Chapter 112 Chapter 112 The whole family did a...

That evening, the family cooked a large pot of hot and sour soup. It contained shredded pork, pork liver, mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, tofu, cabbage, and radish. Thickened with starch, it had just the right thickness. The sour and spicy flavor was refreshing and appetizing. Everyone ate it with steamed buns, and that was dinner.

Outside, the clay stove still had more firewood burning in it, but the meat in the pot wasn't quite done yet. Jiang Dong's mother had Ma Lijuan poke the meat with chopsticks before eating, but it wasn't done yet, so she had to add more firewood to simmer.

Meanwhile, it was dinner time at the village chief's home in Zhaozhuang. His family was large, with his parents, brother and sister-in-law all living together, and they had two children.

Cuihua, the village chief's daughter-in-law, has been cooking delicious meals these days. Firstly, it's Chinese New Year and there's plenty of food at home. Even if they have to save it for guests after the New Year, it's still Chinese New Year, so they have to eat, right? Secondly, her sister-in-law has returned from her migrant work, which is a great blessing. Her parents-in-law are so cheerful every day that it feels like Chinese New Year even though it's not even here yet.

She cooked delicious food for her sister-in-law every day, which made her happy. However, apart from the in-laws' reasons, she did this willingly. Her sister-in-law, Haiyan, was once her mother-in-law's darling, loved her dearly and had a strong temper. No one in the family dared to provoke her.

This wasn't just the sister-in-law who went south to work with the villagers; she was following the path of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. At first, her parents-in-law were terribly worried, fretting every day about whether their children had been scammed. During that time, she woke up in the morning to see blisters on one of their mouths and one of their eyes, and she quickly made them some heat-reducing tea.

A few days later, the sister-in-law called and said that she had settled down in the factory and was even working in the same workshop as the other woman's wife. However, she had already become a team leader and her salary was several hundred yuan more than that of ordinary workers like them. However, she said that there was no need to envy the Jiang family's wife. She was able to settle down and make money in other places by herself. Is this something that ordinary women can do? Anyway, she saw one in every place in the surrounding area. Before dinner time, the sister-in-law would always talk about things in Guangcheng, the work there, the people there, the customs there, and the various differences from home.

Sometimes she watched her mother-in-law's face tinged with pride and worry as she listened to her sister-in-law's words. She was proud because her daughter was out in the world and making money, but she was worried because her daughter, despite having seen the world, kept talking about the outside world and the family, with a hint of disdain in her words. Mothers with daughters always wanted their children to be close by, and that they wouldn't marry far away, otherwise how would they get home?

She laughed in her heart, thinking that her mother-in-law sometimes worried too much, after all, they were all about things that had no real basis, right? She felt much less worried when her sister-in-law was not at home. She also asked about coming back for the Chinese New Year and going back to work a few days after the Chinese New Year. When she heard that, she felt relieved. Losing her sister-in-law was like losing her mother-in-law.

It was just a few days, and she had to serve her well. Besides, when her sister-in-law became capable, they would have an easier time. It was always good to have someone in the family who was capable and could make money. Sometimes she also thought that her own children might have to rely on this sister-in-law in the future.

Tonight, everyone was talking about these people who had gone south to work. The village head's wife said, "Many people have come to our village to ask where they work and if there are any connections. Tell me, who wouldn't want to earn 300 yuan a month? It would take at least three months to earn that here."

Didn't someone mention this to her?

Zhao Haiyan's eyes were filled with reluctance. It wasn't that she didn't want to help, but everyone had just found their feet and hadn't figured out many things yet. How could they immediately help others? Moreover, the factory had just hired their group of people this year, so they wouldn't be hiring on a large scale again this year. They had arrived at the factory at the right time this year, otherwise why hadn't Sister Xia Li invited them over before?

She complained to her mother, "Mom, you can't take responsibility for this. They're hiring this year, but they might not hire next year. We can't do it. At least not this year. We all agreed that if there's any news of hiring, we'll definitely tell everyone. But if they don't hire, there's nothing we can do, right?" After saying that, she was afraid her family wouldn't take her words seriously, so she added, "You all should know that Zhao Qingqing doesn't work in the same factory as us. You know this, right?"

Everyone in the family waited for her to speak. They had heard about it, but they didn't quite understand what it was about. Zhao Haiyan kept everyone in suspense before she explained the whole thing in detail with a mysterious look on her face.

"Later, thanks to Sister Xia Li, she helped Zhao Qingqing contact her current factory. Otherwise, I don't know where she is!"

The family members listened carefully and said, "The quota is too strict. The time is fixed and the number of people is fixed. It's really like a factory in a big city!"

Zhao Haiyan looked as if it was a matter of course. She continued, "And I asked, Sister Qingqing's salary is slightly higher than ours. No wonder she misunderstood and later resigned to work for the factory manager at that factory."

The family members had never heard these children talk about this and were very surprised: "You mean you went to the other person's original factory, and now they have moved to another place to make more money?" Why does it feel like this factory is the same as theirs? Is it so easy to find a job?

Zhao Haiyan nodded.

"How can a woman be so capable? She refuses to take such a good job, and the key is that she can find a better one. How can she be so capable?" Zhao Haiyan's sister-in-law Cuihua was envious when she heard this.

Zhao Haiyan's brother also said: "His wife is really amazing, no wonder she is not at home. Which man can control a woman like this?"

Zhao Haiyan got angry after hearing this. What kind of nonsense was this? She picked up the piece of meat that her brother wanted to take with her chopsticks and said, "What do you mean women have to be subdued by men? How dare you men be so shameless?" After saying that, she stuffed the piece of meat into her mouth viciously and ate it.

Zhao Haiyan's brother was stunned. He didn't know why this sentence made his sister angry. Isn't that what everyone outside said? And didn't his father say the same thing? He looked at his father, but his father, the village chief, acted as if he hadn't heard or seen anything at this time. He just focused on eating his meal.

Zhao Haiyan's brother saw that his sister was now able to earn money and had a solid position in the family. He could not afford to offend her. At that moment, he did not dare to say anything and could only drink two mouthfuls of the soup in the bowl helplessly.

The two nephews and nieces laughed secretly when they saw their father being humiliated. Zhao Haiyan's sister-in-law also felt relieved. What her husband said just now was not pleasant, and she didn't want to hear it.

At night, in the east room of the Jiang family.

Ma Lijuan saw that the light in the west room opposite was still on, but the main room was dark. She guessed that her mother-in-law was already lying on the bed ready to sleep, as it was around this time before.

She drew the curtains in the room and closed the door tightly.

Jiang Erdong is really a TV fan. When she turned around and walked over, he still didn't see her. His eyes were almost fixed on the TV.

She complained, "Look, all you do is watch TV. Why don't you get inside and act out a scene for all of us to watch? I don't know what's the point of watching TV all day. Can it be used for immediate use or even eaten?"

The two brothers' families were naturally jealous, not to mention that she and her sister-in-law, Xia Li, had always been at odds. Ma Lijuan initially thought that the families across the street hadn't even started families, while theirs was at least intact, with the child having both a father and a mother. It was better than Jiang Zai's child! But looking at the photos today, he was completely different from before, a true city kid! Even if she and Xia Li were still at odds, she had to admit that the way they raised their children was much more fashionable than hers.

While eating, she heard Jiang Dong say that Jiang Zai was attending a very good kindergarten outside and learning some things that were not available in the countryside. When she heard this, she felt like she was scratched by a cat. It was so uncomfortable!

Comparing yourself with others will only make you angry to death!

Think about the hardworking uncle outside, and then look at your own man at home who is sitting on the sofa, wrapped tightly in clothes, staring at the TV motionlessly.

She almost slapped him. It was so shameless!

"Jiang Mingming, change your clothes quickly. You're going to wear them during the New Year. What if they get dirty? You'll look like a mud monkey. These clothes won't be new when you wear them again!" Ma Lijuan shouted at her son who refused to take off his clothes.

Each one of them is really frustrating. If she has another child, she must raise it well and not live like she does now.

After talking about the child and supervising him to take off his new clothes, she was still thinking about something, so she sat next to Jiang Erdong. Looking at her husband who was concentrating, Ma Lijuan poked him, "Hey? Listen to me."

Jiang Erdong stared at the TV in silence.

"I'm talking and asking you to listen to me. Do you hear me?" Ma Lijuan said impatiently for the second time.

Jiang Erdong was also impatient, "What's the matter? If you have something to say, just say it. I can hear you."

Ma Lijuan: ...

"Hey, what if I ask Xia Li to find me a job over there? Look at those little girls. They can't even do any work around the house or in the fields, but they can still earn two or three hundred yuan outside. Why can't I? I'm much better than those girls." Besides, no matter how much Xia Li and she had a problem, they were still family. It's not right to keep the good things within the family. Besides, she had helped Ma Lijuan at least when she was able to take her son away. Even if she didn't have any credit, she had worked hard.

"What do you think?" She looked at Jiang Erdong expectantly.

Jiang Erdong finally pulled his eyes away from the TV and glanced at her: "No, I think you are dreaming!"