Chapter 39
Director Huang cried out that it was a pity and even said that the people from the union were too cunning. They quietly took the lead in doing such things and did not leave any chance for others.
There was no one else in the office, so Secretary Wang said, "Director Huang, Xia Qingtang has offended Director Qi. Even if you want her to come, she may not come. What if Director Qi makes things difficult for her after she comes? What should we do then?"
"How can Director Qi remember so many things about little people? Those things happened a long time ago and they are all over now. What do you know?" Director Huang sighed repeatedly.
"Why don't you ask Xiao Xia again and try your best."
"What are you fighting for? That cunning old Qin has already processed all the documents. He just gave them to me to stamp. The matter is settled and cannot be changed. It's also because I've been so busy lately that I forgot about the need for a clerk. Xiao Xia does a good job of writing. If she came to our place, she would be a great help."
Secretary Wang said, "I know Xiao Xia has published several articles in newspapers, but is she really that good? Even Director Huang said that she wrote good articles."
"You should have read it carefully. Her latest article is in the Workers' Newspaper and on the bulletin board. Almost all the workers in the factory have read it. It is a very good article. I was very moved after reading it. This time, not only our factory gave the most additional staff to the warehouse, but other factories also gave the most additional staff to the handling department. Why do you think it was? It was because Xiao Xia's article was seen by the senior leaders in the city. Because of this, they organized a meeting for all the deputy factory directors in the city. They emphasized that they should care about the physical condition of the grassroots workers who do heavy physical labor, especially the middle-aged and elderly workers, and that they needed to increase the number of staff in such departments appropriately. That's why all the factories in the city did this."
Secretary Wang was amazed: "Is that why? I was wondering why a notice was suddenly issued to assign the most people to the warehouse. That's a warehouse, a place that no one normally goes to. I had a relative ask me about hiring someone, but now our factory only needs male workers for the warehouse, so many people can't get their relatives in."
"Stop saying that. Have you forgotten why Director Qi was criticized last time? He was criticized for accepting bribes to help others with their connections! This time, the warehouse has the most quotas, which I think is a good thing. Those leaders don't want to put people here, saving us trouble." Director Huang said, "Xiao Wang, you have been with me for so many years, and you are my relative, how come you haven't learned any of my abilities?"
Secretary Wang said, "What's the point of learning this kind of thing? I just need to do my job well."
"You just don't have any ambition."
"Don't talk about me. Director Huang, are you going to find the new clerk in our office from within the factory or from outside?"
"Anyway, Xiao Xia has been snatched away by the union, so I'll just do whatever I want. Maybe someone can use connections to get her in. Alas, what a pity! I still feel it's a pity for Xiao Xia. It would be great if she could come to our factory to run the business." Director Huang sighed repeatedly.
Soon, the news that Xia Qingtang was going to be transferred from a workshop to the trade union spread.
At the beginning, no one could believe it. Many workers talked about it privately, but no one dared to ask a question directly.
It was the team leader Yao Rong who took the initiative to ask her during the break: "Xia Qingtang, I heard that you are being transferred to the union as an officer. Is this news true?"
Xia Qingtang said frankly: "It's true. Chairman Qin sent someone to tell me that my relationship will be transferred to the union at the beginning of next month."
“Wow!”
“Is it actually true?”
"Frontline workers have been transferred to work in offices. This has not happened for many years!"
"Yes, Qingtang, what connections did you have to get in?"
"Yes, Qingtang, tell us too, what should we do to be able to sit in the office?"
…
For a moment, the workers were all surprised, and some of them immediately asked the reason for the transfer.
Before Xia Qingtang could say anything, Wen Xiaoli said loudly and seriously, "What are you two talking about? What connections do you need? Why does Qingtang need connections? She wrote so many articles in the newspapers. Didn't you see? She writes so well. Even if she doesn't go to the union, she can go to other units to write articles. She was transferred by her own ability. You should see it carefully!"
The worker blushed and said, "Hey, why are you taking it so seriously? I'm just asking a question."
"You can't even ask like that! We are all co-workers and have worked together for such a long time. Qingtang has been studying hard, reading books and newspapers, and studying every day, which is why she was able to write such good articles and was transferred to the office. Just by saying that you used connections, you have made all her efforts go to waste!" Wen Xiaoli said.
Yao Rong also said, "Yes, I often see Xia Qingtang going to the office to borrow newspapers, and I also heard about what she has been studying. Also, her articles are really well written. The reason why the factory warehouse can get the most recruitment quotas this time is also because of the article written by Xiao Xia. I heard from my wife that the big leaders in the city have read it. After reading it, they asked all the factories in the city to pay attention to it, so this time, the heavy manual labor departments of each factory got the most quotas. Didn't you hear what the porters said? They all said that Xiao Xia is worthy of being a front-line worker. She used to work in the warehouse, so she can speak for them and write that kind of article to be published in the newspaper, so the higher-ups will pay attention to this matter."
The warehouse has been short of staff for a long time. The problem was solved this time, and Xia Qingtang's article did play a certain role.
I heard that Xia Daming cried in the warehouse. Everyone said that he had raised a good daughter, so he cried even louder.
"Wow, so the articles written by Qingtang are so amazing? Even the big leaders in the city have read them! Qingtang, you are really the pride of our workshop!" A young female worker grabbed Xia Qingtang's hand.
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Thank you, thank you all for your praise and affirmation. I was transferred to the trade union as an officer this time. I was also surprised. I thought about refusing at first because I was worried that I would not be able to do the office work. It was Chairman Qin who encouraged and affirmed me, hoping that I could go to the trade union to use my expertise in writing articles. I think that I was born at the grassroots level, and no matter what position I go to, I will continue to speak for our front-line workers. Moreover, my transfer to the trade union is a good sign, indicating that as long as we front-line workers learn and work hard, as long as we have the ability, the factory will give us the opportunity to transfer and promote! Since I can show my ability through my continuous efforts, everyone can do it too!"
This was said very cleverly. When the workers heard it, they realized that it was indeed true. Since Xia Qingtang, a front-line worker, could be transferred, then the rest of them would also have a chance.
Xia Qingtang's performance is usually just average. If she can learn it, can others be worse than her?
Yao Rong also said: "That's right, as long as you are willing to work hard, everyone has a chance! For the position of team leader, new people will be needed at the beginning of next year. You should also learn from Xiao Xia and see who can be promoted to this team leader!"
This sentence immediately shifted everyone's attention. They transferred their envy and jealousy of Xia Qingtang to the opportunity to be a team leader next year. Transferring to work in an office was too far away, but the opportunity to be a team leader was right in front of them, so everyone was eager to try.
Outside the first workshop, although everyone felt curious about Xia Qingtang's transfer, more people's attention was still focused on the major event of the factory's recruitment.
This time, the factory needed a total of ten new people, five of whom were assigned to the warehouse, the remaining two were clerks, and there were three vacancies for workers, one for each workshop.
However, Xia Qingtang has been transferred out of Workshop 1, so the vacancy for clerk has become one, but there are two vacancies for new people in Workshop 1.
This recruitment is aimed at the majority of unemployed young people. As long as you have a household registration in this city, you can participate in the recruitment.
The cotton mill will complete the entire recruitment task in January, just after the Chinese New Year. The new employees can start working in the factory in February, and it will not delay their relationship transfer with the commune. Everything is arranged just right.
After the notice was posted on the bulletin board, many people rushed out to send telegrams to their children in the countryside, asking them to come back quickly to participate in the recruitment.
Although this recruitment is open to the entire city, everyone knows that the children of factory employees will definitely have a greater chance, and if they are the children of leaders, the chance will be even greater.
Within two days, the front door of Director Qi's house was almost broken down by people. Not only did people from the factory come to beg him and give him gifts, but his relatives from far and near also came to his house, hoping to give their children a stable job so that they could return from the countryside.
However, Director Huang was not wrong. Director Qi was frightened by the last criticism. In addition, the city was paying attention to this recruitment, so he had to handle it impartially and without any personal feelings. This made his relatives complain and they all accused him of being heartless and a bad person.
But no matter how much he was scolded, Director Qi did not dare to do anything small. He was about to retire in more than two years. He wanted to retire smoothly from this position, and then enjoy life with his pension.
These gossips were told to Xia Qingtang by Wen Xiaoli. She had acquaintances in every workshop, and her mother at home also liked to chat everywhere, so she knew all the big and small things in the factory.
"It's no wonder that Director Qi refused to use the back door. Everyone from top to bottom is watching this matter. How brave does one have to be to use the back door?" Wen Xiaoli said in a low voice.
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "That's hard to say. He doesn't want to use the back door. Maybe the benefits are not big enough. If someone gave him a thousand yuan for a porter position, he might be willing to do it."
"One thousand yuan to be a porter? Are you crazy?" Wen Xiaoli shook her head.
"It sounds crazy, but there will definitely be people who would do such a thing. In the next few years, educated youth will return to the city in large numbers, and by then there will be fewer and fewer jobs. Now while most of the educated youth have not returned, grab any job quickly, because it will only become more and more difficult in the future." Xia Qingtang described the scene he had seen.
Wen Xiaoli whispered, "Fortunately, we both have jobs."
"Yes, but I will be joining the union next month. From now on, I can only have lunch with you when you are on the early shift." Xia Qingtang said, "I will feel lonely."
Wen Xiaoli was particularly happy: "Will you eat with me after you go to the union? I don't think those staff members will participate in activities with us."
"How am I the same as them? They were clerks at the beginning, but I used to be a front-line worker. In my heart, you are my closest co-workers. As long as you don't dislike me, I will definitely remember your schedule and always look for you for lunch. It is the happiest thing to have a meal with you." Xia Qingtang said sincerely.
She really thought so, because Wen Xiaoli was a cheerful, kind and interesting person. Although she liked to hear gossip, it was not a big problem. On the contrary, she could hear new and interesting things every day. Xia Qingtang liked this about her.
In that era, there was no television or movies to watch, and even various types of novels were not fully released. There were almost no entertainment activities, so gossiping was a very good pastime.
After joining the trade union in her previous life, Xia Qingtang became estranged from her fellow workers in the workshop. After Hu Yanni passed away, she was left without a single friend. When she was depressed, she couldn't even find anyone to talk to.
She would never do that again in her life. She liked co-workers like Wen Xiaoli and wanted to maintain friendship with her.
Wen Xiaoli was very happy. She smiled and said, "Then we have a deal. From now on, as long as I work early, we will still have lunch together."
"Yes, we have an appointment." Xia Qingtang took two pieces of fried tofu from the lunch box and gave them to Wen Xiaoli. "Eat some tofu. It's good for your health."
"Thank you. You've been serving me food lately. They've been saying that your in-laws are well off, so you can eat two dishes a meal and often eat eggs?"
Xia Qingtang said: "I eat with my own food coupons and money. You know, I gave most of my food coupons to Zhao Meizhen. I couldn't even eat an egg a month. My health was getting worse and worse. I went to the hospital for heat stroke, injuries, and back injuries. I was really scared. The doctor also told me not to lose my appetite and to eat soy products and eggs as much as possible, so that my body will get better. My wife's family doesn't need us two young people to hand in food coupons and money, so we both agreed that we would be responsible for eating well with our own wages."
"So that's how it is. Your in-laws are pretty good then. But if you and your lover keep eating like this and don't save some money, what will you do after you have a baby?" Wen Xiaoli asked with some concern.
"It's okay. We are both still young. Besides, I haven't recovered yet. When the doctor says I am fully recovered, it will be in time to start saving money."
Wen Xiaoli nodded: "That's right, you are a clerk now, and your monthly salary will be much higher in the future. Your husband's salary is not low either. The two of you can have a baby after saving money for a year. There is really no need to rush. I can't do that. My mother wants me to save at least five yuan every month as a dowry."
"Then you should have saved a lot." Xia Qingtang joked, "Whoever marries you in the future will be blessed."
The two chatted and laughed, and after lunch they went out to wash the lunch boxes.
"Qingtang, can I talk to you for a moment?" Xia Qinghai suddenly appeared by the sink in the cafeteria corridor, startling Xia Qingtang and Wen Xiaoli.
Xia Qingtang said unhappily: "No."
"Are you sure you can't?" Xia Qinghai said with a smile, "I met a guy a while ago who lives in the provincial party committee compound. I heard him tell me a lot of interesting things. Do you want me to tell others about it?"
Xia Qingtang understood that Xia Qinghai had never given up on finding out the background of the Xie family. As everyone in the compound knew that she, this beautiful lady, was the daughter-in-law of the Xie family, Xia Qinghai would definitely find out the information he wanted easily.
Shaking off the water droplets on the lunch box, Xia Qingtang said, "Okay, I'll give you a few minutes. Xiaoli, you go back first."
"Oh, then give me your lunch box and I'll take it back to you." Wen Xiaoli took her lunch box and left first.
Xia Qinghai said: "Let's go and talk over there where there's no one."
The two of them found an empty place and stood under a tree. Xia Qinghai spoke up, "My uncle was right. With your looks, it's impossible for you to marry into an ordinary family. But I didn't expect that you were so amazing that you married Xie Qiming's grandson without anyone noticing! Xia Qingtang, you're really something! For so many years, I've been misjudging you!"
Xia Qingtang said calmly: "I have never misjudged you. You are indeed so insidious."
"I'm insidious? You're not insidious? You obviously had already found Xie Qiming's grandson, but you deliberately led your parents to agree to your engagement with the Kong family. In the end, you secretly went to register for marriage, and then threw all the responsibility on your parents, first offending the Kong family, and then took the opportunity to sever ties with your parents, and let everyone in the factory think that your mother was a bad person who almost forced her daughter to death. Xia Qingtang, you have done such a thing, how dare you say that I'm insidious? In terms of insidiousness, I can beat you?"
"Okay, you know you can't beat me, so what do you want to do by coming to me to talk about this?" Xia Qingtang sneered.
Xia Qinghai put away his fake smile: "What? You don't want to pretend anymore? Are you showing your true colors now? But don't worry, I'm the only one who knows your true colors. I haven't told my parents, and I won't tell anyone else."
"So? What are you going to say?"
"I can keep it a secret for you, but you have to do me a favor."
Xia Qingtang looked at him with amusement: "You want my help? What help?"
"You should know that Ji Fangfang and I are dating, right?"
It was already the end of December, and everyone in the factory knew that the two of them were dating, and they also knew that Director Ji strongly disagreed.
The gap between the two families was too big, and everyone said that it was normal to disagree. Even Xia Daming told his co-workers in the warehouse that marrying the daughter of the director was out of reach.
Xia Qingtang said: "I know, what's the matter?"
Xia Qinghai said, "Fangfang's father asked me for 300 yuan as a dowry and a complete set of things, and also asked me to tear down the shed in front of my house and turn it into a decent brick house. If I do that, he will agree to let me be with Fangfang. You know the situation at home. You took 200 yuan from my parents before. Where do we have money now? I can't possibly come up with that much dowry, so I need you to do me a favor and lend me 300 yuan and make up the three turns and one ring for me."
Xia Qingtang was amused: "You have a big appetite. Do you think keeping a secret can earn you so much money? Are you crazy or am I crazy?"
"You can refuse to give it to me, but this secret is not just a secret. If everyone knew that you are Xie Qiming's granddaughter-in-law, what do you think others would say about you? They would say that you were able to be transferred to the union as an officer because of your connections and background! You are a person with connections who got in through the back door, and you will be looked down upon in the future!"
"Oh? Really? Then go and talk to them. Anyway, my transfer has been completed. My salary will be paid by the union in early January. No matter what others say, I'm still an office worker. You don't think this can scare me, do you?" Xia Qingtang smiled gently.
Xia Qinghai's face turned pale: "What if I report you? I will report that the Xie family abused their power for personal gain and used the back door to get a good job for their grandson's wife."
"Go ahead, just go. Everyone in the factory knows why I was transferred to this job. It's because I can write articles and I have the ability. The chairman of the trade union can prove it to me. She chose me because she needed a writer. To be honest, Director Huang of the factory office also wanted me to go, but unfortunately the trade union got there first. Besides, you said that I'm Xie Qiming's granddaughter-in-law. If you want to report him, you definitely can't do it in the province. You have to go to Beijing. But to go to Beijing, you need a certificate from the factory. What reason do you have to go? You say you want to go to Beijing to report Xie Qiming? See if the factory office will think you're crazy!"
"Xia Qingtang, you are shameless! Have you even planned this?"
Xia Qingtang laughed, "Xia Qinghai, you said I was insidious. Could it be that I, who am insidious, didn't think through these interests in advance? Also, why would I scheme against you? What is there about you that is worth my scheming? I am Xie Qiming's granddaughter-in-law, and I live in a three-story house now. Do I need to scheme against you?"
"You!" Xia Qinghai gritted his teeth and lowered his head, "I'm your biological brother, can't you just help me?"
"No!" Xia Qingtang said quickly without hesitation for a second.
"Xia Qingtang, I am your brother! We are siblings! Even if you marry into a wealthy family, can you disown all your relatives?"
"Xia Qinghai, you need to figure it out. When did you and I ever have a brother-sister relationship? Since we were little, you ate dry food while I ate liquid food, you ate good food while I ate bad food, you ate when you were full while I was hungry, you wore new clothes while I wore rags, and you only gave me the things you no longer needed! The pencils I used throughout elementary school were the pencil tips you didn't want. The first time I had a new pencil was when Hu Yanni gave it to me because she felt sorry for me! When I was in middle school, my family didn't buy me a pen. Instead, they threw your broken pen to me and asked me to fix it and continue using it. After I started working, my mother used my monthly salary and food coupons to support you. You used Pechoin all year round in the countryside, but I couldn't even afford to buy a bottle of clam shell oil in the middle of winter! How dare you tell me that you are mine "Brother? If you, as a brother, could be a little better to your sister, I might help you out of affection. But we have no feelings, Xia Qinghai! I only have hatred for you, you know, I see you eating well, dressing well and living well, I just feel that my past was too pitiful. We are all children of the family, why should I live like a beggar? The two hundred yuan I took from home is owed to me by you and your mother! It is only natural for me to get back the salary that was snatched from me. You want me to help you now? Not to mention that Xie Jinxuan and I don’t have so much money, and it is impossible for us to get three turns and one ring together. Even if we can come up with so much money, I would rather throw it to a beggar than let you get it cheap. Because you - don’t - deserve it!"
Xia Qingtang had wanted to say this for a long time. Now that he finally found the opportunity to say it, he felt very relieved.
But Xia Qinghai was not so comfortable. The more he listened, the uglier his expression became. In the end, his face was black and blue, and his eyes were full of surprise and fear.
He didn't expect that there were so many grudges between him and his sister, and they were all over such trivial matters. His sister hated him just for using pencils since elementary school. On the one hand, he felt that Xia Qingtang was narrow-minded, and on the other hand, he began to realize that this grudge might not be resolved.
But he still wanted to give it a try, because Xia Qingtang's current in-laws were so tempting.
That’s the Xie family, which is countless times stronger than the Kong family!
He didn't know how Xia Qingtang had such good luck to be able to hook up with Xie Qiming's grandson, but the fact was that she had already obtained the marriage certificate, and it was confirmed that she was now living in the three-story villa of the Xie family, and there was even a servant at home to serve her all day...
"Qingtang, what you said was indeed wrong on my part, but I am your brother, and it is your parents who are unfair to you..."
Xia Qingtang laughed: "You are really good, putting all the responsibility on your parents? Then let me tell you, you should pay for the mistakes your parents made. It is only natural that the son should pay for the father's debt."
"Xia Qingtang, are you sure you don't want to help me?"
"Sure." Xia Qingtang said in a deep voice: "If you have the ability, then spread the news about grandpa. However, by then, everyone will only be more in awe of me. And I will also tell Director Ji that you, Xia Qinghai, and I have been enemies for life. If he doesn't want to offend the Xie family, he will never let Ji Fangfang marry you. So, if you still want to be Director Ji's son-in-law, then keep this secret. Not for others, but for yourself. Do you understand?"
After saying that, Xia Qingtang smiled lightly, turned around and left, leaving Xia Qinghai alone there, helpless and furious.
After returning home from get off work, Xia Qingtang told Xie Jinxuan about this incident and expressed how happy he was.
Xie Jinxuan was happy with her for a while, and then said: "Your warning should work. Xia Qinghai definitely dare not tell anyone. However, he is very good at blackmailing. He wants 300 yuan plus three turns and one ring for the whole set? Who would marry a daughter-in-law like this? Even if it is our family, we can't really do it if we can do it."
Xia Qingtang whispered, "Your family gave me much more things and money than this."
She did have a lot of savings. In addition to the money given by her grandmother and Xie's mother, her grandmother later gave her another 500 yuan. She is now a small wealthy woman.
Xie Jinxuan said, "That's different. That's not what you asked for before marriage. That's what the elders gave you willingly because they recognized and liked you. No matter whose family it is, if they asked for so much betrothal gifts right away, who would agree to get married?"
"Director Ji said this on purpose because he knew that no one would agree to give such a large amount of betrothal gifts. He wanted to discourage Xia Qinghai. I didn't expect that he would set his sights on your Xie family. Do you really think you are being taken advantage of?"
"But I'm afraid I can't keep my grandfather's story a secret forever. Are you worried that once everyone knows that my grandfather is Xie Qiming, my co-workers will gossip about him?"
"Don't worry. There are definitely people who gossip, but as long as they don't say it in front of me, it doesn't matter. If someone dares to gossip in front of me, I will scold them back in person." Xia Qingtang looked calm.
She is now becoming more and more firm in her style of doing things. On the one hand, her character and work ability have indeed grown, and she feels more confident; on the other hand, it is also because Xie Jinxuan stands firmly on her side. No matter what she does or what decision she makes, he will fully support her without any hesitation.
With this dual influence, Xia Qingtang not only became more and more beautiful, but her eyes also changed a lot, becoming brighter and firmer.
Xie Jinxuan reached out and hugged her, smiling very gently: "You are right! That's how it should be. If anyone dares to say anything bad about you, I will help you scold them back."
Xia Qingtang hugged his neck and laughed: "Thank you, it's great to have you."
"Qingtang! Jinxuan! Come down and eat lotus root powder! It's ready, and it smells so good!" Aunt Six shouted from the stairs on the second floor.
"I'll be there right away!" Xia Qingtang pulled Xie Jinxuan and walked downstairs.
Grandma sent them big bags of lotus root powder, wolfberry, black sesame, rock sugar and other things, saying that they could eat them to nourish their bodies in the winter.
When I arrived at the living room, I saw that everyone was sitting there. Each of them was holding a bowl in their hands and tasting the food slowly with a spoon.
The Xie family uses a coal stove for heating in winter. In addition to the coal stove for cooking in the kitchen, there is also a large coal stove in the living room. After installing the ventilation duct, the indoor temperature will be warmer than outside. Therefore, everyone likes to gather in the living room to keep warm in winter and chat and laugh.
Even Xie Jinyun would do her homework at the dining table because it was warmer there than in the room.
Xia Qingtang ate well this year and felt much better. She wore a thick sweater and a newly bought thick cotton coat and did not feel cold in the bedroom upstairs.
However, after she and Xie Jinxuan had a private chat upstairs every day, they would come down and sit with their family members.
Aunt Liu handed each of them a large bowl filled with lotus root powder mixed with wolfberries and black sesame seeds, which really smelled fragrant.
Xia Qingtang had never eaten this before, so he scooped a spoonful with a spoon and was about to put it in his mouth when he heard his grandmother say, "Blow on it before eating. It doesn't look hot, but it's actually very hot. Xiaoyun was in a hurry to eat it just now, and her mouth is numb from the burns."
Xia Qingtang thanked him, blew it to cool down before putting it into his mouth. It was indeed light and sweet, and tasted great.
"It's so delicious." She squinted her eyes happily.
"Yes, my mother's side produces lotus root powder. We used to eat it often when we were young, but later I didn't like it much. But I haven't eaten it much in recent years. When I eat it now, it tastes sweeter than before." Xie's mother said with a smile.
Grandma said, "I will write to your mother tomorrow to thank her for sending us so much food. It's enough for our whole family to eat for a while."
"Then let's write together, Jinxuan, Qingtang, you guys write too, and then send it together." Xie's mother said.
"I want to write too." Xie Jinyun interrupted.
"Go ahead and write, no one is stopping you," said Xie's mother.
Xie Chengye said: "My mother-in-law's health has been delayed until now, and I don't know how it is. I secretly wrote to my brother-in-law to ask, but it seems that he didn't tell you the truth. Jinxuan, is your uncle telling you the truth? How is your grandmother's health?"
Xie Jinxuan said: "As always, it's good news if the condition doesn't get worse."
"Can it last for a few more years?" Xie Chengye asked tentatively.
"The doctor can't say for sure. This disease has no fixed duration. It may last for two or three years, or it may be over in a few months."
"You're pretty calm. You have such a good relationship with your grandmother. I was worried that you wouldn't be able to handle it."
Xie Jinxuan said: "I really couldn't stand it at first, but it's been so long now, I'm almost mentally prepared. Besides, the person who can't stand it the most is not me, but my mother."
Xie Chengye tilted his head and saw that his mother had already lowered her head and started to cry. He quickly grabbed her hand and whispered, "It's my fault. You were fine, but you brought this up again. Mom is a blessed person. Maybe she can see Jinxuan's baby being born."
Mother Xie wiped her eyes and said, "Don't say such things. Our family doesn't urge them to have children. Jinxuan and Qingtang are both young. Qingtang has just been transferred to a new position. She should work hard for a year or two and make some achievements before talking about pregnancy."
Grandma also agreed: "Yes, Qingtang joined the union by writing articles, which is a great thing. She is now capable, and I also hope to see her work hard. Besides, they are still young and haven't started their married life yet, but they are discussing having children? So is the purpose of marriage to get married, or to have children?"
Xie Chengye said: "Oh, how come you're attacking me? I didn't say anything. Besides, they've been married for a few months, why aren't they enjoying their married life?"
"The newlywed life they want is for the two of them to live alone together, as a young married couple." Grandma said, "You are really old, you don't even understand this."
Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan were sitting there, grinning from ear to ear.
Xie Chengye said: "Then they should just move out now. Hasn't the house been packed up a long time ago? I see the last set of furniture has been moved in as well."
Grandma rolled her eyes at him and said, "Can you please be kind and speak some human language?"
"What's wrong with me?" Xie Chengye felt a little aggrieved.
Xia Qingtang said, "Dad, we were supposed to move out this month, but grandpa and grandma were reluctant to let us move out after the Lunar New Year. Jinxuan and I agreed to wait until after the first month of the lunar year to move out."
"So that's how it is. I was wondering why you guys haven't moved out after so long." Just as Xie Chengye finished speaking, he was hit on the head by his grandmother. He quickly shut up and stopped talking.
Grandma said, "I know that it is really unfair for you two young people to spend the New Year with us here. But grandma just wants to spend the New Year with us Qingtang. After that, you can move out and grandma won't say anything."
Xie's mother said, "After you move out, you have to come to our house for a meal every week. You have to promise me this."
"Qingtang, is it okay?" Xie Jinxuan tilted his head and looked at his lover who was becoming more and more beautiful, asking for her opinion.
He is always like this, no matter big or small, he will discuss it with her.
Xia Qingtang said, "Of course, even if mom doesn't say so, I will come to our house to eat in the future. The food at home is so good, why wouldn't I come? Sixth Aunt has already said that we should save the meat dishes for Sunday noon in the future."
"That's good. It will be the same from now on and the whole family can have dinner together every week." Grandma was very happy.
After eating the lotus root starch, Xie Jinyun volunteered to take the bowl and spoon to the kitchen to wash them, while the others went back to their rooms and prepared to go to bed.
Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan returned to the bedroom hand in hand. After washing up, they both sat on the head of the bed and began to read together.
Times have indeed changed. Xie Jinxuan found all the books that were hidden at home in the past and now put them in the study opposite.
Xia Qingtang loved reading novels in her previous life. Now that she sees so many foreign translated novels at home, she is so happy that she reads until she feels sleepy before going to bed every day.
Xie Jinxuan did the same as her. The two of them leaned on the bed and read books together, but he was not reading novels, but the books needed for the college entrance examination.
After watching for about half an hour, when Xia Qingtang was feeling a little sleepy, the light flickered and suddenly went out.
"The power is out." Xia Qingtang said, "Do you want to continue reviewing? I'll go light the kerosene lamp for you."
"No need for today. We've finished reading enough. Let's go to bed together." Xie Jinxuan smiled and fumbled to put the book on the bedside table like Xia Qingtang did. Then they both took off their sweaters and lay down.
The bedroom was not as warm as the first floor, so Xia Qingtang naturally snuggled into his arms.
"Your body is always warm, it's so comfortable." Xia Qingtang said in a low voice.
"I wouldn't think so in the summer, because it would definitely be too hot."
"Let's talk about it in the summer. Anyway, you have to warm my bed now." Xia Qingtang said, and leaned over to kiss him in the dark.
Young people cannot stand teasing, especially in a warm bed in winter.
"You have the afternoon shift tomorrow and don't have to get up early, right?" he whispered.
"Yes." Xia Qingtang chuckled, "But you have to get up early."
"It's okay for me. It's no big deal if I don't sleep for one night." After saying that, Xie Jinxuan kissed her in the dark.
He smelled like vanishing cream, and had a clean scent that was unique to him, which made Xia Qingtang addicted to it...
Just as the atmosphere was getting better and better, a rough roar suddenly came from outside: "Xie family! There's a call for you! It's from the Tian family!"
As soon as they heard that it was the Tian family, the charming atmosphere in the bedroom was immediately swept away. Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang jumped up from the bed at the same time, and then both of them groped in the dark for clothes to put on, and they were in a panic.
After a few seconds, Xia Qingtang calmed down first. She reached for the candle and matches in the drawer, lit them and placed them on the table.
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