As she thought this, tears slid from the corner of Jiang Qingqing’s eyes and landed on Zhang Liunian’s chest.
“That’s how it is, so this matter has nothing to do with you. Please, don’t cry anymore, or I’ll be heartbroken to death.” Zhang Liunian saw that his wife didn't believe him and leaned in to kiss the corner of her eye.
Jiang Qingqing’s heart pounded like thunder from his action, instantly making her forget her earlier self-reproach.
Seeing his action was effective, Zhang Liunian kissed her other eye before pulling her into his embrace, holding her quietly.
After a long while, Jiang Qingqing turned to ask about the next steps. “Mom and Dad really don’t want us to be self-employed, and they still want your research formula. What do we do now?”
“Of course, we’ll go our own way. Let them talk! My second brother wants face, and he'll definitely have to earn it himself, not by restricting his brothers to earn it for him.”
Zhang Liunian stuck to his old saying: face had to be earned by oneself.
Jiang Qingqing felt there was nothing wrong with what he said. After all, they had been living separately for many years, each minding their own business. Who could control what their brothers did?
“What you said makes sense, but why did you say second brother is selfish?” Jiang Qingqing had only met Zhang Liuxing twice and truly didn’t know his character.
Zhang Liunian seemed to recall something as he replied, “When I was four or five years old, our family couldn't even get enough to eat. My second brother was clever and could get things, but he never shared any food with me or eldest brother.
Later, when I grew up, there was the movement to the countryside. My second brother got involved with a female educated youth for two years so he could finish his high school knowledge. After he finished, they parted ways.
At that time, I watched my second brother study and wanted him to teach me too, but he said I had no talent for studying, ignored me, and even complained that I was wasting his time…”
Actually, Zhang Liuxing’s selfishness had been evident since childhood, but many people were prone to self-deception.
Take Zhang Liunian’s parents, for example. They only saw that Zhang Liuxing tested into university through self-study, but they didn’t see that he had deceived a girl to gain knowledge.
Of course, it was also possible they saw it but subconsciously ignored it.
“So, second brother is that kind of person.”
Jiang Qingqing heard that Zhang Liuxing's score at the time was very high, and he was studying at a good university in the capital. That’s why he could directly take up an official position after graduation.
But Jiang Qingqing didn’t know that her husband couldn’t even ask him for advice.
They called each other brothers, yet he turned out to be such a person.
“No one in the entire village knows about his situation with the female educated youth except me.
They all thought my second brother was a literary star sent down to earth, but that wasn't the case.” That female educated youth returned to the city with a child, and later came back with her son to find his second brother. In the previous life, this incident caused Zhang Liuxing’s career to stagnate instantly.
His entire life, he could never get out of Nancheng.
Cause and effect, Zhang Liuxing got into university and started his career because of that female educated youth, and in the end, it was also because of her that he stagnated.
Everything was ultimately fate.
“Let’s not talk about him. I need to go pick up my little sister.” After chatting with his wife for a while, Zhang Liunian began to worry about Zhang Xiaomei.
Her divorce was completed with his help. If their parents wanted to scold her, he would stand up for his little sister.
“I’ll go with you.” Jiang Qingqing was also worried about Zhang Xiaomei, but how could Zhang Liunian let Jiang Qingqing go? If their parents impulsively resorted to violence again, wouldn't she get hurt?
“You’re pregnant, so you shouldn’t go. I’m worried you’ll get hurt. Just wait for me to come back at home.” After speaking, Zhang Liunian got up and walked out the door.
Jiang Qingqing wanted to follow but eventually stopped at the entrance of the main hall.
“Liunian, what happened to your face?” Before Zhang Liunian could reach his elder brother’s house, he encountered Village Chief Zhang Laoshi and Village Secretary Zhang Hao walking towards him.
Zhang Liunian stopped and explained, “My parents came back and told me not to be self-employed. They also wanted to give my braised dish formula to my second brother. I didn’t agree, and they got a bit angry.”
So you got beaten up in the end.
The village chief and village secretary exchanged glances, seeing the "it has come to this" expression in each other's eyes.
Zhang Liunian being self-employed, Zhang Wenxue opposing it – half the village could have guessed this.
This was because Zhang Wenxue and his wife cared a lot about face and were very protective of their second son’s reputation.
Being self-employed was not a respectable occupation in the village or even nationwide, and in the eyes of this couple, it was naturally so.
“Liunian, you were right to refuse. Although Liuxing is the pride of our entire village, that doesn’t affect you being self-employed.
Work hard, grow big and strong soon, and lead the whole village to a better life.”
“I also think your refusal was reasonable. You being self-employed in the county town doesn’t interfere with Liuxing, who is an official in Nancheng. Your parents are making a fuss out of nothing. Who would pay attention to someone like you, a self-employed person?”
Zhang Laoshi and Zhang Hao spoke one after another, both expressing their support for him to continue.
And to grow big and strong, so as to truly help the whole village live a better life – this was truly good.
Although Zhang Liuxing was the only university student in many villages, that was just good to say. In reality, no one in the entire village had benefited from him.
Even Zhang Liunian, his own brother, hadn’t sent him a single cent to help him through difficult times when he was struggling to survive.
Therefore, Zhang Laoshi and Zhang Hao supported Zhang Liunian over Zhang Liuxing.
“As for the formula, since it’s yours, you should keep it yourself. Why would you give it to your second brother? Him, who gets state-subsidized grain, coming to take things from you, that’s too much!”
“Who says not? You haven't benefited from him at all, yet you have to give him things. There’s no such logic.”
“…”
Listening to their words, Zhang Liunian genuinely smiled. “Let’s not talk about this. I’m thinking of establishing a factory in the village recently. We’ll start small, hiring about ten people initially.
Once sales improve, we’ll gradually expand.
At that time, I hope the two uncles can first identify the villagers who are facing difficulties. I still want to prioritize them.
However, as long as this factory of mine gets going, everyone in the village will definitely have opportunities to work here.”
Zhang Liunian’s words immediately made Zhang Laoshi and Zhang Hao overjoyed.
If he were to open a factory, and it were in their village, would their village have to worry about a good life in the future?
As expected, Zhang Liunian was the hope of their village; Zhang Liuxing was merely a name.
As long as Zhang Liunian’s factory got started and developed well, it would be a tremendous good thing for their village.
Therefore, if Zhang Liunian needed anything in the future, they must help him as much as possible. And they absolutely must not let Zhang Wenxue cause trouble.
What nonsense about not being self-employed, go to hell! Now, whoever wants to stop Zhang Liunian from leading their entire village to a better life, they will fight with them.
“That would be great! If you need any help, just ask Uncle, and Uncle will definitely help you.”