Chapter 110 Should I tell her about that?
Some of the money in the canvas bag was money that Qiao Xingyue and Xie Zhongming made Zeng Xiuzhu spit out after they returned to Chadian Village, money she had cheated Xie Zhongming out over the years.
Another part was all the remaining salary and allowances Xie Zhongming had given her over the years when he found out she was Fatty.
The other part was given to her by her mother-in-law, Huang Guilan.
Including the gold and silver jewelry, it would cost tens of thousands of yuan.
A very heavy bag.
These are definitely things we can't take with us. When we are actually sent down to the countryside, they will all be confiscated. If we can put them with Uncle Huang, we will put them all there.
After stuffing a heavy bag into Xie Zhongming's hands, Qiao Xingyue glared at him sharply. "Don't even think about divorcing me again. Get down to business and don't waste time. This is all the start-up capital I'm preparing for when I return to the city. Don't mess things up. Give this money to the Jiang brothers or Xiao Songhua to send out. Hurry up."
She gave him a shove, signaling him to hurry up and get down to business.
Xie Zhongming knew that when he was officially transferred to a lower-level position, he wouldn't be able to take any of this money with him; it would all be confiscated. So he nodded vigorously, "Wait for me to come back."
He turned and walked forward, and she followed behind him. "Come to my parents' house to find me later, I'll go there."
She guessed that her father-in-law, Xie Jiang, must have also instructed his two older brothers, Xie Zhongyi and Xie Zhongjie, to divorce their wives, Shen Liping and Sun Xiuxiu.
She has to go over and check on the situation.
At this moment, Xie Zhongming stepped one foot out of the threshold of the main room and the other foot inside, looking back at her, "I'm also going to my parents' house so they can send the valuable land to my uncle's house."
"Go find the Jiang brothers first." Qiao Xingyue took two steps forward and said as she walked, "I'll go talk to Mom and Dad. Be careful to avoid people and don't let them see you."
Xie Zhongming knew Qiao Xingyue was cautious, so he nodded.
One of them headed towards the Jiang family's house, while the other returned to the Xie family's house.
When Xie Zhongming carried a heavy canvas bag to the Jiang family, he looked around cautiously. A figure quickly entered the Jiang family's courtyard.
When Qiao Xingyue returned to the Xie family's courtyard gate, she saw An'an tugging at Zhiyuan's arm and pleading, "Big brother, I want to play hide-and-seek again, will you play a few more rounds with me..."
Under the moonlight, Xie Zhiyuan, the eldest grandson of the Xie family, looked somewhat somber.
He was only an eleven-year-old child, but his expression at that moment seemed rather mature for his age.
When he reached out, he tried to force a smile and patted An'an's head. "Let your second brother play with you for a while. Your eldest brother will go inside and get you some water."
As Qiao Xingyue walked in, the children greeted her.
After responding to each of them, she glanced at the children and said, "Boyuan, Mingyuan, An'an, Ningning, you hide first, your second brother will come to find you in a while."
Xie Chengyuan, the second grandson of the Xie family, covered his eyes after hearing what his fourth aunt said and began to count.
The children quickly hid behind the fruit and vegetable racks in the yard.
Qiao Xingyue's gaze fell on Xie Zhiyuan, the eldest grandson of the Xie family. Seeing his gloomy expression, she reached out and patted his head, asking, "Zhiyuan, is something worrying you?"
"Fourth Aunt, has something terrible happened to our family?" Xie Zhiyuan clearly had a youthful air about him, with well-defined eyebrows and a handsome appearance, but his eyes, which should have been bright, seemed to be covered by an impenetrable fog.
His brows were furrowed, and his lips were tightly pressed together.
His slender and upright figure stood under the moonlight, like a white poplar tree covered in frost. He was indeed handsome, but he had no youthful spirit whatsoever, only a heavy, gloomy aura.
As the eldest grandson of the Xie family, he is a smart and perceptive child.
Qiao Xingyue placed her hand on his shoulder and patted it gently. "Zhiyuan, your fourth aunt knows that no matter what big thing happens at home, you're always the eldest brother who can handle things the best, right?"
If the entire Xie family is really sent to labor reform, none of the Xie family's children will be able to continue their studies.
Just two days ago, Qiao Xingyue was marveling at how, given the family background of the Xie and Huang families, the descendants of the Xie family would surely have a bright future when they grew up.
Overnight, the situation changed drastically.
Seeing Xie Zhiyuan nod vigorously, she said with relief, "Fourth Aunt also believes that Zhiyuan is the most capable person, so no matter what big thing happens in the family, there is no need to be afraid. However, we should not worry about things that haven't happened yet. We should respond when things happen and let them go when they don't."
Xie Zhiyuan silently repeated this last sentence in his heart: When things come, respond; when things go, let them be!
He nodded vigorously again, "Fourth Aunt, I'll listen to you. I'm going to take care of my younger siblings."
"Okay, I'm going inside to talk to your grandparents, your parents, and your uncles for a while. You take your younger siblings and don't go into the main room yet."
"good."
The door to the main room was tightly closed.
It's clear that the situation inside is not good.
Qiao Xingyue approached and pushed the door, but it was locked from the inside.
"who?"
The one who asked that question was Huang Guilan.
Huang Guilan's voice was thick with the nasal congestion from crying.
Through the door, dim light shone through the crack, casting a gray shadow over Qiao Xingyue's mood.
Huang Guilan's sobbing was like a needle piercing her heart.
She had long regarded this woman, who was not related to her by blood, as her own mother.
At this moment, Huang Guilan must be feeling very bad.
"Mom, it's me, Xingyue." She choked up a little.
When Huang Guilan opened the door, the first thing she did upon entering was to hug Huang Guilan tightly and give her a big hug.
"Mom, don't be afraid. No matter what happens, as long as our family is safe and healthy, that's the greatest fortune."
As she spoke, she gently patted Huang Guilan's back, then glanced at everyone in the main room. Her eldest and second sisters-in-law also had red eyes from crying, as well as her silent eldest, second, and third brothers and fifth brother, her father-in-law Xie Jiang with a furrowed brow, and the old lady Chen Suying, who sat in the center with weathered eyes but still calm and composed.
"Mom, sit down and talk."
Qiao Xingyue released Huang Guilan and pulled her to sit on the long bench. Then she addressed everyone directly, "Grandma, Dad, Mom, Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Third Brother, Fifth Brother, now is not the time for frowns and arguments about whether or not the family should listen to the elders and get a divorce. Quickly take out all your valuables and have Xiao Songhua secretly deliver them to Uncle Huang's family later."
Sitting in the center, the elderly Chen Suying's weathered yet bright eyes fell on Qiao Xingyue, and she nodded repeatedly, "Xingyue is right, hurry up. This is of utmost importance."
Even without Xie Zhongming telling Qiao Xingyue, she knew that her eldest and second brothers would definitely urge their wives to divorce them as soon as possible.
That's why my sister-in-law Shen Liping and my second sister-in-law Sun Xiuxiu cried until their eyes were red.
Qiao Xingyue then turned her gaze to Shen Liping and Sun Xiuxiu, "Sister-in-law, of course I hope that you can divorce your eldest and second brothers and then go to rely on Uncle Huang's family, taking Zhiyuan, Mingyuan, Chengyuan, and Boyuan with you to pursue a better future. But I believe that you both definitely do not want to divorce, and you both definitely want to share the joys and sorrows with your eldest and second brothers."
Hearing Qiao Xingyue's words, Sun Xiuxiu wiped away her tears, stiffened her neck and looked at her second brother Xie Zhongjie, "Anyway, no matter what you say, I won't get a divorce."
Although her husband Xie Zhongjie wasn't by her side when she gave birth, her mother-in-law took care of her at her bedside. For the first two days, she couldn't get out of bed, and her mother-in-law served her by taking care of her bodily functions and staying by her side without taking off her clothes. Her husband's family treated her better than her own family. How could she go and enjoy a life of luxury with her child at this time?
Because she was from the countryside and didn't have much education, she married Xie Zhongjie at a high level. She endured countless cold looks and ridicule, all thanks to the support of her in-laws.
Sun Xiuxiu, with her neck stiff, continued, "I'm not afraid of any hardship, I'm just afraid that my two kids will lose their father, their grandparents, and I will lose my man, my parents. I won't leave."
Shen Liping sniffed and said firmly, "What's there to be afraid of? As long as the family is together, we can overcome any difficulties. I won't leave."
"Nonsense!"
The one speaking was Xie Jiang.
Xie Jiang looked at his three daughters-in-law and was about to speak when Qiao Xingyue asked decisively, "Dad, what are the family values of the Xie family?"
Before Xie Jiang could continue, Qiao Xingyue added, "It's about family harmony, unity, mutual assistance, and concerted effort. As long as our family sticks together and works in the same direction, nothing is a big deal. The most important thing is for the whole family to be together. Dad, don't you think?"
Xie Jiang understood this principle, but he couldn't bear to let the women and children in his family suffer that hardship and torment.
Chen Suying, who was sitting in the middle, suddenly spoke up, "Let's not discuss these things for now."
"Quickly listen to Xingyue and have Lao Wu secretly send the valuables in the house to the Huang family." As she spoke, Chen Suying stood up from her chair and walked into the house with her cane in her hand.
She also had to dig out all the remaining valuables.
Huang Guilan quickly stepped forward to help Chen Suying.
Led by Chen Suying, the family brought out more than 10,000 yuan in cash, over 1,000 yuan in ten-yuan bills (twelve bundles in total), and some gold and silver jewelry, including more than ten gold rings, three long gold necklaces, two gas pipe necklaces, gold, silver, and jade bracelets, a gas cylinder cuff bracelet, and a textile-patterned gold bracelet. These gold and silver jewelry pieces were worth a considerable amount of money.
"I'm afraid it will attract too much attention." Qiao Xingyue looked at the table full of money. "Third Brother, Fifth Brother, you two split up and have Aunt Hongmei from Xiao Songhua split up as well. Take it to Uncle Huang. Don't arouse anyone's suspicion."
As they spoke, Shen Liping and Sun Xiuxiu began to help wrap the money and gold and silver in handkerchiefs and put them into two canvas bags.
Qiao Xingyue specially took out two bundles of money and some gold and silver, and stuffed them into Huang Guilan's hand, "Mom, keep these at home. We can't leave nothing when they search our house, or it will make people more suspicious."
Xie Jiang, standing nearby, noticed that Qiao Xingyue, unlike her eldest and second sons' wives who only cried, was clear-headed, rational, and decisive at this point, and couldn't help but look at her with admiration.
Why did he feel that this fourth daughter-in-law was even calmer, smarter, and more decisive than his eldest daughter-in-law, who had studied abroad?
It doesn't seem like someone who grew up in the countryside.
It's as if the person has been completely transformed.
But now is not the time to think about these things.
At this moment, Qiao Xingyue's gaze fell on Xie Jiang, "Dad, Zhongming said that Uncle Chen's family was also implicated this time?"
"yes."
"What about the Jiang family?"
Xie Jiang shook his head.
After thinking for a moment, Qiao Xingyue quickly added, "Dad, I have to go to the Chen family right away."
Chen Shenghua and Wang Shufen, along with Chen Jiahui, are all good people who have taken good care of the Xie family. She needs to remind the Chen family.
After standing up, she glanced at the Xie family members again, her gaze finally settling on Xie Jiang. "Dad, my attitude is the same as my sister-in-law and second sister-in-law. I will not divorce Xie Zhongming. I'm used to living in the countryside, and I can endure the hardships there. An'an and Ningning finally have a father, and they have loving grandparents, brothers, uncles, and aunts. They don't want to be separated from everyone."
Her tone was incredibly firm.
After saying that, he walked out of the Xie family's main room and saw the children still playing hide-and-seek in the yard. He told them to be careful and then went to the Chen family's house.
As she expected, after Chen Jiahui opened the door for her, the atmosphere in the main room of the Chen family was deathly silent, and it was obvious that Chen Jiahui and Wang Shufen had been crying.
Qiao Xingyue walked over, her gaze landing on Chen Shenghua, whose thick eyebrows were furrowed. "Uncle Chen, Zhongming has already told me. Are you planning to divorce Aunt Wang and then hastily marry Jia Hui off?"
Chen Shenghua didn't tell anyone about this. He did tell Lao Xie about his divorce from Wang Shufen, but he only just came up with a plan to marry Jia Hui off.
How could the stars and moon know?
“Uncle Chen, that’s all for later. Let’s get down to business.” Qiao Xingyue grabbed Wang Shufen’s hand and quickly instructed, “Aunt Wang, quickly take out all the valuables in the house, keep a small portion at home, and move the rest immediately. Are there any trustworthy relatives or friends nearby? If not, you can put it with my mother-in-law’s brothers. We can withdraw the money after we all return to the city in a few years.”
Wang Shufen thought to herself that Huang's uncles all came from clean backgrounds and were outstanding talents who had made contributions to the country.
It is indeed safe to keep your money with Uncle Huang.
"Will we be able to go back to the city in a few years?" Wang Shufen wiped away her tears. "I heard that many people who were sent down to the countryside either couldn't bear it and committed suicide or died of illness."
"Aunt Wang, it's not that serious. This campaign of sending people to the countryside for labor reform will end in a few years. Four years at most, believe me. The most important thing now is to transfer the money as soon as possible."
"Aunt Wang, I'll listen to you."
Like the Xie family, the Chen family had over twenty bundles of copper coins, as well as some gold and silver jewelry.
After resolving the issue of transferring the money, Qiao Xingyue returned to the main point, looked at Chen Shenghua, and said, "Uncle Chen, if Jia Hui is willing to rush into marriage, I won't say anything. But I guess she definitely won't. Why don't you just let her decide for herself?"
With her eyes red from crying, Chen Jiahui gave Qiao Xingyue a grateful look, then looked at Chen Shenghua and said, "Dad, in order to keep me out of trouble, you made me marry a man I've never even met. How could I possibly be happy? Anyway, I won't marry him. You and Mom aren't in good health. I want to go to the countryside with you so I can take care of you."
Chen Jiahui is also a filial daughter.
She knew that her father, Chen Shenghua, had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg, which would ache when the weather was damp, and he also had a bad back and many other chronic ailments.
Her mother, Wang Shufen, also suffered from aches and pains. If she were to go to the countryside, she would have to earn work points to receive food rations. How could she bear to let the two elderly people go to the countryside to do those heavy jobs while she stayed in the city to live a good life?
The family her father found for her to marry was the son of an old comrade-in-arms. He was well-educated, reliable, and willing to marry her in his family's current situation. He was truly loyal and righteous, and she was someone she could entrust her life to. Even if there was no love after marriage, it could be cultivated slowly. But she really couldn't bear to see her parents suffer.
As she spoke, tears streamed down Chen Jiahui's face.
Chen Shenghua wiped his daughter's damp cheeks with his calloused hands, his eyes reddening. "Hui'er, listen to your father, be good..."
"I don't want to." Chen Jiahui's voice choked with sobs, becoming hoarse and filled with tears. Wang Shufen, who was standing next to her, also burst into tears.
Qiao Xingyue was also moved. She wondered whether she should tell Chen Jiahui about it.
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