When it comes to this, Lin Xiaojing talked endlessly: “Because when Zhang Zihao asked Xiaomian to date me, Xiaomian said she needed to consider it. Zhang Zihao left his address for Xiaomian to find him when she made up her mind, so we went to find him according to that address.

We didn’t go directly to Zhang Zihao’s house. Instead, we spent a day observing in the workers’ compound over there. We noticed that several old ladies liked to sit together and chat about various things, so we privately approached one of them to inquire about the Zhang family’s situation.

We made up a story, saying that our elder sister had taken a liking to Zhang Zihao, who was her classmate, and wanted to arrange a marriage through a matchmaker. However, we were worried about our sister’s choice, so we came to secretly inquire about the Zhang family and Zhang Zihao’s situation. That lady was quite enthusiastic and told us about the Zhang family’s situation.

She said Zhang’s parents were nice, but the Zhang family had been pressured by the neighborhood committee to take up a position in the countryside recently. Zhang’s mother wanted to pass her job to Zhang Zihao, but there was a problem that concerned them. Zhang’s mother was an accountant at the textile factory, and Zhang Zihao didn’t understand that job. So if Zhang Zihao were to take over his mother’s job, he would have to change positions. However, the wages for the ordinary positions were lower than for an accountant, so the Zhang family was hesitant.

Furthermore, Zhang’s mother had been working at the textile factory for over ten years, so her seniority and salary were different. Zhang Zihao had just started, so he would receive the lowest wage.

But no matter what, if Zhang’s mother transferred her position to Zhang Zihao, then when the girl entered the family, she would have a working husband right away, which was quite fortunate.

The old lady thought we were genuinely inquiring, so she told us a lot.

Later, we found a boy from the workers’ compound, gave him five cents, and asked him to call out for Zhang Zihao’s younger brother, Zhang Zijun. Zhang Zijun was initially very guarded against us. We told Zhang Zijun that if Zhang Zihao didn’t go to the countryside and he took over his mother’s job, their family’s income would decrease, affecting their lives. For example, his pocket money would also decrease. At the same time, when he reached the age, there would be no job for him to take over at home unless his father was willing to give up his own job. Otherwise, without a job, he would go to the countryside.

But if Zhang Zihao went to the countryside, there would only be Zhang Zijun left in the Zhang family.

When he reached the age to go to the countryside, his parents would definitely be reluctant.

Then his mother would pass her job to him.

At the same time, with no one competing with him, all the money in the Zhang family would be his.

Moreover, if they were to sign up Zhang Zihao to go to the countryside, it would be best to sign up for a more remote and secluded place.

This way, Zhang Zihao would not come back. If it was close, Zhang Zihao might come back.

In this way, we convinced Zhang Zijun, and he secretly took the household register to register Zhang Zihao.”

Ning Shu didn’t expect the two girls to be so proactive. “How did you know Zhang Zijun would help? If Zhang Zijun didn’t help and instead told Zhang Zihao, wouldn’t that be tipping him off?”

Lin Xiaojing chuckled, “Xiaomian and I asked around about the relationship between Zihao and Zijun in the compound. They all said the brothers didn’t get along. So we dared to approach Zijun. And besides, didn’t you say, Third Sister-in-law, that if you want to buy someone, you have to start persuading them from where it benefits them? All we told Zijun was beneficial to him. We were also prepared for the worst. If it didn’t work out, we could always ask Third Brother for help.” Having a backing gives you confidence.

“Good job,” Ning Shu praised generously.

Through this incident, she noticed that Lin Xiaojing had changed a lot.

She became more cheerful, overlapping somewhat with how she was five years ago when Ning Shu first met her.

She also became more confident and daring.

That’s good. No matter when, girls should learn to protect themselves and love themselves.

After Lin Xiaojing’s long story, Ning Shu realized it was getting late and it was time to make lunch. So she said, “Let’s celebrate your escape from the sea of suffering. Have lunch here today.”

“No need, I won’t disturb Sister-in-law. I’ll go back,” Lin Xiaojing hurriedly got up to leave.

She came to share her joy, not to have lunch.

Mainly because no one understood her happiness, the people in the old house didn’t even know about it yet. And even if they did, Lin Xiaojing felt like she couldn’t share it with them.

If Ning Shu knew what Lin Xiaojing was thinking, she would tell her that it’s what the younger generation calls a generation gap.

But watching Lin Xiaojing eagerly leave, Ning Shu almost felt like some ferocious beast scaring her off.

Wasn’t it just lunch? Was it really worth rushing off like that?

At noon, Ning Shu made soup noodles, cabbage and pork rib soup noodles.

When Lin Guodong came back carrying a load of firewood for lunch, Ning Shu shared Lin Xiaojing’s story with him. “Look how clever Xiaojing is, she first found out about the Zhang family’s situation, then about the relationship between Zihao and Zijun, so she could manipulate their relationship based on their interests.” Very logical and systematic.

Lin Guodong nodded, “She did a pretty good job.” Better than he imagined.

But it’s also because his wife, the teacher, taught her well.

Lin Guodong thought to himself, if Xiaojing personality turns to his wife’s personality, then when she marries into their family, it’s the in-laws who should worry not Xiaojing.

Lin Guodong had been quite busy these days, going up the mountain every day to gather firewood.

Actually, the firewood near the foot of the mountain and outside the mountain had already been picked clean.

Lin Guodong went a little deeper into the mountain, not only gathering firewood but also picking up dried wood and bamboo. He thought, by preparing more firewood for the family, when he returns to the army after the New Year, there will still be firewood at home.

Otherwise, the two kids won’t be able to gather much firewood, and Ning Shu, being delicate, can’t handle it either.

He worries too much about the small firewood she picks, it’s not enough for burning.

Although he didn’t know how they managed before, now that he knows, he naturally wants to plan ahead for them.

How did they manage before? Ning Shu’s firewood wasn’t prepared by Lin’s parents, it was either bought or she picked it herself.

How could they rely on just the two kids and herself for gathering firewood?

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve.

In Qinglin Bay Production Brigade, New Year’s Eve was divided into two meals.

Lunch was a day for the whole family to eat together, including children who had moved out, so Ning Shu’s family would go to the old house for dinner.

Before the policies eliminated feudal thoughts, New Year’s Eve, according to the customs of Qinglin Bay Production Brigade, was also a day for ancestor worship.

On New Year’s Eve morning, the head of the household would arrange the food offerings for the ancestors, then lead the younger generation in paying respects. After the ritual, the food would be reheated for lunch, which the whole family would enjoy together.

But now, without the ancestral ritual, they would just have a family lunch together. Dinner would be eaten separately by each family.

“Mom, are you starting to make lunch this early?” Yibao came into the kitchen to get hot water and saw his mother preparing lunch.

They had only had breakfast not long ago.

Ning Shu replied, “We’re going to the old house for lunch, to have New Year’s Eve dinner with your grandma and them, so I’m getting the food ready first. You and your little brother can go play at the old house later.”

Seeing Yibao reaching for the thermos, Ning Shu went over, took the thermos, and poured him some hot water. “Drink slowly, be careful it’s hot.”

“I know, I’ll drink this and go play at the village entrance,” Yibao puffed his cheeks and blew on the water forcefully.

It was still a bit hot. Yibao went back outside, deciding to let the hot tea cool down in the cold wind, which would make it cool faster.

For lunch, Ning Shu prepared sour cabbage fish, cold tossed lettuce stems, and braised bamboo shoots, all dishes she liked.

No problem there.

She did think about making a pork dish, but the fresh pork they got a few days ago had been eaten up.

The remaining pork was either dried or marinated, which could be used for stir-fry but not much else.

Ning Shu thought sour cabbage fish would still be delicious.

Anyway, if you’re cooking, you should make what you like.

“Do you need help?” Lin Guodong didn’t go up the mountain today.

New Year’s Eve wasn’t a day for work, it was a day for rest.

Ning Shu said, “You can slice the fish we raised and make sour cabbage fish. Kill a few more, there are so many people, we’ll need more.”

“Sure,” Lin Guodong picked up a knife and went to the storage room’s water tank to catch fish.

They kept their fish there.

While Ning Shu was busy, things were bustling at the old house.

Lin’s mother, with her two daughters-in-law and Lin Xiaojing, were also preparing lunch.

With three families totaling 15 people, plus the elderly couple and Lin Xiaojing, making it 18 people in total, they needed to set up 2 tables, so it was quite busy.

Zhang Qinfang and Qian Aifen were washing vegetables.

Zhang Qinfang asked softly, “Big sister-in-law, will Third Brother’s wife come for lunch this year?”

Qian Aifen glanced at her. Wasn’t that obvious? Since Third Brother had come back, would his wife not come for lunch? “She’ll come.”

“Then what do you think Third Brother’s wife will bring? Their family bought so much meat the other day. If she brings something, will it be meat?” Zhang Qinfang was mainly interested in this.

She didn’t care if Ning Shu came or not.

It would be better if she didn’t come; she didn’t want to see Ning Shu. But for the meat, she could endure.