Just as Chen Yunyun had predicted, Xu Zhitie set off back to the county that afternoon.
When he got home, it was past eight o'clock in the evening, and Zhang Xiao and the child were already asleep.
"Zhitie, why are you back?"
Xu Zhitie strode forward and hugged Zhang Xiao tightly. "Xiao Xiao, it's been so long since we last met. You and the child must have missed me."
Zhang Xiao was stunned. Ever since she left Xujia Village in a hurry, she had been trying desperately to forget what Chen Yunyun had said to her, but she couldn't help but think about whether what Chen Yunyun said was true.
Her feelings for Xu Zhitie are now complicated; there is love, but also doubt...
She changed the subject and poured Xu Zhitie a glass of water. "Zhitie, why are you back so late?"
Xu Zhitie then told Zhang Xiao about how he had gained the appreciation of the provincial party secretary and how he had led the raw material factory employees to hand over the goods to Charles.
"Xiaoxiao, you haven't been to Gangcheng, so you don't know how prosperous it is. Many people travel by car."
"Their clothes were all brand new, without a single patch, and they were brightly colored, much nicer than ours."
Speaking of clothes, Xu Zhitie's gaze fell on Zhang Xiao. She was still wearing a piece of clothing that was pilling from washing, and there were oil stains on the cuffs that couldn't be washed off, making it look particularly cheap.
Even the women he met in Hong Kong were dressed better than his wife.
The woman over there must have used some kind of skincare products; her face and body were so smooth and soft.
Unlike Zhang Xiao, whose hands were covered in calluses.
"Xiaoxiao, don't you have so many clothes? Change your clothes. These clothes are all pilling. We don't need them."
Zhang Xiao looked down at her clothes and saw that there was nothing wrong with them.
Why is Xu Zhitie starting to nitpick at her after just one trip out?
Seeing that Zhang Xiao's expression wasn't very good, Xu Zhitie quickly tried to smooth things over, "Xiao Xiao, don't misunderstand, I didn't mean to look down on you."
"I feel sorry for you. You've suffered so much because of me, and I haven't even bought you a few decent clothes..."
Hearing Xu Zhitie say this, Zhang Xiaocai's expression gradually softened. She comforted him, "It's okay. I married you not for your money, but for your ambition. Look, aren't you getting better and better now? That proves that my choice was right."
It's unclear whether Zhang Xiao's last sentence was meant to comfort Xu Zhitie or herself.
"Let's buy some groceries and go to your dad's place tomorrow."
Xu Zhitie and Zhang Xiao's father didn't get along. To be precise, Zhang Xiao's father didn't like Xu Zhitie, so every time the two met, they would have an unpleasant argument.
Xu Zhitie preferred to go to the countryside to compete for the factory director position rather than stay in the furniture factory as a permanent employee, and that was precisely the reason.
“Zhitie, my dad just has a bad temper, but he still cares about you a lot and wants you to prove yourself.”
"Now that you're the deputy factory director and the Party Secretary appreciates you, my dad will definitely be happy for you!"
Zhang Xiao always plays the role of mediator in the conflicts between her father and husband.
In order to make things easier for Xu Zhitie in front of his father, Zhang Xiao said a lot of good things about him.
A family of three, carrying meat, vegetables, and fruit bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, knocked on Zhang Xiaoniang's door.
"Oh, it's you two back! Old Zhang, come out quickly, your daughter and son-in-law are back, along with your little grandson."
Zhang's mother happily welcomed the two of them in. She took the child from Zhang Xiao's arms and said, "Oh, Xiao Bao has lost weight. Let him eat something good at Grandma's house today and make sure he gets some nourishment."
After comforting the child, Zhang's mother said to the two of them, "You young people just don't know how to take care of children. Look, the child has gotten thin."
Zhang Xiao was both amused and exasperated. "No way, we feed him well every day."
Mr. Zhang came out of the study.
"Dad," Zhang Xiao called out, "Zhitie and I have come to see you."
Mr. Zhang was stern and rarely smiled, not even when facing his own daughter.
When Xu Zhitie saw that his father-in-law was ignoring him, his anger flared up.
Since he became the deputy factory director, everyone who sees him has to be polite to him.
Unfortunately, his father-in-law, who was just the manager of a small furniture factory, spoke coldly to him.
His furniture factory's annual sales volume is less than the sales volume of their raw material factory in a single transaction.
Xu Zhitie felt disdain in his heart, and his tone when addressing his father-in-law became slightly colder, "Dad."
Zhang Xiao didn't notice Xu Zhitie's displeasure. "Dad, Zhitie just came back from Gangcheng. He did a good job this time, and his boss gave him five days off so he can spend more time with you at home."
Mr. Zhang snorted, "Go, go, go, go to the kitchen and cook with your mother."
She went to the kitchen with Zhang's mother, and before leaving, she gave Xu Zhitie a nudge, signaling him to get closer to Zhang's father.
Feeling aggrieved, Xu Zhitie didn't wait for Zhang's father to sit down before he sat directly on the soft sofa. He didn't try to start a conversation and remained silent, determined not to pay any attention to Zhang's father.
As a son-in-law, he showed absolutely no manners when meeting his father-in-law.
After seeing this, Zhang's father had an even worse impression of him.
Mr. Zhang did not stay in the living room for long; he returned to his study almost as soon as he took a sip of water.
When Zhang Xiao finished cooking and came out, she found the living room deserted. She asked Xu Zhitie, "Where's Dad?"
Xu Zhitie said in a harsh tone, "Your dad doesn't tell me where he's going, so who knows where he is?"
Zhang Xiao's face suddenly turned ugly, while Xu Zhitie remained seated on the sofa, acting like an old man.
Zhang's mother brought out the dishes, easing the awkwardness. "Xiao Xu, hurry up and wash your hands, it's time to eat. Xiao Xiao, go to the study and call your father."
Zhang Xiaoyi went to her father's study and said, "Dad, the food is ready, come out and eat."
Her father's voice came from inside, "Zhang Xiao, come in."
"Dad, if you're talking about Zhitie, then let's forget about it."
The study door opened, and Zhang Xiao met her father's gaze. Her father scolded her, "Stubborn!"
Since his daughter rarely came home, Zhang's father still gave Zhang Xiao face and didn't say anything unpleasant at the dinner table.
After barely finishing his meal, Xu Zhitie said he wanted to go back.
Zhang Xiao hasn't even had a proper chat with her family...
"If you want to leave, then leave. Zhang Xiao, stay!" Zhang's father had long disliked Xu Zhitie's arrogant demeanor, and after the meal, his tone became quite rude.
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