of saying auspicious words during the Chinese New Year and the custom of elders giving red envelopes to younger generations.
Li Xuewu watched them quarreling and also watched Fei Shanying teaching the children. He was satisfied with her and also with Wen Saner's choice.
You said Fei Shanying is a widow with a son, and who knows what will happen to her in the future, right? But Li Xuewu doesn't think so.
Group stereotyping, or identity guilt, is definitely a paradox.
Who says you can't marry a widow with a son? Who says the son will hate his stepfather when he grows up? It depends on what kind of widow she is.
Just because Fei Shanying dared to leave her family and career to follow Wen Saner to Gangcheng and give birth to a son for him, and dared to let Wen Saner go to such a faraway place to pursue his career, we have to say that Fei Shanying wanted to live with Wen Saner and was a smart person.
It was not her initiative to choose Wen Saner to live with her. It was her son Zhang Xinmin who chose this stepfather himself.
Wen Saner was also very kind to the mother and daughter. When he went out to work, Li Xuewu and the others took care of him and brought things home from time to time.
Just look at Fei Shanying's current life, which is really beyond the reach of ordinary people, far from it.
Does Fei Shanying have money?
Yes, but definitely not much, just the more than a thousand yuan that Wen Saner left for her when he left.
Wen Saner had been away for such a long time and never brought her any money. Li Xuewu also didn't offer her any money. Even when she helped at the recycling station, Shen Guodong didn't even offer her wages.
Therefore, the more than one thousand yuan in her hand is still more than one thousand yuan.
She doesn't make money, but she doesn't spend money either.
For three meals a day, unless I want to eat something special and make it at home, I eat at the recycling station.
In the morning, when Shen Guodong and Xiaoyan came to work, they would pick her up and go to the West Courtyard. After breakfast, they would let her make her own arrangements.
Diliya also brought her children with her, and most of the time she was left to take care of them while she went to work at the recycling station.
Xiaoyan would buy daily necessities and send them home before she finished using them.
Otherwise, why did Wen Saner dare to send her and her mother back to the capital and go to Hong Kong alone? He must have had a plan in mind.
There's nothing to be uncertain about. This group of brothers and sisters take care of her more attentively than Wen Saner does personally, like they are her aunt.
Therefore, Fei Shanying, who has a calm mind and no pressure in life, teaches her children with gentleness yet strength, and is careful and serious.
"The warehouse has been packed up, I'm wondering when to move over there."
Shen Guodong clinked glasses with Li Xuewu and introduced, "Director Wang helped to get all the formalities done. We have cleared out the items in the eight large warehouses and are just waiting to use them."
"There is a bungalow over there. I want to use it as an office, duty room and dormitory. The boys can live there in the future."
"Where's this side?"
Li Xuewu looked at him and asked, "The purchasing stations and distribution outlets cannot be moved, right?"
"Don't move. Of course you can't move."
Shen Guodong shook his head and said, "We will continue to operate as normal in the future, but when we collect the cars at night, the waste will be sent directly to the warehouse."
"What about the small factory? What are you going to do?"
Li Xuewu looked at him and asked, "Does the street have any specific requirements?"
"No, Director Wang didn't mention it. He just told me to hurry up and get it done as soon as possible."
Shen Guodong scratched his head and said, "If we set up a small factory next to the warehouse, we can't touch dangerous goods industries like the match factory."
"I'm thinking of the whole packaging factory. We have our own papermaking channels, and these products all need packaging. What do you think?"
"I don't know. Think about it yourself."
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "You can't rely on me for everything. You have to learn to think for yourself and face business challenges independently."
He waved his hand, not wanting to hear how Shen Guodong spent 2500 yuan to get a franchise license from the supply and marketing cooperative and the street office.
He had told himself about these things some time ago, and it was Yu Li who helped him with the consultation.
Shen Guodong is good in every way except that he is too careful and cautious.
"Let me make a rule. In the future, don't ask me about anything less than five thousand dollars at a party like this. Just decide for yourself."
Li Xuewu smiled and set a standard for Shen Guodong so that he wouldn't feel unsure. This made everyone in the room laugh out loud.
If the recycling station develops well, everyone's life will naturally be better. Who would have thought that collecting waste could make a fortune? Well, Fei Shanying didn't expect it anyway.
"If you don't want to talk about this, what do you want to talk about?" Shen Guodong asked with a smile: "It won't be about how to teach children, how to raise children, right?"
"Ha ha ha ha--!"
The room was filled with laughter again because of Shen Guodong's teasing. Li Shu heard them laughing, was stunned for a moment, and then started laughing too.
Her smile was inexplicable, but everyone else was laughing. If she didn't laugh, it would seem something was inappropriate.
But when Li Shu laughed, everyone laughed even louder.
"Ah—you're right!"
Li Xuewu pointed at Shen Guodong and said with a smile: "Next time we get together, we have to talk about how to raise children. This is a big question!"
"And a personal question—!"
He turned to look at Wang Yamei who was eating on the kang and asked, "Yamei, didn't you say you were going on a blind date last time? Why haven't you said anything recently?"
"Hmm? Why are you talking about me——"
Wang Yamei was watching the fun with her bowl in hand when she was suddenly attacked by Li Xuewu. She said angrily, "Brother Wu, do you know that I am not a matchmaker?"
"Why don't you introduce one to me?"
(End of this chapter)