“Old man, Bingxing did send a chicken to my elder brother and his family yesterday, but my sister-in-law brought back a pork knuckle! We didn’t lose out, so why are you so angry?” Ding Ermei felt a little guilty and shrank her neck.
Two days ago, someone from Dingjia Village came to deliver a message saying that Ding Ermei's eldest brother was sick.
Yesterday, Ding Ermei quickly asked her second son, Zhou Bingxing, to send a chicken, a basket of eggs, and ten yuan to her parents' home.
Ding's eldest sister-in-law gave them some greens as a return gift. The braised pork knuckle was bought by Zhou Bingxing.
When Ding Ermei saw Zhou Fugui so angry, she thought that her secret of supporting her family had been exposed.
“Bingxing sent a chicken to your family? You spendthrift woman, all you do is send things to your family. How could your sister-in-law, who is so stingy, possibly send us a braised pork knuckle in return? Did you buy it yourself?” Zhou Fugui questioned.
"No, no, you can ask Bingxing if you don't believe me." Ding Ermei firmly denied it.
"Ding Ermei, if I find out you're using family money to support your parents, I'll beat you to death!" Zhou Fugui threatened.
Ding Ermei stood to the side, shrinking her neck and not daring to make a sound.
After cursing for a while, Zhou Fugui's anger subsided somewhat.
At this moment, Zhou Bingqiang returned.
"Dad, what did my little sister say on the phone? Did something happen at her home?" Zhou Bingqiang asked.
People these days don't make phone calls unless it's an emergency.
Zhou Bingqiang was also present when Zhou Meimei called Zhou Fugui.
Seeing that Zhou Fugui had left angrily after finishing the phone call, Zhou Bingqiang hurriedly followed to find out what had happened.
"Meimei was bullied yesterday..."
Before Zhou Fugui could finish speaking, Zhou Bingqiang rolled up his sleeves and said menacingly, "That bastard Wang Liping bullied Meimei, and it was Wang's old woman? They really have a death wish. Dad, call my second brother, let's go to the county town this afternoon to support Meimei."
"It wasn't Wang Liping, nor was it Wang's wife who bullied Meimei; it was Zhou Bingchen and Zhao Zhenzhu. Those two bastards, if they have the guts, they shouldn't ever come home again, or I'll curse them every time I see them." Zhou Fugui's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again.
"Third brother is back? He came back yesterday?" Zhou Bingqiang was stunned.
"Yes! Zhou Bingchen, as the older brother, just watched his sister being bullied by his wife, but didn't even say a word for her. He's such an ingrate," Zhou Fugui said indignantly.
Zhou Bingqiang fell silent.
Zhao Zhenzhu is known for her good nature.
When Zhou Meimei and Zhao Zhenzhu had a conflict, Zhou Bingqiang was certain that Zhou Meimei was the one who was unreasonable first.
Zhao Zhenzhu and Zhou Bingchen are husband and wife, so isn't it only right that Zhou Bingchen helps Zhao Zhenzhu?
Putting yourself in Chen Jinfeng's shoes, if Zhou Meimei were to act unreasonably and start a fight with her, Zhou Bingqiang would definitely side with Chen Jinfeng.
"Old man, what is Zhao Zhenzhu doing in the county town? Did the third brother ask her to go, or did she go on her own?" Ding Ermei asked curiously.
People in this era rarely travel far unless absolutely necessary.
Like Ding Ermei, she's fifty-five this year, and she's only ever been to the county town once in her life, when Zhou Meimei got married. The farthest place she usually goes is her parents' home.
"Meimei said Zhao Zhenzhu was doing business at the gate of their factory, I think she was selling hair ties," Zhou Fugui said after a moment's thought.
Zhou Meimei was so angry that she was talking incoherently. She kept telling Zhou Fugui to teach Zhou Bingchen and his wife a lesson.
Yesterday afternoon, He Bo and Er Niu set up their stall at the entrance of the cotton mill again.
He Bo and his team's business was booming. When Zhou Meimei rushed over, the hair ties were already sold out.
It wasn't that they were all sold out; there were only a few left. Zhou Meimei had originally grabbed one and kept it, but when she went to pay, Erniu snatched it back and sold it to someone else.
Zhou Erniu said that Zhou Meimei had said some very hurtful things before, so they wouldn't sell her their hair ties.
In front of so many people, Zhou Meimei lost all face.
Zhou Meimei was so angry that she couldn't sleep all night. Today, she gritted her teeth and spent money to call Zhou Fugui to complain.
Incidentally, Zhou Meimei also wanted Zhou Fugui to interrogate Zhao Zhenzhu about where she got her hair ties.
Zhou Fugui focused on how to teach Zhou Bingchen and his wife a lesson. As for where the hair ties came from, Zhou Fugui, a grown man, never cared what women wore in their hair and didn't give it a second thought.
"Zhao Zhenzhu is doing business? That's speculation! Old man, hurry up and make Bingchen divorce Zhao Zhenzhu. Our family has a clean record, we can't let Zhao Zhenzhu drag us down with us!" Ding Ermei shouted.
"Why are you shouting so loudly? Are you afraid our whole family won't die fast enough?" Zhou Fugui glared and scolded.
"I... old man, I'm so worried! If Zhao Zhenzhu gets arrested, our whole family will be doomed," Ding Ermei said in a low voice.
“I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry about this,” Zhou Fugui said in a low voice, glancing at Ding Ermei.
The market has been open for the past two years, and speculation and profiteering haven't been cracked down on for a long time.
Ding Ermei is still stuck in the old social order.
Zhou Fugui was too lazy to teach these observation and analytical skills, nor did he want to.
Zhou Fugui knew that even if he taught her, Ding Ermei wouldn't be able to learn it.
Back then, in order to avoid revealing his identity, Zhou Fugui specifically married Ding Ermei, who wasn't very bright.
Now, Zhou Fugui has some regrets.
If the wife is stupid, the children will be stupid too.
Of the children, only the eldest resembled him; the others were all just like Ding Ermei in terms of their brains—both stupid and stubborn.
"Oh," Ding Ermei replied, sounding aggrieved. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Old man, Bingchen didn't come home yesterday. Did he go to the Zhao family? Should we go to town to call him back later?"
“I’m not going,” Zhou Fugui hurriedly refused.
Zhao Qingshan was no pushover, and Zhou Fugui didn't want to go against him.
Ding Ermei's eyes darted around, and she pondered to herself: Did the old man mean that she should go to the Zhao family alone when he said he wasn't going?
Fine, this time she's in the right. If she goes to the Zhao family and makes a scene, maybe Bingchen will feel guilty and agree to increase her pension?
After lunch, Ding Ermei changed into a patched-up outfit and hurried towards the town.
Just as they reached the village entrance, they ran into Zhou Bingchen and Zhao Zhenzhu.
Zhou Bingchen rode a bicycle with Zhao Zhenzhu sitting on the back.
The bicycle belonged to the Zhao family. Wu Meiyun told Zhou Bingchen to use it as he pleased.
Upon seeing Ding Ermei, Zhou Bingchen got out of the car, and Zhao Zhenzhu also jumped out of the back seat.
"Mom, where are you going?" Zhou Bingchen asked.
“Bingchen! Mom went to town to look for you! How could you be so heartless? You came home and ignored your old mother, but ran off to your mother-in-law’s house to act like a dutiful son and grandson.” Ding Ermei said, wiping away her tears.
"Mom, I just got back yesterday afternoon! My old injury flared up after I got off the bus, and Pearl took me to the hospital. I didn't mean to stay away." Zhou Bingchen said, while stealing a glance at Zhao Pearl's face.
Zhou Bingchen was afraid that Zhao Zhenzhu would think he was a liar if he lied in front of her.
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