Chapter 132
Lü Tianze really did order dishes; he wasn’t polite at all.
Sister Yang clicked her tongue in surprise: “Why is he so particular?”
Regimental Commander Zhao said: “He’s just like that.”
Sister Yang grumbled to Qiao Wei: “He’s impossibly particular.”
Qiao Wei said: “A lean camel is still bigger than a horse; he grew up living in the lap of luxury.”
Although Lü Tianze was down on his luck for the moment, his background was still there. The retirement pension his mother received was higher than Division Commander Pan’s current salary.
Sister Yang was dumbfounded when she found out.
When she got home, she couldn’t help but whisper it to Lin Xixi.
Lin Xixi understood better: “He’s a high-ranking cadre.”
“High-ranking cadre?”
“High-level official. A big official.”
Sister Yang understood: “A big official.”
Before, Sister Yang thought Division Commander Pan was a big official.
Now she knew there were officials even bigger than Division Commander Pan.
Lin Xixi said: “As the saying goes, you don’t know how small an official you are until you get to Beijing, you don’t know… ahem. It just means there are a lot of big officials in Beijing.”
“The County Party Committee secretary here is like a local emperor, but in Beijing, a County Party Committee secretary is nothing,” she said.
Sister Yang clicked her tongue in admiration.
Lin Xixi was also curious: “What kind of person is he? How did he end up here?”
Sister Yang said: “I’ll tell you, but don’t go blabbing about it.”
Lin Xixi promised: “I won’t blab.”
Only then did Sister Yang say: “He was XX’d. The Division Commander was afraid he’d die, so he sent Uncle Yan to get him. The Division Commander and his older brother were from the same school; both families know each other.”
Lin Xixi understood.
There were many people like this in this era.
But actually, if they could just hold on, as long as they survived until the end, those with money and those with power would return.
The rich would still be rich, and the officials would still be officials.
As long as they could just hold on.
“It’s quite miserable. The first few days he arrived, his face was so thin; he said it was from hunger. These past few days, I’ve fed him until he’s full, and I can see his face looking better.”
“I heard his wife divorced him and took the children away. That’s the right thing to do; taking the children away is the only way they won’t be implicated.”
Sister Yang chattered on.
Lin Xixi’s chopping slowed down gradually.
There was something in the depths of her heart, vague and unclear.
She asked: “How old is this person?”
Sister Yang said: “About the same age as your Uncle Yan.”
Lin Xixi’s knife paused for a moment before she silently continued chopping.
Sister Yang prattled on again: “About the same age as your Uncle Yan, and he has three children. Your Uncle Yan only has one. You tell me, what’s going on there? Since they were able to have Xiangxiang, it means neither of them has any physical issues. Why haven’t there been any more?”
The values of the era were different. Yan Lei and Qiao Wei only having one child seemed too few to Sister Yang; it wasn’t secure.
You needed at least three or four children to feel secure.
After finishing her prattling, she nagged Lin Xixi again: “I thought that Little Li you met last time was quite good, why didn’t you like him?”
Now that Wu Nier was in elementary school, she was completely independent.
But Lin Xixi was already 21, the age where she had to get married. Any older, and she, as her aunt, would be criticized by others.
But Lin Xixi had a reputation now; everyone knew she was picky, and not a single person she met worked out.
Her previous reputation for being virtuous and capable was gradually being overshadowed by a reputation for being picky and having high standards.
Sister Yang was getting more and more anxious.
But no matter how much Sister Yang nagged, Lin Xixi turned a deaf ear.
She had had enough of life with a mediocre man.
There was no need, really no need; it was better to be a nanny for her uncle’s family, which was more comfortable.
When she worked for her aunt and uncle, at least they would praise her for being capable, give her money, buy her clothes, and call her over to eat good food with them.
Although she didn’t have a salary like a worker, she lived and ate at her uncle’s house, and the conditions were much better than in the countryside, and the actual work was much easier than in the countryside.
The life she lived at her uncle’s house was much better than in the countryside, much better than being a beast of burden for her in-laws her whole life only to be looked down upon and despised.
In any case, her final fallback was to stick by her uncle’s side for the rest of her life, sticking to them like she was their own daughter.
After this special era ended, her uncle would transfer to a job as a low-level leader; as long as he could arrange an iron rice bowl for his own children, he could arrange one for her too.
With this safety net, Lin Xixi was impervious to persuasion; she feared nothing.
Sister Yang was furious.
“Let me tell you, for the one you’re meeting next week, you better dress up properly.” She picked up the vegetable basin. “I’m heading over.”
At first, Sister Yang cooked the food at her own house and carried it to Lü Tianze.
That was a bit troublesome, with the bowls and chopsticks and such.
Later, she simply prepped the vegetables and took them over to cook them there. After she finished, she washed the pot; it was clean and efficient.
She could also chat with Lü Tianze.
Regimental Commander Zhao told Sister Yang that Lü Tianze was different from them. Apart from finding his lifestyle particular, Sister Yang didn’t feel there was anything else different about him.
Lü Tianze was much better at talking than her Old Zhao. While Sister Yang was cooking over there, he could keep the conversation going; he was knowledgeable, witty, and always made her laugh.
How were some people in this world born with such a gift for conversation? Like Qiao Wei, like Lü Tianze; the way they spoke was so comfortable and interesting, making one want to listen to them talk more.
Sigh, compared to them, Old Zhao was like a dull ox.
When she arrived at the courtyard on the northwest side, Lü Tianze was indeed exercising there again.
Division Commander Pan had someone install a horizontal bar in his courtyard for him to use alone.
Sister Yang said: “Don’t go too hard. Your body has only just recovered.”
When Lü Tianze first arrived, his cheeks were gaunt; after she fed him for several days, she finally managed to feed some meat onto him.
But he wouldn’t rest; every day she came over, he was either doing push-ups or pull-ups.
Lü Tianze let go and landed, clapping his hands: “What else is there to do? I’ve been fishing all day today. Take two with you later, Sister-in-law.”
Sister Yang took a look and was happy; there really were several big fish.
“Alright.”
She set about cooking for Lü Tianze.
Lü Tianze, well, he couldn’t cook himself, and he was picky about eating; when Sister Yang cooked, he would stand by and give pointers.
Fortunately, he was good at talking, so he didn’t annoy Sister Yang. Moreover, under his guidance, Sister Yang’s cooking skills really improved by leaps and bounds.
After cooking that day, Lü Tianze said: “Just leave the pot there, I’ll wash it myself. You should go back and eat early, Sister-in-law.”
Sister Yang said: “It’s just a hand’s turn. Don’t worry about it.”
Suddenly, someone at the courtyard gate called out: “Auntie.”
Both of them turned to look.
Lin Xixi was standing at the courtyard gate, her skin fair, her features beautiful, standing tall and graceful.
Lü Tianze couldn’t help but take an extra look.
“Auntie,” Lin Xixi said, “Uncle asked me to come over and see if you were done, and to tell you to go back and eat.”
“Almost done, almost done, just finished washing this pot.” Sister Yang said, her movements speeding up.
Taking advantage of this time, Lin Xixi fixed her gaze on Lü Tianze.
A man in his early thirties, mature and flavorful.
At a glance, he was completely different from the people in the small town.
His temperament was completely different.
This was a real man from a big city. He gave off the feeling of a male lead in a Hong Kong or Taiwan television drama.
He was countless times better than the silly educated youth from back then.
She really had no vision back then.
Sister Yang finished washing the pot in a flash, wiped her hands on her apron, and called out to Lin Xixi: “This is your Uncle Lü, greet him!”
She also said to Lü Tianze: “This is Old Zhao’s niece, she lives with us.”
Lin Xixi obediently called out: “Uncle Lü.”
Lü Tianze responded with an “Eh,” didn’t speak to her, and only said to Sister Yang: “Time spares no one. Back then, Old Zhao was also full of spirit, daring to perish together with the enemy; in the blink of an eye, the younger generation was already this big.”
Sister Yang said: “Indeed.”
Sister Yang led Lin Xixi back.
Lü Tianze picked up his bowl to eat, thought of Regimental Commander Zhao’s niece from just now, and shook his head with a smile.
Just as Qiao Wei’s first impression of him, Lü Tianze, due to his background and innate personality, was indeed a big scumbag.
Scumbags are naturally sensitive to the atmosphere between men and women.
When Old Zhao’s niece saw him, an elder, she actually sized him up with the kind of look a woman gives a man.
Interesting.
Who would have thought that even though he was down on his luck to this extent, there would still be women eyeing him.
Ever since he was XX’d, those former confidantes of his hadn’t shown their faces again.
Lü Tianze smiled self-deprecatingly.
The next day, Lin Xixi found an opportunity to ask Sister Yang: “Auntie, will that Uncle Lü remarry? I heard that some people divorce at first, but after they are rehabilitated, they remarry.”
Sister Yang said: “Who knows. Anyway, Tianze has three children. If he can be rehabilitated, he should remarry.”
But rehabilitation, how could it be that easy?
To Sister Yang, a native of this era, perhaps it would be like this for the rest of her life. Because she didn’t know that the current historical stage would actually have a day where it ended. People at this time already viewed the current state as the norm.
Lin Xixi was very disappointed.
Indeed, if a couple faked a divorce, if they could be rehabilitated later, they would likely remarry for the sake of the three children.
She squatted by the hand-pumped well washing clothes, not saying a word.
In her two lifetimes, how many people could she meet who were associated with the term “big official”?
One was Yan Lei, who was a future big official.
One was Lü Tianze, who was a second-generation from a big official’s family.
A kind of unwillingness grew and spread in her heart.
Time flew by every day, and it was almost New Year’s Day.
In the morning, Wu Nier put on her schoolbag and went to school by herself, and Sister Yang and Lin Xixi carried woven baskets together to go buy vegetables.
After buying vegetables and coming out of the market, they saw something new posted on the bulletin board outside the market.
In an era with little entertainment, you had to go over and look at whatever there was.
The two of them went over to look at the new propaganda material. The material was new, but the content had no new ideas. It was just the same words repeated over and over.
But Sister Yang examined the new portrait of the Great Leader and couldn’t help but say to Lin Xixi: “This photo is new, look, has he gotten fatter?”
She covered her mouth and lowered her voice to make a joke.
It was just an indifferent joke between family members, but unexpectedly, someone behind them suddenly said in an ominous tone: “Good, Yang Zhaodi, you dare to insult the Great Leader.”
Sister Yang turned around abruptly.
Behind her, she didn’t know when, stood her lifelong enemy, Xia Hehua.
Sister Yang and Lin Xixi’s faces turned pale.
Xia Hehua hadn’t expected that coming out of the Farmers Market, she would spot Yang Zhaodi and her niece, who had her eyes growing on the top of her head, standing in front of the bulletin board. Her natural instinct made her tiptoe over quietly, and she actually caught Yang Zhaodi in the act!
Just this one sentence, even if it couldn’t bring down her husband, it could force her husband to divorce her and draw a clear line.
Xia Hehua couldn’t decide for a moment if “bringing down Yang Zhaodi’s husband and making her return to the pre-liberation era overnight” was more satisfying, or “making Yang Zhaodi’s husband divorce her and draw a clear line” was more satisfying.
In short, just imagining it was very satisfying!
Xia Hehua’s eyes flashed with fanatical light: “You, Yang Zhaodi! Usually putting on an attitude of having red roots and loyal roots, it turns out that in your bones, you are a [expletive] hiding among the masses! I’m going to report you right now!”
Sister Yang’s face was pale, and her lips were trembling.
She had heard many stories about what would happen if one was reported. She had thought it had nothing to do with her military family from a poor peasant background, but she didn’t expect it to fall on her head one day.
But she really, really had just been loose-lipped and said those words.
Just when she felt her legs go weak and was about to kneel to Xia Hehua, a familiar voice suddenly asked: “What are you all doing here?”
All three turned to look. Qiao Wei was pushing a bicycle and had just finished buying vegetables. Yan Xiang was sitting in the back seat, her dark, clear eyes watching them curiously. Apparently, she also wanted to know what they were doing and why they hadn’t gone home after buying vegetables.
Sister Yang wanted to ask for help when she saw Qiao Wei, but she didn’t know how to ask for help. She really had said those words.
Qiao Wei had seen from afar that the atmosphere was wrong, which was why she pushed the bike over.
She asked Xia Hehua with a smile: “What’s going on here?”
Back when she offended the Division Commander’s daughter, Xia Hehua didn’t know Qiao Wei yet.
Now, Qiao Wei was a big celebrity among the military family members that everyone knew.
Xia Hehua had never felt as triumphant in front of Qiao Wei as she did today.
She pointed triumphantly at Sister Yang: “Yang Zhaodi holds a grudge against the Great Leader; she just said words insulting the Great Leader, and I caught her red-handed. It’s good that you came, Qiao Wei, you can be a witness, I’m going to report Yang Zhaodi right now!”
Qiao Wei glanced at Sister Yang; Sister Yang’s face was pale, so she knew what Xia Hehua said was true. She really had said something that Xia Hehua had used as leverage.
Qiao Wei asked: “What did she say?”
Xia Hehua, a petty person gaining success, laughed wildly and repeated that sentence.
With this sentence, she could really kill Yang Zhaodi!
“Is that so?” Qiao Wei’s smile remained unchanged, “But I didn’t hear her say it, I only heard you say it. Right, Sister-in-law Zhao, Xixi, you heard it too, right? Just now, she said this sentence.”
The air suddenly went quiet.
The situation reversed in an instant.
Xia Hehua froze.
Sister Yang and Lin Xixi were like people who were about to suffocate and suddenly got air; they could finally breathe!
“Yes, she said it, I heard it!” Sister Yang was revived!
“I heard it too! She just said it!” Lin Xixi and her aunt and uncle were one; they shared the same honor and disgrace, and without hesitation, she stood on the same front.
Qiao Wei told Xia Hehua with a smile: “Look, we have three witnesses who can prove you said this sentence.”
Now, it was Xia Hehua’s turn for her face to turn pale.
But ever since she suffered a big loss at Qiao Wei’s hands that year, Xia Hehua had at least learned a lot.
Her face paled, and suddenly she let out a “chuckle,” smiling stiffly and saying: “Look at you all, taking it seriously; it was just a joke.”
Qiao Wei also smiled brightly: “Exactly, just a joke.”
Xia Hehua said: “Anyway, the pork is quite fresh today, you bought some too.”
Qiao Wei said: “Yes, you bought celery too. How do you plan to eat it?”
“Coat it with flour, steam it, and eat it with garlic sauce,” Xia Hehua said, “Let me tell you, it’s delicious.”
Qiao Wei took the advice: “I’ll steam it next time.”
Xia Hehua began to move her feet: “Then I’ll head back first, I have children at home.”
Qiao Wei smiled: “Then walk steadily, don’t trip.”
Xia Hehua didn’t care to respond anymore; she walked faster and faster, faster and faster, almost running.
She fled as if flying.
Sister Yang’s legs went weak, and she almost fell.
Lin Xixi was quick-handed and sharp-eyed and held her up.
Sister Yang felt exhausted and was about to cry: “Weiwei, Weiwei! Thanks to you!”
