Chapter 37
This is something that no one can tolerate, but there are techniques to beating someone up. Zhen Zhen pulled her aside and said a few words, and Meng Li nodded blankly. The two of them arrived at Zhou Changsheng's house half an hour later.
When Zhou's mother saw her, her eyes turned green, and she rolled up her sleeves and started yelling:
"Hey, who is this? You still have the nerve to come back? You can't find a fool like our Changsheng, so you come back to ask for peace? Let me tell you, our Zhou family is not easy to bully. If you leave this door, don't even think about coming back!"
Meng Li had never been able to tolerate her anger before, let alone after the divorce.
She could still vividly remember how Zhou's mother had gone to her workplace and bullied her, and she became furious.
"Make peace? You wish! If you hadn't said bad things about me behind my back, I would never want to visit your house again in my life!"
Zhou's mother also felt a little guilty, but reputation was very important in this era. If Zhou Changsheng didn't handle his divorce well, it would be difficult for him to find a wife.
Will people believe that there is discord in your family and that you are getting a peaceful divorce?
There must be a reason for divorce, and if the reason cannot be attributed to one's own family, then it can only be attributed to the other party.
Zhou's mother said, "Go away! Stop talking nonsense! We're already divorced, what else do you want?"
"Nonsense? Didn't you tell others that I slapped you, tried to poison you to death, and beat Zhou Changsheng, and you still can't have children?"
"When did I say that?"
It would be fine if she talked nonsense outside, but everyone in the compound was watching her and wouldn't tolerate her nonsense.
"You still don't admit it? I don't understand, how can you lie with your eyes open?" Meng Li was so angry that she cried.
She was shaking so badly that she had so much to curse at, but she couldn't say it out loud. Zhen Zhen had no choice but to pull her aside and prepare to fight himself.
As soon as she started crying, Zhou's mother became arrogant, "How dare you lie! I'm telling the truth! You are no longer our daughter-in-law. You are not welcome here. Get out!"
As he said this, he was about to chase the man away with a stick.
The neighbors all leaned out to see the excitement. Zhen Zhen grabbed Zhou's mother's stick, looked around, and slowly spoke:
"My dear neighbors, I know my niece's personality. She has always had a good temper. She is filial to her parents, respectful to her elders, well-educated, and knows right from wrong. She is praised by everyone in our hometown, and everyone wants to take her home as their wife."
Meng Li blinked her tear-stained eyelashes. Really? Is she that good? How come she doesn't know it herself?
Zhen Zhen suddenly changed the subject:
"But she chose Zhou Changsheng because he was well-mannered and his parents were reasonable. After marrying into the Zhou family, she went to work every day, and had to come back early at noon and in the evening to buy groceries and cook. She washed the clothes of her parents-in-law and her husband, and cleaned the house by herself. If you say that such a daughter-in-law is not capable, I, Zhen Guizhi, will not recognize her!"
After he finished speaking, the neighbors around him began to look thoughtful.
That's right. After Meng Li got married, she went shopping for groceries, cooking, washing and cleaning with them every day. She was really not lazy at all! How many young people nowadays are so capable? Meng Li was really impeccable in this regard.
Zhen Zhen smiled at everyone, "But what did the Zhou family do? My niece has been married for half a year, and the Zhou family has never given my niece a penny for buying food and cooking. They asked my niece to use her salary to supplement the family expenses. Neighbors, tell me, is this behavior shameful or not? The Zhou family has three employees, and they earn 60 or 70 yuan a month, but they don't even want to give money for buying food. They have been eating and taking things for free for so long. Tell me, do you think they have shame or not?"
The neighbors were shocked. This was completely different from what Zhou's mother said. It was agreed that Meng Li would eat and drink at Zhou's house, but she spent all her money every month.
Who would have thought that the Zhou family didn't give a single cent?
How do people live like this? It's not enough for a young wife to support her husband, but she also has to support her mother-in-law and father-in-law? This doesn't make sense.
The neighbors started talking about it. Zhou's mother had worked in the unit for her whole life and was a person who cared about her reputation, so she quit her job immediately.
"You're talking nonsense! Your Meng Li is just a hen that doesn't lay eggs." Zhou's mother cursed with red eyes.
This old woman is really unreasonable.
Zhen Zhen was about to laugh or not, "Don't speak too early, it's not certain whose fault it is."
"Bah! My Changsheng is tall and strong, in such good health, a real man, but she is not pregnant at all after being married for half a year. She is like a hen that doesn't lay eggs. How dare she come to my house to make trouble? She has no sense at all!"
Seeing Meng Li's pale face, Zhou's mother gradually became proud. She glanced at her belly and sneered:
"My son Changsheng is tall and handsome. Even after his divorce, he is very popular with women. Look, he found a partner right after his divorce. He is from the city, an employee of a supply and marketing cooperative, pretty, and still a virgin. As a divorced woman who can't have children, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to find a partner after your divorce, right?"
He was leaning forward to let her hit him. Zhen Zhen was not angry, but just smiled calmly:
"Of course my Meng Li can't have children anymore."
Zhou's mother's eyes widened. She didn't expect her to admit it like this. She immediately became angry:
"Look! Look! She actually admitted it. She married me knowing that she couldn't survive. Isn't this a marriage fraud? Our Changsheng was badly hurt by her."
The neighbors were confused when they heard this. Zhen Zhen continued:
"Of course my Meng Li can't give birth! Where can she give birth? With whom? Your Zhou Changsheng is not good at that. Even if my Meng Li has great abilities, she can't make a child come out of the cracks in the stone, right?"
Zhou's mother asked for a hammer and got it, and was stunned by these words.
"You are talking nonsense! You are slandering me! How can my Changsheng not have children? He is so tall and so strong! There is no one with a better body than him!"
"Am I slandering others? Ask your son if I am slandering others! You are a shameless softie who can't do anything and still wants to marry a wife. After marrying her, you don't treat her well and don't give her a penny. Even after the divorce, you still dare to gossip outside!"
“You you…”
"You said my Meng Li can't have children. Show me clearly whether my Meng Li can have children or not! This is the hospital's checkup form. There is nothing wrong with my Meng Li's physical examination. The doctor's certificate has been issued! It's embarrassing to say it out loud. My Meng Li has been married for half a year and is still a virgin! Don't you think it's ridiculous? Zhou Changsheng is a wimp! A man like this wants to remarry and harm other girls. It's simply unacceptable!"
The neighbors all looked as if they were struck by lightning. This news was too shocking. They had to take it easy.
When Meng Li went to the hospital for a check-up, she was still found to be a virgin. Was it because Zhou Changsheng couldn't do it?
You want to remarry when you can't do it? Are you still a human being?
Everyone began to look at Meng Li with sympathy. Meng Li felt so happy to call her auntie. Finally, she didn't have to be chased and scolded by Zhou's mother.
It happened that Zhou Changsheng was pushing a bicycle and walking side by side with Xiao Tong, and the two were talking and laughing.
Zhou's mother ran up and asked, "Changsheng, they said you are inhumane! Tell mom that you are not like that, they are the ones who are spreading rumors, it is that little bitch Meng Li who is slandering you!"
Zhou Changsheng's smile was stiff and his face turned pale. After a while, he closed his eyes and passed out.
The two of them won a victory and walked out in a good mood. Zhen Zhen handed her another candied haws, and the two of them ate while walking.
"Auntie, thank you. If it weren't for you today, I wouldn't be able to vent my anger!"
"After all, this is a matter concerning your reputation. If she hadn't gone too far and wanted to ruin your reputation after the divorce, I wouldn't have been so ruthless."
"It's all over now, and I've come to terms with it. I don't plan to remarry in the short term. I want to work for a few years and see if I can get a small house. It doesn't have to be big, just 10 square meters will do."
A man was walking towards me. He was tall, with a decent appearance, and wore a pair of glasses on his nose.
The man was pushing his bicycle and paused.
"Are you Meng Li?"
Meng Li was stunned. She vaguely remembered that this was Zhou Changsheng's neighbor, but due to the difference between men and women, the two had never spoken to each other.
She nodded generously: "I am."
"Are you divorced?" the man asked.
"Left." Meng Li smiled, a little defensively, afraid that the man would stand on Zhou Changsheng's side and give her a long lecture.
Unexpectedly, the man just smiled slowly and said, "My name is Jiang Dongping, can I get to know you?"
Zhen Zhen's mouth paused while eating the candied haws, looking a little unbelievable. Nowadays, this sentence has a very different meaning!
Meng Li also paused, and the two chatted for a few words. Seeing that they got along better and better as they talked, Zhen Zhen simply went to buy some candied haws.
Now there is only one candied haws left, and Daya ate it and it was gone. Tao Aihong is also a greedy person. Every time she comes back from the county, she will bring some snacks. Tao Aihong is used to it and will be disappointed if she doesn’t see any food.
After buying the candied haws, she came back to pick up Meng Li, and only then did she hear Meng Li talk a lot about Jiang Dongping.
It turned out that the Jiang family and the Zhou family had been neighbors for more than 20 years, but Zhou's mother was rude and unreasonable. Seeing that the Jiang family was an outsider, she always bullied them. After Jiang's father died in the line of duty, the Zhou family used their connections to occupy half of the Jiang family's house.
Originally, the Zhou family's house was only over 40 square meters, and they had to add more than 20 square meters to get the current area. However, Jiang Dongping could only live in a small house of 20 square meters with his mother.
For many years, Zhou's mother took every opportunity to bully the Jiang family, and a feud was formed between the two families.
"What does this person mean?"
Meng Li blushed a little. She also felt like she was dreaming and it seemed a little unreal.
"I don't know. He didn't tell me. But I heard that his mother has some mental problems. She stays in her room all day and doesn't like to talk."
After all, it was someone else's private matter, so Zhen Zhen didn't ask any more questions. Anyway, the matter hadn't been decided yet. Meng Li got married in a flash last time, so this time she should get to know each other better before getting married, right?
When they got home, Daya and Tao Aihong gathered around them, and Zhen Zhen divided the candied haws among them.
The two of them happily left with the candied haws.
She handed another one to Jiao Huilan, who blushed, "Mom, I'm an adult now and don't need snacks. Don't spend money on me in the future."
"It won't cost much. Didn't you say you wanted to be my daughter? That's how mothers pamper their daughters."
Jiao Huilan accepted it with a blushing face.
In the evening, Zhen Zhen went to Mrs. Meng's house and told the Meng family what happened today. The Meng family felt relieved. Before leaving, they stuffed a few loofahs into Zhen Zhen's mouth and tied a bundle of green onions with green onion leaves for her to take with her.
Zhen Zhen did not refuse and asked Jiao Huilan to make fried loofah and sanzi that night.
The sun seemed to be higher than in summer. The trees on the mountain were lush and green, and the shadows of the trees swayed in front of the door. Sometimes when Zhen Zhen looked up, the big red door seemed to frame the vague green into a painting.
I carried a basket to the vegetable garden to pick five tomatoes, two cucumbers, cut a bunch of leeks, and pick a few peppers. I passed by the chicken coop but did not stop.
It was Daya's job to get the eggs, and she couldn't compete with Daya for it.
From a distance, she saw that the door of Meng Hua's room was still closed, so she pushed it open and walked in.
"Kid, why haven't you gotten up yet? The sun is about to shine on your butt."
Is there anyone in this family who is lazier than her? Does this sound reasonable? Zhen Zhen walked to the bedside and wanted to wake Meng Hua up for dinner, but she saw Meng Hua lying on the bed in yesterday's clothes, with an English book covering her face.
Ever since Meng Hua was sure that he could go to college, he studied even harder. He worked during the day and sometimes sold melon seeds at night. After selling the melon seeds, he would come back to review his homework.
Zhen Zhen had a hard time preparing for college in his previous life. He often stayed up until midnight and got up before dawn the next day. But Meng Hua was different. He just read until dawn.
However, in this era, people always cherish every opportunity, from the small opportunity to eat flour and rice to the big opportunity of being sent to study. As long as there is an opportunity, people will always fight for it regardless of everything.
In Meng Hua, Zhen Zhen seemed to see the microcosm of a generation.
"This kid, I don't know how late he read last night." Zhen Zhen muttered as he closed the door.
Jiao Huilan smiled and said, "When the rooster crowed for the first time, I got up to go to the bathroom and saw that the light in my brother-in-law's room was on. He was still memorizing English at that time. Mom, my brother-in-law is really smart and hardworking, which is like you."
In Jiao Huilan's opinion, her mother is the smartest. How can ordinary people come up with those delicious dishes? If it weren't for her mother, Meng Daguo wouldn't be able to raise pigs, and the family wouldn't be able to sell duck necks and melon seeds.
Zhen Zhen raised an eyebrow, "That's right, good ones are all like mothers."
Jiao Huilan just smiled secretly.
"Then let him sleep! Studying is also a very hard thing. It's really not as easy as working in the fields."
Studying and using your brain is very tiring.
Jiao Huilan also agreed. She didn't know many words and was not allowed to continue her studies after she graduated from primary school. She had always admired intellectuals and thought it was amazing that her brother-in-law knew English, as it was something only smart people could learn.
Zhen Zhen put the eight-treasure porridge on the stove and stewed it. She added red beans, black beans, peanuts and dates. There were originally longan meat in the porridge, but she ate it all as a snack, so no longan was added.
She opened the jar and took out five salted duck eggs, cut them up, and boiled five eggs, one for each woman in the family and none for the men.
I took out the tools to prepare a pancake when Daya came in, pointed at something on the ground and said:
"Grandma, what a big piece of dust!"
Zhen Zhen was amused by the girl, "What big ash? This is a griddle, used for making pancakes."
How can rural people not eat pancakes?
However, she was used to the later pancakes, so she wanted to make one, mixing flour, sugar and salt in hot oil and frying it until golden and crispy.
It was her first time making it and she wasn’t very experienced, but she felt that the principle was similar to that of fried dough sticks.
Pour cornmeal onto the griddle, add some eggs and green onions, and you can also have some shredded potatoes, bean curd skin, and fried dough sticks.
Put some crispy fruits in it and dip it in sweet sauce. It tastes absolutely amazing.
At breakfast, everyone looked satisfied. Meng Hua also got up and went to the well to wash his face.
There was no running water in the village, and many families had to fetch water to drink. When Daguo's father was alive, he was afraid that the original owner would be tired of fetching water, so he dug a well for the family.
But the well was not deep enough and no water could be produced recently. Zhen Zhen planned to find time to dig a new one.
Meng Hua pulled the lever of the well, fetched a bowl of water and drank it, then went into the kitchen and started eating an egg pancake.
Zhen Zhen left an egg for him.
Meng Hua knew that this was what his mother saved from her mouth, and he felt a little warm in his heart, "Mom, you eat it."
"Don't argue with me. It's okay for me to eat less, but you need to use your brain to study, so how can you not make up for it? Eat an egg, and I'll make you a cup of milk powder later to replenish your body."
Meng Daguo said, "Yes, Third Brother, you should eat better. Studying is hard, how can you not take good care of your body?"
Meng Hua's face was full of rejection, but Zhen Zhen ignored him and forced him to drink a cup of milk powder. However, she added a little rock sugar to the milk powder and soaked a piece of biscuit, and it tasted quite good.
Meng Hua bought a train ticket at the end of the month, and Zhen Zhen was counting the school supplies and clothes she bought for her son.
All the necessary things are ready. Nowadays everyone is poor, so there is no need to buy too much. If all else fails, you can go to Beijing to buy some.
However, the capital is colder than here, so she had to prepare more sweaters for Meng Hua. Zhen Zhen took out the remaining wool from last year and started knitting sweaters and trousers.
Meng Hua's dressing style is what later generations call "not warmth, but grace".
This winter, Meng Daguo wore a military coat, but he only wore a thin shirt. He was frozen every day and his body was huddled together. He couldn't even stand straight, but he would rather die than wear his old cotton shirt.
"Mom, my third brother is going out to study. He must have a good meal before he leaves, right?" Jiao Huilan asked.
If it were in the past, she would definitely go to the street and buy half a pound of meat, so that Meng Hua could have something to eat.
But now that there is meat to eat at home every day, Jiao Huilan is at a loss as to what to do.
Zhen Zhen lowered her head to knit a sweater, not tangled up: "On the train, dumplings, off the train, noodles, just make some dumplings."
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