Chapter 206 The Movements of Each Household in the Compound
Zheng Haiyang returned to the courtyard in a very happy mood.
Completely changed from his previous dejection and utter despair, he felt much more relaxed inside and out, and even the cold he had a few days ago seemed to have been cured instantly.
Even when he bumped into Guan Ailian at the alley entrance, who had swindled him out of money, he could still greet her with a smile, "Oh, off to work after lunch?"
Guan Ailian: "..."
She doesn't even have a job!
She has been a housewife for decades.
Is Zheng Haiyang, that little brat, deliberately trying to annoy her because he resents her for extorting 400 yuan from him? Right?
Before Guan Ailian could change her expression and hurl insults, Zheng Haiyang walked away with his hands behind his back, humming a song.
Guan Ailian: "..."
This is insane! Absolutely insane!
But what does it have to do with her?
Regardless of whether Zheng Haiyang is sick or not, we can't let her eldest grandson go hungry!
Guan Ailian spat at Zheng Haiyang's retreating figure, then hurriedly grabbed her lunchbox and went to the hospital to deliver chicken soup to Dong Xiangxiang.
Hopefully, drinking the chicken soup will increase Dong Xiangxiang's milk production.
Although Dong Xiangxiang was not seriously injured, she was still very weak. The doctor recommended that she stay in the hospital for a week before being discharged. As a result, she had very little breast milk, and the Ren family's grandson could not get enough to eat and could only drink formula.
Guan Ailian always felt that formula milk was not as nutritious as breast milk, and she felt very sorry for her eldest grandson.
Every time he saw a member of the Zheng family, he would get angry.
It's all the Zheng family's fault!
Otherwise, Dong Xiangxiang wouldn't still be hospitalized now; she would have come back long ago, and her eldest grandson wouldn't have had such a hard time getting milk.
"Oh, you're back?"
"Have you had dinner?"
"Going to work?"
Zheng Haiyang greeted everyone along the way, even Zhu Ziqiang, who was carrying a lunchbox back.
Zhu Ziqiang smiled and tentatively asked, "What good news have you had?"
Zheng Haiyang knew that the matter was not yet settled and could not be revealed, and he repeatedly denied it.
"No, no."
Seeing that Zhu Ziqiang didn't believe him, Zheng Haiyang could only make up a reason.
"I just found a dollar on the street. It's like money falling from the sky, a good omen, so I'm quite happy."
Zheng Haiyang chuckled and, without caring whether Zhu Ziqiang believed him or not, quickly slipped away.
Zhu Ziqiang was left standing there, lost in thought.
...
As soon as Zhu Ziqiang returned, the two boys, their eyes shining, rushed over and snatched the lunchbox from his hand.
Wow! We're having meat again today!
"I want to eat! I want to eat! Give me the big egg!"
The two of them fought over it, and before they even reached the table, they opened the package, grabbed the food with their hands, and stuffed it into their mouths, wolfing it down like they had just been released from prison.
Sun Ling watched from the side, frowning. She wanted to say something, but then decided against it. After all, it wasn't her child, so why should she care?
However, Grandma Zhu, the grandmother of the two children, not only didn't think there was anything wrong with it, but also thought that her two grandsons were smart and clever and knew how to protect their food.
She couldn't wait for Da Dan and Er Dan to eat more, and she kept talking about it.
"Oh, my dear grandson!"
"Eat more, eat more. You boys need to eat more meat to grow tall and strong."
Sun Ling naturally didn't get any benefit from these meat and vegetable dishes, and she didn't care for them.
But she was very puzzled, "Ziqiang, is the food in your factory canteen really that good?"
They'd never heard of such good food at their shoe factory.
Although the two factories have different profits, the gap shouldn't be this big, right?
An uncomfortable expression flashed across Zhu Ziqiang's face.
“I don’t know why, but recently the leaders have been having extra meals occasionally. I’m on good terms with the cook, so I asked him to save some for me. I’m bringing it back to you guys to improve your meals. Please don’t tell anyone, it won’t be good if people find out.”
"Don't worry, we definitely won't tell."
Sun Ling wasn't a child of someone working at the machinery factory, nor did she work there now, so she didn't doubt what Zhu Ziqiang said.
As for Grandma Zhu, she doesn't care where the food comes from, as long as there's something good for her eldest grandson.
Zhu Ziqiang watched the two adults enjoying their meal with Da Dan and Er Dan, his feelings a mix of emotions.
I looked away and began to think about Zheng Haiyang.
Zheng Haiyang's behavior today must mean something's up; he's probably got something on Director Wang's end.
Could it be that he's got his eye on someone again?
-----------------
The courtyard was also bustling with activity, as a group of middle-aged women sat in a circle, chattering away.
The incident started when Yu Junsheng suddenly took two balls of yarn and started knitting a sweater at the door.
This completely astonished the middle-aged women in the courtyard.
Oh my god!
It was one thing to see Yu Junsheng doing housework in the past, since there were considerate men who helped with housework at home. But how come this Junsheng kid can even knit sweaters?
"Wow, the young men in our courtyard are all so virtuous. I saw Ma Gaosheng making toys for Hu Mei's unborn child yesterday and I even praised him. I didn't expect you, Junsheng, to be even more capable. You've even knitted a little sweater."
"And look at my husband who never washes his feet, it's unbearable to look at!"
"Absolutely! My husband is incredibly lazy too!"
Everyone started criticizing their own men.
Aunt Yan, who hadn't shown her face for a long time, suddenly pouted for some reason, "A grown man, getting more and more effeminate, even doing women's work, what's there to brag about!"
Everyone fell silent.
He looked at Aunt Yan with a strange expression.
Here we go again!
After a few months of peace, Aunt Yan, this remnant of feudalism, has started spreading the dregs in her mind again.
Junsheng was happily preparing things for his unborn baby, and it was all out of good intentions, but she had to say something that would spoil the mood.
Yu Junsheng raised an eyebrow. "That's right. How can I compare to Qin Ziwen? He just lazes around at home all day doing nothing, and he doesn't lift a finger to help his wife and mother who are working themselves to the bone. That's what a real man is like, a true man!"
"It's a pity that the wives of such strong men are going to have a tough time! Not only will they have to be their wives, but they'll also have to be their mothers!"
The middle-aged women present burst into laughter instantly.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"Junsheng is absolutely right!"
"Those aren't just grown men, they're like old men!"
"He's not marrying a wife, he's marrying a bride!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"But to be honest, I would never want to marry my daughter off to that kind of old man!"
"Absolutely! Who would want to marry into that family? It's obvious you'll suffer if you do."
Seeing that she couldn't win the argument with these old women, Aunt Yan immediately shut up.
I dared not speak anymore.
She was afraid that these people would start talking badly about her son again.
In the past, Aunt Yan could at least argue back, but ever since Qin Ziwen left the factory office, she no longer had the capital to be arrogant, and could only accept what others said.
He only dared to curse in his heart: Your daughter wants to marry my son, but he doesn't want to marry her!
Only one woman with a grandson had a different focus: "Oh my, what kind of toy did Ma Gaosheng get for the child? I want to get one for my little grandson too."
"It's a spinning top made of wood. I think Ma Gaosheng made it quite well. See if you can ask him to make one for you too."
"That's great! I'll ask about it right away."
"Ma Gaosheng, Ma Gaosheng!"
She called out twice, but no one answered. The older woman looked around, glancing here and there.
"Hey, where's Ma Gaosheng?"
"Where is Ma Gaosheng? Isn't he in the yard?"
After a while, Ma Gaosheng's wife, Hu Mei, poked her head out of the house. "Auntie, Ma Gaosheng isn't home. Is there something you need him for?"
“It’s nothing important, I just heard that he made a spinning top for the baby in your belly, and I want to ask him to make one for my grandson too.”
"I won't take advantage of you; I'll trade you two eggs."
Hu Mei readily agreed, "Sure, I'll tell him when he gets back."
"What's this talk about exchanging things? We're all neighbors, it's such a small thing, why are you arguing about this?"
Suddenly, a slightly deep male voice asked,
"What's this about being calculative or not?"
"It was Ma Gaosheng who taught Hu Mei's unborn child to spin a top..."
Only after I finished speaking did I realize why the voice sounded so unfamiliar.
Everyone turned to look and was incredibly surprised.
"Hey, you must be Ma Gaosheng's boss? Here to offer condolences to the family again?"
Hu Mei also looked at the newcomer in surprise.
Yu Junsheng stopped knitting.
He wondered why this person was coming so frequently.
Wei Xiang coughed and said seriously, "Yes, I'm here on behalf of my unit to visit Comrade Ma Gaosheng's pregnant family."
"Oh my, that's really something! Your unit's leaders really care about their subordinates!"
"Absolutely! They always bring a ton of stuff with them!"
"You've been here several times already, haven't you?"
The neighbors all exclaimed that he was a really good leader, because he cared so much about his subordinates' families.
Yu Junsheng glanced at the malted milk powder and other items in Wei Xiang's hand and raised an eyebrow.
How could your company send so many nice gifts?
That's interesting.
No, he had to tell his wife about his new discovery right away.
"Wife, wife, come and listen to the good news I have for you!"
...
Hu Mei quickly gave Wei Xiang a wink, signaling him to follow her into the house.
Inside the house.
Hu Mei gave Wei Xiang a reproachful look, "I told you not to come, but you insisted, and you had to come in when there were so many people. Just wait and see, one day those gossipy old women will see through your act."
Their courtyard is full of hidden talents and sharp eyes.
Hu Mei dared not underestimate anyone in the courtyard, so she kept a low profile after becoming pregnant, only following behind to watch the excitement.
I never expected that Wei Xiang, a thief, would dare to talk to those people!
Wei Xiang smiled nonchalantly, "I just missed you and the kids, so I came to see you."
"Besides, it's perfectly normal for me, as Ma Gaosheng's leader, to visit his family on behalf of the unit. Nobody can find fault with that."
Hu Mei was speechless.
Wei Xiang put down the malted milk powder and other nutritional supplements he had brought, squatted down, and lay down in front of Hu Mei's stomach.
"Come on, let me hear if my son has made any noise today."
Aunt Ma had already privately consulted an experienced midwife who confirmed that Hu Mei was having a son.
So Wei Xiang already knew it was a boy.
Suddenly, my belly bulged.
Wei Xiang looked at the protrusion with surprise and reached out to touch it with trembling hands.
"Oh no, he kicked me!"
Remembering what the older women in the courtyard had been saying—that Ma Gaosheng was whittling a top for his son—Wei Xiang felt a pang of sadness.
He hadn't even prepared any toys for his son yet, and Ma Gaosheng had already gotten there first.
Wei Xiang said sourly to his stomach, "I'm your father, remember that! Not some other dog!"
The thought of his son having to call that bastard Ma Gaosheng "Dad" made Wei Xiang feel uncomfortable.
He looked at Hu Mei with displeasure:
When will this end?
"Hu Mei, when will you agree to marry me so that my son can call me 'Dad' openly and legitimately?"
Wei Xiang had also planned for their future together, and even proposed marriage to Hu Mei from the beginning, asking her to divorce Ma Gaosheng. However, Hu Mei refused, as she couldn't swallow her pride.
Hu Mei frowned.
"Let's wait until next year. When the baby is born, I'll have the chance to divorce that guy surnamed Ma."
Hu Mei had considered divorce, but even if she did, she wanted to make up for all the suffering she had endured in the Ma family over the years.
In previous years, almost everyone believed that her not having children was her problem, and even she herself thought she had a problem.
In those years, she was bombarded with disdain and gossip from relatives and neighbors, and Hu Mei became numb to it all.
Aunt Ma tried countless folk remedies for Hu Mei, but Hu Mei became nauseous and vomited at the mere smell of the medicine. She couldn't even eat, and her weight dropped drastically. Even Ma Gaosheng couldn't bear to watch anymore and said a few words to her, which finally made Aunt Ma stop.
At that time, Hu Mei was still very young, longed for love, and was easily moved by trivial matters. She was very touched when Ma Gaosheng stepped in to help her out of a predicament.
When Hu Mei accidentally discovered that Ma Gaosheng was having an affair while driving, she felt like her world had collapsed.
She had always believed that Ma Gaosheng loved her, but reality dealt her a heavy blow.
It turns out that everything was just my own arrogance; it turns out that I am not that important after all.
At that time, she realized that if Ma Gaosheng really loved her as much as he said, how could he pretend not to hear others and his mother cursing her as a barren hen, and how could he let his mother feed her so many folk remedies?
It's ridiculous that I was so moved by the few words he said in his defense.
At that time, Hu Mei was utterly despondent and almost did something drastic.
Fortunately, she met Wei Xiang, who helped her out, and Hu Mei impulsively had a relationship with him.
Then, very soon after, they had a child.
Hu Mei finally understood.
Damn it, it's not my problem at all!
It's clearly that bastard Ma Gaosheng who can't have children!
But he could only watch helplessly as he was scolded and gossiped about, and as his mother used all sorts of folk remedies to torment him, making him feel like he was living a life worse than death.
At that time, she vowed to make Ma Gaosheng, that despicable man, pay the price.
Ma Gaosheng is still doing well, and she hasn't even gotten her hands on his money yet. How could she be willing to divorce him?
-----------------
In the suburbs, beside a small grove of trees.
A cold wind was blowing, making people shiver.
Ma Gaosheng, whom everyone was worried about, was trembling with fear as he stood with Chang Dafeng.
Don't misunderstand, it's not what everyone thinks.
There were no thrilling or exciting scenes.
Only Ma Gaosheng, who looked utterly disgusted, and Chang Dafeng, whose face was crinkled with wrinkles from smiling.
And Chang Dafeng's rough, chicken-claw-like hands were pressed against Ma Gaosheng's chest.
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