Chapter 1550: Every Family Has Its Own Difficulties

"Actually, if you don't mind the trouble, you could completely tell Li Ge and find someone to change the stove."

Qin Jingru stood at the kitchen door cracking melon seeds, chatting with Er Ya while also taking care of the children.

In the dining room, it wasn't just Li Ning playing with blocks, but also their family's Han Lidong.

Han Lidong's birthday was in mid-December of '68; he was only a little over a year old now.

But he didn't look as thin and small as ordinary children; with Li Xuewu's two children as templates, Qin Jingru was willing to spend.

Actually, to be honest, what was she unwilling to spend? One child watched by two people, the old lady's body was very strong, and she spent her days teasing her grandson, finding joy in her old age.

Aside from serving the children and hosting housework, she had nothing else to do, so she ran over here whenever she was free.

If her sister still lived in the courtyard, perhaps she could go over there a few more times, but ever since the Jia family moved to the Workers' New Village, even Qin Jingru was too lazy to go over and join the fun.

She naturally knew that her sister's family was already lively enough; she didn't need to bring the children over to add fuel to the fire.

To this day, Liu Guoyou hadn't received a good look from Jia Zhangshi, nor had she spoken to him again.

Even her sister Qin Huairu was sulking, and the old lady didn't pay attention to her, all because Banggeng ran away from home.

On her sister's side, Banggeng's behavior was called running away from home; on Jia Zhangshi's side, it was called leaving his hometown, forced by circumstances, completely forced away by his biological mother and stepfather.

Now they weren't making a scene, but living opposite each other, one family didn't look like one family, and the two families still had entanglements.

On the surface, her sister was successful and happy, but in reality, she knew the truth best.

If her sister's house couldn't be visited, where else in the city could she go to wander and visit? Only here.

Li Xuewu was in Steel City all year round and couldn't return once or twice a month. Gu Ning was busy with hospital matters all day, and only Er Ya was usually at home.

Sometimes when it was the weekend, Zhao Yaping, Zhao Yafang's younger sister, could be at home; she was a person who loved to study.

Qin Jingru came to visit more often, and there were always times when they chatted endlessly until mealtime. Gu Ning would never let her go home holding the child like that; she definitely had to keep her for a meal.

After finishing dinner, Han Jiankun would come by car to pick the mother and daughter up; basically, that was the routine.

Er Ya also knew what she was thinking, nothing more than that the child could leave her hands and she wanted to find a job.

Of course, Li Ge and Sister Xiao Ning were good people and didn't mean they wouldn't use her.

Qin Jingru could see this point, and she wasn't a bad person either; in order to earn this money, she wouldn't squeeze Er Ya out, and the two got along quite well.

After all, as time went on, one was embarrassed, and the other had no ulterior motives; Gu Ning had thought of this point.

Hospital matters were finished early today, and she could be considered to have returned home at a normal time; when she got home, she saw Qin Jingru, and the two were chatting in the kitchen.

"Jingru is here."

It was Qin Jingru, after all, who could enter this house and receive a greeting from Gu Ning.

Apart from family members, as well as Li Xuewu's sworn brothers, who else could come to the house to sit for a while?

Whether it was the Red Steel Group or Li Xuewu's friends, who didn't know he was most impatient with bringing work home, so very few people came to visit at home.

He lived far away, and even those people in the family, as well as relatives from several sides, rarely came to visit at home.

The one who could come often was Qin Jingru, who could chat quite a bit with Gu Ning.

"Sister Xiao Ning, why are you off work so early today?"

Qin Jingru heard her voice, turned out of the dining room, and asked: "Is the hospital not that busy today?"

"Maybe it's Sunday." Gu Ning answered, but squatted in front of the white and chubby Han Lidong, smiling as she looked him over.

Qin Jingru raised the child extremely well, learning from the Li family to use eggs and milk as supplementary food, even though Han Lidong's own rations were sufficiently abundant.

Han Jiankun was only a deputy section-level cadre; could he have money to raise a child like this while supporting the family?

But don't forget what his father used to do.

How many years had passed since liberation? His father had enjoyed engineer treatment at the factory and must have saved up a thick family fortune for him.

Not to mention raising one Han Lidong like this, even raising three more could be supported.

It was just that Han Lidong was over a year old, and Qin Jingru wasn't in a hurry to have a second one.

Although family planning was advocated in these years, it wasn't a mandatory policy; no one cared if you were willing to have them yourself.

It was just that Qin Jingru didn't want to have children so frequently, and she was also pulling and dragging with their family's old lady.

Naturally, the elderly hoped for many children and grandchildren, many children and many blessings, but who knows the bitterness of childbirth? Maternal love is great, but that's not just empty talk.

Production means passing through the gates of hell; isn't ten months of pregnancy hard enough?

Qin Jingru's meaning was still that she wanted to earn money herself; even if Han Jiankun handed over every month's salary to the family, she still wanted to go out to work.

She came from the countryside and was naturally inferior, especially since the whole family was considered city people, and only she was a country person.

Han Jiankun had ability, but he couldn't stand their family's old lady constantly saying that it wasn't easy for her son to earn money to support the family.

Who was this meant for?

Anyway, Qin Jingru didn't like hearing it. Did she not know to cherish her own man? Did she need the old lady's reminder?

She took care of the children, and when her man came home, she had to serve him; if even this wasn't enough, what else was needed?

Qin Jingru wasn't an ordinary country girl; she had wanted to learn from her sister since she was a child, with her heart set on living in the city, which was why she dared to threaten death.

After getting her wish, she worked in Li Xuewu's house for more than a year, nearly two years, before marrying Han Jiankun.

During this period, with the comparison of the couple Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, and seeing how the other two branches of the Li family got along with their lovers, she had also thought about this kind of life.

Of course, Han Jiankun didn't have such a high cultural level, but he won with his easygoing personality.

No matter how much she spent on food and clothing, Han Jiankun would never say anything, and from then on, the couple's relationship was considered quite good.

It was just that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship had been an unclear contradiction since ancient times; one cherished herself, the other cherished her son, and if it didn't go well, it would be a mess.

If it were up to Qin Jingru, the second child should be born later; once the eldest could walk and talk, she would throw him to the old one, and she would go out to work and earn money.

And don't talk about supporting the family or not; she had figured it out—women in the city must have their own careers, otherwise, their status wouldn't even be as good as country women.

Her mother could preside over the affairs inside the gate at home; did she have to be a little maid after marrying into the city?

It must be said that in terms of progressive thinking, Qin Jingru was more daring than ordinary girls.

Today, the old lady said one more word about saving expenses, saying it wasn't easy for Han Jiankun to earn money to support the family, and because she bought a pair of cotton shoes—not made by herself—she simply didn't answer the mother-in-law's words, hugged the child, and came out.

She was nagged for buying a pair of cotton shoes; did she have any status in this family? Busy all day like a beast of burden, wasn't she even worth a pair of cotton shoes?

However, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law arguing was one thing, but she would never make a scene; she would rather hug the child and go out to hide for peace than quarrel with the mother-in-law.

She hadn't learned anything else in the Li family, but she had learned a point or two of Li Xuewu's scheming.

Dealing with an old lady like her mother-in-law, she wouldn't say she had it in the palm of her hand, but she wouldn't fall behind either.

She didn't quarrel; when Han Jiankun came home from work and couldn't see the mother and child, the two of them would have a set of words.

The old lady always had to tell her son the reason for the matter, and Qin Jingru didn't even bring a word of explanation.

When Han Jiankun came to pick people up on this side, he had to consider one or two things; how did he marry her into the house in the first place?

Not to mention whether she had any connection with the Li family, let alone whether Li Xuewu took care of her, just say whether Han Jiankun's achievements today had anything to do with her.

If she hadn't been in the Li family, could Han Jiankun have gained Li Xuewu's trust? Could he have transferred from a driver to a cadre post?

Yes, his father had some foundation, but people die and human feelings fade; who would still give him this face?

It wasn't easy to become a cadre, but it wasn't as easy as it was now. Han Jiankun had to think about it himself.

Li Xuewu wasn't his father, and Gu Ning wasn't her mother, but this place was her maiden home.

When Han Jiankun came to pick the mother and child up, he had to have a bit of confidence; if he didn't come to pick them up, that would be a big problem.

She didn't even need to cry to Li Xuewu; Li Xuewu would have to call Han Jiankun to ask what was going on.

Did Han Jiankun dare to take those trivial matters at home to talk to his big leader?

In the end, it must be Han Jiankun persuading his mother, and then coming over to coax her.

Qin Jingru had just this little bit of scheming; as long as there was something, she would run over here. When Han Jiankun came, she didn't give him a bad look; anyway, he came to pick her up, and she would follow him back after he said two nice words.

At home, the old lady didn't pay attention to her, lying on the kang humming and hawing, but she wasn't angry either; heating the kang, serving foot-washing water, and calling "Mom" wasn't ambiguous, letting Han Jiankun see it all clearly.

In the end, to appease her, Han Jiankun had to take out the little private money he had managed to save to buy her things.

Women, you have to learn to be smart; without Gu Ning's background, you have to have Zhao Yafang's cleverness.

Qin Jingru wasn't stupid; she also knew how to cross the river by feeling the stones. The Li family had three daughters-in-law; she could feel any of them.

"Call Auntie." Qin Jingru bent down, tugged at her son's little ear, and taught him: "Call Auntie."

"Yi—" Han Lidong just started babbling, his tongue was thick, and he would forget it after being taught; he just focused on playing.

Gu Ning saw he was cute and said with a smile: "Are you hungry? Auntie will get you some biscuits to eat?"

"Forget it, the little food you have at home has all been eaten by us; his little sister gave him a piece this afternoon."

Just as Qin Jingru finished speaking, Li Shu ran in from the living room, threw herself on the sofa beside her mother, and curiously looked at them talking.

"Did you finish your homework?" Qin Jingru teased her: "Did your little aunt hit your palm?"

"My little aunt's hitting doesn't hurt." Li Shu didn't care at all, shook her head, and showed off to her mother: "I watered the flowers this afternoon; I watered the flowers all by myself."

"Is that so? That must have been very happy."

Gu Ning looked at her daughter with a smile and said: "Did the flowers smile at you?"

"Hee hee—" Li Shu was so happy that her feet were raised; she was lying there, extremely happy.

Not only did she get her mother's praise, but she also had the confidence and excitement of being recognized.

Completing a task independently always brings a sense of achievement, as well as the expectation of needing recognition.

Mom could give these kinds of emotional values, so how could she not be happy?

"Little Aunt taught me arithmetic; it's so simple."

Li Shu was very expressive now, especially compared to the two younger brothers who could only stack things high.

Hmph, stupid younger brothers—

She counted on her fingers and told her mother and little aunt about the addition she learned today, very proud.

Gu Ning sat beside her, took her into her arms, and listened seriously to her showing off.

Li Ning and Han Lidong squatted on the ground, still holding blocks, looking at her blankly, not knowing what the older sister was proud of, or what kind of nonsense she was talking about.

"Hehehe—"

Qin Jingru watched Li Shu grow up, or it could be said that Li Shu grew up in her arms; she naturally loved and felt sorry for this little girl.

Just like Li Ning was to Er Ya, wasn't it Er Ya holding Li Ning and watching him grow up day by day now?

"Yeah, Li Shu is really smart."

She was better at giving emotional value than Gu Ning, coaxing Li Shu until she wanted to get up and perform the dance she just learned in kindergarten to help with the fun.

If it weren't for the sound of her father in the hall, she really wouldn't have wanted to give up the opportunity to perform.

"Daddy—"

Li Ning's ears were sharper; hearing the sound at the door, he rushed out, his little legs kicking hard.

"Daddy—"

Speaking more clearly than Han Lidong, the little guy wasn't afraid of the cold wind his father brought into the room, waving his hands to be held.

"Tell Daddy, who's here?"

When Li Xuewu entered the courtyard, he saw Qin Jingru's figure through the window of the Octagonal Hall; he was asking on purpose.

Li Ning saw his father take off his overcoat and change into slippers, jumping with anxiety; this time he also returned: "Little Aunt—"

"Oh, which little aunt?"

Li Xuewu teased him on purpose: "Is it the little aunt who goes to school, or the little aunt who hits bottoms?"

Li Ning paused, turned and ran back to the dining room door, looked carefully, and then covered his bottom and ran back, saying: "Hit bottom—"

"Hahaha—" Qin Jingru, who followed him out, laughed: "Show Little Aunt your bottom, and I'll hit it two more times."

"No—" Li Ning giggled and threw himself at his father's side, hugging his father's thigh.

"Who hit the bottom? Was it Little Aunt?"

Li Xuewu picked up his son, looked at Qin Jingru, and asked: "Where's the child? Didn't bring him?"

"He's in the dining room listening to his older sister talk about arithmetic."

Qin Jingru explained with a smile: "We just learned to walk steadily; we can't learn the running and jumping of the older brother."

"Younger brother—" Li Ning pointed his finger in the direction of the dining room, showing his father where his younger brother was.

"Ah, the younger brother is here."

Li Xuewu held him and stood at the dining room door, looking at Han Lidong who followed him out curiously, and said: "Dongdong, do you still recognize Uncle?"

Han Lidong was a bit afraid of him, his little hand picking at his mouth, timidly hiding behind his mother.

"Younger brother—" Li Ning struggled to get down from his father's arms and went to pull Han Lidong's hand.

"Take your younger brother to play."

Li Xuewu walked into the dining room, glanced at the kitchen; Er Ya was busy, and hearing him speak, she even took the time to turn her head and greet him.

"Brother, the meal will be ready soon."

"Hmm, no rush." Li Xuewu answered, looked at Gu Ning, and asked: "Early today?"

"Few people today, nothing much."

Gu Ning replied, touched her daughter's hair, and said: "Call Han Jiankun and tell him to come here to eat."

"No need to call him; he might have eaten at the unit." Qin Jingru explained: "He said yesterday he had to be on duty today; I don't know what time it is."

"Ask him anyway; if he comes back early, wait for him." Gu Ning didn't treat Han Jiankun as an outsider; when Qin Jingru first got married, the couple was often here.

Han Jiankun was honest and steady; he did a lot of work at home, and even Li Shu took the initiative to coax him.

After the New Year, Li Shu would be five years old; she looked like a big child. Seeing her father sit down, she leaned over, not saying she was naughty, just sitting close to her father.

"Go, call Uncle Han."

Li Xuewu gently patted his daughter's back and said: "Use the phone in the living room; do you know how to speak?"

"I know how to speak—" Li Shu smiled, raised her hand, jumped off the stool from his side, and ran to the living room.

Qin Jingru was worried about her, followed her, stood at the dining room door, and asked curiously: "Li Shu knows how to use the phone?"

"She has long wanted to try it; she plays with the phone secretly, so I might as well teach her."

Li Xuewu stood up, looked at her with a smile, and asked: "Did you go home for the New Year? Is everything good at home?"

"Lidong's dad went back once; I didn't go back; it was cold and the child couldn't take it."

Qin Jingru answered his words, watching Li Shu skillfully lift the white gauze from the small table beside the sofa, pick up the phone, and pull the dial, standing there like a little adult.

"Hello, hello, I'm looking for Han Jiankun."

Li Shu mimicked her father's tone and said into the phone in a milky voice: "Group Official Vehicle Management Section."

"She really remembers—" Qin Huairu turned her head in surprise to look at Li Xuewu, full of disbelief.

"Heh, she can even secretly call her grandmother; she can even complain."

Gu Ning smiled, stood up, went out to look at Li Shu, and went upstairs to change clothes.

Er Ya was very diligent; the boiler at home basically never stopped burning, and the radiator was very hot; thick clothes couldn't be worn.

Even if there were no tight windows in these years, the temperature in the room wasn't low, and the wind blowing in was also warm.

Do you know how to place radiators?

That's right, they must be installed under the window; no matter how good the wooden glass window craftsmanship is, it can't avoid leaking wind.

Don't doubt it; Er Ya pasted the window cracks with cut newspaper strips after it got cold, but there was still cold wind coming in from the window, so she could only burn the boiler hard.

Actually, Gu Ning wasn't afraid of the cold, and Li Shu and Li Ning lived in the inner room and didn't feel cold either, but who made there be a Northeasterner in the family? She felt that no matter how warm the room was, it wasn't warm enough, until the flowers Gu Ning raised bloomed.

Think about it, under the condition of no floor heating, the flowers raised in pots in the room can bloom; how warm must it be?

Qin Jingru only wore a thin sweater when she came to the house, but Gu Ning only wore a cotton long-sleeved shirt when she came down, with a thin vest made by her mother-in-law draped over her shoulders.

"Is the call through?" She first asked Gu Ning, who came out of the guest room, her hands gathering her hair.

"Uncle Han is off work; couldn't find him."

Li Shu was going to the guest room to call her little aunt to eat; after she finished speaking, Zhao Yaping walked out of the room.

"Second Sister-in-law, you're off work so early."

Zhao Yaping greeted Gu Ning with a smile; don't look at Gu Ning's lack of smiles on weekdays, but whether it was Li Xue, who was working, or Zhao Yaping, who was still in school, they all got along with her.

Originally, she should have gone to her sister's house on the weekend; Zhao Yafang had long urged her to go to the courtyard after school on Saturday and go directly to school on Monday, then return to Haiyuncang in the evening.

At first, she ran back and forth like this, but later she became familiar with Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law and knew that the couple were good people, so she didn't want to waste time like that.

Basically, she returned to her sister's house once a month, or waited for Second Brother to come back and go together.

Gu Ning also liked her very much, especially her diligence in studying; even she felt it was hard work.

"Didn't go out to find classmates to play today?"

"No, I was doing homework." Zhao Yaping explained beside her: "The teacher said there are many difficult points in the final exam this year, so I have to study hard."

A junior high school girl, just at the age when she loves to play, but there was more steadiness in Zhao Yaping.

Like a big girl, she spoke softly and gently, had her sister's temperament, and learned the steady and indifferent side from Gu Ning, relying on her big sister and also beginning to rely on Gu Ning unconsciously.

Coming from a rural family, she was a bit inferior in the United School, especially since her grades were good and she was repeatedly mentioned by teachers, which made classmates pay more attention to her, discuss her background, and say she was a "relationship household."

Did Zhao Yaping not know she was a "relationship household"?

She knew; if it weren't for a university student in the family, if it weren't for the relationship between her brother-in-law and Second Brother, how could she have the qualifications to come to the city to attend middle school, enjoy such good treatment, and possess such a good learning environment?

At first, she also cried secretly, not daring to tell others, but she told Er Ya, who lived with her.

Er Ya was also relatively confused at that time, but she envied Zhao Yaping and said she had a good life.

From Er Ya, she saw a kind of simplicity, a struggle against life, and a desire to change her destiny and yearn for a better life.

If compared to city children, she was inferior, but compared to Er Ya, who also came from the countryside?

It had to be said that she was lucky.

No one guided her; if a country child couldn't learn to be self-reliant and strong, and grow wildly and stubbornly, then she could only be eliminated and become a weed in the vast wilderness.

So she began to face these facts calmly and look squarely at the rumors that she was a "relationship household."

Precisely because of the change in mindset, the gaze she looked at Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law with became calm and natural.

Li Xuewu noticed her change, but didn't intervene; country children weren't that fragile.

Why is there no need for psychological doctors in these years? Because there is no soil for psychological diseases in this era; if you say you have depression, your father can use a size 44 Liberation shoe sole to beat you until you no longer doubt life.

After dinner, because Li Xuewu came home, Er Ya specially added two dishes, making four dishes and one soup.

Even as a high-position couple family, the Li family's meals only pursued nutritional richness, not big fish and meat; breakfast was simple, lunch was make-do, and dinner only had two dishes, half fine grain and half coarse grain.

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning both ate coarse grain; the children ate fine grain—not because they couldn't afford it, but because they liked to eat it.

This was the point that surprised Er Ya the most after she came to work in the family; looking at the grain and oil reserves in the house, she thought this family should have big fish and meat every meal.

Looking at Second Brother's figure and appetite, she felt that ten big steamed buns might not be enough to fill him up.

That was a bit exaggerated, but Second Brother ate at most two steamed buns for dinner; he said he ate a lot at noon.

"I don't like eating pure white flour."

Qin Jingru waved her hand, didn't take the white flour steamed bun Er Ya handed her, but took the two-mixed-flour one.

"When I first entered the city, I felt that only white flour steamed buns were delicious in the world; I couldn't mix in a little cornmeal."

She said to Er Ya with a smile: "Later, after eating it, I always felt uncomfortable; only after eating this bite did I find that this taste is the best."

"Eating more coarse grain is good for the body."

Li Xuewu looked at her and said with a smile: "But you can't always eat coarse grain; you still have to supplement nutrition."

"Just our family, and we still eat coarse grain."

Qin Jingru looked at him amusedly and said: "I said let's eat a meal of cornmeal buns; the first meal was fine, but if we eat this for the next meal, Han Jiankun would have something to say."

She vividly mimicked Han Jiankun's tone and said: "What's wrong? Our family doesn't have fine grain!"

"He doesn't crave fine grain; he's afraid of wronging our old lady."

"Brother Han is filial." Er Ya praised: "Last time he came, he said he was thinking about taking the old lady for a checkup."

"What's wrong? Does she have any illness?"

Gu Ning turned to look at Qin Jingru and asked: "Why didn't you tell me earlier if there's something wrong?"

"Nothing—" Qin Jingru looked at her helplessly and said: "It's just that she keeps making a fuss."

Actually, in front of Li Xuewu, she wasn't willing to reveal her mother-in-law's shortcomings, fearing it would affect his impression of Han Jiankun.

However, Gu Ning took the initiative to ask, and she couldn't not say, so she had to explain simply.

"She hums whenever there's something." She was also good at joking, explaining: "It made Jiankun have no way, so he said he would take her to the hospital for a checkup to see if she was really uncomfortable or just humming falsely."

"You guys are really capable, taking the old lady's health to play—" Li Xuewu glanced at her and said: "If you really find something wrong, you'll have it coming."

"Even if you don't find anything, you'll hurt the old lady's heart; there's no such way to toss people around."

"I said the same thing." Qin Jingru stuck out her tongue embarrassedly, lowered her head, and said: "He just said it like that, and I pressed it down."

"I've seen your old lady; she doesn't have any barriers with you. When people get old, they all want their children to serve them by their side, to be obedient; you can't have no patience."

Li Xuewu didn't treat her as an outsider; these words were said very bluntly, just like teaching a younger sister.

Qin Jingru was also obedient; seeing him being serious, she listened seriously.

At this time, Gu Ning wouldn't interrupt; she also agreed with Li Xuewu's words; this point was certain.

What kind of personality was Gu Ning?

She had a stubborn temper at home, and her parents had to coax her; why could she rely on Li Xuewu so much?

From Li Xuewu, Gu Ning saw one point, and that was filial piety to elders, and it wasn't blind filial piety.

If there wasn't this independence and confidence, and if family affairs couldn't be handled well, how could one stand tall?

"I know, Second Brother."

Qin Jingru listened obediently; even though she was a mother, she was still as obedient as a child at this moment.

Han Lidong looked at his uncle, then at his mother, not knowing what had happened.

After dinner, Qin Jingru wanted to help Er Ya clean up, but was blocked by Er Ya; Er Ya gestured to the living room, telling her to go talk, and she would handle the things here.

Qin Jingru wouldn't stay for a meal when she came to the house if there was nothing going on. Staying for a meal meant there was something going on.

With Li Ge and Sister Xiao Ning's benevolence, she wasn't afraid of her work being taken over, and she even knew how to care about Qin Jingru.

Seeing Er Ya like this, Qin Jingru felt even worse about doing anything shady behind her back.

In the living room, only Li Xuewu was reading the newspaper, listening to the children playing with toys around the coffee table.

Li Shu's toys could be pulled by a truck; her mother had urged her to find some toys she didn't play with for her younger brother to take away before going upstairs.

Toys she didn't play with?

The toys Li Shu didn't play with were for Li Ning and Li Tang to play with; she could only find toys the younger brothers didn't play with now.

Few of the toys she had when she was little were preserved in their entirety; most were missing arms or legs.

The toys Li Ning received from his sister weren't any good things; the good ones were bought by his uncle and uncle, so the sister and brother huddled together to deliberate carefully.

Qin Jingru came out of the dining room, saw the children playing well, so she didn't go to disturb them, and went straight to Li Xuewu's side.

She had a sense of proportion, sat on the sofa beside Li Xuewu, and hesitated about how to speak.

How could Li Xuewu not see she had something on her mind? Seeing her come over, he put down the newspaper and asked: "Something?"

"Hmm, Brother..." Qin Jingru hesitated for a moment, then gripped her clothes and gathered her courage to say: "Lidong is also big; I want to find a job."

"Hmm? What are you thinking?" Li Xuewu picked up the teacup, took a sip, looked at her, and asked: "Have you discussed it with Han Jiankun?"

"I mentioned it to him, and he didn't say anything."

Qin Jingru explained: "It's mainly me; it's boring to stay at home all the time, so I want to find something to do."

"Hmm, I understand." Li Xuewu nodded knowingly, very able to understand her mood.

"When a couple lives together, neither is more confident than the other; both can earn money to support the family."

He put down the teacup and said: "If your mother-in-law is in good health and can take care of the child for you, it's not impossible to go out and find something to do, as long as the family has no objections."

"Hmm, that's what I thought."

Qin Jingru looked at him hopefully, clutching her fingers, and said: "Brother, you also know I have no ability; I only have this bit of skill in washing clothes and cooking. Look at me..."

"Come and give Er Ya a hand?"

Li Xuewu looked at her with a smile, saw her lower her head embarrassedly, and nodded slightly without speaking.

Qin Jingru thought for a moment, then raised her head and explained: "I only finished fifth grade; I know addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and I recognize some characters, but I don't know how to use them."

The difficult tone didn't seem fake, but the sincerity and calmness were also commendable.

"I don't mean to make things difficult for Er Ya, and I don't dare to make things difficult for you; it's just... it's just..."

She said "it's just" twice, then lowered her head again and explained: "I can only beg you."

She didn't open her mouth when Gu Ning was here, but only opened her mouth when Li Xuewu was alone here; it could be seen she wasn't confused.

She came, just finished eating; why did Gu Ning go upstairs?

Even if she wanted to read a book and had study tasks, she wouldn't be missing this moment.

She saw her meaning and left time and opportunity for her.

Gu Ning could make decisions about some things in this family, but for things involving human feelings, it had to be Li Xuewu.

Precisely because she knew this point, Qin Jingru waited until now to speak.

Li Xuewu listened to her, didn't give an answer immediately, and waited until the sound of opening the door came from outside the courtyard.

He didn't lock the main gate when he entered the house; Han Jiankun knew how to open the gate when he came to pick up Qin Jingru and the mother and child.

Sure enough, a chill came from the hall, and Han Jiankun's figure appeared at the door.

"Leader, you're at home."

"Hmm, come, have you eaten?"

Li Xuewu raised his hand to gesture in the direction of the dining room and said: "Li Shu called you and didn't find you; we just finished eating too. If you haven't eaten, let Er Ya heat it up again."

"I've eaten; I came from home."

Han Jiankun answered, glanced at Qin Jingru, and then sat down beside him in the living room.

Han Lidong saw his father come, so he rushed into his arms, acting spoiled and wanting to climb up.

Han Jiankun also cherished the child; although he was a bit embarrassed here, he still picked up his son.

Li Ning just glanced at him, then continued to pick toys with his sister, having no reaction.

"Is there a lot of work at the unit?" Li Xuewu gestured in the direction of the tea cabinet, asking Qin Jingru to make tea.

Qin Jingru only then reacted, wiped the corner of her eye, and got up to make tea for Han Jiankun.

"Cars are hard to manage in winter; it's quite troublesome."

Han Jiankun saw Qin Jingru's expression; this time he only focused on replying to Li Xuewu's words.

He patted his son's bottom, put him on the ground to play with toys, straightened his body, and reported: "Especially older models of vehicles; if we hadn't moved into the building this year, I'm afraid we would still have to burn 15 tons of coal."

To ensure the use of cars, the small transport team had its own garage when it was at the Red Star Factory, and it was absolutely not cold in winter.

In these years, cars didn't have antifreeze; they had to strictly prevent the water tank from freezing in winter, otherwise, it would be finished.

Drivers looked very glamorous, but they were actually technical workers; they had to know how to repair cars.

Li Xuewu chatted with him for a while, then gestured to Qin Jingru, who had sat back down, and asked: "Jingru just told me that the child is big and she wants to find something to do."

He looked at Han Jiankun and asked: "Do you know about this? What do you think?"

Han Jiankun first looked at Qin Jingru, saw she was lowering her head, then looked at Li Xuewu, nodded, and said: "She told me; I have no opinion."

Li Xuewu heard him say this, but still looked him over carefully; seeing he didn't look like he was lying, he nodded and said: "Fine, not being able to stay idle is a good thing."

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said indifferently: "Men and women are equal; there's no reason for only women to stay at home for a lifetime. It's very good that you can understand."

"But there's one point: equality between men and women is also based on family harmony, no matter who it is."

Li Xuewu looked at the two of them, then looked at Han Lidong, who was squatting on the ground watching his brother and sister play, and said: "The child is still too small; wait until he's a bit bigger."

Without waiting for Qin Jingru to speak again, he turned to look at her and emphasized: "You can't let your old lady teach the child how to speak, putting all the pressure on the elderly, right?"

"At least wait until he can look forward to going to kindergarten." No matter what Qin Jingru was thinking, Li Xuewu pointed his finger at the sofa armrest and said: "Everyone says let you find something to do; how could Jiankun bear it, and how could he be at ease?"

"You say you rely entirely on me; I don't want you to go out and suffer this bitterness and commit this crime."

He pointed to Han Jiankun, who was sitting on the side, and said: "He's a cadre now, big or small; he can support you to go out and do things, but he can't bear for you to suffer this crime again, right? This matter still requires mutual understanding."

"But, Brother, I don't know how to do anything else."

Qin Jingru said aggrievedly: "I don't feel that Jiankun is a cadre, and I, as a cadre's family member, can't do the work of a nanny; as long as I can earn money, it's fine."

"I didn't say that—"

Li Xuewu put down his crossed legs, pointed at her, and emphasized: "I'm reminding you two to be harmonious and to understand each other."

He looked at Han Jiankun and said: "Making a living isn't hard; what's hard is family harmony, don't you think?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, Leader; I've caused you trouble." Han Jiankun's attitude was quite correct.

Li Xuewu reached out and patted his arm, turned to look at Qin Jingru, and said: "I treat you like a younger sister; I won't treat you badly in my house. Once you go out, with your temper, where can you bear being ordered around?"

"Forget it, don't be strong."

He looked at Qin Jingru and nodded, saying: "Wait until next year; one is to wait for Lidong to be a bit bigger, and once you can truly let go and give him to your old lady, it won't be too late for you to come out."

"The second is that it's more convenient on my side."

Li Xuewu turned to look at Han Jiankun and said: "You know about the Riverside Garden project, right?"

"I know, the bundled project."

Han Jiankun sat upright, nodded seriously, and said: "It was written in the newspaper; the total investment is over ten million."

"The bulk is at the International Hotel side."

Li Xuewu closed his eyes and shook his head, then looked at him and said: "The group management committee's meaning is that next year, cadres at the group's middle and high levels and above will all move into Riverside Garden, and the management committee will provide high-end housing."

He spoke to here, then looked at Qin Jingru and said: "Your Sister Xiao Ning's unit is on this side; I can't let her live there with me, so you go next year."

"Ah? I go?" Qin Jingru looked at him, surprised and unexpected, and said: "Am I going to live with you..."

"What are you thinking—" Li Xuewu looked at her amusedly, took a sip of tea, looked at Han Jiankun, and said: "When the time comes, you two work hard to tidy up; if I go over, I will call in advance."

Han Jiankun glanced at his silly wife and responded to Li Xuewu's words: "I know, Leader."

Qin Jingru only then reacted, her face flushed red from being glared at by Han Jiankun.

"Steel City won't be finished for a while."

Li Xuewu told Han Jiankun, then looked at her and explained: "Even if you live there, you have to tidy it up first; just the decoration and tidying will take a while. It's not appropriate to have no honest person watching, so let you wait for a while."

"That... Brother..." Qin Jingru lowered her head with a flushed face, raised her hand to tidy the hair by her ear, and it could be seen that her ears were also red. "I didn't mean that."

"Heh, no matter what you mean, you have to wait until next year." Li Xuewu didn't tease her on purpose, just pointed at Han Jiankun calmly and said: "The decoration work will be handled by East Wind Construction; you keep an eye on it."

His gaze narrowed slightly, and Han Jiankun knew what he meant.

"Don't worry, I'll bring people over when the time comes; there definitely won't be any problems."

Han Jiankun responded very seriously; he knew the leader was afraid of tricks in the decoration process on that side.

No need to say what kind of tricks; technology wasn't developed in these years, but people's hearts were strange.

Things like wiretapping were never fresh, not to mention Li Xuewu's increasingly important position in the group.

"Your Sister Xiao Ning is busy and can't take care of that side; you just handle whatever happens."

Li Xuewu pointed at Qin Jingru and instructed: "If you need money or anything, contact your Brother Guodong."

"I know, Brother, thank you, Brother."

Qin Jingru got the confirmation and finally settled her heart; there was a smile on her face again.

She came to beg Li Xuewu, of course, not because she wanted to go out to do things, but because she still wanted to come and do things for him.

To be honest, with Han Jiankun's salary and the family fortune of the older generation, she really didn't need to earn this money.

However, she needed this status. ===== CHAPTER 1551 =====