"Pearl, you said the Lu family is so powerful, after you marry Lu Kai, could you ask his father to get a couple more jobs for our family?"
Remembering how Lu Kai had taken care of the Xu family in her past life, Xu Zhenzhu readily agreed, "Of course! I'll talk to Lu Kai after we get married. I heard from Lu Kai that his parents love him the most, and they'll agree as long as it's not excessive!"
"Then our family won't just be made up of my second brother and his family anymore; everyone will be workers, and we'll all move to the city—"
Speaking of Xu Yinlai reminded Miao Cuihua, "Speaking of the second son, I'm so angry! A few days ago, he came back and started making a scene at home because of that bitch Siya's job. I heard that the bitch's job fell through, and instead of blaming her, he blamed the family. He even said he would never care about the family again, and he wouldn't care about you anymore!"
"Pah! He came running back today, all all smiles! Pearl, listen to your mother, the second son has been instigated by his wife and has lost all ties with us. When you become successful in the future, don't worry about them either!"
"If it weren't for the Lu family's presence, I wouldn't have let them in! Bah, unfilial children!"
Xu Zhenzhu quickly comforted her: "Mom, I know you're angry. For my sake, can you at least be patient for a few days? Right now, only my second brother's family is successful. They all work in the city, which is respectable."
"When I marry Lu Kai, my family won't be able to save face without someone respectable to back me up! Otherwise, won't I be laughed at after I marry into the family?"
Miao Cuihua retorted angrily, "Who dares to laugh at you? Our family has been poor farmers for generations, with impeccable revolutionary credentials! You're a high school graduate with a job, who has the nerve to laugh at you?"
Xu Zhenzhu smiled bitterly: "Mom, you don't know that people in the city, especially those who are on good terms with the Lu family, all want to marry the children of leaders. Even if I'm outstanding in the Tuanjie Brigade, I can't compare to those people! Right now, the only family we have that's respectable is my second brother's family. Even if you're doing this for my own good, you have to be nicer to my second brother and his family on the surface, okay?"
"At worst, once I marry Lu Kai and establish myself, I'll help my eldest and third brothers get back on their feet. Once they've moved to the city and found jobs, I'll have someone to rely on. By then, I won't need my second brother and the others anymore, and then I can turn against them, okay?"
Although she said that, Xu Zhenzhu knew very well that in this family, only her second brother and his two sons were shrewd and capable.
Although Lu Kai raised the Xu family in the same way in his previous life, the second branch was the most successful, and their business expanded to the provincial capital.
The eldest and third brothers' families could only stay in the county town.
Putting everything else aside, just looking at the Lu family's performance today, the eldest and third branches were completely useless.
The atmosphere only improved after my second brother came back.
Therefore, if he wants to gain a foothold in the Lu family in the future, he will have to rely on his second brother's family.
She wasn't worried that her second brother wouldn't agree, since their interests aligned, and given his personality, he would definitely cooperate well with her.
As for her own mother, Miao Cuihua, it's hard to say more. If word gets out and her eldest and third brothers become dissatisfied with her, thinking she's favoring her second brother's family, they might try to sabotage her behind her back. How can she possibly guard against all that?
So he just kept trying to appease Miao Cuihua. Anyway, when that day comes, she will naturally have her own explanation. Besides, who gets the good thing is up to her.
With this in mind, Xu Zhenzhu tried even harder to persuade Miao Cuihua, even saying how she would treat the second wife coldly in the future and how she didn't care whether the second wife lived or died.
After much coaxing and persuasion, they finally managed to cheer Miao Cuihua up, and then the mother and daughter went to bed.
After they had all fallen asleep, a dark figure tiptoed away from outside the door.
Arriving at the backyard, I pushed open a door and went inside.
Nothing was said that night.
The next morning, Xu Yinlai and his family ate breakfast and then hurriedly went to the commune to catch the bus back to the county town.
I only took one day off, and I have to go back to work this afternoon, otherwise I'll have to write a self-criticism and report my thoughts again.
Walking on the road to the commune, I saw no one in front or behind me.
Xu Yewen spoke up: "Dad, Mom, last night when I went to the main room to get a drink of water, I overheard my aunt and grandma talking—"
Then she told Xu Yinlai and Shen Yue'e everything she had heard last night.
Before the couple could even get angry, Xu Yewu jumped up and down: "I told you they're all ingrates! They've been living off us for years without uttering a single word! Now that things are finally looking up for them, they're thinking of using us again and then kicking us aside? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
“Yes! Dad, we can’t let them have their way! Why should we?” Xu Yewen chimed in, as the two brothers were unusually united when it came to their own interests.
A ruthless glint flashed in Xu Yinlai's eyes: "This is not up to them! Alright, I understand. Don't worry about it. I know what I'm doing."
Shen Yue'e exclaimed anxiously, "Dad, this can't be left like this! They're so heartless! They're ganging up on our family!"
Xu Yinlai glared at her impatiently: "What are you afraid of? Even if she wants to bring benefits to the family, she can only do so after she gets married, has children, and is established, right? Before that, won't she still have to rely on us? When it comes to the wedding procession and the dowry, do you think anyone in the family can offer anything? Won't they still have to rely on us?"
"We'll handle things well and say nice things, and take this opportunity to get in touch with the Lu family. I think that Deputy Factory Director Lu is no ordinary person. He doesn't look down on the eldest and third brothers, who are so quiet they can't even fart.
"They're not stupid. If they really wanted to help the Xu family, would they abandon perfectly good people and go find a bunch of rotten mud to plaster the walls?"
"Besides, as long as we get in touch with the Lu family, there will be plenty of benefits! My mother is just a country bumpkin, and Pearl is just a girl. Even if they've had a few years of schooling and are lucky enough to meet a good man, what do they know?"
"In short, just remember one thing: as long as you save face! Pretend you don't know anything about today's incident, and keep it to yourself! Do you understand?"
Xu Yinlai's stern face was quite intimidating, and his wife and children nodded repeatedly.
He then turned around with a cold laugh, glanced in the direction of the Unity Brigade, and muttered, "We'll see who's in control then!"
As soon as Xu Yinlai and the others left, the atmosphere in the Xu family immediately became cheerful and relaxed.
Everyone fawned over Miao Cuihua and Xu Zhenzhu, making them beam with delight.
The men of the Xu family also went out and squeezed into the crowd.
The person had just asked, "Have you eaten?"
He replied, "How do you know my little sister (aunt) has a job? And at our commune's supply and marketing cooperative?"
Naturally, a bunch of people stared wide-eyed and surrounded him, pressing him for answers.
There were also those who didn't have a good relationship with the Xu family and couldn't stand seeing their smugness.
He only said one sentence: "It's your little sister who has a job, not you. What are you showing off for? Siya also has a job, and she works in the county town! Why don't I see her showing off?"
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