Jiang Qiao was incredibly busy for the next few days. She offered higher prices than the purchasing station, so everyone was naturally willing to sell their goods to her.
She wasn't worried about anyone causing trouble. After all, she had brought a letter of introduction from her work unit, and ordinary people didn't know how many people were in that unit. Besides, she was busy using her spatial storage to collect seafood to eat later, since it was free.
Finally, it was time to leave. Ning Hao and the others had come during the day, so they took the opportunity to visit Zhou Songyuan with gifts and Jiang Qiao.
Hearing that Jiang Qiao was leaving, not only the Zhou family but also the villagers were reluctant to see her go. With this little girl gone, they would lose a significant amount of income.
Zhou Songyuan patted Ning Hao's shoulder hard, his eyes full of praise, and said, "Kid, you've grown taller. Come over and visit more often when you have time. Your uncle may not have much else, but there's plenty of seafood. If you need to buy these things again, just let me know in advance."
They originally wanted Jiang Qiao and the others to stay for dinner, but Ning Hao and the others declined, as they had brought a whole truckload of stuff and their family was waiting for it.
Dai Chun wanted to pack some things for them to take with them, but Jiang Qiao refused.
"Auntie, we receive these every day, how could we lack food? We'll save them to add some vegetables to our family. We'll come again in the future, goodbye—"
Jiang Qiao was excited to be going home, and Fu Lin and the others were even more smug, showing off their great achievements to Jiang Qiao.
"Let me tell you, now our factory manager greets me with a smile and says I can come to him if I have any problems. I never got this kind of treatment before. In everyone's eyes, I was a bad example..."
Because of this acquisition, the brothers became incredibly popular in the eyes of their respective leaders. Not only their superiors, but even their colleagues were eager to build a relationship with them.
Jiang Qiao could understand all of this. After all, resources were scarce, and people who could get their hands on those scarce resources would be respected and welcomed wherever they went.
Ning Hao remained silent. "What's wrong? Something on your mind?"
Ning Hao hesitated for a moment, then looked at the smiling young girl in front of him with a conflicted expression.
He used to be too lazy to meddle in other people's business since they had no connection, but Jiang Qiao's relationship with them is different now, and he is worried about this little girl in front of him.
"Jiang Qiao, you need to be prepared. Your grandma has been pulling strings everywhere lately, trying to get your uncle a job in the city. I reckon she wants to keep her son and his family in the city."
To be honest, jobs aren't easy to find these days, especially with food rations. Finding a temporary worker isn't too difficult, but what about the whole family staying here? What will they eat? The food rations for just you and the old lady won't be enough to support this whole family's consumption.
"The three rooms you and your grandma used to live in were quite spacious. With so many people coming, it'll be difficult for them to even find room, let alone get along with each other in the future—"
Guan Jiefang's eyes widened. "What? You mean that old lady left her son's whole family in the city? Is she crazy? Are those three rooms in Jiang Qiao's house enough for them?"
One room is a kitchen and a passageway. There are only two rooms where about ten people live, including two couples. Putting aside whether they can find jobs, even if they do, it will be three people's food to support a whole family. Do you think this is feasible?
This old lady is really hard to believe; once she acknowledges her own son, her mind starts to go muddled.
"Jiang Qiao, listen to your brother. I suggest you find a place to rent outside as soon as possible. You're the only one in this family with an outsider's surname, so they might bully you later."
Ning Hao sighed, "That's why I'm worried. Jiang Qiao will only be thirteen years old during the New Year. What if that family bullies her?"
Everyone in the courtyard now knows Jiang Qiao was adopted. I think that family is really anxious; they can't wait to announce the news to everyone. You don't even need to guess what their intentions are.
Jiang Qiao could understand the old lady keeping her son with her, but bringing the whole family over and cramming them into two rooms was a different story. It was fine when it was cold, but when it got hot, it would be like being steamed in a bun. Besides, she wasn't used to sleeping with people.
Jiang Qiao gave a wry smile. "If I move out like this, people might say I'm ungrateful. After all, it was my grandmother who raised me. Forget it, I'll deal with this later."
"Oh, right, here's the ledger for you. We'll find a place to split the money later."
When Jiang Qiao returned, she only brought some seafood with her; the rest she kept in her spatial storage.
As soon as you enter the courtyard, you can hear laughter coming from inside the house and Jiang Ping's children calling out to their grandmother; the family is having a lively time.
Jiang Qiao raised an eyebrow, "Grandma, I'm back—"
As soon as she reached the door, she saw a large basin of unwashed clothes in the kitchen aisle. Jiang Qiao glanced at it and walked over.
Wang Dahua was overjoyed to see her granddaughter return. If it weren't for her granddaughter's trip, where would she have found her son and enjoyed family life again?
"Qiao'er is back. Come on, sit on the kang (heated brick bed) and warm up. How is it? Is everything ready?"
Jiang Qiao nodded and waved the things in front of the old lady. "Grandma, this is some delicious food I brought for you. I'll cook it for you for lunch later."
Niu Guihua looked Jiang Qiao up and down. "Jiang Qiao, they didn't give you any money?"
Jiang Qiao glanced at the old lady, then looked at Niu Guihua, her face full of confusion. "What money?"
Wang Dahua was so angry she wanted to slap her daughter-in-law. How could she be so careless with her mouth? Luckily, she didn't tell her daughter-in-law the whole story, otherwise, the whole courtyard would know.
If nothing goes wrong, fine. But if something does happen, those families will hate them to death. They're already rootless and adrift here, so she can't afford to offend them for no reason.
She glared at Niu Guihua and said, "No one will think you're mute if you can't speak. The child just got back, why are you talking about money? The girl hasn't even been seen yet, how are you going to give her any?"
"Alright, hurry up and get to work. There's still a basin of clothes on the floor that hasn't been washed."
Niu Guihua pouted. "Mom, I'll go cook. Jiang Qiao, you and your sister-in-law go do the laundry."
Jiang Qiao didn't even lift her eyelids. "Whoever's clothes it is, they should wash them. I'm not your maid, why should I wash them? I can wash my grandma's clothes, but I don't care about other people's."
Grandma, am I right? She's not some rich kid who needs to be waited on hand and foot, nor is she seventy or eighty years old. She's so young and already wants to boss people around; she should at least consider whether the other person is worthy of it.
Wang Dahua was worried for her daughter-in-law. What kind of talk was that? The child had just returned from braving the wind and snow, and she was already telling the girl to do the laundry. Wasn't she afraid of being laughed at by the neighbors?
At the same time, she felt a little bitter. She wasn't blind. Her son's family didn't like this granddaughter, and Jiang Qiao didn't seem to care much about her son's family either. They would be living in the same courtyard from now on, and it would really be a problem in the long run.
Jiang Qiao didn't care what the old lady was thinking; she just wanted to know about her background and wanted to ask her now.
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