Chapter 35

Wang Mengmei was so surprised that she almost couldn’t hold back her voice.

“She adopted a child?”

Has Sun Yan gone mad?

Jian Feng said, “To be precise, she didn’t adopt him. Sun Yan says it’s her child with Xu Jianguo. You know, with the family planning policy, they left the child in their hometown to be raised. The kid’s only a bit over two years old.”

Wang Mengmei was so shocked that her mouth could fit a tea egg in it: “She, she, she… how could she dare?!”

Jian Feng looked tired: “It’s from back in ’93. Remember when our Taohai City was marked as a yellow card for family planning? That year, the checks were especially strict. Sun Yan went to the countryside and hid, giving birth to a second child. She didn’t dare to bring him to the city and left him in the hometown, registering him under Xu Jianguo’s older brother’s name.”

Xu Jianguo’s family had a policy that if the first child was a girl, they could have another after five years.

So, Sun Yan decided to register the child under Xu Jianguo’s brother’s name, thinking that in a few years, when the policy relaxes, she could bring him to the city.

Wang Mengmei couldn’t understand: “What is she planning now? The factory and the street still have control!”

The family planning slogans were everywhere in the streets. It had loosened a bit since ’93, but it wasn’t risk-free.

Jian Feng replied, “She says Xu Yanan doesn’t do well in school and is disobedient, so she wants to start over with a son.”

Sun Yan spoke with great conviction, but Jian Feng felt that Sun Yan didn’t really care about Xu Yanan’s grades. She just wanted an excuse to bring the son she had always longed for from the countryside to the city.

Wang Mengmei jumped up from the chair: “Having an extra child is a fine!”

If they were found out about the household registration trick, there would still be a fine.

A fine is one thing, but the real problem is losing their jobs!

Jian Feng said, “I said the same thing just now.”

Sun Yan didn’t have a job herself, but if Xu Jianguo lost his job, how would the whole family survive?

But Sun Yan didn’t care. Jian Feng said it, but she just told her it was her family’s business and not to worry about it.

Jian Feng was so angry she left.

Wang Mengmei asked, “Didn’t Xu Jianguo say anything?”

It’s his job after all.

Jian Feng didn’t speak, and Wang Mengmei understood. This meant that Xu Jianguo probably didn’t say much, as with his temperament, he likely didn’t speak up at all.

Wang Mengmei lay down on the bed and couldn’t help but say, “Today, Xiao Li even specifically mentioned Xu Yanan’s situation to me. She’s just a classmate, and everyone’s already concerned about her. How does Sun Yan think? She has such a capable daughter and isn’t satisfied, hurting her daughter’s feelings like this. Won’t she regret it in the future?”

As parents, how could Sun Yan treat Xu Yanan like this all these years, and now suddenly adopt a son?

What a blow to Xu Yanan!

And Xu Jianguo, he didn’t even have a say, letting his wife do whatever she wanted.

What’s the point of living this way?

The next day, Jian Li received the news and was in a daze.

Her mind was full of thoughts like her mother’s.

What was Sun Yan after?

This kind of thing didn’t happen in the previous life.

Later, when the factory closed down, Xu Jianguo and Sun Yan sold their house and moved away, cutting ties with their old friends.

So Jian Li didn’t know how Sun Yan eventually handled her younger son or what happened to Xu Yanan’s fate.

But this life, just because of a change in grades, Xu Yanan’s life suddenly took a turn!

Whether it’s a good or bad thing, no one knows.

Wang Mengmei, worried that her daughter couldn’t handle it, gently advised her, “Xu Yanan’s family situation is complicated. Don’t get involved.”

With the sudden appearance of the child, the factory would surely investigate.

Also, since Sun Yan insists on raising a son, she must want him to study in the city. But to study, the child needs a household registration. Whether Sun Yan is trying to transfer his registration to the city or pretending he belongs to her brother-in-law, no one knows.

In short, things won’t settle down for a while.

Jian Li thought for a moment: “Then can we send some food to Xu Yanan?”

Wang Mengmei replied, “…Why are you still thinking about that?”

Jian Li scratched her head: “Xu Yanan still needs to recover.”

Wang Mengmei didn’t know what to say. After thinking for a while, she asked Jian Feng to call Xu Jianguo out for dinner, and when he left, to take a few dishes and buns for him.

But she wasn’t sure how much Xu Yanan would be able to eat.

Once the winter vacation started, the family compound was immediately taken over by the children.

After it snowed, the courtyard was filled with the laughter and noise of children from morning till night.

Jian Li spent her days either at the small restaurant or at Xia Liu’s house.

Aunt Li Lijuan’s house had heating.

Jian Li remembered that in her previous life, when she was younger, she and Xia Liu were very close, but over time, they drifted apart. One big reason was that teenagers always felt inferior about “what you have that I don’t.”

Xia Liu’s father was a technician at the factory, so they got a good house. Although the space was similar to Jian Li’s, Xia Liu’s house had its own bathroom and heating.

Compared to her own house, the factory had promised to tear down and rebuild the oldest buildings, but in the end, it was all just talk. Later, they said they would install heating in a few old buildings, but that never happened.

By the time Jian Li finished university in her previous life, Wang Mengmei and Jian Feng were still living in the old, unheated building.

By the time Jian Li finally bought her own house, her parents were still trapped by their poor living conditions.

Wang Mengmei, when she visited Jian Li’s house, would often say how she couldn’t get used to it.

The fast-paced lifestyle, neighbors who didn’t greet each other, and the convenient home amenities were all new to her.

Wang Mengmei and Jian Feng lived there for a while but couldn’t get used to how wasteful Jian Li was with money. They often ended up arguing, and in the end, would return home with bags of stuff.

Once back, they would proudly brag to their neighbors that their daughter had bought a house in the big city, then continue living modestly.

Poverty had long confined them to their old neighborhood. Even when their lives got better, they couldn’t escape.

Jian Li often talked about how comfortable it was to have heating at Li Lijuan’s house.

“Mom, let’s buy a house with heating too, when we can.”

Wang Mengmei replied, “Of course.”

Her dreams of owning a house mostly stemmed from her envy of Li Lijuan’s family.

Li Lijuan’s husband had a high degree, a nice house, and Wang Mengmei didn’t feel jealous, just constantly wishing they could have the same.

An independent bathroom, a small bedroom for the couple, and heating…

The more Wang Mengmei thought about it, the more excited she became.

She used to think it would take at least three years for her to be able to buy a house, but now, with the small restaurant and her husband’s salary, she felt that timeline could be shortened.

—-

In the blink of an eye, it was almost Chinese New Year.

The atmosphere became more festive, and many people in the neighborhood began preparing for the holiday. The local market was crowded from morning till night.

Wang Mengmei’s business was doing even better.

Friends and relatives who worked away returned to reunite, and the small restaurant was the most convenient place to gather.

Wang Liming also came back for the New Year.

The day after Wang Liming returned, he came to find Jian Feng, carrying a box of salted fish and dried shrimp he bought from the south.

“Feng, let’s get together tonight.”

Wang Liming had new clothes on, his hair neatly styled with gel, giving off a “Shanghai-style” vibe. He looked like he was doing well outside, with a hint of red in his eyes.

Jian Feng would have liked to agree, but unfortunately, it was the busiest time of the year for him.

During the holidays, the restaurant and the vegetable stalls were the busiest, and the grain store was receiving orders non-stop.

Jian Feng had to deliver goods and go to the factory to pick up more, so he was so busy that he would just fall asleep when he got home.

“Can we do it in a couple of days?”

Jian Feng had four days off, from the 27th of the last lunar month to the fifth day of the New Year.

The grain store owner, who was from Zhejiang, closed the store on the 27th of the last lunar month and drove back home with his family to celebrate the New Year.

Wang Liming laughed, “Of course, that’s fine.”

He wasn’t leaving until after the 15th of the New Year, so he had plenty of free time.

They chatted casually for a few minutes, but Jian Feng had to rush back to work.

Wang Liming, seeing Jian Feng was busy, went out in the evening to drink with Liu Xiangdong, Xu Jianguo, and Zhao Xiaopeng.

Zhao Xiaopeng said, “Why don’t we go to sister-in-law’s place?”

Liu Xiangdong stayed silent, and Xu Jianguo said it was fine.

Wang Liming grinned and grabbed the three of them, “What’s the point of going there? Sister-in-law’s busy. We can eat at my place. I brought some ham.”

Wang Liming wasn’t stupid. He could sense that his old friends’ relationships had changed, and he didn’t want to go to Wang Mengmei’s house, where she might feel obligated to give them a discount because of him.

He stayed home with the three of them, while Xue Fang cooked a few dishes and heated up the wine. After a few bites, she took their daughter into the room.

Zhao Xiaopeng, still full of energy, eagerly asked Wang Liming about life in the south and whether construction work made good money.

Wang Liming, always able to handle situations well, smiled and said, “Of course, things are better there than here.”

The real estate industry in the south, particularly in cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai, was booming. Wang Liming, who worked on construction sites, often saw apartments selling for tens of thousands of yuan in Shenzhen and shared this news with his friends, subtly hinting at the huge potential in real estate.

Wang Liming continued, “I’m saving up too. Once I have enough, I’ll buy a house.”

Zhao Xiaopeng, a bit tipsy, said with a dazed look, “Isn’t a house enough to live in? I think cars are where the real money is.”

Zhao Xiaopeng had a cousin who worked in car maintenance, and lately, he’d been thinking about joining him in that business.

Wang Liming didn’t argue with the drunkard, agreeing, “That’s true.”

Cars were becoming more and more common, and it seemed like a good way to make money.

Xu Jianguo stayed silent, just munching on peanuts.

Liu Xiangdong, after drinking more, suddenly started to get angry, his eyes bloodshot, and began ranting, blaming Jian Feng for betraying him.

Zhao Xiaopeng tried to calm him down, but Liu Xiangdong was furious and about to throw a glass.

“We’ve been brothers for years, and you stand by him instead of me!”

“I knew it, you all just want to suck up to Jian Feng now that he’s making money!”

Zhao Xiaopeng’s face darkened, “You’ve had too much to drink, just go home and sleep.”

Liu Xiangdong glared at him and reached out to throw something.

Wang Liming quickly stepped in, “Dong Ge, Dong Ge, my daughter’s asleep in the room.”

After a lot of effort, Liu Xiangdong calmed down and fell asleep in the armchair. Meanwhile, Xu Jianguo, who had drunk too much, started crying.

Wang Liming was already frustrated and went to talk to Xu Jianguo again.

Xu Jianguo didn’t say anything, just continued drinking, one glass after another, until he collapsed from drinking too much.

Zhao Xiaopeng impatiently motioned for Wang Liming to sit down: “Don’t mind him.”

Xu Jianguo was about to lose his job, which was why he was upset.

When Wang Liming came back, he had heard about Xu Jianguo’s second child, but hearing that Xu Jianguo was about to lose his job left him stunned.

“Why is he losing his job?”

Zhao Xiaopeng picked up a peanut and said: “His wife insisted on adding the child to the household registration. The factory originally would have turned a blind eye as long as they taught the kid at home and didn’t mind if the kid called them ‘mom’ and ‘dad.’”

But Sun Yan didn’t agree.

Sun Yan insisted on having the child acknowledge her, and no matter who tried to persuade her, she remained adamant.

Since the son was already born and the factory couldn’t force her to abort, Sun Yan was determined to have the child call her ‘mom.’

As a result, the factory had no choice but to follow the regulations.

The Family Planning Committee came and imposed a fine, and the factory fired Xu Jianguo.

Wang Liming furrowed his brows. “What’s the point of this?”

Getting fired was worse than buying out his years of service. He didn’t even get the money for that, which meant all his years at the cotton factory were for nothing.

Zhao Xiaopeng clearly looked down on Xu Jianguo. Out of their group of five, only Xu Jianguo was so useless that just looking at him made people annoyed.

A grown man, letting his wife control everything, not daring to speak up, just like an old workhorse who only knows how to work. What good is that?

Now, he was still only daring to cry in front of his brothers.

After crying, nothing changed.

Wang Liming sighed. “How did it turn out like this?”

He had been gone for a year, but the people around him had changed so much.

Zhao Xiaopeng chuckled. “You haven’t had dinner with Brother Feng, right? Brother Feng’s changes are even bigger.”

Zhao Xiaopeng spoke with a bit of bitterness.

“Brother Feng and his wife are probably getting along better now. Have you seen his wife’s restaurant? It’s packed from morning to night, never empty. Brother Feng is busy delivering goods, and he doesn’t even have time to drink with the brothers.”

Zhao Xiaopeng had calculated in his mind that this couple probably earned at least two or three thousand a month.

They really had some luck!

Even though Liu Xiangdong had just been yelling at Jian Feng, Zhao Xiaopeng understood him well.

Liu Xiangdong was only trying to break the ice with Jian Feng because he saw that Jian Feng and his wife were getting ahead.

But he felt that Jian Feng had wronged him and wanted to make Jian Feng lower his head. So, he took advantage of Wang Liming coming back for the New Year and deliberately brought it up, hoping Wang Liming would act as a bridge.

Zhao Xiaopeng glanced at Wang Liming, thinking that Liu Xiangdong was really brainless.

After all these years, he still couldn’t see that Wang Liming was the smartest one of the five.

Zhao Xiaopeng would bet 100 yuan that Wang Liming wouldn’t take up this challenge.

As expected, Wang Liming ended up helping Liu Xiangdong and Xu Jianguo get home but never mentioned inviting Jian Feng to dinner during the New Year.

After sending them off, Wang Liming went back home, cleaned up everything on the table, and opened the window to air out the smell.

He then packed his clothes, took a card, and quietly went to the bathhouse. When he got there, he saw a sign on the door.

[Opening Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM.]

No choice but to bring his clothes back.

Xue Fang had taken a short nap and happened to meet Wang Liming when he returned.

“…Where did you go?”

Wang Liming: “I went to take a bath, but the bathhouse was closed.”

Xue Fang smiled: “I forgot to tell you, the bathhouse only opens for eight hours a day this year. But even if it were open, you shouldn’t go. The water isn’t hot, and you’ll catch a cold.”

Wang Liming was resigned: “In the middle of winter, the bathhouse doesn’t even open at night.”

Xue Fang boiled two pots of hot water for him: “You can make do in the house for now. Tomorrow, we can go to another bathhouse.”

Wang Liming used the hot water to wash himself and shampoo, while Xue Fang poured water for him.

Wang Liming talked about what had happened while drinking.

Xue Fang: “Don’t go tell Brother Feng about this.”

Wang Liming spat out some water: “Am I that stupid?”

Liu Xiangdong tried to use him as a bridge, but he wasn’t willing.

After finishing what he needed to do with his wife, they talked all night.

Liu Xiangdong’s actions after the old lady was diagnosed with an illness were all laid out by Xue Fang.

Wang Liming: “In a few days, I’ll go visit the old lady’s grave.”

When the old lady was alive, she treated them like her own sons.

Wang Liming sighed: “Good people don’t live long.”

Such a good old lady, how could she just leave? He didn’t even get to see her one last time.

Xue Fang: “You should go see. I’ll prepare something for you.”

Wang Liming: “No rush, I’ll go with you to your parents’ house tomorrow.”

He had been away for a year, and during that time, Xue Fang had been home taking care of the child, with help from her family. It was only right for him to show respect to his mother-in-law.

Xue Fang: “Didn’t you say you wanted to ask Brother Feng and the others if they want to come with you after the New Year?”

That’s right. Wang Liming had returned with a plan to help his friends.

He had done well there this year, and after the New Year, he could make at least four or five thousand a month. Although the cost of living in the south was high, the money saved was unimaginable for the people back home.

Wang Liming originally planned to ask Jian Feng if he would be willing to go, as among his childhood friends, only Jian Feng was the most reliable and steady in his actions.

But now, seeing that Jian Feng’s family seemed to be doing well, Wang Liming knew he didn’t need to bring it up anymore.

He hesitated about the other friends.

“Let me ask Jianguo later…”

Among this group of people, Xu Jianguo was truly indecisive, but he had one good quality: he wasn’t afraid to put in the effort.

Plus, since Xu Jianguo had lost his job, Wang Liming felt he could go ahead and ask him.

Xue Fang pressed her lips into a thin line and said, “You can say that, but don’t take responsibility for him; he’s not the one in charge.”

Wang Liming rubbed his face, “I know.”

—–

In the lunar December, nothing made the children happier than the holiday season.

The streets were full of kids, each one buying firecrackers, snacks, and drinks. Some, with more money to spare, even bought small guns and dolls.

Jian Li started receiving phone calls from Wang Shuai as early as the 20th of December.

The person calling was none other than Wang Shuai.

Wang Shuai called every day, urging Jian Li to come back.

“Sis, remember we agreed to start a business together! I got 89 points in math on my final exams this year!”

This semester, Wang Shuai finally saw fewer red lanterns.

He learned math on his own, and Chinese was forced on him by his sister Wang Yun Yun.

He even passed Natural Science, which exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Wang Shuai chatted nonstop on the phone, “Shi Tou and the others always ask me if I can buy or sell this or that, but I don’t know. Later, I had to ask someone, ask my mom, ask my dad, and guess what? The final exam even had biology questions!”

Knowledge entered my brain in such a sneaky way.jpg

By sheer luck, he ended up avoiding one red lantern.

This year, with only three failing subjects left in his finals, Wang Shuai had a rare good New Year.

No beatings, and he was free.

His parents were less strict, and Wang Shuai was eagerly waiting for Jian Li to return and help him make money.

Jian Li sneezed and happily said that what she had said before no longer counted.

“My parents are busy; I can’t come back.”

The main reason was that now she had money and didn’t care for the small profit from reselling goods.

Wang Shuai was struck like a thunderbolt. He felt wronged and accused Jian Li of “not keeping her word.”

“Ahhhhh! You’re lying to me again!”

Jian Li covered the phone and quickly said into the receiver, “If I’m not coming back, can’t you just do it yourself?”

“It’s almost the New Year, can’t you buy stuff in the city and resell it in the countryside? Toys, firecrackers, bubble gum… Go find a wholesale place in the city, buy a little of everything, then sell it in the villages and towns, at the markets!”

“Or you can have your sister set up a stall and write couplets, or you can make food at home and sell it at the big market.”

“Do it yourself, and you won’t have to share the profits!”

Wang Shuai suddenly had a bright idea.

Jian Li hung up the phone and shivered.

She really didn’t want to leave the house in this weather. Is there anything better than staying in bed? No!

By the 27th of December, Jian Feng had finished his break and couldn’t stand seeing Jian Li lying in bed all day. He finally dragged her out.

“Come on, your mom’s busy; let’s go buy some New Year goods!”

In a corner of the house, there was a pile of New Year goods from his boss. The grain and oil shops had plenty of rice, flour, and oil. Although his boss didn’t give Jian Feng any holiday bonus, he generously gave him about ten pounds of dried mushrooms, dried shiitake, dried vermicelli, and seaweed.

So, there was no need to buy dried goods this year.

They didn’t need to buy vegetables either, as Wang Mengmei was running a restaurant. In the last two days, she saved enough for the three of them to eat until after the New Year.

What they still needed to buy were couplets, window decorations, lanterns, sunflower seeds, and sweets…

Jian Li was bundled up like a little bear, sitting in the back seat of Jian Feng’s car.

She held a candied fruit skewer in her hand and yelled at Jian Feng to pay whenever she saw something she liked.

They bought about ten pounds of sunflower seeds and various types of candies.

This was the first time Jian Feng spent money so generously.

Jian Li pointed at a stall selling shrimp at the market and said, “Dad, I want shrimp!”

It was 7 or 8 yuan per pound, more expensive than meat, but Jian Feng still bought 5 pounds.

After shopping, they went home to drop off the goods, and then Jian Feng took his daughter to the department store.

“Dad, what are you buying here?”

Jian Feng patted her head, “A color TV.”

So she wouldn’t have to watch a black-and-white TV at home.

Jian Li got excited, “Can we buy a plasma TV?”