Zhao's mother fed Zhao Aiguo the steamed egg custard, blowing on it to cool it down with a spoon. Then she said to Zhao Dahu, "Dahu, why don't you talk to Shuqing and suggest we come back? Our yard is surrounded by walls, so it's safe. I'm worried about the night; if something happens, your father and I won't be able to handle it!"
After drinking his porridge, Zhao Dahu nodded and said, "Mom, don't worry, I'll talk to Shuqing about moving back. It's better to have more people in the house. Don't be afraid, things won't get as bad as they were in those years."
Zhao's mother nodded with lingering fear, and Zhao's father remained silent; the whole family was rather somber.
Zhao Dahu finished eating and went home. He'd been wandering around all morning, and he wasn't sure if his wife was even awake yet, so he didn't want her to just eat something quick and easy. Just as he entered the door, Wei Shuqing woke up. Zhao Dahu poured her a glass of hot water, opened a can of meat, and handed her a few pieces of peach shortbread, saying, "I didn't cook either. Have some canned food and some hot water to tide you over. Eat first, I have something to tell you!"
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Wei Shuqing came back and sat down to eat. Zhao Dahu told her about what had happened on the street: "After the New Year, there will probably be an even greater food shortage. I'm really worried about my parents and children at home. I'm thinking of moving back and coming back when things get better."
Wei Shuqing had also experienced that turbulent year, and upon hearing the news, she immediately nodded, "Okay, I'll move there after we finish eating, this house!"
Zhao Dahu looked around and said, "Lock the house up and ask the neighbors to keep an eye on it."
Wei Shuqing nodded, thinking of what was written in that strange book, and made a decision in her heart: she didn't want to risk being reported by someone a few years later for just a few dollars; it would be a loss. She'd rather leave it empty!
The young couple quickly packed their bedding, clothes, and leftover food, then told Aunt Zhao, without leaving a key, gave her two jin of noodles, and took a tricycle.
The two went straight to the room Zhao Dahu lived in before his marriage, and found Zhao's mother tidying up there. Wei Shuqing quickly changed out of her clothes so that Zhao's mother could rest. Naturally, Zhao's mother wouldn't let her daughter-in-law do things alone, so the two of them worked together.
Zhao Dahu and Wei Shuqing officially settled down at the Zhao family's residence.
As for the Qi family, thanks to Dai Shiliang's money, they had enjoyed two months of good life. Qi Zhijun and Xiao Cui's marriage was almost finalized, with the date set for the eighth day of the first lunar month. Once they received their marriage certificate, they could move in together.
This time, Qi Zhijun got what he wanted. This love story was filled with poetry and romance, and ideals and aspirations. A long-lost happiness also appeared on his face.
Qi Zhifang said she would arrange to move out with Xiao Dai before the eighth day of the lunar new year so that she could rent a house for Qi Zhijun to get married.
Qi Zhifang confidently declared that she would move out as soon as they got married, but as the wedding date approached, Dai Shiliang became unreachable.
Qi Zhifang was completely dumbfounded. What was going on? In Qi Zhifang's mind, as long as she agreed to marry him, Dai Shiliang would have to kneel down and thank her like a lapdog! But strangely, Dai Shiliang had disappeared? Disappeared!
Qi's parents naturally couldn't kick their daughter and grandson out just because their son was getting married, so they partitioned off a small room for them behind the main hall. But Qi Zhifang still had a haughty attitude and said, "You don't need to worry, and don't be afraid that I'm taking up space in the house. I'll be getting married soon."
Even after all that, Cui still reluctantly married into the Qi family, but without Dai Shiliang as their bloodline, the Qi family's life plummeted.
Qi Zhijun was demoted and had her salary reduced to only 25 yuan a month because of her previous disturbance with Wei Shuqing. Xiao Cui received even less, only 18.5 yuan a month. She only agreed to pay 10 yuan, and even then, she was reluctant.
Qi Zhifang finally gritted her teeth and took out 15 yuan. But the family was facing not only a shortage of money, but also a severe food shortage. In the end, there still wasn't enough to eat. Dongfang Hong, as before, ate without regard for others.
But Xiao Cui is different from Wei Shuqing. She won't argue with Qi Zhifang or make trouble with Qi's parents. She will just watch Qi Zhijun with tears in her eyes, turn her head back to her room with a wronged expression, lie on the bed and cry softly. At night, she won't let Qi Zhijun touch her.
After several attempts, Qi Zhijun spoke to his parents, hoping that they could set aside some dishes for him before meals.
Qi Zhifang was furious. She also paid for living expenses, so why couldn't she eat with them? The Qi family was constantly fighting and arguing, and Qi's parents could only pretend not to hear. But in the end, there was no big fight. It wasn't that Qi Zhifang had given up, but that she had clearly felt unwell these past few days and didn't have the mind to argue over a meal. She could only worry while quietly trying to find Dai Shiliang.
While I was at work that day, I saw their director bring in people from the police station. The police officer looked at her and said, "Are you Qi Zhifang?"
Qi Zhifang stared in surprise at the person in front of her. The other person asked impatiently, "Are you Qi Zhifang?"
She was startled and quickly nodded. The other person said, "That's right, come with us!" The director hurriedly called someone to take over Qi Zhifang's post.
Qi Zhifang was so frightened that she turned pale and was taken away by the police. Once inside, she was interrogated, with questions like, "What is your relationship with Dai Shiliang?"
Qi Zhifang was taken aback and said, "We..."
The police officer slammed his fist on the table. "Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely! Speak!"
Qi Zhifang swallowed and said, "We met on the bus..."
The police officer sneered, "You still won't tell the truth! You want to go to jail, don't you!"
Qi Zhifang's eyes were red with grievance. "What did I do wrong that you're talking to me like that? What did I do wrong?"
The police officer scoffed and said, "You and Dai Shiliang are having an improper relationship, aren't you!"
"Nonsense! You're framing me!..." Just then, he felt dizzy and fainted. When he woke up, he was in a hospital, his left hand cuffed to the headboard. Startled, he shouted, "Help! Help!"
Just then, the nurse came in and snorted, "What are you yelling for? You have the nerve to call a criminal female hooligan that!"
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