Even if Zhang Lan didn't say it, Ji Xia could probably understand what she was thinking.
Of the three Zhang sisters, Zhang Qing was the most cunning and sly, while the other two sisters were honest girls who only knew how to work hard like oxen.
But being honest doesn't mean being stupid. After spending more than a month in the city and doing handicrafts with Ji Xia, earning a few dozen yuan, Zhang Lan began to have selfish thoughts.
If my parents and sisters find out about this money, I won't be able to keep a single penny.
I went back to my hometown and worked like an ox until I was twenty, thin as a withered branch, all my energy was gone. In the end, I was just sold by my parents to pay for my dowry, and they exploited me in a different way.
So, knowing she would be going home soon, she came to Ji Xia for help.
Hearing that she was willing to help take care of the child, Zhang Hong's heart stirred: "I would be willing to let you stay and take care of the child, but I'm afraid Mother won't agree."
"The only reason they're not agreeing is because they're not satisfied with the money."
Ji Xia curled her lips indifferently, her smile vanished, and she said with a serious expression, "Sister-in-law, Xiao Lan, I have no objection to you staying in the city."
"However, I have to tell you that my second brother is already dating someone. I estimate that not long after I get married, he will also marry his future sister-in-law."
"Really? The second son found a girlfriend?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhijun couldn't help but laugh: "A while ago, Mother said that those female educated youths were quite good, but he said it wasn't necessary. Now you've found them? That's great."
Ji Zhijun looked excited, but Zhang Hong and Zhang Lan's smiles were somewhat forced. Ji Xiangjun had found a partner, which was not good news for them.
Ji Xia smiled and said, "That's right. Second Brother has found a partner. You can continue to live here. Eldest Brother needs to discuss it with Second Brother."
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhijun realized the problem: "Oh, you're right. But even if he's married, he still has a house."
Ji Xia: "Big brother, my future sister-in-law's situation is a bit special. Her parents passed away a long time ago, and she has only a grandfather who has been her only family since she was a child. The reason why my sister-in-law agreed to my pursuit is because I promised to take care of her grandfather in his old age and we would live together."
So, whether or not this little courtyard is still available for stay depends on the owner.
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhijun's face finally showed worry. This small courtyard only has three rooms, which is really not suitable for living with the elders.
She left the problem to Ji Zhijun and Zhang Hong, and after agreeing to visit Zhang's mother and daughter again on the weekend, Ji Xia returned to her room.
Not long after she returned to her room, having just finished previewing tomorrow's lessons, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Ji Xia opened the door suspiciously, and Zhang Lan held a small bowl of wontons and smiled sweetly at her: "Sister Xia, are you hungry? I cooked a little extra for my sister's midnight snack."
"Okay, I'm actually a little hungry."
Ji Xia thanked her, took the fragrant wontons, and sniffed them: "They smell so good. Your cooking skills are getting better and better."
"I've learned all this from Sister Xia, and I haven't had a chance to properly thank her yet!"
Zhang Lan smiled sweetly, and Ji Xia secretly clicked her tongue twice. This little mouth of hers, she really knows how to talk. How could she have thought of her as a kind and honest old ox who only knew how to work in her past life?
It's estimated that his personality was gradually formed because he was treated like an ox by Zhang's mother in his past life.
He's fifteen or sixteen now, still quite immature. After spending over a month in the city, has he been influenced by her and Liu Hongju and others? He's become a bit bolder.
Of course, she also realized that Ji Xia was capable, and if she were willing to lend a hand, it would be more useful than asking ten Zhang Hongs.
While eating a small wonton, Ji Xia casually asked, "Lan, how much money have you made in the month or so you've been in the city?"
Zhang Lan lowered her head and smiled shyly: "I'm clumsy, I didn't earn much, I only saved forty or fifty yuan in total."
Ji Xia raised an eyebrow. Forty or fifty yuan was no small amount. Each one cost five cents, so fifty yuan could make a thousand.
Ji Xia knew that Zhang Lan was quick and efficient, and the supply and marketing cooperative couldn't possibly sell all of the work she made every day. So when Ji Zhijun went out, he took thousands of them with him.
Including what the supply and marketing cooperative sold, it must have been at least 1,400 or 1,500 yuan. A small portion of that was made by Zhang Hong, but most of it was done by her.
She asked in a low voice, "Not bad, not bad, this salary is no less than what you get at work. Have you opened an account at the post office to save money?"
"Open an account? What account opening?"
Zhang Lan had never heard of opening an account before, so Ji Xia explained to her in detail the purpose of opening an account and depositing money.
I heard that I could deposit money in the government's bank. As long as I had a booklet, I could withdraw the money whenever I wanted to use it. No one else could see or touch it. My eyes lit up.
What she resented most was that if she brought the money she earned home, her second sister or her mother would definitely find it.
Once Zhang Qing finds out, no matter how much she has saved, he guarantees she won't have a single penny left.
If she could store the money somewhere else, no one would know she had money inside. Wouldn't she be able to escape the exploitation by her parents and second sister?
After she gets married in a few years, she can quietly take out this money and do whatever she wants with it.
After some deliberation, Zhang Lan carefully and ingratiatingly asked Ji Xia to take her to open an account. Ji Xia readily agreed, telling her to wait for her at school the next day after school, and then they would go to the post office savings bank immediately.
Having resolved one of her worries, Zhang Lan glanced at her discreetly and said, "Sister Xia, there's still that matter. Could you please help me with that too? I really don't want to go back to my hometown."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xia shook her head and chuckled, "You're my sister-in-law's sister, how can I help you?"
"Could you get my sister to let me stay? I'll stay in the city to help her take care of the kids and do some handicrafts on the side."
"What if they plan to send the child back to the countryside to be cared for by the grandmother?"
Zhang Lan gave a wry smile upon hearing this. If Zhang Hong really intended to run around every day, there was nothing she could do.
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