Chapter Twenty-Eight: Have a drink, and I won't make things difficult for you anymore.
The aroma of Zhang Ershun's food and wine wafted far and wide. After spending a long time in the Xiangyang production team, everyone knew that among the new educated youth, there was one person whose cooking was exceptionally delicious; everyone who had eaten it praised it.
Just by smelling it today, I knew that Qiao Wangshu had cooked this meal again.
Guo Rou, who was busy washing dishes in the kitchen, was also drooling with envy. She joked, "Qiao Zhiqing, with this cooking skill, you could be a village cook here. You can help cook for any happy or sad occasions in our family. You won't go hungry here."
"Don't tell me, Sister Guo, you don't know, but a couple of days ago someone actually came to invite Wang Shu, but she was busy with work and couldn't go. Of course, we don't know if we educated youth can go, so as not to break the village rules."
Every country has its laws, and every village has its rules; sometimes, village rules are particularly effective.
Guo Rou frowned and pondered for a moment; there was indeed no precedent for this.
"Why don't we ask the brigade leader later and have him talk to the old village chief? Maybe that will work. We're more relaxed here than other places. Once the crops are harvested for one season a year, there's nothing else to do. Even though it's hot now, it'll start to get cold in two months. If we have to hibernate for the winter, we won't have enough food and we'll go hungry."
Qiao Wangshu and Shen Yuzhu exchanged a glance. She did have this idea in mind, and if the brigade leader had no objections, it was indeed something she could do.
The Qiao family would never think of sending her anything or money. She's working herself to the bone now, but she can only get eight points of work at most. If she doesn't find something else to do, she'll suffer in the end. Since she's decided to go to the countryside, she has to earn a future for herself. Even in the countryside, she has to make a good living.
"Thank you, Sister Guo. I'll ask the brigade leader later. If he agrees, I'll have to trouble you to help spread the word."
"That's nothing."
Zhang Shuai, Er Shun, and their group knew there would be a good meal tonight, so they finished work early. Lü Guangzhi also came along; he was personally invited by Shen Yuzhu.
He came before just to give face, but now he's here with the real intention. Looking at his expression, Shen Yuzhu knew that Lü Jianshe must have told him what had happened.
"Captain, you've arrived. Please come in and sit down. Since I came to the countryside, I've been very grateful for your care. I bought some cheap liquor on my way to the county town today. Please don't mind it. It's perfect for having a drink with Brother Zhang and Brother Ershun to help us relax."
"You're so kind, Shen Zhiqing. If you ever run into any problems in the future, come to your uncle, and I'll definitely help you."
Others might know it was just polite talk, but Shen Yuzhu could tell it was a promise to her.
"Why!"
Just as the food was served, a harsh, hoarse shout rang out from the courtyard gate.
Is Ershun home?
The crowd paused, exchanged glances, and finally looked at Er Shun, who was extremely embarrassed. Fortunately, he had given everyone a heads-up beforehand.
Lu Guangzhi waved his hand, Ershun nodded to him, stood up and walked outside. He almost bumped into Shen Yuzhu, who was serving dishes, as he went out.
"Hey, Ershun, where are you going? The stew is fresh out of the pot, it's still hot, come and eat!"
"Oh, I'll carry it, I'll carry it. It's so hot, don't burn yourself, Shen Zhiqing. Someone outside is calling me, I'll go see!"
"It's okay, I'll go!"
"Eh......."
After handing a bowl of vegetables to Ershun, Shen Yuzhu wiped her hands with her apron and went straight out the door. Ershun thought she hadn't recognized Zhang Li's voice, so he quickly put the vegetables on the table.
"Zhang Li is coming over outside. I guess Shen Zhiqing didn't recognize who it was. I have to go and see him quickly."
"Go quickly, go quickly, don't let that bastard Zhang Li bully Shen Zhiqing."
Er Shun hurriedly walked outside.
Zhang Li, who was standing at the door, did not expect that it would be Shen Yuzhu who came out. All the words he had prepared were useless before he could even open his mouth.
"Why did you come? I didn't invite you to dinner."
“Hey little girl, you should watch your words. This is Xiangyang Brigade. You’re an outsider, so be polite to me. I just happened to see you. Let me ask you, who in this village doesn’t know I’m a good carpenter? Since you came here as an educated youth, instead of having me make the furniture, you went out to buy it. Are you slapping me in the face?”
Shen Yuzhu blinked and said innocently, "I unintentionally interfered in your family affairs before. I figured you wouldn't agree to have furniture made for me, so I took leave and went to the county town to buy some."
"you!"
Seeing that she spoke calmly, Zhang Li knew that someone must have told her about her status in the village. Thinking that this female educated youth was a bit silly, he chuckled twice as he looked at her.
“Shen Zhiqing, I won’t blame you for this. We became friends after a fight. Don’t worry, let bygones be bygones. If we meet again, I won’t make things difficult for you.”
"real?"
Shen Yuzhu looked him up and down, then looked at him suspiciously.
"Of course! I'm a grown man, why would I argue with an outsider like you? If you don't believe me, let's have a drink today, and from now on we'll be friends. If you ever encounter any difficulties in our Xiangyang production team, just come to me."
"What good is it to find you? Zhang Li, go home right now and don't cause trouble for Shen Zhiqing. She came here all alone and doesn't know anyone. Don't make things difficult for her."
In Zhang Li's view, Er Shun's reaction was that he wanted to take advantage of the situation. Otherwise, why would so many people who built houses for Shen Yuzhu cook at his house?
You know, if there are leftovers from this meal, mixed with some green vegetables and radishes, it can last for two more meals.
"What, what, what? When did I cause trouble for that educated youth, Shen? It was Shen who invited me in for a drink, right, Shen?"
Shen Yuzhu hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ershun with some difficulty, forced a smile and said, "Let's eat, Ershun. You take Comrade Zhang inside, I'll go find Sister Guo to get another pair of chopsticks."
In Er Shun's eyes, Zhang Li's expression clearly showed that he had been wronged. But before he could say anything, Zhang Li exclaimed "Hey~" and rushed towards his house.
When Shen Yuzhu took the dishes to wash, Ershun, seeing her pitiful appearance, launched into a tirade against Guo Rou, explaining everything that had happened at the door to his wife.
"You bastard, you son of a bitch, bullying a young girl like this, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? You son of a bitch."
"Keep your voice down, don't let him hear you, or he'll come after our family."
After Er Shun finished speaking, he paused and then continued, "Keep an eye on Fangzi and Dandan later. Zhang Li goes crazy after drinking a couple of sips of cat pee. Don't let our kids get beaten up."
“I remember. When you go in to eat, tell the others to eat quickly. I feel disgusted just looking at him.”
The couple chatted for quite a while before Shen Yuzhu handed the bowl and chopsticks to Ershun.
Inside the main room, people were drinking and eating with great enthusiasm. In the kitchen, three women and two children were enjoying their own meals in peace. Midway through the meal, Shen Yuzhu took the opportunity to go into the main room to get some water and, when no one was looking, secretly refilled the wine pot.
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