Chapter 24: Zhao Sihai Is Eating Public Grain

In the village, Zhao Pozi, with a face like a stepmother, was wandering around.

She didn’t go to work, just kept a watchful eye out for anyone who dared to gossip about her son.

If she caught anyone, she would immediately start a fight.

As she was walking, she heard someone shout, “Zhao Jinhua, I heard your fourth son invited people to dinner today. Did he invite you?”

“Yes, this morning I saw the intellectual go to the commune again and buy two big baskets of things. I heard they ate meat for a whole day yesterday. Jinhua, you have to control your younger generation. They don’t know how to manage money. It’s not good.”

“Exactly. You know, if it was for their own use, it would be fine. But they gave it all to others. Really, tsk tsk tsk…”

Two women sat on the stone steps in front of the door, picking beans and singing a duet.

Zhao Jinhua stood with her hands on her hips, her face stern, “None of your business. You’re like a dog catching a rat, meddling in other people’s affairs. You should take care of yourselves. Liu Cui, I heard you just chased away a matchmaker. If you don’t get your act together, your eldest son will be childless.”

“What did you say? Who are you calling childless?” The woman who was being criticized immediately stood up angrily.

Zhao Pozi tapped her walking stick and sneered, “Who I’m talking about, you know in your heart.”

“You!” The woman was so angry that she wanted to fight her, but she was pulled back by the woman next to her.

“Don’t just talk about others. Your third son is still single. You should worry about yourself.”

Hearing the other woman mention her precious son, Zhao Pozi’s face immediately darkened.

Seeing her holding the walking stick, ready to fight, the woman quickly pulled the person next to her, holding the beans, and ran into the courtyard, slamming the door shut.

Zhao Pozi slammed her walking stick on the door, “My third son doesn’t need to worry. There are countless women lining up to marry him. But what’s the point? A man as excellent as my third son, only a woman from the city is worthy of him.”

“Bah, the city? You’re dreaming. Your third son is a lazy bum. Only a fool would marry him!”

“Bang.” The walking stick slammed hard on the door, “Come out! If you have the guts, come out and say it to my face. Don’t be a coward and hide behind the door.”

The people inside didn’t say anything.

Zhao Pozi was furious. She slammed the door a few more times before leaving angrily.

When she got home, she closed the door and started to curse.

She cursed Zhao Sihai, cursed Bai Ruojiao, and even cursed An’an several times.

Then she started to curse the village chief, the team leader, and the other villagers. She cursed for an hour straight without taking a breath.

Zhao Xiaohui trembled and hid in the house, not daring to show her face.

She had been beaten badly, and these past two days, her mother would beat her up whenever she was unhappy.

She was truly scared now.

Zhao Pozi finally got tired of cursing. She went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and drank it. Then she shouted for Zhao Xiaohui to come out and cook.

After shouting, she took the water and went to her precious son’s room to take a look.

She was angry, but when it came to her precious son, she was still clear-headed.

Bai Ruojiao was very cunning now. Who knew if she would do something to the medicine?

Until her son recovered, she could only hold her breath.

Zhao Xiaohui tremblingly opened the door and came out. Seeing that no one was there, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Then she quickly ran to the kitchen to cook.

As she cooked, she muttered curses at Bai Ruojiao and Zhao Sihai.

She resented the family of three for eating and drinking outside while she suffered here.

Unfortunately, human joys and sorrows are not the same.

When everyone got off work and came over in the evening, the food was all ready.

As soon as people arrived, the dishes were quickly served.

There were about twenty people, all coming alone.

Although they had invited one or two people from each household.

But those who understood the rules wouldn’t really bring so many people. They would usually only bring one.

Besides, they all brought things with them.

There was rice, vegetables, eggs, and snacks.

They set up three tables, two in the courtyard and one in the small hall that was separated from the main house.

Just so happened, Zhao Sihai’s friend had sent a bottle of wine, so they opened it.

Men at the dinner table, whether they are familiar or not, quickly become close friends.

This meal lasted until the oil lamp was lit before everyone dispersed.

After this meal, a piece of news spread like wildfire throughout the village.

Zhao Sihai was going to be a driver for the People’s Commune!

Zhao Sihai was eating public grain!

It can be said that, apart from the village chief’s family, everyone was shocked by this news.

In this era, being a driver for the leaders meant you were as important as the leaders.

Not to mention the salary and benefits, if you needed to find the leaders for anything, you had to first get in touch with the driver.

The connections and influence you could leverage were immense.

To put it bluntly, the driver was the leader’s personal assistant.

They were always by their side, so they would be the first to know any news.

Their starting point was already much higher than others.

No one expected Zhao Sihai to be assigned such a job. What kind of connections did he have?

Did he make friends with some big shot in the army?

Or did he achieve some incredible feat?

Some quick-witted people, thinking about the village chief’s recent actions, immediately understood.

They then secretly cursed the village chief for not revealing such news.

They were lucky they hadn’t offended him first.

Then, they started to advise their younger generation to get closer to Zhao Sihai’s family.

Especially those who weren’t invited to the dinner were called upon to brainstorm ideas.

Even the children were told by their parents to go and play with Zhao An’an.

Before, they had kept their children away from Zhao An’an.

Mainly because Zhao An’an was frail, and Zhao Pozi was a scoundrel, afraid that they would be extorted.

But now things were different.

Zhao Sihai not only came back but also split the family, and now he had such a good job.

If they could get some benefits from his connections, they wouldn’t be afraid even if Zhao Pozi tore them apart every day.

The Zhao family was also quite lively at this time.

The house was filled with cries, curses, and the sounds of things being thrown and smashed.

Zhao Pozi cursed Zhao Sihai for being heartless, having such a good job and not giving it to his brother.

She was so angry that she wanted to go to Zhao Sihai’s house to make a scene that night.

But Zhao Lao San held her back.

His injury hadn’t healed yet, and he was afraid that if his mother made a scene, Bai Ruojiao might really make him childless.

As for the job, he could ask for it later when he recovered. It wouldn’t make a difference if it was a day later.

Zhao Gensheng was also angry. He resented Zhao Sihai for not telling him about such a big thing. Was he hiding something from someone?

Only Zhao Xiaohui hid in the house, her eyes shining with calculation.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew she had offended Si Ge and Bai Ruojiao badly last time.

She couldn’t possibly go to them and try to win them over.

Firstly, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Secondly, she thought Bai Ruojiao hated her and wouldn’t be willing to help her. Maybe Si Ge would even stop her if he wanted to help her.

But as long as Zhao Sihai was her brother, and now he had such a prestigious job, she could benefit.

At least she could find a better family.

Like Liao Yu’an.

She knew that Liao Yu’an wanted to go to the city, so he wasn’t willing to marry a country girl.

But if she had the means to help Liao Yu’an, he wouldn’t refuse anymore.

Thinking about marrying a cultured and refined intellectual like Liao Yu’an, and then being able to go to the city with him and leave this place, her heart burned with excitement.