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◎ First update ◎
In the evening, as the sun set in the west, a gentle breeze carried the aroma of food.
In one of the kitchens in the courtyard, busy figures moved quickly in and out in front of the stoves. The air was thick with smoke, and the clanging of pots and sizzling of oil created a pleasant harmony that made you want to hurry home even faster.
Aunt Li from the main house and her two daughter-in-law prepared a table full of dishes and specifically invited the Xu family, who had saved their grandson’s life, to come over.
This was Liang Baozhen’s second visit to the main house of the Wei family.
The main room was the largest in the courtyard, about 40 square meters in total, and could accommodate eight people from the Wei family. In the middle was the living room, which had a bed. At night, the curtain was drawn, and the Wei family’s youngest daughter would sleep there.
In addition, there’s three rooms that were separated by wooden boards, where Uncle Wei, Aunt Li, and the eldest and second oldest couples lived.
Biaozi slept on a small bed squeezed in his grandparents’ room.
“Xiao Xu, Xiao Liang, our family must toast to you, Comrade Zhou Yun, we are really grateful for your grandson and granddaughter-in-law.” Wei Jinrong raised his glass filled with white wine and spoke, and the others at the table followed suit.
Even Biaozi shouted anxiously, “Thank you, Brother Xu and Sister Xu.”
“Uncle Wei, it’s good that Biaozi is fine.”
“Yes, the most important thing is that everyone is safe.” Zhou Yun didn’t want the Wei family to prepare this meal. Looking at the dishes on the table, there was meat and fish, and the meal was comparable to New Year’s Day. No family would spend their grain and meat tickets like this. But she couldn’t resist the Wei family’s heart to express their gratitude.
“We in the Wei family are not ungrateful. Anyway, I told Biaozi that in this life, Brother Xu and his wife are like your second parents. Your mother and I gave birth to you, but this time they saved you, so you must remember them for the rest of your life.” Biaozi’s father, Wei Haiping, drank two cups of wine, and his eyes almost turned red. He only had this one son, and he didn’t know how he would live if something happened.
Dong Xiufen, who was standing by, held Liang Baozhen’s hand tightly and refused to let go. She kept calling her sister and her voice was trembling. “Really, sister Baozhen, if you hadn’t spotted it that day, our Biaozi would have been…”
Liang Baozhen looked at Dong Xiufen and her husband and recalled what Xu Shengjie had said in her dreams. Biaozi had drowned in the river at that time, and the Wei family was devastated. Dong Xiufen had been in a trance since then, and she kept saying at home that she had seen Biaozi and had become slightly deranged…
A once harmonious family was thrown into a mess.
Fortunately, nothing happened in the end. Biaozi, with a chubby face and lively expression, is eating his food and whispering to Xiaowei and Xiaoya. The children are young and were frightened for several days, but now they have finally recovered and become as lively as before.
“It just happened by chance. This shows that Biaozi is blessed with good fortune and is destined to be safe.” Liang Baozhen comforted them, not thinking much of it herself. At that time, she wasn’t even sure which day Biaozi had an accident. She just felt that saving a life was worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. There was no harm in taking a look. Who would have thought that it would really happen?
“Uncle Wei, Brother Wei, Baozhen and I just happened to see it. Anyone would save him if they were in this situation. As long as Biaozi is fine, that’s all that matters.”
Xu Shengjie, who was about seven or eight years younger than Wei Haiping, was now chatting with his arm around his shoulder, and they looked like a pair of good brothers.
Li Yujiao, the second wife, looked at them and repeated what she had said a few days ago, “Father, Mother, Xiao Xu’s family and our family are so connected this time, especially since they saved Biaozi. Why don’t we just recognize them as godparents?”
“That’s right!” Wei Haiping’s face flushed from drinking. He felt that his sister-in-law’s words made sense. It wouldn’t be too much for Biaozi to kowtow to Xu Shengjie and his wife, so he immediately said, “Biaozi, kowtow to your godfather and godmother.”
“Brother Wei, don’t, don’t.”
“How can this be?”
Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen were startled by the sudden scene, but Biaozi was very active. He put down his chopsticks and kneel on the ground, banging his head three times and shouting, “Godfather, godmother.”
He has always admired Xu Shengwei’s elder brother and thought that soldiers are very impressive. Now that he has him as his godfather, can he learn a few tricks from him?
“The kid has already kowtowed. Xiao Xu, Xiao Liang, don’t refuse.” Wei Jinrong was also happy. “In the future, you can even let this little rascal Biaozi take care of you in your old age!”
Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen had no choice but to accept the offer. Zhou Yun, who liked children, also smiled and accepted when Biaozi called her great-grandmother.
After the family finished their meal and left, they were also given five eggs and a pound of red shrimp crisps.
Liang Baozhen heard Biaozi behind her shouting goodbye to his godfather and godmother, and she felt strange that she had a godson after having a meal.
Biaozi watched his newly recognized godparents and godgrandmother go home and excitedly said to Xu Shengwei and Xu Shengya beside him, “Xiaowei and Xiaoya, we are a family from now on!”
“I think so.” Xu Shengya nodded. Although she acknowledged the new relationship, she didn’t feel as close to Biaozi as she did to her own family.
“Yes, then we can play together even more.” Biaozi hugged Xiaowei’s neck, and the two brothers started to make noises, “Hurry up and tell Xiaolong and Xiaohu!”
Zhou Long and Zhou Hu listened to Biaozi’s chatter and quickly grasped the new information, “You acknowledged Brother Xiaowei as your godfather?”
“Yes! What do you think? Are you envious?” Biaozi put his hands on his waist and said proudly, “My godfather was a soldier. He is very powerful!”
“Then you have to call Xu Shengwei uncle from now on?” Xiaolong thought about it and felt that he was right.
Hearing these words:
Biaozi: “…” Is there such a thing?
Xiaowei: “…” Is there such a good thing?
“Hahahahahahahaha Biaozi, then you will be my nephew from now on? Hahahahaha” Xu Shengwei became happier and happier as he thought about it. He held his stomach and laughed so hard that he fell over.
Xu Shengya also figured it out that she would become Biaozi’s aunt. The thirteen-year-old girl said to herself, “I’d better not, I’m still young.”
At this time, Biaozi, who was tall and strong but had suddenly been demoted, went home crying and yelling, “Father, I don’t want to recognize godfather and godmother anymore!”
***
The news of Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen rescuing people quickly spread throughout Crescent Alley. Many people came to know that this newlywed couple had kind hearts. Wei Jinrong even went to the neighborhood office to report the situation, hoping that the couple could be recognized and awarded for their heroism.
On the day he went, a reporter from the city’s daily newspaper was also there. Hearing that someone had saved a drowning child, which matched the recent theme of safety education, the reporter took notes and went to Xu’s house for an interview.
***
At the State Cotton Factory, spinning workshop.
“Xiaoxia, what are you doing? The cloth is all tangled up.” A co-worker nearby reminded Ding Xiaoxia, which made her snap back to reality.
“Oh, I didn’t sleep well and I’m a little muddled.” Ding Xiaoxia really didn’t sleep well. The Xu family wanted to take her job back, so how could she sleep well!
Ding Xiaoxia was the daughter of Zhou Yun’s maternal cousin, so they are relatives in some way. When Zhou Yun’s son and daughter-in-law passed away unexpectedly, there was suddenly a job vacancy.
Ding Xiaoxia had a hard life. She had six siblings, and they had nothing to eat for three meals a day and they were so hungry all the time.
Since she was young she had been clever, so she actually went to Zhou Yun’s house and asked if she could take over the job temporarily and return it to them when the Xu family’s children grew up.
This was clearly taking advantage, since it’s hard to get work in a state-owned factory. She immediately said that she didn’t want any salary, as long as she could have a full meal.
Zhou Yun looked at her cousin’s daughter, who was so skinny and hungry that her back was unsteady at such a young age. However, she had a determined look in her eyes. So, she asked her to take over the job first. As for the salary, she didn’t ask for much and only took five yuan a month.
Ding Xiaoxia has been doing this for more than ten years. She met her current husband at the factory, got married and had children, and became a dual-income family. She lives a much better life than her brothers and sisters.
Everyone thought she was smart enough to come and ask for a job; otherwise, she might have starved to death in the fields.
Now that the Xu family has a daughter-in-law, it is normal for them to want to take back the job. Ding Xiaoxia has already prepared herself mentally, and no matter how reluctant she is, she has no choice. However, a few days ago, the factory director’s son Chen Siming actually came to her and said that he could keep the job for her, and she didn’t need to give it up, as long as she cooperated with him.
Looking at the busy workers working hard around her, Ding Xiaoxia felt an inexplicable frustration. She had not slept well in the past few days and was not in high spirits.
“Director, our workshop is now working overtime to catch up with the work, and we will definitely be able to complete the order,” workshop leader Yang Jianlin said to Wu Bingnian, the deputy director of the first factory who came to inspect.
As they walked through the large workshop, it was clear everyone was busy, but one female worker in the corner seemed off.
Wu Bingnian noticed the worker with her head down, seemingly lost in thought, and gestured to Yang Jianlin, “Who is that person?”
Yang Jianlin secretly thought that this was not good. He had come in advance to inform them that the factory leaders would come to inspect in the next few days, but how could there still be such a careless person?
“It’s Ding Xiaoxia from the second group of the spinning workshop.”
“Ding Xiaoxia?” Wu Bingnian felt that this name sounded familiar, as if he had heard someone mention her before. “She doesn’t have a serious attitude towards work. You need to keep an eye on her.”
The factory has been busy with production recently. Ding Xiaoxia has always been a good worker and was willing to learn and work hard. Why did she run into trouble today? “Director, it’s my fault for not supervising them strictly. I will definitely do a good job reeducating the workers next time.”
Thinking about Ding Xiaoxia’s name, Wu Bingnian finally remembered. Wasn’t this the person who had taken over the Xu family’s job quota that his wife had mentioned to him a few days ago?
“Call Xue Lijun to my office.” Wu Bingnian left after saying this.
***
“Director, the Xu family’s work is being handled.” Xue Lijun didn’t expect that so many people were concerned about Xu Shengjie’s wife’s work. Sometimes it was Chen Siming, and sometimes it was the deputy director.
More importantly, the two people’s demands were conflicting. One wanted the job done, while the other wanted it undone. He was caught in the middle.
“Why can’t this be handled right away? It’s a very simple and clear procedure; how could there be any problem?” Wu Bingnian took a quick glance and saw Xue Lijun’s embarrassed face. He knew what was going on, “Was it Director Chen’s son who got involved on this?”
“Director, you see, I’m just… sigh.”
Wu Bingnian knew his difficulties and just waved his hand and asked him to leave.
A while ago, he had an argument with the factory director Chen Yong over the development of the factory. Wu Bingnian felt that he was taking too big steps and kept accepting new orders without the machinery and equipment keeping up. Now the workers were exhausted from working overtime, the workload was too heavy, and the old equipment broke down every now and then, and in the end, they were suffering.
However, the factory director Chen Yong refused to listen to the advice and just thought that Wu Bingnian was too conservative. Wu Bingnian was so angry that he took off his glasses and put them on the table, picked up the enamel cup, and took a sip, and asked his secretary to call Chen Siming.
***
Chen Siming was in his office. He has finalized the cotton procurement target for next year. Every year, the State Cotton Factory has to purchase large quantities of cotton. In the past, there was a fixed supplier but this year another cotton supplier came to him, and he was considering whether to switch suppliers.
After sending off the comrades from the cotton supply department, Deputy Director Wu’s secretary called him in.
“Uncle Wu, why did you suddenly look for me?” Chen Siming greeted him with a smile and then sat on the sofa in the deputy director’s office.
His father, Chen Yong, was somewhat afraid of Wu Bingnian, so Chen Siming was naturally polite to him.
“Siming, how have things been since you came back to work?” Wu Bingnian blew away the foam on the tea leaves and took a sip of the tea. It was a good Tieguanyin tea and smelled really good. He put down the teacup and continued to ask, “Are you busy? Are you adapting well?”
“Everything is fine. I have been working in the factory for quite some time, and I have no problem with my work.”
“That’s good. But I heard that you were also concerned about the Xu family’s work problems?”
Chen Siming’s eyes darkened. He didn’t expect that Wu Bingnian came here for Liang Baozhen’s job issue. The deputy director’s family should have nothing to do with the Xu family, right?
***
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