No one in the entire village pitied Jiang Qingqing more than they did Zhang Liunian before he turned over a new leaf and started to mend his ways.
But who could have imagined that Zhang Liunian would suddenly awaken and begin to earn money to support his family and dote on his wife!
"Since the Jiang family wants Jiang Qingqing to marry some director, if the Jiang family knew she married a country bumpkin..."
"They would definitely be very angry and want her to abandon her husband and child and remarry."
"Is it that exaggerated?"
"It's the truth. You shouldn't think about these things. Just focus on living your own life."
"..."
The conversation ended there, and Wu Gudi seemed to have found an opportunity to retaliate against Zhang Liunian.
Didn't he insist on breaking her and Zhang Liushui apart?
Then she would make him taste that feeling too.
With this thought, Wu Gudi gritted her teeth and slowly walked away.
Zhang Liunian was unaware of what was happening here. At this moment, he had finished toasting the village elders one by one and returned to his wife and daughter's side to serve them dishes.
"Daddy, I want meatballs." Hua Bao was small and her arms were short, unable to pick up the food she wanted, so she could only ask Zhang Liunian for help.
Zhang Liunian patted his daughter's head, reached out his long arm, and helped his daughter pick up several meatballs.
These meatballs were made of meat and vegetables and tasted good. Hua Bao couldn't stop eating with her spoon, her mouth full of food.
Seeing his daughter like this, Jiang Qingqing raised her hand to wipe the corners of her mouth, but Zhang Liunian beat her to it, wiping it away.
Their eyes met, full of smiles.
"Ruyi, would you like some meatballs too? There are plenty in the pot. I'll get you a bowl." This was the last dish, and it had the largest portion because it was enjoyed by all ages.
Zhang Liunian had noticed there were many more when he passed by the kitchen earlier. After speaking, he got up and took Jiang Qingqing's bowl to serve her.
As soon as he left, all the women at the table looked at Jiang Qingqing with envy.
"Qingqing, your hardships are finally over. Your future days will surely be happy and fulfilling."
"Who says not? Liunian has finally grown up and knows how to care for people."
"Qingqing, you must not listen to Wu Gudi's crazy talk. You won't find a man as handsome and doting as Liunian in the entire county."
"Yes, Qingqing, you must live well with Liunian. You will surely have good days in the future."
"..."
No one wanted to see Jiang Qingqing leave Zhang Liunian because of others' instigation, so they all started to persuade her.
Jiang Qingqing felt a little embarrassed listening. After they all finished speaking, she said with a slightly flushed face, "Aunties, don't worry. Liunian is the man I chose. No one can compare to his importance in my heart."
These words were actually difficult to say to outsiders, but everyone was too concerned about her and Liunian's lives, and she couldn't refuse their good intentions.
All the aunties smiled when they heard this.
"Here you go, eat it while it's hot." When Zhang Liunian returned, he saw everyone looking happy and jovial. He didn't ask but focused all his attention on Jiang Qingqing.
Zhang Wenxue and his wife, who were opposite them with their three grandchildren, looked at their younger son's family's joyful scene with mixed feelings.
Unlike the joy on this side, Zhang Liuhuo's house was filled with gloom. With Zhang Wenjun, Wu Shuicao, and Zhang Liuyu gone, only Zhang Liuhuo and his five-year-old son, Da Tou, were left in the house.
To solve the problem of dinner, Zhang Liuhuo had to cook himself despite his broken leg. However, he had never cooked before, and with his broken leg, he ended up covered in dirt and exasperated, cursing loudly. After cursing, he lectured his son, "It's all Zhang Liunian's family that has brought us father and son to such a miserable state. In the future, when you encounter Zhang Yehua, don't be polite. Hit her if you can, and don't hold back if you can bully her. She owes you this, understand?"
Da Tou had been hungry all day. Hearing this, he clenched his small fists, feeling immense hatred for Zhang Liunian's family and also for Hua Bao, who suddenly lived a better life than him.
"Tomorrow I'll catch all her little chicks and let you wring their necks, Dad."
Zhang Liuhuo was not pleased upon hearing this. What was the point of wringing a chick's neck? If he wanted to wring a neck, he should wring Hua Bao's. "What chick? Chicks aren't worth much. Starting tomorrow, if you see Hua Bao without anyone around, hit her. Make her obediently bring you food. If she doesn't obey, beat her until she does, understand?"
"Understood."
...
"You just finished eating. Go and rest. I'll clean up the things at home." Zhang Liunian brought his family back to the mud house. Seeing his wife and younger sister rolling up their sleeves to start tidying up, he quickly pulled his wife aside and started doing it himself.
Jiang Qingqing, with a beaming smile, held her husband's big hand. "There's too much messy stuff in the house. I'll help to get it done faster, otherwise you won't get to sleep tonight."
Her husband still had to get up early, and even an iron body couldn't do that without rest!
"If it's not done today, we'll pack and tidy up tomorrow night." Zhang Liunian saw his wife about to join in again and pushed her back onto the stool.
"We must move tomorrow. It will be too late if we clean it up the day after tomorrow."
"It's not too late. Don't worry, just take good care of yourself."
"..."
Zhang Xiaomei, who was tidying up, couldn't bear it. She continued her work and said, "Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, why don't we call the mute? That way, we can also speed things up, and we can move the things to the female educated youth dormitory tomorrow."
Since she had already registered her marriage with the mute, they just hadn't had the formal wedding banquet yet, so it was natural to call him to help.
Zhang Liunian suddenly remembered his younger sister's marriage to the mute after hearing this.
Now that their parents dared not interfere anymore, their younger sister's wedding should be grand.
"Xiaomei, your wedding should also be put on the agenda. You decide on a date tomorrow, and Third Brother will help you with the wedding banquet. You must marry the mute in a grand way."
"Third Brother, you decide." Since their parents would no longer interfere in her affairs, Zhang Xiaomei was no longer in a hurry.
Zhang Liunian looked at his younger sister's shyness and didn't know if she wanted it sooner or later, so he directly asked, "Xiaomei, now that Mom and Dad dare not interfere in your affairs anymore, do you want it sooner or later?"
"How about the beginning of next month!" There was still a week before the beginning of next month, and Zhang Xiaomei felt it was about right.
"Then let's set it for the first. When you get married, you'll leave from Eldest Brother's house. Our house will definitely be dismantled by then." Zhang Liunian was considering his younger sister's wedding next month. Zhang Xiaomei remained silent, focusing on tidying up.
Seeing this, Zhang Liunian said no more. He rolled up his sleeves and joined in.
Jiang Qingqing watched for a while and then turned to her room to pack. By the time Zhang Liunian came into the room after showering, she had already finished packing and started her happy money-counting routine.
Zhang Liunian changed his clothes and found the packed items in the room. He sat next to her and asked with concern, "Are you tired? Rest early if you are tired."
Jiang Qingqing, who was organizing her savings, smiled and shook her head. "I'll sleep after I finish counting."
"Let's count today's earnings as well." Zhang Liunian saw the continuous smile on his wife's face as she counted money, so he immediately took out today's income. He took out his pocket twice before emptying it completely.