Chapter 69

Chunli was young and didn’t understand, but Director Lin wasn’t stupid. His sharp eyes fell on Peng Cai.

“You’ll regret this.”

He wanted to send Chunli away and scold Peng Cai, but Peng Cai was clever. She didn’t want to be separated from Chunli.

But tomorrow when she came to work, it would be different.

She dared to deceive his niece. The factory bathroom was short of a cleaner. It seemed that Peng Cai would be a good fit.

Tang Wan didn’t know what had happened at the sugar factory after she left. Although there were some unpleasant things,

overall, she had a good harvest today. Thinking of Auntie Liu and the others at the sugar factory,

Tang Wan felt uneasy. She rode her bicycle openly past the family compound. She even saw the people from the neighborhood committee squatting around looking for people.

Fortunately, Auntie Liu and the others were fine. They had been playing hide-and-seek for so many years. They knew how to hide things.

Because she had already changed out of her disguise, even if she ran into Auntie Liu, they wouldn’t recognize her.

No one was in trouble. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Before going home, Tang Wan went to the supply and marketing cooperative again.

She bought things with the tickets Chunli had given her. Then she rode her bicycle leisurely out of town.

On the way, when there was no one around, she hung the malt extract and other things she had bought on her bicycle.

Although she was worried about her parents, Tang Wan didn’t go to Mao Zhuang Brigade today.

She had been there too many times. It would be suspicious.

When she returned to the family compound, it was already five o’clock. Everyone was starting to prepare to make dinner.

She pushed open the courtyard door and saw something surprising.

Tang Zhou was watering the land, and Wang Shengli was squatting beside him, his big eyes full of admiration.

“Brother Zhou, you’re so amazing!”

“It’s nothing.”

Tang Zhou smiled. He looked up and saw Tang Wan standing at the entrance of the courtyard.

“Sister, you’re back?”

“Yeah.”

Tang Wan pushed her bicycle in. Her face was full of smiles. “Shengli is here. What are you two talking about? You look so happy.”

Wang Shengli grinned. “We were talking about…”

“Shengli said that I’m very good at helping Sister with work. I think so too.”

Tang Zhou interrupted Tang Wan. He held up his big ladle and boasted. “My watering is pretty good, right?”

“It’s pretty good.”

Tang Wan didn’t think much of it. She took out two big white rabbit candies from her cloth bag.

“Shengli, have some candy.”

“Thank you, Auntie Tang.”

Wang Shengli politely took the big white rabbit candies from Tang Wan’s hand. He was still squatting in front of Tang Zhou, staring at him with admiration.

Tang Wan: …

She didn’t understand the strange friendship between boys. She naturally handed Tang Zhou two big white rabbit candies.

“You two play for a while. I’m going to cook.”

“Okay, Auntie Tang.”

Wang Shengli smiled at Tang Wan and then looked back at Tang Zhou.

Tang Zhou hesitated for a moment but couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going home for dinner?”

“Zhouzhou.”

Tang Wan’s tone was a little helpless. “Shengli likes to play with you.”

“Brother Zhou is so amazing. I’m going to play with Brother Zhou from now on.”

Wang Shengli was like a little shadow, following behind Tang Zhou.

He watched him water, he watched him carry water, and he watched him rest.

Tang Zhou: …

Just as Tang Wan was amused by the two children, Zhang Hongyan came over from next door.

“Shengli, go home for dinner.”

Tang Wan had just unloaded her things and tidied up. When she saw her, Zhang Hongyan greeted her with a smile.

“Big Sister, you’re back. I made some flower rolls. You should take some back to try.”

“Sister-in-law, you don’t have to.”

Tang Wan didn’t have time to refuse. Zhang Hongyan had already gone inside. After a while, she appeared in her courtyard.

“Big Sister, don’t be polite. You helped me on the train. These things are nothing.”

Zhang Hongyan was holding a bowl of flower rolls, about five or six in total. They looked quite good.

“Then thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Tang Wan took the bowl and walked inside. “I’ll get you a bowl.”

She put the flower rolls in her own bowl and thought for a moment. Then she put seven or eight dumplings she had bought at the state-owned restaurant into the bowl.

“Why are you giving me dumplings?”

Zhang Hongyan was startled. She quickly waved her hands, indicating that she didn’t want them. The flour she used for the flower rolls was mixed with coarse grain.

But Tang Wan’s dumplings were all made with white flour. They were expensive!

“Sister-in-law, I’m not being polite to you. Why are you being polite to me?”

Tang Wan frowned. “Shengli and Zhouzhou are good friends. This is for them to eat.”

Zhouzhou could finally open his heart and play with other children. Tang Wan was happy. Children should act like children.

“Thank you, Auntie Tang.”

Wang Shengli grinned. Yes, he and Brother Zhou were the best of friends.

“Okay, thank you, Big Sister.”

Zhang Hongyan took Wang Shengli home. Then Tang Zhou looked at Wang Shengli’s back.

Tang Wan thought that Zhouzhou still needed friends.

Compared to the harmony on their side, on the other side, Xu Weimin was staring at his brother, Xu Heping, whose corner of his mouth was bruised.

“Brother, tell Grandma, he hit you!”

Xu Weimin waved his little hand, his face full of anger. However, Xu Heping, thinking of Tang Zhou’s hard fist, couldn’t help but tremble.

“No, don’t tell her. If you tell her, I’ll beat you up!”

This time, Tang Zhou had beaten him up at the foot of a remote mountain. If he dared to tell, he would beat him up again next time.

So Xu Heping was afraid. He couldn’t beat him!

“But my butt hurts!”

Xu Weimin burst into tears, attracting Qiu Dazhao to come out quickly.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong, Weimin? Why are you crying?”

“Wah… he hit me.”

Xu Weimin was much younger and couldn’t control his emotions. He burst into tears.

Qiu Dazhao’s old face sank. She said in a shrill voice, “Who is it? Who dares to bully you?”

“Grandma, I didn’t mean to.”

Xu Heping admitted loudly in fear. No, if Grandma went to find Tang Zhou again, he would definitely beat him up harder next time.

The little bully didn’t dare to complain to Qiu Dazhao this time.

“You dare to bully your brother!”

Qiu Dazhao raised her hand and slapped Xu Heping’s butt several times. Xu Heping actually thought that his grandma didn’t hit as hard as Tang Zhou.

So it was right not to tell her.

Wuwuwu, he would never bully Tang Zhou again!

Tang Wan didn’t know about Tang Zhou’s “great achievements.” At this time, Lu Huaijing came back.

The three of them sat at the dining table, eating dumplings and flower rolls, accompanied by a plate of peanuts and meat sauce.

Afraid that Lu Huaijing wouldn’t have enough, Tang Wan had also specially prepared steamed buns and cornbread for him.

They ate so well every day. Tang Zhou was almost moved to tears.

But Lu Huaijing remained silent. He seemed to be preoccupied.

After dinner, he and Tang Zhou washed the dishes. Tang Wan happily shared with them that she had earned five hundred yuan from selling a job.

Tang Zhou’s mouth opened into an O shape in surprise. His face was shocked. “That much?”

His little brain had a faint idea. So that’s how you make money.

Lu Huaijing also looked at Tang Wan in surprise. He didn’t expect his wife to be so smart and capable.

“Of course.”

Tang Wan took out a stack of ten-yuan bills. She took the opportunity to teach Tang Zhou. “So, Zhouzhou, no matter what.

We must never forget the knowledge in our textbooks. This knowledge is in our brains. No one can steal it.”

“I’ll study hard. I’ll go to school after summer vacation.”

Tang Zhou, who didn’t want to go to school at first, was now full of determination. He couldn’t wait to go to school.

Lu Huaijing also looked at Tang Wan with burning eyes. “I’ll also read books when I get back from training.”

What his wife said was right. He couldn’t fall behind his wife too much.

“Okay, you can ask me if you don’t understand anything.”

Tang Wan smiled. As a modern college graduate, she could still help them for now.

Lu Huaijing nodded with a smile. But he thought of something. His expression was full of guilt and anxiety. He said nervously,

“Wife, I might have to leave for a while.”