Chapter 49 : Returning Home

Wang Juhua was a little hesitant. “Why do you keep saying that? Did Zhuang Guoliang drug you?”

Jiang Hongmei had no choice but to whisper to Wang Juhua, “Brother Guoliang is trading pork on the black market. He will definitely make a fortune in the future. Just wait and see.”

Wang Juhua’s eyes widened, and after looking around to see if anyone was nearby, she said, “You stupid girl, are you telling the truth?”

“Of course, why would I lie to you? Mom, get me something to eat. I’m starving.”

“Your brother has taken all the food in the house. We only have cornmeal steamed bread. Do you want to eat it?”

Jiang Hongmei ate voraciously. At this moment, she was so hungry she would eat anything, even cornmeal.

After she was full, she complained again, “Mom, you don’t know. Jiang Li, that damned girl, is so stingy. I just asked her for two pieces of egg cakes, and she actually peed on me… When she comes back, beat her to death!”

Speaking of Jiang Li, Wang Juhua immediately became angry. “Don’t mention her to me! This shameless little whore, together with the Li family next door, took away two rooms from our family.”

Jiang Hongmei stopped chewing, then she remembered that when she first entered the yard, the east wing, where she originally lived, had been given to the Li family next door.

“Mom, this house is ours, why does she sell it just like that?”

The two of them cursed at each other, and by the time the sun was high, Jiang Li still hadn’t returned.

Jiang Hongmei urged Wang Juhua to cook again. “Mom, make some meat for lunch. I’m so hungry.”

“Where does the meat come from?”

“Then steam two eggs for me.”

Wang Juhua felt very upset. “Since the banker is reselling pork and has money, why didn’t he ask you to bring back a piece of pork? It’s not right to go back to your parents’ home empty-handed.”

Jiang Hongmei’s expression suddenly changed. “Mom, why are you still arguing with me about this? Jiang Tianci took all the food in the house and you didn’t say anything to him. I finally got a chance to go back to my parents’ home, and you ask me to bring stuff with me. Am I still your biological child?”

“He is the male of our Jiang family, and you are a married daughter, so of course it’s different.”

The two started arguing again, but then they heard the loud sound of bicycle bells outside the door, mixed with the noise of children.

Wang Juhua stuck her head out and looked outside. Wasn’t that Jiang Li sitting on the bicycle?

Qi Shaoqiang was carrying a lot of bags in his hands, and there was a chicken tied to the back seat.

“Humph, Jiang Li is smart enough to bring something to curry favor with her. But even so, don’t expect me to forgive her. She did such a big mistake, how dare she come in here?”

Wang Juhua had already made plans. The two rooms could be sold for at least one hundred yuan. Adding the price of the residential land, Jiang Li would have to compensate her at least two hundred yuan before the matter would be settled. Or let Qi Shaoqiang find a job for Tianci in a food factory, preferably one that works in an office, as she doesn’t want her son to be tired.

Wang Juhua was so absorbed in her thoughts that she laughed out loud, but then she realized Jiang Li had gotten off her bicycle and ran straight to the Li family next door.

“Godmother! Godfather!”

“Hey, Lizi is back. I’ve been waiting for you for so long, kid, what are you bringing home? You’re being polite to your godmother!”

Jingui hugged the person in her arms and cherished her for a long time. After not seeing her for three days, Jiang Li looked at her with a smile on her face, her complexion rosy.

It seems that their life after marriage is good, so she feels relieved.

Then she called Qi Shaoqiang, “Come on, come on, son-in-law , hurry into the house, it must be too hot. His father should hurry up and greet him.”

Li Youtian was not good at speaking. He just looked at Qi Shaoqiang and occasionally said, “Shaoqiang, do you want to smoke a pipe?”

“Shaoqiang, would you like some tea?”

“Mom, the dishes are ready,” Li Chunlan came out of the kitchen and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

Mai Miao hugged Jiang Li’s legs and refused to move. “Sister Li, where have you been? I haven’t seen you for several days. I miss you so much.”

This made everyone laugh. “Your sister Lizi got married, and she married to the next brigade. If you miss her, can you marry to Bailutang?”

Mai Miao frowned, still unable to understand the meaning of getting married. She thought about it seriously and agreed.

“Okay, then I’ll also bring my mom and sister over.”

She counted on her fingers. “And my brother, Xiao Niu, Xiao Hua… I have to take them with me, otherwise I will miss them too.”

These words made Jiang Li laugh so hard that tears came out. She fed Mai Miao a piece of maltose and kissed her little face. “Sister misses you too, dear Mai Miao.”

“Eat, eat.” There were many dishes on the table, seven dishes and one soup: old hen stewed with mushrooms, bacon fried with garlic leaves, pork belly stewed with vermicelli, pepper fried eggs, smashed cucumbers…

Li Youtian poured wine for Qi Shaoqiang again, and Aunt Jingui greeted him, “Home-brewed rice wine is not as good as the one you usually drink. Shaoqiang, try it. If you’re not used to it, don’t drink it.”

Li Chunlan sat next to Jiang Li and whispered in her ear, “Lizi, is he good to you? What about his family? Are they good to you?”

Jiang Li smiled and nodded. “All good.”

Seeing Jiang Li’s happy face and bright eyes, Li Chunlan felt relieved.

“What about you? Do you have any good news recently?”

Jiang Li inquired about Li Chunlan’s movements, for she was afraid that Chang Jinguang had started to provoke Xiaolan.

Xiaolan is a simple-minded person. If she falls into this trap, it will be the end of her.

Li Chunlan seemed to remember something, but hesitated to speak, and before she could open her mouth, a roar of anger rang out at the door.

Wang Juhua stood at the door with her hands on her hips, cursing, “Zhao Jingui, you have such a big face! The daughter of another family has returned to your home. Not only did she rob my house, she also robbed the wedding gift.”

“Why doesn’t God strike you with lightning, you shameless thing?”

Seeing Qi Shaoqiang standing up, Zhao Jingui gave Jiang Li a look, and Xiaolan comforted her. “Lizi, don’t worry, my mother can handle it.”

Over there, the three Li brothers had already picked up the benches and bamboo poles. Behind Zhao Jingui stood his three sons, with their backs straight and their fingers poking at Wang Juhua’s face.

“How dare you say that? Lizi is coming home today, what have you prepared? Are you going to let people eat air? You are so obsessed with the return gift that you don’t even cook a meal for them. When it comes to being a wicked person, you are the best. No one can be second to you.”

“Shameless thing, God has eyes, even if there’s thunder, it won’t strike me, but it will kill you, first!”

Wang Juhua couldn’t argue with her, so she turned her anger on Jiang Li and said, “Jiang Li, you better think it over. Do you want to completely sever all ties with your mother’s family? You’re so proud now, but when Qi Shaoqiang dumps you in the future, don’t come crying to anyone.”

“Lizi is my goddaughter. She has my support, and her three godbrothers are here! It’s not your place as a mean aunt to act as the mother’s family.”

“When there’s something good to gain, you run fast. But when something really happens, you, Wang Juhua, shrink your head faster than a turtle. I’ll support you and make you laugh!”

Aunt Jingui single-handedly scolded Wang Juhua and Jiang Hongmei.

Wang Juhua didn’t dare to retaliate and could only stand outside, slapping her thigh and crying, which was disgusting.

With a splash, a basin of water with vegetable leaves still in it soaked Wang Juhua and Jiang Hongmei. There were still a few drops left in the basin, and Li Chunlan didn’t waste any of it. While Wang Juhua was distracted, she poured the remaining water on her head.

“Ah! Li Chunlan, you damned girl! I’ll beat you to death!”

Wang Juhua was about to rush forward and tear her apart, but a gust of wind blew by, making her feel cold all over. She looked down and saw that her white clothes were completely wet, revealing the red vest underneath.

“Oh, these two mother and daughter are both very good!”

“It was still more exciting to watch when we caught them cheating that day.” The restless men in the village stared at Wang Juhua and Jiang Hongmei like flies.

Jiang Hongmei trembled, clutching her chest, and fled back home as if escaping. Wang Juhua had no choice but to follow her home and lock the door.

The battle was a great victory, and Zhao Jingui was so happy that he ate an extra bowl of rice.

In the afternoon, when Jiang Li was about to leave, Aunt Jingui forced her to stay. “Child, Bailutang is not far away, it won’t be too late to go home after dinner.”

Li Chunlan also persuaded her, “Yes, Lizi, I haven’t told you what you asked me about earlier. Don’t you want to hear it?”

Jiang Li looked at Qi Shaoqiang, who was drinking happily with the Li brothers.

“Okay, then I’ll go back after dinner.”

Li Chunlan was so happy that she pulled Jiang Li into her room to talk in private.

“Lizi, I have something on my mind lately. I’ve been keeping it to myself, and no one has told me. I want to ask what you think,” Li Chunlan lowered her head, biting the end of her braid with her teeth, looking like a girl in love.

Jiang Li understood what was going on. “Do you have someone in your heart?”

Li Chunlan’s eyes widened. “Lizi, you’re like the worm in my stomach. You know everything I’m thinking.”

“Tell me, who is the one that haunts your dreams?”

She hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, “It’s Chang Zhiqing. He’s the one who gave me a pencil stub last time and encouraged me to read. Do you still remember him?”

“He’s not very white, but he’s very friendly and smiles whenever he sees anyone.”

Jiang Li understood, it was indeed Chang Jinguang.

But seeing that Li Chunlan looked completely lost, she couldn’t speak directly and only asked, “Did he tell you that he was coming to your house to propose marriage?”

Li Chunlan shook her head. “No, that’s not the case. It was just that when we were picking peanuts last time, he and I were assigned to the same team. He praised me for my beautiful smile and quick work.”

As if lost in memories, Li Chunlan’s face lit up with sweetness, and she held Jiang Li’s hand. “Lizi, do you think he doesn’t hate me? I know that I’m a country girl and he’s an educated man, and I’m not worthy of him, but as long as I look at him for a moment, I will be happy.”

Jiang Li breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Chang Jinguang probably hadn’t broken up with his girlfriend at this time. He was just keeping Li Chunlan hanging and being ambiguous with her, but didn’t talk about marriage.

“Xiaolan, how many work points did he get when you picked peanuts together?”

Li Chunlan was stunned. “He did 10 work points.”

“How many work points does he usually get?”

“8, or 6,” Li Chunlan answered hesitantly, but she knew in her heart that there were definitely not 8 work points. Chang Jinguang was slow at work, so it would be a stretch for him to get 6 work points at best.

“Then where did he get the extra 4 work points?”

Jiang Li’s question hit the nail on the head. Li Chunlan lowered her head and said in a voice as quiet as a mosquito, “Mine.”

She usually earned at least 8 work points for working in the fields, but that day she only reported 4.