MMB Chapter 1443 This lackey is better off gone.
Chapter 1443 This lackey is better off gone.
Chapter 1443 This lackey is better off gone.
Sha Zhu, who had never drunk two and a half jin of liquor in his life, got drunk after drinking less than one jin.
Delia was furious, and Yushui, equally angry, pinched her brother hard.
No matter how angry they are, they're still his own man, his own brother. They still have to take him home; they can't let him embarrass himself here.
There's really no need to embarrass ourselves. Most of the people sitting here today are old neighbors and acquaintances from the same courtyard. Everyone knows each other.
However, after the Hongxing Factory workers' new village was built, the factory workers on this street gradually moved away, but everyone's feelings remained unchanged.
People can still meet in the workers' new village, but it just doesn't feel as warm and welcoming as it used to be.
I don't know why, but when we got together again and sat in this old courtyard, we had so many feelings and felt much closer to each other.
When drinking with a bosom friend, a thousand cups are not enough. In the past, when everyone lived in the same courtyard, everyone was inseparable. But now, few people remember those old, trivial matters. What they remember are the good things, happy events, and joyful moments.
When people are happy, they tend to express their feelings, and when they express their feelings, they tend to drink more. Today's food and drinks are plentiful, so everyone is eating and drinking to their heart's content.
Sha Zhu got drunk and cried, wiping away his tears while hugging the shoulders of the two old men.
When Diliya saw that the two old men were also wiping away tears because of what he had done, she quickly went over to pull him away and also had to comfort the two old men.
"They're having a happy occasion, what are you doing—"
Having only been in Beijing for three or four years, Diliya's accent and personality have already changed.
She used to be shy, or rather timid, but now she has a commanding presence that overwhelms Sha Zhu.
She nudged Sha Zhu from behind to sober him up, and then together with Yu Shui who had come over, they helped him leave the table and walk home.
"Didn't I tell you before the meal started that you should drink less? Look at you—"
As the younger sister, she naturally couldn't lay a hand on him, but Yu Shui didn't hold back with her words either.
The siblings, who depend on each other for survival, are both straightforward and speak their minds.
"I didn't drink too much. How could I have drunk too much?"
Sha Zhu was still arguing, and then he stood up crookedly, swaying as if he was about to fall.
He insisted that he hadn't drunk too much, then grabbed his second uncle and tried to kiss him.
"Second Uncle, do you think I've had too much to drink?"
"You're drooling all over my neck, tell me you're drunk or not!"
"Ha ha ha ha--"
The sadness and sentimentality that everyone was feeling were dispelled by Uncle Er's joke.
Well, today is a joyous day, a day for everyone to reunite in this familiar place. We should be happy, and even more so, we should hope to get together more often in the future.
"What's going on?"
Li Xuewu accompanied his younger brother as he toasted everyone, and was chatting with his maternal relatives, Qi'er, when his mother, Liu Yin, gently patted him, gesturing to someone behind her.
He apologized to Fu Caining and got up to walk towards Sha Zhu.
He has to step in and handle everything in his own family; it's not acceptable to let his older brother deal with it.
Because my older brother Xuewen was also drunk.
He's a bit better than Sha Zhu, because even when he's drunk, he doesn't make a sound and just sleeps in a daze.
My sister-in-law, Zhao Yafang, was feeling unwell. She only came to the front of the house briefly during the meal, and then went back to the backyard after finishing her meal.
After my older brother got drunk, his brother-in-law, Zhao Yajun, helped him home. He was already snoring away.
Seeing that Sha Zhu was about to be knocked down, Li Xuewu quickly walked over and asked with a smile.
He had already reached out and supported Sha Zhu's arm as he asked this question.
His strength was so great that Delia and the rain combined couldn't match his.
"Quickly help your brother home."
Diliya was genuinely embarrassed and whispered to Li Xuewu, "I'm sorry."
"What are you saying? Let me do it."
Li Xuewu put his arm around Sha Zhu, supported his arm as they walked outside, and joked with a smile, "What's that saying in Northeast China? If you can't drink, then don't drink."
"If I can't outdrink you, can't I outdrink them?" Sha Zhu was drunk, but his mind was still clear. He knew who could outdrink him.
"That's all you're good for."
Delia, who was walking behind them, retorted to him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Who else was sitting at the same table as Sha Zhu?
To put it simply, without even asking who else is at the table, he's the youngest among them in terms of age.
The older men are considered normal; there are no younger ones.
These "old folks" were the ones Sha Zhu had never drunk before; he was the first to get drunk.
"What's wrong with this little bit of ambition?"
Sha Zhu looked around and asked, "Where's my son? I need to teach him how to drink."
Do you think he was drunk or not?
It's impossible for him not to have drunk too much; he even tripped and fell while walking.
But if you say he's drunk, he's telling Li Xuewu, "I may never outdrink you in this lifetime, but if I train my son, he'll definitely be able to outdrink your son."
"Stop talking nonsense—"
Delia glared at him and urged him to hurry home.
He Yushui followed behind and found it funny. Li Xuewu, who was so tall, carried her brother like he was carrying a chick.
The middle courtyard wasn't much quieter than the front courtyard; neighbors who had finished their meals would sit there chatting idly.
Jia Zhangshi stood in front of her old house, looking around, occasionally peering through the window and clicking her tongue.
"What are you looking at, Aunt Jia?"
Sha Zhu mumbled incoherently, "If we're back home, why aren't we going inside?"
"I was thinking of that. Could you open the door for me first?" Madam Jia glanced back at him and muttered, "Is he drunk?"
The Jia family was among the first residents after the completion of the workers' new village. Qin Huairu and her mother-in-law had agreed to exchange their land and house for an apartment.
The group's logistics department, together with the finance department and the human resources department, conducted a unified survey and statistics of the replacement houses. During this process, the condition of all houses was registered and filed, and they were handed over to designated personnel for protection and management.
The most obvious feature of the group's formal acceptance of these houses was the iron lock and seal on the door.
When they first moved, Jia Zhangshi could come back to visit when she missed home, but now she can only stand at the door and reminisce about her lost youth and the suffering she endured.
"Come in and have a seat, I'll make you some tea." Seeing her lingering at the door, Dilia offered her the seat.
After all, they were old neighbors, and the two families already had a good relationship when she married into the family.
Of course, that's great. Qin Huairu doesn't provoke Sha Zhu, and Sha Zhu has his own family now, so what kind of conflict could the two families possibly have?
Madam Jia waved her hand and said, "No, we'll go back after Huairu finishes eating."
The sun comes out in the west?
In the past, if someone invited Jia Zhangshi to their home, she would not have been polite at all.
Why be so polite? Let's just chat about this and that, gossip for a whole morning.
But not today. Qin Huairu had already reminded her before she left that she shouldn't go visiting everyone's house; things weren't like they used to be.
Do you think Jia Zhangshi is afraid of her?
That's right, she was afraid of Qin Huairu, even more afraid than before. She was afraid that Qin Huairu would just leave.
Don't be fooled by her tiff with Qin Huairu. The more they quarrel, the less she can afford to make mistakes, otherwise she'll just give Qin Huairu a chance to teach her a lesson.
Qin Huairu lives across the hall from Liu Guoyou. They are a couple now, but who is she behind closed doors?
If she really angers Qin Huairu, she'll be left with nothing.
If those two people still acknowledge her, she'll have someone to care for her in her old age and see her off in her final days. If they don't, she might starve to death at home and no one will even know.
She still has to protect this family business for her grandson. If she really causes trouble and ruins her grandson's business, how can she face her son after she passes away?
Seeing that she wouldn't go inside, Diliya and Yushui didn't let her go any further and followed Li Xuewu into the main room.
"Let's go--"
Li Xuewu tossed Sha Zhu onto the kang (a heated brick bed), told him "Don't catch a cold," and then walked out.
He was punched in the back by He Yushui when he passed by.
Li Xuewu sensed her dissatisfaction, but he didn't know or care to know exactly what it was about.
She can't possibly avenge her brother, can she?
Yu Shui saw him grin and leave the house, but he just glared at her and snorted without making any other move.
Diliya saw all of this, but what could her sister-in-law say?
Why did He Yuzhu drink so much today?
He didn't say it, but she could tell. When Li Xuecai and his wife came to offer a toast, she clearly saw envy in his eyes.
Yes, He Yuzhu envied the young couple. It wasn't that he had any designs on her, but he envied their happy marriage while his sister was still all alone.
He Yuzhu was especially moved when Li Xuewu brought Li Xuecai and his wife to offer a toast.
Wine only deepens sorrow.
How could an older brother not feel sorry for his younger sister? But there was nothing he could do about it.
To put it bluntly, the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuchs are; who can guess what Yu Shui is thinking?
She's almost 25 and considered an old maid, but there's no sign that she's interested in dating.
If you ask her what she and Li Xuewu had in common, she, as his sister-in-law, knew that in reality, there was nothing between them.
Whether He Yushui is a young woman or not, even if she can't tell, can't outsiders tell?
No matter how much outsiders gossip, no one dares to say that He Yushui is immoral.
Even if someone spreads rumors, there will be discerning people who will scoff and deny what the other person is saying.
She's still a young woman, why is she so indecent?
But if you say there's nothing between her and Li Xuewu, then as his sister-in-law, she's just as anxious as her brother.
In the past, if Li Xuewu had just been a security officer, it wouldn't have been a big deal; they could have just dealt with him.
But who would have thought that in just three or four years, Li Xuewu would rise to prominence and start a family.
Neither she nor He Yuzhu approved of Yushui's awkward behavior, but neither dared to say it aloud.
He Yuzhu was depressed. He had taken Chinese medicine last year, but the root of his illness was still there. No matter how much medicine he took, he would get better.
If there's really nothing wrong, why does Yushui keep focusing on him, and why does she bother going to the Red Star Factory?
In recent years, she has watched her sister-in-law rise rapidly in her career, from a union cadre in a textile factory to the general manager of an international hotel, which has puzzled her.
If Li Xuewu truly disliked or didn't want rain, why would he support her traveling so far?
To be frank, I didn't really mean it that way. I left it aside early on so my sister-in-law wouldn't miss it day and night.
Just that punch—ask anyone sitting in this courtyard if they would dare to play around like that.
For some reason, Delia had a strange feeling: was Li Xuewu spoiling his sister-in-law?
"I only found out when I was buying groceries that her second aunt was dying."
Seeing that Qin Huairu was still talking to Jingru and Yuli, Jia Zhangshi went to chat with the old neighbors in the shade.
Many elderly women, like her, moved to the workers' new village with their children, while others remained in the old courtyard as neighbors.
When everyone gets together again, there are always endless topics to talk about, after all, they've been accumulating them for more than half a year.
If you ask whether Jia Zhangshi is happy after moving into a spacious and bright apartment building.
She probably wanted to answer:
Happiness? I'm about to suffocate!
Every day, besides housework, grocery shopping, cooking, and laundry, she does nothing but wash clothes. Qin Huairu doesn't need her to wash clothes, but shouldn't she and the children wash their own clothes?
She felt even more tired than when she lived here, mainly because there was no one to chat with.
The eldest uncle, the second eldest uncle, and the seventh uncle, who lived in the same compound, did not live in the same building, and were even quite far apart. How could they possibly manage to live together?
For the first two months, everyone would visit each other, but it became really inconvenient later on.
You could say that we live upstairs and downstairs, not old neighbors but new neighbors nonetheless.
No, no, Jia Zhangshi can't connect with these people, and they won't talk to her either.
It's not that there aren't any old ladies, but that with the doors closed, they can't see or hear each other, and the opportunity to greet each other through the windows is gone.
It would be acceptable if it were a residential building where the kitchen was located in the corridor and everyone shared a toilet, as people would spend more time together. But Hongxing Factory didn't have that.
If there are any, they are old dormitory buildings that are in urgent need of demolition, and they no longer have that opportunity.
The smallest apartment in the Workers' New Village is 40 square meters, and it already has a kitchen and bathroom. You think you can take up space in the hallway? Dream on.
All residential buildings in the Workers' New Village are under the unified management of the Group's Logistics Department.
To put it simply, anything you leave in the hallway will be taken away, and you won't even have anywhere to look for it.
When Li Xuewu was working at the group, he once led the leader in charge of safety through the corridors of the Xincun residential building and emphasized fire safety.
In such a strict management environment, it would be extremely difficult for Jia Zhangshi to develop a network of relationships.
Today I've finally got the chance, I must bring up all the topics she's accumulated over the past six months.
As neighbors living in the same compound, the topic inevitably turns to Auntie Er.
"She used to be so healthy!"
The seventh son's wife clicked her tongue and said, "I'm not necessarily stronger than her."
"Who can argue with that?!"
Madam Jia curled her lips and gestured to Liu Hai, who was drinking at the table, muttering, "This is what they call reaping what you sow."
"Sigh, what does it have to do with her?"
Hou Qinghua tilted his head and said, "If anyone should be suffering, it should be someone else."
"Forget it, let's not talk about this."
The seventh son's wife touched her arm and said, "Today was supposed to be a happy day."
"What are you doing at home, Auntie?"
She looked at Hou Qinghua and asked, "It's been a long time since I've seen you."
"I can't even go out. I have to rush to buy groceries." Hou Qinghua shook his head and said, "I'm too busy with housework at home. How can I have time to go out for a stroll? I don't need to go to Aunt Jia's place."
The old ladies' words are often barbed; if you don't listen carefully, you'll get insulted.
But who is Jia Zhangshi? She just hasn't found an opponent for more than half a year, not that her martial arts have been ruined.
"Oh—that's what you're saying. It's only because his third aunt is so family-oriented that things are lively for everyone else."
With a smirk and a sidelong glance, Jia Zhangshi said, "Their two sons can earn money, and their daughters-in-law have jobs. Their lives are much better than ours."
It's fine if we don't mention the son and daughter-in-law, but once we do, everyone inevitably recalls the story between the younger brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
You see, even if people don't look directly into Hou Qinghua's eyes, they still steal a glance.
Haven't the Yan family done enough bad things in the past few years? If they hadn't moved, they would still be the talk of the neighborhood.
Especially considering the trouble Yan Fugui caused before his death, everyone wanted to see his family make a fool of themselves.
Hou Qinghua's words just now were not without a hint of boasting. Not only do she have two sons who make money, but her daughter also works in transportation and makes money too.
Including Ge Shuqin, four out of the six family members earn money, while she and her eldest granddaughter are the only ones who eat for free.
The eldest granddaughter eats for free, but that's not entirely true; without her, the family wouldn't have anything to eat.
In the past two years, Yan Jiefang has worked hard with his younger siblings and they have actually made money.
He was not even twenty years old, and his family already had two cars. If it weren't for the fear of accidents, they would have bought a third car.
A family may only experience a new beginning and change after encountering upheavals and trials.
The Yan family originally had three sons. Yan Fugui and Yan Jiecheng were both able to earn money to support the family, but the family fell into poverty and eventually died.
With fewer people, the family became more united, and Yan Jiefang was actually much better at managing the household than his father.
Do you think Yan Jiefang is stingy or not?
He wouldn't spend a penny more than necessary on himself, but he was very generous to his wife, children, and family.
He's willing to spend money even when going out to run errands or make friends; he's really different from before.
His sister, Yan Jiedi, was one of the three siblings who ran a transportation business together, as he had mentioned. Another reason for not buying a third vehicle was that he was afraid his sister wouldn't be able to drive it.
He didn't buy a car, but he gave the money to Yan Jiedi.
Yan Jiefang experienced hardship and gained a deeper understanding of life. He shared all the money he earned from transporting goods with his siblings, which inevitably led to discord between them sooner or later.
Either the second brother, who was in charge of the money, embezzled it, or the brothers and sisters felt they had been cheated.
Before his younger siblings could even think about it, Yan Jiefang had already considered it and made it clear.
If the three of them can make money together, they can make money separately too.
Yan Jiekuang will get married, and Yan Jiedi will also get married; they will eventually have to live apart. So why not separate while the siblings still have a deep bond?
He set a time for the two cars and three people to separate the family. He would use the money from his sister's car purchase as her dowry, and then they would save up enough to buy a house for Yan Jiekuang before splitting up the family property.
My sister will live with them until she gets married and finds her own family.
This calculation makes it fair for everyone, except that Yan Jiefang will have to work a few more years.
His idea was supported by Ge Shuqin, and naturally, it also gained the approval and gratitude of his younger siblings.
Yan Jiekuang will soon have a house and a car before he even gets married, and Yan Jiedi will bring a huge dowry when she gets married, so she won't be bullied by anyone she marries.
Hou Qinghua saw that his children were united and successful, so why shouldn't he be proud?
But her pride met Jia Zhangshi, whose daughter-in-law was a section-level cadre and equally proud.
The seventh son's wife's eyes lit up as she reminded the neighbors to keep quiet and clear the room for the two of them; she hadn't seen such a spectacle in a long time.
Stop arguing! Fight back! Get your act together! —
"Xue Wu still has the same flair, and his career is successful. He looks even more mature than last year."
Fu Caining knows how to praise people. She speaks with a smile and a slow pace, but every word is precious.
Sitting next to her, Liu Yin felt very pressured, unlike being as comfortable as being with Ding Fengxia.
This doesn't mean Liu Yin is close to Ding Fengxia and looks down on Fu Caining. They are both in-laws, so she wouldn't compare the two in her mind.
Fu Caining is a senior leader at Gangcheng Company, while Ding Fengxia is a senior editor at a newspaper. There's no point in comparing the two.
If we really have to make a comparison, we can only say that Fu Caining is more independent, while Ding Fengxia is more family-oriented.
Both women contributed to their respective careers and families, just to varying degrees.
After the banquet, Li Shun and Liu Yin invited their in-laws to the backyard, away from the commotion in the front yard.
Li Xuewu also came along, because he was worried that his parents wouldn't be able to handle Fu Caining's side.
Ding Fengxia, the mother-in-law, has a very close relationship with her mother, which can be seen from their expressions when they speak.
It's certain that there's some distance between Tong Fu Cai Ning and her mother-in-law. The two meet infrequently, and since they've only recently become in-laws, they naturally have little to talk about.
At this point, he has to step up and take charge, and make sure these mothers-in-law are taken care of.
“I dare not claim to have achieved anything here. Even if I have made some progress, it is only due to the care and concern of my elders and leaders.”
He smiled and glanced at Li Xue, who was making tea for everyone, and said, "My sister has really made a lot of progress this year, with her career advancing."
"We haven't had a chance to thank you for taking care of Li Xue yet; we've always wanted to thank you."
Liu Yin saw the signal in her son's eyes; mother and son are of one mind, and their words naturally flowed in perfect harmony.
As soon as Li Xuewu started the conversation, she picked it up and continued the conversation perfectly.
She held Fu Caining's hand politely and said, "I heard she's going to such a far place. Her father and I were so worried that we couldn't sleep all night."
“We’re in-laws, no need for thanks.” Fu Caining patted Liu Yin’s hand and said, “Since you can treat Yuxiu like your own child, why can’t I treat Li Xue like my own child?”
“If I don’t take care of the child when he comes to my place, what kind of in-laws are we?”
She smiled and said, "I also like Li Xue. She is smart, steady, generous and polite. She is more outstanding than many young people I have met."
“Li Xue told us everything when she came back, saying that you have always taken good care of her.”
Li Shun also said gratefully, "You also said that you gave her a lot of clothes and gifts."
"My dear in-law, please don't stand on ceremony."
Fu Caining gestured to Ding Fengxia, who was sitting on the other side of Liu Yin, and said, "Let Sister Ding laugh at us for being so polite over such a small matter."
"How could I laugh? I'd say my in-laws are kind and honest, and we get along very well."
Ding Fengxia's career may not be as successful as Fu Caining's, but her eloquence is by no means inferior.
She was an editor at the newspaper, and she was skilled in both writing and the art of language.
Seeing that Fu Caining was shifting the topic to her, she smiled and said, "I'm an old in-law, and you're a new in-law. We're really relatives now."
"Even if we don't consider Yuxiu and the other two, we still need to get closer."
Fu Caining said with a smile, "Xuewu and Weidong are very good friends. Even my daughter-in-law was introduced to Weidong by Xuewu. If I have to express my gratitude, I should thank him."
"He just loves to cause trouble—"
Liu Yin glanced at her son with a smile and said, "Sometimes I talk to him about it. He's so young, yet he loves to play matchmaker."
"I didn't just build bridges for others; I also built bridges for my own family."
Li Xuewu refilled the teacups on the coffee table with hot water from the teapot, saying with a smile, "If I hadn't introduced Yuxiu to him, Xuecai would still be a bachelor."
"Hahaha--"
The people sitting inside were all our own people, so this joke wasn't embarrassing at all.
When everyone talked about it, they also found Li Xuewu's actions quite interesting, especially his interactions with Ji Weidong. For a long time, they hadn't known that Ji Weidong and Ji Yuxiu were siblings.
This makes everyone laugh even more.
Li Xuewu only chatted with them for a while before going with his father to see the guests off.
Everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, and it was time to say goodbye and leave.
Just now, Shen Guodong was helping Li Xuecai deal with the situation, but now that more people have left, they can't handle it anymore.
Another reason is that many elderly neighbors are leaving, so Li Shun has to show up.
"Uncle, Uncle, are you going back already? Please sit a little longer."
Li Xuewu took the initiative to walk to the vicinity of the hanging flower gate and greeted the neighbors who came out.
Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, gesturing towards the door, and said, "I still have a lot of things to do at home. Let's sit down again next time when we have a chance."
Liu Haizhong wanted to leave with him, so he shook hands with Li Xuewu and then left.
The men left, and the women followed, except for those who stayed to help.
Hou Qinghua and Jia Zhangshi had another legal battle. It was hard to say who won or lost, but in her opinion, not losing was the same as winning.
Just as she asked her granddaughter to wait at the door and was about to ask Ge Shuqin to go home together, Yan Jiefang came over and asked Ge Shuqin to stay and help.
"The wives in the courtyard have all stayed, so don't leave. Go back later."
Yan Jiefang whispered to Ge Shuqin, "You can leave whenever Qin Jingru leaves."
"Is there anything else?"
Ge Shuqin glanced at the wedding tent and realized that there were indeed not enough people to help.
This doesn't mean the Li family had problems and no one came to help; rather, it means that at that time, few of the young men in the family remained at home, as they had all gone to the countryside.
Today's event was only possible because the banquet was small, and Shen Guodong had to call people to help out, otherwise we really wouldn't have been able to manage.
"Nothing much, just tidying up the table, washing the dishes, and cleaning up."
Yan Jiefang said softly, "Everyone else is still here, it wouldn't look good if you left."
"What's wrong with it? They have plenty of people to wash dishes and sweep floors."
Hou Qinghua chimed in from the side, mentioning Qin Jingru as well.
"She's made money off others and is used to currying favor with them, so we don't need to fawn over her!"
"Go ahead, I'll go back later too."
Yan Jiefang ignored his mother's words and didn't let Ge Shuqin pay attention to the matter either.
His mother is short-sighted, only seeing the small area in front of her, and he can't be bothered to explain.
After all, this is the entrance, and so many people come and go; it wouldn't be interesting to talk about it too much.
Ge Shuqin knew he was right, so she gave her daughter a few instructions and told her to go home with her grandmother while she rolled up her sleeves and went to help.
Yan Fangnian, despite her young age, had already learned to read people's expressions and speak tactfully. At this moment, she was so gentle and weak that she didn't dare to say she wanted to stay and keep her mother company.
Actually, she wanted to stay so she could play with the other children until her mother finished her work.
But her grandmother's voice was stern, and she seemed to have nowhere to vent her anger, so she didn't dare to speak.
"You should go back first; let Jie Kuang take you."
Yan Jiefang gave a word of advice and was about to turn and leave, but his mother wouldn't let him.
"What are you staying for? Is there really no one else? You're being bossed around?"
"Stop arguing, there's nothing going on." Yan Jiefang frowned and explained when he saw her shrill voice: "Shen Guodong is going to have a gathering this afternoon to talk about the sports car. Don't worry about it, take the kids and go home early."
He's the head of the household now, and even his mother has to listen to him when he glares at her.
Hou Qinghua muttered to himself as he dragged Yan Fang out the door, no longer daring to argue with his son.
She didn't talk about her son, but dared to talk about her daughter-in-law, her mouth full of words like "flattery" and "sycophancy," and her face was very unpleasant.
Li Xuewu was seeing off an old man and a few others at the gate when he turned around and saw her with a cold face.
"The third aunt has gone home."
"Um, cough cough—"
When Hou Qinghua heard his greeting, he instinctively wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but this time his mind beat his tongue, and he quickly realized who this person was.
"Well, Jie Kuang is in a hurry to go home because he has something to do, so we'll all go back together."
She gave a somewhat irrelevant answer, but at least she managed to get the words that had been stuck in her throat out of her throat.
If she were to actually say those things, she feared her family would be back to square one.
"Then I won't keep you any longer. Come back to the compound more often; my grandma misses you."
Hou Qinhua felt it was absurd to hear this. Old Mrs. Li would miss her?
Do you want to slap her?
I'll have to go back to the compound more often. Just this one trip costs five yuan. How much food do I have to eat to break even?
Yan Jiefang didn't tell her when he wrote down the gift money; she went to the accounting office to inquire.
It's infuriating! I work so hard to earn this money as a truck driver, and he just throws away five dollars!
These days, what kind of relationship do you have to be to give five yuan as a gift? Even the closest relatives don't give that much; it's outrageous!
She felt frustrated, but dared not say anything, because there were quite a few five-yuan and ten-yuan entries in the ledger, and Yan Jiefang's five yuan was not particularly noticeable here.
Where did all these suckers come from? Even if you're trying to curry favor with Li Xuewu, you don't need to fawn over this guy. This gift money won't go to Li Xuewu anyway.
When her family had an event, Li Xuewu never mentioned giving five yuan as a gift; it was truly a dead end.
Just now at the banquet, she ate as much as she could, but no matter how much she ate, she always felt like she was missing out.
At this moment, she was a little envious of Jia Zhangshi. With seven people coming to eat, it would be worth it even if she only gave five yuan.
She didn't realize that her family, including the children, consisted of six people, while Jia Zhangshi's family had mostly children.
Some people can only see what they want to see; they don't understand proper reasoning.
"Brother Li, can I not say congratulations?"
Pei Pei and Ou Xin came out of the courtyard, accompanied by Zuo Jie and Yu Zhe.
Ou Xin laughed and said, "If I say that, it'll sound like you're getting married again."
"What nonsense is this girl talking about?"
Pei Pei nudged her with his shoulder before explaining to Li Xuewu, "She's had too much to drink."
"It's good to eat and drink well."
Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to her joke. He didn't know if Ou Xin had drunk too much, but he noticed that Ou Xin's face only started to turn red after she saw him.
"Are you going back to the club? Did Zuo Jie drive here?"
"I am the driver and also the security guard."
Zuo Jie explained with a smile, "I just told them not to sleep on the streets, or I'll throw them out onto the road."
"You dare—" Ou Xin raised her fist and glared at him.
"There are too many people today, so I won't keep you any longer. Let's get together again next time."
Li Xuewu smiled and said to them, "Be careful on your way back, don't catch a cold."
"Thank you, Brother Wu!"
Ou Xin looked at him reluctantly, as Pei Pei, who had a headache, pulled her away.
After the group of sisters who came together parted ways, only the two of them remained.
Even if it's a matter of spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones, Shen Guodong and Yu Li still have to live up to their trust.
So now Pei Pei is the general manager of Jinmen Shunfeng Trading Joint Venture Company, while Ou Xin is in charge of the clothing business; both are considered middle-level managers at the recycling station.
Pei Pei's position as general manager is merely nominal; like Zhou Xiaobai's initial role, it's all part of his learning process.
Zhou Yamei, along with Wu Shuping and Shen Guodong, was in Beijing transferring most of the recycling station's functions to Tianjin Shunfeng. She was hardly capable of being the head of such a large company.
The position of general manager of Shunfeng Trading has always been a sham, and Zhou Xiaobai is just as sham.
Zhou Xiaobai has trained so well that he won't suffer even if he goes to the army.
Now that Pei Pei is the manager, it at least proves that she has entered this circle.
Who can say for sure whether their choice is right or wrong? The two sisters are going their separate ways, and perhaps it will be ten or twenty years before they can say for sure who was right and who was wrong, or even in this lifetime they may not be able to say for sure.
"Yu Zhe, stay here for a moment, I have something to ask you."
Seeing that Yu Zhe was also about to leave, Li Xuewu told him to stand aside and wait.
Yu Zhe was unsure of himself because he knew what his superiors wanted to ask him.
Li Xuewu then saw off Yin Mancang, Zhao Gen, and the others before calling Yu Zhe aside to talk.
"Leader..." Yu Zhe awkwardly began, but before he could finish speaking, he swallowed his words under Li Xuewu's gaze.
"You're not planning to go back to work in Steel City?"
Li Xuewu looked him up and down and asked, "How's the matchmaking going?"
He was the one who told Yu Zhe he couldn't go back to Gangcheng until he found a partner, and he was also the one asking this question. Yu Zhe was in a real dilemma.
"I'm thinking about it right now..." he said, scratching his neck as he looked down.
Li Xuewu looked him over suspiciously and asked, "How many have you been on dates with already?"
“Three…five…seven or eight, I guess…” Yu Zhe stammered, “I’ve kind of forgotten how many there are.”
"So many?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "Is this a selection of concubines?"
He glanced at Yu Zhe again and asked, "You haven't found anyone suitable after looking at so many people?"
"Is it that you didn't like them, or that they didn't like you?"
"Uh..." Yu Zhe scratched his head again and said in a stammering voice, "She liked me... but I didn't like her. I liked her, but she didn't like me. That's how it is."
"Where have you gone from being capable of what you used to be?"
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "You're getting along quite well with those older women in the office, aren't you? You need to step up your game."
"I... am trying my best to stand up straight."
Yu Zhe shook his head with a wry smile and looked at him, saying, "Boss, let me go back to work first. I promise I will definitely look for it, I will look for it slowly."
"Go talk to your sister. Did she agree to let you take your time looking?" Li Xuewu's lips curled up slightly. "She didn't say she'd introduce you to anyone."
“My sister…” Yu Zhe lost confidence again, lowered his head in embarrassment, and his voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, “She said she would break my legs if I continued to associate with older women…”
“That’s ruthless enough—” Li Xuewu nodded understandingly and said, “What were you thinking?”
"Me?" Yu Zhe looked up at him, then glanced around, and said jokingly, "I'd say I don't need this lackey..."
"Good lad, you've got guts—"
Li Xuewu knew he was joking, so he nodded and jokingly said, "A strong commitment to one's ideals and interests is also an excellent quality."
"You're using such foul language!"
Yu Zhe grinned, shook his head with a wry smile, and said, "I promise to go back to work as soon as possible."
He knew it was useless to ask Li Xuewu for help; it was his sister who had the final say in this matter.
Another thing is that his sister also told him that his idle chatter with the women in the government office would also affect Li Xuewu's reputation.
Of course, it had the biggest impact on his reputation and even delayed his chance to find a partner and get married.
Who would marry a lecher?
"As long as you understand things yourself, that's good."
Li Xuewu looked at him and nodded, saying, "I'm not forcing you to get married, nor am I arranging a marriage; I'm just advising you to walk the right path."
"I'm just dating, nothing serious has happened."
When Yu Zhe heard him say the same thing, he offered an explanation, but Li Xuewu just found it amusing.
"You know what you've done. Think carefully before you say that."
Li Xuewu reminded him, "Don't you know how deep the topics women can discuss?"
"Let me tell you, the women in the office would secretly share the fine grains they got to eat."
"What!" Yu Zhe wasn't stupid; he understood what Li Xuewu was saying as soon as he heard it.
He is that fine grain!
Young, handsome, and healthy—the darling of wealthy aunties.
Yu Zhe wasn't handsome, but he wasn't ugly either. He was under twenty and naturally in great shape. Plus, he had plenty of money and dressed impeccably. What aunt wouldn't be tempted by him?
This era has too many constraints, but under these constraints, there will inevitably be even bolder acts of cowardice.
It's not a case of mutual affection; rather, it's like a parched land encountering a lecherous man.
Li Xuewu isn't blind or deaf; Yu Zhe's dissolute behavior may seem like a secret to him, but within a certain small circle, he's already a supporting character in the story.
What Yu Zhe can think of now is that many older women in government offices used to look at him strangely, as if they were mocking him or had some other inexplicable meaning. At the time, he didn't understand what was going on, but now he does.
His face turned as red as a sheet of red cloth, and he could no longer defend himself to Li Xuewu.
"Alright, everyone has their youthful and impetuous moments, but you need to pull back from the brink."
Li Xuewu reminded him, "You've reached the age where you need to take responsibility and have obligations to the future. Keep these things to yourself, do your job well, and be a good person."
"I'm sorry, boss."
Yu Zhe said, overwhelmed with shame, "I shouldn't have lied to you, I shouldn't have..."
"Talk to your sister nicely. Find someone suitable. Even if that girl doesn't like you, you can still try, right?"
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "When you see those older women again, just be open and honest. What's past is past, don't bring it up again."
"Yes, I understand. I wasn't thinking about anything else." Yu Zhe scratched his head and chuckled, "They might think they made a profit, but I definitely didn't lose out."
"Young man, sometimes not suffering a loss is a loss in itself. Don't be blinded by illusions."
Li Xuewu said with a laugh, "If you eat more refined grains, you won't like eating leftovers anymore."
(End of this chapter)