Chapter 452: with translation of chapter title

January 25, 1969, Sunday, the weather was clear.

There are still over twenty days until Lunar New Year's Eve.

Jingcheng, No. 95 Nanluoguoxiang.

These days the old lady's spirits grew increasingly listless, so He Yuzhu rose early and steamed a bowl of egg custard for the deaf old lady.

Liu Shumin was startled awake by He Yuzhu, gave him a glance, then went back to sleep.

Although Liu Shumin often complained about He Yuzhu using good things to serve the deaf old lady, now He Yushui lives at home, his work is going well, and Sha Zhu has returned to work in the cafeteria, bringing in more income, which has greatly reduced her say.

She could only let He Yuzhu do as he wished.

Not long after He Yuzhu went over, a wail came from the backyard.

"Old lady, she's gone, the old lady is gone."

He Yuzhu was heartbroken; he had no parents, had taken on a foster grandmother, and now she too had left, causing his emotions to surge uncontrollably.

Upon hearing the commotion, the people hurriedly put on their clothes and rushed over.

Yi Da Ma arrived first.

She had a premonition, but didn't expect the old lady to go so soon, with the New Year not far off.

Afterwards, Yi Da Ma took out a note from under the old lady's pillow.

"The note says, the house goes to Zhuzi, the money to me."

"Do you have any objections?"

What objections could others have? They were the ones caring for the old lady, so it's only right they get these.

Yi Zhonghai looked at the house with envy, two main rooms—if he had a son, he could give him a wedding room, how nice that would be.

Liu Shumin immediately thought of a use for the house, but given the situation she didn't speak up; after all it's her own family's, she'll tell He Yuzhu later.

He Yushui looked at Sha Zhu, then at Liu Shumin's darting eyes, and knew she wasn't hatching anything good.

He Yushui gritted his teeth.

If worse comes to worst, I'll find a live-in son-in-law.

The He family line can't just die out, can it?

Er Da Ye's eyes lit up at the old lady's house, wondering whether he should take it over, after all he still has two sons.

Xu Damao's eyes also darted around.

"My son still needs two wedding rooms."

Liang Ladi was also green with envy.

"Nan Yi, do you think we should buy this house—would He Yuzhu sell it?"

How would Nan Yi know?

These days he hides his head while working at the factory, afraid someone will dig up his past.

He now dares not do anything conspicuous.

Liang Ladi twisted his arm.

"Promising—after the old lady passes, I'll go ask."

Nan Yi isn't in a hurry about the house, but there's something else he's quite anxious about.

He hesitated a moment, then still asked Liang Ladi in the evening.

"I heard Ding Qiunan's husband is going to labor reform—is that true?"

Liang Ladi's face immediately turned bad.

"What do you mean?"

Nan Yi hurriedly explained.

"I mean nothing, we've been colleagues for so long, just showing concern—what's wrong?"

Liang Ladi also felt a bit guilty, because that guard and Ding Qiunan were brought together by her.

Originally, to prevent their old romance from reigniting, she gave Ding Qiunan to the guard.

That guard is a male chauvinist, able to keep Ding Qiunan firmly in check.

So one evening when the guard was drinking with the leaders, she also got Ding Qiunan drunk.

Then, when the guard was dazed and heading back, she pushed him onto Ding Qiunan's bed.

The two drunk people, dazed, ended up sleeping together.

Then they stayed together, got married, and had a child.

Who would have thought that guard had backed the wrong side, and now he's being sent to a farm for labor reform.

Now in Jingcheng, many leaders have been sent down to farms for labor reform.

"They're divorced; the guard thinks he won't be coming back, so he directly divorced Ding Qiunan."

"Ding Qiunan absolutely didn't want a divorce, but the guard forced it, so the guard's situation didn't affect her."

"Why do you feel sorry for her?"

"Otherwise, why don't you go be with her?"

Upon hearing that, Nan Yi showed a smile.

"It's nothing, I'm just asking."

Liang Ladi gave a hehe laugh, then said another sentence.

"These days Cui Dakang uses his status to harass Ding Qiunan every day."

"What?"

Nan Yi became angry.

"This thing is stubborn as ever—why hasn't it been shot yet?"

Liang Ladi snorted.

"Heaven is blind, those who scheme and do nothing become leaders, while those who work honestly in production are sent to farms to feed pigs—this era is truly ridiculous."

Nan Yi covered her mouth.

"Say less, trouble comes from the mouth."

"No one died, that's not bad; at first, that was what scared people."

"Ah, we were talking about Ding Qiunan, how did we get onto this?"

Liang Ladi glared at him.

"With me around, I can still let your Ding Qiunan be bullied."

"As a worker, I'm even afraid of a leader."

"Whenever I run into him, I hit him."

Nan Yi gave her a thumbs-up.

"Still, my wife is formidable."

Liang Ladi chuckled, then said.

"You really don't want to rekindle our past; if you do, I'll find a way to create an opportunity."

Nan Yi shook his head firmly.

"What do you think I am? I'm a married man; how could I do such a thing?"

Liang Ladi stared at him seriously for a while.

"Consider you passed."

Only then did Nan Yi let out a breath.

A few days later, the matter was settled.

Liu Shumin wanted to speak about the house, but He Yushui interrupted her.

He Yushui thought for a long time before making a decision.

"Brother, I want to take in a live-in son-in-law; what do you think?"

Liu Shumin panicked and quickly said.

"Few live-in sons-in-law have good outcomes."

"Ask around, then we'll talk about taking in a live-in son-in-law."

He Yuzhu also worried about his sister.

"Yushui, this decision is too sudden; go back and think it over before speaking again."

He Yushui glanced at Liu Shumin.

"If I don't take in a man, our He family will die out."

Liu Shumin's face darkened upon hearing that.

"Don't look at me; it's not my fault—ask your brother."

He Yuzhu's face also darkened, but He Yushui had to continue.

"If I don't take one in, then your daughter must."

"Otherwise, you'll have to adopt a boy."

"You must choose one of them."

Liu Shumin knew that suggesting her brother live in the old lady's house was no longer possible,

He Yushui having said this much, the house must definitely be kept for our own people.

Liu Simin was a bit unwilling.

"I think the lady is also quite good."

He Yushui wouldn't let her at all.

"The He family has four main rooms and one wing room; if there's no male heir to inherit, I'll have to split it."

"Anyway, it'll end up belonging to others; it's better to give it cheaply to me than to strangers."

"I don't want much; giving me two main rooms would be fine."

"I'll give you this wing room."

Liu Shumin didn't expect He Yushui to be waiting for her here.

"What are you thinking? That house is reserved for your brother."

He Yushui said righteously.

"Exactly, give it to my brother, then he can give it to me—what's the problem?"

Liu Shumin argued.

"That should also go to our daughter."

He Yushui giggled.

"Then the daughter would take it away when she marries?"

"Rather than give it all to her, I'd rather get a share myself."

"Maybe I'll bear many sons and could even pass one on to the family."

"What's the point of giving it all to the niece? Can she even live there all by herself?"

"Otherwise it's just a bargain for others—would they give you a child to adopt?"