Lover's Eyes

Zhang Pingkang being relegated to cleaning toilets did not cause any major reaction.

Although he often sighed and looked worried when asked, drawing people's attention, he never said a word.

But the sympathy of the others quickly dissipated. No one was a fool, and everyone had their own guesses about Zhang Pingkang's silence on the matter.

They must have stolen the sugar from the factory to resell!

You should know that the sugar factory's gift boxes are now in high demand. They used to be available on the black market for twice the price, but now the supply and marketing cooperatives will only sell them for three times the price.

Fortunately, the sugar factory announced that a new batch would be available during the National Day holiday, which stopped the black market price from continuing to skyrocket.

It was Friday again, and Wang Shuitao was standing in front of the window. Today's meat dish written on the blackboard outside was stewed duck.

One full lunchbox after another passed by Wang Shuitao. In addition to duck, the canteen also put a lot of carrots in the stewed duck.

Wang Shuitao wrinkled her nose. She ate both duck and carrots, so why did they smell so fishy when put together?

However, she wanted to take it back to reward her family members who came to help her; any meat would do.

In addition, Jiang Manyun was also asked to order a roast chicken and a serving of braised pork from Chef Zheng of the state-run restaurant.

Later, the two of them will go back to Wangjiazhuang together.

Jiang Manyun also misses her eldest and youngest daughters very much.

Wang Shuitao touched her hair and spoke to Sister Li through Meng Songying.

"Sis, are you free later?"

Li Yuanhong raised her eyes, revealing two huge bags under her eyes. She had been working tirelessly, day and night, to prepare for the National Day gift boxes.

He didn't say anything, just stared blankly at the peach.

Wang Shuitao chuckled, tossed her ponytail in front of her, and turned back to continue queuing.

The person serving the food was quick and efficient; in no time, more than a meter of space had been cleared in front of them. She hurried a few steps to keep up closely behind the person in front.

"peach."

Wang Shuitao turned her head and saw Meng Songying calling her.

"What's wrong?"

She asked.

Seeing that Meng Songying was silent with a serious face, Wang Shuitao flicked her ponytail to remind him to come back to his senses.

Lately, he's been hesitant to speak, and I don't know what he's doing.

Seeing the long hair in her hand, Wang Shuitao became annoyed again and asked, "Hey, tell me, is it okay if I cut my hair short?"

"good."

Without the slightest hesitation, Meng Songying answered.

Wang Shuitao was not satisfied with this answer, and complained as she moved forward with the group:

"Huh? You just said yes without even thinking it through? That's not a reliable reference at all."

One instruction, one action.

Meng Songying obediently imagined what Taozi's short hair would look like in her mind, and her face gradually turned red.

Wang Shuitao didn't hear him, so she turned her head...

It turned back again.

Blushing is contagious.

She had originally wanted Sister Li to help her cut her hair so she could go home lightly, but now it seemed she could only ask her grandmother. Oh well, she decided to let her sister-in-law cut her hair instead.

Lost in thought, my mind finally managed to banish the pair of captivating eyes behind me, their eyelashes fluttering as they looked at me.

Sigh, Meng Songying just loves to act cute, really.

Meng Songying, who loves to act coquettishly, stood expressionless behind her. When he wasn't teaching the workers how to operate the machines in the workshop, he always kept people at arm's length.

Even though they had been eating at the same table for several years, Wang Shuitao only became familiar with Sun Ming and Li Yuanhong after she came to the sugar factory.

The others saw him not only as a leader but also as a master chef, so they dared not approach him.

Even when the elderly couple were alive, they always said that he was a cold person and had not made a single good friend in almost twenty years.

They have many close friends who don't understand their son, but they respect his personality and never force him.

——————

The journey was easier when they traveled together, and both Wang Shuitao and Jiang Manyun carried large bags of lunchboxes home.

Jiang Mancang was already waiting at the Jiang family's door.

The day before yesterday, when the Wang family came back, they told him to go to his sister's house for dinner on Friday night after the National Games.

Jiang Manyun only has two daughters. As soon as she entered the door, before she even put her things down, she touched her two daughters' faces.

She smiled at her husband and in-laws only after confirming that the children were still as lively and mischievous as before she left.

After she gave birth to two daughters in a row, her husband's family's attitude changed. After she locked the door and gave them a good beating, the three of them dared not act recklessly anymore.

Seeing that it was getting late, Wang Shuitao didn't linger and took out two candy gift boxes to hand to the little girls.

Jiang Manyun put down his lunchbox and came over to decline, saying, "Taozi, what are you doing? I'm only able to get paid because of you, how could I accept your gift?"

The force with which she pushed him away was so great that Wang Shuitao staggered: "No, no, no, don't do this. This is to thank you for helping me. One thing at a time, I have dinner waiting for me at home. I'm leaving now."

After saying that, he ran away.

The Wang family, Qian Liju and Sun Miao have also arrived.

The octagonal table was still empty, so Wang Shuitao opened the lunchboxes one by one and placed them on it, then pinched the tender little faces of the twins who were being pushed out of the stroller.

Wang Shuitao rubbed her fingertips together: "Sister-in-law, these two kids' faces are a bit chapped, aren't they?"

Qian Liju interjected, "Where are you chapped? You're perfectly fine. Other families don't raise children as delicately as your sister-in-law."

Sun Miaogang came out of the kitchen to help, but didn't say a word when she heard it.

Grandma Wang emerged from behind Sun Miao with a long face: "Juhua, you just sit there and don't move an inch. You don't even help your mother-in-law with any chores. We only have you look after the child, yet you still talk so much."

After saying that, he glanced at Wang Shuitao and saw that she was just exchanging pleasantries with Sun Miao, and then said, "Alright, the child has his own mother looking after him. Come in and serve the dishes."

Qian Lijuan obediently passed away.

Wang Shuitao sighed helplessly, wondering how someone could be so textbook-perfectly timid and disrespectful of morality.

Sun Miao leaned closer and whispered, "Mother is much better than before, don't worry."

Wang Shuitao also lowered her voice: "How is it over there? They haven't come over to freeload again, have they?"

Sun Miao: "No, I guess they're having a tough time. You'll see when you get there."

She hesitated for a moment, then added, "They've lost a lot of weight, and so has Dad."

Wang Shuitao nodded, not taking it to heart: "As long as I don't bother you, Mother won't go over there either."

Sun Miao hummed in agreement: "If Dad won't let her go, then Mom won't dare to go either."

However, she felt that her mother-in-law seemed to have adapted to this kind of life, except... she talked a lot.

After all three meat dishes were eaten, Qian Lijuan's mouth loosened, and she started her usual ramblings.

"I wonder what Brother Da Tong is eating now. He must be eating coarse food and wild vegetables."

She wiped away two tears.

"Poor Brother Da Tong, he can't enjoy the blessings of having a daughter. Peach, you must remember your father."

She reached out and wiped away two more tears.

Grandma murmured a couple of times, but didn't say much in the end. It was all her son's fault.

Her aunt and uncle softened and comforted her.

Wang Shuitao raised an eyebrow; she couldn't help but think that this person seemed to be enjoying himself.

Back home, Wang Shuitao and Qian Liju lay on the bed, and the sound of soft sobbing could be heard again.

Do you feel sorry for yourself?

The crying stopped after the cold, harsh questioning.

Wang Shuitao let out a cold laugh.

The breathing around me slowed down.

After a long pause, Qian Liju couldn't help but say, "Taozi, your dad is in a terrible situation right now. Why don't you go and talk to him and ask him to come home?"

"How bad is it? Is it worse than when I was so hungry I wanted to eat people?"

Qian Liju shut up again; this child holds a grudge.

She had never forgotten the mistreatment Da Tong had inflicted on her in the past, and she certainly hadn't forgotten the fact that she had sent grain from her home to that side.

Qian Liju turned over, facing the wall, and stared blankly.

She was terrified of her daughter; her heart was as hard as stone. Whenever she tried to confide in others, no one stood by her side; they all said she didn't know how to enjoy life.

Qian Liju knew that the entire Wangjiazhuang village was already her domain, and everyone was her echo.

All she can grasp now is progress, and all she has left is her son.

Jinbu is a good child; he will give money and food, and he certainly wouldn't want to see his parents suffer like this.

As long as she makes progress, Brother Da Tong will come back too. At the very least, it would be good if she could go and see him again, just like before.