Huang Xiaoqiang paused slightly, "The teachers said that going to the countryside to work is unavoidable, and they told us to make a decision as soon as possible. If we decide early, we can still choose where to go. If we decide late, we won't have a say in where we end up."
Huang Xiaoguo was surprised, "Going to the countryside to work as an educated youth?"
Huang Xiaoqiang nodded, somewhat apprehensive. He didn't know how tough it would be to go to the countryside, as no one around him had ever been there before, and he didn't know what the actual situation was like.
Huang Mancang waved his hand dismissively and said, "Going to the countryside? This is a good thing. You should know that this is a great time to contribute to the country."
Before he could finish speaking, Old Mrs. Wu slapped him on the back of the head, silencing him instantly.
Grandma Wu frowned and looked at Huang Xiaoqiang, saying, "When you go to school tomorrow, make me a copy of the locations the school has assigned for your rural assignments."
Huang Xiaoqiang looked at Grandma Wu seriously. "I understand." A hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. "Mom, you'll take care of me, right...?"
Huang Mancang raised his head, which had just been lowered, and said, "Fourth brother, Dad will take care of you."
Huang Xiaoqiang's lips twitched. Manage? How? He's lost his job and his money. How can he manage?
Old Mrs. Wu, unable to bear it any longer, kicked the man back and looked at Huang Xiaoqiang, saying, "There's no use thinking about it. Go to school tomorrow and listen carefully to what the teacher has to say."
"Okay, I understand."
Grandma Wu caught a glimpse of the things she had brought back today, quickly washed up, and took the things into the house.
Nothing was said that night, and candlelight shone continuously from Old Mrs. Wu's room.
Huang Mancang, who was sleeping soundly in the outer room, was completely unaffected.
As dawn broke and the light streamed into the room, Old Mrs. Wu stretched, looked at the things in front of her, carefully folded them, wrapped them in a cloth, and put them into her bag.
By the time Grandma Wu finished tidying up, there was already some noise outside.
Huang Mancang's bed was neatly made. "Dad, is dinner ready yet? I'm starving."
"Starve to death! You're like a starving ghost reincarnated every day, get out of my way!"
Huang Mancang and Huang Xiaoguo's voices came from the kitchen outside. Old Mrs. Wu had just come out when Huang Mancang came in carrying a large basin.
"Oh, you're awake. Perfect timing for dinner."
A dish of pickled vegetables, a bowl of porridge, and a plate of fried dough sticks.
Huang Mancang scooped rice for Old Lady Wu, then rolled his eyes a few times. "Wife, look, the food at home has been upgraded recently, and the cost of food has increased. Could you give me some money to buy groceries?"
Money for groceries?
Grandma Wu frowned. "But I've been buying these vegetables all along, haven't I? We don't cook at home for lunch anyway."
Huang Mancang hummed and hawed for a while, and then Old Lady Wu immediately understood what he wanted to do. She slapped him hard across the face and said, "What do you need money for? They're coming to collect it on Wednesday. Have you raised enough?"
Huang Mancang covered his face and whispered, "Wasn't this money you were supposed to pay for?"
"You know I'm the one paying for this!" Old Mrs. Wu sneered. "The second son is obsessed with chasing girls and doesn't care about spending a penny. The eldest and third sons have just started working, and the fourth son is still in school. You think about it yourself, where is this money coming from?"
"And don't think I don't know what you're up to. If you dare to go out gambling again and incur debts, I'll chop off your hands and feet."
"Don't expect me to serve you. How long you live depends on how tough your life is."
With that, Old Mrs. Wu slammed her hand on the table and got up to leave.
Just as Huang Mancang was about to breathe a sigh of relief after everyone disappeared, he caught sight of the chopsticks stuck straight up on the table, and his breath caught in his throat again.
Everyone else swallowed hard when they saw this.
Grandma Wu, who was on her way to the textile factory, was unaware that her casual snap had accidentally stuck the chopsticks upright on the table, startling the entire Huang family.
"Hey, isn't that the foreman of Workshop Three?"
"It's her! Tsk tsk tsk, dressed so properly, how could she do such a thing?"
"Yes, I heard that it was because of her that the last batch of goods in Workshop 3 had problems, and Zhou Pandi ended up taking the blame."
"Don't say it, it's because they have a relationship with Director Jia."
Old Mrs. Wu frowned deeply. Had things gotten so out of hand?
"Quick, let's go, she's watching us."
"Why are you leaving! Besides, why are you afraid of her? It's not like we're the ones who are shameful for having an affair and making a scene in the street.
Grandma Wu slowly stopped walking. The two women who had been following her paused, exchanged a glance, and decided to take a different route to the textile factory.
Who can blame them when they have powerful backers? If she holds a grudge, the two of them will have a hard time at the factory.
That Zhou Pankan is a living example.
Grandma Wu stopped and looked back, but there was no one behind her. She touched the things in her bag, then turned around and left.
After walking for a short while, seeing the gate in front of her, Old Lady Wu took a deep breath and stepped inside.
"I want to report a crime!"
......
Factory Director Jia's home.
Guo Cuihua, heavily pregnant, looked at the woman beside her with a sorrowful expression. "Sister, I'm not trying to be mean, but what have they been saying about your husband at the factory?"
"You should tell your brother-in-law to fire Wu Mingxia immediately, and the rumors will naturally die down."
Guo Zhixia's eyebrows twitched. "But wouldn't that confirm the rumors between them?"
"Oh dear, sister, you're really confused. The most important thing is the present. As for the future, as long as the factory manager is still my brother-in-law, I don't believe anyone in the factory will dare to gossip."
Guo Zhixia slapped her thigh and said, "Okay, I'll go find him right now. He's home these days, that's perfect."
Guo Cuihua's eyes narrowed with a smile, but before the two could get up, Director Jia had already opened the study door. "I will not agree to this."
Guo Cuihua's smile froze instantly, and Guo Zhixia frowned, "Why?"
"Isn't this a case of trying to cover up one's own faults?"
"Comrade Wu and I are completely innocent. If we do this recklessly, won't it just confirm our relationship?"
"No, we absolutely cannot do that."
Guo Cuihua was about to say something when Director Jia's slightly furrowed brows turned to look at her. "Cuihua, you're pregnant, so don't keep traveling back and forth. Just stay home and rest during your pregnancy."
Guo Zhixia's gaze immediately focused on the pregnant woman beside her. "That's right, Cuihua, you're almost due in two months. You shouldn't be running around like this. Just stay home and rest."
Guo Cuihua felt a lump in her throat, unable to breathe, and stared blankly at her sister.
Her older sister wasn't like this before. In the past, whenever she heard that Director Jia was getting close to any woman, she would explode like a firecracker.
It's only been a few months, how come you've become such a wimp?
"Okay, I...I'm leaving! Don't worry, big sister, I won't bother you again before I give birth!"
After saying that, she stormed out of the door and left, and Guo Zhixia tried to stop her by calling after her, but she couldn't. "That's not what I meant."
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