Chapter 107 The Frustrated Xu Damao
"Who said it wasn't?! Xu Damao, I'm not going to chat with you anymore. I have to work hard. Li Zhiguo will come to check later. If you don't clean it up, I won't be able to go back to cook."

Jia Dongxu felt that he liked Xu Damao much better today.

"That you're busy!"

Xu Damao turned around and cursed in his heart, "Jia Dongxu, you are a big fool."

He came back early today, but who knew he would be hit hard. Seeing Li Zhiguo taking advantage, he was upset.

"Wife, you didn't go out today?"

After Xu Damao entered the house, he saw his wife lying on the bed sleeping. He was speechless. It was quite annoyed that he married a wife who stayed at home every day.

"No, I had a headache today. I've been lying at home all day and didn't even have lunch."

Tang Chunyan got up from the bed. She heard the hustle and bustle outside in the afternoon, but she didn't feel energetic.

"Hey! You don't know, the old lady across the street moved to the middle courtyard, and the house was occupied by Li Zhiguo..."

Xu Damao got angry when he talked about it. If only he had thought of this earlier, he could have asked his mother to come back and take care of his children.

However, when it comes to children, Xu Damao is also quite confused. His wife has been married for so long, why is there no news?
Others like Li Zhiguo and Jia Dongxu have succeeded, so he can't be worse off.

"Brother Li has occupied Madam's house. I'm going to take a look."

Tang Chunyan put on her shoes, quickly combed her hair in front of the mirror, wiped her face, smiled, and went out.

……

In the evening, when the people who worked in the hospital came back and heard about this, they were all confused. In just one day, Li Zhiguo occupied the old lady's house? This is inhumane.

When Yi Zhonghai returned home and saw the old lady sitting on a chair, and the whole house had a strange smell, he knew that his life would not be easy in the future.

"Lao Yi, wash your hands. It's time to eat."

When the aunt saw the man coming back, she opened the lid of the pot and the food was already ready.

"That's great!"

Yi Zhonghai washed his hands and went to the table. He first gave the old lady a bowl of noodles and handed her the bowl and chopsticks, and then came to himself.

After eating a few bites, he couldn't help but ask, "Madam, did you really give the house to Li Zhiguo?"

"My eldest grandson rented a house and paid for it. From now on, I will use the five yuan given by the street every month to pay Cuiyun's food expenses, and I will save the three yuan given by my eldest grandson for myself."

The deaf old lady was in a good mood and it was hard to tell what she was thinking.

Yi Zhonghai said hurriedly: "Madam, Cuiyun cannot ask for your money. I will take care of you in your old age. I will cover all the food expenses from now on. You can take the money yourself."

"Then I'll save it for Cuiyun too."

The deaf old lady didn't want the five dollars, three dollars was enough for her.

……

At the He family in the Central Courtyard, Sha Zhu heard about this and went home, put his lunch box down and wanted to go out.

"Silly, where are you going?"

He Daqing stopped his son, fearing that he might make a mistake. It was none of his family's business that Li Zhiguo occupied the old lady's house.

Besides, the house was in Li Zhiguo's hands, and that was it. Not to mention his silly son, even he was powerless and had never thought about the house. His family had enough space to live in.

"Hey, I'll go see if the Madam's room has been cleaned up. Dad, you know Li Zhiguo doesn't work, how can my sister Qin clean the Madam's room when she's pregnant?"

Sha Zhu ran away after saying that. He would feel uneasy if he didn't go to see her.

"Hey, come back here, Jia Dongxu..."

He Daqing chased out of the house, but before he could explain, Sha Zhu had already run away.

"Hey, Jia Dongxu, you are cleaning here!"

When Sha Zhu arrived at the old lady's room, he saw Jia Dongxu wiping the cabinet. The room had already been cleaned.

"It will be ready soon. I took the initiative to help Li Zhiguo clean up. We are all brothers. This job is not tiring and it is easy."

Jia Dongxu was showing off and he couldn't complain to Sha Zhu.

"Then you clean up well, I'll go back to cook."

Sha Zhu came out of the house, glanced towards the Li family, and left angrily.

After Jia Dongxu finishes cleaning, he will ask Li Zhiguo to come over and check before he can leave.

"Dongxu, I've discovered that you have a lot of good qualities. Okay, you can go back soon."

Li Zhiguo took the lock and locked the door. From now on, the house was under his control.

Jia Dongxu didn't leave, but said hesitantly, "Li, Li Zhiguo, I wrote a song, can you help me take a look at it?"

"Dongxu, you really wrote a song, you are a talented person."

Li Zhiguo was quite surprised. This was something that only cultured people could do.

"Can you help me take a look at the one I brought with me? It should be no worse than yours, but I haven't decided which company to sell it to."

Jia Dongxu took the playlist out of his shirt pocket.

Li Zhiguo took it and said, "I'll take it back and take a look at it slowly, and we'll talk later."

"Then you have to take a good look at it. I'm going back to cook."

Jia Dongxu left happily. When he made money, he would buy a bicycle. If there was any money left, he would spend it on eating out. Wouldn't that mean good days would come?

Li Zhiguo was full of doubts. He leaned back in his chair after returning home. Then he unfolded the origami and was numb after just one glance.

The song is titled "Let's Take a Picture Together".

Let's take a photo together

You stand in the middle, I stand on the side

Wait till the day when I wear beautiful clothes

I'm standing in the middle, please move aside

The whole family eats, but I have to wash the dishes

The heat wave wind blew towards me

After washing the dishes for the day
Let's take a photo together
Give the old clothes to my mother
One day, let me wash the dishes...

"This is so well written, it's all Brother Dongxu's insights into life!"

Li Zhiguo was stunned for a long time before he folded up the playlist and put it into the space.

The next day, after Qin Huairu got off work, she tidied up the old lady's room, made the bed, and brought some daily necessities from home, so that it was ready for living.

Saturday came in a blink of an eye, and Li Zhiguo took his wife and Xiao Jingru to the hospital first.

After the prenatal check-up was quickly completed, she sent the person to the Sanjin compound to reunite with her father-in-law. He then ran to Qianmen Middle School to get the admission certificate and the list of required procedures.

There was no need to slip any money here, and there was no need to go through the street office. His identity was enough.

His brother-in-law is not good at studying, and it’s good enough that he can finish junior high school.

It’s over. I calculated the time and arrived at the station. The big bag in the back seat was already full of things I took from the space.

"Brother-in-law, here it is."

Xiao Jingru waved her hand and they also arrived at the station.

"Come here!"

Li Zhiguo took out his street work ID, left his bicycle at the station, and then went to meet up.

"son in law!"

"Uncle."

My father-in-law and my third uncle all came with Guangming. The three of them all took leave for the busy farming season, so their wages would not be deducted because Saturday was strictly considered voluntary overtime.

"Yes, Dad, Third Uncle."

Li Zhiguo responded, and his brother-in-law was very smart and stepped forward to take the big bag.

"Guangming, are you used to going to work?"

"I'm used to it, brother-in-law."

Qin Guangming had a flattering look on his face. His current good life was only possible thanks to his brother-in-law.

"Okay, then get in the car, we're almost there."

Li Zhiguo reached out and held his wife's hand.

He held little Jingru and sat by the window, with his wife sitting next to him. Soon the bus left the city. Looking at the scenery outside the window, he thought, "Let's take a photo together?"
"Son-in-law, I hope it won't be a problem for Jingru to study in the city."

Uncle San had long discovered that his youngest daughter was able to please her brother-in-law, but studying was another matter.

"It's not a big deal, the school has already discussed it, and we can just send it over after completing the paperwork in the village.

The tuition fee is two dollars and fifty cents per term. We eat in the school cafeteria at noon and finish school after three o'clock in the afternoon.

It’s also very close to the courtyard where I live, so it’s convenient for me to walk to school.”

Li Zhiguo briefly explained, and then said, "We have also discussed Guangyou's transfer to another school. He is studying at Qianmen Middle School, and the tuition fee is five yuan per semester. This is a bit more expensive, but it's a small matter."

"That's good. I'll ask Guangyou to study hard, learn arithmetic, and learn more words."

My father-in-law Qin Changchun suffered a loss in this regard. Fortunately, he is now working smoothly. He only records and does not count the accounts.

Qin Huairu suddenly said, "Brother, didn't you say that Guangming and Guangyou should learn how to ride a bicycle?"

Wow, Li Zhiguo suddenly understood why the Qin family asked these questions at this time. It seemed that they wanted to show off in the car.

At this moment, the other passengers were looking at them intentionally or unintentionally, probably wondering what this handsome guy does.

Li Zhiguo didn't want to spoil the fun, so he said, "Well, we have two bicycles at home, but you can't ride them now because you are pregnant.

Let's give one to Guangming and Guangyou to practice with first, and take the car away when we come back tomorrow afternoon."

"Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Qin Guangming looked excited. He would be able to learn how to drive tomorrow and would brag about it to his friends when he got back to the village.

Along the way, Li Zhiguo felt like he had hired a few helpers to keep him showing off in disguised form?

He estimated that he would be in trouble when he arrived at the village. If he had known this, he would have pretended to sleep in the car. But he was not afraid now. He had all the elements of the profession, and he could "defection" at any time.

His daughter-in-law came from a poor peasant family, and he also worked in the Ministry of Agriculture.

He himself comes from a working-class family, and his wife is also a worker.

At the same time, he is a clerk in the street office, and he will be able to become a regular cadre once his length of service is reached.

His grandfather was a merchant and a small capitalist who ran a factory, and his concubine Chen Xueru also came from a merchant family. Once the special period is over, he can transform himself into a business leader.

He has all four identities. He can be whatever he is required to be. Good days are yet to come.

"Brother-in-law, your smile is a little weird."

Xiao Jingru suddenly said something inappropriate.

"Ahem... this is a simple smile. We're almost there. Do you remember where your home is?"

Li Zhiguo looked out the window, holding Xiao Jingru in one hand and holding his wife's hand in the other, making sure no one was left behind.

"I remember. It's over there."

Xiao Jingru pointed with her finger, after all, she had not forgotten her hometown.

"Master, please stop by the roadside."

Qin Guangming shouted. He went out for a run with the neighborhood committee every day. It gave him some exercise and he was no longer shy outside.

"okay!"

The bus driver had just heard this on the way and had already figured out the identity of the handsome young man: he was a cadre from the Qianmen Street Office, someone he couldn't afford to offend.

"Mom. Brother-in-law, my mom is here."

Xiao Jingru pointed outside the window and said, "That's right, not only Third Aunt has come, but also many relatives from Old Qin's family are waiting on the roadside."

"Who notified us? Everyone knows we are coming back."

Li Zhiguo did not do this in advance because he wanted to appear more approachable and not make a big fuss like he was receiving a leader.

"Son-in-law, I asked someone to bring these words."

My father-in-law's face was full of smiles. He worked in a grain store and gradually made some connections. When he boasted to others, he got to know several fellow villagers.

"That's great!"

Li Zhiguo had nothing to say. He just hoped that it would not affect farm work, otherwise it would be a sin.

"son in law!"

As soon as I got off the bus, my mother-in-law came to greet me and asked me how I was doing. After the bus left, she remembered her pregnant daughter.

"mom!"

Next to her, little Jingru threw herself into her mother's arms. In fact, I had seen her once at the beginning of the month.

When they moved into the Sanjin compound, Jingru's mother stayed in the compound for one night, so little Jingru didn't miss her mother.

At this moment, Li Zhiguo took out cigarettes and distributed them around.

"Look at the clothes and shoes that Xiao Jingru is wearing, they are all new, and she looks very pretty. Life in the city is really better."

"Of course not. Look who Xiao Jingru is following. He is the son-in-law of our Qin family and is now a street cadre."

"Uncle and Third Uncle have a good life too. I heard they live in a large courtyard with three entrances. If you don't turn on the street lights at night, you'll get lost in the courtyard. It's so big inside."

"Guangming is also working on the street, and his life is getting better. I wonder when we can go into the city to have a look... Hey, my brother Li is here, come over and help with the luggage."

Several young men of the same generation came forward and when they saw Brother Li passing out cigarettes, they quickly took them with both hands. Some of the smart ones even took out matches to help light them.

The group of people went towards the village in a mighty procession.

As the saying goes, if you don't return home when you are rich, it's like walking in fine clothes at night.

When you work outside and make money, you should return to your hometown and make your fellow villagers happy, even if they are envious and jealous.

"Brother-in-law, I want to go to the city to study now."

Qin Guangyou was wearing a pair of worn-out shoes, there was mud on his trouser legs, and there were wheat awns on his clothes. He went to work in the fields early in the morning.

"No, you're going to take your exams soon. Let's discuss this matter. You can transfer to another school now and you don't have to pay tuition anymore. But your test scores can't be hidden anymore."

Li Zhiguo kindly reminded that the final exams would be coming up soon after entering the city, and he would have to fight hard to be the last one.

"Brother-in-law, I'm not afraid!"

Qin Guangyou wanted to go to the city, but he just heard from his sister that his mother was going to the city and leaving him alone at home.

So the whole family is enjoying the good life with his brother-in-law, and he is the only one left in the village to suffer?

"Then tell your parents about this later. By the way, whose fish pond did I see at the entrance of the village last time?"

Li Zhiguo wanted to eat fish in the evening and also let his fellow villagers know about his fishing skills.

"It used to belong to the landlord, but now it belongs to the village collective. Brother-in-law, you want to go fishing? I'll find you a fishing rod later."

Qin Guangyou knew how to please others at a young age.

"Okay, find two fishing rods!"

As he was speaking, he heard some villagers calling out to greet him.

There are wheat fields on both sides of the path, and the golden ears of wheat are attractive.

He was intoxicated by the scene. In fact, the pastoral life in the countryside is what many people yearn for.

He wanted to draw these scenes, but he couldn't. Let's see if he can unlock new titles in the future.

"Brother, that side and that side are all my family's land. Mom told me that they used to be the land of the landlords."

Qin Huairu thought that she was also harvesting wheat in the fields last year, and this year she became a glorious worker. That was great.

"Hmm! Is there a grain pile in our village?"

When Li Zhiguo came out of the agricultural building, he thought of two songs that were suitable.

One of them is "Listen to Mom Tell About the Past", the lyrics are great, like prose, and in the 1990s it was still popular in rural primary schools.

Another song is "On the Fields of Hope", which has a powerful background and will benefit future generations.

They were all good songs, and he planned to hand them all over to the Ministry of Agriculture. This trip to the countryside was just the right opportunity for him to gather all his inspiration.

"Yes, there is a pile of straw in the bamboo forest next to my house. Every time I cook, I go there and pull a handful of straw to make a fire.

Wheat straw is good, but it cannot withstand rain and must be piled in the woodshed."

Qin Huairu talked about the affairs of the village in great detail.

"Well, tell me more about the countryside later."

Li Zhiguo has been a city dweller for both of his lives and lacks experience in rural life. This is his shortcoming, but he has a wife.

"Okay!"

Qin Huairu was happy to see that the man did not despise rural life.

After a while, the Qin family arrived and the onlookers dispersed. The women of the Qin family went to the kitchen to cook.

Li Zhiguo was resting in the dam. It was hot today, so he would probably have to wait until the evening to go fishing.

"Uncle, is there still a lot of farm work to do at home?"

He asked about the main worker in the Qin family, the second oldest of his father-in-law's three brothers, who had the hardest life. There were many other things he could learn, so he just learned to farm.

"Not much left. The wheat will be harvested soon and we just need to dry it in the sun later."

My second uncle has dark skin, but now his face is all smiles.

"That's good. Tomorrow I plan to take my mother to the city to take care of Huairu. Guangyou also wants to transfer to a school in the city.

By then, I will have to see how to arrange the housework. Will I be able to handle it?"

He originally wanted to wait a little longer, but since he was here, he might as well take his mother-in-law away so that Jingru could have a hot meal at home at noon in the future.

Huairu came home from get off work and went straight to eat. It was inconvenient for her to work with a big belly.

"Those who are busy can handle it. There are many relatives in the village and we can help each other."

The second uncle knew that he had no abilities and would not be able to find a job in the city, but he also had a son, so he hoped that his son-in-law could help him in the future.

"That's good."

Li Zhiguo chatted for a while and suddenly shouted, "Jingru!"

"Brother-in-law, I'm here."

Xiao Jingru heard the shouting and ran over quickly.

Li Zhiguo immediately hugged the man and said, "It's been a long time since you went home. Let's go to your house and visit. You'll be back for dinner later."

"Yeah!"

Xiao Jingru clapped her hands. She hadn't been home for a long time.

"Brother-in-law, I'll go with you."

"Brother-in-law, and me."

Xiao Jingru's two brothers hurried over.

Uncle San also wanted to go, but was persuaded by Li Zhiguo to stop. He just wanted to go for a stroll.

They are very close and you can see the houses from here. You can reach the place by walking a short path.

"Jingru, where do you keep your chickens?"

Li Zhiguo estimated that it has been half a year, have the chickens grown up yet?
"It's free-range. I let it out during the day."

Xiao Jingru was not quite sure either, but fortunately her two brothers were there and they immediately took their husband-in-law to find the chickens at home.

"Not bad, this is well raised."

Li Zhiguo felt relieved when he saw a group of pheasants running around. He had something to eat, so he just wanted a bite of chicken.

(End of this chapter)