Linxian County, Chenjiagou.
An old woman was carrying a large cloth bag as she walked along the path.
The bag was filled with many things and was very heavy. The old lady's back was bent under its weight, but she was reluctant to put it down.
She was carrying all sorts of good stuff she'd gotten from her eldest daughter: warm blankets and mats, a kettle that cost over twenty yuan apiece at the supply and marketing cooperative, and plenty of soy sauce and condiments...
Just a few more minutes' walk and I'll be home!
As the old woman thought about it, her steps became lighter.
Song Xiaofen stopped in front of a low, dilapidated house. It was almost evening, and her husband and son had returned from work.
Song Xiaofen looked left and right to make sure no one was there before cautiously entering the room.
"Da Lan, Da Lan, where have you gone?"
As soon as she entered the door, she started yelling.
Dalan is the name of her second-year college daughter-in-law.
A short, plump woman came out of the kitchen, holding a spatula in her hand. When she saw Song Xiaofen, she respectfully greeted her, "Mother, you're back."
Dalan stepped forward and said, "Mom, what are you carrying? Let me help you carry it."
In the past, Song Xiaofen would have given the heavy things to her daughter-in-law, but today she was carrying all sorts of rare and unusual items.
Song Xiaofen's face darkened as she scolded Da Lan, "Take your hand away! Don't try to touch everything! This family isn't your place to make the decisions."
Instead of helping, she was scolded, and Dalan said somewhat sullenly, "Then I'll continue cooking, Mother."
Seeing Dalan hide in the kitchen, Song Xiaofen put the large bag of things into her and her husband's room.
Chen Fugui sat at the entrance of the main room, holding a bottle of wine in his hand, taking sips one after another.
Song Xiaofen came out and called to him, "Old man, come here quickly!"
After being called several times, Chen Fugui, who was being disturbed while drinking, finally looked up drunkenly with a fierce look in his eyes.
Song Xiaofen was startled. She could only explain in a low voice, "Old man, Zhao Di has really made it big. Come and see, this is what I brought back from her house."
Chen Fugui propped himself up, and Song Xiaofen quickly led the way. Smelling a strong smell of alcohol on the old man, Song Xiaofen couldn't help but say, "Drink less, or you'll go on a drunken rampage again tonight."
Chen Fugui's face was flushed from drinking. Hearing this, he said in a rough, irritable voice, "Mind your own business!"
Song Xiaofen was so frightened that she trembled and dared not say anything more. She could only put out all the things she had brought back from Chen Yunyun's house as if she wanted to take credit.
"Look at this quilt, the cotton inside is all new, it's perfect for the third son's wedding."
"Look at this kettle. You put boiled water in it, and it's still hot when you pour it out the next day. It's from the supply and marketing cooperative. You need an industrial invoice, and it costs more than twenty yuan."
The old man's eyes were bloodshot from drinking, but he could still recognize things.
His gaze swept over the items in the bag, finally settling on the old woman's face. He tapped her with the cold wine bottle in his hand, asking as if interrogating her, "Where did she get the money?"
Song Xiaofen then told the whole story about Chen Yunyun becoming the factory director, and not only that, she also embellished the story.
"This girl has become a completely different person since she got married. She's become wild and doesn't even give me a kind look anymore."
"Her kitchen was covered with cured meat on one wall, but I didn't get to eat a single bite; she hid it all."
"Moreover, she treats her husband's three children from his previous marriage like treasures. Those little brats eat better every day than we do during holidays."
"You didn't see it, those kids still have to go to school, two yuan a year for tuition! And the cloth they use to sew their schoolbags doesn't have a single patch on it."
"That brat! She's so generous with those kids, but when I told her I needed a ride back, she wouldn't give me a single penny! Old man, you have to teach her a lesson!"
Reeking of alcohol, Chen Fugui spread the quilt on the bed, lay down, took a swig of wine, and said fiercely, "You little wench, you ingrate, kill her!"
Seeing Chen Fugui's state, Song Xiaofen didn't dare to speak. She was afraid that Chen Fugui would beat her if he drank too much. She came out of the house and went to Lao San's room.
The third brother hasn't come back yet; he went out to play cards with some of his cronies.
Just in time for dinner, the third brother leisurely ran back. He pushed open the door, ready to lie down on the bed, but saw his mother sitting by the bedside.
"Mom, you're back? I knew it. Although she's also named Chen Yunyun, she can't be the Chen Yunyun we know."
When his older sister was mentioned, Chen Laosan looked disgusted; he despised Chen Zhaodi from the bottom of his heart.
Unexpectedly, the old lady interrupted him, "Third son, your sister has become the factory manager."
"What the heck?" Chen Laosan thought he was hallucinating. He rubbed his ears. "Mom, have you taken the wrong medicine? Don't make up stories. With her looks, how could that be?"
"Keep your voice down, or your brother and sister-in-law will hear you!" The old lady covered Chen Laosan's mouth and continued, "Why would I lie to you? Your sister has become the factory manager."
Chen Laosan was already depressed because he had lost a lot of money, but when he heard the old lady's words, he immediately had an idea. He put his arm around the old lady's arm and said, "Mom, that brat has become a factory manager. She must be making a lot of money, right?"
"Why don't you ask her to give some money to her younger brother?"
Song Xiaofen loved her youngest son dearly. She patted his hand and said, "When something good happens, how could your mother not think of you?"
"Don't worry, I've already spoken to Chen Zhaodi and asked her to arrange a less demanding position for you. You can go there and start working there."
Upon hearing that he had to work, Chen Laosan looked unwilling. "I have to work? Can't she share some of her wages with me? Can't I just not work?"
Song Xiaofen was unusually stern for once, "You lazy bum, what are you saying!"
"I'll send you to work in her factory. Once she decides she doesn't want to work there anymore, the factory manager's job will be yours, won't it?"
"Being a factory manager is so easy; you can let your subordinates do everything."
Chen Laosan was very tempted by Song Xiaofen's words. Being a factory manager was really great. He didn't have to work every day and could make money just by sleeping.
"Mother, you're so good to me!" Chen Laosan said sincerely.
Grandma Song patted her son's head and said, "What mother wouldn't think of her child?"
Suddenly, Old Mrs. Song looked outside, as if she had remembered something, and instructed Chen Laosan, "Don't tell your brother and sister-in-law about this, understand?"
Chen Laosan got all the benefits, so why would he run around spreading rumors? Chen Laosan nodded frantically, tossing and turning in bed, too happy to stop.
He's going to be the factory manager!!!
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