Chapter 42

After hanging up the phone with Lu Yu, Jiang Nian was still a little dazed.

Zhang Xiao called and said, "Come back for dinner." After eating, they went back to the dormitory to wash up and go to bed.

Jiang Nian tossed and turned at night and couldn't fall asleep. Zhang Xiao was a little puzzled: "Are you climbing the mountain?"

Jiang Nian:...

She didn't know why she couldn't sleep. When she was about to fall asleep, she heard the dormitory door open. Lu Xiaojing came in with a cold face. She glanced at Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao, snorted coldly, kicked off her shoes, and lay in the quilt, deliberately making noise to wake Jiang Nian and the others.

Zhang Xiao was sleeping soundly and didn't hear anything at all. Jiang Nian closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, not wanting to pay attention to her.

Instead, Zhai Peipei turned over and looked at her: "You come back late every night? Can you be quieter? You are the one who has the most things to do every day."

Lu Xiaojing knew that she was in the wrong, so she didn't quarrel with Zhai Peipei. She lay back in bed irritably, thinking about the bad things that happened tonight.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao didn't go out at night, so she went to the state-owned hotel alone. But after she got there, where were their people? She thought she was late, so she asked the waiter in the hotel, confirmed it several times, and was laughed at by the waiter.

Hu Zhongming lied to her!

They didn't go to the state-owned hotel at all. Fortunately, Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao didn't go with her tonight, otherwise she would be embarrassed.

Tomorrow morning, she will definitely settle accounts with Hu Zhongming!

The next morning, Jiang Nian was woken up by Zhang Xiao. Zhang Xiaoxiao asked, "What time did you go to bed last night?"

Jiang Nian shook her head, "I don't know."

Anyway, she went to bed very late last night, so when she woke up the next day, her mind was still a little confused. She wanted to sleep a little longer. She struggled to get up and put on her clothes. She went to the bathroom with Zhang Xiao to wash up, and then took the aluminum lunch box to the cafeteria to get food.

When they were about to reach the cafeteria, Zhang Xiao said, "Sister Lu got up very early today. When I called you in the morning, she left."

This was the first time that Lu Xiaojing got up so early in such a long time.

Jiang Nian said, "It should be something."

Jiang Nian didn't expect that she was just talking casually, but she was really right.

As soon as she and Zhang Xiao entered the cafeteria, they heard Lu Xiaojing and Hu Zhongming quarreling. Several people sat on a bench near the door and heard Lu Xiaojing say, "You are a liar. Didn't you say that Yang Jun was going to the state-owned hotel for dinner on his birthday yesterday? I went to look for you for half an hour, and the waiter said that no one came to your place at all, and you even mocked me." "What do you mean by that?"

Hu Zhongming thought Lu Xiaojing was too noisy and that country girls were just country girls. They didn't have the quietness of city girls. He was getting more and more annoyed with Lu Xiaojing, but he still suppressed his anger and said, "We celebrated Yang Jun's birthday in the dormitory yesterday. This month's salary hasn't been paid yet. We don't have much money and can't afford to eat at the state-owned hotel."

"How can you be penniless?"

Lu Xiaojing obviously didn't believe it. Who is Hu Zhongming? He is a team leader in a cotton mill. He earns 30 yuan a month. With subsidies, he can earn 32 yuan a month. Moreover, his parents bought him this job. How can their family be short of money?

Hu Zhongming frowned: "My mother is sick, and medical treatment must cost money, right? How can I have the face to ask my mother for money?"

Lu Xiaojing pursed her lips and said nothing more, but she felt uncomfortable in her heart: "Then why didn't you tell me in advance? I had to go to the state-owned hotel and make a fool of

myself." Hu Zhongming said: "Didn't I forget? Besides, our dormitory is full of men. It's not appropriate for a woman like you to come here, so I didn't tell you. Next time something like this happens, I will definitely tell you, so don't be angry."

Hu Zhongming said a few nice words casually, and Lu Xiaojing believed it.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao were sitting not far away. Although she had her back to them, Jiang Nian heard their conversation clearly. She thought that Lu Xiaojing was determined to drag her and Zhang Xiao to the state-owned hotel last night. It turned out that this was the reason.

She had a vague feeling that this idea might have been proposed by Hu Zhongming.

Jiang Nian felt more and more that these people had evil intentions. She had to avoid them when she met them in the future.

But she would be able to go back in twenty days. Jiang Nian thought of Zhang Xiao again. If she returned to the army, she could stay away from these scumbags, but Zhang Xiao had to stay here for a long time. What if she was unlucky and fell into the hands of Hu Zhongming and his men one day? What if something happened?

She drank a mouthful of porridge, looked up at Zhang Xiao who was eating with relish, with a carefree look, as if he was very satisfied with his current job. She asked tentatively: "How old are you this year?"

Zhang Xiao smiled and said: "Twenty after the Chinese New Year."

Speaking of this, Zhang Xiao sighed, poked the cabbage leaves with chopsticks, looked at Jiang Nian again, hesitated for a moment and said: "Sister Jiang, I think you should have guessed it, I can come to work in the state-owned embroidery shop because of Sister Ge, Ge I am the daughter of my uncle from a distant family. My mother shamelessly asked my uncle to ask Sister Ge for this job for me."

Zhang Xiao lowered her head sadly: "I just can't embroider. When I first came to the state-owned embroidery shop, Sister Lu didn't like me. I also knew that I didn't get in based on my own ability, so I did all the work I could in the embroidery shop. Even if I'm not good at embroidery, at least the work I do should be worthy of the ten yuan salary Sister Ge gave me."

Indeed, Jiang Nian's behavior over the past month was obvious to all.

Zhang Xiao kept the embroidery shop spotless every day, and also kept the dormitory clean. When customers came to the embroidery shop to look at the embroidery, when Ge Mei was not around, Zhang Xiao would chat with the customers, serve tea and introduce the embroidery.

She felt that if Zhang Xiao was in the new century, he would definitely be a sales champion.

Zhang Xiao must have had some reason for saying these things today, so Jiang Nian asked, "Did your family say something about you?"

Zhang Xiao nodded, "My mother sent a letter to Sister Ge two days ago, asking her to find me a good match."

She looked at Jiang Nian in embarrassment, "Sister Ge told me that she would pay attention, but I just feel bad. I feel like our family is sucking on Sister Ge like a blood-sucking worm. I was thinking that after you leave, I will quit this job and go back to the countryside to work and earn work points, so that my mother won't bother Sister Ge anymore."

Jiang Nian didn't expect that Zhang Xiao had already thought of a way out for her.

But this way out really can't be taken unless it's absolutely necessary.

She pursed her lips and asked tentatively, "What do you think? Have you ever thought about getting married? Or marrying to a city?"

After all, Zhang Xiao was still an unmarried girl. She was a little embarrassed when talking about marriage: "I am just a country girl. Even if I look for a partner, I will go back to the countryside. As long as the other party is sincere to me and good to my mother, I will be willing even if he is a pauper. Life is made by two people. As long as we have hands and feet, we will not have to worry about food and drink. I have never thought about marrying in the city. People in the city look down on me."

After saying that, she looked at Lu Xiaojing in the distance: "Sister Lu is an example."

Jiang Nian didn't expect that Zhang Xiao was young but she was so clear-headed. She smiled and said, "If you want to get married, I'll keep an eye out for you."

Zhang Xiao was stunned for a moment: "Ah?"

Jiang Nian smiled: "There are many soldiers in the army who don't have a family. I'll find a suitable one for you when the time comes."

Zhang Xiao blushed in embarrassment, and a glimmer flashed in her eyes. Compared with city people, she did like soldiers more, but she had never thought of marrying a soldier in her life. There were several brigades in their commune, and there had never been a soldier.

Jiang Nian took this matter to heart.

When she talked to Zhang Xiao about this, the first person who popped into her mind was Zhu Jun.

Zhu Jun is handsome, has good character, is hardworking, and can drive. Zhang Xiao is also a down-to-earth person. Maybe they will really like each other when they meet. On New Year's Eve, Zhu Jun came to her house and said he wanted to save money to get married. She was not sure whether Zhu Jun had a girlfriend, so she did not dare to tell Zhang Xiao specifically.

When Lu Yu came this afternoon, she would ask him.

After Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao left, Lu Xiaojing also left not long after. Yang Jun shook Hu Zhongming's arm and said, "Brother Zhongming, why do

n't you just tell Lu Xiaojing everything clearly and stop letting her bother you all the time." Hu Zhongming said, "Do you think I don't want to? But look at Lu Xiaojing's behavior. If I tell her, she might come to the cotton textile factory and make trouble. How can I have the face to stay in the cotton textile factory then?"

Not only that, but people in the factory would also accuse her of being a traitor.

Feng Ren finished the porridge in his bowl and looked at Hu Zhongming: "Brother Zhongming, we didn't catch those two women last night. When will we catch them again?"

The original plan last night was to let Lu Xiaojing trick Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao out, and when they passed by the dark alley, put sacks on the two and take them away. When they were done, they would send them back. By then, no one would know that they did it.

Even if the police came to look for them, they would have proof of their absence.

Hu Zhongming said: "Let's talk about it later."

His mind was full of Lu Xiaojing, and he wished he could send this woman far away.

After returning to Xiu Manor, Jiang Nian saw Ge Mei running in hurriedly with several lists in her hands, as if she wanted to discuss something. Ge Mei also saw Zhang Xiao and Jiang Nian, and said with a smile, "Have you had breakfast?"

"I have."

Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment and said, "Sister Ge, I have something to do in the afternoon. Can I take half a day off?"

Ge Mei looked at Jiang Nian in surprise. Knowing that she didn't know anyone in the city, she thought something had happened to her, so she said, "What's wrong? Have you encountered any difficulties? Tell me, I'll see if I can help you find a solution."

Jiang Nian shook her head lightly: "Lu Yu will come over in the afternoon."

Ge Mei's face instantly showed a smile, and she said readily, "No problem."

"Deputy Regiment Lu is coming?"

Zhang Xiao asked with a smile.

Jiang Nian said, "Well, he said he was going to the city to do something."

She walked into the compartment and glanced at Lu Xiaojing who was sitting by the window, holding the embroidery pictures in the embroidery studio. After more than a month, two small embroidery pictures had not been finished. Ge Mei had told Lu Xiaojing about this several times. No wonder Ge Mei had told her since the day she came to the embroidery farm that Lu Xiaojing was an unstable person.

She was really unstable.

She was thinking about how to marry Hu Zhongming all day long. She had the skill of embroidery, and as long as she worked hard, it would be much better than marrying someone.

Jiang Nian could not understand Lu Xiaojing's thoughts, and she had no right to criticize her.

It was almost lunchtime when a woman came into the manor. Her face was bruised, her hair was a little messy, and there were two footprints on her clothes, as if she had just been beaten and scolded.

The woman started crying as soon as she entered the room. Jiang Nian curiously looked outside the cubicle and saw Zhai Peipei standing up and running out. The two rooms were filled with Zhai Peipei's angry voice: "That bastard beat you again!"

The woman cried and sobbed: "He kicked me out, saying that I was a freeloader and would not let me go home."

Zhai Peipei said angrily: "Mom, go settle the score with him!"

Then she took the woman and left.

Lu Xiaojing said "tsk tsk", "Why would you live with a man like this?"

Jiang Nian agreed in her heart.

What Lu Xiaojing said was right.

It was lunchtime, and Lu Xiaojing put down her embroidery studio and sat down to relax. She glanced at Jiang Nian's embroidery, walked over and asked, "Jiang Nian, how much money can you make from this embroidery?"

Ge Mei didn't tell her, but she thought it should be a lot.

But even if Ge Mei told her, she didn't need to tell Lu Xiaojing, so she said, "I don't know."

After that, she stood up and walked to the cafeteria with Zhang Xiao.

Lu Xiaojing: ...

"Tsk, what are you so proud of?"

She kicked Jiang Nian's embroidery frame a little hard, and the frame tilted and almost fell to the ground. Several strands of silk threads hanging on the frame fell to the ground. Lu Xiaojing was startled and quickly bent down to pick up the silk threads and put them on the embroidery frame. She looked at the embroidery for a few times.

Thinking that Jiang Nian had such good embroidery skills at such a young age, although she became a widow, she still had an excellent man who treated her so well. After more than a month of getting along, she found that Jiang Nian was much better than her in terms of

food, clothing and daily expenses. Especially that man bought snacks and fruits for her, and compared with Hu Zhongming, she felt even more unbalanced.

Lu Xiaojing snorted coldly, stood up and kicked the crossbow again.

There were footsteps outside the cubicle, and before she could retract her foot, the curtain was lifted.

Lu Xiaojing retracted her foot in panic, raised her head and saw the man standing in the cubicle. He was wearing a long military green windbreaker, with short and neat hair, and a cold and handsome appearance. She recognized him at a glance. He was the comrade-in-arms of Jiang Nian's late husband.

Lu Yu Qinghan glanced at the embroidery frame that was kicked crooked by Lu Xiaojing, walked in with a cold face, straightened the embroidery frame, and separated the silk threads and placed them on the embroidery frame.

"If Jiang Nian's embroidery was damaged in any way, you would be the first suspect."

The man stood up, tall and slender, his cold eyes carried a sense of oppression, which made Lu Xiaojing take two steps back in fear. She pretended to be calm and said, "I have no grudge against her, why would I destroy her embroidery?" After saying

that, she felt a little lacking in confidence and raised her voice again: "Even if her embroidery was damaged, why would you suspect me? I'm not the only one in the embroidery house, there are also Sister Zhai and Zhang Xiao."

Lu Yu's eyes seemed to carry a coldness that penetrated people's hearts: "I, an eyewitness, saw with my own eyes that you deliberately destroyed Jiang Nian's embroidery frame."

Lu Xiaojing stopped talking.

She had previously fantasized about how nice it would be if this man could switch places with Hu Zhongming, but now she wanted to stay away from this man.

Lu Yu ignored her and turned to go to the canteen of the cotton weaving factory. Since

Jiang Nian was not in the embroidery shop at this time, she must have gone to the canteen to eat.

After Lu Yu left, Lu Xiaojing grabbed her hair angrily and raised her foot to kick Jiang Nian's embroidery frame, but she stopped halfway through. Thinking of what the man said, she was angry and scared. If she was really taken away by the police because of the embroidery, the Hu family would definitely not accept her as their daughter-in-law. There were many people in the cafeteria at lunchtime

.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao lined up in a long queue. They watched the cafeteria auntie's hands shaking as she served the food. A full spoonful of food was shaken and only a little was left.

Jiang Nian: ...

It's true. Whether in the old times or the new century, the cafeteria aunties always have hand shaking problems.

After they got their food, they looked around. There was a long table in the corner. Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao sat over there. They sat side by side, eating and talking. When it came to Zhai Peipei, Zhang Xiao said a lot.

Zhai Peipei's daughter is called Qu Hua, who married Chen Peng, a worker at a cotton mill. Zhai Peipei's daughter has been living with her father in the countryside. The family basically relies on Zhai Peipei to make money. Qu Hua and her father came to the state-owned embroidery farm to visit Zhai Peipei during the Chinese New Year. When the family of three went to the cotton mill for dinner, Chen Peng fell in love

with Qu Hua. Later, the two got married. The first year of marriage was fine. In the second year, Qu Hua gave birth to a child, a daughter. Her mother-in-law was not happy and was picky about Qu Hua. She also picked Chen Peng to beat Qu Hua. In the past two years, Zhai Peipei went to Chen's house to make trouble several times because of this.

Zhang Xiao took a bite of the corn cake and said, "It was Sister Lu who told me that Qu Hua was married to Chen Peng for three years and was beaten for two years."

It was this old-fashioned old man who favored boys over girls.

Qu Hua was driven out now. Even if Zhai Peipei was sent back by her, she would still live in the days of being beaten and scolded.

"Sister Zhai has been working hard for her daughter every day for the past two years. She has more white hair this year than last year."

Zhang Xiao sighed, drank a mouthful of porridge, stirred it with chopsticks, and laughed, "This is not porridge at all, it's just clear soup. I have been picking it up for a long time, but I can't even see a grain of rice."

"I have rice here, can I share some with you?"

A voice came from behind.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao looked over at the same time, and saw Yang Jun and Feng Ren coming over with aluminum lunch boxes. They were sitting opposite each other. Zhang Xiao's face changed color, and she pulled the aluminum lunch box into her arms a little, turned to look at Jiang Nian, and asked her what to do?

Jiang Nian closed the lid of the aluminum lunch box: "Let's go back to Xiuzhuang to eat."

"Where are we going?"

Yang Jun stood up and blocked Zhang Xiao's way, trying to reach out and grab her hand. Zhang Xiao was so scared that she stepped back and bumped into Jiang Nian, her eyes were red: "Go away! If you do it again, I will call the police!"

Yang Jun sneered: "I didn't do anything to you, what's the point of calling the police?"

Zhang Xiao panicked.

Jiang Nian picked up the aluminum lunch box and was about to leave with Zhang Xiao. Feng Ren came over from the other side and blocked Jiang Nian's way: "Where are you going? It's just a meal with us two brothers, why is it so difficult?"

As he said that, he reached out to Jiang Nian, trying to grab her wrist and make her sit down.

Jiang Nian threw the aluminum lunch box over and hit Feng Ren on the head without any hesitation. The soup splashed all over Feng Ren's head. Jiang Nian pulled Zhang Xiao to hide to the side: "If you guys make a move again, I will go to the factory to find the leader and report you!"

The farce here attracted the attention of everyone in the cafeteria. Everyone looked over here. The people eating here were all workers from the cotton weaving factory. Feng Ren was beaten by a woman and felt that his face was rubbed. He was immediately angry and reached out to grab Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian stepped back in fear, and the hand that just reached out to his eyes was suddenly grabbed by a slender hand.

Lu Yu kicked Feng Ren's knee, forcing Feng Ren to lie on the table without any image. His hands were twisted by Lu Yu and pressed behind his back, and he screamed in pain.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Who told you to meddle in other people's business? Let go! Hiss, hiss, let go!"