Transportation is inconvenient now, and people have to either ride bicycles or walk between villages.
On the way, Liu Lanxiang told her mother-in-law what plans she had for their family.
Wang Xiaoqin had no father since childhood, was timid, and was always bullied, so even after she got married, she remained a timid and honest person.
Her mother's husband died early, and at her age, she knew more than her daughter. She was extremely happy and kept saying good things all the way.
"Come on, come in and sit down."
Chen Xiaoying hurriedly asked her mother-in-law to sit down.
Wang Xiaoqin's mother sat down and said a few polite words, and Chen Xiaoying asked them to cook.
Liu Lanxiang helped to cook, and the family sat down to eat and discussed how to clean the house.
Two earthen houses were built at the beginning. There was a big stove next to the stairs, where a big pot for cooking was placed. The inside of the door was the kitchen, and there was a door on the right, which led to the bedroom, where people slept.
For other things, a simple shed was built outside against the courtyard wall and the worthless items were piled there.
There weren't many things, so Liu Lanxiang and Chen Xiaoying helped to pack them up. They covered a cabinet and a table that were difficult to move with cloth.
It was a three-hour train ride and the second child came back the next day.
Li Hongwei discussed with him how to renovate the house.
Li Hongjian nodded.
On the third day, Li Hongwei came with his men.
The wages have been received and the work is in full swing.
Li Pingwang didn't help, but pretended nothing had happened and came over to take a look.
Chen Xiaoying could see that he was quite satisfied and he also hoped that his son could live a good life, but he was reluctant to spend his own money. So, in this situation, what else could he choose?
Busy now.
A figure walked in and said to Li Hongjian, "Old Second, when did you come back? Why don't you come and sit with me?"
Li Hongjian didn't know that his mother had beaten Li Hongyan, let alone why, so he stood up and said, "Sister, please sit down."
When Li Hongyan wanted to sit down, a pair of cold eyes looked at her.
When Li Hongyan turned around, she saw her mother Chen Xiaoying looking at her warily.
Li Hongyan didn't dare to move at that time. With so many people around, if her mother went crazy and beat her again, she would be too embarrassed to face anyone.
Liu Lanxiang deliberately asked: "Sister, my brother-in-law is busy? Why hasn't Pengfei come? Has he found a job?" She was still resentful that her elder sister-in-law had beaten her.
What brother-in-law wouldn't come to help with such a big thing as renovating the house of his wife's brother? Her eldest child is already 20 years old and has no job. His uncles paid for his tuition and raised him up, but he didn't come to see him.
Li Hongyan's face fell: "How dare you come? If you come, you will be slapped away."
As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at her mother Chen Xiaoying.
Chen Xiaoying sneered: "What do you mean by saying that? Zhao Faliang is here. I have no grudge against him. I will just drive him away. Li Hongyan, if you want to scold me, just say it directly. Don't throw dirty water on my head."
"You just didn't get hit lightly last time."
It seemed like he was going to fight her. Li Hongyan was both scared and angry: "Mom!"
"Don't call me, I'm busy." Chen Xiaoying ignored him.
"What's going on?" Li Hongjian frowned.
Li Hongyan took advantage of Chen Xiaoying's inattention and winked at him: "Come out, I'll tell you quietly."
Liu Lanxiang stared at him, said nothing, and continued to help cook for the craftsman.
Wang Xiaoqin was even more afraid of her elder sister-in-law Li Hongyan. She didn't dare to say a word and just kept lighting the fire in front of the stove.
Her mother was helping to wash the vegetables.
The yard was bustling with activity. Several people were helping to mix mud and lay tiles on the roof. Li Hongwei was right there, and he saw with his own eyes what his eldest sister Li Hongyan and the second brother Li Hongjian were talking about in the alley outside.
Li Hongyan was mumbling something, her mouth was grinning, her teeth were bared, and she looked fierce. She was cursing something. Li Hongwei vaguely heard the words "our mother", "Liu Lanxiang", "big brother", etc.
Li Hongwei was so angry that he was trying to sow discord again.
My brother was renovating his house, but instead of offering to help, he was just playing tricks on me.
"Hongjian, what are you still doing outside? Why don't you come up to help? The house is being repaired for me." Li Hongwei has a bad temper, just like his biological father Li Pingwang.
Li Hongjian, on the contrary, has a better temper and is a simple person.
When he heard his elder brother scolding, he and his sister Li Hongyan looked up and found that Li Hongwei was standing on the roof and could see them clearly.
Li Hongyan was caught in the act and quickly turned around: "There is still something else going on in the room, so I'll leave first."
Having said that, he left quickly.
Only then did Li Hongjian come back to continue working.
In the evening, when the craftsmen had left and the whole family was having dinner, Li Hongwei asked Li Hongjian: "What did our eldest sister say to you this afternoon?"
Chen Xiaoying didn't know about this, so she looked at Li Hongjian.
Li Hongjian was stared at by many eyes, so he couldn't help but tell his mother: "Pengfei has a girlfriend and wants to get married. My sister wants to build two rooms in her yard. The woman has better conditions there and is from the county town. She despises my sister's poor conditions and wants a high betrothal gift, 20,000 yuan."
There were so many people, including the children, that we had two tables in total.
All was quiet for a moment.
When Li Hongwei heard this, he felt that this should not be the thing that was discussed at noon. The time was short and there was not much to say. It was probably another phone call to the factory.
Only Li Pingwang looked surprised: "Pengfei is talking about his wife, this is good news, what does her family do, and she is from the county town. Our Pengfei is really amazing, he can even date a girlfriend in the city."
Li Hongjiang was still nervous, but when he heard his father was happy from the bottom of his heart, he also laughed: "I didn't ask..."
Before she finished her words, Chen Xiaoying suddenly said, "He's getting married, what does it have to do with you?"
This one cold remark made Li Pingwang and Li Hongjian, father and son, feel cold, as if a bucket of cold water was poured on them.
"You old woman, your grandson has a girlfriend and is getting married. This is a good thing. What is your attitude?" Li Pingwang got angry.
"That's good. I'm happy. What next?" Chen Xiaoying stared at Li Pingwang.
Li Pingwang then said, "Her house is not in good condition. We must help her if possible."
"How can we help?" Chen Xiaoying asked.
At the children's table nearby, the other children were eating, but only the eldest child, Li Yutong, looked over and listened carefully.
Zhao Pengfei got married, and she couldn't help but feel bitter and humorous in her heart: That officially opened the chapter of the second generation of the Zhao family continuing to suck blood from the Li family.
In her previous life, the three sons of her eldest aunt Li Hongyan were all successful and promising.
But what about my second and third uncles? They gave all their money to other people, which meant they ignored the crops in their own fields and took care of other people's crops. When the crops were ripe, other people's fields had a good harvest, but they looked back at their own fields and saw them all withered and yellow, with no crops harvested.
They are hungry and old, and can no longer take care of other people's crops. If people just give them a cold face and ignore them, they will just leave. Others will ask them why their nephews don't take care of them.
They also know how to say shamelessly: We have our own children, they are outsiders.