"Alright, I'll have Brother Liutian come with me to the county town at four this afternoon," Zhang Liunian nodded and instructed, then handed the wages for Xiao Si and Xiao Wu to Zhang Laoshi.
After Zhang Laoshi and his sons returned home, the family immediately gathered around, asking when they would be going to the county town for work.
"We're meeting this afternoon," Zhang Laoshi replied, which excited most of them, though a few were not as thrilled.
These few were Zhang Laoshi's second and third sons, who hadn't managed to secure any good jobs.
Seeing this, Zhang Laoshi sighed. He couldn't be blamed for it; he couldn't ensure jobs for all his sons.
"Xiao Si, Xiao Wu, here's your wages." Zhang Laoshi took out two yuan from his pocket, intending to hand it to his sons, but his wife, Wang Cuihua, snatched it first.
"We haven't split the family yet, so all the money must be given to me. The eldest son too; when he gets his wages, he'll bring them back to me, understand?" Wang Cuihua and Zhang Laoshi had five sons and had never divided the household, so the elderly couple managed all the finances.
"Understood," Zhang Liutian replied obediently.
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu said nothing, merely feeling happy that the two yuan were earnings they had made.
In the afternoon, Zhang Liunian, along with crayfish, braised dishes, and Zhang Liutian, set off for the county town.
With Zhang Liutian present, Zhang Liunian was saved a lot of effort along the way.
Upon arriving at the machinery factory, he found Zhao Zhijie and asked him to take Zhang Liutian to complete the onboarding procedures and get his work permit. Zhang Liunian, meanwhile, went to the construction site entrance to sell crayfish and braised dishes.
"Boss, you have meat again this time? It smells so good, how much is it?" The man who was the first to try the braised dishes yesterday stepped forward to inquire.
"Pure braised meat is fifty cents a bowl, and braised dishes are one cent for a large bowl."
Meat currently cost one yuan per jin. One jin of braised meat could be divided into six bowls, doubling the cost in profit.
This price was significantly higher for crayfish and braised dishes.
However, the enticing aroma of the meat was irresistible.
The man hesitated, unsure whether to have meat or vegetarian.
Seeing his indecision, his companions behind him, unable to wait, pushed forward and ordered a portion of braised meat.
They earned five yuan a day working on the construction site and could afford fifty-cent meat.
Zhang Liunian responded by serving him a full bowl of pork belly.
"Mmm, it's delicious. I've never tasted such fragrant braised meat before." After paying, the man immediately reached out, picked up a piece of pork belly, and threw it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing with great enjoyment.
"Hurry and buy some, it's really good. You won't regret it."
This was his honest opinion. After saying this, he strode away, waiting for his companions to go home together.
His hesitant brother, hearing his enthusiastic recommendation, also ordered a portion of braised meat.
After they left, there were customers for braised dishes, braised meat, and crayfish.
The nine jin of braised meat sold out the fastest, followed by the crayfish, and then the braised dishes.
In one afternoon, he received 105 yuan. Combined with the morning's earnings, he had received 285 yuan that day.
Having tallied the total, Zhang Liunian was eager to return and give the money to his wife. But remembering his promise to buy cloth to take home, he had to change direction.
Just then, Zhao Zhijie's voice called out from behind him, "Liunian, wait up."
Zhang Liunian stopped and watched Zhao Zhijie run up to him, saying, "Liunian, tomorrow you need to deliver five hundred jin to our factory. Today's supply wasn't nearly enough."
"Certainly!" Just as he had expected, three hundred jin was not enough to even scratch the surface.
"Alright, it's settled. I'll be going then," Zhao Zhijie announced, then turned and hurried away.
In fact, such a matter didn't require him to come personally.
But he was afraid Zhang Liunian wouldn't believe him, so he came.
Watching Zhao Zhijie leave, Zhang Liunian turned and went to the market, finding the place where he had bought cloth last time. With a sweep of his hand, he ordered three large rolls: one patterned, one blue, and one beige.
After buying the cloth, he also purchased seasonings, candies, and several bamboo tubes for his family.
He planned to use these bamboo tubes to store the seasonings, making it easier for the mute to learn how to stir-fry crayfish.
All in all, it was another day of returning home laden with goods.
Meanwhile, Tu Meili, whom Zhang Liunian had splashed with a basin of bathwater the previous day, was once again trying to figure out what Zhang Liunian's family was up to.
However, because of the straw mat blocking the door, every time she tried to get closer, Jiang Qingqing and the others would discover her.
She was furious and decided she would wait until dark, or track Zhang Liunian in the morning.
"Daddy," as soon as he entered the courtyard, Huabao dropped the crayfish and got up, rushing towards Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Liunian looked at the little person on his legs, carefully placed down the handcart to avoid bumping his daughter, and with a scoop, lifted her to the top of his head. "Huabao, did you miss Daddy?"
"Yes, very much. Huabao wants Daddy to lift me high, wants to fly."
Huabao was extremely happy, her hands constantly gesturing as if flying with outstretched wings.
"Okay, Daddy will take you flying." Zhang Liunian said, then, holding his daughter, he began to swing her slowly around the courtyard, round and round...
Jiang Qingqing heard the commotion, removed the straw mat, and saw the father and daughter playing the 'lifting high' game. Both daughter and her husband were laughing heartily.
It was wonderful; this kind of life was what she truly desired.
"Huabao, Daddy is dizzy and can't spin anymore." Having spun quite a few circles, Zhang Liunian was afraid of dropping his daughter and quickly put her down.
Huabao, however, wasn't dizzy at all and gestured with her hands, "Daddy is so good."
Zhang Liunian flicked his daughter's nose and then, as if performing magic, produced a candy from his hand.
"Wow, it's a fruit candy?" Huabao was overjoyed at the sight of the candy. She reached out to unwrap it, intending to eat it herself, but paused before bringing it to her mouth. She looked at the smiling Zhang Liunian, a hint of reluctance in her expression, but still held it out to Zhang Liunian's mouth, saying earnestly, "Daddy, you eat."
Zhang Liunian looked at the candy at his mouth, paused for a moment, then smiled and stroked his daughter's blonde hair. "Daddy won't eat it, Huabao eats."
She clearly wanted to eat it very much herself, yet she still wanted to give it to him; his daughter was too sensible.
"If Daddy doesn't eat it, I don't want to eat it either."
"See what this is?" Zhang Liunian, seeing her like this, had no choice but to take out a handful of candies from his pocket to show his daughter.
"Wow, so many fruit candies."
"Yes, these candies are for you, Mommy, and Auntie. You'll have candy every day from now on."
"Wow, Daddy, you're so good."
"..."
After dinner, Zhang Liunian took the mute to move house. Zhang Guangtou objected, but upon meeting Zhang Liunian's gaze, he dared not speak.
The pain from yesterday was still on him, and facing Zhang Liunian again, he didn't dare utter a word.
In the end, he could only watch with his eyes wide open as his brother, who had worked like a slave for him, was taken away by Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Guangtou's sons were also reluctant, because with their uncle gone, they would have to do the work themselves.
However, unlike their father, Zhang Guangtou, they had no shame and couldn't justify exploiting their uncle so naturally.
As educated individuals, they understood that as nephews, they had no right to ask their uncle to stay and continue to be a slave for their family.
After all, their uncle had left willingly, not under duress from Zhang Liunian.
Therefore, it seemed their uncle was not as foolish as his parents claimed, not knowing anything.