"Big sister, just say it, no need to be polite, it makes us strangers."
Xie Lan felt a bit embarrassed. Both she and her husband were working for Xie Sui now, earning more in a month than city workers, yet the work was very easy.
To ask for more now felt a bit improper. She braced herself and said, "Sister wants Hu Zi to go to the city with you to study, is that okay?
His grandma is at home, and sometimes she comes here too. Life isn't bad, but she dotes on him too much. If this continues, I worry the child will go astray."
Xie Sui had forgotten about Hu Zi. Perhaps his elder sister felt unbalanced seeing Qing Qing and Wen Wen get to go to school.
"Easy, it's a small matter. This time, Hu Zi will go with me. I'll arrange his schooling. We have a nanny to look after him, so you and brother-in-law don't need to worry. He'll come back on Sundays to see you. I promise Hu Zi will be well-behaved and a good child."
As for his studies, he wouldn't dare guarantee anything. Teaching a child to study well was too difficult.
Xie Lan was touched. "Sister, thank you."
Xie Sui, however, felt a bit guilty. "Big sister, you take care of the elders at home and do the farm work. That's even harder. Why don't you come work at the factory with us too?"
Xie Lan's eyes lit up, and she was a little tempted. But after thinking, she said, "The elders at home need looking after, and the farm work can't be abandoned. I'd better not."
"No rush, let's talk about it after the New Year. Big sister, you should also learn to change. What's enough with just the grain from the fields? The small workshop at home isn't making much money. I'm planning to close it. You and brother-in-law can help me, and you won't have to be separated from the children."
When Xie Lan heard the workshop was closing, she worried, "Then won't the aunts in the village be unemployed?"
Xie Sui replied, "I don't have the energy to manage these things, and I can't keep losing money, can I?"
He was already losing money. The labor costs were not matching the output. If it weren't for giving Xie Lan work, he would have wanted to close it long ago.
With two factories, he no longer cared about the workshop at home.
Xie Lan said worriedly, "Alright then, I'll discuss it with brother-in-law."
Xie Sui's home was lively with dinner, and so was Zhang Wenfeng's. Yang Yumei's family had come. This time, they weren't there to fight, but to seek reconciliation.
Where did they get the audacity? Because Yang Yumei was pregnant!
Surprised? Unexpected?
Zhang Wenfeng was stunned. With a child, what was he to do?
Zhang's elders were also overjoyed to hear about a grandchild. What do elders hope for most if not to hold a grandchild?
Yang Yumei lowered her head, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. She stroked her belly. This child was her leverage. The Zhang family must respectfully welcome her back.
"I'm going out for a walk."
Zhang Wenfeng left directly, telling his elders to handle things first. He was a bit clumsy, but he knew how to find smart people for advice.
He went straight to Xie Sui's house and told him the situation. "Brother Xie, what do you think I should do?"
Xie Sui instinctively asked, "You've been separated for two months. Are you sure that child is yours?"
Zhang Wenfeng felt struck by lightning. Could it be like this?
One had to admit, young people at this time were quite naive, not as cunning as they would become. Thirty years later, there would be plenty of "scapegoats."
"Alright, forget about that. It's not important."
"How is it not important? If Doudou and Ding Ding are not your sons, would you be happy?"
Xie Sui's face turned green. "Are you looking for a beating?"
"I'm sorry, Brother Xie. I didn't mean that. I think it's very important. You're right. I know what to do now." Su Dan Novel Network.
He stood up and left. Xie Sui was taken aback. "I didn't say anything. What do you know?"
He didn't pay it much mind, thinking that if he was worried, he might as well play with the children.
However, it wasn't long before Yang Yumei's family arrived at Xie Sui's house in a grand procession. They stood at the door and cursed, "Xie Sui, come out!
How has my Yang family offended you that you must ruin their marriage!
You degenerate scoundrel, aren't you afraid of retribution..."
A string of curses left the Xie family stunned. Why were they cursing at their house?
"Damn it, am I giving them too much face?"
Lin Wanwan was also very angry. "Don't fight. Let's ask for clarification first."
Xie Sui stood up and said, "I won't fight."
He picked up a large basin of water that Lin Wanwan had just washed clothes with, opened the door, and splashed it out, drenching the Yang family head to toe. Their curses turned into cries of chaos.
Lin Wanwan: "..."
Is this what you call not fighting?
"Yang clan, have you taken the wrong medicine to come to my house and curse? Does your family have no food, eating only dung? I'll wash your mouths for you. Come back after you learn to speak properly."
Xie Sui put his hands on his hips, his curses fiercer than theirs. When it came to cursing, Xie Sui had never lost to anyone!
Villagers had already gathered, pointing and whispering at the Yang family. If outsiders came to cause trouble in their village, Xie Sui ordered them to be beaten out.
Yang Yumei, however, sat down on the ground and started crying. "Xie Sui, you scoundrel, I'm pregnant, and you still won't give me a way out. Do you want Wenfeng to be your mule, not seeing him live well..."
Xie Sui laughed in anger. "What does your pregnancy have to do with me? Zhang Wenfeng is my employee, and I pay him wages. How is that being a mule?
If you can't speak properly, then shut your damn mouth. I won't hit you because you're a woman, but your Yang family, every single one of you, if you can leave this village intact today, then my surname is Yang!"
The new village chief came over and asked, "If you have something to say, say it. Crying and making a fuss won't solve anything. Your matters with the Zhang family, why are you causing trouble at the Xie house? Xiao Sui rarely comes home. Does he have time to meddle in your family's broken affairs? Are you being reasonable?"
Xie Sui chimed in, "Exactly. If you're being reasonable, I'll listen. You want to mess with me? When I was messing around, you were probably still in diapers!"
Village Chief Xie glared at him. "You be quiet first."
"Okay, Village Chief, you speak."
Giving the village chief face, Xie Sui became obedient. He was curious to hear what kind of nonsense the Yang family would spew.
The Zhang family had all arrived. Zhang Wenfeng's face was dark with anger. "Yang Yumei, stop making trouble here. Brother Xie didn't say anything. It was my idea.
You say you're pregnant with my child, what proof do you have? We've been divorced for so many days, who knows whose seed it is?"
The villagers suddenly understood. So that's how it was. The Yang family was too despicable, bullying the honest Zhang family and trying to cuckold them?
Yang Yumei said indignantly, "My child is over two months old. I conceived it at your house. If you don't acknowledge your own child, are you even human?"
Xie Sui said slowly, "It's been over two months since you left. Who can say for sure? If you didn't come to my house to cause trouble, this wouldn't concern me. But you've bullied your way to my doorstep. I'm sorry, but I have to get involved in this matter.
How about this, you go back first, give birth to the child, and then have a paternity test. If the child is the Zhang family's, I'll marry you back with great fanfare and restore your honor. Is this resolution reasonable?"