Zhang Guoqiang, the second son of the Zhang family, stayed with his parents outside the yard. When the carriage was no longer in sight, he finally pulled his parents along and persuaded them to go home with him.
"How pitiful are the parents' love in the world" - although he did not understand why his parents escaped and did not go to the county town at the critical moment, he could sympathize with their love, otherwise he would not accompany them in the wind.
When Zhang's father and mother followed them home, Lin Juhua had already tactfully brought out the basket and asked Zhang's father to sit on the kang to smoke. She also opened some cakes and gave them to Zhang's mother.
"Okay, stop messing around. I'm not a stranger. Leave some for Shi Tou and the others." Mother Zhang said happily when she saw her daughter-in-law busy all the time.
Seeing this, Lin Juhua glanced at her father-in-law and her husband on the kang, and saw that they were starting to discuss whether to move or not. She ran to sit next to Zhang's mother and saw what her father-in-law and mother-in-law suggested.
Huang Yaoguo handed in the order, said hello to his colleagues, left the factory, and walked home tiredly.
When he got home, his wife was still at work. His little daughter was at home and chattered with joy when she saw him. She brought him food and asked him to eat first.
Huang Yaoguo ate his meal quickly, eager to get some sleep. Hearing his daughter's words, he initially ignored them, then gradually slowed down, frowned, and asked, "So, your uncle is now suspended from work, awaiting an investigation? When did this happen?" Seeing she couldn't explain clearly, he immediately put down his chopsticks, not caring about his half-finished meal, and hurried to Huang Yaozong's house on his bike.
He'd been on a business trip for ten days, and he hadn't expected to hear such a major upheaval back home upon his return. His aunt had bought a house next door to his uncle's? If he was right, his in-laws wouldn't approve of their eldest son being so far away from their youngest son.
Huang Yaoguo felt a headache just thinking about it. Plus, his elder brother was suspended, so he had to find someone. Thinking of this, he hurriedly increased his speed and kicked hard a few times.
"Second brother, you are finally back. I was so worried. Why did you come back just now? Didn't you say you would be back the day before yesterday?" Huang Yaozong was sighing at home. When he saw his younger brother, he jumped off the kang and shouted without even bothering to put on his shoes.
Huang Yaoguo felt his head buzzing, unable to make out what he was saying. He ignored the other person's anxiety and took out a cigarette, lighting it and taking a few puffs. Feeling more alert, he asked, "I've been away for ten days. What happened? Tell me everything."
"I've been suspended. My company wants me to make up the difference and will also punish me..."
Huang Yaoguo didn't wait for him to finish, raising his hand to signal him to stop. "I know about this. First, tell me what happened in Xiaomei's yard? Also, have you had any conflicts with your colleagues recently? Have you offended anyone? I want to hear the truth. Tell me everything in detail. Only when I know the reason can I help you find someone."
Huang Yaozong thought about it carefully for a while and said, "I didn't have any conflicts with my colleagues. We were all old acquaintances, so there was nothing to argue about. I don't know if I offended anyone, but no one would say it to my face. At the meeting that day, the leader asked me to go home and wait for news. Do you think someone is trying to frame me?"
"Apart from these things, are there any other abnormalities? For example, did someone say something jokingly in front of you? Did you offend any customers?" Huang Yaoguo frowned and reminded.
"No! Really not. From what I've heard you always deal with people with a smile on your face."
"Then I'll go find someone to find out what's going on. Don't pay the fine yet, we'll see what happens. Paying it means you admit you made a mistake." Huang Yaoguo finished speaking, and seeing him nod knowingly, he continued, "Then why did my younger sister buy a house near your home? Her family is not short of money. And my brother-in-law's workplace is far away from here. Did her parents-in-law agree?"
Huang Yaoguo finished speaking, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. When his elder brother didn't respond, he opened his eyes to see him with his head bowed, silent. He knew something was wrong the moment he saw his elder brother's behavior. Seeing this, he was so angry that his temples were throbbing with pain.
"Go ahead. Tell me all your little thoughts. Does Dad know about this?"
"Hehe... I thought my younger sister lived nearby, so my brothers and sisters could take care of her if anything happened. The house was in a hurry to sell, so I asked your sister-in-law to pay the deposit first. When my brother-in-law found out, he didn't say anything and just asked my younger sister to pay.
What does it matter whether my uncle agrees or not? Why do we need a housekeeper after the family has been divided? Anyway, he has many sons and if they think the conditions here are not good enough, the old couple can live with the youngest son, saving our sister from having to take care of the old one.
Huang Yaoguo was too lazy to explain the details to him. He then asked, "Has Zhang Guoqing returned home? Have you contacted him and Zhang Laoer about your suspension?"
"A few days before you left for your business trip, the whole family returned. Hey, little brother, do you know where Zhang Guoqing works? In the Armed Forces Department! He's a superior person. I looked for him several times before I finally caught him. And you know what he said? He said it's not his place to meddle in the unit's internal affairs. And Zhang Laoer is even worse. He actually told me to go and confess so I could get some leniency and try to get a chance."
Huang Yaoguo leaned back, stroking his chin in thought. He felt sleep deprived, his brain a bit strained. Zhang Guoqing wasn't that kind of person; he'd definitely inquire about it first, rather than reject it outright. Could last year's incident really have affected the relationship between the two families?
He looked at his eldest brother and suddenly asked, "Did you offend Xiaowu again? Zhang Laoer, don't worry about him for now. You took the initiative to take care of the yard for my younger sister this time, and you will definitely not go over well with him. Xiaowu is not the type to care about such trivial matters. Unless you offend him again, he won't bother to take action."
Huang Yaozong's eyes widened when he heard this, and he hurried over to him and whispered, "There's something I haven't told you yet. Don't be angry. I'm not hiding this from you because I don't trust you. You're usually too busy, so I just want to handle it myself."
When Huang Yaoguo saw his elder brother acting so sneakily, his heart skipped a beat. It was over.
"Before the New Year, I saw that your eldest niece was unemployed, so I contacted a few acquaintances and asked them to arrange a job for her as soon as possible for Zhang Guoqing's sake. Don't worry. I was afraid that Zhang Guoqing would be angry if he knew, so I deliberately added your younger sister's name. After all, she is his sister-in-law, and our family is just a favor."
"Haha..." Huang Yaoguo laughed in anger. He hadn't expected his elder brother, at such an old age, to seem so backward. He'd seen him often before the New Year, but he hadn't expected him to do something like this. If his wife knew about this, she'd definitely cut off all contact between the two families. Regardless of whether Zhang Guoqing would be angry, who was he guarding against? Was he trying to compete with his own niece for a spot?
"Haha... I'm smart, right? It's a pity those people didn't give me face. They said nice things, but no one helped me. Now Zhang Guoqing is back, I wanted to ask him for help, but who knew I would encounter this. Now I can only deal with my own affairs first. Little brother, you have a good relationship with him, why don't you go to him and see."
Huang Yaoguo suddenly stood up and slapped him hard, hitting him several times. Facing his elder brother's stunned face, he finally lowered his hands helplessly.
After a long moment, he let out a long sigh and said, "You're such a fool, and you're secretly happy about it. No wonder Xiaowu ignored you—would he be happy if you used his name to do things? Maybe he hates you so much now, why would he help you? You've killed my little sister. That fool followed you around, she had no brains. Do you think Xiaowu will pay any attention to her in the future?"
Seeing his elder brother about to speak, he shook his hand, telling him to stop. He didn't want to say anything now. He probably thought the whole county thought his elder brother was a joke.
As soon as Zhang Guoqing and his family returned, his eldest brother was suspended from his post. Perhaps some people were just taking advantage of the situation and taking action, just waiting for Zhang Guoqing's reaction.
If Zhang Guoqing showed up, those people would pretend nothing had happened, even securing jobs for his niece and younger sister. But how could that be possible? Why would he leave any leverage for his family's sake?
Thinking of this, he rubbed his temples and whispered, "There's no hope for Xiaowu. Ever since you used his name to do things, the relationship between our two families has ended. Don't ask Dad to intervene, no one's intercession will be of any use. Especially as for my little sister, don't mention it, or you'll harm her. I'll go find someone to inquire and then we'll discuss it."
Huang Yaoguo rode his bicycle to visit all his close friends. Finally, exhausted, he returned home. In the main room, his parents, older brother, and his wife stared at him eagerly.
He glanced at his wife and found that she was mending shoe soles with her head down and there was no dinner prepared on the stove - it seemed that he knew everything he needed to know.
"How is it? Did you find someone to help?" Huang's father asked quickly.
Huang Yaoguo smiled wryly and shook his head. "Let's make up the money first. Then it depends on how the higher-ups handle it. The best outcome is a transfer and still having a job."
He didn't mention the worst-case scenario. From what several people said today, it seems his brother has angered many, leaving many dissatisfied. Secretary Li Aiguo, in particular, has privately criticized his brother for impersonating others and seeking connections. Who knows what the outcome will be.
"Is there really no other way? Second brother, let's go find Xiaowu. If someone of my age kneels down to beg him, he will definitely give me some face." Huang's mother said quickly.
Huang's father was so angry that he slammed the table and roared, "What dignity do you have? How dare you go there? Look at what you have done. I am too embarrassed to see my in-laws now. What is the relationship between Zhang Xiaowu and you? You are still doing things in his name. Why don't you do it in his father-in-law's name?"
You're meddling in Xizi and the others' schooling, and your son-in-law's purchase of a yard. You're so powerful—you're the masters of everything that happens to the Zhang family. And you're still calling on Zhang Xiaowu—did he let you handle his family affairs? You're incompetent and trying to get the better of him. And you're still calling on Zhang Xiaowu? Go ahead! Just kneel down and see if he'll pay any attention to you.
After a fierce rant, the main room fell silent.
After a while, Huang's father stood up, ignored his wife, and went out alone.
Huang Yaoguo quickly caught up with him and followed his father. Seeing that he was walking towards home, he quickly pulled his father to eat dinner before leaving.
"Don't drag me along. I still have to go to Zhangjia Village. Let's not talk about your eldest brother's problem. I'm worried that your younger sister's problem is the most troublesome. You see, she bought a yard but still hasn't moved into the warm house. This must be because her in-laws are dissatisfied. What daughter-in-law would buy a house without telling her parents-in-law right after the family is divided? It's a good thing that the in-laws are kind, otherwise your younger sister might be divorced."
Huang Yaoguo shook his head and smiled bitterly. His mother had suggested it, and his eldest brother had taken action. Who could they blame? Since his father was going, he had no choice but to accompany him.
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