Zhou Chengzhi smiled at Xiang Pengfei and said, "It's not about me. I have no grudge against your cousin Tu Nan. What could I possibly do to him? Besides, we used to work together. How could I possibly harm him?"
"Then you helped Wu Shanshan open this bookstore, and the prices are so low, what do you expect him to do?"
"Brother-in-law, this is a money-driven society now, things are different from before! Back then it was a system of equal distribution of resources, but now it's all about who gets more, and those who can't afford it just have to accept it!"
"I advise you to make Wu Shanshan close the bookstore, or you'll face the consequences!"
"Haha!" Zhou Chengzhi suddenly laughed and said, "I'm sorry, brother-in-law, I'm afraid I can't comply. I love Wu Shanshan and I can't disobey her. You know, you have to listen to your wife. If I offend her, she'll definitely make me kneel on a washboard!"
"Aren't you afraid I'll report Liu Wu and Hao Liu?"
"I'm scared, I'm terrified, but I'm even more afraid of my wife, I'm afraid of losing Wu Shanshan!"
Xiang Pengfei pointed at Zhou Chengzhi angrily and said, "Fine, you just wait. I can choose not to get married for my aunt's sake!"
After saying that, Xiang Pengfei was about to leave.
"Pengfei!"
Xiang Pengfei stopped, turned his head, looked at Zhou Chengzhi, and said nothing.
Zhou Chengzhi, still somewhat guilty, said, "Pengfei, I advise you not to act impulsively. You should know that when you coerced me for the household registration book, you saw Liu Wu and Hao Liu, but you didn't report it to the police. This is considered knowing but not reporting, which is equivalent to being an accomplice!"
Are you threatening me?
"I didn't. I'm just reminding you not to act impulsively. My sister is still waiting for you to get married. Don't let us both end up in jail!"
Xiang Pengfei took a deep breath, said nothing, and walked straight to the other side. With his head down, he said to Huang Ling, "I'm sorry, Aunt, I couldn't persuade Zhou Chengzhi!"
Huang Ling said with a smile, "It's alright, Pengfei, you've done your best!"
"elder sister!"
Wu Xiaojun ran out of the alleyway, calling out Zhang Min's name repeatedly!
Zhang Min quickly said, "What's wrong? Why are you so flustered? As a man, you can't act like this."
Wu Xiaojun was probably really anxious. It was still early spring and the weather was cold, and sweat was beading on his forehead. He said, "Sister, it's bad! I'm going to be late! I have to take the auxiliary police exam today!"
"It's only a little past six in the morning, what's the rush?"
"The exam venue is far away, it seems to be in the suburbs. It's so early now, and there are no buses running. I need to be in the exam venue by eight o'clock. How am I supposed to get there in more than an hour?"
Wu Jianguo was also troubled after hearing Wu Xiaojun's words, and said, "Oh dear, this is going to be difficult! Where am I supposed to find you a bus?"
Huang Ling said to Xiang Pengfei, "Go ahead! Do you expect your Uncle Wu to beg you?"
"Okay, I'll deliver it!"
As Xiang Pengfei spoke, he patted Wu Xiaojun on the shoulder and took him to take the auxiliary police exam.
Zhuang Xiaoting said to Huang Ling, "Mom, let's go home! It's still cold outside, your health is important!"
Huang Ling glanced at the newsstand and said, "Xiao Min tidied up the newsstand very well. I was quite worried, but now I can rest assured!"
As he spoke, he turned to Zhang Min and asked, "Xiao Min, you've been here for five days, haven't you?"
Zhang Min nodded and said, "Yes! Five days!"
Huang Ling then said to Zhuang Tunan, "I heard you, Tunan. It's been five days. Quickly give Xiaomin fifty yuan. She can't help us for nothing!"
Zhuang Tunan blushed and said, "Mom, I didn't manage the accounts. Xiaomin managed the income these past few days. She can take as much as she wants!"
After hearing Zhuang Tunan's words, Huang Ling did not blame him. Instead, she turned to Zhang Min and said, "Since you're keeping the money, you can take whatever you want! I'll pick up the newspapers myself tomorrow, so I'll handle it myself!"
Hearing Huang Ling's words, Zhuang Xiaoting said with great concern, "Mom, your health is so weak, I'm afraid you can't handle it!"
Huang Ling smiled and said, "It's okay, they're just newspapers, nothing too heavy, I should be able to move them!"
Zhang Min quickly said, "Auntie, you should rest! I can help you for a few more days. The money I make each day is in the box in the newsstand. You can count it yourself. I haven't taken a single penny!"
"Xiaomin, I believe in you. I watched you grow up, how could I not believe in you!"
"Since you trust me, then I'll do it! You go and rest! Don't worry!"
"Okay, okay, I'll rest for a few more days. Thank you so much, Xiaomin!"
"fine!"
With the help of Zhuang Xiaoting and Zhuang Chaoying, Huang Ling entered the alley.
As soon as Song Ying saw Huang Ling leave, she hurriedly said to Lin Wufeng, "Quick, quickly grab half a basket of steamed buns, I'll take them to Sister Ling so we don't have to cook at home anymore."
Wu Jianguo then said to Zhang Min, "Xiao Min! Go home and cook! I'm hungry!"
Zhang Min looked at Zhuang Tunan and said, "Brother Tunan, I'm going to cook! I'll come back later to help you at the stall!"
"Go ahead! It's alright, I can manage on my own."
Zhang Min then went home with Wu Jianguo.
Zhuang Tunan looked across at the lively singing and dancing, attracting passersby. The newsstand's business was pitifully small, but it wasn't without business either; some people still habitually came to the newsstand to buy newspapers.
Just as Zhuang Tunan was feeling a bit worried, Song Ying came over with a few steamed buns and said to him, "Tunan, we're not cooking at home, so have some steamed buns!"
"Oh, thank you, Auntie!"
"We're all family, no need to be so polite. You eat first, and I'll bring you a bowl of millet porridge later!"
"Oh, okay, thank you, Auntie!"
"Tunan!"
"What's wrong, Auntie? What's the matter? Tell me!"
What do you think of Zhang Min?
"She's great! Diligent, hardworking, quick, and very caring!"
"What do you think would happen if someone married her?"
"He'd be incredibly happy. Marrying a woman like Zhang Min would be the greatest blessing he could ever have!"
"But Zhang Min likes someone, guess who it is?"
"Really? Do I know him?"
"know!"
Zhuang Tunan began to think quietly, but after a while, he still couldn't say who it was.
Song Ying smiled and said to Zhuang Tunan, "What if it were you?"
"It's me?"
Zhuang Tunan pointed to himself in surprise and said, "Me? Auntie, you must be joking. I treat Xiaomin like a younger sister."
"Yes! You treat Xiaomin like a younger sister, but Zhang Min doesn't treat you like a older brother. Do you think she cares for you and takes care of you so meticulously? You don't think she's really doing this out of altruism, do you?"
"Auntie, I know. Xiaomin confessed her feelings to me before, but I only have Li Jia in my heart, so I rejected her!"
"Tu Nan! Your aunt admires your dedication to your relationship. I also saw Li Jia on New Year's Eve, but she seemed strange to me. She was with you and your mother, and I didn't know what to say!"
Zhuang Tunan asked, somewhat puzzled, "Li Jia, what's wrong with her?"
"Li Jia is a girl who is obviously very aloof. She doesn't have many friends because she is a deep thinker and prefers to be alone. She is prone to extremes when something happens. Tu Nan, someone as honest and upright as you can't handle a woman like her. In the end, you'll only be used and abandoned!"
Zhuang Tunan looked at Song Ying with great surprise. He did not expect that Song Ying could see through Li Jia so accurately. Although he had been with Li Jia for so many years, he thought that he probably only had a superficial understanding of Li Jia. In the end, just as Song Ying said, he was abandoned by Li Jia!
As Zhuang Tunan pondered, a tear rolled down his cheek. But he didn't know whether it was regret for Li Jia's departure or gratitude for Zhang Min's care. The conflicting thoughts kept Zhuang Tunan from pulling himself out of his reverie.
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