Li Qiaoqiao's mother didn't explain how she had done a good deed: "I'm asking you, do you envy your second sister-in-law?"
Li Qiaoqiao nodded.
"Do you want to live like your second sister-in-law? No need to work in the fields, just stay home taking care of the kids and cooking, and still have money to spend."
"think."
Li Qiaoqiao's mother held Li Qiaoqiao's hand and said, "Let me tell you, as long as Han Zhuang goes to work in the city, you can live that kind of life."
"Mother, you still haven't told me how to achieve merit?"
"Why are you in such a hurry, child? Let me ask you, do you think you can afford to spend the money your second sister-in-law has?"
“Well… during holidays, my second brother and his wife always send things home.”
Li Qiaoqiao's mother curled her lip: "That's just a little money. Let me tell you, if Han Zhuang could work in the county town, you could give them a few coins during holidays."
"Mother, why are you saying all this useless stuff? Mother, how exactly do I earn merit?"
Li Qiaoqiao's mother smiled and said, "Look how anxious you are. Let me tell you, it's better to have it yourself than to have it from someone else."
"I know. Mother, tell me quickly, how do I earn merit?"
"Okay, okay, Mother will tell you now. Do you remember the regimental commander from your maternal grandmother's village that I told you about?"
Li Qiaoqiao nodded.
“Didn’t Mom say that his family didn’t have enough to eat during those years when God didn’t give them any food? The director said that even a regimental commander in the army wouldn’t get that much grain during those years. So, the grain your family ate during those years…” Li Qiaoqiao’s mother paused and looked at Li Qiaoqiao: “The director said that as long as you can find out where your family’s grain came from during those years, he will let your brother and your husband work for him.”
Li Qiaoqiao fell silent. She remembered Han Dashan's words, and also the wild boar that Xiaoman had slapped to death. Han Dashan had said, "Only if Han Bin is well can they be well, only then can Jinbao be well." Wang Xiaoman could kill a pig with one slap; if she dared to harm Han Bin, Wang Xiaoman would definitely not let her off. Perhaps she wouldn't even have a chance to live a good life before Wang Xiaoman slapped her to death. "Mother, I was just bragging. My family didn't have enough to eat those years either. Mother, I have things to do at home, I have to go now."
Li Qiaoqiao's mother grabbed her, not letting her leave: "I'm your mother, do you think I can't tell if you're bragging? Let me tell you, as long as you figure out where that grain came from, you can become a city person."
Li Qiaoqiao pulled her hand away from her mother's: "Mom, I really was just bragging. Mom, I'm leaving."
After saying that, Li Qiaoqiao quickly left. Her mother chased after her from inside the house, calling out, "Qiaoqiao, come back!"
As Li Qiaoqiao walked, she said, "Mom, you should go back. I really was just bragging."
Li Qiaoqiao's mother wanted to win Li Qiaoqiao back, but she was afraid people would ask her why she was chasing after Li Qiaoqiao. "Come back, come back to me."
Li Qiaoqiao dared not go back. She longed for a better life, but she was even more afraid of death.
On the way home, Li Qiaoqiao thought about the matter over and over again. In the end, she still felt that her life was more important. When she got home, Li Qiaoqiao went to Tang Huihui's room. Since she wasn't going to take any risks, she needed to tell her parents-in-law: "Mom, are you in your room? I have something to do."
"Yes, come in."
"good."
Li Qiaoqiao pushed open the door and went inside.
Tang Huihui was making shoes for Naonao and Tengteng: "You're back? Is your mother feeling better?"
"My mother is fine."
"Nothing? Then why did she call you back?"
“My mother said that the director of that revolutionary association has his eye on our family. He told my mother that as long as I tell them where our family’s grain came from in those years, he will let my brother and Zhuangzhuang work for him.”
Tang Huihui thought to herself, this must be the calamity Old Shang was talking about. "Have Zhuangzhuang call your father, your eldest brother, and your sister-in-law back. Let's discuss this."
“Okay.” Li Qiaoqiao looked at Tang Huihui: “Mom, why aren’t you worried at all?”
Tang Huihui smiled and said, "As long as our family is united, he can't do anything to us. We've eaten all the food, and only we know whether we're full or not. Qiaoqiao, I misunderstood you before. You're a good daughter-in-law."
Li Qiaoqiao's face turned a little red: "Mom, Zhuangzhuang and I went out to look for someone."
"Hmm. Your sister-in-law has probably gone back to her parents' home. Your father and your elder brother are probably gossiping with people in the village."
"I understand. I'll go out now."
"Um."
A little while later, Li Qiaoqiao called Tian Dahua back. After a while, Han Zhuang also called Han Dashan and Han Gui back.
Tang Huihui originally wanted to keep it a secret from Grandma Han. But she was afraid that if those people suddenly rushed into the house, it would frighten Grandma Han. Tang Huihui told Grandma Han when Li Qiaoqiao went out to look for people.
When Grandma Han heard that Old Shang had foreseen that Han Dashan would face a calamity and that the solution was simple, she felt much more at ease.
After everyone returned, Tang Huihui asked Li Qiaoqiao to tell everyone what had happened.
Han Dashan remained calm.
Han Gui: "Father, how about we send a telegram to Binzi?"
"No need. As long as you all deny it, they can't do anything to us."
Han Zhuang: "Dad, I've heard they have a lot of tricks up their sleeves."
"It's alright. Our family consists of military personnel, so they need to think things through carefully before acting." Han Dashan looked at the others and said, "These are special times, so you all need to be careful with your words and actions. If someone in your family gets caught up in something, everyone else will be affected."
Han Dashan looked at Li Qiaoqiao and said, "Third brother's wife, please thank your mother for me."
Li Qiaoqiao's eyelids twitched: "No need, no need. Dad, do we really not need to tell Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law about this?"
"No need." Old Shang said he'd be fine as long as he didn't leave the village this month, so he'd just stay there. Han Dashan looked at Han Zhuang and asked, "Zhuangzhuang, do you believe that director can get you a job in the city?"
"I don't believe it. Besides, even if he could get me a job in the city and put me in an office, I wouldn't harm you and my second brother. You are my own father and brother. If it weren't for you and my second brother, I don't know how hungry I would have been those years." Han Zhuang looked at Li Qiaoqiao: "If it weren't for our father and our second brother, you would have starved too."
Li Qiaoqiao: "I know."
Han Zhuang looked at Han Dashan and said, "Dad, I have no ability. I will rely on you, my eldest brother, and my second brother for the rest of my life."
Han Dashan smiled and said, "Alright. It doesn't matter if you're not capable. As long as you don't cause trouble for the family or hold your second brother back, the family won't abandon you. Eldest brother, Zhuangzhuang is your younger brother. If you don't take care of him in the future, your mother and I won't agree."
Han Gui: "Father, don't worry. What I eat, he will eat too."
Han Dashan nodded: "I'll talk to Binzi about that too. Boss, if that director said he wanted Dabao to work for him, would you be willing?"
Han Gui replied without hesitation, "No way. It's a mess outside. Who knows how long he'll last as director? Da Bao definitely won't get anything good if he works for him."
Han Dashan looked at the others: "The boss is right. It's uncertain whether he can hold onto that director's position. Binzi is different. Binzi earned his position through hard work and effort. A few years ago, Binzi went to military academy. Binzi's position is much more secure than his. Besides, Binzi is your own brother. That director's position has nothing to do with you. He might be lying to you when he said he could get Zhuangzhuang a job in the city."
Han Dashan was right.
Meanwhile, after Li Qiaoqiao left, her brother went to the director's office: "Director, my sister didn't agree. What do you think..."
The director thought to himself: Damn it, they didn't fall for it! But... "It's okay, if the soft approach doesn't work, we'll try the hard one."
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