A new day begins with a loud song blaring from the loudspeaker.
Jiang Xile, who was lying on the kitchen table, immediately got up, looked at her watch, and saw that it was only 5:10.
The Shanghai brand watch on my wrist was bought at the supply and marketing cooperative in Anding City before I went to the countryside.
She got the watch ticket on the black market for a total of 110 yuan, which is very characteristic of that era.
The silver dial is simple and elegant, perfectly matching Jiang Xile's style.
Jiang Xile neatly packed up the bedding on the table and took it back to her small storage room.
Just as I came out of the warehouse, I saw Yang Hongmei and Yin Dongxue walking out of the girls' dormitory together.
"Sister Jinxiu, Sister Dongxue, you're up so early!"
"You're the same way. Are you not used to sleeping in the kitchen? Why don't you come and squeeze into our west room and make do for a while!"
Jiang Xile immediately shook her head at Su Jinxiu's good intentions.
"No need, Sister Jinxiu, I think the kang is almost dry, maybe I can sleep on it tonight!"
"So fast? Well, it's hot now, so it's bound to dry faster."
Okay then, you can decide for yourself. If you can't sleep, you can come find us anytime. Dongxue and I are going to prepare breakfast now!
"Okay, I understand. Thank you both, I'm going to wash up now!"
"Go on, breakfast will be ready soon!"
"Um!"
Compared to the peaceful and tranquil life on Jiang Xile's side, the Su family courtyard in Anding City, Jiangsu Province, was much more lively.
"Zhang Guilian, where's my coat? Did you wash it yesterday? I need to wear it today!"
"Wash, wash, wash what? Do you really think I'm omnipotent? There's not even a basin in the house, where am I supposed to wash?"
It's been two days, and still no news. Everything in the house has been stolen. If it weren't for my mom and the others helping us out, we'd be starving these past two days!
"Why are you yelling at me? It's my fault that my things are missing! I've already called the police, but there's not a single clue. What can the police do?"
As for the little bit of help your mother and the others give you, haven't they taken advantage of me enough in the past?
Besides, if it weren't for you, would I have ended up like this? I lost my good position as a team leader and was even relegated to sweeping toilets on the street.
I've worked so hard and diligently for so many years, and in the end, it's all been ruined by you, this woman.
"You still have the nerve to blame me? I lost my job too. Whose fault is this? I think it's all your good daughter's doing. Otherwise, how could she have gone to the countryside and our house was completely robbed, and our jobs were ruined along with her!"
"The police officers went to find out what was going on. After leaving home, Jiang Xile went to the guesthouse."
The staff at the guesthouse can testify that Jiang Xile left the guesthouse for the train station at 5 a.m.
She only took a handbag when she left, but the things we lost from our house couldn't fit in one handbag!
"Even if she didn't steal the things at home, the work situation is definitely related to her!"
"What can we do? Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. If you hadn't insisted on signing her up for the rural assignment, none of this would have happened!"
"I did want her to go to the countryside, but you agreed to that! Now you're blaming me? Where were you before?!"
"Yes, I was blind to marry such a jinx like you, and now I have to clean toilets!"
"Jiang Wanmin, you heartless bastard! I've served you for so many years and even given you a son, and you dare to say such things to me!"
The family is now dirt poor, and Zhang Guilian and Jiang Wanmin are both getting increasingly angry. They started arguing and then came to blows.
However, Zhang Guilian was no match for Jiang Wanmin and could only be beaten. In the end, it was Jiang Donghai's crying that stopped the two of them.
Seeing Zhang Guilian crying uncontrollably while holding her youngest son, Jiang Wanmin felt even more irritated, but he couldn't bring himself to comfort her.
Brushing the dust off his clothes and body, Jiang Wanmin said with a long face:
"Stop crying and hurry up and pack your things. The factory is taking back this house today, and we need to move to the place the street committee has arranged!"
Hearing this, Zhang Guilian cried even harder. The main reason she chose Jiang Wanmin was because she was interested in his house.
Who knew that this house actually belonged to the machinery factory? It was only through Deng Yunbo's connections that Jiang Wanmin and the others were allocated to live there, and they've been living there for so many years.
Even Jiang Wanmin treated this house as his own, but now that he has lost his job at the machinery factory, the factory has taken the house back.
After deducting the two sets of bedding they had left at home and a job cleaning toilets for a monthly salary of twelve yuan, Jiang Wanmin and Zhang Guilian could be said to have nothing left.
Just a month ago, their family was all together, living a life of honor and prosperity.
Who would have thought that in such a short time, Jiang Xile had already extorted three thousand yuan from him?
Then the eldest son was arrested and sent to a labor camp. Later, he lost his possessions and his job, and now he doesn't even have a place to live.
Seeing Zhang Guilian crying even louder, Jiang Wanmin sighed helplessly, but still didn't say anything more.
"I'm going to work. If I'm late, I probably won't even have a job cleaning toilets! You can take care of things at home!"
Jiang Wanmin walked out of the Jiang family courtyard without looking back, leaving Zhang Guilian in the courtyard, who was holding Jiang Donghai and crying bitterly.
In the west bedroom, Jiang Ping'an huddled up by the window, watching the scene unfold before his eyes, his mind drifting back to the days when his older sister was still at home.
He was cared for back then, but he didn't pay attention. When did his sister stop taking care of him?
Is it because you didn't care after your sister had her dinner cut last time?
That same time, his sister hit her head and broke it open, but he went to the woods with his classmates to hunt birds.
Or was it because he didn't care about his sister's assignment to the countryside...?
Many images flashed through Jiang Ping'an's mind. He felt some regret, but more of a sense of annoyance and resentment.
He's still so young, even if he wanted to help his sister, there's nothing he could do!
How could an older sister abandon her own brother because of all this!
Since she doesn't want him as her younger brother anymore, he won't want her, his heartless older sister, either!
Jiang Xile, who was far away in the Progress Brigade, had no idea about Jiang Ping'an's inner turmoil and resentment.
Even if she knew, she probably wouldn't care, after all, she's not the Jiang Xile she used to be.
Although this is a world evolved from a novel, at this time, the educated youth settlements in the countryside are relatively harmonious.
According to the book, Jiang Xile is three or four years older than the male and female protagonists.
Jiang Xile is seventeen years old now, which means the male lead is only fourteen and the female lead is only thirteen.
Without getting involved in the controversies between the male and female leads, Jiang Xile's life in the Progressive Brigade became increasingly comfortable.
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