Chapter 788

It must be said that Liu Haizhong is getting carried away; showing off in the plant and the group is no longer enough to satisfy him.

Xu Xu Damao follows behind Liu Haizhong, curling his lip in disdain at Liu Haizhong’s back. If it weren't for one moment of carelessness that let that grandson Sha Zhu trick him, what would you, Liu Haizhong, a big straw bag, be worth?

When I was a deputy section chief, you still had to wag your tail to please me.

Now that you see me down on my luck, you want to show off in front of me? Just wait until I get back on my feet; I’ll show you how to deal with this big straw bag.

Now Xu Xu Damao is looking for connections everywhere. Even if he looks down on Liu Haizhong, he has to actively please him, hoping that Liu Haizhong can put in a good word for him. No matter what, Liu Haizhong has a bunch of disciples and followers in the Steel Rolling Plant, and he still has some mass base. At the very least, he is better than him in this regard.

The two arrive at Cao Cao Weiguo’s house together and run into Zhao Zhao Mancang, the section chief of the security department, followed by a room full of section chiefs, division chiefs, and many unfamiliar faces.

Liu Haizhong laughs, patting his belly: "Cao Weiguo, your house is really lively. If I didn't know better, I’d think the plant was holding a meeting at your house."

Xu Xu Damao bows: "Happy New Year, Brother Cao Weiguo. I wish you all the best and a bright future in the new year."

Cao Cao Weiguo welcomes the two into the living room with a beaming smile: "Happy New Year, Second Uncle, Brother Xu Damao. Please, come in."

Liu Haizhong doesn't stand on ceremony. He sits down, grabs a handful of melon seeds, and while patting his belly, he starts to put on airs, talking loudly with several section chiefs about the new situation and new policies he heard on the radio. If you didn't know better, you’d really think the factory manager had come to hold a meeting.

Cao Cao Weiguo is used to Liu Haizhong’s posturing. By the time it’s almost noon, the guests leave one after another, leaving only Liu Haizhong and Xu Xu Damao sitting in the room drinking tea and eating melon seeds.

Cao Cao Weiguo says politely: "Second Uncle, Brother Xu Damao, do you want to have a drink together at noon?"

Xu Xu Damao gets up and says: "No, I have to accompany my parents for lunch."

Liu Haizhong laughs: "What good wine and food has Cao Weiguo prepared?"

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Second Uncle, you haven't seen? I’ve been busy entertaining guests all morning; where would I have time to cook? If you don't mind, I have some leftovers in the kitchen."

The smile on Liu Haizhong’s face disappears, and he says with some dissatisfaction: "It’s the New Year, how can we eat leftovers? Forget it, this morning, Qiqi’s wife said she was making pork and scallion dumplings. I’d better go home and eat dumplings."

Cao Cao Weiguo laughs: "The dumplings your daughter-in-law makes must be delicious. Second Uncle, can I come to your house to mooch some dumplings? I love dumplings the most."

Liu Haizhong laughs generously: "What’s impossible about that? Let’s go. My eldest daughter-in-law, if nothing else, makes dumplings that are very fragrant."

Cao Cao Weiguo says eagerly: "The dumplings your daughter-in-law makes are definitely not bad."

Nanluoguxiang

After sending Liu Haizhong and Xu Xu Damao out the door, Cao Cao Weiguo lets out a long breath. The noisy courtyard returns to tranquility, and his ears feel relaxed.

This half-day of welcoming and sending off guests has exhausted Cao Cao Weiguo. It seems that being too popular is also a kind of pressure.

Song Song Yulan sticks her head out of the kitchen and shouts: "Cao Weiguo, the dumplings are ready."

Song Cousin Yujuan sets the dishes on the table one by one and warms a pot of wine for Cao Cao Weiguo.

The family sits together, eating happily. Little Ping'an, who doesn't understand anything yet, made a fortune today, although all that New Year’s money was kept by his mother for safekeeping.

After lunch, Cao Cao Weiguo leaves with bags and boxes. During the New Year, he has to exercise his ability as a master of time management—the red flag at home doesn't fall, while the colorful flags flutter outside.

Fortunately, Yu Li, Ding Ding Qiunan, and Su Mei have gone home to spend the New Year with their parents, so Cao Cao Weiguo only needs to take care of Bai Sister Lijuan and Chen Chen Xueru.

"My good son."

Arriving at Bai Sister Lijuan’s place, Cao Cao Weiguo holds his chubby son and dotes on him.

Bai Sister Lijuan puts the things away and says with a resentful look: "So you finally know how to come over? I thought you had forgotten about your son."

Cao Cao Weiguo laughs: "That’s impossible. I couldn't forget you and our son, no matter who else I forgot."

Qin Qin Jingru has gone home for the New Year. Without this lightbulb, Cao Cao Weiguo and Bai Sister Lijuan can be unscrupulous.

After coaxing the child to sleep, the two are entangled in the room, wishing they could melt into one.

After exhausting all his strength, Cao Cao Weiguo finally feeds Bai Sister Lijuan, eliminating the resentment in her heart, and she transforms from a mother tiger back into a little kitten.

But after leaving Bai Sister Lijuan’s house, Cao Cao Weiguo has to rush to Chen Chen Xueru’s house without stopping.

By the time he returns to Nanluoguxiang again, his hand is supporting his waist, and his lips are slightly pale.

At thirty, a woman is like a wolf; at forty, she is like a tiger!

The ancients did not deceive me!

"Brother Cao Weiguo!"

"Section Chief Cao, you really are a busy person. You can't even find a moment of leisure during the New Year."

As Cao Cao Weiguo returns home, He He Yushui and Yu Yu Haitang look up at the same time.

The two of them ran over after lunch and have been helping the Song sisters organize the mountain of gifts.

Looking at the good things all over the floor, both of them are incredibly envious.

Especially Yu Yu Haitang, whose heart is filled with a hundred flavors. If it weren't for the fact that she shut Cao Cao Weiguo out back then, everything in front of her would have been hers.

Cao Cao Weiguo picks up the teapot, pours a cup of water, and drinks it down in one gulp. After putting down the cup, he says with a smile: "I’d like to steal some leisure, but alas, when one is in the world, one is not one's own master. During the holidays, these rituals cannot be skipped. I actually envy you two—you’re on holiday, you can sleep in if you want, chat if you want, leisurely and free. How happy!"

Yu Yu Haitang curls her lip: "Alright, Section Chief Cao, you are in bliss but don't know it. Do you know how many people envy you? You became a section chief at such a young age. Like me, I want to be as busy as you, but one has to have the qualifications to be busy. I’ve been working in the propaganda section for a long time, and I’m still just an ordinary broadcaster with a salary of twenty-something Brother Yuan a month. I can't even bear to buy good new clothes for the New Year."

He He Yushui teases from the side: "Oh, oh, oh, whose vinegar jar has been overturned? So sour."

Yu Yu Haitang’s face turns red, and she pounces on He He Yushui, claws and teeth bared: "Good, you stinky girl, making fun of me. Watch how I deal with you."

Song Song Yulan watches the two of them playing in the room and can't help but smile: "You two are like children. Alright, stop making trouble. Try the sugar-roasted chestnuts I made."

"Ring ring ring!"

The phone in the house suddenly rings. Cao Cao Weiguo walks over and picks it up: "Hello, yes, I understand. Please rest assured, Leader..."

Hanging up the phone, Cao Cao Weiguo says helplessly: "Well, you all go ahead and eat and drink. I have to go out again."

Song Song Yulan takes a woolen coat off the hanger: "Wear more, it’s cold outside."

Watching Cao Cao Weiguo rush out, the women can't help but shake their heads. It seems that being a leader isn't so easy either—they can't even be idle during the New Year. A single phone call calls them away, and they don't even have time to accompany their family for the New Year.

Red Star Sihe Academy

Qin Qin Huairu is wiping away tears with a heartbroken face. Since returning from the reformatory, her tears haven't stopped. Seeing this, Sha Zhu and Yi Yi Zhonghai feel heartbroken, wishing they could hold this pitiful woman in their arms to comfort her.

Outsiders feel sorry for Qin Qin Huairu, but her mother-in-law, Jia Jia Zhangshi, glares with her triangular eyes and points at Qin Qin Huairu, scolding her viciously: "You useless thing! My Jia family has really had the worst luck for eighteen generations to have married you, a jinx, into the family. It wasn't enough that you cursed my son, now you’re here to curse my grandson. Are you only satisfied if our Jia family has no descendants left?"

Sha Zhu says heartbrokenly: "Zhang Zhang Dama, what are you saying? Qin Huairu has been working hard to raise this whole family. As a woman, she has to work and serve you all. Is it easy for her? You have no conscience to talk like that."

"Dog thing! What does it have to do with you if I scold my daughter-in-law? Who do you think you are? What right do you have to point fingers in my Jia family? You shameless, cheap seed! You feel sorry for her because I’m scolding my daughter-in-law, right? Tell me, are you having an affair with my daughter-in-law?"

Jia Jia Zhangshi explodes on the spot, pointing at Sha Zhu’s nose and scolding him until his face turns red and his neck thick.

Qin Qin Huairu wipes her tears and yells angrily: "Mom, stop arguing! I’m already miserable enough. Bangeng hasn't even reached adulthood and has already been to the reformatory several times. What will happen to him in the future? With these bad records, it will be difficult for him to find a job later. If you had listened to me before and disciplined Bangeng strictly, would we be in this situation today? You’re still making a scene now—are you only satisfied if you tear this family apart?"

Jia Jia Zhangshi is so angry she raises her hand to slap Qin Qin Huairu, but Qin Qin Huairu grabs her wrist.

Because of Bangeng’s matter, Qin Qin Huairu is now full of resentment toward Jia Jia Zhangshi.

Thinking of Bangeng’s miserable appearance in the reformatory and his unrepentant behavior, her heart aches like it’s being cut by a knife.

"I didn't do anything wrong! It’s just some leftovers that no one eats, so what if I took some!"

"Mom! I didn't do anything wrong! I don't want to go to jail, save me!"

"It’s just a little food, what’s the big deal? Is it worth arresting someone? Mom, the people in your plant are bullying me, you have to stand up for me! I don't want to stay here, it’s too cold, I want to go home."

Bangeng is crying in there, but there isn't a shred of repentance or reflection in his words, which makes even Qin Qin Huairu feel disappointed and angry, let alone the reformatory staff.

Stealing public property and not having the slightest attitude of admitting his mistake—what is wrong with Bangeng? How did he become such a stubborn, unrepentant person?

Qin Qin Huairu leaves the reformatory in a daze, Bangeng’s crying and cursing constantly appearing in her mind. While feeling sorry for Bangeng, she also develops resentment toward Jia Jia Zhangshi.

If it weren't for Jia Jia Zhangshi’s coddling and instigation, Bangeng would never have picked up the bad habit of petty theft.