Repaying Kindness, Even a Gentleman Would

Lin Zhen demanded that Jia Zhangshi apologize.

She had no choice but to grit her teeth and say the words.

But if she had to apologize to Third Mistress again, she wouldn't back down for anything.

"Pah, pah, pah! What are you all shouting about? What business is it of yours? I won't apologize. Arrest me!"

Third Mistress stared, dumbfounded. Why had Jia Zhangshi suddenly gone mad?

Qin Huairu quickly led Bang Geng to Third Mistress.

"Third Mistress, Bang Geng and I are here to apologize to you. I'm sorry, please don't hold it against us, okay?"

As she spoke, she bowed deeply.

Third Master Yan Bugui quickly chimed in, "Alright, alright, that's the spirit!"

Third Mistress also came to her senses. After all, it wasn't Lin Zhen; not everyone could subdue Jia Zhangshi.

It was good enough to have an excuse to step down.

She quickly put on a smile and said, "Okay, the dark clouds have cleared for the day. Go back and sit down."

With the Jia family's issues resolved.

Silly Zhu immediately stood up.

"Esteemed elders, shouldn't we address Xu Damao's slander and false accusations?"

Xu Damao sneered, "It's been days, Silly Zhu. Why are you digging up old grudges? Jingru was sent home by you guys too!"

Qin Huairu said, "Silly Zhu, don't bring it up. Isn't today chaotic enough?"

Yi Zhonghai also glared at Silly Zhu, "Zhu Zi and Xu Damao's matter will be resolved privately. Let's not waste everyone's time. Meeting adjourned!"

"Hey! That's it?"

This courtyard meeting was primarily to mediate the conflict between Lin Zhen's family and the Jia family.

Bang Geng losing two fingers was his misfortune, Jia Zhangshi apologized, and Lin Zhen nodded in forgiveness. The matter was settled.

Even Third Mistress's issue was just a sideshow.

Yi Zhonghai didn't want to get involved in the old feud between Silly Zhu and Xu Damao.

He Yushui chuckled, "Brother Zhu, let's go back inside. You and Xu Damao fight every month. If we held meetings for you, we'd have one every month!"

"Hey, you little girl, you should be on your brother's side."

"Hmph, I want to help you, but you're not making it easy."

"Alright, alright, stop talking. Let's go home!"

The meeting dispersed, and everyone returned to their homes.

Jia Zhangshi, full of pent-up anger, went to the hospital.

After Lin Zhen returned home, Lou Xiao'e happily said, "We were so focused on dealing with the Jia family, I forgot to tell you, I passed my exam!"

Lin Zhen beamed, "That's great news! Then we must celebrate tonight."

Lou Xiao'e asked, "Should we invite Third Master and Third Mistress over too? Today, thanks to Third Mistress's reminder, if Jia Zhangshi's mother-in-law had really gone after me, I would have been at a disadvantage."

Lin Zhen said, "Their family has six people. If you invite them, who do you not invite? If we invite everyone, plus us, that's 12 people. Our home can't fit that many. How about this, I'll take some things over to their place."

"Let's give them the carp you pickled last time."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

The two-jin carp Lin Zhen had bought last time was pickled and dried, intended for stewing during the New Year.

To thank Third Mistress for the heads-up, Lin Zhen directly carried the fish to the Yan family's home.

Third Master Yan Bugui was tuning his radio when he saw Lin Zhen carrying a fish. He was delighted.

"Oh, Xiao Lin, what's this?"

Lin Zhen smiled slightly, "Hehe, I came to thank Third Mistress."

Third Mistress happily rushed out from the kitchen, "Oh, Xiao Lin, what are you saying? We're neighbors in the front courtyard. Please sit down. Jiedi, pour some water for Brother Lin."

"No need, Third Mistress. I originally wanted to invite your whole family of six to eat at my place, but the four children ran around outside all day and are tired and want to sleep. So I brought the fish to you. Thanks to your reminder, otherwise, my wife couldn't have dealt with Jia Zhangshi."

"Sigh! That Jia Zhangshi, she's truly a shrew. She made it so that Xiao'e's mother and the other four didn't dare to enter the house."

Yan Jiecheng said, "Hmph! After Lin Zhen pulled that stunt with his fists this time, Jia Zhangshi will be too scared to act like a shrew ever again!"

Lin Zhen laughed, "Ah, it's nothing worth mentioning. I was just playing around. Well, you all be busy. I'm heading back."

"Okay, okay, okay. Be careful on your way back."

After Lin Zhen left, Third Master Yan Bugui squinted his eyes and chuckled, humming, "A gentleman repays kindness."

Third Mistress looked at the dried carp and smiled, "This fish is so plump, and it's dried well. Why don't we save it for the New Year?"

Yan Bugui said, "Eh~ Let's eat it now. Simmer it on low heat. It's fine to stay up a bit later tonight."

Yan Jiecheng said, "Dad, it's dried so thoroughly, don't we need to soak it for half a day first? Eating it today, are you afraid Yu Li will eat more once she's in the house during the New Year?"

Third Aunt's face fell. "What are you saying? Listen to your father!"

Yan Bugui pursed his lips. The fish was indeed very dry.

If they were to stew it now, it would probably be past midnight by the time they finished eating.

"Then, then, then we'll just have pickled vegetables and wowo tonight. We'll soak them tomorrow afternoon and eat them in the evening."

Lou Xiao'e had specifically made four dishes.

Braised pork with cabbage and vermicelli, scrambled eggs with scallions, cold mixed lotus root slices, and boiled peanuts.

They never lacked food, but they didn't put out four dishes every day to show off.

Today was to celebrate passing the street office exam.

If Bang Geng's finger hadn't been broken, and Jia Zhangshi hadn't made a fuss, The meal today would have been even more lavish.

During the meal, Lou Xiao'e asked, "Next year when I start working, what about the children? We can't really take them to the street office, can we?"

Lin Zhen said, "We definitely can't trouble Aunt Liu. Once the official notice from the street office comes down, I'll apply to the rolling mill to have the children sent to the rolling mill's kindergarten."

The rolling mill had a nursery specifically for its employees.

But kindergartens during that period were more like daycare centers.

Therefore, it was voluntary whether the workers' children attended.

And people at that time didn't place much importance on preschool education.

As long as there was someone at home to look after the children, most people chose to let them run around freely at home.

Bang Geng and Xiao Dang in the courtyard, as well as Lin Guo, Lin Jia, Lin Dong, and Lin Liang, were all the type to run around the courtyard, raised freely.

Lou Xiao'e nodded. "That's fine. Lin Guo and Lin Jia will be starting primary school next autumn. It's mainly Lin Dong and Lin Liang, is it easy to apply?"

"That's a worker's benefit, you can apply anytime."

The four children didn't want to go to kindergarten; they just wanted to run around freely in the courtyard.

But they knew that their mother starting work was important.

So, although they didn't want to go, they didn't cause any trouble.

Three days later, the district approved Lou Xiao'e's application to work at the street office, and she would officially start on the eighth day of the first lunar month next year.

Lin Zhen submitted the application to the logistics department of the rolling mill.

Upon learning that Lin Zhen and his wife would both be working next year, the logistics department approved the application and even praised Lou Xiao'e's spirit of contribution without pay.

Next year, once Lou Xiao'e started working, the four children could enter kindergarten.

Young children can't keep secrets, so the four of them quickly told Bang Geng about their upcoming enrollment in the rolling mill's kindergarten.

Bang Geng went home and told Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu's heart stirred. Why hadn't she thought of applying herself?

With her husband like this, it would surely be an easy approval.

When Lin Zhen got off work that evening, Qin Huairu, heavily pregnant, came to their door.

Seeing this, Lou Xiao'e quickly said, "You're about to give birth, why are you running around? Can't Bang Geng just say what you need?"

Qin Huairu smiled. "I wanted to ask Lin Zhen about applying for the children to go to kindergarten."

Lin Zhen said, "It's very easy to apply, you just need to fill out a form."

Qin Huairu said, "I'm due in a few days, it's inconvenient for me to go to the factory. Can you help me apply?"

Lin Zhen hesitated. "It's just filling out a form for you, which normally wouldn't be a problem. But you need to talk to Jia Dongxu and Grandma Jia first. Don't come directly to me. I can't be bothered to argue with that mother and son again."