Read Novel Full Chapter 83
Chapter 83 : Room Allocation
Wang Juhua also regretted her actions in her heart. She hadn’t thought it through and just took the two dollars, feeling pleased. “I’ll ask for more the next time I go there.”
Jiang Hongmei propped herself up and went to Liu Lixin to get some medicine, which she boiled and drank. When she felt less uncomfortable, she cleaned the house for the first time ever.
Zhuang Guoliang was shocked when he came home. Jiang Hongmei didn’t get angry with him, didn’t curse Xiaobao, and didn’t even mention divorce again. Instead, she started mending clothes, behaving like a good wife and mother.
Zhao Xiangyu saw her change and said, “I told you, she deserves a beating. She’ll behave after a couple of beatings. She’s a slut. Where else can she go if she leaves our home?”
Zhuang Guoliang was skeptical, but before he could respond, there was a knock on the door.
“Is Zhuang Guoqiang’s home here?” the two officers in police caps said angrily. “He’s been speculating and reselling pork, and even injured public officials. We are here to search his house.”
Zhao Xiangyu’s legs suddenly went limp, and she looked at Zhuang Guoliang with trembling lips. Zhuang Guoliang was also panicked but tried to stay calm. “Comrade, could this be a misunderstanding? My eldest brother has always been timid and wouldn’t dare to do such a thing.”
“We caught him red-handed, what else can we say?” the officers responded.
The two officers entered the Zhuang house and searched around. They found a pile of pig bones and offal in the room where Zhuang Er lived, and they took him away as well.
Cheng Yanyan fainted on the spot. Wu Meili, Zhuang Guoliang, and others were also taken away for investigation. Soon, only a few half-grown children were left in the Zhuang family, and their cries filled the air.
A few days later, news spread that the eldest son of the Zhuang family was sentenced to one year of reform through labor, and the second son was sentenced to six months.
The third wife of the Zhuang family and several women were released because they had not participated in the pork reselling. Zhuang Guoliang also somehow came out unscathed.
After returning, the third wife wanted to divide the family property. Naturally, Zhao Xiangyu refused. Two of the four children had gone, and there was still one left to be taken away. Who would take care of her in her old age?
But Zhuang San was determined to leave. He would rather leave with nothing, taking his wife and children with him, and rented a shabby house in the village that was originally allocated to the five-guarantee households to live in.
The two of them took their children, grabbed all their clothes and belongings, borrowed some food from Gao Xiuqin’s parents, and divided the work points, thereby splitting the family.
On moving day, Zhao Xiangyu slapped her thigh and cried for two hours. Then she chased all the way to Zhuang San’s shabby house, making a huge fuss and smashing things.
Jiang Li watched the scene while eating melon seeds. Chen Xianyun had planted two sunflowers in the corner, which produced large petals. She fried them, and they smelled wonderful.
The news about the banker had been discussed by the people in the team for a long time, and even on the day of Qin Xiaoting and Liu Lixin’s wedding, people were heard talking about it at the banquet.
“The wife of Zhuang Er really couldn’t keep her promise. Less than three days after giving birth, she secretly had her family take the baby away. I heard she even wanted to divorce Zhuang Er!”
“That’s not Cheng Yanyan’s fault. Who would want to stay with a man who’s a prisoner?”
“You can’t say that. Even though Zhuang Er is lazy and greedy, he loves his wife. Every time he has something delicious, he thinks of Cheng Yanyan. Cheng Yanyan wanted a divorce as soon as Zhuang Er got into trouble. She’s really heartless.”
“I heard from my relatives in the commune that the Cheng family is already looking for a boyfriend for Cheng Yanyan.”
“Oh my God! Why can’t she wait?”
“That Cheng Yanyan is a fool. Her parents say they love her, but they rushed her out of the house just two days after bringing her home!”
“It’s outrageous to be unfaithful to your husband!”
The aunts were talking while keeping an eye on the dishes, and once the dishes were ready, they all proudly showed off their cooking skills.
Jiang Li was eating melon while dining at the table. Chen Xianyun sat with her and quickly put a few slices of meat into her bowl.
Jiang Li’s appetite had been spoiled by Chen Xianyun’s cooking skills. It was really because her mother-in-law could cook and was willing to learn.
Whatever Jiang Li wanted to eat, Qi Shaoqiang would get it for her without saying a word. Chen Xianyun didn’t mind the trouble and simply followed the steps Jiang Li suggested.
Seeing that the two pieces of fatty meat in her bowl were untouched, Qi Shaoqiang realized that she didn’t like them. Calmly, he placed them into his own bowl and ate them.
“Shaoqiang and his wife have such a good relationship! They’ve been married for about half a year, but why is there still no sign of pregnancy?” someone remarked.
Before Jiang Li could respond, Chen Xianyun immediately added, “Children are all about fate. They will come when the time is right. Juanjuan’s mother, how is the family Juanjuan has been visiting lately?”
When this was mentioned, Zheng Juanjuan’s mother, Shao Yulian, immediately frowned, thinking that Chen Xianyun was making fun of her on purpose.
Juanjuan had dated several people, but all the relationships had ended in failure. Shao Yulian was worried, but Chen Xianyun kept bringing up irrelevant issues, which frustrated her.
Shao Yulian immediately fell silent. Chen Xianyun and Jiang Li exchanged a knowing glance and secretly smiled.
A small piece of crystal white snowflake fell into the bowl. “It’s snowing!” Jiang Li exclaimed with curiosity, reaching out to catch the snowflakes. A soft red wool scarf was wrapped around her neck, making her pale face look even more radiant.
A few months after getting married, Jiang Li had gained some weight, eating better and looking healthier. She even grew two centimeters taller.
Liu Lixin brought Qin Xiaoting over to meet their relatives. In the heavy snow, Qin Xiaoting snuggled up to Liu Lixin, wearing his coat. The happiness on her face was unmistakable. Jiang Li saw it and felt happy for her.
Bailutang, located near a mountain, was hit by heavy snow as winter came, and dense fog would often roll in. At home, it wasn’t too bad, but for those going out, they had to endure the cold wind and be careful not to slip on the ice.
The ride into the city, which used to take less than an hour, now took twice as long due to the weather. It was also inconvenient for Jiang Li to get into the city.
As soon as Qi Shaoqiang got off work that day, he gathered the family together and said, “The factory is distributing houses this time, and I’ve got a quota. How about we go to the city together tomorrow to take a look?”
Old Lady Qi shook her head. “How big can the house assigned by the company be? It’s probably as small as a rat’s nest. I won’t go to see it. I’m used to living in the countryside. It’s quite comfortable here.”
Chen Xianyun agreed, “Our house is spacious, and I can grow vegetables and trade things. You two should just move to the city. One of you has to work, and the other sells things, it’s inconvenient to live in the countryside.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll come to visit every ten days or half a month. I’ll bring you some food. You’ll have to buy everything in the city.”
Chen Xianyun was reluctant to leave their large blue-brick house and had her own selfish reasons for wanting the couple to stay longer. Maybe, if she stayed longer, she could hold her grandson soon!
Jiang Li and Qi Shaoqiang had no choice but to go into the city by themselves the next day.
The family quarters of the food factory were on the west side of the factory. Qi Shaoqiang was assigned an apartment with two bedrooms and a living room. The apartment was fairly large and had a good orientation, allowing sunlight to come in during the winter.
The room used as the living room could serve as a reception room and could also accommodate a coal stove, allowing them to make a fire and cook, or they could get meals from the canteen and eat them at home.