Chapter 14 Chapter 14
Liu Shuqin originally thought that it would take more than half a month to clean up the old house.
Unexpectedly, with the concerted help of the villagers, every room was cleaned spotlessly that day.
The pots, pans, tables, chairs and benches in the house were not taken away from them more than ten years ago and are no longer usable.
However, the two generations of grandparents and grandchildren do not have high requirements for housing. They just want a place that can shelter them from the wind and rain.
Tomorrow I'll clear the water pipes in the house, pull out a new electrical wire, and buy some common items, and I'll be able to live a normal life.
"Huh? What is this?"
As he threw out the two empty bedside cabinets, the man took out a stack of banknotes from the cracks in the bed and said, "Auntie, why are you hiding money in your bed?"
Liu Shuqin: ???
There was one five-yuan note, two two-yuan notes, and several ten-cent and one-cent notes.
I don’t know if it’s because the banknotes got wet and then dried up, or because they were left for too long, but they all stuck together.
Taking the money he handed over, Liu Shuqin looked at it and wondered, "Why is there money in the bed?"
When they lived here, all the money in the house was kept in a metal mooncake box. I don’t remember hiding any money in the cracks of the bed.
"Did my uncle hide it before?"
"Yeah, I guess so. It's probably the private money my uncle hid back then."
"That's a lot of hidden money. I saw quite a bit of coins hidden in the bottom of the kitchen cupboard."
"Oh, it turns out to be my uncle's private money. I was wondering why there was money in the hole of the shoe."
It was discovered that quite a few people had hidden money in the house. After moving out all the miscellaneous items, several people took out a few bills from their pockets.
Liu Shuqin sorted out the money they "found" one by one, and after a rough count, there were more than 40 yuan.
They weren't here to clean up, they were clearly here to dig for treasure!
"This, this is not our family's money." Liu Shuqin asked doubtfully.
"Yes, of course not." Hai Youfu wiped his sweat and said firmly, "Doesn't my uncle like to smoke? He must have hidden some money and wanted to use it to buy tobacco."
After hearing what he said, Liu Shuqin became even more certain that this was not her own money.
Qiao Wensheng smoked very frugally and often said that he wanted to save money for his granddaughter's tuition. The little tobacco he had was bought by her at the market. How could she hide the money and buy it secretly?
However, Liu Shuqin also understood their intentions.
They knew they were in trouble and wanted to help her in this way.
Liu Shuqin has no money left.
Usually, Qiao Wensheng gave all the money he earned from odd jobs to Qiao Wangxi, except for keeping some for family expenses and saving for his granddaughter's tuition.
After receiving Qiao Wensheng's pension and compensation, Liu Shuqin hadn't even had time to enjoy it before she was tricked away by Qiao Wangnan.
Now, there are only a dozen or so dollars left in the passbook... They really need money.
Holding the money, Liu Shuqin felt a little sour in her nose.
I thought I would never cry again from now on, but unexpectedly I would be moved to tears.
In order to prevent her from crying, the village chief immediately changed the subject and said, "Sister-in-law, it's getting late today. Come to my house for dinner later."
"Zhao Di just made some pig skin today. Try it and see how it compares to your cooking."
"No, no, I have to go back quickly." Liu Shuqin wiped away her tears and declined.
The village chief said: "Don't worry about it. After dinner, I'll ask Xiaobo to take you back. It's getting dark now, and it's not safe for you to go back on a tricycle."
Unable to resist the village chief's repeated requests, and thinking that she had not tasted the local food for a long time, Liu Shuqin agreed.
Taking Qiao Jiaxin and following the village chief Chen Bing to his home, Liu Shuqin felt like she had returned to decades ago along the way.
Although the houses and yards of every household have changed and there are many unrecognizable faces, the late summer breeze still smells the same as she remembers.
"When you first came to the city, you were thinking you'd live a good life with us guys...Alas!"
"I've met my brother several times, and he only tells me good news, not bad news. Who could have known that life in the city would be so difficult?"
"Sister-in-law, if you have something to say, you should have spoken up earlier. We are from the same village, why are you being so distant?"
At the dinner table, Chen Bing kept saying that Liu Shuqin shouldn't have kept it from them.
If I had asked earlier, everyone would have been able to help me a little.
Liu Shuqin chewed the beans in her mouth and said calmly, "It's too late to say anything now. No one could have imagined that life would turn out like this."
After chatting with acquaintances in the village for a long time, Liu Shuqin felt that her mind had become much clearer.
In fact, the sons' unfilial behavior had already shown signs more than ten years ago.
They brought Qiao Jiaxin to the city because they thought their sons could help out a little.
Not to mention providing housing and money, at least they can arrange a place for you to stay.
But one said that his life was difficult and the other said that his life was suffering. Qiao Wensheng couldn't bear to drag his sons down, so he found a job and reluctantly took her and his granddaughter to stay in Yu City.
Logically speaking, the family should be living a comfortable life with the rent from the land they don't cultivate, plus the old man's salary.
Even if they had to support Qiao Jiaxin's schooling, life wouldn't be too tight.
Instead of getting better, life became more and more tiring... Isn't it because his sons are constantly sucking his blood?
They never mentioned it to the villagers because they were always covering up for their sons' sake, fearing that others would poke holes in their backs.
It’s because I only thought about my sons that I ended up in this situation today.
In an instant, Liu Shuqin's thoughts became clear.
"It's okay, bring the girls back." He picked up a piece of pork ribs for Liu Shuqin and Qiao Jiaxin respectively. "Maybe good days are still to come."
After putting down the burden in her heart, Liu Shuqin straightened her spine and said, "I hope so!"
After dinner, it was already 7:30 in the evening. I sat down and chatted with them about family matters. In the blink of an eye, it was 9 o'clock in the evening.
Liu Shuqin's roots are in Jicheng Village, so the more she talked, the more relaxed she felt, and the less she wanted to go back.
I regret it, I really regret it!
If she hadn't counted on those ungrateful people back then, she couldn't imagine how easy their lives would have been over the years!
But it was getting late, and no matter how reluctant he was, he had to temporarily return to the home in Yu City that no longer belonged to him.
It’s not that I’m afraid that my sons will worry, because it’s impossible for them to worry.
It's just that they haven't brought their things yet, so they can't stay here tonight.
Chen Bing's son Chen Zhibo drove the village's grain truck to take them back, and the borrowed tricycle was parked behind.
Before leaving, Chen Bing instructed her, "Sister-in-law, let's make a deal. I'll have Xiaobo pick you up tomorrow afternoon. At noon, pack up the important things and throw away the rest. When you get back, we'll go buy new things together."
Liu Shuqin: "Oh, I see."
When she returned home, Liu Shuqin heard through the door the sounds of Qiao Wangbei and Du Juan dancing to the music on the radio.
Late in the night, the two of them were like lunatics, not caring at all that their neighbors were asleep, as if they were celebrating something.
Seeing Liu Shuqin and Qiao Jiaxin return, Qiao Wangbei turned off the radio breathlessly, and the corners of his lips drooped suddenly. "Where did you go? When you came back, no one was home."
Liu Shuqin put the key on the table without even looking at him and said, "I went back to the village."
"Why didn't you tell me in advance?" Qiao Wangbei scolded her, "Du Juan and I were busy all day and didn't even have a hot meal."
Well, it turns out that he wasn’t worried about himself, but was only thinking about not having enough food to eat.
Fortunately, fortunately I no longer have any hope for their filial piety.
She handed the basket of tools to Qiao Jiaxin and motioned her to put it away. Liu Shuqin picked up the broom in the corner and cleaned up the peanut shells and garbage on the ground.
When Liu Shuqin came to the kitchen to take out the trash, she saw the mess on the chopping board, broken bowls in the sink, and a plastic bag filled with onions and chili oil in the trash can.
It seems that it doesn’t matter if there is no hot meal, they will buy pig’s head meat anyway.
But I have never seen them buy any cooked food or cold dishes when Jiaxin and I are at home.
"liquor?"
Liu Shuqin picked up the green glass bottle from the trash can and asked, "You're pregnant, how can you still drink? It's not good for the baby."
Dujuan didn't answer, but went back to the house in her slippers and lay down.
Qiao Wangbei didn't hide it and explained to her nonchalantly, "Oh, Juan'er isn't pregnant. It's because her body is weak that she hasn't had her period for several months."
Qiao Jiaxin: ???
Now, without waiting for her grandma to get angry, Qiao Jiaxin couldn't help but want to call them a "couple of dogs".
What's the meaning?
Did you come here for the house in the first place?
Pretending to be pregnant, acting filial, and finally taking over the woman's nest?!
In order to squeeze out the last bit of value from their parents and cheat their way into the house, this couple really had good intentions!
"you……"
Just as Qiao Jiaxin was about to speak, her grandmother stopped her. She then said calmly, as if it was none of her business: "Well, if she's not feeling well, let her take care of herself."
Liu Shuqin finally came to her senses today.
What's the point of arguing with an ungrateful person? Saying more will only make you unhappy.
If you’re not pregnant, then you’re not pregnant. It has nothing to do with you anyway.
I can’t even rely on my older children, so how can I expect a younger one to be filial?
Liu Shuqin's attitude was beyond Qiao Wangbei's expectations.
What was going on? He was ready to put on another show and ask for her forgiveness.
How can she be so calm?
After putting the broom back, Liu Shuqin finally looked at him and said, "Jiaxin and I will move back to the village tomorrow. You two can live here with peace of mind from now on."
"What, what?!"
Qiao Wangbei's tone suddenly rose and his voice broke.
Not surprise, but joy.
I was happy that I could put down the burden of supporting her in her old age.
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