Chapter 71

What Han Jinzhu didn’t know was that because he took Han Chunguang to the provincial capital for medical treatment, Qian Guoguang was unable to send the telegram containing the secret documents. Fearing that delays might lead to complications, he sent Feng Chuan to the neighboring Su City to send the telegram. However, Feng was caught in a net and arrested.

Li Yuechan indirectly helped Gu Zhixing with his task.

“Here, Director Gao, try this braised pork. It tastes really good!”

“Hahaha, Jianguo, you really are too considerate.”

“Aiya, this time, I really owe you for helping my brother out. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have settled the job so quickly!”

“It was just a coincidence! But the job only cost 600 yuan, which is quite a bargain! I’m telling you, at our food factory, the highest salary goes up to 800 yuan!”

“I know, I know. But it’s all thanks to you! I’ve got a bottle of Maotai here for you to take home and drink slowly. I was lucky to get a liquor ticket, so I thought I’d offer it as a gift!”

Director Gao took the bottle, admiring it for a while. “Oh, Jianguo, you’re really amazing to have gotten this.”

Li Jianguo humbly said, “Hahaha, it’s just a coincidence.”

Director Gao immediately looked at him with a different expression. As the director of the food factory, he had heard that Li Jianguo was just a workshop director at a steel mill, but now he could even manage to get something as good as this. It seemed his family wasn’t simple, so it would be wise to stay on good terms with him.

“Come on, Director Gao, don’t stop eating. Have more.”

“Okay, okay!”

When Li Jianguo saw Director Gao grab the liquor, the latter’s previously imposing aura seemed to have softened, and his smile became more genuine. Having a connection in the military was great, as they had access to all sorts of things, like liquor tickets, making it all advantageous for him.

“Well then, after lunch, I’ll take my brother to finish the paperwork?”

“Sure, no problem.”

After Li Jianguo helped his brother with the paperwork, the two of them rode their bicycles back to their hometown, picking up Li Shengli on the way.

Li Jianguo wanted to show off to his mother, and he had already planned out the next steps in his mind.

As for Li Jianjun, he was heading back to pack his things. Now that he had become a full-time worker, there was an opening in the dormitory after someone moved out, and he was assigned to a room. Though it was small, with only a little over 10 square meters, he wouldn’t have to go back to the village every day, saving him from the tiring commute. It also gave him a good reason to show off to the villagers.

When Huang Hehua saw Li Jianguo and Li Jianjun come back together, she was quite surprised. “Jianguo, did you get the job sorted?”

Li Jianguo proudly said, “Of course! I talked to several people, and finally managed to get my brother a job. Now he’s a full-time worker at the food factory!”

When Li Jianjun heard this, he lifted his head proudly.

Huang Hehua, upon hearing the news, grinned widely like a blooming chrysanthemum. “Oh, my Jianguo, you really are capable. You managed to get your brother’s job settled so quickly.

“What’s the salary like? How much?”

“The salary for full-time workers is 36 yuan.”

“Oh my, that’s great! That’s more than ten yuan more than before!”

“Jianjun, remember that the money for the job arrangement is from your mother. You’d better repay her!”

“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll give you an extra ten yuan every month from now on.”

Li Jianjun had already calculated things in his head. Before, he earned 18 yuan per month, giving his mother 10 yuan. Now that he earned 36 yuan, he would give her 20 yuan, and the rest would be for himself.

Huang Hehua couldn’t stop smiling when she heard this. “Good, good, let’s go, we’ll have scrambled eggs for dinner!”

Zhang Laidi, standing beside them, also lifted her head, feeling content. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of superiority, and even Li Shengli felt different. On the way, he already knew his father had become a full-time worker.

Looking at the little kids in the village, he found them less and less worthy of playing with.

Everyone was in a happy mood, but Liu Xinghua, in the house, was grinding her teeth in anger. She opened the door and called out:

“Jianjun, you’re finally settled! Will you still come back to live here?”

Li Jianjun looked at his sister-in-law and wiped the smile from his face.

“Heh, sister-in-law, I usually don’t come back. The factory provided a dormitory, and commuting back and forth takes over three hours a day. It’s just too far!”

As for Shengli, he wouldn’t come back either. I’ll go pick him up and take him back to the dormitory so he doesn’t have to run around.”

Zhang Laidi’s eyes twinkled, and she quickly said, “Shengli won’t come back? Then how will he eat? Even if he eats at the cafeteria, it still costs money. Maybe I should go over there. I can tidy up for them and take care of their food and drink. I’ll cook, wash clothes, and clean up a bit, so they can focus on their studies and work without worrying.”

Huang Hehua thought about it and agreed. “True, my son can’t take care of the little ones himself! Zhang Laidi, you’ll have to go and look after them.”

“Alright, then you go over and see how things are. If they can’t accommodate you, you can always come back.”

Zhang Laidi smiled and quickly agreed. But in her heart, she was already planning. Now that they had moved into the city, who would want to return?

Liu Xinghua sneered. “Now that Jianjun’s family has moved to the city, who’s going to work the land?”

Huang Hehua shot a glare at her daughter-in-law. “What do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean? Jianjun has his own food to eat, but his wife doesn’t work and still expects to eat from the family’s supplies? I won’t agree to that!”

Huang Hehua put her hands on her hips. “You’re stirring trouble again, huh? Why can’t you just leave things alone and stop causing problems?”

“Mom, I’m not causing trouble. Isn’t it the truth? Jianjun’s family is in the city living comfortably, while we’re working hard for food credits. Why should we share with them? This doesn’t make sense!”

“Why should we share? Because this is my home, and I say it goes!”

“Hmph! When Jianjun worked, he gave you money every month, so I didn’t say anything. But now, his family of three doesn’t do any work and expects us to take care of them. No way!”

“Who says that? Meiling and Meixia are also helping in the fields!”

“They can only help so much. As for Jianjun’s family, they’re only getting their food credits. Nothing more!”

Huang Hehua rolled her eyes at Liu Xinghua. “You’re just a daughter-in-law, what right do you have to speak here? This is my family, and I say how it’s run!”

Liu Xinghua’s eyes reddened. “Heh, this happens every time. Is it fun for you? You’re just obsessed with your little grandson, and your eldest grandson’s whereabouts are still unknown. Yet here you are, celebrating. It’s like you’re tearing my flesh, drinking my blood! Boo-hoo… Boo-hoo…”

Li Jianjun glanced at his sister-in-law, sighing. This was so frustrating.

Huang Hehua stepped forward and slapped Liu Xinghua, shouting, “I told you to stop crying! You’re ruining everyone’s mood!”

Liu Xinghua covered her face and began sobbing. “I can’t live like this! I can’t take it anymore! Just let me die, then it’ll be peaceful!”

She said this while attempting to bang her head against the wall.

Liu Xinghua hurried forward and stopped his mother. He shouted at his grandmother, “Grandma, how can you treat our family like this? My brother’s life is uncertain, and you’re over here celebrating. Are you even human?”

Huang Hehua heard this and grabbed a broom, swinging it toward Liu Xinghua. “Hey, you little brat, how dare you shout at me? Is this how your mother taught you?”

Li Meili, holding her mother, cried loudly, “Dad, aren’t you going to do something? If you don’t, I’ll go and live with my mom!”

Li Jianjun looked at his mother and then at his wife and children. Finally, he stood his ground.

“Mom, if you keep going like this, this family is really going to fall apart!”

He seemed to have aged ten years in that moment. He walked over and snatched the broom from his mother’s hands, throwing it to the floor.