Chapter 5 Brothers

Xu Yuxiang heard the door open, leaned against the window and looked out, then said to Su Houli, "Jiaojiao is out. Go ask Guilan where she went. You have to keep a close eye on her and make sure nothing else happens."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Guilan walked in and said softly, "Mom, Jiaojiao went to her second uncle's house."

Su Houli glanced at her and said, "I don't agree with her going to school, and I won't pay for her tuition. You guys can do whatever you want!"

"Hou Li, Jiao Jiao loves to study. Let's send her to high school!" Chen Guilan said in a humble tone. She was about to say something when Su Houde pushed the door open and walked in. He called out "Mom" in a muffled voice and sat down on the kang. Su Houli handed him a cigarette and a match, then lit one himself. "Brother, have you eaten yet?"

Su Houde took the cigarette, hummed, kicked off his dirty shoes, stepped onto the kang sideways, sat cross-legged, and took a puff of the cigarette. Chen Guilan went to make tea, but found that the tea bag was empty. She had no choice but to pour some plain water from the thermos and handed it over.

"It's okay, just a child throwing a tantrum." Su Houli looked at the boiled water in front of him with disdain, blew out a smoke ring, and turned to look at Su Houde's torn socks. "I came back this time mainly for Cuicui. She can start working in our garment factory tomorrow. The salary is 200 during the internship period, and after the internship period, she will be paid by piecework. If she works hard, she can earn 300 or 400."

"That's great." Su Houde grinned, revealing his uneven black and yellow teeth. He was half a head shorter than Su Houli, and his back was hunched due to working in the fields all year round. The two brothers were only four years apart in age, but they seemed like a generation apart.

The eldest brother is like a father, Su Houli has quite a bit of respect for this elder brother.

He is not often at home, and he needs his eldest brother's help with the work in the fields.

Whenever Su Houde encountered any problem, he would consult Su Houli.

For a long time, the two brothers got along pretty well.

"Boss, you have such capable brothers and sisters, you should be content!" Xu Yuxiang has always been very proud of Su Houli and Su Xiumei, and she did not hide it even in front of Su Houde. "Your brother has settled Cuicui's job, and let your sister worry about her marriage. Even if she doesn't marry Liang Kun, she can marry other young people with city hukou. Go back and give your family some advice. Don't be so superficial. It's not good for outsiders to hear you making indirect accusations for this matter."

Xu Yuxiang is very concerned about her reputation and is very good at covering up the truth.

She wanted the old ladies in the village to know that her son and daughter-in-law were filial and her daughter was promising, and then praise her for being blessed.

Su Houde nodded, said nothing, put on his shoes and got off the kang.

He never cares about family matters, including the children.

He just tended the crops.

"I'll see you off, big brother." Chen Guilan followed him out.

After Su Houde left, Xu Yuxiang sighed, "Your eldest brother has a temperament that is so stubborn and difficult to control. It's really frustrating. He can't control your sister-in-law, so he has to rely on me to give her some advice."

"Mom, I'm not at home, so you should take care of the housework." Su Houli said, taking out fifty yuan from his trouser pocket and giving it to her. "This month's salary hasn't been paid yet, so take it first. I'll give you more when I get more salary in the future."

"That's quite a bit." Xu Yuxiang was overjoyed. She turned around and leaned against the window to look out. Seeing that Chen Guilan hadn't returned yet, she whispered, "Hou Li, how are things going between you and Director Gao?"

"We're fine!" Su Houli coughed lightly, "Mom, don't mention this at home anymore. I can't get a divorce right now."

He is now the director of the technical department and was nominated as a candidate for deputy factory director a few days ago.

The probation period is six months, and he cannot file for divorce at this time.

"I know, I know." Xu Yuxiang whispered even more quietly, unable to hide the smile on her face. "It would be even better if she could give you a son."

The eldest son has a son and a daughter, which is a perfect life.

It would be even more perfect if the second son's family also had a son.

"Mom, that's a story for later." Su Houli was also a little proud, "Even if she doesn't give birth to a son, I still like her."

It's getting dark.

The red lantern at Old Lady Yin's door also lit up.

Swaying back and forth in the night wind, mysterious and eerie.

Su Jiaojiao is an atheist and did not believe in these things before.

Now that she was reborn, she couldn't help but stop and carefully look at the gilded peonies on the lanterns. Strangely enough, although it was summer, she felt it was unusually cold here.

Chen Juan had been waiting at the entrance of the alley.

Seeing Su Jiaojiao, he ran over quickly: "Jiaojiao, are you okay?"

Su Jiaojiao looked at Chen Juan, who had pigtails and was wearing a floral dress, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "It's okay, I'm not dying!"

"Don't ever do this again." Chen Juan looked her up and down.

"By the way, bring me the steelyard at home so I can use it." Su Jiaojiao pointed to the plastic bucket in her hand. "I want to collect some conchs tonight and sell them at the market tomorrow morning to make some money."

Fishmongers usually buy freshly caught seafood at the village entrance.

She collected it directly on the beach.

"Ah?" Chen Juan was stunned. "You want to do business?"

"If I collect the fish myself at sea, I can make money faster this way." Although Su Jiaojiao grew up by the sea, she has never been involved in the seafood business, but for now, she will earn whatever she can.

Chen Juan quickly went back to get the scale: "Why did you suddenly think of doing business?"

"I want to go to school. Do you want to go?" Su Jiaojiao asked her. In her previous life, Chen Juan did not go to school after graduating from junior high school. Instead, she went to work in a factory. Later, she found a partner and settled down in Wutong Village. After that, the village was demolished, and she lived a pretty good life.

"I won't go." Chen Juan shook her head. "My parents are old, and my mom is sick. I have to take care of the family."

"Okay." Su Jiaojiao didn't say anything else. She had no intention of changing other people's fate. She just hoped that she could live a more comfortable life. She must let Chen Guilan live a good life.

The moonlight was so bright that it made the beach look like daytime.

There are many people going to the sea.

It’s so crowded, just like a big market.

Su Jiaojiao found Aunt Wang, the village loudspeaker, in the crowd and asked, "Auntie, how much is a pound of conch these days?"

"Two yuan a pound." Aunt Wang had a good relationship with Chen Guilan and was warm and cheerful. She was surprised to see Su Jiaojiao. "Why are you asking this?"

"Auntie, I want to collect some conchs to sell at the morning market." Su Jiaojiao said with a smile, "Auntie is an expert at catching conchs, please don't sell them to others."

Aunt Wang is the loudspeaker in the village and has a strong mass base.

As soon as she shouted, the whole village knew about it.

"Jiaojiao, why didn't your mother come?" Aunt Wang looked around.

"Aunt, don't you trust me?" Su Jiaojiao took her arm and acted coquettishly, "Are you afraid that I won't settle the bill for everyone?"

The fishmongers outside pay cash for the conches they buy at the village entrance.

The villagers collected the fish at the beach, kept a record of it, and then sold it for money and delivered it door to door.

She understands this rule.