Not long after Lin Zhen left for work the next day.
Aunt Liu from the neighborhood office came to the door.
"Xiao'e, are you home?"
"Aunt Liu, you're here. Come in."
"No, I still have business at another courtyard. I came to notify you that, after an organized discussion by the neighborhood office, we've decided to give you an opportunity."
"Really?" Lou Xiao'e was overjoyed when she heard that.
"Of course. After all, you're a model of positive repentance promoted by the committee."
"Thank you for going to all this trouble, Aunt Liu."
"Why are you being so polite with me? Get ready. I'll come for you next Monday morning. If you pass the exam, you can start work on the eighth day of the first lunar month next year."
"Mm!"
"One more thing—about not taking a salary. The director highly praised your spirit of dedication, but your wages will continue to be recorded. You can apply to collect them whenever you want."
"Mm, we'll follow the organization's arrangements. We truly don't want the wages."
"That's up to you. I'll be going now. Don't see me out."
Aunt Liu had barely left when Second Aunt came in.
She had just returned from the market after buying vegetables and happened to overhear Aunt Liu and Lou Xiao'e's conversation.
She wondered, Why was Lou Xiao'e going to work at the neighborhood office?
Could a capitalist's daughter really get into the neighborhood office?
I'll have to ask Old Liu tonight.
That evening.
Liu Haizhong had just sat down to eat.
Second Aunt asked, "Hey, Old Liu, wouldn't someone with Lou Xiao'e's background have a hard time finding work?"
Liu Haizhong sneered. "She's looking for work? What unit would want her? Lin Zhen may be making quite a splash at the rolling mill, but he's actually walking on thin ice."
"Because of Lou Xiao'e?"
"Of course. With a wife of poor class background, all he can do is bully Silly Zhu and scare Xu Damao."
"But this morning, I heard Aunt Liu from the neighborhood office say that Lou Xiao'e was going to take an exam there. She even said that if she passed, she'd start work next year."
Liu Haizhong immediately stopped eating.
Frowning, he said, "Little Lin settled matters at the rolling mill, and now he's working on the neighborhood office too. Could he be planning something big? Does he want to become workshop director?"
Second Aunt said enviously, "Look at him. He's only been in the city for six years, yet he's already an engineer. If he becomes workshop director too, you can forget about ever holding power in this courtyard! Yi Zhonghai is already keeping you down. Add Lin Zhen to the mix, and you might end up as Third Master or fourth master!"
Liu Haizhong took a swig of liquor.
He muttered, "He won't be able to climb any higher in our courtyard! Just wait and see in a few days."
When Lin Zhen returned home, he found that his wife, Lou Xiao'e, had prepared dinner and was happily waiting for him with their four sons.
A warm sense of happiness rose within him.
"Wife, why are you so happy today? Are you thinking of giving me another daughter?"
Lou Xiao'e smiled. "What nonsense are you saying in front of the children? Aunt Liu came today."
"Judging by that look on your face, it must have gone well."
"Mm. She told me to go take the exam with her next Monday. If I pass, I can start work on the eighth day of the first lunar month next year."
"With your education, passing the exam is a sure thing. That means it's practically settled. Not bad—we should celebrate."
Lou Xiao'e gave him a mischievous smile. "I've got a bottle of red wine hidden away. Shall we drink it?"
Lin Zhen smiled faintly. "Since you've thrown down the gauntlet, your husband accepts the challenge!"
Three-year-old Lin Dong and Lin Liang clamored, "Dad, we want some too!"
Five-year-old Lin Guo and Lin Jia said, "That's alcohol for adults, not sugar water. Stop making trouble with Mom and Dad."
"Hahaha... Such good sons!"
The four children finished eating early.
Lou Xiao'e put them to sleep first.
After closing the door, she took a bottle of red wine from the cabinet and drank with her husband.
Their hearts were filled with beautiful hopes.
For the life ahead.
Some families rejoiced while others worried.
Lin Zhen and Lou Xiao'e shared a warm drink together.
Qin Huairu ate dinner in a sulk with Bang Geng and Xiao Dang.
Qin Jingru had gone out with Xu Damao again.
Xu Damao had returned before five o'clock. He had come back for no other reason than to take Qin Jingru out again.
It made Jia Zhangshi so furious that she gritted her teeth.
When she got to the hospital, she complained to Qin Huairu.
"An unmarried girl, yet she has no manners at all. I don't know whether that's a Qin family tradition or whether all country people are like that. Bah! She came to help watch my children, but she's more carefree than I am!"
Her words were clearly aimed at the Qin family, making Qin Huairu's chest ache with anger.
"Mom, stop talking. I'll have her leave tomorrow."
"Hmph! It'd be best if she didn't come back tonight. She goes out to eat at fancy restaurants and doesn't even bring back a single dish. She's worse than Silly Zhu!"
Back home, Qin Huairu ate the food Silly Zhu had brought back.
She felt unbearably stifled inside.
It was after ten that night when Xu Damao finally returned with Qin Jingru.
Both of them were shiny with grease from their meal, and Qin Jingru had even changed into new clothes before going out.
The moment she entered, Qin Huairu asked sulkily, "What were you doing?"
Qin Jingru's smile faded somewhat. She said flatly, "I went out to eat with Damao. Didn't you come back as soon as Auntie went to the hospital? Bang Geng and Xiao Dang were unattended for half an hour at most. What were you worried about? They were running around the courtyard. They were fine."
"I'm not asking about you watching Bang Geng and Xiao Dang. I'm asking what exactly is going on between you and Xu Damao?"
"What's going on? We're dating, of course!"
"Aren't you ashamed? My third uncle and third aunt don't even know yet, and you're already going out with him?"
"Sis, you have no right to say that about me. Damao and I are only dating, and we're devoted to each other. Unlike you—you're with my brother-in-law, yet you're still thinking about Silly Zhu!"
Smack!
"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Qin Huairu was about to explode. She had never expected her sister to say such things about her. Xu Damao must have taught her that.
Covering her face, Qin Jingru cried, "Sis, why did you hit me?"
Qin Huairu cried, "I'm not your sister. Get out!"
"Fine, I'll leave! You asked me to come to the city to watch your children, and now you're driving me out. I don't care for your family. I never wanted to be a maid!"
Qin Jingru packed up her clothes, picked up her bag, and headed for the rear courtyard.
Hearing the argument, Silly Zhu hurried over to ask what was wrong.
Qin Huairu lay sprawled over the table, crying without saying a word.
Bang Geng said, "My mom hit Auntie!"
Xiao Dang said, "Auntie said Mom was with Dad but was still thinking about you."
"Oh, Xiao Dang, you can't say things like that carelessly. If your grandmother hears it, won't she skin me alive?!"
Silly Zhu truly feared that those words would reach Jia Zhangshi's ears, and he also knew Xu Damao must have started the rumor.
"Qin Huairu, stop crying. I'll go take a look in the rear courtyard!"
"Don't hit anyone! Just have her leave tomorrow..."
"Just watch me!"
In the rear courtyard.
Xu Damao was frantic.
"Y-you-you, why did you say that out loud? Didn't I tell you? No one in the whole courtyard mentions it, so why did you have to stand out?"
Qin Jingru curled her lip. "So what? Didn't you say everyone already knew?"
"Hey! Even if everyone knows, you can't say it! Hurry up and apologize, or Silly Zhu will come over and beat you soon!"
"Xu Damao! Get out here!"
Before the words had even faded, Silly Zhu had already rolled up his sleeves and entered the rear courtyard.
Second Elder Liu Haizhong's family and the Deaf Old Lady heard Silly Zhu shouting curses and came out to watch the excitement as well.
Thank you to everyone who votes for me every day. A new book is like a young sapling—sunshine and rain are all blessings. Thank you, friends, for your care.
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