With an attitude of observing from the sidelines, Ji Xia went to work very calmly, without any hurry.
Liu Hongju asked twice, and she smiled faintly: "Those are my sister-in-law's family members. Whether they came to the city to see their daughter or to cause trouble, do you think it's appropriate for your sister-in-law to get involved?"
Liu Hongju thought about it and agreed with her: "You're right. This is her family's business. Her sister-in-law's interference only makes people gossip."
He Qiuying sneered from the side, "I already said, what's the rush? It's her sister-in-law's family going into the city, not her parents."
Of course, Ji Xia's parents weren't the kind of people who acted recklessly when they came to the city, so why would they cause trouble there?
He Qiuying then asked, "When will you have children's and girls' clothing in stock? We haven't had any for two days."
"It will probably take another two days. They were busy with other things the first two days."
Ji Xia shook her head, then laughed speechlessly, "I remember last time you got over a hundred pieces of children's clothing, and you only went out for one night, and that was it?"
Liu Hongju and He Qiuying exchanged a glance and chuckled, "There weren't many left. We only had twenty or thirty pieces, so we took them back to the supply and marketing cooperative. It's all gone now."
"Be careful, don't let them catch you red-handed again."
Ji Xia gave a reminder, and Liu Hongju and He Qiuying responded before changing the subject.
These two became increasingly daring. At first, they only set up stalls outside, but later they brought their unsold stock into the supply and marketing cooperative, and now it has become the norm.
However, a set of children's clothes only costs a few yuan. They set up a stall outside and had many regular customers who would secretly ask them for the clothes. They did this for a month without anything happening, so they naturally became bolder.
Liu Hongju and He Qiuying were also very sensible and often bought her nice things to eat as a way of repaying her.
Ji Xia didn't ask for leave to go home. Zhang Hong and Ji Zhijun listened to Zhang's mother and Zhang Qing's nonsense at home, their faces ashen.
Zhang Lan cut off the meat and made three dishes and a soup. The mother and daughter acted as if they had never eaten before, frantically grabbing the dishes on the table while brainwashing Zhang Hong as they ate.
Zhang Qing is eighteen years old this year. She wants to find a job in the city to support herself and make herself look fairer and more delicate. She will give the money she earns to her family and save up some money to build a house.
Two years later, after Zhang Qing got married and the house was built, and Zhang Hong's child had grown up a bit, he returned the job to Zhang Hong.
Zhang Hong was somewhat swayed by her mother and sister's coaxing, but Ji Zhijun didn't quite trust Zhang's mother and Zhang Qing's character and shook his head firmly: "We can't decide this. We need to talk to my sister and father first, and only if they agree can we proceed."
Zhang Qing complained inwardly, but smiled ingratiatingly and said, "That's only right. Such an important matter should of course be discussed with family."
"Sister, are you going to stay in the city for two months? There are still half a month left. Why don't you let Third Sister go home? I'll stay here to take care of you and your two nephews?"
Before Zhang Hong could speak, Zhang Lan trembled upon hearing this and couldn't help but look at her older sister and brother-in-law with pleading eyes.
Zhang's mother nodded in agreement: "That's fine. Third Sister has been enjoying herself here for over a month, so it's time for Second Sister to stay in the city for half a month."
Zhang Hong looked troubled, but couldn't refuse, so she could only give Ji Zhijun a troubled look.
Ji Zhijun knew perfectly well that Zhang Qing wanted to stay in the city and brainwash his wife every day. Moreover, Zhang Qing wasn't as hardworking as Zhang Lan.
Although he wasn't as smart as his younger sister, nor as determined as his two younger brothers, he wasn't a fool.
He replied casually, "If Aunt wants to move to the city to enjoy life, then go buy a house in the city and enjoy life there yourself. I hired Alan here to do work, not for you sisters to come and enjoy life."
Zhang Qing's face stiffened, and she smiled ingratiatingly, "Brother-in-law, I can do chores too. I can do them at home, I—"
“Then let her do it at home. After all, Alan is familiar with the place. It’s only for half a month anyway. Let her finish it so that my sister doesn’t have to train her. She’s very busy right now.”
Zhang Qing was furious, but remembering that the job at the supply and marketing cooperative was still in the hands of the Ji family, she could only bite her lower lip tightly.
After lunch, as it was getting dark, Ji Zhijun made an excuse to discuss with his family and asked them to come back on Sunday, his day off, before finally seeing Zhang's mother and daughter off.
Not long after the mother and daughter left, Ji Xia came home from get off work. When she saw Ji Zhijun, she couldn't help but excitedly call out, "Big brother, you're here! Sister-in-law, what's up?"
Ji Zhijun and Zhang Hong had just had a fight, and both of them were angry.
Zhang Hong felt that what her second sister said made sense. She couldn't bear to leave her two sons to her mother-in-law to raise. She felt that she could take care of the children while doing some handicrafts like Zhang Lan, and earn ten or twenty yuan a month.
But Ji Zhijun was unwilling, because Ji Xiangjun had gotten this job for Ji Xia, and it had cost him a sum of money; how could he just give it to Zhang Qing for nothing?
The couple couldn't convince each other, and both were sulking with dark faces.
Hearing Ji Xia's question, Zhang Hong forced a smile: "Nothing?"
Ji Zhijun sneered, "It's nothing, she just wants to give your job at the supply and marketing cooperative to her sister."
"Give it to your sister-in-law/sister-in-law? Ah Lan?"
Ji Xia maintained her smile, but inwardly she sneered. People really shouldn't be treated too well; if they are, they'll take advantage of you.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan quickly waved her hand: "It wasn't me, I never thought of it, it was my second sister who wanted this job."
Ji Xia smiled faintly: "It's Second Sister Zhang. Sister-in-law, your mother is so good to your second sister. This job belongs to the Ji family. She would rather you and your eldest brother and his wife become estranged than not give your second sister a future. How can she be so biased?"
Zhang Hong's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, but she shook her head: "It's not like that. My second sister is not married, and the money she earns goes to the family. The family is too poor and doesn't even have a decent house. I was thinking of having my second sister work for two or three years, earn money to build a house, and save some money for my brother."
"It's your parents' business to build up your brother's wealth. Why should they take a job from the Ji family?" Ji Zhijun glared at her angrily.
Zhang Hong blushed with anger: "Those are my mother and brother. She came to me for help, what could I do? It's not like I can't earn money. My third sister makes handicrafts with her child, and she can earn ten or twenty yuan a month, right? How much less?"
Ji Zhijun was about to retort but didn't know how, but Ji Xia smiled and nodded in agreement: "Aunt Zhang has a loving mother's heart. It's understandable that she's doing this for her son. What mother in the world doesn't want to save up more good things for her son?"
"Right? My mother only has one son, how could she not think about my brother?"
Ji Xia smiled faintly: "Sister-in-law, your mother has only one son and needs to save money for your brother's house. You have two sons, what are you planning to save for them?"
Zhang Hong said awkwardly in a low voice, "My mother said that she would let my second sister work for two years, and she would give the job back to me after two years."
Ji Xia curled her lip in disdain: "Sister-in-law, although the salary at the supply and marketing cooperative is not high, only twenty-eight yuan a month, the extra income is quite good. One person can earn at least fifty or sixty yuan on the side, and some can earn one or two hundred. Your second sister has taken this job, are you willing to give it back to you?"
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