"I really didn't."
"You're still lying to me. You must be thinking of leaving me. No way, I won't allow it. From today on, until the child grows up, you're not allowed to leave this room."
"What do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do? Of course, I want to keep you locked up, lest you abandon your husband and child."
"..."
Then, the sound of a door locking was heard from inside, followed by a woman's crying and screaming. Hearing this, Zhang Liunian really wanted to rush in and help that weak woman.
But he had heard enough to understand. He couldn't get involved. If he did, it would only lead to more misunderstandings.
The best course of action was to let the village chief and others handle it.
With this thought, he turned to find the village chief, told him about Su Jie's situation, and assured him, "I haven't said a word to that Su Jie. I don't know why Auntie Xiao E would say such a thing."
Zhang Laoshi believed Zhang Liunian. This was because until half a month ago, Zhang Liunian had been a shut-in, and Su Jie, being a female educated youth, also rarely left the house. For these two to have any kind of relationship would be harder than ascending to heaven.
"Don't worry, leave this to me. That old woman Wang is getting worse and worse," Zhang Laoshi said, and then took his son to Wang Xiao'e's house.
Zhang Liunian went to push his bicycle. Wu Gudi was very reluctant to see him take it away.
She had only sat on it for a short while and had even fallen. She hadn't felt any sense of happiness yet!
But with Zhang Liushui there, Wu Gudi couldn't stop him.
In the evening, Zhang Liunian sat on the bed with his chest bare. Jiang Qingqing leaned forward, her face close to his chest. She reached out, wanting to touch the scar on his shoulder, but her hand trembled slightly, and her eyes also welled up with tears.
Zhang Liunian hated to see his wife sad. He covered her small hand with his own large one, holding it firmly. "It's just a scar, it doesn't hurt. Don't be upset."
Jiang Qingqing's suppressed emotions instantly broke down. She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. "My heart aches."
"It doesn't ache. This is my honor." Zhang Liunian held his wife, his large hand gently stroking her back, his handsome face full of smiles.
"Liunian!" Hearing his words, Jiang Qingqing trembled all over, and tears began to fall.
His honor was to work hard for them?
How could he be so good, so good that she didn't know how to thank heaven for letting her marry him.
"Why are you crying again?" Feeling the hot tears on his chest, Zhang Liunian released his wife and reached out to wipe the corners of her eyes.
"Maybe it's due to the pregnancy, my emotions are a bit overwhelming." Jiang Qingqing felt a little embarrassed and tried to turn her face away, but Zhang Liunian cupped her chin, preventing her from hiding.
"You've worked hard." Zhang Liunian carefully wiped away her tears, then moved his hand to her belly, feeling the new life brewing within.
Jiang Qingqing leaned into her husband's embrace, her mood inexplicably improving. "It's not hard. This is the crystallization of our love. I'm not afraid of any hardship or exhaustion."
"Qingqing," Zhang Liunian held his wife, gazing at her with deep affection.
Jiang Qingqing seemed to sense something and looked up, meeting his eyes. Both of them wore happy smiles.
The next day, Zhang Liunian woke up at five o'clock. He exercised, bought meat, and made breakfast. He also prepared braised meat and delivered lobsters. He delivered five hundred and fifty jin of lobsters by bicycle by eight o'clock.
Everyone arrived right on time. As soon as Zhang Liunian arrived, they also came. They weighed and settled the accounts, and then dispersed.
Leaving the restaurant, Zhang Liunian had an extra 165 yuan in his hand. He got on his bicycle and headed home to stir-fry lobsters.
The morning was his busiest time. In the blink of an eye, it was time to deliver lobsters to the machinery factory.
"Qingqing, there are two portions of braised meat on the table. One is for Big Brother, and the other is for Old Guo Tou. Remember to deliver them." Zhang Liunian prepared the items and gave Jiang Qingqing instructions before striding out of the main hall with his long legs.
Jiang Qingqing responded and went to the doorway, watching Zhang Liunian and Zhang Qian leave together.
Zhang Qian truly lived up to his reputation as the strongest man in the village. With him around, Zhang Liunian had it much easier.
"Liunian, is this the braised meat? It smells so good!" Zhao Zhijie greeted the anticipated braised meat. Upon smelling it, he found it incredibly fragrant. He immediately reached out, pinched a piece, and put it in his mouth. Mmm, it was delicious.
"This is for you, Uncle. This portion is for Uncle Yan." Zhang Liunian filled two large bowls, one for each of them, with generous portions of pure braised meat.
Zhao Zhijie was very pleased. While eating, he asked, "Good, good, good. So, how much is this braised meat per jin, and how much are the braised dishes per jin?"
"Braised meat is two yuan per jin, and braised dishes are two mao per jin." Meat currently costs one yuan per jin, so Zhang Liunian's price of two yuan per jin couldn't be considered too expensive, but it wasn't cheap either.
The braised dishes were cheap, almost negligible.
But the fact that they made both the meat and the dishes so delicious made the price justifiable.
"No problem, weigh it and settle the payment. Little Wang, weigh all these dishes for me."
"All right!"
Little Wang, along with a group of helpers, began the weighing process.
The lobsters totaled 1,100 jin, the braised meat was 60 jin, and the braised dishes were 35 jin, for a grand total of 567 yuan.
"The shrimp is 440 yuan, the meat is 120 yuan, and the dishes are 7 yuan, totaling 567 yuan." Zhao Zhijie busily worked his abacus and, after arriving at the final sum, started to pay.
Hearing this figure, Zhang Liunian secretly added the 165 yuan from the lobsters sold that morning, reaching a total of 732 yuan.
So, he had earned 732 yuan that morning. Of course, this also included dozens of yuan in costs.
Zhang Liunian was not very satisfied with this income. It was only 732 yuan, not even breaking a thousand. He still needed to work harder.
"For tomorrow, we won't increase the quantity of lobsters for now. Please send us more braised dishes and meat." Zhao Zhijie had tasted the meat and was very optimistic about it.
"Okay."
After collecting the money, Zhang Liunian and Zhang Qian went to purchase more items needed for building the house. Everything that could be bought was bought, except for bricks.
"Zhang Qian, take the things back to the village. I'll go to the brick factory in Nancheng to check for bricks." After buying the items, Zhang Liunian sent Zhang Qian back to the village and rode his bicycle alone to Nancheng's largest brick factory.
"Stop, stop, stop. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed inside. Who are you looking for? I'll help you inform them." As Zhang Liunian arrived at the factory gate, he was stopped by the guard.
Zhang Liunian dismounted his bicycle and politely took out a pack of cigarettes, placing it in the old man's hand. "Grandpa, I want to buy some green bricks to build a house. How do I go about it?"
"Self-built house?"
"Yes!"
"Let me go and ask for you." The guard said, and then went in alone to inquire.
Zhang Liunian could only wait outside. However, he didn't wait long before encountering an acquaintance at the gate.
"You dog! I finally caught you."
The speaker was none other than Brother Tang, whom Zhang Liunian had swindled the day before.
Upon his appearance, Zhang Liunian knew it was bad.
What kind of fate was this? He had just swindled him and now he met him here. Could he be an employee here?
No matter who he was, his insult was unacceptable. "Who are you calling a dog?"
"I'm calling you a son of a bitch! You still want to fight with me, swindle my money, and use a bicycle the same as mine. You must be tired of living." Brother Tang clenched his fists and glared at Zhang Liunian with malice.
"So, you're the dog thing."