Chapter 24: Zhao Sihai Lands a Government Job

In the village, Zhao Pozi was wandering around with a perpetual scowl, like a wicked stepmother.

She didn’t bother going to work and instead prowled the area like a hawk, ready to pounce on anyone who dared gossip about her son.

If she caught someone talking, she would immediately start a fight.

As she was walking, someone called out:
“Zhao Jinzheng, I heard your fourth son’s daughter-in-law invited people over for a meal. Did she invite you?”

“Yeah, I saw Comrade Bai going to the commune again this morning with two big baskets. Heard they ate meat all day yesterday. Jinzheng, as the mother-in-law, you really ought to say something. Young people nowadays don’t know how to manage a household.”

“Exactly. I mean, if all that food was for the family, fine. But giving it all to others? Tsk tsk tsk…”

Two women sat on stone stools at the door, picking beans while gossiping in perfect harmony.

Zhao Jinzheng turned around, hands on her hips and scowling.
“Mind your damn business! Nosy like a dog chasing mice. Liu Cui, I heard you just scared off another matchmaker—at this rate, your son’s line might just die out!”

“What did you say?! Who are you cursing as childless?!”
The insulted woman jumped to her feet in fury.

Zhao Pozi banged her stick on the ground and sneered,
“Who I’m talking about—don’t you know in your heart?”

“You!”
The woman was about to fight, but the other quickly pulled her back.

“And you’re one to talk. Isn’t your third son still single? You’d better worry about that first.”

The moment her precious third son was mentioned, Zhao Pozi’s face darkened.

Seeing her grip the stick and ready for battle, the woman quickly dragged her companion back inside, beans in hand, and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Zhao Pozi smashed the stick against the door.
“My third son doesn’t need anyone to worry! There’s a line of people waiting to marry him. But you know what? Only a city girl is good enough for a man as outstanding as him!”

“Pah! City girl? Dream on! That lazy good-for-nothing of yours—only a fool would marry him!”

BANG! The stick slammed into the door again.
“Come out! Say that to my face! Don’t hide in there like a damn turtle!”

No one inside responded.

Zhao Pozi, fuming, pounded on the door a few more times before leaving in a huff.

Back at home, she slammed the door and started cursing.

She cursed Zhao Sihai. She cursed Bai Ruoqiao. She even cursed little An’an several times.

Then she moved on to curse the village chief, the team leader, and the rest of the villagers. She kept it up for a whole hour without stopping to catch her breath.

Zhao Xiaohui cowered in her room, trembling.

She’d already been beaten badly before. These past couple of days, anytime her mother got upset, she’d use her as a punching bag.

Now, she was truly terrified.

When Zhao Pozi finally wore herself out, she went to the kitchen, gulped down a big bowl of water, and shouted for Zhao Xiaohui to come out and make dinner.

After yelling, she carried the water into her precious son’s room to check on him.

No matter how angry she was, when it came to her darling son, she always had a clear head.

Bai Ruoqiao was too cunning these days. Who knew if she’d mess with his medicine?

Until her son fully recovered, she had no choice but to swallow her pride.

Zhao Xiaohui timidly cracked open the door, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw no one, and scurried into the kitchen to cook.

While working, she muttered curses under her breath—at Bai Ruoqiao, at Zhao Sihai.

She resented that the trio were out eating and drinking, while she was left here to suffer.

But sadly, the sorrows of human beings are never shared equally.

By the time everyone returned from work that evening, the food was ready.

As soon as people arrived, the dishes were brought out, one after another.

This time, about twenty people came—each coming alone.

Although the invitation was for one or two people from each family, anyone with sense knew not to bring too many.

And everyone came bearing gifts—rice, vegetables, eggs, pastries.

In total, three tables were set up: two in the courtyard, and one in the small hall partitioned from the main room.

Coincidentally, among the gifts from Zhao Sihai’s friend was a bottle of fine liquor, which was opened for the meal.

Once the men got around the table with alcohol, it didn’t matter whether they knew each other well or not—they were soon laughing and slapping each other on the back like old friends.

The meal went on until the kerosene lamps were lit.

And not long after that, a piece of news—like it had grown wings—spread throughout the village brigade:

Zhao Sihai is going to be a driver for a government office!

Zhao Sihai landed a state job!

Except for the village head’s family, no one was left unaffected by this news.

In this era, being a driver for a government leader was no small thing. The higher the leader’s rank, the higher the driver’s implied status.

Forget about the salary and benefits for a moment—just think: if you wanted something from the leader, you’d have to get through the driver first.

There were endless opportunities for favors and connections in that position.

To put it bluntly, the driver was like the leader’s personal orderly—always by their side, always the first to hear any inside news.

It was a starting point far above what most people could dream of.

No one could believe Zhao Sihai had managed to land such a job. Just how powerful must his connections be?

Could it be that he befriended someone important during his time in the army?

Or maybe he achieved something truly outstanding?

Some people, quick on the uptake, started recalling the recent behavior of the village head’s family—and everything suddenly made sense.

They immediately cursed the village head in secret for being so two-faced, hiding such big news and not giving anyone a heads-up.

Thank goodness they hadn’t offended Zhao Sihai’s family beforehand!

From then on, parents began lecturing their children to get closer to the Zhao family.

Especially those who hadn’t been invited to the dinner—they were ordered to come up with ways to mend ties.

Even the little children in the house were told to go play with Zhao An’an more often.

Previously, families had kept their kids away from An’an, since she was born weak and Zhao Pozi had a vicious streak—they were afraid a small mishap would lead to her accusing them of wrongdoing.

But now, things were different.

Not only was Zhao Sihai back and reunited with his family, but now he had a golden job.

If they could get any benefit through his connections, they wouldn’t even mind if Zhao Pozi clawed them every day.

The Zhao household itself was in total chaos.

The house was filled with shouting, cursing, and sounds of smashing objects.

Zhao Pozi was screaming at Zhao Sihai for being heartless—how could he get such a good job and not give it to his younger brother?

She was so furious she wanted to go confront him that very night.

But Zhao Laosan (the third son) held her back tightly.

His situation still hadn’t recovered, and he was terrified that if his mother stirred up trouble, Bai Ruoqiao might really make sure he never had children.

As for the job—he figured he could ask for it once he recovered. No rush for just a day or two.

Zhao Gensheng (the father) was angry too. He resented that Zhao Sihai had kept such a big thing hidden. What was he guarding against?

Only Zhao Xiaohui sat quietly in her room, eyes gleaming with scheming thoughts.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew she had completely offended Fourth Brother and Bai Ruoqiao last time.

There was no way she could go and butter them up now.

One, she couldn’t bring herself to grovel; two, she knew Bai Ruoqiao hated her guts and wouldn’t help even if Zhao Sihai wanted to.

Might even stop him from helping her.

But as long as Zhao Sihai was still her brother, and now had such a prestigious job, she was bound to benefit.

At the very least, she could attract a better marriage prospect.

Like Liao Yu’an.

She knew Liao Yu’an had always wanted to settle in the city and wasn’t willing to marry a village girl.

But if she had the means to help him get what he wanted, he might not reject her.

Just thinking about marrying someone like Liao Yu’an—a refined, cultured intellectual—and moving with him to the city, far away from this place, filled her heart with burning hope.