Chapter 78 Asking for Trouble
Jiang Zhizhi didn't know how to describe the shock she felt.
She can't help but feel disgusted whenever she sees Old Man Liang. She has already made a plan: after tonight, she will tell Yang Fengmei that she will set up a stove in her dormitory and cook something simple to eat.
Old Liang seemed completely unaffected, while Liang Dazhuang appeared clueless and unaware of anything.
He simply took the bowl and sat down next to Yang Fengmei: "Auntie, my arm is better now, and it's getting cold. I want to cook for myself so the room will be warmer."
Yang Fengmei paused for a moment without saying anything, her chopsticks rummaging in the bowl. After a while, she looked up at Jiang Zhizhi and said, "Okay, if you need anything, just tell me and I'll prepare it for you later."
She also knew that Jiang Zhizhi must be feeling uncomfortable right now after seeing what happened that afternoon.
Jiang Zhizhi shook her head: "We don't need anything. There's a stove over there. I'll go buy some pots and pans for cooking tomorrow."
Yang Fengmei was surprised: "We have all of these at home, why spend that money? Just buy a small pot, and take the rest from home. It's not easy for one person, so please don't waste money."
When Old Man Liang heard that Jiang Zhizhi wanted to cook for herself, he didn't react much, mainly because he felt a little guilty, after all, the scene that happened that afternoon was quite embarrassing.
Fortunately, everyone was at work at that time, so no one saw it and it hasn't gotten out yet.
Liang Dazhuang was surprised to hear this. He also ran over with his rice bowl, shoveling rice into his mouth as he asked, "Why do you cook for yourself? That's too much trouble."
Jiang Zhizhi looked at the simple-minded Liang Dazhuang and said, "Now that my arm is better, it's more convenient for me to cook for myself. I've already troubled you a lot these past few days. Please help me out more when you have time."
Liang Dazhuang nodded repeatedly: "Don't worry, my mom isn't home, so I'm the one who does all the cooking."
Jiang Zhizhi laughed: "What's there to be proud of? You cook for yourself. If you can cook for your mother, that's true filial piety."
Liang Dazhuang blinked: "It's not impossible."
Yang Fengmei quickly said, "That won't do. How can a man go into the kitchen? That's a sign of a lack of ambition."
Jiang Zhizhi looked at Yang Fengmei, who was bound by feudal ideas, and asked curiously, "Auntie, then what do you mean by 'successful'?"
Yang Fengmei thought for a moment and said, "Dazhuang is the village's tractor driver, which means he's very promising."
Liang Dazhuang chuckled to himself: "Mom, what kind of success am I? True success is like Captain Zhou and the others, that's real success."
Yang Fengmei remained silent, but she still disapproved of men cooking.
Jiang Zhizhi wasn't in a hurry to correct him; some suffering was truly self-inflicted.
...
After finishing his meal, Old Man Liang put down his bowl, put his hands behind his back, and went out.
Yang Fengmei diligently washed the pots and dishes again, and then picked out two bowls without chips and a relatively new basin to give to Jiang Zhizhi.
After finishing his meal, Liang Dazhuang, having nothing else to do, set up a punching bag in the yard and punched it a couple of times every day.
Sweating profusely, he came over to Jiang Zhizhi and asked, "Technician Jiang, how were those two punches I threw just now? Weren't they powerful?"
Jiang Zhizhi smiled and nodded: "It's really impressive."
Liang Dazhuang suddenly felt a little frustrated: "It's no use being so good, he can't join the army, but Xiao Wu can. Xiao Wu is always showing off to me."
Jiang Zhizhi comforted him, "Making a contribution doesn't necessarily mean joining the army. You can do it in the village too. There's a militia company, you can join the militia company."
Liang Dazhuang was still somewhat dismissive: "My dad wants me to go, but I won't. Those people train every day and it looks awful. And those militia's guns are worse than the ones I made myself. They have no power at all, and some of them are already rusty."
Jiang Zhizhi asked with some confusion, "Then why don't you fix it?"
Liang Dazhuang exclaimed in surprise: "Repair? Nobody knows how, and nobody dares to touch it recklessly. It would be too dangerous if it went off. Our militia is all show and no substance. If a real war broke out, they would definitely run faster than rabbits."
Yang Fengmei shouted, "Dazhuang! Don't talk nonsense!"
Jiang Zhizhi whispered to Liang Dazhuang, "I'll go take a look later?"
Liang Dazhuang looked at Jiang Zhizhi in surprise, his eyes full of admiration: "Sis, how come you can do everything? You're so amazing!"
Jiang Zhizhi waved her hand, signaling him to lower his voice: "No, I was thinking of asking Captain Zhou and the others to go with us later. We can go to the militia company to take a look. After all, it's illegal for individuals to do this."
Liang Dazhuang didn't think much of it: "We do this secretly. In winter, we go hunting in the mountains. As long as we're not discovered, nothing will happen."
Jiang Zhizhi looked at Liang Dazhuang, who had a weak sense of law, with a mix of amusement and exasperation: "Can you guarantee you'll never be discovered? You have to be careful!"
...
With Yang Fengmei's help, Jiang Zhizhi's little house soon had a stove and cabinets.
Yang Fengmei also set up an earthen stove outside the door: "When it's hot, you can cook outside, and when it's cold, you can cook inside."
He then reminded Jiang Zhizhi to be careful of the coal smoke: "When lighting the stove indoors, be sure not to block the chimney, and leave the window slightly open."
Jiang Zhizhi responded, watching Yang Fengmei skillfully work on the earthen stove, and sincerely praised, "Auntie, you actually have this skill, it's really amazing."
Yang Fengmei laughed and said, "What's so special about this? You need to know how to do this to make a living. After you've plated it, you need to let it air dry for a couple of days."
Seeing that Yang Fengmei was covered in sweat, Jiang Zhizhi said, "Auntie, let me get you a glass of water."
As soon as she entered the house, someone came into the yard and politely called out to Yang Fengmei, "Auntie, could you tell me how to get to the educated youth settlement?"
Yang Fengmei looked up and saw a handsome young man, but when she heard about the educated youth settlement, her face fell instantly: "Go out and turn right and keep walking. You'll see it after crossing two mountain ridges."
The visitor thanked them and quickly left with their bag.
Jiang Zhizhi came out carrying a teacup, watching Zhou Xiaochuan rush in and then rush out again.
I'm quite surprised. I didn't expect Zhou Xiaochuan to be so infatuated with Sun Xiaoyue that he came all this way!
Fortunately, she was no longer afraid of being exposed. She prepared a gift for Zhou Xiye and went to find him!
If he gets angry, she'll try to coax him!
As long as Zhou Xiye is willing to talk to her, she will definitely be able to coax him.
I'm getting excited just thinking about it. I need to work overtime to get the gift done quickly!
Yang Fengmei muttered, "I wonder who that person was looking for at the educated youth settlement. What good stuff could there be at this educated youth settlement?"
Jiang Zhizhi comforted her, "Most people at the educated youth settlement are good people; only a few have bad intentions. Auntie, are you no longer angry about Liu Chunqin's matter?"
Yang Fengmei fell silent instantly, then stammered, "Well, if I go to her and make a scene, the whole village will know, and in the end, I'll be the one who loses face."
Seeing that Yang Fengmei was still a bit hesitant, as if she was trying to hide something, Jiang Zhizhi reminded Yang Fengmei, "Auntie, you have to live your own life. You must not let yourself be taken advantage of by people with ulterior motives!"
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