Master Xu changed his previous cold demeanor and showed a more friendly side: "What brings you here, kid?"

Song Hengjue took a sip of tea: "Didn't we agree a couple of days ago to find a few brothers to drive that stall away? Why is it still there today?"

"Let me think about it some more." A hint of hesitation flashed in Master Xu's eyes as he told him everything that had just happened.

Song Hengjue frowned: "Just for a few hundred yuan, you're making the brothers risk their lives? If the Bureau of Industry and Commerce gets involved, we'll all be finished."

"A few hundred yuan? You make it sound so easy. Our little market only makes a thousand or so yuan a month." Old Master Xu exhaled a smoke ring.

“You still have a few hundred yuan now, but what about in two months? Xishan Town isn’t wealthy, and the customer flow for this bag won’t be large. You won’t make much money by keeping it.” Song Hengjue analyzed for him. Actually, what he wanted to tell him was that the reform and opening up would begin in a year, and there was no need to take this risk with his brothers.

It's just a cloth bag, what's the point of selling it?

Master Xu rubbed his hair and interrupted him, "Alright, let's not talk about this now."

Song Hengjue shut up and put the cloth bag on the table: "Find two reliable brothers to sell the new goods that Haicheng brought back."

Master Xu nodded, took the cloth bag to inspect the goods, and the two of them moved with practiced ease and great tacit understanding.

Following her memory, Yang Qingheng turned out of the alley. After sending Liu Qing home, she bought a piece of pork belly at the black market, wrapped it in oil paper, put it in her crossbody bag, and then walked out.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Yang Qingheng sensed that something was wrong. Looking at her mother-in-law's face, which was almost as black as the bottom of a pot, she asked in a puzzled tone, "Who offended you?"

She was perfectly fine before she left this morning.

After Yao Ying launched into a long tirade of complaints, Yang Qingheng finally realized that Song Hengjue had returned and was going to take the college entrance exam, which had angered her mother-in-law.

“I finally found him a job in the city. If he goes there, he'll be a regular worker, someone people would kill for. But instead, he says he wants to take the college entrance exam. What age is he? Taking the college entrance exam? I think he hasn't had a beating in a long time!”

Yang Qingheng couldn't help but laugh when she saw Song Hengjue's vivid, grimacing expression as she reprimanded him.

"You're only twenty-one, not that old. Look at other educated youth, some of them are still taking the college entrance exam in their fifties. Besides, what if you pass the exam? Wouldn't our family have a college student? Wouldn't you be happy then?"

“That’s true… but what if I don’t pass the exam? Wouldn’t that be a waste of time?” Yao Ying hesitated. She still thought being a worker was better, a secure job.

Yang Qingheng shook her head: "Mom, Hengjue is still young. If he wants to try something new, let him go. Otherwise, he will have regrets later and carry a thorn in his heart."

Yao Ying suddenly gave her a strange look: "When did you learn to speak up for him?"

During this time, she noticed that her daughter-in-law had changed a lot. Not only was she nicer to her in the past, but now she was also very nice to her son. Could she be plotting something bad?

“Of course I’ll speak up for my man,” Yang Qingheng patted her hand. “Anyway, I think Hengjue can get in.”

Yao Ying frowned and looked at her twice. Although she didn't say yes, her expression improved a lot.

Outside the door, Song Hengjue paused.

"Alright, take your time to think it over," Yang Qingheng stood up, patted Yao Ying on the shoulder, "I'll go inside and cook."

Yao Ying stared at the pork belly she had brought out, and subconsciously swallowed: "I'll go help you."

“Okay,” Yang Qingheng nodded, stuffing the eggplant on the table into her hand. “Thank you, Mom, please wash and chop it for me.”

I had just picked up the black pot, intending to take it off and wash it clean, when my hand slipped.

"I'll do it."

Song Hengjue walked in at some point and took it from him.

The smile on Yang Qingheng's face vanished instantly.

This was the first time the two had met since their last argument.

She turned and went about her other business, pretending that the person in the room wasn't there.

Even the usually oblivious Yao Ying noticed the awkward atmosphere between the two. She glanced at Yang Qingheng, then at her own son, stuffed the groceries into his arms, and went straight out the door.

Song Hengjue looked up at Yang Qingheng but didn't say anything.

The two remained silent for the entire afternoon, not exchanging a single word until Song Hengjue left.

Yao Ying saw the package on the table and stuffed it into Yang Qingheng's arms: "Hengjue forgot to take something, can you deliver it for him?"

Yang Qingheng frowned, her face full of reluctance.

"Do you expect this old woman to deliver it to him?" Yao Ying pushed her out the door.

Yang Qingheng sighed and had no choice but to run outside with her package, where she ran into Song Hengjue who was walking back.

"Your mother asked me to bring this over." She said calmly, shoved it into his arms, and ran away.

Song Hengjue pursed his lips and grabbed her arm: "Wait."

"What is it?" Yang Qingheng hadn't forgotten how he had scolded her a while ago, and she was still a little angry.

As soon as he finished speaking, a stack of papers was stuffed into his hand. Looking down, he saw that they were several large unity bills and banknotes.

"I'm cold-hearted and ruthless, I wouldn't dare take your money." She scoffed and threw it back into his arms.

Song Hengjue: "My mother is not in good health, this is to help her recover."

"You mean I would mistreat your mother and not give her good food?" Yang Qingheng sneered. "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

"I didn't mean that." Song Hengjue frowned, feeling a headache coming on from her retort, and forcefully stuffed the money into her pocket.

Yang Qingheng withdrew her arm and turned to leave.

"This is the money your son gave you." As soon as she entered the house, she stuffed the money into Yao Ying's hand.

"Why are you two arguing and dragging me into this?" Yao Ying rolled her eyes at her. "If you really care, help me out at work tomorrow. I'm going back to my parents' house."

If the son doesn't want it, the worker's spot can't be wasted. Luckily, my younger brother has an older son who's come of age, so let him go. It's good to keep the benefits within the family.