With Shen Yue'e gone and Xu Changfeng present, Miao Cuihua and Wan Chunni knew they wouldn't get an answer today.
They nodded reluctantly to Xu Changfeng, then went home grumbling to each other.
Xu Yinlai, however, stayed behind to exchange pleasantries with Xu Changfeng: "Brother Changfeng, when did you get back? This is a rare treat, it's been so many years since I've seen you! Did you go to the back mountain? Did you find anything good?"
As he spoke, he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offered them to Xu Changfeng.
Xu Changfeng took the cigarette but didn't smoke it. He tucked it behind his ear and looked Xu Yinlai up and down: "Don't you work in the county town? How come you have time to come back?"
Xu Yinlai chuckled and tapped Xu Ningyan behind her with his cigarette: "It's all because of this brat! She was so desperate for a man, even threatening to break off family ties and marry him, but now he's just gone back to the capital and doesn't want her anymore! All she does is hide in the countryside and cry. We were worried about her, so we rushed back to see her, but this girl doesn't even appreciate it!"
They have the face of good parents, though.
Xu Changfeng didn't say anything. He wasn't stupid. Judging from the Xu family's attitude just now, they didn't seem worried.
Xu Ningyan didn't give Xu Yinlai any face: "Stop trying to make yourself look good! You just want to use this as an excuse to get your son a new job, right? What are you worried about? Are you worried that if I don't agree, you won't be able to get a job? I'm telling you right now, what happens between Gu Zhiyuan and me is our business. Whether he wants me or not, it has nothing to do with you!"
"Stop using the guise of caring about me to leech off my blood and eat my flesh! What, do you think that now that Gu Zhiyuan has returned to the capital, I'm all alone, without any support, and easy to manipulate? The brigade headquarters still has a copy of the written agreement severing ties and dividing family ties. Do you really think you can fool me with just a few words?"
Xu Yinlai, utterly humiliated, turned ashen-faced: "No matter what, I'm still your father! Now that you've been dumped by a man, you have to listen to me, your father! Not only the job at the machine factory, but your job too—if I say I want it, you have to give it to me! And your future marriage will also be my decision—"
Upon hearing this, Xu Changfeng's expression changed. Just as he was about to say something, Xu Ningyan started to criticize.
"Do you think we're still living in the old society? Still having all the power? Gu Zhiyuan just went back to the capital, he's not dead. You think I was dumped just because you say so? Even if you don't have a mirror, you must have a piss, right? Take a piss and look at yourself. How big is your face? How dare you say such things?"
"Do you believe I'll go to your factory right now and report you and your husband? The charges are already prepared. As workers of the new era, you're still clinging to the dregs of the old society, not to mention threatening the leaders of the machinery factory and trying to get a job through improper means. Do you think these charges are enough to send you to a farm in the Northwest for reform?"
"Since your Xu family produced a Xu Zhenzhu before, do you want me to help you and send you two to reunite with Xu Zhenzhu?"
Xu Ningyan wasn't afraid at all. Not to mention in the county town, Xu Yinlai's entire family didn't have as many connections as she did.
Not to mention that Gu Zhiyuan specifically instructed Lin's father and Lin Feng to take care of him before he left. The tea was still hot when he left. Who could watch Xu Ningyan get into trouble?
Xu Yinlai probably knew this in his heart, which is why he came back, hoping that Xu Ningyan would cause trouble at the machinery factory and demand a job.
Even in the Unity Brigade, I doubt the brigade leader and members would allow them to act so recklessly.
Now, it is Xu Ningyan who brings more benefits to the Tuanjie Brigade. Xu Yinlai has been working in the county town for so many years, but he has never seen him bring any benefits to the brigade.
Unless the captain and his men are stupid, they wouldn't agree to Xu Yinlai doing that.
Even if we assume the worst, and the captain and the others turn a blind eye and side with Xu Yinlai, does that mean she's the kind of person who obediently listens to others?
In other words, the Xu family was blinded by greed and couldn't see the bigger picture.
However, even though Xu Yinlai had been blinded by passion earlier, Xu Ningyan's words had poured cold water on him, and his boiling heart had calmed down.
Finally, he remembered that Xu Ningyan was no ordinary girl; she was quick to sever ties with her family and separate from her relatives.
I almost ruined my and my wife's jobs when I went to the county town!
Unable to suppress a shiver, Xu Yinlai forced a smile: "Well, I suddenly remembered I have some things to take care of at home, I'll be going now, I'll be going now—"
He was about to leave.
Xu Changfeng draped a sling over his shoulder: "Perfect timing, I'm going home too. We're going the same way, let's go together! We haven't seen each other in years, we can catch up—"
As she spoke, she practically dragged Xu Yinlai towards the brigade. After taking two steps, she gave Xu Ningyan a wink, signaling her to go back inside quickly.
Xu Ningyan smiled, appreciating Xu Changfeng's good intentions.
By noon, the brigade leader, having received the news, rushed over and conveyed only one message: to reassure Xu Ningyan, he and the brigade secretary had already gone to the Xu family to warn them, saying they were like toads trying to eat swan meat, delusional!
Xu Ningyan's work has significantly increased the income of their brigade and commune. If someone else were to take over, all that income would be lost, and they would have nowhere to turn to cry!
If they incur public wrath, not only will they be unable to stay in the Unity Brigade, but they might not even be able to stay in the Red Star Commune.
The Xu family probably took it to heart. After all, the Xu family no longer had a relative like the Lu family, and Xu Yinlai and Shen Yue'e were just employees in the county town. Xu Zhenzhu had even been sent down to the Uyghur province for reform. The Xu family's reputation was ruined.
If you can't stay in the Unity Brigade anymore, then you really have nowhere to go.
Anyway, before the brigade leader and the brigade secretary left, the Xu family members publicly and reluctantly promised that they would never come looking for Xu Ningyan again, and they would never try to take the job at the machinery factory after Xu Ningyan and Gu Zhiyuan left.
Moreover, the brigade leader said that Xu Yinlai and Shen Yue'e were probably really scared after being warned. Xu Yinlai was fine, but Shen Yue'e looked unwell and seemed a bit eccentric, as if someone in the Unity Brigade was going to eat her. While Xu Yinlai was still hesitating, she readily agreed and dragged Xu Yinlai back to the county town without even eating.
Xu Ningyan's heart skipped a beat; something was off about Shen Yue'e's behavior.
In the past, she would have thrown a tantrum for days, but she would probably only calm down after Xu Yinlai spoke up.
The couple, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, had long since developed a tacit understanding.
Why did Shen Yue'e suddenly back down first?
Unable to figure it out, Xu Ningyan was too lazy to think about it anymore. It would be a waste to waste even a minute of her brainpower on the Xu family.
They simply stayed in the yard. Anyway, they had no shortage of food, and occasionally the henchman would bring back some wild game from the mountain for the two of them to have a treat.
When they were free, they would follow Tiezhu and the other kids to the river to catch snails and shrimp, or raid bird nests and get some bird eggs. Then they would run to Xu Ningyan's yard and borrow her pots, pans and seasonings to cook.
Of course, they didn't borrow it for nothing; every day they would share a portion of their harvest with Xu Ningyan and his lackeys.
The people in the brigade just watched for fun, and with Xu Ningyan watching over them, they felt even more at ease.
As a result, this carefree, idyllic life didn't last long; a few days later, rain began to fall from the sky.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
