Chapter 229: Marrying into the Family?

"Whoa, is that a car?"

"It looks so fancy. I wonder who they’re here to see."

"Why does that person look so familiar? I think she’s a relative of those sent-down youths from before, isn’t she?"

Hearing this, everyone’s gazes couldn’t help but fall on Xie Changyi. Then they remembered that the last time she came, she hadn’t been alone, but with a young girl.

At the time, everyone had been curious. If the Xie Family’s sent-down youths had such a capable relative, why were they all sent down?

Normally, in a situation like this, doesn’t only one person per family have to go?

"What’s there to discuss? The Xie Family has a bad class background. They deserved to be sent down."

"If it’s a bad class background, then why wasn’t she sent down?"

"She’s just a relative, not immediate family. What are you thinking?"

Hearing this, the others trailed off and fell silent.

Xie Changyi heard the discussion, but she pretended not to. She was here to find the brigade leader and ask about the Xie Family’s recent situation.

"Friend, could you tell me where the brigade leader is?"

"I know! I’ll take you!"

The man was pleased to be spoken to. He thought he might get to ride in the car, but—

Xie Changyi followed him on foot.

"I’m going to see their brigade leader. Wait for me here." Xie Changyi turned to speak to her driver, then followed the villager to the village headquarters.

When they arrived at the village headquarters, the brigade leader was talking to someone.

Hearing footsteps, the brigade leader turned and saw Xie Changyi standing not far away. He quickly dismissed the other person and rose to his feet. "What wind blew you here?"

He knew who Xie Changyi was.

The last time Xie Changning came, she hired a veteran from the village to work as a security guard. Later, when the factory expanded, she recruited several more veterans from the village.

The brigade leader had an excellent impression of both Xie Changning and Xie Changyi.

’These two are both leaders. If I can get on their good side, it would be a huge help to the village’s development!’

’Ordinary people can’t get into that factory!’

"Hello. I’ve come to see how the Xie Family is doing." Xie Changyi didn’t state her true purpose, only saying she was here to visit relatives.

The brigade leader waved his hand at the villager who had brought Xie Changyi. "There’s nothing for you here. You can go."

’Some things aren’t for outsiders to know.’

After the villager left, the brigade leader hurriedly poured tea for Xie Changyi and said, "You can rest assured. Here with us, the Xie Family members are the hardest workers. Their whole family is very diligent."

This was the art of conversation.

It seemed like praise, but he was actually explaining the Xie Family’s situation in the village to Xie Changyi, hoping she wouldn’t misunderstand.

Xie Changyi listened and nodded. "I recall they have a younger son, don’t they? Have they not gone to see him, or has he not come to see them?"

At the mention of their younger son, the brigade leader’s expression turned a little strange.

Seeing this, Xie Changyi knew that something must have happened.

"To be honest with you, their younger son did come to visit them, but... he got married. He married the daughter of the local deputy town head and moved in with her family."

The last time someone caused trouble at Xie Changning’s factory, Xie Changyi heard about it and figured her uncle’s youngest son must have some connections.

’Otherwise, how would he dare to come out and make trouble?’

’I can’t believe he actually married into her family.’

This really did surprise Xie Changyi. "He came here before?"

"Yes. He wanted to take his family away, but they’re all sent-down youths. How could I just let them leave? I don’t know how they managed it, but they took the family’s eldest son with them."

As the brigade leader spoke, he kept stealing glances at Xie Changyi’s expression.

He was trying to see if Xie Changyi was getting angry.

Fortunately, Xie Changyi didn’t take her anger out on him, which made the brigade leader sigh in relief.

He was genuinely afraid of making Xie Changyi angry.

’What if she gets mad and stops Xie Changning from promoting the young and able-bodied men from our village in the future?’

’After all, that first veteran who went to the factory later got his wife a job there too! They said the factory was expanding and needed some kind of workers—no skills required—for a monthly salary of over ten yuan!’

’This is a great opportunity!’

Thinking of this, the brigade leader started to find the sent-down Xie Family members quite an eyesore.

When Xie Changyi heard the brigade leader say that both of her male cousins had found a way out, she understood what had happened. The incident last time must have been caused by those two.

"From now on, don’t let those two leave. If anyone shows up with official documents, call this number."

Xie Changyi gave the brigade leader her home phone number.

Seeing this, the brigade leader’s eyes instantly lit up. He nodded eagerly. "Alright! Don’t you worry. I’ll notify you the moment anything happens!"

"Mm. I want to see them now. Have them come over."

As a leader, Xie Changyi would certainly not go to see Xie Changning’s adoptive parents herself.

The brigade leader nodded and sent someone to fetch the Xie couple.

The Xie couple, who were working on the mountain, heard someone was waiting for them at the village headquarters. Their faces lit up with joy, thinking their younger son had finally pulled some strings to get them out.

They arrived at the village headquarters, full of happy anticipation.

But as soon as they entered, they saw a woman sitting with her back to them. The two of them slowed down and exchanged a look.

When the brigade leader saw them, he called out, "What are you standing there gawking for? Hurry up and greet the leader!"

Saying this, he grabbed their arms and pulled them in front of Xie Changyi.

When the couple came before Xie Changyi, their eyes widened.

They remembered Xie Changyi.

This was the eldest daughter of Xie Changning’s adoptive father’s brother!

"Uncle, long time no see." Xie Changyi turned her head, took a sip of tea, and greeted Xie Changning’s adoptive father, who stood frozen in place.

Xie Changning’s adoptive father looked at Xie Changyi and stammered.

"Niece, what are you doing here?" He was a little afraid of Xie Changyi; he knew she was an official.

But the last time she came, it was to get even on Xie Changning’s behalf.

He knew that Xie Changyi held a grudge against him for abusing Xie Changning all those years and would never pull strings for him.

The fact that he and his wife were now assigned all the hard, tiring labor was also her doing.

A flash of resentment crossed his eyes.

But no matter how resentful he felt, he didn’t dare let it show on his face. "Are you here to see your uncle? Your uncle is doing just fine here..."

"I heard your youngest son became a live-in son-in-law?"

Xie Changyi spoke slowly, a smile in her eyes, as if she were a concerned older cousin genuinely asking about her younger cousin’s marriage.

But the moment she asked, Xie Changning’s adoptive father shuddered.

He quickly waved his hands. "No, no! In his current situation, how could anyone possibly take a liking to him? It’s a miracle he hasn’t been beaten to death, heh heh heh."