After returning home, Xia Liang showed her mother and Rong around the neighborhood, reassuring her to stay home and recover without worrying about anything else. Xia Liang then went back to work at the factory. The next day, as Xia Liang was getting ready for work, she noticed her brother looking hesitant and asked, "What's wrong, brother? Is something the matter?" Xia Rong replied, "Little sister, I want to go home. I can't help you much here; I'm just causing you trouble and need your care." Xia Liang said, "Why would you think that, brother? It's normal for you to need my help since you're new here. Once you're familiar with the area, you'll be taking care of me." Xia Liang chuckled, "Don't you want to take care of me?" Xia Rong quickly shook his head, "How could I not? You're my sister; how could I not want to take care of you?" Xia Liang said, "That's right. We're siblings; taking care of each other is only natural." Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Brother, wait for me to come back at noon; I have something for you to do." With that, she went to work.
At lunchtime, Xia Liang said goodbye to Zhou Xiaohui and went home. When she got home, her mother and Xia Rong had already eaten. Xia Rong, ready to go, asked her sister, "Ah Liang, what do you want me to do?" Xia Liang said, "Come with me," and led Xia Rong to number 147 Xinghua Lane. Xia Liang knocked on the door, and Old Chen immediately pulled them both inside, saying, "What's wrong, girl? Have you decided to come back and continue cooperating with me?" Xia Liang said, "We will continue cooperating, but not me." She then looked at Xia Rong, "This time, let my brother cooperate with you." Xia Rong was completely confused, so Old Chen said, "I don't care about that. Just don't bring anyone to me if you get caught. We don't know each other, and we've never met before." Xia Liang said, "That's for sure." She then told Xia Rong everything about the black market, reconnecting them with her lost contacts. After Xia Liang finished explaining everything to her brother, she left her bicycle with him for transporting goods and went back to work at the factory.
Upon arriving at the workshop, Xia Liang arranged to have dinner at Zhou Xiaohui's house the next day. Zhou Xiaohui asked curiously, "What's wrong? Is there some good news?" Xia Liang rolled her eyes at her and said, "I can't invite you to dinner if it's not good news. My mom just arrived and hasn't had time to entertain you for the first two days." Zhou Xiaohui said with a grin, "Okay! Then you'd better prepare something lavish." Xia Liang said, "No problem." The two joked around for a while before starting work. After all, it was working hours, and if the foreman caught them slacking off, they would be scolded.
The next day after get off work, Zhou Xiaohui went home first, changed her clothes, and then bought two cans of food and a bag of biscuits before heading to Xia Liang's house. When Xia Liang opened the door and saw her carrying the things, she almost kicked her out. After exchanging pleasantries, Zhou Xiaohui smiled and went into the kitchen to greet Xia Liang's mother: "Hello, Auntie. How are you feeling? Are you feeling any better?" Xia Liang's mother had never seen such a generous and lively girl as Zhou Xiaohui, and said somewhat reservedly: "I'm fine, just a little weak. The doctor told me to rest well." Zhou Xiaohui said: "Then you must rest well. If there's anything you need, just ask Xia Liang to do it." Xia Liang's mother smiled and said: "Ah Liang works very hard all day. I have nothing to do at home, so cooking two meals a day isn't tiring." As she spoke, the water on the stove boiled, and Xia Liang's mother went to take the kettle down. Zhou Xiaohui also went out to chat with Xia Liang. Just then, the front door creaked open, and it turned out that Xia Rong had returned. Xia Liang introduced, "This is my brother, and this is Zhou Xiaohui, my best friend and colleague." As she spoke, she turned to Xia Rong, and Zhou Xiaohui immediately extended her hand warmly, "Hello, my name is Zhou Xiaohui." Xia Rong shook hands with Zhou Xiaohui and said, "Hello, I am Xia Rong." After saying that, he quickly withdrew his hand and walked into the main room. Only Xia Liang saw her brother's monkey-like face and seemed to be thinking about something.
After familiarizing himself with the neighborhood for a few days, Xia Rong began trading on the black market based on the information Xia Liang had given him. When he returned home with his first earnings, he excitedly talked to Xia Liang until midnight. Xia Liang, finally exhausted, said she needed to go to her room and left; otherwise, he might have continued talking until dawn. Thus, Xia Rong and his mother settled in the city. One day, Xia Liang mentioned that they didn't have a house back in their hometown, and the siblings began to consider other options. Xia Liang said, "We have money now. Go back and discuss it with Dad. We need to secure a plot of land for the house and then find someone to build it. I'll give you the design plans tomorrow; take them back and have someone knowledgeable build it according to my design." Xia Rong readily agreed and went home.
One day, Xia Liang was heading home after get off work and planned to visit the black market to buy some cotton when he heard a young couple talking in the alley. Xia Liang wasn't paying attention at first, but when the woman mentioned Zhou Xiaohui, he became curious. The woman said, "Brother, when are you getting married to Zhou Xiaohui?" The young man replied, "What's the rush? I've already told her it'll be next year. Her parents still need to save up for her dowry, so isn't it better for them to prepare more?" The young woman said urgently, "But if I can't find a job, I'll have to go to the countryside. You should tell her to get married soon. If she doesn't agree, you can marry Sister Lili. Sister Lili's father works at the Revolutionary Committee. Ask her to put in a good word for me with her father, and I won't have to go to the countryside." The young man slowly said, "Let me think about it." Actually, it wasn't that he didn't want to marry Yan Lili, but she didn't seem to have deep feelings for him. Zhou Xiaoli was simple and easy to manipulate.
Xia Liang was startled, but feared it was a misunderstanding, since there were other people named Zhou Xiaohui. Upon arriving at the workshop, Xia Liang asked, "Xiaohui, is your boyfriend back?" Zhou Xiaohui replied, "How did you know? Did you see him?" She then added, "That's not right, you don't even know him." Xia Liang asked again, "Does he have a younger sister?" Zhou Xiaohui exclaimed in surprise, "You know that too?" Xia Liang then told Zhou Xiaohui everything she had overheard. Zhou Xiaohui was deeply shocked, her distraught appearance frightening Xia Liang. Xia Liang quickly corrected herself, "What if it's a coincidence? Maybe they share the same name?" Zhou Xiaohui said, "It's not a coincidence, he is my boyfriend. The Lili she mentioned is their neighbor, and her father also works at the Revolutionary Committee." After saying this, Zhou Xiaohui's face turned even paler. Before Xia Liang could figure out how to comfort her, she heard her say, "No wonder he mentioned marriage to me before, but changed his mind and said he'd have to postpone it after learning my brother's wedding had drained the family's savings." Zhou Xiaohui took a deep breath and said, "You don't need to worry about me. If he really is that kind of scum, then I should be glad I saw his true colors sooner." After saying that, she ignored Xia Liang and turned back to her workstation. Xia Liang didn't disturb her any longer and went back to work at her own station.
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