Chapter 654: The Warmth of a Couple's Night Talk

The warmth of the couple's night talk remained, but several pieces of news this morning gave Li Xuewu a slap in the face.

Just after sitting down at work, he heard Sha Qizhi say that the construction site of the joint enterprise had stopped work again.

The reason for this stoppage was still the workers' family members going to the site to block construction.

The project manager had already explained last time that the buildings here were not just for the steel mill, but also had shares from other factories, so they shouldn't cause a negative impact.

Moreover, relevant personnel arrangements should be handled by going to the personnel department at the factory, not by coming to the construction project department.

But the workers' family members did not agree; no matter how much the personnel department said, it was useless, as this matter was not something the personnel department could decide.

These people were clearly prepared; they took tattered burlap sacks and sat directly on the ground, daring the authorities to run them over with a vehicle if they had the guts.

The organizers were also very purposeful and didn't play the conflict game at all, because those people caught by the security department last time hadn't been released yet.

The consequences were very bad, and they also knew what the security department's bottom line was, so they wouldn't choose conflict.

Yet this behavior left the construction project department helpless; seeing the security personnel transferred over by the security department standing by and watching the fun, they knew this work couldn't be done.

Li Xuewu sat in his office listening to Han Zhan's report, his face full of seriousness.

The people in the working group had already been determined, so why did Li Huai still want to do this?

Could it be that he really wanted a total breakdown?

Or was it just to tear this fishing net apart so he could let the cold wind in?

Li Xuewu saw that Li Huai's approach was truly bewildering, erratic and unpredictable.

While Han Zhan was still speaking, Sha Qizhi walked in again and reported to Li Xuewu in a low voice: "Director, there is no People's Daily newspaper out today."

Li Xuewu suddenly turned his head to look at Sha Qizhi, his eyes full of shock.

Han Zhan, who was sitting opposite and speaking, also stopped mid-sentence, his eyes wide open.

He had also heard Sha Qizhi's words just now; he didn't dare to guess what the lack of a new issue of the newspaper represented.

Li Xuewu's furrowed brows did not relax for a long time; he turned his head to look out the window, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.

The working group was established, the first Red... appeared at the Huaqing Middle School Affiliated, and on the last day of May, the newspaper ceased publication.

Perhaps it wasn't a cessation of publication, but something had happened, but that situation had a drastic impact on the current trend.

Han Zhan looked at Li Xuewu's expression and asked softly: "Should we tighten up the safety order in the factory?"

"No, don't move rashly."

Li Xuewu looked at Han Zhan seriously and instructed: "At this time, it is better to be still than to move; the security department's work shouldn't be preemptive in this way."

After finishing, he instructed Sha Qizhi: "Pay attention to this matter, and give me a specific situation later."

Sha Qizhi nodded and turned to leave the office.

The channels he could use were nothing more than the factory office circle; these people were very well-informed, and perhaps someone knew something.

Han Zhan was the same; knowing Li Xuewu had many things to attend to, he reported the specific situation and, having received Li Xuewu's instructions, also left the room.

Just as Li Xuewu was about to pick up his fountain pen, the phone rang again.

Looking at the receiver jumping on the phone, Li Xuewu's eyelids twitched; he hoped it wasn't more bad news.

Picking up the phone, it was Wang Xiaoqin calling; the news was good, but her tone was a bit off.

"Let me tell you, being the bad guy once is enough for me."

Wang Xiaoqin complained on the phone: "You didn't see how people were talking about me; I've almost become a shrew."

"Is it that serious?"

Li Xuewu chuckled: "They are all cultured people, would they really say that?"

"Hey! Whose side are you on anyway!"

Wang Xiaoqin scolded on the other end of the phone: "I'm here bearing the infamy to do the work, and you, on the other hand, went to play the nice guy for them."

"I'm the bad guy, I'm the bad guy, alright~"

Li Xuewu laughed: "Go back and tell that Director Zhang, if there's anything, come at me!"

"Don't be a Monday-morning quarterback; they've already moved, and only now do you think of this."

Wang Xiaoqin said with dissatisfaction: "I've told you, I won't do this kind of work again; we all live in the same city, and who knows when we might run into each other. What would I become?"

"No problem, from now on, the image of our security brigade's Political Commissar Wang will definitely be positive and glorious."

Li Xuewu promised repeatedly: "I've noted this matter; I'll do this kind of work in the future."

Wang Xiaoqin didn't believe him, and finally said on the phone: "I took the liberty of doing one thing; when they were moving out of the building, I called the security team members to help."

"Haha, thankless work."

Li Xuewu chuckled, but nodded: "Fine, let them say whatever they want; as long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough."

Although the building belonged to the security brigade, it was currently being used as a book warehouse; driving them out to move ultimately offended them, and going to help would only make them say they were in a hurry to drive them away.

In any case, they wouldn't remember their kindness; the stereotype had already been formed, and everything they did was wrong.

However, Wang Xiaoqin was kind-hearted, and Li Xuewu wasn't an unforgivable villain; it was all just for work and life.

If it weren't for the mutual need, who could have the heart to drive people to move in such a short time?

Wang Xiaoqin also hesitated about the newspaper matter on the phone, but didn't say much; the three members of the security brigade still had a tacit understanding.

Regarding Li Xuewu's action of clearing the building so quickly, Wang Xiaoqin now understood.

The last day of May, which was also the last workday of the week, was very busy in the steel mill's administrative offices.

Every department was preparing end-of-month summary reports, and communication and exchange between relevant offices became closer.

Li Xuewu received several collaborative reports from departments this morning, and the same was true within the security department.

Because the mid-year meeting was expected to be held in July, with one month left, every department was rushing to complete their respective task indicators.

Every year, around the mid-year meeting, there would be adjustments to cadre positions, and the basis for these adjustments was the work indicators from the past six months.

Li Xuewu wasn't worried about this, but the security department couldn't fall behind others in work performance.

Especially while Dong Wenxue was still the director of the security department, Li Xuewu had to ensure the security department wouldn't become a stumbling block for Dong Wenxue to enter the Party Committee.

After lunch, in the same rest area, Li Xuewu chatted idly with some department heads.

Some were the same as yesterday, some were new, and some who came yesterday didn't come today.

For example, Bi Yuding wasn't seen during lunch; upon asking, it turned out he was on a business trip.

It was said that the scheduling in Steel City was a bit off, so he went to investigate to make plans for the second half of the year's budget indicators.

Others might not know, but Li Xuewu knew that this Director of the Scheduling Department was truly a good listener.

Li Xuewu told him he was busy, so he really got busy; it was just unclear what Li Huai was thinking now.

Come to think of it, Li Xuewu was also quite wicked; knowing full well that Li Huai was pushing Bi Yuding, he still let Bi Yuding shirk his duties—wasn't this pulling the rug out from under the Vice Factory Director?

Hey! Li Xuewu was indeed pulling the rug out from under the Vice Factory Director.

Because Li Xuewu felt that the Vice Factory Director was running a bit too fast, he had to step on the brakes for him.

If Li Xuewu stepped on the brakes himself, the Vice Factory Director would definitely think Li Xuewu was disloyal.

So, since Bi Yuding had offered himself up, why shouldn't Li Xuewu borrow a knife... to step on the brakes?

Li Xuewu still had some thoughts on this matter; at the time, he was thinking about whether the Scheduling Department could become a part of his plan.

The Scheduling Department had train cars and train car plans; future cargo transportation would definitely be inseparable from the Scheduling Department.

The previous few times he hadn't set obstacles for him, it was because Li Huai was involved; but what about the future?

Since he had to communicate with the Scheduling Department, the Director of the Scheduling Department was an unavoidable hurdle.

He would create a conflict between Li Huai and the Scheduling Department, and keep this conflict within a controllable range.

He would make Li Huai distrust Bi Yuding, but not to the extent that it was necessary to replace him.

Bi Yuding had no background or connections, so in the end, if he wanted to survive in the steel mill and under Li Huai, wouldn't he have to maintain a good relationship with him?

This matter was a bit complicated to handle, with several parties' relationships being key, but fortunately, Li Xuewu was cunning enough to calculate it all.

Especially the "cicada shedding its skin" trick he had suggested to Bi Yuding, which would definitely give Li Huai a hard tug on the leg, and also let Li Xuewu see what the Vice Factory Director was actually up to.

The Vice Director's afternoon tea time seemed to have become a trendy topic in the steel mill; two consecutive days of gatherings made some people's nerves twitch uncontrollably.

And inside the administrative offices, news had already spread that the Vice Director was about to enter the Party Committee, and more severely, some directly said the Vice Director was arranging positions and work for these directors.

Of course, this was all just talk; the mid-year meeting hadn't been held, and the Party Committee meeting hadn't been held either—there was no such thing as position adjustments.

However, while it was impossible for the Vice Director to be arranging work for these directors, it was possible that he was coordinating and adjusting work for the heads of relevant sections.

After all, if a director changed, the people below wouldn't be affected much, but if a section chief changed, the sky might change.

The most severe cases were those transferred from other departments; such leaders were the hardest to get along with.

Their work styles were different, and the office habits everyone had become accustomed to were also different; everyone had to change according to the leader's habits.

Because of the end-of-month busyness and sensitivity to the situation, the steel mill's administrative building was filled with rumors flying everywhere.

Li Xuewu left the steel mill after 3:00 PM to go check on the security brigade.

The eviction notice was posted when work ended last Saturday; it had been exactly a week, which was the time for them to move.

Come to think of it, people at this time were truly simple; although they dragged their feet for a week, they still moved.

Twenty years later, look at those eviction procedures, where people who got back their ancestral courtyards looked at the dozens of tenants in the courtyard—they couldn't drive them out, and they couldn't scold them.

Your courtyard was yours, but the rent wasn't collected by you; it was collected by the Housing Management Office and then handed to you.

And this rent was still at the old price, a few cents a month; you could shed tears when you received the rent.

If you wanted to take back your courtyard, you had to help the tenants run to their units to get them assigned housing before they could move out; otherwise, you could just keep waiting.

Li Xuewu's properties were chosen carefully; there absolutely couldn't be any tenants, let alone miscellaneous people.

Regardless of how many courtyards it had, living in a private, independent courtyard was the only way.

It wasn't that he hadn't heard of people selling courtyards privately—good heavens, four courtyards, dozens of households living there, the same state as Li Xuewu's current courtyard.

Who would dare buy it? Buy it and act like a grandson?

Now, people also came to ask if his five courtyards were for rent, and the neighborhood office had also asked, but Li Xuewu had Old Biaozi refuse them all.

Especially when the neighborhood office asked, Old Biaozi led the "Thirteen Guardians" to them, saying there were thirteen younger brothers at home and the house wasn't big enough yet, asking if the neighborhood office could help find them a house.

The neighborhood office looked at the dozen or so fifteen or sixteen-year-old young men and knew they had run into trouble; they didn't want to fail to find a house and instead invite a pile of trouble, so they quickly asked them to leave.

Since then, those courtyards had been quiet; everyone knew they were temporarily empty, but who knew how they would be divided or fought over in the future.

Otherwise, why would Li Xuewu say the people in the book warehouse building were simple? If they really insisted on not leaving, could Li Xuewu really have people go in and drive them out?

Sigh~

Cultured people still care about face~

The command vehicle stopped opposite the building; Li Xuewu didn't feel like getting out, watching the sand and dirt pile at the building entrance outside the window being cleared for a passage, with many tricycle flatbeds and large trucks lined up at the entrance waiting to move.

Sha Qizhi also looked outside the window and turned to ask Li Xuewu: "Director, do you want me to go down and take a look?"

"Aren't you afraid of being scolded?"

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at Sha Qizhi, then signaled Han Jiankun to drive; there was nothing left to see.

Sha Qizhi also smiled and said: "Come to think of it, I really am a bit afraid; these cultured people are very fierce when they scold others, without using any dirty words."

"Hahaha~"

Li Xuewu instantly thought of the resentment in Wang Xiaoqin's voice when she called him in the morning; she must have heard something.

When the car arrived at the security brigade, only Shen Fang was conducting training; Wang Xiaoqin had gone out to handle recruitment matters.

Shen Fang saw Li Xuewu, trotted over, and pulled Li Xuewu to walk to a shaded area.

"I noticed the situation at the branch bureau is not quite right."

"What happened?"

Li Xuewu's face, which had just had a smile, instantly froze; there had been too much news today, he hoped there wouldn't be any bad news.

But this time his hope was dashed; Shen Fang frowned and said: "Director Zheng called and said the security brigade's duty tasks are temporarily canceled, and all personnel are to return and stand by."

"When did this happen?"

Li Xuewu asked in surprise; this kind of thing shouldn't have bypassed him, letting Zheng Fuhua call Shen Fang directly.

Shen Fang also knew what Li Xuewu meant and frowned: "Just now, the call went directly to the duty room; it was very urgent."

Li Xuewu instantly thought of what Wang Xiaoqin had said a few days ago—the situation at the municipal bureau wasn't normal, and the branch bureau was even more dangerous.

Especially Zheng Fuhua; based on his meeting with him a few days ago, he had truly been tested.

"Then do as Director Zheng says."

Li Xuewu looked at Shen Fang and asked: "Has the message been sent out?"

"It has already been sent to every training vehicle through the control center; it will probably be before work ends when everyone is withdrawn."

Shen Fang reported while walking back with Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu was also thinking about Shen Fang's words while making comparisons in his mind.

The municipal bureau's affairs must have affected the branch bureau, and it was also an influence on the security brigade.

Li Xuewu and Shen Fang sat in the central control duty room for over an hour, waiting for all the personnel on duty to return one after another.

Shen Fang led people to take roll call one by one, and based on squads, they were arranged in various classrooms or dormitories to carry out political study.

Those political and cultural instructors coordinated with the political training section personnel to give these team members lessons.

It wasn't that Li Xuewu and Shen Fang were overly suspicious, but no one knew what the situation would become in the next moment.

Zheng Fuhua letting the security brigade withdraw was because he was afraid of danger in the muddy waters.

Even Zheng Fuhua was worried about the problem; with Li Xuewu's cautious and careful personality, how could he let the security brigade have any freedom?

All personnel, from top to bottom, one level watching another; they couldn't even go to the bathroom alone.

Near the end of work, even the security team members who were helping move were called back to attend a study meeting.

Near the end of work, Wang Xiaoqin called to say she wouldn't come back to check in and would go straight home.

Li Xuewu's eyelids also twitched; he instructed Shen Fang: "Pay attention to vigilance tonight; nothing can go out, and nothing can come in. Watch it strictly for me."

Shen Fang was also a bit timid and stared at Li Xuewu, asking: "Is something going to happen?"

"What could happen? Nothing has anything to do with us."

Li Xuewu pointed at Shen Fang and said: "Don't be a busybody; if a call comes from above, stall. Unless Director Zheng issues a notice personally, don't move."

After finishing, he looked at the police equipment in the courtyard and reminded him again: "If you can avoid moving, don't move; even if Director Zheng gives an order, be cautious."

"Also!"

Before getting into the car, Li Xuewu looked at Shen Fang and said: "Don't call me; I won't be home tonight, and my mother's house doesn't have a phone."

"I..."

Shen Fang looked at Li Xuewu and asked helplessly: "You're just going to leave me here alone?"

"Also~"

Shen Fang looked at the rows of patrol cars in the parking lot and asked: "Is Wang Xiaoqin intentionally not coming back?"

Li Xuewu glanced at Shen Fang, slammed the car door shut, and said to Shen Fang through the window: "Us not being here is actually better for you; if anything happens, just say you don't have the authority, and if anything happens, talk about it when it's light out."

"You guys are really ruthless."

Shen Fang gritted his teeth and said: "I'll tell the 816 unit in a bit that no outsiders are allowed in."

He had learned this trick—using the 816 regiment as a shield.

They couldn't get through the gate, so they could only call, but on this phone, the only orders he would listen to were Li Xuewu's and Wang Xiaoqin's.

Unless Zheng Fuhua spoke personally, but anyone wanting Zheng Fuhua to speak personally meant Zheng Fuhua was fine and could still command him.

If these conditions were met, then the matter wouldn't be big, and even if it dragged on until dawn, nothing would happen.

The command vehicle left the security brigade's gate; Li Xuewu lay back in the rear seat, watching the street scene outside the window flash by, knowing the last day of May was about to pass.

Tomorrow would be June; Li Xuewu's heartstrings tightened further. The next few months would be the first storm, and also the strongest storm to strike.

He had made all the preparations he could for this storm, and had also paved the way for every step in the future. No matter what the future held, he would work hard, just like the dumplings tonight.

Discussing eating dumplings with Gu Ning was also to commemorate this day, to remember this final peace, this final tranquility.

The command vehicle stopped in front of Gate 1 of the Haiyuncang; Li Xuewu got out of the car, smiled at the somewhat worried Sha Qizhi, and said: "It's Sunday, no worries, spend more time with your family."

"Yes."

Sha Qizhi nodded, looked at Li Xuewu, hesitated for a moment, and still said: "Director, you should also get more rest."

Li Xuewu waved his hand at him and smiled confidently.

Today was safe and warm, tomorrow might be dangerous and full of twists and turns, but life had to go on. Li Xuewu wouldn't die today; he wanted to live tomorrow, and the day after.

After sending the two away, Li Xuewu turned back; the gate had already been opened. Qin Jingru stood at the entrance, looked at the street corner, and seeing the car had already left, only then said: "The filling is all ready."

"Mm, I'm going to change my clothes."

Li Xuewu responded, took his handbag, signaled, and entered the courtyard.

Passing Qin Jingru, Li Xuewu was surprised by the fence in the courtyard.

The waist-high fence was woven very neatly and firmly; the roots were banked with soil, and the top was trimmed neatly.

Li Xuewu turned back to look at Qin Jingru; the girl's face was full of panic, as if asking: Why are you looking at me?

"You did a pretty good job."

Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, then walked into the courtyard.

He didn't just see the fence; he also saw the chicken coop in the west courtyard, which was only slightly larger than a doghouse, but not low, with a hole reserved at the bottom for cleaning out manure.

People, you never know what someone can do. If Li Xuewu were to do this, he could do it too, but he wouldn't necessarily have this kind of patience.

If it were Gu Ning, even the most basic material problem would be hard to solve.

Raising chickens?

Performing surgery on a chicken would be fine.

So, putting the right person in the right position allows them to do the right things.

For the time being, letting this "furry rabbit" tidy up the housework and take care of the chores in the courtyard was no problem.

When things were done well, they naturally had to be praised. Li Xuewu wasn't stingy; besides the usual pocket money rewards, this verbal spiritual encouragement was also necessary.

He didn't pay much attention to his praise, but it made Qin Jingru happy enough; this was the first time she had received praise from Li Xuewu.

She had been here for a month, stumbling along; in daily life, it was inevitable that she would do things wrong or not be used to the lifestyle of Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, but fortunately, she had gotten through it.

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning weren't petty people, and Qin Jingru was also a big-hearted person who didn't dwell on yesterday. The three of them together—the one doing the work didn't think about what the masters were like, and the masters didn't have excessive demands on the one doing the work.

Very good~

This was Li Xuewu's answer to Qin Huairu when he was driving, bringing them back to the courtyard, and happened to meet Qin Huairu at the gate.

Qin Huairu asked Li Xuewu this question in front of her younger sister, both to put positive pressure on her sister and to see the attitudes of Gu Ning and the old lady.

It wasn't enough for Li Xuewu to just say it was good; if Li Xuewu was just making do for her sake, that wouldn't be good.

Not to mention whether Li Xuewu would be annoyed by her, there was no need to have such a relationship with the Li family.

Now seeing the attitudes of the old lady and Gu Ning, it was actually quite good; at least seeing Qin Jingru holding Li Shu and walking into the courtyard, no one in the family had any special changes in expression.

Perhaps it was because she had spent a long time with Li Xuewu's family, but Qin Jingru didn't have the concept of "this family" or "that family."

Holding Li Shu, she met Liu Yin and went straight to the Li family, which made Qin Huairu, who had followed her in, feel a bit unnatural.

She still had to say a few words to Li Xuewu, who was walking behind, to cover it up.

After returning to her own home, Qin Huairu had just put down her bag and hadn't yet asked where her son, who was doing homework at the table, had gone, when Jia Zhangshi followed her into the room.

"Hey, I noticed, did Jingru come back?"

"Yes, she's at the Li family's."

Qin Huairu tidied her hair, re-tied the loose strands blown open on the road, and then asked Xiaodang: "Where's your brother? Where did he run off to go crazy after school?"

"He didn't go out; he's in the back courtyard picking up eggs."

Jia Zhangshi waved her hand, explaining for her grandson: "These chickens aren't enough to keep him busy; where would he have time to go play?"

After finishing, without waiting for Qin Huairu to ask again, she continued the previous topic: "I just came back from the gatehouse; why did I see the old lady of the Li family coming back holding a basin?"

"Your eyes are really good."

Qin Huairu glanced at her mother-in-law, watching her son come out from the back courtyard, his face full of joy; one look and she knew he had picked up eggs.

"They said it's the weekend, so the whole family is having dumplings; he prepared the filling."

"Whoa~!"

Jia Zhangshi widened her eyes and said: "So they have to eat dumplings on the weekend!"

"I said it, why did it smell so fragrant?"

After finishing, she smacked her lips, looked at Qin Huairu, and said: "Jingru is back, but she didn't come home; it turns out she was waiting for..."

"Mom! Look!"

Banggeng was good at cutting people off; he cut his grandmother's words off with a shout, not letting his mother be embarrassed.

Qin Huairu was also sad in her heart; her younger sister, whom she had missed for several weeks, had finally returned, but hadn't come home, and she didn't feel good on the surface either.

If she had come to the door, or come into the room, put Li Shu down, said hello, and come out to go home with her, that would have been something.

But she had talked to Li Xuewu at the door for a while, and even saw Qin Jingru sitting there, as if she didn't know this sister.

Now that her mother-in-law asked, she was too embarrassed to explain and could only brush it off.

Now that Banggeng came over to talk, Qin Huairu followed her son's words and said: "You ran to the chicken coop in the back courtyard as soon as you got back; did you do your homework?"

"I didn't even have time to play, so homework is even further behind~"

Jia Zhangshi was also made a bit uncomfortable by her daughter-in-law's look and her grandson's interruption, so she muttered under her breath.

Banggeng rolled his eyes, holding the two eggs in his hand, his face devoid of the joy from just a moment ago.

"I'll do it tonight."

"Not doing it during the day, doing it at night, burning the midnight oil."

Qin Huairu knew her son's level; it was already like this, so there was no big need to keep him studying.

As long as he wasn't as naughty as before, it was fine; with these chickens around, she hadn't seen her son running outside again.

She gently ruffled her son's head, said something neither light nor heavy, and didn't bother with her son anymore.

Xiaodang, holding her pencil, couldn't write her homework anymore; she looked at Qin Huairu and asked: "Mom, can our family eat dumplings too?"

"Oh, you really think our family is some wealthy family!"

Before Qin Huairu could speak, Jia Zhangshi got anxious first, scolding Xiaodang: "Their family are all cadres, all earning wages, so it's fine for them to celebrate the weekend like the New Year, but our family only has your mother earning money, and you dare to eat them!"

Xiaodang was scared by her grandmother's words and didn't dare to speak again; Huaihua, beside her, stared with big eyes and asked Qin Huairu: "Mom, I want to eat dumplings."

Qin Huairu glanced at her mother-in-law, knowing she was acting crazy, using dumplings to make a scene.

If it came to this mouth, her mother-in-law should have been dealt with long ago, but it was just this mouth that was annoying.

"Not the New Year, not a holiday, why eat dumplings?"

Qin Huairu walked to her daughter's side, ruffled the two children's heads, and said: "Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon; wait until Dragon Boat Festival, and Mom will wrap dumplings for you to eat."

"Good~~!"

Xiaodang and Huaihua heard there would be dumplings to eat and clapped their hands in joy.

Banggeng didn't care; his mind wasn't on eating, but on the eggs he had hidden in his hand.

He had picked up three in the chicken coop today; he had to hide one, preparing to save money to exchange for rain boots.

Eating or not, he was never short of what the family ate; what was the use of worrying about it now.

Just as they were talking, Qin Jingru walked in carrying a bag.

"So lively, what are you talking about?"

"Auntie~~~"

Xiaodang and Huaihua were laughing; seeing their aunt had returned, they both jumped off their stools in joy.

Qin Huairu felt uncomfortable in her heart and didn't answer; Jia Zhangshi had just wanted to say: We were talking about dumplings.

But before her words could come out, Qin Jingru took a bag of candy out of her bag.

"Look what Auntie brought you!"

"Wow! Candy!"

Xiaodang and Huaihua both opened their mouths in surprise, and Banggeng, who had hidden the eggs, also walked over, looked at his aunt, and asked: "Auntie, did you get rich?"

This was also the question Jia Zhangshi wanted to ask; Qin Jingru had left with a pile of debt, so where did she get the money to buy candy for the children?

Qin Jingru smiled, pinched Banggeng's fat face, ignored his dodging, chased him for a while, and then took a bag of pastries out of her bag.

"Wow!"

Xiaodang and Huaihua surrounded the table, their eyes unable to leave the good things on the table.

Banggeng didn't dodge anymore, leaned toward his aunt, and said: "Auntie, you didn't go rob someone, did you?"

"Go! How can you talk to your aunt like that~"

At this time, Qin Huairu walked over, scolded her son, and then asked her sister: "Why buy these things? They're expensive."

"It's a gesture for the children."

Qin Jingru smiled at her sister and said: "I've been here for so long, and I haven't bought anything for the children; I've just been eating your food."

Jia Zhangshi curled her lips at the door, thinking: You know that~

Qin Jingru at the table didn't see Jia Zhangshi's expression, but Qin Huairu did, though she just pretended not to see it.

This mother-in-law was just like that; at her age, asking her to have class was harder than killing her.

Qin Jingru tidied her hair behind her ears a bit embarrassedly, withdrew her hand from Banggeng's shoulder, took fifteen yuan out of her pocket, and handed it to her sister.

"What are you doing?"

Qin Huairu saw her sister handing her money and widened her eyes, then remembered something and asked: "Did you get your salary?"

"Yes."

Qin Jingru answered her sister's question quite confidently and happily, pursing her lips and smiling.

Then, while stuffing the money into her sister's hand, she explained: "Dad came last time and you gave him money; I can't not pay that back."

"Take it back!"

Qin Huairu heard this and stuffed the money back, which gave Jia Zhangshi a fright—the money was already in hand, and she could still send it away?

Besides, this was what Qin Huairu had lent to her second uncle; wasn't it agreed that Qin Jingru would pay it back when she earned money? Why didn't she want it now?

That was dozens of yuan!

While the sisters were talking, Jia Zhangshi was scratching her ears and cheeks; if it weren't for Qin Huairu, she would have grabbed it long ago.

Qin Huairu handed the money to her sister and said: "That money is between me and your dad; it has nothing to do with you. I'll ask your dad for it later; you keep this money yourself."

After finishing, seeing her sister dodging back, she widened her eyes and said: "Working hard for a month, is this money so easy to earn~"

"No, I really don't need it."

Qin Jingru pushed her sister's hand away and pushed back: "I don't spend money; I eat and drink at that family's house. You won't be able to get it from my dad, so just take it if I give it to you."

"No, your sister can't take this money even if she's short of money. Take it quickly!"

Qin Huairu widened her eyes at her sister and said: "If you don't take it, I'll get angry!"

Qin Jingru went around behind Jia Zhangshi, hiding, and said: "Just take it, don't argue."

After finishing, she grabbed Jia Zhangshi's two arms and shook them, saying: "I've put the things here; I'll stay at the old lady's in the front courtyard tonight, so I won't come back to squeeze in."

"You!"

Qin Huairu widened her eyes and was about to speak; Jia Zhangshi looked at the three bills in Qin Huairu's hand, plus Qin Jingru shaking her from behind, and felt a bit dizzy.

She waved her hand and said to Qin Huairu: "Your sister is giving it sincerely, so just take it; just treat it as saving it for her."

"How can that be!"

Qin Huairu glared at her mother-in-law, then said to Qin Jingru: "You really think it's easy to live in the capital? Money is so hard to earn."

"Then you help me save it."

Qin Jingru saw that changing the topic didn't work, so she followed Jia Zhangshi's words and said: "I keep thinking about spending it randomly when I have it on me, so just put it with you."

Qin Huairu couldn't hear what her sister meant, widened her eyes, and was helpless.

Panting a few times, Qin Huairu didn't argue with her sister anymore and said: "Your dad owes me thirty yuan, so you give me five yuan a month for half a year, and you can keep the rest for your own expenses."

"Forget it."

Qin Jingru didn't answer her sister's words, her tone a bit low: "I'll just give it to you in two months."

After finishing, she walked from behind Jia Zhangshi to her sister's side and said: "You've worried about me for these few months, and I've earned money, so you can rest assured."

Qin Huairu's mouth moved; seeing her sister hadn't returned for two weeks and seemed to have become much more sensible, she couldn't help but shed tears.

Jia Zhangshi couldn't bear to see this and quickly turned and left the room.

She cared about money, but she couldn't bear to see tears caused by money.

It was just like when Qin Huairu gave those thirty yuan to Qin Er; she didn't say anything then. At that time, those thirty yuan were what Qin Huairu had just become a director, and after paying off debts, there wasn't much left.

In the room, Qin Huairu cried, and Qin Jingru cried too; one cried for the sister's hard life, fortunately turning from bitter to sweet.

One cried for the sister's deep affection, knowing that she was finally cared for in this city, and wasn't a lonely ghost.

Before returning home, although Li Xuewu had told her to buy things, she had hesitated about whether to pay back all this money.

But thinking of how her sister had kept her under such family conditions, and hadn't driven her away even when she was acting crazy, how could she not know that her sister's family was also having a hard time.

And that night, if it hadn't been for her sister giving money to her father, she would be even more ashamed now.

Finally, she thought of Li Xuewu's words: people can't live carrying burdens; they have to move forward lightly.

The three children didn't understand why their mother and aunt were pushing the money back and forth; maybe they would only understand the importance of this family affection when they grew up.

One thinking of paying back money, having a heart of gratitude; one thinking of the sister's bitterness, not wanting money, having a kind heart.

People change, and what they become depends on the environment they are in.

Qin Jingru, who came from the countryside, was a silly girl; calling her a "blank sheet" seemed to insult her, but if it came to playing tricks, she would help people count the money after being sold.

In the city, she only had confusion; she didn't know how to live, couldn't tell good people from bad, learning good from good people and bad from bad people.

This situation wasn't just her; even after the nineties, how many good girls from the countryside went to the city to work and went bad? Wasn't it just because of the environment?

Maybe Qin Jingru didn't understand now, but in the future, she would definitely be grateful that everyone she met after entering the city was a good person, including Li Xuewu.

Tonight, the Li family was very lively; the large basin the old lady brought back was full of meat filling.

Qin Jingru had long received the old lady's instructions, telling her to go see her sister's family and then come back quickly to help.

Saying it was to help wrap dumplings, wasn't it just an excuse to let her come over and eat dumplings?

With so many people in the Li family, could they be short of people to wrap dumplings?

The old lady was kind-hearted; Qin Jingru knew, and Yu Li knew too.

Being called over by Li Xue to help, she was a bit stunned, but after the shock came emotion.

She still had roots in this courtyard; at least the old lady didn't treat her as an outsider.

When Gu Ning was here, she didn't come over; being called over by the old lady still made her feel a bit embarrassed.

The first time she said she wouldn't come, Li Xue called her twice, so it wasn't good to let the old lady say more.

When she arrived, she only busied herself with Liu Yin and Qin Jingru, not even having eye contact with Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu was also a bit confused as to why the old lady specifically called Yu Li, but he was calm and had no discomfort at all.

This also made Gu Ning not pay attention to this aspect at all, because she knew Yu Li.

Before they were married, she knew Yu Li was helping out here, tidying up the room and hygiene for Li Xuewu, and had been helping them busily on their wedding day.

Especially the old lady's attitude toward her, Gu Ning didn't think in that direction at all.

The old lady had also told her that Yu Li had good craftsmanship and got along well with her, and even Li Shu's little clothes were made by Yu Li.

According to Gu Ning's understanding, Yu Li was similar to the service worker who worked for their family, only the Li family didn't call her that, and the boundaries weren't so clear.

The Li family didn't show anything even if they knew something; with the old lady there, they were used to it anyway.

Only Li Shun looked at his second son with particular displeasure today.