Chapter 423: Wishful Thinking

Zheng Mingxia and her brother rode out on their bicycles. Fortunately, the roast duck shop still had half a roast duck and some pork head meat left, so Zheng Mingxia bought them all.

On the way back, Zheng Hongfei asked Zheng Mingxia with some frustration: "Sister, why are our grandparents different from Lele's?"

Zheng Hongfei had always envied An'an and Lele for having grandparents, who would buy them delicious food and new clothes every time they came.

So, he was very happy when Mr. Zheng and his wife came. He had already planned in his mind that when his grandparents bought him something, he would show off in front of Lele.

But now, this expectation seemed to be shattered.

Zheng Hongfei is already 11 years old and in the fifth grade. He will be entering junior high school in September this year. He basically knows everything he should know.

After spending half an afternoon together, he found that his grandparents are completely incomparable to Lele's family.

Not to mention that they didn't even bring him a candy when they came. They were not very enthusiastic when talking to him, and they were even a bit bossy to his sister.

When he was eating just now, he only had meat in his eyes. He didn't care that others had to eat too. He stuffed it into his mouth forcefully. He was very rude, a bit... like the... starving ghost in the story...

"It seems like he hasn't eaten meat for hundreds of years." Zheng Hongfei added.

"Maybe they have a hard time in the country and don't have meat to eat." Zheng Mingxia answered. She didn't want to say bad things about her grandparents in front of her brother.

"But doesn't mom send them 20 yuan every month? How come they don't have meat to eat?" Zheng Hongfei knew something. His mother used to say that grandparents cheated their family out of money.

"This... maybe grandparents are more frugal." Zheng Mingxia didn't believe what she said.

Her grandparents looked, but they didn't look thin at all. They didn't look like they didn't eat. Her friends' grandparents came from the country, and they were all skinny and tanned. Although

her grandparents' skin was not white, they didn't look like people who worked hard.

They seldom go back to visit their relatives. In all these years, they have only been back twice.

As for the relatives in their hometown, the eldest brother Zheng Hongbing may be more familiar with them. Zheng Mingxia can only recognize people, and Zheng Hongfei has no impression at all. The last time he went back, he was still very young and had no memory at all.

The brother and sister did not speak again and went back in silence.

After the meat was bought back, Zheng Guosheng and his sons drank wine. At this time, the bowl of braised pork was already empty, and even the fried eggs only had a few chopsticks left.

After dinner, Zheng Mingxia and Wang Cuimei, one washed the dishes, and the other went to the yard to wash clothes. Zheng Guosheng's family sat in the living room and talked about everything, just like the eldest master.

Mrs. Zheng took the opportunity to ask Zheng Guosheng: "I heard from Mingxia that your wife's job was arranged by the family next door. Guosheng, you should talk to her husband tomorrow and arrange for your brothers and nephews to work there as well."

In Mrs. Zheng's opinion, the family next door was willing to arrange a job for Wang Cuimei because of her son.

Zheng Guosheng was stunned. He asked his parents to come over because he wanted to borrow their help to make Wang Cuimei quit her job. Why are they thinking about working there now?

"Mom, what are you talking about? The daughter-in-law next door is the descendant of a capitalist family, and now the whole family has become capitalists again. We should have nothing to do with them. Cuimei worked there, and I was worried that she would be implicated one day."

"The money she made was not much, and the risk was high. I kept asking her to stop, but she refused. I was thinking that after you came over, you could help me persuade her to quit her job."

Although Wang Cuimei's family became much more financially comfortable after she started working, his salary was not enough to support the family. Rather than being out of control, he would rather Wang Cuimei not work.

"Oh, why don't you want a job that pays so much?" Mrs. Zheng was puzzled.

"Didn't they say that reform and opening up will allow private businesses?" Old Man Zheng also asked.

"That's not a good idea. What if there is no reform someday?" Zheng Guosheng said.

"Then it is allowed now, right?" Old Man Zheng asked.

Zheng Guosheng nodded a little stiffly.

"Then that's it." Old Mrs. Zheng hurriedly said, "When we are allowed to work, we will work. If we are not allowed to work, we will go back to the countryside."

"Sixty yuan a month, Guosheng. Your brothers may not even get sixty yuan after working in the fields in the countryside for a year."

"Mom, what do you know? Working for capitalists will be liquidated in the future."

Old Mrs. Zheng was a little anxious when she heard this. Guosheng meant that he was not going to speak for his brothers. Mrs. Zheng loves money the most. Seeing that several hundred and sixty yuan will be gone, how can she give it up?

"We can't be liquidated. We are not capitalists. Our ancestors are poor farmers. We are just working and being exploited."

"When we are not allowed to work, we will be the first to jump out and report and criticize them, saying that they are exploiting us, and then we will be cleaned up." It's just like fighting against landlords at that time. The harder you fight, the cleaner you will be.

Zheng Guosheng was speechless for a moment, and felt a little ashamed by his mother's shameless words.

"Mom, stop talking. I don't agree." Zheng Guosheng rejected it. "Cui Mei alone has already affected my work. If my brother and others go, I might even be demoted." Don't even

think about asking him to bow to Lu Changzheng.

Old Mrs. Zheng wanted to say something else, but old man Zheng saw that his eldest son seemed angry, so he quickly stopped him: "Shut up! What do you know as a country old woman? Listen to your son." Old

Mrs. Zheng saw that the man had spoken, so she shut up.

When she went to bed at night, Mrs. Zheng thought more and more that it was a pity, and said to Mr. Zheng: "His father, why didn't you let me say it just now?"

"The daughter-in-law next door is a capitalist family, but she is not afraid. We are just working for the capitalists. What is there to be afraid of?"

So much money, Mrs. Zheng was really worried.

They now rely on the money sent by the old man. If the sons in the countryside also make money, and each of them gives 10 yuan a month, the old couple will have 50 yuan a month. How wonderful their life will be.

"The eldest son obviously doesn't want to. If you say it again, if you make him angry, he will drive us back." Mr. Zheng glared at her.

The house in this big city is so clean, and there is a TV to watch. He doesn't want to go back to the countryside anymore.

"The boss is just worried about the bad influence. I can just talk

it out with him." "What do you know? The boss has always been very proud. I guess he can't lose face. Not only does he arrange a wife for him, he also has to arrange for his brothers to be included. How many favors does he have to owe to others?"

"It's not convenient for the boss to come forward on this matter. I'll ask the neighbors about the situation tomorrow. When we find a chance, we'll go and talk to them ourselves."

Old Man Zheng was reluctant to part with the money. He was used to being flattered in the countryside these years. Others gave him face in everything. He thought too highly of himself and thought that as an elder, others would give him face if he went to talk.

The next day, after Zheng Guosheng and Wang Cuimei went to work, Old Man Zheng called Zheng Mingxia to ask her about the situation of Su Mo's family.

This morning, Lu Changzheng and his father and son were boxing in the yard. Old Man Zheng saw them and greeted them. Seeing that Lu Changzheng was so young, he tacitly assumed that he was his son's subordinate, and he felt more confident.

After hearing what Zheng Mingxia said, he was shocked. "What are you talking about? That young man is higher in rank than your father?"

Zheng Mingxia nodded. "Yes, he was higher in rank than my father a few years ago."

Su Mo sometimes went to collect wages with Wang Cuimei, so Wang Cuimei was very clear about Lu Changzheng's rank. After she came back, Zheng Mingxia remembered it.

"How much higher? What rank is he? Deputy division commander?"

There are always people who are better than you. He thought his son was already good enough, and he was already a regiment commander at such a young age.

"My mother said two years ago that he seemed to have been promoted to division commander."

Old man Zheng took a breath.

Zheng Hongfei on the side added silently, "He is no longer a teacher, but has been promoted. I heard from Lele that they will move to the two-story buildings in the back after the New Year."

Old Zheng was a little uneasy. If it was a leader, he would have to be careful when negotiating.