The door creaked open, and soon a woman came in from outside. If I remember correctly, she seemed to be the daughter-in-law of Mr. Hu next door.

"The door outside is not closed. I thought you were not working, so you should be home at this time."

When he saw people, the little guy snuggled into Qiao Lu's arms.

"Oh, you two are still in bed." The woman opened her mouth in surprise.

Qiao Lu shrank her neck and hugged Qiao An tightly: "Yes, it's quite cold today, the bed is warm, come in and sit down, sit wherever you want."

Wu Guifang looked at her and smiled: "It is indeed warm."

She didn't sit down, but walked around the room, looking around and exclaiming: "This room has changed a lot, it's completely different from before."

"I remember this wardrobe was placed here before. There are flowers in the room. They are very beautiful. There is a new curtain here. It is really thick." He pulled it and said, "Oh, it is really dark. It is like night when it is pulled up."

Qiao Lu narrowed her eyes and said, "Yeah, sometimes I want to take a nap, this is very useful."

The old newspapers pasted on the windows did not block out the sun, so at six o'clock the sun would shine in and it was very dazzling.

Wu Guifang nodded, unable to let it go: "It's great, the material is really thick, but it feels a bit wasteful."

Qiao Lu smiled and said nothing.

He stood up and brought her a chair. Wu Guifang sat down and looked at her with a smile.

"It's rare to have a girl of my age who is not in my class with me to stay in the yard. When she gets bored, she comes to chat with me next door. I don't have a job, and my two daughters are in elementary school and kindergarten. It's very boring."

Qiao Lu agreed: "Okay, I'll come talk to you when I have nothing to do in the future."

Wu Guifang looked very friendly, with neat short hair that gave her a capable demeanor. She was not tall, about 1.523 meters, but she looked very energetic.

"I'm twenty-eight, how old are you?"

Qiao Lu replied: "Twenty-three, almost twenty-four."

"Oh...then there's still a big gap between us. You look so young that people would believe you're a high school student."

"Is it that exaggerated?" Qiao Lu smiled and touched her hair embarrassedly.

Qiao An lay in her mother's arms, observing Wu Guifang curiously.

Wu Guifang looked at the mother and son, and the more she looked, the more she smiled: "Beautiful, you are really beautiful. Your child is also well-behaved and a handsome boy!"

The gap between people is sometimes the gap between people and dogs. Her face became sagging after giving birth, but look at Comrade Qiao, she is as tender as a little girl!

"This room was clean before you came, and it's even cleaner after you came. You two are really hardworking." She praised endlessly.

Qiao Lu smiled modestly: "There are only two rooms, so it will be quick to clean."

"That's true, but if that's the case, my place is faster, with just one room." Speaking of this, Wu Guifang was jealous of the couple. A family of three lived in two such large rooms, unlike her family, where six people were crammed into one room.

After saying that, she remembered something and asked, "Do you three sleep in one bed at night?"

Qiao Lu nodded and rubbed Qiao An's head: "Yeah, An An is only three years old, and he doesn't dare to sleep alone."

Wu Guifang: "That's right, but it's inconvenient for you two. In two years, you can let him sleep alone."

After saying this, the boy gradually tightened his arms around his mother, his eyes fixed on Wu Guifang.

Wu Guifang pointed to the outer room and said, "Your husband used to sleep in that room. It would be convenient to draw a curtain to cover it. It's such a big room. It feels like a waste if we don't put a bed there."

Her own home was already very crowded, and she wished she had another one. Xu Haizhou's home had an empty house but no one was living in it. It was so luxurious that she envied him.

"Haizhou used to sleep in that room? Why?" Qiao Lu looked towards the door and saw all kinds of things placed there. It served as a dining room, a living room, and also a "garage" for bicycles.

"Yeah, he didn't tell you?"

"What?" Qiao Lu asked in confusion.

Wu Guifang clapped her hands: "This house was not his before."

Qiao Lu knew about this: "I heard from Sister Liu that he got this house by sheer luck, but I haven't asked him the details of how he got it."

"Well! Actually, it's nothing. It's something that everyone knows. It's like this..."

Since Qiao Lu didn't know about it, Wu Guifang took this opportunity to tell her.

Four years ago, when the reform and opening up just started, 20-year-old Xu Haizhou came to Li'an alone. It was said that he came to the south to do business and look for supply channels.

At that time, there were very few private factories, almost none, and most state-owned factories discriminated against private transactions. Even if they could make money, they were unwilling to supply goods to private owners and even looked down on them. This resulted in Xu Haizhou being unable to find a supply channel.

Later, I made some friends who told me that if a private trader wanted to get goods, the safest way was to find a relationship with the warehouse manager, and then buy some defective products from the factory through the manager and resell them.

Xu Haizhou then set his sights on Li Shunliang, the warehouse manager of the Sixth Garment Factory in Li'an City and the original owner of the house.

After the smooth cooperation, Li Shunliang was responsible for supply and Xu Haizhou was responsible for sales. They shared 28% of the money earned. They worked for more than eight months. Xu Haizhou took good care of this lonely old man, and their relationship was closer than that of brothers.

Li Shunliang had a son in his old age, but his wife died of dystocia, leaving behind a daughter to accompany him. He did not have another child in the second half of his life. His greatest wish was to see his daughter get married and start a family.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. When the educated youth were sent to the countryside, Li Xiuxiu, for some unknown reason, signed up for the Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Movement. Although this activity was nationwide and compulsory for students, only children could stay in the city unless they voluntarily signed up.

Li Shunliang was willing to retire early at the age of 43 and give his job to his daughter, but he still failed to keep her.

It was not until 1977 that my daughter returned to the city. She left alone, and came back with a man by her side. It was said that he was the man she found in the countryside. The two of them were so in love that they were even discussing marriage. Now I accompanied her back to Li'an just to tell him the "good news".

The man was a country boy from the mountains of the west. Li Shunliang could not see any good qualities in him, but his daughter just liked him and wanted to marry him and stay in the countryside with him.

Li Shunliang was so angry that he almost vomited blood... Other children tried every means to return to the city, but this child was like a possessed person who had been brainwashed and wanted to settle down in the countryside.

The rural boy was also a fool. Li Shunliang asked him to stay in Li'an, but he refused, saying that he had too many relatives in his hometown and could not leave them. Moreover, if he stayed, he would be considered a "loan son-in-law". According to the saying in their village, being a "loan son-in-law" was a great insult to men!

Li Shunliang almost died in his coffin. He certainly didn't want his daughter to marry into the countryside, and he had quarreled with Li Xiuxiu about this many times. The relationship between the father and son was in jeopardy.

Seeing that his daughter was going to leave with the country man, he issued a bribery notice in a rage, saying that whoever married into the Li family and stayed in the local area would be given a house and a job!

As soon as the news was released, men who wanted to be the son-in-law came in an endless stream, almost trampling down the threshold of the Li family, but they still failed to keep Li Xiuxiu.

She left resolutely. Before leaving, she met Xu Haizhou and heard about the relationship between him and her father, which made her feel more at ease.

"Since Xu Haizhou is willing to take care of you, you can give him the house and the job. I am determined to stay with Weizhong. When I give birth to your grandchildren, I will bring the children to visit you."

"Unfilial daughter! Unfilial daughter!"

Four years have passed since Li Xiuxiu left, and she has never returned to visit her old father once. She didn't even know that her father had passed away.

Raising a child to this state would be worse than giving birth to a barbecued pork.

"It's been so many years, and you haven't even sent a letter since you came back?" Qiao Lu asked.

Wu Guifang shook her head: "I heard that there is no such thing. Alas, what an ungrateful person, let's not talk about her. Anyway, your man is really lucky. Of course, your man is also a good person, otherwise Li Shunliang would not have given him the house and the job."

"What happened later? Since Li Xiuxiu had already left, why was the house still given to Haizhou?" It can't be just because of a person's good character.

Wu Guifang smiled and continued, "After Xiuxiu left, the old man fell seriously ill and was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. When relatives and friends heard that he had cancer, they all stayed away from him. Just imagine cancer, how scary it sounds. Although doctors say gastric cancer is not contagious, it is a terminal illness! Most people are not afraid of it. It's better to be safe than sorry. During that time, let alone Li Shunliang's house, even our yard, except for the people who live here, no one dared to come in."

That was the situation in that era. The literacy rate was extremely low, and there were illiterate people everywhere in cities and rural areas. It was not surprising that cancer was regarded as a scourge.

"Even relatives disliked her, but your husband was the only exception. He had to set up the stall and take care of the old man every day. He was closer to him than his daughter." At this point, Wu Guifang sighed, "The old man was also a grateful person. He had cancer and couldn't go to work, so he gave the job to Xu Haizhou. Your husband didn't want it at first, but the old man's illness became more serious day by day. Setting up the stall was harder than going to work. He gradually became unable to cope with it, and finally chose to work in the factory. After all, it was an easy job, and he could have time to take care of Li Shunliang."

"The doctor said that Old Li would not live more than half a year, but he managed to hold on for four years! Our neighbors all said that it was because of your husband's meticulous care, otherwise he would have died long ago. It seems that in the second year, Li Shunliang gave the house to your husband."

Nowadays, most houses are owned by the Housing Authority, but the two houses of the Li family are different. They are private property and can be bought and sold freely. As long as it is legal, you can give them to anyone you want.

"In the fourth year, Li Shunliang passed away, and your man resigned and set up shop. That's how it happened."

After hearing this, Qiao Lu had mixed feelings. She had never expected that this house had such a tortuous story.

In the 1980s, housing was in short supply. Giving away a house to a non-blood-related outsider was unheard of in the entire country. Not to mention Li An, I'm afraid there would be no such person in the whole country. Needless to say, we can see how much effort Xu Haizhou put into taking care of Li Shunliang that made him make such a big decision.

"Your couple are really lucky. Our neighbors are jealous of them for getting such a big house for free, but we have no reason to be jealous. After all, if it weren't for your man, how could Li Shunliang have lived for those four years?"

Wu Guifang has always been envious, but even though she is envious, she also knows that she doesn't have the luck or the courage. In this day and age, you reap what you sow, and everything is already arranged by God...

Qiao Lu was stunned for a moment, and sighed: "It can be said that good people are rewarded."

The two continued chatting for a while and agreed to buy groceries together later. Then Wu Guifang went home to cook.

There was a drizzle at noon and the weather turned gloomy.

Qiao Lu listened to the sound of raindrops dripping from the eaves and wondered if Xu Haizhou would come home for dinner on rainy days. Before they got married, he said that when it rained, he would basically find a stall nearby to eat some wonton noodles.

Unexpectedly, he still came back in the wind and rain. On the dining table was a bowl of nutritious soup that had been prepared long ago. It was simmering with a lid on, but the rich aroma could not be covered up, and it made people's skin peel off.

When Xu Haizhou got home, his wife was busy in the small kitchen. Qiao An squatted beside the stove, looking at the orange flames curiously, and occasionally helped his mother pass some dishes.

"Dad!" Noticing Xu Haizhou coming home, Qiao An rushed over like a gust of wind, bumped into his arms, was caught steadily, and held up with his little butt.

The young man is now becoming more and more generous in expressing his love for Xu Haizhou.

The father and son were so sweet together.

Such a harmonious parent-child scene existed only in Yu's dreams before, but now it is actually happening before Xu Haizhou's eyes.

The moment he saw Qiao An running towards him, all the tiredness in his body seemed to subside a lot.

From now on, he no longer has to face an empty room when he returns home. He finally understands the true meaning of marriage.

…

"Are you back?" Qiao Lu turned her head and gave him a bright smile.

"Hmm." Xu Haizhou took the bowl of egg custard from her hand and said with a smile: "It smells so good and rich."

Qiao Lu smiled at him and said, "Work is hard, and nutrition must keep up."

The three members of the family are all skinny and need to eat more. Anyway, we have money in hand, so we should not skimp on food if we can.

Coincidentally, Xu Haizhou also had the same idea. The three members of his family were all skinny and needed to be nourished.

When they sat down at the table, Qiao Lu noticed that Xu Haizhou's hand was red from the cold. She reached out and shook it: "So cold?"

Xu Haizhou was stunned, and subconsciously held her hand, rubbing it gently in his palm.

"It's okay, not that cold." He then put her hand against the side of her cheek and felt warm and comfortable.

Qiao Lu felt the cold air on his face chill her hands, and she noticed another detail: "Did you ride your bike without gloves?"

"I forgot to buy one. I'll go buy one when I have time." Xu Haizhou was still worried about her condition, so he changed the subject and asked her: "How is it there? Does it still hurt?"

Qiao Lu was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red when she came to her senses: "Much better, but tonight... I can't do it."

Xu Haizhou pinched her palm regretfully: "Have a good rest."

After marrying Xu Haizhou, the food she ate was even more sumptuous than when she was at Qiao Yan's house.

Qiao Yan is a woman who knows how to live, and she is very careful with her money even if she has it. Qiao Lu is more casual, and since she knows her man doesn't care about money, she can save money on other things, but she has to spend money on food. Since she has money, she can't skimp on nutrition.

For lunch, we had chicken egg custard and stir-fried pork with green peppers. The vegetable was cold cucumber salad. Qiao Lu prepared a special sauce for the vegetables. It was sour and salty and went well with rice.

Qiao An was grunting as he ate his rice. The couple ate and chatted about the original owner of the house.

Xu Haizhou paused while picking up food. "Did Miss Wu next door tell you?"

"Um."

He smiled and said, "It's just something I can do. I'll help if I can."

Easy? It's not that easy. Considering how much time, energy and money it takes to take care of cancer patients, he is too modest.

Seeing his young wife frequently looking at him, Xu Haizhou smiled calmly and explained.

"It's not that I helped him for no reason. At that time, my friend and I lived in a shanty town. I took care of Uncle Shunliang and he gave me a house to live in for free. Besides, he was my friend, so I just paid him back."

Xu Haizhou was not actually a good man. It was nothing for him to help within his ability. Moreover, his relationship with Li Shunliang had long transcended the existence of an "outsider". They were like brothers and friends, and they were friends regardless of age. He could not bear to see Li Shunliang die tragically.

"Won't his relatives come to make trouble?" This is what Qiao Lu was worried about.

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The update time after v has been changed to 0:00 every day! I will basically tell you what's going on in my speech~(*^▽^*)