Chapter 185 Who's going to argue with a fool?
They planned to eat at the Liu family's house that evening. Liu Hua and Zhang Suzhen were busy preparing the meal, and Su Xu volunteered to help out. Zhang Suzhen was a little embarrassed and said, "You're a grown man, what are you doing in the kitchen?"
In the rural areas of that era, no man would cook in the kitchen, so Zhang Suzhen instinctively tried to shoo Su Xu away.
Su Xu, wearing an apron around her waist, said, "At home, I'm usually the one who does the cooking."
Liu Hua and Zhang Suzhen glanced back at Liu Nian, who was playing with the three babies on the kang (a heated brick bed). Rather than coaxing the children, it was more like she was fighting with them over toys.
"It's all because you spoiled her," Liu Hua said with a smile, looking at her daughter and feeling extremely satisfied with her son-in-law.
Su Xu pursed his lips, too embarrassed to say anything in front of his mother-in-law. His wife—if he didn't spoil her, who would?
Liu Nian was engrossed in playing with a rattle drum, and Erbao reached out for it, but Liu Nian refused to give it to him.
Sanbao smiled at Liu Nian and extended his hand. Liu Nian's heart melted instantly, and he immediately shook the rattle drum and stuffed it into Sanbao's hand.
"Waaah..." Erbao watched longingly as the rattle drum was handed to Sanbao, and began to pout in grievance.
He clearly had one right there, but he insisted on taking someone else's—that unreasonable kid.
“You have one too.” Liu Nian quickly picked up another one to coax him.
Erbao took it, looked at what was in his own hand, then at what was in Sanbao's hand, still longing for what was in Sanbao's hand.
As for Da Bao, he disdains playing these games.
The meal was ready, and Liu Nian took out the roast duck she had bought in Beijing, waiting for Liu Qiang and Liu Dafa to return.
"It's already this late." Liu Hua glanced at the clock on the wall, her eyes fixed on the doorway.
The door was pushed open with a bang, and Liu Hua immediately stood up, frowning as she looked at the door: "What's going on now?"
Liu Dafa walked in angrily with his hands behind his back, while Liu Qiang remained silent behind him.
"Sit down first," Liu Nian quickly pulled Liu Dafa to sit down.
As soon as Liu Dafa sat down, he couldn't help but start complaining, "Actually, most of the people in the village are conscientious and very cooperative, but there are just a very few exceptions."
"Why is everything such a problem!"
Now that electricity has been connected to Jiangjuntun, they need to install utility poles. It was agreed that one would be erected in front of Zhang Fu's house. They promised it the day before yesterday, but after waiting all night, they changed their minds.
Because his mother said it would ruin their family's feng shui.
"They also said that when their family was building the house, Zhang Fu's father had someone look into it and said that the back door should be wide open so that the family could prosper." Liu Qiang sighed, "But Zhang Fu's mother wouldn't let it go and didn't finish her work."
Liu Nian found it rather strange, "How come there are all sorts of reasons?"
There are also those who are afraid of being electrocuted, which is understandable, but it affects feng shui. Isn't this promoting feudal superstition?
"Alright, hurry up and wash your hands and eat. You can't think of anything to do if you're hungry." Zhang Suzhen had already served rice to everyone and warmed two ounces of wine for the men of the Liu family.
Su Xu took off her apron, wiped her hands, and said, "You guys eat first, I'll watch the children."
"You should eat quickly." Liu Hua pulled Su Xu aside. Su Xu was busy cooking and taking care of the children. How could she let her son-in-law eat last in her mother-in-law's house?
Liu Nian had already sat down at the table. Liu Hua glared at her daughter, thinking how could she be so heartless.
“You just got home, why don’t you have a few drinks with your dad and the others?” Zhang Suzhen added, “Your child is well-behaved, so you don’t need to keep an eye on him.”
Su Xu then sat down next to Liu Nian. Liu Nian looked over and said, "How are you? You're treated well at my house, aren't you?"
"Just eat yours." Liu Hua couldn't help but push Liu Nian's head.
In their eyes, Liu Nian was a woman who didn't care about her own man!
Su Xu gently rubbed the area where Liu Hua had pushed her a few times before eating.
Liu Dafa downed a glass of wine in one gulp, then put down the glass and began to sigh.
"You know, when you encounter an unreasonable person, nothing you say works," Liu Dafu said with a worried expression. "They're all from the same village, so if you say anything too harsh, it won't work. And that old lady keeps threatening to kill herself. What are you going to do?"
"If someone really dies, wouldn't that be a huge problem?"
The phrase "fellow villagers" weighs heavily on people's minds; they're always on their lips, and they're expected to consider the feelings between fellow villagers in everything they do. But have they actually considered it? They don't support the village's work at all.
Liu Nian thought for a moment and asked, "How many families like this are there in our village?"
“Four,” Liu Qiang said. “Some people genuinely don’t want utility poles installed in front of their homes, while others just want to take advantage of the situation.”
Liu Nian nodded and said, "I understand."
Zhang Fu, Li Dongbo, Wang Zhiguang, and Cui Daxing are four very difficult people to deal with.
Zhang Fu's mother said it would ruin their family's feng shui, and that installing it would bring bad luck. Li Dongbo has a mentally challenged wife who comes out and curses whenever someone mentions installing a utility pole in front of their house.
How can someone who's not very bright take this kind of person seriously? What does she even know? It's obvious that someone is instigating her behind the scenes.
The next day, when Liu Nian arrived at Li Dongbo's house, he saw his wife, Li Cuihua, sitting on the ground. Her clothes and pants were covered in rings of dirt, and she looked as if she hadn't washed her face in centuries.
"I'll kill you all! Anyone who dares to come here, I'll kill them!" Li Cuihua cursed as she grabbed a handful of sand from the ground and threw it at the people who were about to start construction.
Li Dongbo stood to the side, looking at everyone embarrassed, and said, "You all know my wife. She's not very bright. I've tried to talk her out of it, but she won't listen!"
Everyone knows that Li Cuihua only listens to Li Dongbo and does whatever he's told. Why would he say something like that and then stand behind his foolish wife, stirring up trouble? What is he trying to do?
The construction workers were all ready, but they didn't dare to move, looking at Liu Qiang with difficulty, "Secretary, what do you suggest we do?"
"I'm so sorry, so sorry!" Li Dongbo quickly apologized, bowing and making obsequious gestures, his posture so humble that no one could criticize him.
Liu Qiang suppressed his temper and said, "Isn't your wife the one who listens to you the most? Think of a solution!"
"Sigh." Li Dongbo sighed, "I don't know what's wrong, but this time she really won't listen to me and keeps delaying your work. I really feel bad about it."
"They're putting on quite a show," Liu Nian thought to herself with a snort.
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