Chapter 32 My Fierce Wife

When Zhou Shengqiang returned and saw so many vegetables at the door, he exclaimed in surprise. Then he saw his mother sitting on a stool with a worried look on her face, sighing.

What's wrong with you?

"Why are there still so many dishes?"

Zhou's mother looked up: "What's it to you? You don't know how lucky you are."

Zhou Shengqiang was stunned: "What's wrong with you? Did you eat gunpowder?"

Zhou's mother sighed, "That young man selling vegetables is so pitiful. I felt sorry for him today and bought all the vegetables."

He glanced at the pile of vegetables and said, "Why don't you share some with the others? It's a waste if they go bad."

"People are only trying to gain your sympathy because they see you as kind-hearted. Don't be fooled." Zhou Shengqiang saw that the vegetables looked quite fresh and hadn't been cheated.

Do you think other people are more cunning than you?

“He’s from the countryside. I asked him to help me get a chicken and kill a rabbit. Aren’t you going to treat us to a meal later? We’ll keep the rabbit for ourselves.”

Thinking of the young man, Zhou's mother said, "If you ever want to give someone any mountain produce or anything like that as a gift, just come to me, and I'll go buy it from that young man."

Zhou Shengqiang laughed, "You still treat him like your own son?"

"That young man is quite honest, but he's a bit pitiful. Before, when other people tried to buy his eggs, he wouldn't buy them and would save them for me."

Zhou Shengqiang frowned: "Why are you being so attentive?"

"What are you saying? He's a pitiful man because I look like his deceased mother."

That might fool an old lady, but Zhou Shengqiang is either trying to sell goods or something else entirely.

What kind of coincidence is that in the world?

I suddenly remembered that there are two housing allocation slots available now. Although it hasn't been officially announced, people with connections probably already know about it.

Thinking about how the people he had been visiting at the factory these past two days were all asking about housing allocation, and how some had even gone to his house with envelopes, he realized that they were all asking him about it.

That's probably it.

Ji Huaizhi didn't sell vegetables that day; instead, he went directly to the Zhou family with a basket on his back, along with some blooming flowers.

When Zhou's mother saw him, she immediately beamed with joy: "You didn't come to set up your stall yesterday?"

"I went somewhere else yesterday, and I only brought your things here today," Ji Huaizhi said shyly, putting down the basket so she could take the things.

"Bloom, call her Grandma."

"Grandma." Ji Shengkai's adorable appearance won over Zhou's mother's heart.

But she couldn't find a single piece of candy anywhere she looked.

"Aunt Zhou, what did you ask the young man to bring you? Is there anything I can see?" She knew Ji Huaizhi and had bought things from him before.

"You brought your daughter with you today to sell goods?"

Ji Huaizhi nodded, and Ji Shengkai called her "Auntie" again.

"How polite."

Zhou's mother waved her hand: "What are you looking at? It's just that we found out later that this young man is a relative of mine from the countryside. He brought his daughter to visit me, he's not here to sell anything."

"If you want to buy anything, tell him when he's leaving."

Zhou's mother first pulled Ji Shengkai into the house.

Zhou Shengqiang didn't move when he heard the noise inside. He had been staring at Ji Huaizhi ever since he came in.

The man, who seemed rather awkward, appeared to be an honest man; he didn't look around suspiciously once he entered the house.

He seemed very embarrassed.

The little girl next to her didn't move either.

"Auntie?"

"That's just how the people around me are; they just love to join in the fun."

Ji Huaizhi scratched his head sheepishly, "I thought I was causing you trouble."

"No trouble at all, have some water." Zhou's mother poured him a glass of water as he took the things out.

He grabbed another handful of peanuts: "What's your youngest daughter's name? Is she in school yet?"

"My name is Shengkai, my mom gave me that name, and I'm already in school." Ji Shengkai glanced at her father first as she took out her things.

She took it only after her father nodded, saying, "Thank you, Grandma."

Seeing that her hands were small, Zhou's mother put them in her pocket: "No need to thank me, you're such a good little girl."

"Auntie, I brought you this chicken. I picked the fattest one. It weighed over five pounds, so I'll just charge you five pounds. It's one yuan and sixty cents a pound. If it's a whole chicken, it's eight yuan." Ji Huaizhi tied the chicken's feet.

He gestured for her to weigh it.

Zhou's mother took it and lifted it by hand; it was indeed more than five pounds: "Alright, Auntie won't stand on ceremony."

"I killed this rabbit this morning, it's very fresh. The rabbit's kidneys and other parts are still inside its belly. My wife washed the rabbit fur clean, it's a pity to throw it away, you can make a pair of gloves."

No matter how clean it was washed, there was still blood. Ji Huaizhi dried it and covered up the blood.

"This rabbit costs six yuan, making it 14 yuan in total."

Zhou Shengqiang came over to see if he would say anything after he finished.

Ji Shengkai first greeted him with "Hello, Uncle".

Zhou Shengqiang nodded. The little girl was quite well-behaved.

Zhou's mother thought he was very meticulous: "That's good, I'll go get you the money."

Ji Huaizhi smiled and greeted Zhou Shengqiang, "Brother."

"Do you sell these things in this alley every day?"

Ji Huaizhi shook his head and replied, "I sell them in rotation; I don't come every day."

"We farmers can only make a living by farming, earning a meager living through hard work."

Upon hearing that he was a farmer, Zhou Shengqiang realized he was overthinking things.

I casually chatted with him about everyday things: "Farming is not shameful. We city folks envy you for being able to be self-sufficient."

“It’s still better in the city, everything is convenient. Although there are many places to spend money, at least you get a salary.” Ji Huaizhi said sincerely, “We farmers rely on the weather for our livelihood.”

"When God is angry, our crops suffer."

Zhou Shengqiang was also somewhat proud.

Yes, he's a junior manager now, and his salary is enough for his family to live comfortably.

At this point, the employees will have an air of arrogance.

"Whether in the city or the countryside, as long as you are hardworking, you won't starve."

Ji Huaizhi smiled: "That's true."

"I also married my current wife through hard work. She also works in a factory in the city. She even said that if we could get a house, she would bring me and our daughter to live with us." Ji Huaizhi looked too honest and simple: "I can only work harder so that I can't be outdone by my wife."

He looked happy when he talked about his wife.

“These houses are hard to get; housing is very tight right now,” Zhou Shengqiang said, and he was telling the truth.

There are only two spots available, and countless people are eyeing them.

“That’s for sure.” Ji Huaizhi nodded without denying it: “It was just something my husband and I said in jest. If we were to actually get separate rooms, we wouldn’t be the ones getting them.”

"Which factory does your wife work at?" Zhou Shengqiang asked casually.

After hearing what Ji Huaizhi said, his eyes darkened and became scrutinizing.

But Ji Huaizhi said he wouldn't mention anything else.

At this moment, Zhou's mother also came out with a handkerchief: "I have such a bad memory."

"Xiao Ji, I'm sorry I kept you from selling things today, I'll give you fifteen yuan."