Chapter 058 Marriage
Jiang Nan felt a little disappointed that she hadn't managed to find a bargain. But then she realized she was already lucky; she had a system. Finding a bargain was best left to those who needed it more.
Quickly consoling himself, Jiang Nan finished copying the books and returned them to their proper places. The four of them resumed their precious weekend enjoyment. Perhaps there were other factors at play, but the explosion probability remained unchanged after copying the books. But having done it, Jiang Nan didn't dwell on it any further, continuing his journey through the forest.
There are still many mountain products on the mountain at this time of year. Hazelnuts and chestnuts are in season, and you can occasionally see wild grapes. Although they are not very sweet, they are still a rare treat.
It was already 4 p.m. when the four of them, their backpacks full, descended the mountain and headed home. They'd ridden three bikes, and Jiang Mancheng, still unfazed, sat in the back seat of his wife's bike. It was already 6 p.m. when they arrived at the family compound.
"Xiao Nan, what good things did you pick up?" Downstairs, Old Lady Liu was sharp-eyed. Seeing the four people carrying baskets with smiles on their faces, she knew that they had a big harvest and asked hurriedly.
Jiang Nan had already stored four rabbits in his space. Now, the four of them only had a pheasant and two rabbits in their backpacks. Most of the things they had were mushrooms, hazelnuts, chestnuts, and wood ear mushrooms. They weren't in a hurry to go up the mountain. They'd been so anxious to get the chestnuts back on the mountain, afraid others might find them and come snatching them. They'd been so anxious to pick the chestnuts that they hadn't even peeled the burrs off yet. Jiang Mancheng simply sat down and told Jiang Nan, "Xiao Nan, go get the gloves from home. Let's peel the chestnuts before we go back up."
"Okay." Jiang Nan went upstairs obediently, and the other three took the opportunity to sit down and chat.
"Oh, there are quite a lot of chestnuts." Old Mrs. Qiu was so envious that her heart was filled with jealousy. She came back from the country two days ago to help with Qiu Pan'er's wedding. Qiu Pan'er was pregnant, and the sooner the better. The wedding was scheduled for next Sunday. She rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "Mancheng, you Pan'er's niece is getting married, so you shouldn't give a little gift? We are fellow villagers and live in the same building. I don't want anything else, but these chestnuts are good. They are good for stewing chicken or stir-frying with sugar, don't you think?"
Jiang Mancheng chuckled twice and asked instead of answering, "Aunt Qiu, my Xiaonan is getting engaged. What gift are you planning to give?"
"You want to receive gifts after getting engaged?" Old Mrs. Qiu screamed.
"Why can't we accept gifts when we're engaged?"
Jiang Mancheng was so shameless, with an expression that said, "I just accepted the gift, so what?" Old Lady Qiu smacked her lips. She complained, "My Pan'er is getting married, how is that the same as an engagement? Besides, we don't give gifts for engagements here. Otherwise, you have to give gifts for the wedding. You're doing one thing and accepting gifts twice. That's not right."
"Oh, then why don't you get your Pan'er engaged first?" Jiang Mancheng suggested sincerely, "and accept two gifts. That way, our two families won't have to give gifts to each other. Don't you think that makes sense?"
Old Lady Qiu choked. She wanted to get engaged first, but that damned Pan'er was pregnant. She snorted and got up to leave. This Jiang Mancheng, he was always talking about things that were not related to the topic.
Perhaps because Old Lady Qiu was driven away by the insult, Old Lady Liu rolled her eyes a few times and didn't mention the request for the things anymore. She gossiped, "Mancheng, let me tell you, Fang Nanshan's girlfriend came to the house today and said she would marry him. Tell me, what is this girl thinking now? She came here alone and said such things. Isn't this a slap in the face of her parents?"
"That's right. If the girl's parents wanted to, how could they let her come alone?"
"Of course they wouldn't want to. She's the daughter of the captain of the well-repair team, who's in charge of over a hundred people. She's not bad looking either, so her parents must be looking for a better wife. How could they look down on Nanshan?"
"I don't think so. No parent can ever control their children. I think Cheng Meijuan will marry me sooner or later."
Jiang Nan had already come down with her work gloves, and she was quite cheerful as she listened to the gossip while working. She said, "There's been a lot of happy events in that building lately."
"That's right. Wu Jianguo is having a wedding the week after next, and Lin Bing's will probably be soon too. Xiaonan, aren't you getting engaged? Pan'er is also having a wedding. Wow, if you count them all, there are quite a few people getting married in your generation."
"Oh, it's true. Who did it first, Lin Bing or Wu Jianguo?"
"Wu Jianguo, Lin Bing's girlfriend said she wants to spend some time together and isn't in a rush to get married."
"Why, you don't want to? Lin Bing is so unlucky..."
"Stop talking nonsense." After finishing his meal, Lin Bing came downstairs for a walk and heard everyone talking about his marriage. He hurriedly explained, "Lili said she wants to find a job first. There's been rumors lately that the oil field is hiring, right? She wants to take care of that first. We'll get married in the winter. It's already agreed."
"Are you really hiring?"
"Of course not. They say the reserves on the west bank are quite high. There's definitely not enough workers right now, but they should mostly recruit men. After all, it's hard labor, so there aren't many women."
"Yes, that's right. That's right. Most of the frontline workers are men."
"My daughter Lili has graduated from high school. She will definitely be able to pass the exam to get other positions." Lin Bing held his head high, with a proud look on his face. He said, "Besides, when recruiting, we can't just recruit frontline workers. With more people, we will definitely need to recruit people to manage logistics in the rear. My daughter Lili will definitely be able to pass the exam."
Hehe, by then his family will also be a dual-income family, and they will be counted in the building. Look, the young man in this building is still him.
Lin Bing was brimming with pride, but he couldn't steal Wu Jianguo's limelight. After all, he was the first of this generation of young men to get married. What about Qiu Pan'er? She was married, and while the couple still clung to the tube-shaped building, the Qiu family insisted on marrying off their daughter, not taking in a son-in-law. Furthermore, the Qiu family held their banquet in the countryside, and didn't invite anyone from the building, so no one was particularly interested.
Speaking of which, an interesting thing happened on the day Tian Jiaguang first moved into the tube-shaped building.
It happened to be a Monday, and after Tian Jiaguang got married, he couldn't wait to move in. He had to pack his things and go through some paperwork at the brigade, so it was already late when he arrived, right around the time everyone was getting off work. Qiu Pan'er and Tian Jiaguang walked arm in arm, carrying their bags, into the family compound.
"Pan'er, is this your boyfriend?" The first person to speak was always the sharp-eyed old lady Liu.
Qiu Pan'er was very proud and nodded to introduce him to everyone: "His name is Tian Jiaguang, and we have already set up a banquet."
Tian Jiaguang was quite good at putting on a good show. He wore a washed-out blue short-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and glasses, giving him a rather refined look. He smiled and greeted everyone. When he saw Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing riding their bikes over, he took the initiative to greet Jiang Nan without needing an introduction: "Hello, Comrade Jiang Nan."
Look, look, without you, his tiger aunt, he can also control other female comrades, say goodbye to farm work, and live in a tube-shaped building. Tian Jiaguang is extremely proud.
It was just after get off work, and Fang Nanshan and Wu Jianguo followed behind them. Fang Nanshan raised his eyebrows and asked meaningfully, "Do you know Jiang Nan?"
Tian Jiaguang was very sincere. He said, "I know him. I'm an educated youth from the Xihe'an Brigade. I went up the mountain a while ago and saw Comrade Jiang Nan bitten by a snake. I happened to be passing by, so I helped drive the snake away."
"A hero saving a beauty?" Fang Nanshan said with a meaningful tone.
Tian Jiaguang said sternly, "Anyone who sees this will help. Although I saved Jiang Nan's life, I never expect anything in return. I am a very upright person..."
Jiang Nan couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted, "Brother, it was just a small grass snake, and you released it. Why are you pretending to be a good guy here?"
Before Tian Jiaguang could say anything, Qiu Paner exploded. Her eyes were red as she growled, "Jiang Nan, I didn't expect you to be such a person. So what if you're a grass snake? Jiaguang saved you, and you're not grateful, and you even want to accuse Jiaguang of harming others. You're so despicable. I guess I was wrong about you before. A morally corrupt person like you can't compare to me. No wonder Jiaguang looks down on you, you're just a sinister villain. Humph, Jiaguang, let's go and ignore her from now on!"
Jiang Nan was helpless: "Qiu Pan'er, can you please wake up? This person only chose you because you are good-looking. Can you use your brain? Your brain is useless. You are still a high school student. You really don't understand anything."
Qiu Paner roared: "Jiang Nan, that's enough! I didn't expect you to be such a person. Not only did you frame me, you also wanted to throw dirty water on me! You are so shameless, you..."
"Alright." Tian Jiaguang was secretly delighted. He had already put a damper on his enemy's eyes on him on the first day, and he could also take the opportunity to chant a spell for Qiu Pan'er. He immediately held Qiu Pan'er's hand and said affectionately: "Pan'er, don't be angry. It's okay for me to suffer a little grievance. But I don't want to see you angry. It's not worth it. I don't know why Comrade Jiang Nan hates me so much. I have only heard that love turns to hate, I don't know..."
He paused for a moment, his words very meaningful, and then he continued, "Pan'er, you have to believe me. I love you the most, and no one can take me away from you. Don't worry. Love can't be forced. I love you, the sun and the moon can bear witness to that!"
After he finished his affectionate confession, he did not forget to look at Jiang Nan coldly, frowning and saying, "Comrade Jiang Nan, I don't care what your feelings are for me, but I only like Pan'er. Please don't destroy our relationship."
He held Pan'er's hand and said firmly, "Pan'er, let's go. No one can interfere with our relationship. No matter how outstanding other women are, they are not as good as you in my heart. You are the only one and the best. You must believe in my determination and your own charm."
Qiu Paner wiped her tears and said, "Jiaguang, I believe you."
As she spoke, she glared at Jiang Nan fiercely, with a bit of pride and arrogance: "Even if you like Jiaguang, Jiaguang will not like you. But he likes me! Stop dreaming!"
Onlookers: Ah, they're not blind, are they? Jiang Nan clearly despises Tian Jiaguang, so how could Tian Jiaguang do this? He's completely conflating right and wrong. This guy has some skills.
Jiang Nan: Ahhh, she wants to kill someone. Is this a way of stepping on her to establish her image as a loving person?
[Yes, host.]
Zhou Zhixing coughed lightly and said, "Xiao Nan, you are the only one in my heart. You are a thousand times better than that Qiu Pan'er..."
Jiang Nan Erkang clasped his hands and threatened, gritting his teeth: "Zhou Zhixing, if you continue to talk nonsense like that, I will ask my parents to cancel the engagement party."
Zhou Zhixing shrugged: "He's just trying to redeem himself for Jiang Nan, and at the same time, he's using Qiu Pan'er and Tian Jiaguang to build up his image. He's really just helping Jiang Nan."
Old Lady Liu and the other old men and women who were watching just stared blankly.
I don't understand, I really don't understand. This is how young people talk these days.
But, forget it, the hottest topic in the building right now is that Wu Jianguo is getting married, and the wedding banquet is going to be held downstairs.
It’s a banquet, it’s just a banquet, what could be more important than a banquet?
Let me ask you, what could be more important than having a feast?!
Of course not. Even the gigolo Tian Jiaguang has failed to attract people's interest.
Wu Jianguo's family had already held a banquet in the countryside, so why did they hold another one in the building? After all, they were big men in the oil field and they had to maintain their reputation.
Although Old Wu was stingy and lustful, he also cared deeply about his reputation. As the first family in the building to marry their grandson's wife, they had to celebrate with a flourish. Furthermore, he and Wu Dachui both knew that Wang Jiannan's conditions were actually quite good. At least she worked in the oil field and had a formal job. This alone made her far superior to the Tong Lili mentioned by Lin Bing.
The day of the wedding banquet happened to be a Sunday, so everyone was off work. All thirty households in the building attended. Of course, as they were all on the same floor, everyone on the fourth floor attended, as well as the family of the building manager, Mrs. Cao. The other households strictly followed the principle of one representative from each family.
It's not about favoring one over the other; people on the same level naturally have closer relationships. It's common to borrow a scallion, garlic, or soy sauce when cooking. While there are arguments, there's definitely more contact than on other levels.
Of course, there were those who loved to take advantage of others on other floors, but regardless of whether they were representatives or not, everyone came with their families.
Twelve tables were set up in the open space downstairs, and a large crowd of people gathered in Courtyard No. 1, three layers deep. At the main table sat several leaders from the special vehicle team and the heating station.
The children were running around the makeshift stove, making a lot of noise and running around like it was New Year's Eve, which made the chef Cheng Dazhu couldn't help yelling: "Uncle Wu, Uncle Wu, please do something about it. The fire is about to be lit, and the oil is boiling. What if the children get hurt if they run around everywhere?" He had a white towel draped around his neck and was sweating profusely.
If it weren't for his neighbors, he wouldn't have become the chef in such a hot day. He didn't make much money and it was already hard enough.
Old Wu was so busy that his feet were pounding on the floor. Hearing this, he shouted at the crowd in anger, "Whose child is going to take care of this? Fire and water are merciless. Dazhu is busy cooking. If he's not careful and lets the child get burned, who's to blame? As the head of the household, I've warned them. If anyone disobeys and something happens and you find fault with them later, don't blame me for being rude. There are police witnesses today, so I've done my duty."
The crowd chattered, some grumbling quietly about being stingy. They thought, "The children are so young, they're just hanging around the stove. Maybe the cook will be soft-hearted and give them a couple of slices of meat? Who doesn't lack meat these days?" Now that the host had kicked them out, several parents, with stern faces, reluctantly stepped forward to pull their children away, even raising their hands to strike. Of course, there were also some reasonable families who, upon hearing this, went to pull their children away without a word.
The naughty child was still throwing a tantrum and rolling around, "I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat."
"Eat meat, eat meat."
There is always a shortage of naughty kids.
For the wedding, Jiang Nan's family gifted a pair of mandarin duck pillowcases, and Zhou Zhixing gave a separate gift: an enamel teacup. While these aren't expensive, they're quite impressive these days. Some stingier families only gave a piece of oilcloth.
When they sat at the table, Qiu Pan'er took Tian Jiaguang's arm and stayed away from Jiang Nan's family. Tian Jiaguang knew everything and took the opportunity to comfort Qiu Pan'er affectionately: "Pan'er, you are the only one in my heart. Even if someone else seduces me, it will be useless. You have to believe me."
"I believe it." Qiu Pan'er's cheeks flushed, and she glared at Jiang Nan who was not far away. After sitting down, she did not forget to pour water and peel melon seeds for Tian Jiaguang, taking care of him in every possible way.
This disgusted Jiang Nan. Really, what kind of person is this? She'd seen Phoenix men before, but this was the first time she'd seen such a petty, top-notch Phoenix man. She should have slapped him back then, Jiang Nan thought angrily. Even if all the men in the world died, she wouldn't fall for Tian Jiaguang. The Qiu family mother and daughter really had a nagging mental disorder. Tao Meiyu wanted to raise someone else's child, while Qiu Pan'er was so devoted to her Phoenix man. I really didn't know what to say.
Although she also wanted to get engaged, she and Zhou Zhixing were partners. She wouldn't forget her last name for a man, and her mind and eyes would be filled with trivial things.
Jiang Nan didn't forget to joke with herself. She was relieved that among those who were married or engaged, there was a couple who were truly in love. Otherwise, they all had their own motives. She should really suspect that this building was not conducive to marriage.
Sitting at the table, Jiang Nan couldn't help but sigh. The neighborly love at that time was really extraordinary. Neighbors were invited to the wedding. Who could have thought of this decades later?
As she lamented, Cheng Dazhu had already started cooking. Old Wu and Wu Dachui had invested heavily in the banquet, spending a total of two hundred yuan. They were determined to make a splash in the building and avenge their previous humiliation.
A week earlier, the two had been bartering on the black market, reportedly even finding a black market meat seller and ordering six pounds of pork belly. They also had alcohol, melon seeds, and candy, which was quite respectable.
Before the dishes were ready, the bride, Wang Jian, dressed in red, appeared in the family compound. In front of her were a group of snotty-nosed children, who were running and shouting, "The bride is here!" and "The bride is here!"
Jiang Nan looked over and saw six brand new Phoenix bicycles in a row, with big red flowers hanging on the front of the bicycles.
Wang Jianyi sat on the back seat of the bicycle pushed by Wu Jianguo, her face flushed, smiling from time to time, and a little shy.
Wu Jianguo had a big red flower pinned to his chest, and he looked so happy that his eyes became smaller due to his smile.
Wang Zili and Wang Gengsheng stood guard behind them, like two loyal generals, but their eyes were red, as if they had been crying. Wang Yanji's older brother, Wang Fendou, had gone to the countryside and couldn't come back for the wedding.
"Where did you borrow this bicycle from?" Jiang Nan looked at the "luxury cars" used to pick up brides in that era and couldn't help but ask her father.
"A colleague." Jiang Mancheng was in a good mood and explained to his daughter, "The special team's employees have high salaries, and they buy the best bicycles. Phoenix bikes are always rare."
"It's so shameless." Old Mrs. Liu complained accurately.
"That's right," echoed Old Lady Qiu at the next table. "Phoenix and Forever Pigeon are both big brands, and they're still looking down on them. Hey, tell me, how many meat dishes can we have on this table today?"
"At least four." The old lady of the Sui family came with her whole family just for today's feast. "I heard there will be braised pork, so there must be fish, chicken, and scrambled eggs."
Oh my god, the more Mrs. Sui talked, the more she drooled. She must have skipped dinner last night. She was really at a loss for not eating in the morning. The old Su family on the second floor hadn't eaten all day yesterday and was so hungry that they could hardly stand. She knew it clearly.
The more Old Lady Sui thought about it, the more she felt she'd been wronged. She regretted it to the point of nausea. But the feast didn't disappoint. There were ten dishes on the table. The main meats were braised pork and fish, while the smaller dishes included stir-fried celery with shredded pork and cabbage and pork stewed with vermicelli noodles. The rest were vegetarian dishes like tofu, radish balls, and bok choy. The staple food was steamed buns made from two-grain flour, which were sure to fill you up.
As soon as the food was served, there was a sound of slurping saliva. Everyone was in high spirits, holding their chopsticks tightly, ready to start the meal at any time.
Wu Dachui, who was sitting at the head table, stood up. He wore a small red flower, symbolizing "old man," on his chest, and smiled with pride. He said, "Dear leaders, colleagues, and neighbors, today is the wedding banquet for my son Wu Jianguo and Wang Yanjiu. I'm here to wish my son a prosperous life, and that he and his wife will both have successful careers, and contribute to the nation's oilfield development!"
"good."
"Well done, Wu Dachui."
As was typical of that era, after the grandpa's opening speech, the couple saluted. Wu Jianguo and Wang Jianyong each held a copy of the Quotations from Heavenly Purpose Book, solemnly placed it on their chests, and recited in a resonant voice. After reciting a passage, Wu Jianguo took Wang Jianyong's hand and said excitedly, "Today is the auspicious day that Comrade Wang Jianyong and I are getting married. From this day forward, we will live well, work hard, unite our neighbors, and become a revolutionary couple that contributes to both our country and society!"
Wang Jianyi is not a shy person. She responded gracefully: "Thank you all for attending our wedding. We will definitely live in harmony in the future and make more contributions to our country and society."
"Well, that's very well said."
"A talented man and a beautiful woman!"
Well, there was a moment of silence in the crowd, but soon everyone started congratulating loudly again.
Wu Dachui was in high spirits throughout the whole process. He stood up again, raised his hand and pressed it down. He said, "Okay, I won't say any more nonsense. Everyone, eat and drink well. You must come happily and leave with a full stomach..."
Before Wu Dachui finished speaking, everyone quickly waved their chopsticks and started to grab the food. The waving of the chopsticks was like the Monkey King's golden hoop, leaving afterimages.
But in her past life, Jiang Nan had been a woman who had squeezed through the morning rush hour, not at all weak. Her cheeks were so bulging with flesh, like a little hamster, that Zhou Zhixing was stunned.
Jiang Nan glanced sideways and asked, "What are you looking at? Hasn't you seen beautiful women fighting over meat?"
Zhou Zhixing smiled: I have seen it, but I have never seen someone who only steals the large intestine.
Jiang Nan puffed out her chest proudly: "I just like pig intestines, what's wrong with that? I'm a huge pig intestines fan, I just like the spicy ones."
Zhou Zhixing chuckled, his shoulders shaking. In his previous life, he'd been a playboy, never having to fight for food; servants brought it to the table. Four dishes per person was standard, and when the mood struck, he'd even order an eighteen-dish feast. He chuckled, feeling like he'd experienced everything in this life. Without pretense, he quickly brandished his chopsticks and joined the rush to grab food.
As expected of someone who had practiced martial arts, Zhou Zhixing came from behind and grabbed several pieces of braised pork.
When they were almost done eating the meat and dishes, Wu Jianguo led Wang Jianyu to each table to toast. Wang Jianyu smiled broadly, but seemed a bit shy as he walked side by side with Wu Jianguo.
When it came to Lin Bing's table, this guy wanted to show off and kept talking about Tong Lili, saying things like "My Lili is fair-skinned" and "My Lili is gentle and skilled", which made the other people at the table roll their eyes.
No matter how good your Lili is, she is not qualified to attend today's wedding banquet.
Sun Qiaolian's eyes nearly popped out. She wiped the oil off her lips and interrupted with a sweet smile, "It's going to be tough. When Meijuan gets married, you'll have to take good care of my daughter-in-law. Look at you, you're so strong, unlike my Meijuan, who's skinny and petite. She's pretty, but she doesn't look as healthy as you."
Someone asked: "Why didn't Cheng Meijuan come today?"
"Well." Sun Qiaolian was just waiting for someone to ask. She laughed triumphantly, "My Meijuan is discussing it with her parents at home. She wants to get married as soon as possible. My Nanshan is so outstanding, she's worried. It's not like no one in this building has ever liked my Nanshan before."
She was arrogant and proud, her eyes intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Jiang Nan, her chin held high as she said, "Hardship, you haven't met my daughter Meijuan yet, have you? She's the daughter of the well repair team leader. She's a very nice person. I'll introduce you to her when she gets married."
Fang Nanshan nodded reservedly without saying anything more. So what if Wu Jianguo married first? He still had to lose to him. He married the daughter of a leader, not a boiler operator.
Some people find the mother and son's behavior unacceptable, but others envy them. "Soft rice" sounds unpleasant, but it's delicious. Many men want to eat it, but can't.
Wu Jianguo was not stupid either. He listened with a smile throughout the whole process, but he hurriedly left the table with Wang Jianyi.
After the toast, the wedding banquet officially began, everyone toasted each other, and the place quickly became lively. A few men got drunk and stood up to look for drinks, and the scene was noisy.
But a wedding banquet should be lively, so no one thinks there is anything wrong with it.
Only the two brothers-in-law, Wang Zili and Wang Gengsheng, were left at the main table. Their eyes were red and swollen like walnuts, and it was obvious they had been crying all night. They were embarrassed to see Zhou Zhixing approach. They often went to the police station, specializing in doing good deeds, and were very familiar with Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing.
Zhou Zhixing teased: "Oh my, you're a grown man now, and you're still crying?"
"Who's crying?" Wang Gengsheng's voice was muffled, and he refused to admit it. He rolled his eyes, chuckled twice, and whispered, "Brother Zhou, you're getting engaged next week, right? I have something good here, do you want it?"
Well, the shifty look made his usually cheerful and generous expression look even more unpleasant. Zhou Zhixing glanced at Jiang Nan, who was sitting not far away, and asked calmly, "What good stuff? Where did you get it?"
Wang Gengsheng was only fifteen or sixteen years old, and he admired the policeman Zhou Zhixing greatly. He didn't hide what he heard, and whispered, "I went to the scrap collection station to buy old newspapers to paste on the walls, and I accidentally saw it. It was a whole booklet. You've definitely never seen it before."
Zhou Zhixing frowned. This kind of book still existed in this day and age. The foolish boy hadn't the slightest clue what Jiang Nan was saying. "Clear stupidity," he thought. Yes, it was clear stupidity. Zhou Zhixing was furiously complaining internally, but his face remained serious. He stared directly at Wang Gengsheng. "Give me the book after dinner. Don't tell anyone. Remember? If you do, you'll be in big trouble, and no one can save you."
Wang Gengsheng scratched his head, still not understanding what was going on. Seeing Zhou Zhixing's serious expression, he realized he might be in trouble, and nodded with a pale face. After Zhou Zhixing left, Wang Zili punched his younger brother hard: "Tell me, what book? Who did you tell?"
Wang Gengsheng hung his head and stammered, "Yes, it's those little picture books with pictures. I didn't tell anyone, really. I only told Brother Zhou."
Wang Zili breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that no one was around, he whispered a warning: "From now on, you have to tell me what books you read, understand? I can cause trouble with just one wrong glance. Do you still want to get married?"
"I do." Wang Gengsheng nodded vigorously. "Brother, I was wrong. I will listen to you in everything from now on."
"That's more like it. My sister is married, my brother has gone to the countryside, and you're not very smart, so you have to listen to me at home. If you don't listen, I'll tell my sister and let her deal with you."
Wang Gengsheng lowered his head, slumped his shoulders, and looked extremely disappointed. "I know." He was very afraid of his eldest sister. His third brother wouldn't hit him, but if his eldest sister knew, she would definitely hit him, and hit him hard. Wang Gengsheng shuddered. He wanted to be obedient. Yes, he would be obedient.
While Jiang Nan was scolding his younger brother, she was asking about Cheng Gaigai's blind date. Wu Chunli had gone to the countryside, so Cheng Gaigai's blind date was on the agenda. Cheng Dazhu had already found someone, an old acquaintance. Who was it?
Jing Zhiyuan, the chief secretary of Secretary Tu in the Operations Department, sounds familiar to you?
The one whose elderly, somewhat bewildered mother scraped up the park's flower tiles and refused to let go, leading to the police station calling her children to come and claim her. Secretary Jing's son was still young, and Cheng Gaigai was dating Secretary Jing's eldest nephew, Jing Aihua.
Jing Zhiyuan, out of respect for his mother, arranged a temporary job for Jing Aihua, the eldest grandson of the Jing family. However, due to his connections, he'd likely be offered a permanent position sooner or later. This Jing Aihua was the best-official family Cheng Dazhu could find, or perhaps even the most senior relative. Initially, the old lady of the Jing family was reluctant, disliking Cheng Gaigai's lack of work and inability to contribute to the family.
But Jing Zhiyuan thought it was a good idea. At least Cheng Gaigai was a high school student. His eldest nephew, though a temporary worker, had only graduated from elementary school and his abilities were average. However, he was honest, so Jing Zhiyuan arranged a job for him. He wouldn't bother with anyone else. Furthermore, Jing Zhiyuan knew the inside story: in the future, oilfield workers would need to have at least a high school diploma to work in the office.
Jing Zhiyuan was a shrewd man. He told his nephew the whole story, and only then did Jing Aihua agree to the blind date. Don't think the Jing family is calculating. It's understandable that they want to find a good partner. Isn't it because of this that the Cheng family rushed to arrange the blind date?
The two of them had a blind date after get off work two days ago. Now when Jiang Nan asked about it, Cheng Gaigai was still a little shy.
Jiang Nan understood everything and jokingly said, "Hey, are you interested?"
Cheng Gaigai lowered her head shyly: "Let's just get along and see. I'm still young anyway, and it will take two years for us to get married. Aihua is only eighteen, so we...we agreed to get along for two years first."
Jiang Nan: "Hey, it's only been a few days, and you guys have talked a lot."
Jiang Nan nudged Cheng Gaigai's shoulder, eager to get to the bottom of things. "What does he do for a living? Is he living with Secretary Jing's family now?"
Cheng Gaigai's face flushed red. "He's a temporary worker in the drilling team, the same team Uncle Qiu and his team are in. He's quite busy every day. He lives in the dormitory. He said that he's already troubled Uncle and can't live in Uncle's house anymore. Secretary Jing's house isn't spacious either. I've been there. He has three children and his house is only about the size of yours. It's not convenient for Aihua to live in Secretary Jing's house anymore."
Jiang Nan nodded, sounding like a reliable person. Cheng Gaigai then asked some interesting questions about being a police officer, and the two had a very pleasant chat.
At the table where the Qiu family sat, Qiu Paner looked at her newlywed husband Tian Jiaguang from time to time with a very sweet smile. Tian Jiaguang had a gentle appearance, a doting look in his eyes, and gentle movements, which attracted the attention of many neighbors who wanted to see him laugh.
Originally, Tian Jiaguang lived in his father-in-law's house all day, which they looked down upon. It was like marrying into his wife's family. But after two days of getting along, they found that the young man was a presentable man who could handle any situation. He was polite and courteous at meals, and took good care of Qiu Pan'er. He was also very good-looking and looked very impressive.
Tao Meiyu was deeply conflicted. She was disappointed in her daughter. She had originally hoped that even if she didn't marry into a family, she would at least marry into a good family and have someone to rely on for the future. But now, she had married an unemployed educated youth. But she was still her daughter, and she had feelings for her. She had been pretending to be pregnant for the past few days, but her heart was still wavering. After all, it wasn't her own child, and she was worried about raising her well. But...
"Meiyu, come here and drink some malted milk to replenish your energy." Qiu Xiangdong came down from upstairs carefully, holding the cup.
See, that's how it was. Ever since she pretended to be pregnant, the man had been extra considerate, giving her malted milk and milk powder alternately, and even the eggs and meat at home were given to her first. She took the malted milk, feeling both bitter and sweet in her heart.
Qiu Paner tightened her grip on the chopsticks. She still had Jiaguang, so she didn't care if he was an only child. Jiaguang loved her, and no one could take him away from her.
"Oh, Xiangdong, you really dote on your wife." Old Lady Liu said with a hint of sarcasm. She had heard from her eldest son, Dazhu, that Qiu Xiangdong was not a clean person outside. So she pretended to be as ignorant as everyone else.
Old Lady Liu held her head high. "I've seen through you. Nothing can be hidden from my piercing eyes." She was so confident!
Qiu Xiangdong smiled dotingly: "Meiyu is old, and it is not good for her health to get pregnant now. I also advised her to have an abortion. We already have Pan'er, and I am content in my heart. But Meiyu loves me and has always wanted to give me a son. No matter how much I persuade her, she won't listen. I can only give her more nourishment."
He glanced at Jiang Mancheng vaguely and continued, "Auntie Liu, please help me take care of Meiyu when you have nothing to do. She's not working anymore and is often at home. We're all neighbors, so I hope you can lend a hand if anything happens to her."
Jiang Mancheng was speechless. "You can be corny if you want. Why are you looking at me? Do you think I don't know your tricks? +2 for seeing through your true nature." Well, I'm just too lazy to expose you.
"Oh, that won't do." Old Lady Liu refused to take the bait. She waved her hands and said sharply, "I have so much to do at home. My son is only four years old, Gaigai is going on a blind date, and there are so many chores to do at home. I don't have time to take care of your family's affairs."
She glanced at Old Lady Qiu and said sarcastically, "Xu Dani, aren't you at home all day? Why, your daughter-in-law is finally pregnant, and you don't take care of her?"
Old Mrs. Qiu was heartbroken. Others didn't know, but she knew it all too well: her daughter-in-law wasn't pregnant. She didn't know what she was thinking, but she agreed to adopt the widow's baby. Even she, the widow's own grandmother, was reluctant. The family had grandchildren, so who could they adopt? If they were bothered by their age, why not let the eldest or second daughter-in-law have another child? Why did they have to adopt a stranger's child and take such a huge risk? What was she thinking?
She was so anxious that her mouth was blistered. If it weren't for the banquet today, she would have returned home instead of staying at home to play with them. Old Mrs. Qiu replied angrily, "You are in trouble, but I am not? My eldest grandson's wife is pregnant. That's my great-grandson. I will be back to take care of her in a few days. You are not willing to help me. You are really not kind at all."
Old Lady Liu glared at him, "Oh, no, Xu Dani, how can you say that? You don't even take care of your own daughter-in-law, and you expect an outsider like me to take care of her? How can you be so arrogant? Why do you think everyone has to revolve around your family?"
Qiu Xiangdong quickly spoke up to persuade her, "Mom, Aunt Liu, please stop arguing. It's all my fault for talking nonsense. Please stop arguing. Mom, Meiyu doesn't have a job right now, and I'm worried about her being alone at home. Why don't you let her move back in with you? We're all family, so she can at least take care of you. What do you think?"
Old Mrs. Qiu curled her lips secretly. Although she didn't like the behavior of her youngest son's family, she also knew that Xiangdong wanted his own child. She nodded and said, "I understand."
Qiu Xiangdong was smug. His plan was going smoothly; in a few months, he'd have a son. He glanced at the pretentious Tian Jiaguang, his disgust evident in his eyes, no longer able to conceal it. He'd first send Meiyu back home, then kick Pan'er and this man out.
His home and work are not to be coveted by outsiders.
Qiu Xiangdong's little thoughts couldn't be hidden from Jiang Nan, but would she care? She wasn't bored. Even if she was full today, her father wouldn't let her care.
Jiang Mancheng's usual principle was to stay out of trouble. If it weren't for the explosion, Jiang Mancheng wouldn't even bother with the system.
Well, except when using Chigua coins to exchange for things. Typical work without effort.
Apparently, the few people's little thoughts didn't attract anyone else's attention. Old Lady Liu rolled her eyes and shrilly asked, "Hey, are you guys talking about Wu Jianguo getting married? Will Fan Taohua come?"
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