Chapter 121
Xia Qingtang asked knowingly: "What are you going to do?"
"Someone is beating a kid over there. I'm going to go and try to stop them. Beating a kid like that could end up costing someone their life." After Xie Jinxuan finished speaking, she parked her bike and ran over there.
He has always been a kind-hearted person. When encountering such a thing, he will definitely help even if the person is someone he doesn't know.
Xia Qingtang was not idle either, so he simply pushed his bicycle and followed.
"Stop! You can't hit the child like this! Such a skinny child, if you keep kicking her like this, she will die!" Xie Jinxuan rushed over.
The middle-aged woman sneered and continued to kick Li girl's back fiercely, then screamed: "Who are you? Why do you mind your own business? This is our family affair! I am her mother, I should beat her to death! This little bitch deserves to be beaten! She deserves to die!"
The girl Li on the ground was breathing out more than breathing in. She curled up there dying, her eyes almost closed.
Xie Jinxuan separated the middle-aged woman and said in a deep voice: "No matter who you are to her, it is illegal to kick someone like this!"
The middle-aged man screamed angrily: "Get away from me! If you don't get out of here, I will beat you too!"
"You try it!" Xie Jinxuan narrowed her eyes and her momentum suddenly rose.
He was about 1.80 meters tall and very young. The middle-aged man was not a fool. He knew that he could not beat him. He rolled his eyes and shouted, "Why are you protecting her like this? Do you know her? Ah, I know, you have something to do with this damn girl. You like this damn girl, right? She slept with you, too? That's why you protect her like this!"
Xie Jinxuan frowned and was about to speak when she heard Xia Qingtang say coldly, "If you say another word of nonsense, do you believe I will tear your mouth apart?"
"Who are you?" The middle-aged woman turned her head and saw Xia Qingtang wearing very stylish clothes, cotton-padded shoes, and pushing a bicycle towards her.
Nowadays, people who dress so elegantly are basically from cadre families. She looked at Xie Jinxuan's clothes again and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Xia Qingtang said, "You don't need to know who I am, but I know who you are. Are you Li Ya's stepmother? Li Ya is still a child, and you beat her like this. If she is sent to the hospital, you will definitely have to stay in the police station for a few days."
Xie Jinxuan was stunned: "Is this Li Ya?"
Xia Qingtang nodded: "Yes, this is Li Ya."
"So young? I thought this was a kid in elementary school..."
"You also know this damn girl? Are you still trying to scare people? Let me tell you, it's no big deal if parents beat their children to death! When we were young, there were so many children beaten to death, and their parents were not at all responsible. Seeing that you dress like a decent person, I advise you to take good care of your lover. This Li Ya is not a good person. She can seduce men at such a young age. Look, your lover is still defending Li Ya. Maybe they have already rolled into the same bed..."
With a crisp "pop" sound, the woman's words were interrupted.
Xia Qingtang had seen vicious people before, but she had never seen anyone so vicious and mean.
Li Ya looked like a child, thin and small. Even someone like Zhao Meizhen would never use such words to insult a thin child.
No wonder Li Ya didn’t stay at home. With such a stepmother around, she didn’t know how she had survived all these years.
Xia Qingtang retracted his right hand, then looked at the woman's face which turned red instantly, and said coldly: "I don't care what you say about others. Li Ya is your stepdaughter anyway, but now you are talking about my husband. I am not done with you in this matter. Don't even think about leaving. I will send you to the police station right away!"
The woman was stunned at first, then reacted after a while, and rushed towards Xia Qingtang with a scream: "You dare to hit me? I will fight you! No one can hit me! I will tear you to pieces today!"
But Xie Jinxuan had been on guard against her, and before she could rush over, Xie Jinxuan had already pushed her away.
The woman knew she couldn't win, so she fell to the ground and started crying loudly: "It's terrible, someone is beating me! These two cadres are beating me! Help!"
There were a few people nearby who had been squatting nearby to watch the fun, and when they saw what was happening they came over with a smile.
Someone said, "You hit someone? Weren't you hitting someone just now? Li Ya was almost beaten to death by you, and you can't even vent your anger."
"Li Ya deserves to die! She is so young but she acts like a shrew! She seduced my son at home! I deserve to beat her to death!"
Hearing this, Xia Qingtang couldn't help but frown. She immediately pushed her bicycle to Li Yatou's side and whispered, "Did her son do something to you? Tell me the truth, and I'll help you find the police from last time."
Li's consciousness was already a little fuzzy, but she still gritted her teeth and whispered, "It was her son who came to touch me... I couldn't hide at all... She saw it, but she wrongly accused me, saying that I seduced her..."
Xia Qingtang's head buzzed and he was instantly furious.
She looked at Xie Jinxuan, her big eyes slowly starting to turn red.
Because Li Yatou spoke so quietly, Xie Jinxuan and the others did not hear what Li Yatou said. However, seeing Xia Qingtang's eyes instantly turned red with anger, Xie Jinxuan could probably guess that something serious had happened, so she asked, "Qingtang, do we need to call the police?"
"Go find them. Not only the police, but also take them to the hospital. Find someone to examine Li's injuries. We need a...specially professional female doctor..." Xia Qingtang gritted his teeth and said, "This woman and her son both deserve to die."
Xie Jinxuan understood instantly, and he immediately said: "I know, I will tie this woman up and then find the police."
The middle-aged woman was not a fool. She wanted to run away immediately after hearing their conversation. But Xie Jinxuan was well-trained. Before she could jump up from the ground, Xie Jinxuan pinned her hands behind her back, then took a thin rope handed to her by Xia Qingtang and tied her hands tightly together.
The woman screamed like a pig being slaughtered: "Murder! Murder! Help!"
Xie Jinxuan said in a deep voice: "If you yell again, I will remove your jaw. If you don't want to suffer any more, just shut your mouth!"
The woman probably realized that the two young men were ruthless people, so she didn't dare to shout at them. She just stared at Xia Qingtang with her cloudy eyes and kept looking at him with murderous eyes.
"What should we do with our feet?" Xia Qingtang asked, "There is no rope left."
They came out to have lunch, so naturally they wouldn't carry so many ropes with them.
A young man walked over with a smile, took out a thin hemp rope and handed it to Xie Jinxuan, saying, "Comrade, I'll lend this to you."
Xie Jinxuan glanced at him and said, "Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome, you're welcome. I'm just trying to help the weak when I see them."
Xie Jinxuan then tied up the woman's feet with a thin linen rope, and in order to prevent her from escaping, he tied her feet and hands together behind her back, so that she could only lie there with her back curled up, making it absolutely impossible for her to escape.
Xia Qingtang said, "Go find a policeman named Wang over there. He knows this girl Li and he's a very nice person. Let him take charge of this matter. When the police arrive, send girl Li to the hospital for a medical examination."
Xie Jinxuan nodded, got on her bike and went over.
Xia Qingtang squatted beside Li Yatou and whispered, "Hold on a little longer, I'll send you to the hospital soon. Are you in pain?"
Little girl Li half-closed her eyes and said absentmindedly, "My brother won't come back, so it doesn't matter if I die."
"What happened to your brother?"
"Uncle Wang said he won't be back... I don't have any hope anymore..."
"Don't say that. You're already fourteen years old. In a year or two, you'll be able to find a job and support yourself. Without your brother, you'll have to rely on yourself." Xia Qingtang said, "You're not afraid of death, so why are you afraid of living?"
Li Yatou stopped talking. She was breathing rapidly and tears suddenly started to flow from the corners of her eyes.
The young man who had just borrowed the rope came over and said with a smile, "Are you Li Ya's acquaintances?"
"We're not acquaintances, we just know each other. Who are you?" Xia Qingtang said indifferently.
"I'm their neighbor. I tell you, I know everything about their family."
"Really? Tell me what you know."
"I know a lot. Li Ya didn't get along with her stepmother. She was often beaten when she was a child. Later, she ran away. Her brother returned to the city. The two siblings found an abandoned house to live in. I even sent them food several times."
Xia Qingtang said: "Then you are really a warm-hearted person."
Xia Qingtang glanced at him and saw that he had an ordinary appearance and was short in stature. He was wearing a very common dark blue coat and trousers with large patches on them.
"We are all neighbors, and we help each other."
"Really? Then why didn't you come to help when Li girl was almost kicked to death just now?"
The young man was not afraid of being embarrassed, and said carelessly: "We didn't dare to do that at that time. Her stepmother is a well-known shrew in our area. Li Ya's father had to be beaten. How could we dare to fight with her? But everyone hates this woman, so I am very happy to see you teach her a lesson."
"Fuck you! You are the shrew!" When the woman heard this, she started cursing again.
Xia Qingtang glanced at her and said, "You don't want your chin anymore? I won't remove your chin, but I will kick it to pieces. Do you want to try the feeling of having your chin kicked by a hard-soled leather shoe?"
Because the woman had been slapped by Xia Qingtang, she was worried that this woman might resort to violence, so she could only swallow her anger, shut her mouth and continue to glare at her.
Xia Qingtang turned around, and the young man continued, "What are you going to do with Miss Li?"
"It's a matter of business. If you beat a child like this, you must examine the injuries and sentence him."
"Can parents be sentenced for beating their children?" the young man was surprised.
"As long as someone helps her sue, the case can be sentenced. After all, she is her stepmother, not her biological mother." Xia Qingtang said coldly.
If it was really the mother who did it, she would not be sentenced. Even in the 1990s, if she beat her child half to death, nothing would happen to her.
So the relatives used to like to say that Zhao Meizhen raised Xia Qingtang, and that was grace.
Xia Qingtang felt very disgusted by this statement. If you give birth to a child, you should raise it. If you don't want to raise it, then don't give birth to it. How come raising a girl is considered a blessing?
The young man said, "What if this woman is really sentenced? What will happen to Li Ya?"
"I don't know. This matter is under the jurisdiction of the police and the street office. If you want to know, just go and ask them." Xia Qingtang squinted at him, "Why are you so concerned about Li Ya?"
After knowing what Li Ya's stepmother's son had done to Li Ya, Xia Qingtang became wary of these so-called male neighbors. Girls like Li Ya were too dangerous.
"Just asking. Brother Li Ya and I are friends. It's my duty to care about this child."
Xia Qingtang said, "I believe the street will handle this matter properly. If it doesn't work, she can be sent to an orphanage. In two years, Li Ya will be able to go to work. By then, the street can help and take back her mother's job so that Li Ya can go to work. As long as she can go to work, she will have a good life in the future."
Xia Qingtang said this to the neighbor on the one hand, and to Li Yatou on the other.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Li Yatou's breathing began to become rapid again.
As he was talking, Xie Jinxuan came over on a bicycle, leading two policemen.
The two policemen were also riding a bicycle. Policeman Wang, who had been seen last time, stood on the ground and immediately rushed towards Li Yatou.
"Girl, girl, what's wrong with you? Girl, don't sleep! Girl, wake up! Look at me, I'm Uncle Wang!" Policeman Wang was about to cry.
Seeing his anxious face, Xia Qingtang knew that he was a really good person, so he immediately whispered, "We just saw Li Ya's stepmother beating her, punching and kicking her, and every kick hit her vital parts. She must be sent to the hospital immediately, and we must find a special female doctor to examine her injuries and make a formal injury report. Also, comrade police officer, there is one more thing..."
Xia Qingtang said this, leaning over to whisper in Officer Wang's ear: "Her stepmother's son touched Li Ya. I don't know to what extent that beast went so far, so... when you go to the hospital to check the injuries, it's best to also check other things..."
As she spoke, Xia Qingtang couldn't continue, and her voice began to become muffled.
Policeman Wang’s eyes widened at first, and then he began to tremble all over.
After a long while, he recovered his breath and whispered, "Who said that?"
"Li Ya said that her stepmother said that she seduced men and was a shrew, so this must be true." Xia Qingtang said: "Li Yatou is still a child, police comrade, you must help her."
Xia Qingtang didn't like Li Yatou at first, but this time, the experience of this poor child resonated with her a little. She thought of herself in her previous life, who was not loved by her father and mother and no one cared for her. She also thought of Xie Xiaoshuang who was harmed by her relatives.
Even a stranger would offer a little help to a girl in such a difficult situation.
Police Officer Wang's eyes turned red: "How could this happen... I shouldn't have let her go back to her father's house..."
"Lao Wang, what should we do now? Send the injured first or catch this woman first?" asked the policeman at the back.
Officer Wang wiped his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Well, you take this woman to the police station and lock her up. I'll take Li to the hospital, and then you can come find me at the hospital."
"Okay, then let's split up." The policeman said, and pulled the woman on the ground up.
Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang did not leave immediately. Since Police Officer Wang was a middle-aged man, they helped him send Li Ya to a nearby hospital.
Police Officer Wang is indeed a good man. He found a female doctor who was responsible for these matters to examine Li Yatou's injuries, and also borrowed a camera to take pictures and keep evidence.
Girl Li was beaten badly, one of her ribs was broken and there was slight bleeding in her stomach, which shows how cruel her stepmother was.
Fortunately, after examination, there were no signs of sexual assault on Li Yatou's body. After questioning, Li Yatou said that this was the first time this happened, and that the man had just brought her into the house when she was caught by her stepmother.
The hospital arranged a small three-person ward for Li Yatou, where two older aunts lived, so that Li Yatou would feel safer.
"Then we'll leave first." Xia Qingtang whispered, "If you need us as witnesses later, you can find us at the Provincial Party Committee's Family Compound. My wife's name is Xie Jinxuan, and my name is Xia Qingtang."
Policeman Wang nodded and said, "I see. Thank you so much today. Don't worry, we will definitely help Li Yatou. My colleagues at the street level have also notified them, and a female comrade will come over to take care of Li Yatou in a while."
"Well, we'll go then. Goodbye." Xia Qingtang shook hands with Xie Jinxuan and Police Officer Wang before leaving the hospital.
They had originally planned to leave at around nine o'clock, but due to this delay, it was already almost eleven o'clock.
Xie Jinxuan quickened her pace and rode her bike to the family quarters of the cotton mill.
The last time they came to the Xia family was in the first month of the year. Now that a whole year was almost over, coming here again seemed a little strange.
The factory's output value increased this year, and the workers were living relatively well. In addition, various benefits were distributed to everyone at the end of the year, so after the holidays, many families renovated their houses. Xia Qingtang rode his bicycle all the way there and felt that this family quarters was not so shabby after all.
Many people outside greeted Xia Qingtang: "Hey, Qingtang is back?"
"I'm back." Xia Qingtang smiled.
She didn't like the Xia family, but she had no grudges against her neighbors, and they would chat and laugh normally when they met at the factory.
When we arrived at the gate of Xia's house, before we stopped the car, we heard Zhao Meizhen's cheerful laughter: "Baby, baby, look here, here!"
Although there was not much sunshine today, at least there was no wind or rain, so Xia Qinghai held his son and played in the corridor. Zhao Meizhen stood aside, holding a hand-sewn cloth tiger in her hand, teasing the child.
Xia Qingtang had only seen the child once, and after not seeing him for such a long time, she immediately felt that the baby had grown a lot bigger.
The baby does look good. Although he is still very young, it can be seen that he has inherited Xia Qinghai's good looks. He should not be ugly when he grows up.
"Baby, aunt and uncle are here." Xia Qinghai turned around and found Xia Qingtang and the others.
Only then did Zhao Meizhen stop what she was doing and turned to look at Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan. She opened her mouth and wanted to say something but stopped again.
Xia Qinghai said: "Mom, Qingtang and his brother-in-law are back, don't you want to say hello?"
Zhao Meizhen looked at Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang's fancy clothes, rolled her eyes, and said, "Are you back?"
Xia Qingtang didn't say anything, but just sneered. Xie Jinxuan smiled and said, "Mom, big brother, we are here."
Xia Qinghai said: "Why are you so late? Dad was asking just now. I thought you were not coming."
"I encountered something on the way and was delayed. How could I not come for something I promised?" Xie Jinxuan took out two bottles of white wine and a bag of crispy candies, and said with a smile: "Where is Dad?"
"Here, here." Xia Daming ran out of the house, holding a fruit knife in his hand, smiling from ear to ear, "Jinxuan, Qingtang, you're back! I'm cutting fruit! Come in quickly, come in and sit down!"
Wu Jinfeng also walked out of the house. She was still wearing a very elegant woolen coat and had two prettier hairpins on her head. She looked very energetic.
"My sister and brother-in-law are here. Please come in and sit down. Lunch is ready and we are waiting for you." Wu Jinfeng said.
Xia Qingtang greeted her, then walked to Xia Qinghai's side, took out a small red envelope from his pocket and handed it to him: "This is the New Year's money for the baby."
"Giving New Year's money so early? Aren't you planning to pay New Year's greetings?" Xia Qinghai said.
"Yes, I'm a bit busy during the Chinese New Year, so I might not come." Xia Qingtang said, "Anyway, the Little New Year is also a New Year, so I'll wish my father a happy New Year in advance."
Xia Daming said quickly, "It's the same, no matter what year it is, it's the New Year. It's good that you can come. If you don't have time in the first month of the year, you don't have to come. I know that my son-in-law's family is busy. I heard that there are people coming and going throughout the first month of the year."
Xie Jinxuan said: "That's right, every year we are busy until the 14th day of the first lunar month."
He handed two bottles of wine and a bag of crispy candies to Zhao Meizhen and said, "Mom, these are some New Year gifts. I wish you a happy New Year."
Zhao Meizhen was originally a little angry because Xia Qingtang didn't say hello to her, but when she saw the two bottles of white wine, she immediately became happy again. She immediately hugged the gift and said with a smile: "Happy New Year to you too. Oh, you see, you are raised in a cadre family, you are different, you really have rules."
Seeing her looking at him sideways, Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Yes, they have people teaching them at home, so they naturally follow the rules. I am not like me, who has never had enough food or clothes since I was a child, and no one has ever taught me any rules or etiquette. I don't understand them anyway."
Zhao Meizhen glared: "You!"
"Cough cough." Xia Qinghai coughed and signaled Zhao Meizhen not to get angry.
Zhao Meizhen had no choice but to swallow her anger and go in with the wine.
Xia Daming said, "Qingtang, don't argue with your mother, and don't... deliberately provoke her... Today is a holiday, and it's the first time for us to have a meal together as a family... Can we... can we have a good meal before getting angry?"
Xia Qingtang smiled: "Okay, I'll give Dad face and talk after we finish eating."
So everyone went to the living room.
This place was originally quite crowded, but because Xia Qingtang and Xia Qinghai both moved out, they put a lot of sundries in the shed, and the entire living room suddenly became spacious.
In addition, Xia Qinghai has been subsidizing the family. This year, Xia Daming and Zhao Meizhen also pasted new newspapers on the roof and walls, and put up beautiful movie posters and the latest calendar pictures. The whole house looks clean and refreshing, completely different from the past.
The dining table was moved to the center of the room, and today's lunch was placed on it. There were a total of six dishes and one soup. The meat dishes included braised pork with bean curd sheets, braised fish, and scrambled eggs with leeks. The vegetarian dishes included stir-fried cabbage with vermicelli, spicy tofu, and stir-fried bean sprouts. The soup was vegetable egg drop soup, which could also be considered a meat dish in the Xia family.
Xia Qingtang was very familiar with the Xia family. Such meals were rarely seen, not to mention during the Little New Year, even on the New Year's Day.
Zhao Meizhen said proudly, "Look, this pork and fish are all brought back from Qinghai. My son, you are worried that I, as a mother, won't eat well, so you bring me delicious food every month."
Xia Qinghai smiled and said, "How can this be the delicious food I brought for my mother? This was all Jinfeng's instruction. It was Jinfeng who paid for it."
It must be said that although Zhao Meizhen is a terrible mother-in-law, Xia Qinghai is a very qualified husband. After hearing what her husband said, Wu Jinfeng immediately showed a very happy expression. She also smiled and said: "Qinghai and I are a family. What he gives is what I give, and what I give is what he gives. It's the same."
"Yes, yes, it's all the same." Seeing Xia Qinghai still holding the child, Zhao Meizhen immediately said, "Qinghai, it's time to eat. You are a man, hand the child to his mother and eat and drink well."
This time, before Xia Qinghai could even speak, Xia Daming said, "Jinfeng is already very hard-working taking care of the child. Today is a holiday, let Jinfeng have a good meal, and I'll take care of the child."
Zhao Meizhen felt sorry for her husband. She immediately said, "Oh, really, being a mother is hard work. Didn't I raise Qinghai in the same way? Okay, okay, young people nowadays are so pampered. Give the child to me. Qinghai, you eat well."
Wu Jinfeng didn't show any displeasure. She watched Zhao Meizhen take the child away and said, "Then let's start eating."
Zhao Meizhen wanted to get angry, but Xia Qinghai glared at her fiercely, and she immediately calmed down. She held the baby in one hand and started to put food into Xia Daming's bowl with chopsticks in the other.
"Come, eat more good food, this fish, and this meat..."
Xia Daming said awkwardly: "What are you doing? This is the first time that our son-in-law is eating at our house. You should serve him food first!"
Zhao Meizhen looked at the smiling Xie Jinxuan and said hesitantly, "I'm afraid my son-in-law won't like the food I picked."
Xie Jinxuan smiled and said, "I eat everything. Mom and Dad, you don't have to worry about me. We can eat our own food."
Xia Qingtang was not polite. Since Zhao Meizhen had already picked up her chopsticks, she also picked up her chopsticks, picked up a large piece of meat from the fish's belly and put it into her own bowl, and then picked up a large piece for Xie Jinxuan.
Xia Qinghai smiled and said, "Sister, we got this fish from the reservoir. If you like it, I'll send a few fresh fish to your home before the New Year. You can also take two to your in-laws' home to eat together."
Zhao Meizhen immediately said, "Why give it to her? Her husband's family is a big shot. How can a big shot not eat fish? If you can get some fish, send it to mom. Mom is in such poor health. She should eat more good food!"
"Mother, take a look at why the baby is crying. Did he pee? Take him out and have a look." Xia Daming pointed at the baby and whispered.
Zhao Meizhen didn't understand what was going on. She looked down and saw that the baby's mouth was indeed flat and he looked like he was about to cry. So she quickly took the baby and went to the next room.
The room next door was originally their master bedroom. Now that a lot of things have been moved out, it has become more spacious and the entire living environment has improved a lot.
After Zhao Meizhen passed by, Xia Daming sighed and said, "Come on, eat, son-in-law, I'll pour you some wine."
Xia Qinghai brought the liquor, and Xia Daming poured it for all three of them, then said, "Qinghai, if you can get some fish, give a few to your sister before the New Year. Although her husband's family doesn't lack anything, it's only right that we send something over there."
"Okay, then I'll send some fresh fish over when the time comes." Xia Qinghai said with a smile.
Xia Qingtang said: "Okay, then I'll wait. It just so happens that grandma likes fish soup."
"Thank you, brother." Xie Jinxuan said thank you only after seeing Xia Qingtang nod.
Xia Qinghai said: "What are you thanking me for? We are all family. By the way, my brother-in-law is in college now. Is he keeping up with his studies?"
"It was a bit difficult when I first entered the school, but after one semester, I think it's okay."
"Since my brother-in-law said it was OK, it must be a very good result." Xia Qinghai said, "You are always very modest."
Xia Qingtang said: "Yes, our Jinxuan always ranks among the top in major and minor exams. Although the results of the final exam have not come out yet, she should be in the top three."
Xia Daming said: "My son-in-law is so amazing!"
"Actually, it's just average. There are many outstanding students in college." Xie Jinxuan said modestly.
Wu Jinfeng asked: "After you graduate from university, will you return to your original unit?"
"In theory, he will go back, but he should be promoted to a higher level on the spot," said Xie Jinxuan.
Wu Jinfeng is more knowledgeable about this aspect, so she said: "Studying is indeed useful, but unfortunately Qinghai and I are not young anymore, and now we have children, so we can't continue studying in the future."
Xia Qingtang said, "You can go to night school in the future. But Secretary Wu, do you still plan to stay in our cotton mill? With your conditions, you are a bit buried in our mill."
Wu Jinfeng said: "My family has found some connections for me. After the spring, I should be able to transfer to a retirement home. It's less crowded there, and I can take my child with me. I can leave him in the nursery in the morning and take him home after get off work in the evening."
"Then there will be one more position in the office." Xia Qingtang said.
Xia Qinghai said: "Yes, when Jinfeng goes to the retirement home, I will go to the office. From now on, we will work in the same building."
"Congratulations." Xia Qingtang raised the tea in front of him and toasted him.
To be honest, she really admired Xia Qinghai's methods in his life. Sometimes, she would wonder if Xia Qinghai had come back to life. Otherwise, how could he become so smart all of a sudden?
Xia Qinghai smiled and clinked glasses with Xia Qingtang, then said, "My father-in-law and mother-in-law have put a lot of effort into this matter. It's just the right time to get it done while Director Qi is still here to retire. I am really grateful to my father-in-law and mother-in-law and Jin Feng. I am so happy to marry Jin Feng."
Wu Jinfeng smiled happily. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Zhao Meizhen coming back from next door with the baby in her arms. She said loudly, "What? Qinghai, you're going to work in an office after the New Year?"
"Mom, please keep your voice down." Xia Qinghai said in a deep voice, "This matter has not been officially approved yet, so you must not make it known everywhere. If you spread this matter everywhere and it makes me unable to go to the office, I will hate you for the rest of my life."
Zhao Meizhen was shocked: "I won't tell you. I promise not to tell you! I'm just a little happy, so I came to ask you."
"It's not my ability to go to the office. I rely on my father-in-law and mother-in-law."
"That's not the way to say it. You're my son. I know how good you are. If you're not good, how can your family like you?" Zhao Meizhen said, "Jinfeng, isn't my son very good?"
Wu Jinfeng could only say: "Yes, Qinghai is a very good husband."
"Look, Jinfeng has said so." Zhao Meizhen said proudly: "It will be fine in the future. My son will work in an office."
Xia Qinghai glared at her fiercely again, and Zhao Meizhen finally stopped talking: "Okay, okay, okay, I won't say anything, it's okay if I don't say anything...Okay, you guys have been eating for a long time, Jinfeng, are you done? If you're done, it's my turn, I haven't eaten yet."
Wu Jinfeng certainly didn't eat well, but she still stood up: "Mom, give me the baby."
Xia Qingtang held the child in his arms and said, "Eat first, and I'll give it to you when you're full."
Wu Jinfeng smiled sweetly: "Then how do you eat?"
"It's okay. I just happened to chat with my brother-in-law. He's a college student. Chatting with him can broaden your horizons."
Zhao Meizhen glanced at her son and daughter-in-law, and the disgust in her eyes was almost reaching the sky.
Xia Qingtang was so happy that she ate her meal in big mouthfuls. After a while, she was full. She then filled a bowl of vegetable and egg drop soup and sat there drinking it slowly.
Because Zhao Meizhen was suppressed by Xia Qinghai the whole time, she still enjoyed the meal very much. Xie Jinxuan talked with Xia Qinghai about many social affairs.
Xia Qingtang always felt that Xia Qinghai’s current ambition was not limited to the cotton mill. From what he talked about, it could be seen that he wanted to know some of the directions in the next few years.
But she was too lazy to care about these things. As long as Xia Qinghai didn't cause her trouble, what he did had nothing to do with her.
After dinner, Wu Jinfeng took her baby to the next room to feed her. Zhao Meizhen started to clean up the table, cursing, "You hide away right after you finish eating. You really think you're a rich lady..."
After hearing this, Xia Qingtang also felt that Wu Jinfeng was not worthy of marrying her. If she were him, she would not put up with this kind of humiliation.
Xia Qinghai immediately said, "Mom, just leave it there. I'll clean up and wash the dishes."
"How can I let you do this? You're a grown man!"
"I'm your son, isn't it my duty to do this?" Xia Qinghai said as he rolled up his sleeves and began to clear the table.
Zhao Meizhen looked at Xia Qingtang sideways, and Xia Qingtang sneered, "Why are you looking at me? I'm a guest today. When did your Xia family have the rule of asking guests to clean up and wash dishes?"
Xia Daming immediately said, "That's right, the girl is a guest today, just let Qinghai clean up. Jinxuan, Qingtang, come over here and have some tea."
Zhao Meizhen was furious, but she didn't dare to do anything. She could only help Xia Qinghai clean up the mess herself.
Xia Qingtang could hear her mumbling something like "I wonder when she'll get better."
Xia Qingtang couldn't help laughing and really wanted to go out and tell Zhao Meizhen that she would definitely be so good that Zhao Meizhen would be jealous in the future.
After sitting for another half an hour after dinner, Xia Qingtang wanted to leave.
Xia Daming was reluctant to leave. He said, "It's a rare opportunity to come here. Please sit for a while."
Xia Qingtang said, "No, there's someone here who keeps rolling his eyes at me. It's uncomfortable to sit here. Dad, if you want to talk to me, I'll go to the cleaning class to find you more often later."
Zhao Meizhen rolled her eyes again and wanted to curse but was glared back by Xia Qinghai.
"But it's very difficult for me to see my son-in-law." Xia Daming said.
Xie Jinxuan immediately said, "Dad, how about we go out and chat some other day? There's a very good teahouse in the north city, and they don't close during the first month of the lunar year. If I'm free someday during the first month of the lunar year, Qingtang and I will come pick you up, and then we can go to the teahouse and sit and chat together."
Xia Daming still sighed: "Okay, come pick me up when you are free."
"Then let's go back." Xia Qingtang stood up.
Xia Daming hurriedly sent them out, Xia Qinghai followed them out, and Zhao Meizhen stayed in the room without moving.
"I finally get home, and there's no way I can let you stay any longer. Your mother... Qinghai and I have done our best..." Xia Daming said in a low voice.
Xia Qingtang said: "I can see that you are able to control her like this, which is already very good. It's my problem. I just don't like her."
Xia Qinghai smiled and said, "Do you plan to live like this for the rest of your life?"
"It's hard to say. It depends on her performance and my mood." Xia Qingtang said, "But some hatreds last a lifetime."
Xia Qinghai was stunned for a moment: "Such a serious word... Then I know... Wait until next year, come to my house for dinner, call dad, and don't let mom go, so that you won't be unhappy."
"As a filial son, aren't you afraid of being criticized by others for doing such a thing?" Xia Qingtang asked deliberately.
"I'm not a filial son, I'm not afraid of these. Besides, after our parents are gone, my brother and I will be the relatives who will spend the longest time together. I know what's important." Xia Qinghai said: "By the way, I heard some news before, I don't know if it's true or not, have you heard it?"
"What news?" Xia Qingtang had no idea what he was talking about.
"It seems that the city is going to send some key comrades who can speak foreign languages to work in the foreign electrical appliance factory that is about to be built. I heard that someone has already visited our factory and registered your name. Didn't your union chairman tell you? Or is this a rumor?"
Xia Qingtang was stunned and immediately glanced at Xie Jinxuan.
Xie Jinxuan said: "I will ask someone this afternoon."
Xia Qinghai said: "Looking at your reactions, you two probably don't know anything. But I think this is a good thing. The electrical appliance factory must have a better future than the cotton mill."
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