“Xiao Si, Xiao Wu, you two go to the female educated youth courtyard first. We’ll work there later.”
Zhang Liunian returned home pulling the flatbed cart. Seeing Xiao Si and Xiao Wu waiting in the yard, he called out to remind them.
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu were startled but said nothing. They called out, “Brother Liunian,” and headed to the educated youth courtyard.
Putting down the flatbed cart, Zhang Liunian began to pack the things he needed: the iron pot, ingredients, the coal stove…
After everything was loaded onto the flatbed cart, Zhang Liunian placed his daughter at the very front. “Huabao, sit still and don’t move.”
“Huabao will sit still and listen to Daddy.” Huabao rubbed her eyes and said in a dazed, cute voice that she was very well-behaved.
Zhang Liunian was charmed by her cuteness. He reached out and ruffled her hair, then turned to his wife. “Qingqing, take it slow on the road.”
“Third Brother, I’ll help Third Sister-in-law.” Zhang Xiaomei, seeing her third brother being so careful with his wife, immediately stepped forward to offer her arm.
“No need, I can walk.” Jiang Qingqing refused the support.
Zhang Liunian said no more. The four of them left home and headed towards the female educated youth courtyard behind the village.
When they arrived at the educated youth courtyard, Jiang Qingqing found the house to be truly excellent. With blue bricks and dark tiles, and a courtyard wall, it offered excellent privacy.
She had heard that this house was built with money raised by dozens of educated youth, along with subsidies. Many people in the village had their eyes on it, but she hadn’t expected her husband to acquire it.
Thinking this, Jiang Qingqing’s gaze fell upon her husband, who was busy moving things. Her eyes were filled with joy.
…
“Add some large chili peppers to sauté until fragrant.” At nine in the morning, Zhang Liunian began to teach the mute man, step-by-step, how to stir-fry crayfish.
This was the mute man’s first time trying to stir-fry. He followed Zhang Liunian’s instructions precisely: first, sauté the aromatics, then add the main ingredient, followed by the seasonings. Two spoonfuls of this, five spoonfuls of that, until the crayfish turned yellow and were fished out.
“This pot is good. Stir-fry another one for me to see.” Zhang Liunian picked up a chopstick and tasted it. It was almost as good as his own. He then had the mute man start on the second pot.
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu, hearing the aroma from the side room, couldn’t help but let out hungry growls.
Zhang Xiaomei covered her mouth and giggled, thinking that if she hadn’t been eating with her third brother every day for the past few days, she would be just as embarrassed.
Her third brother’s cooking skills were truly exceptional. She always wanted more after eating.
“This pot is also good. You’re doing a great job. Keep going!” Strike while the iron is hot. Seeing that the mute man had found his rhythm, Zhang Liunian immediately urged him to continue.
The mute man grinned when he saw Zhang Liunian’s approval, and then began to stir-fry again.
With the mute man’s help, Zhang Liunian felt much more relaxed. However, considering they had five hundred jin that day, he had to go and check on the progress of peeling the crayfish.
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu were very quick with their hands, much faster than Jiang Qingqing and Zhang Xiaomei.
Perhaps it was because they were boys and weren’t afraid of such things. Two at a time, two at a time, they were very fast.
Seeing that Xiao Si and Xiao Wu had peeled a barrel in no time, Zhang Liunian encouraged them, “I really didn’t misjudge. With the two of you, Xiao Si and Xiao Wu, my work efficiency is doubled!”
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu blushed slightly at Zhang Liunian’s praise and could only redouble their efforts.
Zhang Liunian looked at them and smiled, “I’ll let you take a bowl home later to eat.”
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu wanted to refuse, but Zhang Liunian waved them off.
When they returned home at noon, they not only received two yuan but also a bowl of fragrant crayfish meat.
It was then that Xiao Si and Xiao Wu realized that the dish Zhang Liunian had sent over the night before was this crayfish meat.
So, the poisonous insects they had in their mouths were called crayfish and were not only non-poisonous but also edible, and tasted good.
How much delicious food had they wasted before?
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, feeling as if fate had played a huge joke on them.
They were told poisonous insects would be deadly, but they turned out to be edible.
They wondered how Zhang Liunian had discovered this.
No matter how he found out, they couldn’t say anything. It was an agreement.
Holding the money, Xiao Si and Xiao Wu happily went home. Zhang Laoshi saw his sons bringing back a portion of food, scolded them a bit, and then the family ate heartily.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liunian pulled six hundred jin of crayfish to the machinery factory. After dropping off five hundred jin, he went with Zhao Zhijie to collect the money.
“This batch is exactly five hundred jin, totaling 200 yuan. Take it.”
Zhang Liunian took the money and chatted with him. “Is Uncle Yan doing alright?”
Zhao Zhijie smiled wryly and shook his head. “With what’s happened, no one can be doing alright.”
“If there’s anything I can help with, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Zhao Zhijie smiled. “Old Yan isn’t someone to be trifled with. He doesn’t need our help.”
And what was the person they were discussing, Yan Guoguo, doing?
He was leading a group of people, storming into a hotel, and catching his wife in bed with his subordinate.
“Ah!” Li Meijia hadn’t expected that the man she had kept in the dark for so long would find her here so silently.
Besides screaming, all she could do was desperately pull the covers around herself, exposing the naked Qian Xuehai.
Qian Xuehai, naked and stunned, immediately shifted the blame. “Factory Director, it’s not what you think. She seduced me.”
If one keeps the green hills, one need not fear no firewood.
He didn’t know how Yan Guoguo had found out, but he knew that being caught in the act by the factory director meant he could only shift the blame to Li Meijia.
Li Meijia hadn’t expected that her childhood sweetheart would immediately shift blame after being caught. Shocked, her face turned ashen, and her body trembled.
After a long while, she finally pointed at Qian Xuehai and cursed, “Qian Xuehai, you’re not human.”
Qian Xuehai, now caught, knew the seriousness of the situation. He wouldn’t coax her like before. He immediately retorted, “Didn’t you say you loved me and insisted on cheating together?”
“…” Li Meijia was taken aback. Yes, she had said she loved him, but if he hadn’t said he loved her too, would she have ended up here?
“Qian Xuehai, you’re not human.”
“If I’m not human, then you’re even less so.”
“…”
A grand drama unfolded, and in the end, both Qian Xuehai and Li Meijia were sent to prison.
Yan Guoguo also announced his divorce from Li Meijia and sent their son to be raised by the Li family.
The Li family, knowing they were in the wrong, could only help raise the child born from their daughter’s affair.
Returning to the present, after finishing his conversation with Zhao Zhijie, Zhang Liunian walked out of the supervisor’s office with the money. To his surprise, as he stepped out, he bumped into Qian Xuehai’s sister, Qian Xueli.
She was a pretty young girl, an accountant at the factory.
They had never met before this, but Zhang Liunian knew her. In his previous life, this Qian Xueli had married one of his business partners and lived a life of wealth and ease.
“Oh! Don’t you have eyes?” Qian Xueli fell to the ground, baring her teeth as she looked up, ready to continue her scolding. However, as soon as she saw Zhang Liunian’s face, her fierce expression softened. This person was so handsome!
Did their factory have such a handsome male employee?
Why had she never noticed him in years?
“I’m sorry.” Zhang Liunian had suddenly come out and bumped into her. He certainly had to apologize.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You didn’t do it on purpose.” Qian Xueli saw his sincere apology and quickly got up from the ground, indicating she was fine.
This attitude was completely different from moments before. This was the effect of a handsome man.