Chapter 283 Hearing Gossip
In the following days, the Lu family's courtyard became one of the most lively places in the entire family compound.
When neighbors and colleagues learned that He Wanyi had arrived, they inevitably came to visit and congratulate her.
Although He Wanyi came from the capital, she was very easy-going and had no airs. She was very kind to those who came to congratulate her.
Life in the textile factory's staff quarters was like the cotton thread on the factory's looms, fine and regular, but with some small bumps.
He Wanyi's arrival undoubtedly injected a breath of freshness into the Lu family courtyard and the somewhat monotonous family quarters.
This lady from the capital was not as arrogant as one might imagine. She wore a washed-out Lenin suit with frayed cuffs, black cloth shoes with thick soles, and her hair was meticulously combed back, secured with the most ordinary black hairpin.
She always carries a half-worn travel bag, and her smile is as warm and gentle as the autumn sun, which instantly brings her closer to the people around her.
After the seventh day of the first lunar month, everyone who had some relationship with me would come to my house with some gifts.
Aunt Wang brought a small jar of homemade pickled crispy radishes, Mr. Zhang brought half a pound of precious sugar coupons, and Sister Li brought a small bag of fragrant fried peanuts...all of them were full of heartfelt gifts.
He Wanyi greeted every guest warmly. She took out the Poria cocos cakes and small twisted dough sticks she brought from the capital, put them on enamel plates, and asked everyone to taste them one by one.
She sat on a small stool, chatting with everyone about family matters, telling people what was new in the capital, and listening carefully to the people's well-being in the family compound.
She praised Aunt Wang's pickled radish for being authentic and refreshing, and praised Sister Li for her perfect control of the heat when frying peanuts.
She was gentle and kind, and quickly won everyone's favor.
"The old lady in Director Lu's family is so kind!"
"She doesn't act like an official's wife at all. She speaks in a reasonable way and is very pleasant to listen to."
"After all, he's from the capital, so he's well-informed and well-spoken."
The factory is a place with many women, so there is naturally a lot of gossip. This time, basically everyone praised her.
The praises spread quietly inside and outside the courtyard.
Little Taozi became grandma's most loyal little tail.
When grandma was picking vegetables, she would move a small stool and sit beside her, learning to pick out the rotten leaves;
When grandma was sweeping the floor, she would hold a small broom that was a little taller than herself and sweep it in the corner in a very professional manner;
While her grandmother was sitting at the door knitting a sweater, she would snuggle up to her grandmother's legs and clumsily learn to wind the wool with her little hands.
He Wanyi never gets tired of teaching and always teaches her granddaughter patiently.
"Little Peach, look, you have to break the vegetables like this, because the dirt is hidden inside."
"Hold the broom like this, using your wrist for strength."
"Wrap the yarn gently, otherwise it will get tangled."
Whenever Little Taozi completed a small "task," even if it was just putting a vegetable leaf in the right place or sweeping a handful of dust to the side of the dustpan, He Wanyi would generously give her the most sincere praise: "Oh, our Little Taozi is awesome! She's really Grandma's little helper!"
"Look, with our little peach helping us, grandma saved so much effort!"
Jiang Haitang looked through the window at the warm interaction between the grandparents and grandchildren, feeling mixed emotions.
How could she, as a mother, not notice her daughter's anxiety about her pregnancy? The way Xiao Taozi tried so hard to prove her worth, her cautious demeanor, made her feel distressed and heartbroken.
At this moment, Jiang Haitang couldn't help but feel her eyes warm as she watched her mother-in-law carefully protecting her daughter's sensitive heart with meticulous patience and encouragement.
She put down the design drawings of the new product from the machinery factory, walked to the door, and called softly, "Little Taozi, come and help your mother, okay?"
Little Taozi jumped up from her grandmother's side like a happy little deer and asked, "Mom, what do you want me to do?"
"Help mom wipe the table clean. Mom is going to draw." Jiang Haitang handed her a clean wet rag.
"Okay!" Xiao Taozi took the rag as if she had received a sacred mission.
She stood on tiptoe and wiped the table vigorously with her small hands, meticulously cleaning every corner.
Although the rag seemed too big in her hand, leaving irregular water marks wherever it was wiped, and even pushing the pencils on the table to the ground, her full concentration and seriousness softened Jiang Haitang's heart like a pool of spring water.
She walked over, squatted down, and gently hugged her daughter: "Thank you, Xiao Taozi, you cleaned it so well! Mom can work with peace of mind now."
She kissed her daughter's smooth forehead, feeling the dependence.
"Our little Taozi is really mommy's sweetest little cotton-padded jacket."
Little Taozi snuggled in her mother's arms, her little face filled with the satisfaction of being needed. The previous haze seemed to be dispelled a little, and her smile was bright and brilliant.
She raised her face, her big black eyes gleaming with determination: "Mom, I will take good care of the baby, I am the big sister!"
"Yes, Mommy believes in you," Jiang Haitang responded gently, "Our little Taozi will definitely be the best sister in the world."
The little girl laughed happily.
That afternoon, the faucet at home was leaking and had not been repaired yet. He Wanyi took Xiao Taozi to the public faucet in the family area to wash vegetables.
There were several rows of long cement sinks with a few rusty faucets installed at intervals.
This is where the women in the family compound communicate on a daily basis. He Wanyi is not very familiar with these people, so she just found a seat by the side, took out the vegetables she brought, and patiently taught Xiao Taozi.
"Look, little peach, first wash off the mud on the roots, then break open the leaves one by one, shake them gently in the water, and wash out the little bugs and sand hidden inside..."
Little Taozi studied very seriously, her little hands groping in the cold water, her little face slightly red from the effort.
He Wanyi was giving instructions while washing herself.
Several women who were washing clothes and vegetables nearby were chatting animatedly.
The topic shifted from the factory's production targets to which family's children had a promising future, and then to a newly released movie.
The atmosphere was originally very harmonious.
Until Aunt Wang joined in.
Aunt Wang is well-known in the family compound for being a quick-witted person. She is quick-witted, but sometimes she doesn't consider the occasion or the appropriateness of her words.
Her husband is a senior workshop director in the factory. Two years ago, he was ambitious and wanted to make him the deputy factory director. As a result, Lu Liangchen came and climbed to the position of factory director, and promoted a young man named Zhao Kai.
Aunt Wang has been holding a grudge ever since, and when she saw He Wanyi with Xiao Taozi, she immediately became sarcastic.
"...If you ask me, these days, you still have to have your own children to feel sorry for them! Look at some families, they seem kind enough to raise other people's children, but don't they still treat them like little girls?"
As she spoke, her eyes intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Xiao Taozi who was washing vegetables carefully.
A woman nearby felt that this was a bit harsh and whispered, "Sister Wang, what you said is..."
Aunt Wang didn't take it seriously. Instead, she raised her voice, as if deliberately trying to get someone to listen: "What? Did I say something wrong? Look, whose child this young is washing vegetables? It's because your daughter-in-law is pregnant that you no longer treat this adopted girl as a human being."
"This adopted girl is worried because her adoptive mother is pregnant. Haven't you seen her these past two days? She's been clinging to her grandmother like a little lapdog, rushing to do all the work, as if she's afraid that she won't be wanted anymore! Tsk tsk, so pitiful..."
With a "boom" sound, He Wanyi felt a surge of hot blood rushing to her head, and her ears were buzzing.
Her hands, which were washing vegetables, suddenly froze, and her nails dug deeply into the stems.
It turns out that this is the root cause. No wonder Xiao Taozi is always so nervous, afraid that they won’t want her.
She turned her head suddenly, her eyes locked on Aunt Wang, who was spitting everywhere.
The usual warm smile on his face disappeared without a trace, replaced by the coldness and anger of impending storm.
With a "bang", she threw the half-washed vegetable in her hand back into the basin, and she was unaware that the turbid water splashed her trouser legs.
He Wanyi suddenly stood up and walked in front of Aunt Wang in a few steps.
She was not tall, but her straight back and awe-inspiring demeanor made the people around her feel a strong sense of oppression.
You know, since He Wanyi came to the factory, she has always been a good person. Everyone knows He Wanyi as a kind person who only knows how to smile.
But now He Wanyi makes everyone feel scared.
The aura of his whole body was so impressive that it made people shudder.
He Wanyi's voice was not loud, but it was like a knife tempered with ice. Every word carried a great force, clearly hitting the hearts of everyone present:
"What did you just say?! Say it again for me!"
The noisy faucet suddenly became silent and all washing movements stopped.
Aunt Wang was frightened by He Wanyi's aura and shuddered, and the water in the basin spilled out and wet her shoes.
She forced herself to remain calm, stiffening her neck in a timid manner. "What...what did I say? I wasn't just...just chatting...everyone else is saying that..."
"Chatting? That's what everyone says?" He Wanyi's voice suddenly rose. "Then I'd like to ask, who else says that?"
"That's right, that's right..." Aunt Wang couldn't help but feel timid.
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