Zhang Hongmei patiently asked Wang Hongxi's family, and she genuinely disliked such people.

"Hongmei, I don't know either. I've never even left the village, how would I know these things?"

"Yes, that's true. Then I'll tell you, there's really no way to find Wang Xiaorui a job. You should go back and discuss it. If she's willing to do something like sweeping the streets, then I'll ask around. As for other jobs, there's nothing I can do."

"Hongmei, isn't this all just a matter of a word from you?"

Zhang Hongmei was so angry she laughed. "Auntie, I don't have that ability. Are you saying that Wang Xiaorui can't do anything but get a salary every month for nothing?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Wang Hongxi's wife quickly denied. How could they just do nothing?

“Auntie, go back and ask my uncle and Wang Xiaorui. She’s lived in the city for so many years, she should know.”

If she really doesn't know, let her try it herself.

Nowadays, even junior high school graduates can't expect to get paid without doing anything.

Wang Hongxi sat with her head down for a while, then asked Zhang Ruifeng, "Hongmei, can't you have any pity on Xiaorui?"

"Auntie, how could I possibly pity her? Give her my husband?" Zhang Hongmei was genuinely angry. Was she being foolish? Or was it her inherently selfish nature?

Wang Hongxi's wife hurriedly lifted up and explained in a flustered manner, "No, that's not what I meant. I know that Xiaorui was thinking the wrong thing and did something bad, but her reputation is ruined too, otherwise she wouldn't have gone to find someone as worthless as Dashan."

"Oh? This is my fault? I should have just swallowed my anger and pretended nothing happened?"

"Gan Xiu, you should go back now," the old lady suddenly said.

"Mistress, I can't just stand by and watch the child like this! What will happen to him in the future?"

"In the future? If you really care about her, you should restrain her and make her learn to support herself after the incident. No wonder Jianshe is ignoring you."

"Go ahead, do whatever you want. You're all getting on in years, do whatever you want." The old lady waved her hand.

Wang Hongxi's family was extremely unwilling, but they really didn't dare to go against the old lady's wishes.

"Hongmei, I beg you, Auntie." Wang Hongxi's wife knelt down after saying this.

The three people on the kang (a heated brick bed) remained silent, and even so, it did not disturb Liu Chongyu's reading.

Hu Aifen, who was listening outside, was so angry that she wanted to rush in, but her mother-in-law stopped her, saying, "Aifen, go and call Wang Hongxi over."

I was so angry that I pushed my bicycle out.

She knocked on the door. After waiting for a while, Wang Xiaorui came to open the door, but didn't greet Hu Aifen when she saw it.

Only a fool would bother with someone like that.

Where is Wang Hongxi?

"Not here."

Hu Aifen turned and left. Just looking at someone like that makes you angry.

I was cycling back when I bumped into Wang Hongxi's family. From now on, I'm absolutely not letting them into my house; it's just too much of a nuisance.

Upon returning home and entering the house, I asked, "Grandma, Hongmei, has Ganxiu already gone back?"

"Yeah, even though she's kneeling, nobody pays any attention to her."

"Grandma, you don't know, I just went to Wang Hongxi's house, and Wang Xiaorui opened the door. She acted like everyone had wronged her and didn't say a word."

“Auntie, why are you angry with her? She’s going to live her own life from now on. What does it have to do with us? We haven’t done anything wrong to her.”

“Hongmei, you’ve let her down by not helping her find a job.”

"Hehe, you can think whatever you want. Actually, if she really realizes her mistakes, I will definitely help her. But if she's divorced and still the same as before, waiting to be waited on in everything? Then I can't help her."

Zhang Hongmei checked the time; it was already past 5 p.m. She should hurry up and call Zhang Shouyi. He had an important meeting at noon today, so she didn't want to bother him.

Da Shan's father led the men of the village up the mountain, each carrying a large basket and a snakeskin bag.

It was already dark when they arrived at the pool, and the group of them were warming themselves by a fire.

"Grandpa, look! So many fish!"

"Yes, let's hurry up and pack up, it'll be hard to walk after dark."

Each person had their own basket, and they barely managed to fill them before heading down the mountain.

“Zhenye, you guys are really capable, just like your mother.”

"Right? Grandpa, my mom said that it also requires luck, which means we're lucky."

Zhang Weiyu immediately chimed in, saying that some things couldn't be discussed in detail.

They didn't arrive in the village until 8:30 p.m.

Along the way, only Annie and Daniel did not carry baskets. Neither of them had ever done it before, so they were completely incapable. Daniel tried to carry one at first, but his shoulders started burning with pain after walking less than a mile.

In the end, the villagers divided his fish among themselves. Da Shan's father told them to carry it directly to the brigade headquarters. He really didn't have the authority to decide how to distribute it; he'd have to ask Hongmei tomorrow.

Annie directed Zhang Zhenye and the others to pick out a whole basket of the larger ones, which they would use to make fish balls tomorrow.

After exchanging greetings, the group headed home. As they descended the mountain, Liu Aimin spotted them from afar and told his family to prepare dinner, as the children must be very hungry.

For dinner, they had pork and scallion dumplings. As soon as they entered the house, Liu Aimin immediately prepared hot water for them to wash up and warm up.

"Grandpa, there are nearly thirty baskets of fish."

"Good, my grandsons are really capable. You guys eat in a bit, I'll clean the fish, and tomorrow your mom can show off her skills."

Zhang Hongmei waited for them there the whole time, without going home. The two elderly people went back to rest after finishing their meal.

Annie held Zhang Hongmei's hand and sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Mom, this is so much fun! Zhenye said we're going to hunt wild boars tomorrow."

"Isn't it fun? I used to go up the mountain every day back then, and if I didn't find anything, I felt uneasy."

Lu Jing simply put a table on the kang (a heated brick bed) so the children could sit on it and eat, making sure it was warm.

Everyone is especially happy to eat hot dumplings.

"Daniel, is this funny?"

"Yes, Mom, I feel really happy. I didn't know fishing was so much fun."

After dinner, the family went back to rest. Zhang Hongmei specifically instructed that the five brothers sleep on a large kang (heated brick bed). Annie slept with her.

The girl lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and fell asleep almost immediately; she was truly exhausted. Indeed, going up and down the mountain was no easy feat.

The boys, however, were full of energy. They were discussing how to hunt tomorrow, but as for fish, they decided against it, since they already had plenty.

The next day, the five of them got up to practice their skills again. Jia was very confident in them; there was no need to worry about them at all, as they were very self-disciplined.