Chapter 36: Want to learn how to love freely like people in the city?

A family of three sat around the dining table.

There was a hot earthen bed under her butt, and Chen Xiang felt very comfortable sitting on it.

After a whole morning of hard work, Chen Xiang finally sat down peacefully and felt really hungry. She picked up the bowl and quickly ate two mouthfuls of rice.

Father Zhou placed the steamed eggs in front of his daughter-in-law and Xiaoxiang.

He asked, "How are the sweet potatoes selling?"

In fact, after they came back, seeing the happy expressions on their faces, Zhou's father had already guessed what happened.

Chen Xiang swallowed the rice in her mouth and said, "All the sweet potatoes are sold out."

"Dad, we came back with a great harvest this time. All the sweet potatoes were sold, and my mom also picked up a lot of rice grains. On our way back, she also picked up another five cents."

Zhou's father listened with joy and asked, "Are there many people buying sweet potatoes in the county?"

Chen Xiang hesitated for a moment before saying, "It depends on where you are. I first went to the county high school, which sold until eight o'clock, and then went to the entrance of the department store. There were more people buying sweet potatoes at these two places."

"I think I'm lucky. No one in the county sells roasted sweet potatoes. They only sell steamed buns, steamed bread, and candied haws. Oh, and popcorn."

Zhou's mother was a little worried: "What if there are not enough sweet potatoes at home?"

Chen Xiang: "Mom, this is only the first day. Everyone is eating the freshness. In a few days, other people will follow suit and sell sweet potatoes. Then they won't sell out so quickly."

After listening to her daughter-in-law's analysis, Zhou's mother couldn't help feeling a little melancholy.

Chen Xiang smiled and consoled him, "It's okay. The weather is getting warmer day by day. People won't buy sweet potatoes anymore. It's time to buy popsicles. Roasted sweet potatoes can only be sold in winter."

At this point, she suddenly remembered something, turned around, took out the bag of coins from the corner of the kang, and handed them to Zhou's father and mother.

"Dad, Mom, keep this money."

Zhou's mother was startled and quickly pushed the money bag back: "Your father and I can't take this money!"

Zhou's father agreed: "Your mother is right. You have worked hard to earn this money. Just keep it for yourself."

Chen Xiang put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "My daughter-in-law knows that our family has owed some money over the years. Now that I have made some money, I can pay it back."

Zhou's mother frowned and said, "You don't need to pay back the money at home. Put it away quickly."

As he said this, he pushed the purse towards his daughter-in-law.

But the next second, Chen Xiang pressed the back of her hand hard. She raised her lips and smiled faintly: "Mom and Dad, if you treat your daughter-in-law as a family member, let me take on everything at home with you."

"Whether we are poor or have nothing at home, I can accept it, but I will not resign myself to fate. Sooner or later, Mengzi and I will make this family a better place!"

"We'll pay off our debts and save some money, and then do some other small business in the summer. I also need to take care of my dad's medical treatment, so that he can be healthy and do whatever he wants. You two can also go traveling in the future, first around the motherland, and then go abroad to see the world. You should enjoy all the happiness you deserve. So, mom and dad, take the money, and we still have to live together as a family."

Mother Zhou looked at Chen Xiang and listened to what she said, tears already welled up in her eyes.

She wiped away her tears with her backhand: "Xiaoxiang..."

Father Zhou reached out and patted his daughter-in-law on the shoulder. When he spoke, his voice was a little choked up: "My daughter-in-law asked you to keep it, so keep it."

Mother Zhou felt sad. She put the back of her hand on her forehead and cried silently: "..."

Chen Xiang sighed slightly, moved to her mother-in-law's side, put her arms around her, and coaxed her in a low voice: "My good mother, be good and listen to me."

"If Mengzi comes back and sees that I made you cry, he will definitely come after me."

"He dares!"

Zhou's mother's voice broke.

Chen Xiang pursed her lips and smiled: "Mom, how about this, you keep the money first, and after a while we can do a small business. I have already thought of what to do."

Zhou's mother sniffed and turned to look at her: "What are you doing?"

Chen Xiang coaxed her: "Eat first."

Father Zhou: "Mother, listen to Xiaoxiang, stop crying and eat quickly. Only when you are full will you have the energy to do business."

Zhou's mother's eyes were filled with tears, but she stopped crying this time: "...Let's eat."

Chen Xiang ate the egg custard that her mother-in-law served her, feeling very satisfied.

My parents never asked how much the sweet potatoes cost, but even if they asked, they had already made their attitude clear.

The daughter-in-law earns money and keeps it for herself.

Thinking of this, Chen Xiang raised her lips and smiled silently.

That’s great…

She has the best parents-in-law in the world.

It would be even better if Zhou Dongmeng were sitting next to her now.

I really want to share this with him in person.

Tell him that she made a lot of money today...

——

At the same time, Zhou Dongmeng was on the construction site.

He was shirtless, swinging the hammer again and again.

He was a big man, and under the warm winter sun, his wheat-colored skin was covered with a layer of fine beads of sweat. He had well-developed pectoral muscles and a narrow waist.

Every time the man swung the hammer, his arms bulged and the veins under his skin twisted, adding a lot of ferocity.

"Mengzi! Mengzi!"

Someone called him not far behind.

Zhou Dongmeng stopped when he heard that, reached out and grabbed the sweat shirt beside him, wiped the sweat off his face, and then turned around and looked over: "Brother Zhang, what's wrong?"

Lao Zhang came over and said, "Stop working for now and take a break."

Zhou Dong nodded vigorously.

He turned around and sat on a big rock next to him, and asked, "Has the progress stopped again?"

Lao Zhang: "Of course not! The foreman quarrels with the people every day."

After saying that, he moved closer to the man and lowered his voice: "Mengzi, have you decided on your next job? It's not a good idea to stay here."

"It's a lot of money, but it's also hard work. Besides, you can see that we work two days and rest three days on this project, for one reason or another. I don't think this railway can be built."

Zhou Dong said solemnly: "The railway must be built."

Lao Zhang glared: "It's easy to say, but look at those foremen, they are all rich, but they are reluctant to give more subsidies to the people..."

He paused and asked meaningfully, "Do you understand what I mean?"

Zhou Dong nodded: "I understand."

What this means is that some people put the money that was subsidized to the people into their own pockets.

When Lao Zhang saw him nod, he sighed, raised his hand and patted the man's strong shoulder, saying, "So, find another job as soon as possible."

"Aren't you just married? Why don't you hurry up and find a job? You want your wife to go hungry with you."

Zhou Dong suddenly heard Lao Zhang mention Chen Xiang.

His gloomy expression softened and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Lao Zhang asked again: "Why have you never mentioned your wife? What's the matter? Did your family introduce her to you? Do you not like her and want to learn from the people in the city and have a free love relationship?"