The layout of the backyard is relatively simple. The largest house in the backyard belongs to the deaf old lady. A large house is located in the very center. To the left is the house of the second uncle, Liu Zhonghai, and to the right is the house of Xu Damao. Wang Shouren's house is next to Xu Damao's house.
Under normal circumstances, Lou Xiao'e doesn't go out; she'll most likely stay inside reading her storybooks.
She often went out for walks, but she was quite lonely in the courtyard. Apart from occasionally talking to the deaf old lady, she rarely interacted with the other people in the courtyard. Wang Shouren was an exception.
After all, good-looking people get preferential treatment everywhere.
In addition, Wang Shouren was a pitiful child who had lost his father, so the girl's maternal instincts were overwhelmed.
A while ago, when she returned home, her father, Lou Bancheng, asked about Wang Shouren's condition, and this question completely baffled Lou Xiao'e.
In her mind, her father had never really looked down on their neighbors in the courtyard house. Why was he suddenly asking about the neighbors?
Only after she pressed her for details did she learn that something had happened.
You have to understand that in this day and age, it is extremely dangerous to remind someone who is under investigation.
Wang Shouren, grateful for this kindness, knocked on the door.
A gentle voice came from inside the door: "Who is it?"
"I am Sister E, Wang Shouren," Wang Shouren called out.
The door opened, and Lou Xiao'e was somewhat surprised to see him: "Shouren, come in, come in and talk."
"Is Brother Da Mao here? If not, I won't go in." Wang Shouren scratched his head sheepishly.
"Why are you being so formal with your sister E? You're just a little kid. Come on, come on. Da Mao went to the countryside today and probably won't be back tonight." As she spoke, she sighed.
She has been quite unhappy these past few years.
At first, Xu Damao was indeed good to her, and even now, he is. After all, a man who comes home on time every day to cook and is willing to let his wife go out and have fun whenever she wants is really hard to fault. But they didn't have children before. They got married in 1956, and now, six or seven years later, every time they talk about it, the couple has to argue.
Then either Xu Damao went to the countryside, or Lou Xiao'e went home to live.
After entering the house, Lou Xiao'e poured Wang Shouren a glass of water and gave him an apple.
"No, no, no, Sister E, this is not appropriate." Wang Shouren was startled. Where would he get apples in the middle of winter? Even if it weren't the middle of winter, this thing was not something he could eat.
"Just eat it. Look how skinny you are."
Lou Xiao'e's beauty is completely different from Qin Huairu's. Lou Xiao'e possesses a gentle and refined air, befitting a lady from a prominent family. Since marrying Xu Damao, this gentleness has taken on a maternal glow. Furthermore, she enjoys a comfortable life and maintains a remarkably well-maintained figure, with a slight baby fat. She is a truly beautiful woman.
"How did things go with your situation? How did you end up getting involved with those people for no reason?" Lou Xiao'e nodded in satisfaction when Wang Shouren accepted the money, and then asked about his situation.
"It's been resolved. I heard it was because my grades improved too quickly," Wang Shouren said, scratching his head sheepishly.
"Too fast an improvement?" Lou Xiao'e found this answer somewhat absurd, yet also reasonable. After all, she couldn't figure out what could have gone wrong with Wang Shouren, no matter how hard she tried. She asked with amusement, "How fast?"
"We're already in first place."
"ah?"
"Yes, it's true."
"Hmm, that might be a good thing for you." Lou Xiao'e pondered for a moment and said, "With your current grades, getting into a vocational school shouldn't be a problem. You might even get some benefits from this investigation. Are you really not considering going to university?"
Lou Xiao'e herself was quite educated, but due to her family circumstances, she couldn't attend university and married Xu Damao at the age of eighteen. As life became increasingly dull, she was filled with regret, and she wanted to go out and see the world. But…
Therefore, she was sincerely advising Wang Shouren to study hard.
"Well, Sister Xiao'e, you know my family's situation doesn't allow me to study for too many years." Wang Shouren blinked, lying as if it were free. In reality, his family was just getting by. He had an urban household registration.
People from other eras might not know this.
In those days, people received their grain rations from grain stations using ration coupons. The normal ration for each adult was 28 jin (approximately 14 kg), which increased if they engaged in heavy physical labor. Middle school students fared slightly better, receiving 34 jin (approximately 12 kg) of grain. If Wang Shouren had wanted, he could have easily made ends meet using his father's savings until he went to university.
You get a subsidy if you go to university.
To be fair, the original owner's father was a truly capable man, managing to transfer his household registration from the countryside to the city.
In this era, people with rural household registration were not entitled to receive grain.
This is why Qin Huairu's family is in such dire straits.
Jia Zhangshi, because she was attached to her family's land in the countryside, didn't transfer to the grain rationing system back then. When the system was implemented, she almost regretted it to the core. Now, her family of five lives entirely on Qin Huairu's grain rations from the factory and the children's grain rations. Plus, the old woman eats a lot, so the grain supply is naturally insufficient.
"If you're willing..." Lou Xiao'e was stopped by Wang Shouren before she could finish speaking.
“Sister Xiao’e, I know you mean well, but we can’t do it this way.” Wang Shouren shook his head. “I’m very grateful to you, really, Sister Xiao’e. If it weren’t for you, I would be in a lot of trouble. But I also want to get back to work as soon as possible. At least, I need to get this family settled first, and it’s not just about money.”
"It's good that you know what you're doing." Lou Xiao'e didn't insist when she heard Wang Shouren say that. After all, it was her dream, not Wang Shouren's anymore. She sighed and wanted to say, "I wonder when it will end," but she held back.
"Sister Xiao'e, is there something you want to say?"
"No, no, I'm just glad you're alright." Lou Xiao'e smiled and shook her head. What was there to say to a child?
"Well, Sister Xiao'e, I'll be going now. I came here today mainly to thank you. I bought you a jar of face cream. I've noticed you haven't been feeling well lately, and it's good for you to use. No need to see me off, okay? I'm leaving now." With that, Wang Shouren slipped away like a rabbit, afraid that Lou Xiao'e would try to stop him.
"Sigh..." Lou Xiao'e stared blankly at the face cream on the table. After a while, she went over and picked it up. In the huge house, only her voice could be heard: "Sigh, Da Mao has never bought me this since we got married."
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