Chapter 1314

The Second Day of the Lunar New Year

Just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Song Yulan began to pack things up.

After breakfast, the couple carried the bundled-up little Ping'an and went out.

Passing by the Red Star Sihe Academy, the Third Uncle looked at the big and small bags in Cao Weiguo's hands with great envy.

The Third Aunt said sourly: "Look at Song Yulan, she really has a good life. Marrying Cao Weiguo is like falling into a nest of blessings."

The Third Uncle muttered: "Isn't that so? Even her maiden family is benefiting from it."

Watching Cao Weiguo carrying big and small bags to pay a New Year's visit to his father-in-law's house, and then thinking about how their own family had to ration even fried peanuts, the Third Aunt felt very uncomfortable: "Hey! Tell me, wouldn't it be great if this Cao Weiguo were our son-in-law?"

The Third Uncle pulled a long face and said: "What are you daydreaming about? We only have one daughter, and she's several years younger than Cao Weiguo. Don't talk nonsense; if it spreads, people will laugh at us."

The Third Aunt said crossly: "I was just saying it casually, did you take it seriously? Let me ask you, should we add some meat filling to the dumplings today?"

The Third Uncle: "Add half a tael. Don't add too much; that two taels of meat we have must last until the fifth day."

Shazhu came out of the courtyard with his hands in his pockets. Hearing this, he couldn't help but laugh: "Third Uncle! Half a tael of meat filling? Can you even taste the meat in these dumplings? Don't bite your tongue during the New Year."

The Third Uncle glared: "Hey! Shazhu! What kind of sarcastic remarks are you making? Why don't you cut half a catty of meat and give it to your uncle? It wouldn't be a waste of the effort I spent helping you introduce a partner."

Shazhu curled his lips and said: "You still have the nerve to say that. The partner you introduced to me had a face like a sesame-sprinkled flatbread. It's generous enough of me not to ask you to return the local specialties."

The Third Uncle said angrily: "Shazhu, how are you talking! What kind of character do you have! Even if you don't like the girl, how can you badmouth people behind their backs like this? This is too outrageous."

Shazhu said indignantly: "I'm telling the truth, so what? Are you not allowed to tell the truth?"

The Third Uncle was trembling with anger: "You! You are unreasonable! You! You!"

The Third Aunt pulled the Third Uncle toward home: "It's the New Year, why are you getting angry with him? He's just a rascal; it's not worth getting angry at him. In the future, stop meddling in his business. He's willing to be a lackey for Qin Huairu; introducing him to a partner is just a waste of effort."

The Third Uncle was pulled home by the Third Aunt. Sitting in a chair, he angrily scolded Shazhu: "This rascal, he's simply infuriating me. He doesn't even take a piss and look at himself in the mirror. Doesn't he know what kind of character he has? He still has the nerve to look down on Teacher Luo... Even if he kneels on the ground and begs me in the future, I won't meddle in his business again."

Shazhu, heartless and carefree, walked with his hands in his pockets to the vegetable market. He generously cut three taels of meat, bought vegetables and cooked food, and trotted to Qin Huairu's place.

Now that the meddlesome old hag Jia Zhangshi was gone, Shazhu was already wishing he could live at the Jia family's house.

However, Qin Huairu wouldn't let Shazhu succeed so easily.

If Shazhu entered the room carrying things, Qin Huairu would welcome him with a smile.

If Shazhu came empty-handed, he couldn't even think about entering the room.

Even without Jia Zhangshi's obstruction, Qin Huairu didn't want to let Shazhu off easily.

Because ever since Jia Zhangshi was taken away, she had become a popular commodity.

Not only was Shazhu attentive and flattering, but Yi Zhonghai also sent rice and flour every few days. Besides this father-son pair, Cui Dake and Xu Damao also began to hover around her.

Because Xu Damao was kept in check by He Wenjie, he only sent things sneakily when no one was around.

But the now-divorced Cui Dake was passionate as fire, launching his pursuit unscrupulously.

Besides Shazhu, Yi Zhonghai, Xu Damao, and Cui Dake from the same courtyard, people like Guo Dapie from the factory also seemed like flies smelling meat, scrambling to hover around her.

For a time, Qin Huairu seemed ten years younger, glowing all day long, and even applying vanishing cream. That mature feminine charm made men unable to look away.

What's more, Shazhu was no longer the head chef; he was a handyman in the staff canteen, and his salary wasn't even as high as Cui Dake's.

With so many men pursuing her, Qin Huairu's standards had risen; how could she still look down on the dim-witted Shazhu?

Anyway, if she gave Shazhu a little sweetness and a few smiles, Shazhu would be bubbling with joy. She simply kept Shazhu on a string, enjoying the pork Shazhu brought to her door while being ambiguous with other men.

Shazhu didn't know that Qin Huairu was playing the field; he was single-mindedly thinking about marrying Qin Huairu.

Even when He Yushui was at home, he didn't bother to cook something good to take care of his sister, and even left the Deaf Old Lady aside, running to the Jia family with rice, flour, and oil, attentively cooking for Qin Huairu and her children, serving the one big and three small ones until their mouths were oily.

The Deaf Old Lady had persuaded him several times, but Shazhu was already obsessed and couldn't listen at all.

Moreover, Yi Zhonghai was on the sidelines cheering for Shazhu, instigating Shazhu and Qin Huairu to get married quickly...

Just like this, could Shazhu still escape Qin Huairu's grasp?

Shangti Village

Song Yulan held the child, Cao Weiguo carried the things, and they constantly greeted the villagers and wished them a Happy New Year along the way.

Arriving at his father-in-law's house, Song Yuzhu happily rushed to Song Yulan's side, making faces at his little nephew whom he hadn't seen for many days.

"Brother-in-law! Sister!"

Song Ying stepped forward to take the things from Cao Weiguo's hands, and the eldest sister-in-law Zhou Guixiang held the child and welcomed them warmly.

The family walked into the room, the stove was burning vigorously, and the whole room was warm, dispelling the winter cold.

After chatting in the room for a while, Mother Song and the eldest sister-in-law invited everyone to the table to eat.

At the dinner table, Father Song was glowing, feeling very happy in his heart.

His children had grown up, the ones who were married were married, the ones who were working were working, and he had both grandsons and a grandson-in-law.

The joy of three generations living under one roof can be imagined.

After lunch, everyone gathered together to chat while cracking melon seeds.

Village Chief Song Dajiang led the commune's propaganda director over.

One doesn't visit a temple without a reason.

The two grabbed Cao Weiguo, saying that the commune hadn't shown a movie for a long time, and begged Cao Weiguo to arrange for a projectionist from the factory to come to the village to show a movie.

In this era, entertainment was scarce, and watching a movie was a great enjoyment.

Cao Weiguo didn't refuse this matter; after thinking about it, he agreed.

This made Song Dajiang and the commune director unable to stop smiling, constantly expressing their gratitude.

Returning from Shangti Village to Nanluoguxiang, Cao Weiguo went to the Red Star Sihe Academy.

Arranging for a projectionist to go to Shangti Village to show a movie required coordinating with Xu Damao.

"Third Uncle, out for a stroll?"