Chapter 26 026 Big News (Bug Fixes and Details)
Having bought the yarn, Guan Yuehe has begun her winter preparations by stocking up on clothes and food.
She was thinking of taking Jingjing to the office to learn from Sister Zhu after she started working, but her sister-in-law saw it and, having nothing better to do, brought Jingjing over to teach her.
After having to unravel and start over again, Lin Yufeng finally couldn't stand it anymore. "What kind of style do you want? I'll knit it for you. Don't waste the yarn."
Guan Yuehe felt embarrassed. She didn't want to trouble her sister-in-law, but she also felt that she could try again. What if she could learn it if she found someone else to teach her?
Lin Yufeng regretted her words almost immediately. Although she didn't need to go out to work, she still had a lot of chores to do at home. Guan Jianguo and the two children's winter clothes were getting cold and needed new cotton, and she also had to knit sweaters for the children... If she took on any more work, she would be running around like a headless chicken.
So when Guan Yuehe suggested it, she agreed. But she really couldn't stand her sister-in-law's needlework technique; the more she looked, the deeper her brows furrowed.
I picked up Jingjing, who didn't want to leave, and coaxed her to go out and play, then quickly slipped away.
Just as Guan Yuehe was about to put the yarn away, Guan Yuehua stepped into the house. "What did you want, sister-in-law?"
"Hey, teach me how to knit a sweater."
"You? Knit a sweater? Can you even knit properly?" Guan Yuehua ignored the dissatisfaction in her sister's eyes, twirled the yarn between her fingers, nodded, and took the yarn. "I'll knit it for you, and you get me a tracksuit from your factory."
Before Guan Yuehe could refuse, she added, "You don't need to pay out of your own pocket."
Guan Yuehe nodded, "Men's or women's clothing? Who will wear them?"
Her sister loves to dress up and has a lot of ideas about how to make clothes. Even with the same fabric and similar styles, her creations always stand out. She can even knit elaborate patterns on sweaters.
When it comes to making clothes, Guan Yuehe particularly admires her sister and Xu Chengcai.
"Who else could she buy it for besides me?" Guan Yuehua thought to herself. If it weren't for exchanging watch vouchers with someone, would she have gone two months without buying anything for herself?
Whenever she has some spare money, she wants to buy new clothes.
"Wait a minute." Guan Yuehe called out to them, got up and looked out the window. Seeing that the two houses in the backyard were quiet and no one was outside, she told them about her encounter with Gao Yuanlin that day.
Are you still going to see their family?
"See what?!" Guan Yuehua's temper flared up, and she was furious when she remembered the news she had heard from her friend this morning.
Guan Yuehe didn't want to ask the reason; she wanted to know more: "When are you and Gao Yuansen breaking up? Will you find someone else after you break up?"
"What business is it of yours when I break up with him?" Guan Yuehua snapped, realizing she was taking her anger out on Guan Yuehe. But seeing that Guan Yuehe wasn't angry, she felt a little awkward and changed the subject, asking, "Are you trying to introduce me to someone?"
Knowing that Guan Yuehe was unlikely to get involved in her relationship, she made a casual joke to change the subject.
To everyone's surprise, Guan Yuehe's eyes lit up. "What do you think of that guy surnamed Gu from our factory?"
Guan Yuehe had asked this question last night, but her sister must have been angry with her because of Gao Yuansen. She asked the question and was told that her ears were just for decoration.
I glanced to the side and saw that her sister wasn't angry with me today.
Guan Yuehua stared at Guan Yuehe in surprise, which made Guan Yuehe unable to help but raise her hand to touch her face, finding nothing unusual.
Guan Yuehua was naturally intelligent. Considering Gu Mannian's behavior when they met twice, Guan Yuehe's two tentative questions, and Guan Yuehe's round, clear eyes at this moment...
So, Gu Mannian didn't fall for Guan Yuehe, but for her?!
After thinking it through, Guan Yuehua asked, "You keep saying at your factory that you have a sister who is very beautiful?"
Guan Yuehe rolled her eyes, unsure of what to say.
Having slept in the same bed every day since childhood, she didn't really notice how beautiful her older sister was. It wasn't until she grew up and encountered many petty, mischievous, and ugly people that she objectively realized just how beautiful her sister was.
But she would never praise her sister's good looks in public.
She only talks about how badly her sister curses outside.
Guan Yuehe almost laughed at her own thoughts, but under her sister's direct gaze, she explained, "On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, you went to our factory to deliver something to me. Gu Mannian happened to see you and found out you were my sister. After that, he kept asking me to invite you out for a spring outing and to see a movie."
During a spring outing in March, it was too cold, so she ignored Gu Manyian. Later, her sister announced she was dating someone...
Knowing the whole story, Guan Yuehua didn't take it to heart. From childhood to adulthood, she'd had enough suitors to circle the entire Ginkgo Hutong; she was used to it.
"I thought he was interested in you." All that talk she gave Guan Yuehe was for nothing; it didn't get to the heart of the matter at all.
Guan Yuehe was shocked; her friendship with Comrade Gu Mannian was purely revolutionary!
"I can't say that! If he finds out, he won't sell me any meat next time he goes out to buy it!"
It's always eating. Guan Yuehua is too lazy to even say anything to her.
But some things still need to be clarified.
"If he contacts you again, just turn him down. If you dare to help an outsider trick me into going on a blind date, you're dead."
"That's why I didn't agree!"
See? She said she definitely couldn't agree to Gu Mannian's bad idea. If you want to pursue someone, go for it yourself. What's the point of just trying to get others to help you?
Guan Yuehua took the yarn home, and Guan Yuehe suddenly remembered that her sister hadn't answered her question about "how Gu Mannian is doing".
It seems they don't have much of an impression and don't intend to elevate their revolutionary friendship.
Although she and Gu Mannian had a good relationship, she couldn't possibly go to him and say, "My sister is about to break up with her boyfriend. If you want to pursue her, seize the opportunity and try to win him over yourself."
As soon as Aunt Zhao next door turned on her radio, people from the front yard flocked into the back yard, and she went out to join in the fun.
With her winter sweater secured, Guan Yuehe began to worry about buying cotton.
She asked around, but no one had any connections, so she could only pin her hopes on the black market when the weather turned cold.
After a week of discussion, the factory office finally finalized the program for the performance.
One program was cut into two performances: Sister Zhu, whose hometown is in Northeast China, led the female comrades in a Yangko dance, while Brother Wang, whose hometown is in Tianjin, led the male comrades in a clapper talk.
Everyone thought the program was very innovative, and it was approved on the same day it was submitted. The head of the publicity department and the director of the labor union both praised their colleagues in the factory office for their ideas.
Guan Yuehe found the Yangko dance quite enjoyable; with her cheeks painted red, she looked festive.
But what if she were also one of those going on stage, and even if she were placed in the middle because she was the youngest and most attractive among the women...?
She's now looking very distressed.
"Oh dear! Xiao Guan, why are you jumping with your hands and feet moving in unison again?!" Sister Zhu was completely surprised that the first one who failed to jump was Comrade Xiao Guan!
Seeing how fast Xiao Guan usually runs, she thought that he must be very agile and could definitely do a good job of dancing the Yangko.
Comrade Xiao Guan was also very worried; she couldn't understand why her steps became disordered as she twisted and turned.
Even a few factory leaders who were passing by saw him and jokingly said, "Little Guan is jumping the most energetically."
The factory director she admired most nodded in agreement.
Xiao Guan, a shameless comrade, immediately wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
In order not to cause trouble for the group, Guan Yuehe would go home after get off work and practice behind closed doors, but after practicing for several days, she still couldn't correct herself.
"He Shuangshuang can't be the announcer this year, so we're short one. Xiao Guan, why don't you give it a try?"
"No, no, no." Guan Yuehe refused; she was simply not cut out to shine on stage.
She suspected that Sister Zhu was afraid that she would hold her back, but she was too embarrassed to remove her from the team alone, so she asked her if she wanted to run for announcer.
"Sister Zhu, we can't abandon any of our backward comrades!"
Sister Zhu didn't give up on her, this backward student, but finally abandoned the idea of making her the "face" of the group and assigned her to the very edge of the last row.
She wasn't interested in being an announcer, but Xie Dongxue was very enthusiastic and prepared to participate in this announcer election.
Among the workers who signed up to be announcers, temporary workers made up the majority.
The factory hasn't announced any permanent positions for temporary workers, nor are there any openings. But the temporary workers are all on edge; if they don't get permanent status, they might lose their jobs. So, everyone's eyeing every opportunity to impress the management.
Bai Xianghong also signed up and practiced every day after get off work. She even brought her own shoe soles to ask Guan Yuehua for advice.
Guan Yuehua was one of the announcers for the automobile factory's National Day cultural performance last year and performed exceptionally well. She's continuing as an announcer this year. You can't go wrong asking her for guidance.
but.
"Read this sentence again. Stop, stop, stop! Listen to how you read it! Straighten your back, shoulders! How many times have I told you not to slouch!"
As Guan Yuehe listened to the gradually increasing noise from the neighboring courtyard, she subconsciously sat up straight. The next second, she remembered that she wasn't going to compete for the announcer position, and then she was casually leaning back on the sofa.
Lin Sitian clicked her tongue a few times, "Your sister is terrifying. Luckily, she's not the doctor who gives us training courses."
The medical clinic at the Five Star Automobile Factory needed to be expanded, but they were short-staffed. There happened to be a nursing training course, so Lin Sitian signed up.
Of course, she was forced to register by Aunt Fang.
Lin Sitian and Guan Yuehe are like donkeys pulling a millstone, wanting to rest after each day's work. They feel their current jobs are good enough, and they could do them for a lifetime.
But Aunt Fang felt that anyone could do the job of a cashier in the clinic. It would be better to learn a proper skill; if she could learn to be a nurse now, she might be able to become a doctor in the future.
Therefore, Lin Sitian has been attending nurse training courses organized by the Health Bureau recently.
Because she was too busy attending training courses, spending her days in training and her evenings reviewing what she had learned and completing the assignments given by the teachers, Lin Sitian hadn't come to chat with Guan Yuehe for many days.
What brings you here today?
Lin Sitian said helplessly, "My mom is angry at home, and my dad is trying to coax her with sweet words."
She was a grown woman living at home, and because her father spoke up for her, she was kicked out of the house.
“My mom called my brother’s military unit and found out he was away on a mission again. My brother’s superior answered the phone and said that my brother was not cooperating with the blind date arranged by the organization. My mom is angry with my brother. Just wait, when my brother comes back on leave at the end of the year, he’s definitely going to get a beating.”
Is your brother coming back this year?
“His boss said he’ll be given a vacation this year, so he should be back,” Lin Sitian sighed. “They’re so far apart, one in the south and one in the north. I don’t even know if he received the shoes we sent him last time, and he hasn’t replied to a single letter… Oh, by the way, Ding Xianguang wrote home asking for money and food coupons, or else he’d find a job and be transferred back. Ding’s second brother said if they send any more money, they’ll split up the family.”
Guan Yuehe smiled mysteriously, "Ding Ersao has been allocated a room, and they want to move out, so they're making a fuss about dividing the family property."
"Huh?" Lin Sitian asked in surprise, "Really? How come I didn't know?"
Guan Yuehe chuckled, "What Aunt Bai said, everyone in our compound should know."
It won't be long before everyone in Ginkgo Hutong knows about it.
Aunt Zhao's home not only has a watch, but also a bicycle, a sewing machine, an electric fan, and a radio. It's the only household in courtyard number two to have all three items: a watch, a revolving door, a sewing machine, and a radio.
After Chang Zhengyi went to work, he lived at home and would turn on the radio to listen to the broadcasts every night. Other families in the courtyard would bring small stools to listen in.
When there are many people, it's inevitable that gossip will come up.
Now that Aunt Bai is unemployed, she's getting a little restless staying at home all day, so she goes out with her old friends every few days to dig for wild vegetables in the mountains outside the city. After going out so often, she heard the news that Ding Lao Er's wife had been allocated a house.
Aunt Ding goes around saying that Bai Xianghong got into the garment factory through connections and cheating on the exam. Although others may not believe it, she keeps saying it, and it's disgusting to hear.
Aunt Bai was just waiting for an opportunity to annoy Aunt Ding. And sure enough, she got her wish.
When Aunt Ding finds out that Ding Lao Er's wife has been allocated a house, there will definitely be a big commotion in the Ding family.
After listening, Lin Sitian said with emotion, "You're the most well-informed person now. Tell me more in the future. Tell Xu Chengcai next time you see him."
And Ding Xuewen, I must include him in my next letter.
In short, Lin Sitian wouldn't allow any of the four of them to miss out on the gossip in the alley.
Speaking of Xu Chengcai, Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu have recently been thinking about finding him a partner. Grandma Xu wanted to introduce a relative's daughter to Xu Chengcai, but Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu did not agree.
They were arguing fiercely at home, but Xu Chengcai never came home, so their arguments were pointless.
She ran into Xu Chengcai in the cafeteria the next day at noon. He had bought a new watch and was waiting to show it off to her.
"Still happy? You're about to be sold off."
If he really succeeds in negotiating with the person his sister-in-law introduced, Xu Cheng will have to become a workhorse again, and he'll have to take the money he earns from his hard work back home to support everyone.
Unless the girl introduced by Sister-in-law Xu pretends to be stupid and is of one mind with Xu Cheng after marriage.
Xu Chengcai wasn't worried at all. He raised his right hand, which was wearing a watch, and said, "I bought a watch, so I don't have money to date anymore."
After saying that, he joked, "If all else fails, I'll ask Comrade Xie to help me find a female comrade who's willing to marry into my family, preferably someone like Sister Hongqi."
"Sister Hongqi wouldn't even look at you, so give up."
"Then I'll just have to endure two more years until I get my own apartment." Xu Cheng had already planned it all out. As soon as he got his apartment allocation, he would have his mentor introduce him to a potential partner, and once they were settled, they would get married immediately. No one in his family could control him.
But Xu Chengcai will soon no longer have to worry about his family finding him a partner.
September has just begun, and two big news stories have emerged in Ginkgo Hutong:
The first big news is that Guan Yuehua and her boyfriend broke up.
Gao Yuansen found someone to go to the Five Star Automobile Factory to make peace, but Guan Yuehua scolded him at the factory gate, saying that he was thinking of deceiving her even though he wasn't married, and that he didn't listen to his oaths and promises. She broke off the relationship on the spot.
There were quite a few people gathered at the factory gate at the time, so the news quickly spread back to Ginkgo Hutong.
Another big news: Xu Xiaomei and her soon-to-be-married boyfriend have also broken up.
Xu Xiaomei used to date a young intellectual who had been sent to the countryside. She sent him a lot of things, and many people knew about it. After they broke up, she went on blind dates and met a new guy.
Everything had been going well for them. Her boyfriend had visited Ginkgo Hutong several times, and they planned to get their marriage certificate this National Day. Everyone was waiting to share the wedding candy.
The exact reason for the breakup is unclear, but it is said that Xu Xiaomei's boyfriend was having affairs, and Xu Xiaomei dumped him after finding out.
Xu Xiaomei is their only daughter, and compared to Xu Chengcai, Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu clearly favor Xu Xiaomei more.
Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu are so worried about Xu Xiaomei that they don't have time to think about finding a partner for Xu Chengcai.
Whether it was Gao Yuansen or Xu Xiaomei's previous boyfriends, in the eyes of the elderly people in Ginkgo Hutong, they were both men with good conditions and very suitable for marriage.
They just broke up like that?
As people were talking, they started saying that the girls in courtyard number three were arrogant and looked down on everyone.
Guan Yuehe, who had moved to Courtyard No. 2, was then reassigned to Courtyard No. 3.
The outsiders were talking enthusiastically, but the girls in Courtyard No. 3, who were being discussed, turned a deaf ear and went about their daily lives as usual.
Xu Xiaomei went out on another blind date.
Guan Yuehua put on new clothes again.
Guan Yuehe brought back fatty meat again.
It's clear that girls with high aspirations can live prosperous and enviable lives.
Other families also have elderly people who firmly control the family's income and expenditure and make their children and grandchildren obey. At most, they might make a fuss in the yard and complain to the neighbors that their sons are unfilial.
Aunt Ding was the first person in the entire Ginkgo Hutong to go to her daughter-in-law's workplace to complain about the housing allocation provided by the company.
"She's lost her mind. What good will it do her to lose the house?" Aunt Bai couldn't understand.
Even the usually boisterous Grandma Sun couldn't understand it, thinking that Grandma Ding had gotten tired of the good life and gone crazy.
"If she doesn't want the house, why doesn't she just give it to our family? At worst, I'll give her some money. It's a win-win situation for everyone."
Guan Yuehe thought to herself, "What Aunt Sun said is practically the same as her having a mental breakdown."
The second aunt, however, saw things clearly.
"When Ding Lao Er and his wife moved out, it was like they separated from the family. Suddenly, there was one and a half workers' wages left, so she had less money in her hands." Ding Lao Er was a temporary worker, counted as half a worker.
"Ding Lao Er's wife works as a waitress at a restaurant. She can bring back some leftovers from time to time, which saves the family some money."
"Don't be fooled by her constant talk about how much she loves her grandson. Look at her fifth child, all that fat at such a young age. She's all talk and no action, but when it comes to who gets the money and the meat, that's where true favoritism lies!"
Many people suddenly realized.
As they were talking, Ding Dama's wailing suddenly came from courtyard number three: "Don't stop me! I'm going down to join your father right now!"
Everyone was quiet for a moment, then they all picked up their small stools and went outside.
"Where's Officer Song? Let's call Officer Song along too."
Cai Ying's face darkened, and she said with dissatisfaction, "My husband, Lao Song, has been working day and night for several days. He finally got to come home and rest, and we still have to bother him with this little thing? Even the donkeys in the production team aren't used like this! If you have a problem, go to the street office! If the street office can't send anyone, surely the police station can!"
Sun Dashan, who had just opened his mouth, was rebuffed. Knowing he was in the wrong, he still retorted, "Isn't it because Officer Song lives nearby?"
"Then why don't you apply to turn my house into a police station? Just handle the family matters in Ginkgo Hutong."
Now, everyone else looked away guiltily. Since Cai Ying had so openly stated her position, they wouldn't dare to go to Officer Song for every little thing anymore.
From the rooftop, all you could see were heads; you couldn't see what was going on inside the Ding family's house at all.
But when she saw Lin Sitian peering out of the Ding family's window, she thought that by tomorrow at the latest, she would know what had happened inside the Ding family's house.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the moon overhead grew ever rounder. Amidst the chaotic noise, she paid no attention to who was speaking or what they were saying.
All I can think about is whether the mooncakes I received for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival are delicious.
Meanwhile, Song Gong'an, who was inside the house, slept soundly until the noise from Courtyard No. 3 subsided. Only then did he emerge refreshed and go to the toilet.
The next morning, Guan Yuehe went to the toilet and overheard two older women talking about the Ding family's fight over dividing the family property the night before.
When she returned home from get off work in the afternoon, she learned that Mr. and Mrs. Ding had unilaterally announced the division of their household and moved out with their three children.
Surprisingly, Aunt Ding actually stopped making a fuss!
"What's all the fuss about? Ding Lao Er has said that if Ding Da Ma goes to his wife's workplace to cause trouble again, he will go to the car factory to cause trouble and make Ding Lao Da and Ding Lao San lose their jobs too. At worst, we'll all lose our jobs and starve at home."
"Ding Lao Er has the upper hand, so how could Ding Da Ma make a fuss? Ding Lao Si's brain has been ruined by studying; he's too simple-minded. If he had been a little more assertive and made a scene back then, would Ding Da Ma have dared to secretly enroll him in the rural program?"
"You're just being wise after the event. Who knew she could be so ruthless back then?"
That's why they say evil people need to be tormented by other evil people.
The Ding family moved out, and their house became much more spacious.
Aunt Ding's face darkened further, and she became even more mean-spirited. Guan Yuehe brought her own food rations home for dinner, and before she even stepped into the front yard, she heard Aunt Ding making veiled accusations: "A young lady like you hasn't gotten married yet, and you're spending all your money on yourself. No wonder you can't get married."
Guan Yuehe frowned, feeling that Aunt Ding was making sarcastic remarks about her and her sister. She rolled up her sleeves... but they were a bit too tight to roll up, but that didn't stop her from preparing to punch someone.
But Xu Xiaomei's counterattack was faster than hers.
She's all fists but not so sharp-tongued, while her sister is all talk but not so tough. Xu Xiaomei is somewhere in between these two extremes, both hitting and scolding her.
She suspected that Aunt Ding and Xiaomei Xu were both taking the opportunity to vent their anger, because Aunt Ding was hitting and cursing Ding Lao Er as an ingrate, while Xiaomei Xu was hitting and cursing that no man was any good.
This made it difficult for her to pull the person away.
"Stop looking, pull them away!" Grandpa Lin specifically asked Guan Yuehe and Zhou Hongqi to help.
Before making his move, Zhou Hongqi reminded Jin Junwei to step back to avoid being accidentally injured.
Guan Yuehe: "......"
"Dad, you're an old man, get out of the way." Guan Yuehe was unusually filial for once.
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