Chapter 28 Second Brother and Second Sister-in-Law
Liu Zhixia patted her younger brother, who was still in a daze, and said, "Let's go, we shouldn't stay here any longer."
She took the empty basket from Liu Xuejun's back: "I have other things to take care of. You go out first and wait for me outside."
"Shall we go together?"
"Listen to me!" Liu Zhixia's eyes hardened. Liu Xuejun didn't dare ask any more questions and obediently left first.
After sending her younger brother away, Liu Zhixia began to seriously explore the black market.
With a clear goal in mind, she first bought several fertilized chicken, duck, and goose eggs, then picked out some rare vegetable seeds, an orange sapling, and a peach sapling. Finally, she also bought several lively grass carp, common carp, and crucian carp fry. Although there were fish in her space, the red koi looked too festive, and she couldn't bring herself to feed them; it was more practical to raise some edible ones.
After buying most of her items, she quickly left the black market. In a secluded spot, she had a sudden thought and moved everything from her basket into her spatial storage, leaving only a grass carp as a cover.
Liu Xuejun was waiting anxiously outside. When he saw her come out, he quickly went up to her and asked, "Sister, what did you buy?"
Seeing the fish in his basket, he became happy. "Can't I buy these at the supply and marketing cooperative?"
"The supply and marketing cooperative requires a coupon, but this place doesn't, and the price is about the same. It'll be great for making fish soup when we get back," Liu Zhixia explained.
Knowing that his sister had made money, Liu Xuejun grinned from ear to ear: "But, isn't it a bit too extravagant for our family to have fish, meat, and eggs all at once?"
Liu Zhixia patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, eggs will spoil if you don't eat them. Most of the eggs were lost by the Lu family. Besides, there are still a lot of medicinal herbs in the mountains. Now that we have a market, as long as we work hard, our family's life will get better soon."
Liu Xuejun nodded vigorously: "Yes! I should also go out and find something to do to help out at home."
He stopped and looked at Liu Zhixia seriously. "Sister, I want to go and stay with my second brother and find a job in the factory."
Liu Zhixia was somewhat surprised: "You're not taking the college entrance exam?"
Liu Xuejun smiled wryly: "Who knows when things will be restored? I can't stay at home and be supported by you guys forever. I can come back and take the exam again once things are really restored!"
Liu Zhixia calculated the time; there was still more than a year before the resumption of the college entrance examination, so it would be good for him to go out and gain some experience.
"Alright, let's go ask Second Brother first. You can work outside for a year first, and when you receive definite news, you can come back to review and prepare for the exam."
Liu Xuejun nodded happily and said, "Yes, that's exactly what I meant!"
After discussing it, the siblings went directly to the lumber mill on the other side of town.
When they arrived, the second brother, Liu Weidong, and his wife, Zhou Juan, were sitting in the courtyard chatting and laughing. Upon seeing them, Zhou Juan's smile visibly froze for a moment, but she quickly greeted them warmly again.
"Third sister and fourth brother, what brings you here?"
Liu Weidong asked nervously, "What happened at home? My older brother just came by a few days ago."
Zhou Juan held Liu Zhixia's hand with concern: "I heard you were almost hit by a cow, are you alright? We're busy at the factory and don't have time to go back, so I asked my brother to bring you a chicken to help you recover."
Liu Xuejun exclaimed in surprise, "You gave us that chicken?"
Zhou Juan was taken aback for a moment, then sneered: "What? Sister-in-law, you wouldn't say that you bought it and then embezzled the money that Mother gave you for shopping, would you?"
Liu Xuejun coughed awkwardly and looked to Liu Zhixia for help.
Liu Zhixia smiled and smoothed things over: "The chicken wasn't eaten. It's being raised on the back mountain, and it's laying an egg every day now."
Liu Weidong looked at his younger siblings and asked again, "So what exactly did you come here for today? Is the family short of money?"
Liu Xuejun then explained his purpose: "Brother, I also want to find a job to supplement my family's income."
Liu Weidong asked hesitantly, "Aren't you preparing for your exams?"
"I want to work for a year first, and then take the college entrance exam when it's reinstated!"
Liu Weidong immediately shook his head: "That won't do. They only hire long-term workers here. If you're really free, why don't you stay home and help your parents with some chores? We give our families enough money, don't we?"
Sensing his second brother's reluctant tone, Liu Xuejun didn't dare to speak again.
Seeing this, Zhou Juan smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Fourth brother, with your thin arms and legs, how can you do physical work? Your second brother is just worried about you. Haven't eaten yet? I'll have your second brother go to the factory to get food and we can eat together later."
Once inside the dormitory, Zhou Juan gestured for them to sit down and then took Liu Xuejun's basket from his back. A strange glint flashed in her eyes as she noticed the fish inside.
"The food at home has been pretty good lately, we even have fish."
Liu Xuejun didn't notice anything amiss in his sister-in-law's tone and honestly replied, "Yes. My third sister sold some things and used the money she earned to buy fish, planning to make soup when we get back."
Liu Zhixia quickly added, "I was lucky before. I found some expensive medicinal herbs in the mountains and sold them for some money. The children are growing up, so I thought I'd buy some fish to make soup."
Zhou Juan gestured for them to sit down, then turned and put the malted milk powder she had just taken out back into the cabinet, pouring each of them a cup of hot water. Her eyes flickered as she asked, "Has the money the family borrowed for Grandma's medical treatment been paid back?"
Liu Xuejun quickly shook his head: "Not yet. We still owe ten yuan. My parents originally planned to sell some cured meat to make some money, but they ended up feeding all the soldiers."
After listening to Liu Xuejun's words, Zhou Juan sighed with difficulty and began to complain: "Alas, in order to treat Grandma's illness, the family incurred a lot of debt. That's why your second brother and I left home to work in the factory. We don't even see Erbao all year round. But the factory's performance is getting worse and worse, with more work and less money. Your second brother was also afraid that you would suffer along with us."
She changed the subject, striking a friendly pose: "Xuejun, with you helping take care of the baby, your sister-in-law is relieved. Thank you for your hard work. Wait, I remember someone sent some candy for you to take back."
She started rummaging through drawers and cabinets, but couldn't find it for a long time.
Liu Xuejun quickly waved his hand: "Second sister-in-law, don't be so polite, keep the candy for yourselves. Those two soldiers gave us some a couple of days ago, we still have some at home."
"Oh?" Zhou Juan's expression became somewhat subtle upon hearing this. "Those two soldiers were quite enthusiastic. Okay, then I won't bother looking for them."
Having laid the groundwork thoroughly, she finally revealed her true intentions, looking at Liu Zhixia: "Third Sister, when we go back this time, please tell Father and Mother that Weidong and I are also short of money in the city. We'll postpone this month's household expenses until we have more money later, okay?"
Having lived two lives, Liu Zhixia could easily understand her unspoken meaning. They were taking advantage of the family's benefits to try and cut off their financial support.
She nodded calmly: "Okay, I'll go back and talk to my parents. If my second brother and sister-in-law are really in trouble, just let us know, and we'll definitely help if we can."
Zhou Juan immediately smiled with relief, as if she had truly received understanding: "No need, no need, you can take good care of things at home."
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