Zhou Jinfeng's expression also turned ugly. It seemed that Hua Guangzong, that old bastard, was holding a grudge against him for being so disrespectful.
"Mom, maybe Grandpa Hua has something urgent to attend to!" Zhou Xiaolan stared at the tightly closed courtyard gate, her eyes flashing with determination.
If we're talking about the best-off family in this county, aside from the officials, it would be the Hua family.
In the entire courtyard, who doesn't share a room with their family? Only their family is different; they even have a courtyard within a courtyard.
How can they not envy Hua Xiangyun, who is utterly useless and only knows how to act cute and charming, for having a private room?
They are all from working-class families, so why is she the only one who can live such a life?
Hua Zhian will be back to visit his family soon, so it seems that going through Hua Xiangyun is not an option. We'll have to find another way.
"You make it sound like we're all free," Bai Ailian said, twisting Zhou Xiaolan's arm. "It's all your fault, you brat! I've been getting the cold shoulder everywhere these past few days. Everyone's ostracizing our family. The supply and marketing cooperative won't ask me for anything, and we haven't even bought everything we need for this year..."
Zhou Xiaolan covered her arm, not daring to make a sound, otherwise she would face even more beatings.
Zhou Jinfa glanced at the mother and daughter and said, "Since you know that nothing has been prepared at home, why don't you hurry up? Your parents are coming to celebrate the New Year this year, so you need to prepare everything."
And you brat, you stay at home all day doing nothing. Don't you know you should be more diligent and tidy up the house properly?
"If we're at work these next few days and you don't clean up by now, you'll see what I do to you."
Zhou Xiaolan said, "Dad, the weather hasn't been very good these past few days, so we can't wash anything at all..."
“You still have excuses?” Zhou Jinfa raised his hand, then realized that they were in the courtyard, not in their small house. He ran his hand through his hair. “Don’t you know how to use fire to dry it?”
"If you can't do anything, then go back to your grandma and let her train you for a while, and you'll know how to do everything."
Zhou Xiaolan pursed her lips and said, "I understand. I'll start cleaning in a bit."
She had no desire to go back to the countryside. Her cousins were all starving and had endless chores to do every day. She doubted she could last a single day working under her grandmother's care.
Seeing that Zhou Xiaolan was so sensible, Zhou Jinfa cursed and left.
Bai Ailian didn't want to face all the housework either. "Now that I'm all grown up, there are some things that I don't need my parents to tell me. I should take the initiative to do them myself."
Otherwise, after you marry into your husband's family, if you don't know how to do things properly, you'll suffer if you encounter a shrewish mother-in-law.
Zhou Xiaolan followed silently behind her. These days, her parents were in a fit of anger, and no matter how hard she tried to coax them, she couldn't appease them, so she gave up on that idea for now.
Looking back at the tightly closed courtyard gate, she wondered where Hua Xiangyun had gone these days. She didn't believe the people in the courtyard who said she had gone to her maternal grandfather's house.
Hua Xiangyun knew her family situation very well. Given her grandmother's patriarchal nature, Hua Xiangyun was very disgusted with the past, so how could she possibly go and stay there alone?
Even if Hua Xiangyun were willing, the Hua family wouldn't allow it.
Next summer, she will graduate from high school, and getting married or finding a job will be urgent matters, which only the Hua family can solve.
"Stop looking! That brat is definitely holding a grudge against you. Don't try to be nice to her and she won't listen to you," Bai Ailian pulled her outside. "When your grandparents come over, we won't even have enough food to eat. If we don't get in line now, our family will be starving this year..."
The incessant chatter gradually faded away, and only then did the Hua family open their courtyard gate, which had been tightly shut.
Tian Guihua spat and then picked up her basket, locked the hospital door, and walked out.
When we met the neighbors in the courtyard, everyone was exceptionally welcoming.
It's because the Hua family's granddaughter-in-law works at the supply station, so she's the first to know what's coming in at the end of the year.
"Aunt Hua, are you going to the supply depot? Let's go together." Chen Meili caught up from behind, carrying a basket, with Xu Yinghua, who was wrapped up tightly, by her side.
Tian Guihua stopped and waited for them for a while. She was a little surprised to see Xu Yinghua. "You're injured. Why aren't you resting at home? Why did you run out?"
Xu Yinghua's face was still wrapped in gauze. "Everyone in my family has to go to work. I have no choice. We can't just skip the New Year!"
"Auntie, if there's anything good being supplied these next couple of days, please let me know. I haven't prepared anything yet."
Tian Guihua looked at her worriedly, "Are you sure you're okay? Don't tear the wound open again, or you'll be the one who suffers."
Besides, even a grown man can easily afford to buy things in his spare time after get off work. Making do for the New Year is better than ruining your health.
Xu Yinghua gave a bitter smile, "It's okay. My husband works very hard, and it's exhausting to put all the pressure on him. If we both collapse, this family will fall apart."
Tian Guihua sighed, "There's really nothing I can do about this. Don't worry, if I hear any news, I'll let you know."
Chen Meili quickly chimed in, "Auntie, don't forget, I'm here too."
“I can’t forget it,” Tian Guihua said, leading the way outside. “I don’t know if it will snow heavily again before the New Year. We need to take advantage of the good weather these next few days and pack everything out quickly.”
The factory gave out some supplies this year; just pick and choose what's good enough.
They're all in the same county, and it seems like the factories all agreed on the same things when it came to shipping their goods.
Almost every family living here has two working parents, and with some extra purchases, they can manage to get through the New Year.
"This year seems pretty good, I heard there are still a few kilograms of fish left..."
...
Hua Guangzong rode his bicycle at breakneck speed, when unexpectedly he saw a familiar figure in the distance halfway there. He raised his voice and shouted.
Sure enough, it was true. Hua Xiangyun waved and ran quickly toward him.
"Grandpa," Hua Xiangyun said excitedly, not expecting Hua Guangzong to come pick her up so early, "It really is you! I thought I was seeing things."
In the dead of winter, everyone is bundled up tightly when going out. If it weren't for Hua Guangzong's shout just now, Hua Xiangyun wouldn't have recognized him.
So the first thing I did when I saw the old man was to take off the scarf that was covering his head.
Hua Guangzong saw Hua Xiangyun's face, which looked rounder, and said with a smile, "Why did you run out by yourself? Didn't we agree that I would pick you up?"
Hua Xiangyun put the bag in her hand on the back seat of the car. "I saw that it was still early, so I slowly walked back."
Grandpa, you carry this, I'll give you a ride on my bike.
Hua Guangzong said, "That won't do. Grandpa is too heavy. Let me take you instead."
He hung several bags on the handlebars, turned the bike around, and said, "Let's hurry up, it's really cold here."
Seeing that Hua Guangzong wouldn't let go of the handlebars and was already pedaling forward on his bicycle, Hua Xiangyun could only take a few steps to jump onto the back seat.
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