CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: LIKE I’D BELIEVE YOU!

The matter of Zhuang Ermei’s secret marriage was known to the Zhuang Family by the next day, after all, she had packed up and stopped going home.

That day, shortly after dawn, Zhuang Ermei’s stepmother came to the Tian Family courtyard, wanting to ask Tian Xiang what had happened.

How did she end up with someone from Red Fifth Street?

This must be related to Tian Xiang!

Disturbing people so early in the morning, Hu Honglian was also upset and scolded Dou Yuegui to silence.

Your daughter secretly got a marriage certificate, and instead of reflecting, you’re troubling outsiders, where’s your shame?

Dou Yuegui was no match for Hu Honglian, and since the Zhuang Family treated their daughter poorly, no proper family looked up to them, they all sided with Hu Honglian against Dou Yuegui, quickly forcing her to leave.

However, Dou Yuegui didn’t let go of Zhuang Ermei, bringing her daughter to Red Fifth Street.

Unfortunately, she went at a bad time; both Zhuang Ermei and her husband were absent, only Aunt Peng was lying in bed murmuring ceaselessly, her son had forgotten his mother after marrying, and the daughter-in-law was too cunning, how will it be in the future?

Old Jiang told her that the certificate was received, the person entered the door, let it be, stop troubling, just live like this.

Her son has a weak temperament, finding a strong wife isn’t such a bad thing when you think about it.

Otherwise, when they’re gone, who will hold up the family?

Old Jiang’s words made sense, but Aunt Peng felt tricked by Zhuang Ermei, she couldn’t swallow this anger, unwilling to admit it, and felt her husband was recruited by her daughter-in-law, she was fuming inside.

Just then, Dou Yuegui came asking for a bride price.

Aunt Peng, still simmering with no outlet, rushed outside, pointing at Dou Yuegui’s nose, started scolding.

Treating your daughter like a servant for life, and have the nerve to ask for a bride price?

What kind of society are we in now, a stepmother still abuses her stepdaughter! People like this should be sent for education.

Bride price bride price, I’ll give you a fart.

Aunt Peng didn’t want to stick up for Zhuang Ermei either, but only by doing this could she sensibly avoid the bride price issue.

Yesterday, the Jiang Family made a big noise, everyone in the neighborhood knew about Zhuang Ermei’s issue, and since this is the Mechanical Factory family compound, people were sure to speak for the Jiang Family.

Dou Yuegui didn’t only fail to get a bride price, but also got scolded so severely.

At noon, when Zhuang Ermei returned and heard about this, she stir-fried meat, made egg drop soup, and personally invited Aunt Peng out for a meal, calling her ’mom’ at every turn, her face beaming with smiles.

Aunt Peng found a way to save face and took it.

...

In mid-November, Tian Chenhui returned from handling the return-to-city procedures in the countryside.

The day after returning home, Hu Honglian took her son to the unit to complete the succession procedures.

On the first working day, Tian Chenhui came to the Mechanical Factory to call his sister over to the restaurant for a meal, he invited a few friends to celebrate together.

Tian Xiang looked speechlessly at her brother, saying, what’s there to celebrate for a janitor, when she was formalized, it was just a family dinner that got lively, she herself only added a meat dish at lunch.

Tian Chenhui laughed at his sister, "Just having fun with a few friends."

Right, that’s the main point.

Tian Xiang: "I’m not going."

A bunch of youngsters, what’s she going there for!

"Also, brother, where did you get the money to treat?"

Hu Honglian strictly controlled her son, only giving him enough for meals, not a penny more.

Tian Chenhui clicked his tongue, "I didn’t mess around, I borrowed some from friends. Little sister, I’m over twenty now, I can’t walk around without some money, or I’ll be laughed to death. Brother’s working now, don’t worry, I won’t mess around."

Looking at her brother, who was acting like a loafer, Tian Xiang took a deep breath, "Brother, you have to realize this job was given to you by mom who stepped down. You now have money, but mom’s salary is gone."

Tian Chenhui’s smile was forced, clearly taken aback by his sister’s words.

He wasn’t ignoring the family, just couldn’t set aside pride among his brothers after so many years.

Of course, Tian Xiang knew what was on his mind.

"Brother, you’re not young anymore, be serious, even if you won’t consider the family, think of yourself. Just say, with your job now, those people coming to eat with you, do you really think they’re celebrating for you happily? To put it bluntly, it’s just eating and drinking, someone foots the bill, they don’t have to pay themselves.

Your friends are not genuine, just drinking buddies."

Tian Xiang had seen some of her brother’s friends before, didn’t need to see their roles much, even her brother was a follower, how decent could those people be?

After speaking, Tian Xiang waved her hand and turned back to the factory.

Wanting to invite his sister for a meal, but instead getting scolded, Tian Chenhui was a little upset.

But when he returned to the restaurant and found his friends ordering not only meat but also drinks, spending seven or eight bucks on a meal, he felt even more disheartened.

Looking at how right his sister was.

Lu Weihua came over, putting his arm around Tian Chenhui’s shoulder like a good buddy, "What’s up? Xiangxiang didn’t come?"

Tian Chenhui: "She’s busy, working."

No matter how busy, one still eats at noon!

But Lu Weihua didn’t press further, seeing Tian Chenhui’s displeased expression at the face of people demanding food and drinks, he whispered, "Let them order, I’ll cover the tab later."

Tian Chenhui: "No need, I said I’d treat."

After all, he was starting work.

Lu Weihua: "Who’s who between us brothers..."

Lunch was still paid by Tian Chenhui, always taking advantage of others isn’t good.

After dinner, the group broke up, Lu Weihua pulled Tian Chenhui over, telling him not to interact with that bunch of classmates anymore.

"No point, just want your meat and drink."

The talk identical to his sister’s, Tian Chenhui felt relieved, nodding repeatedly.

Indeed, old buddies had changed over the years.

Lu Weihua: "Let’s go watch a movie this weekend, I’ll introduce you to some friends."

He was from Red Fifth Street, those he introduced must be from over there, and given Lu Family’s good conditions, those who could become buddies likely had decent conditions themselves.

But...

Tian Chenhui joked: "You won’t introduce me to some girls, will you?"

Lu Weihua, flirtatious, in the past two or three years while down there, had dated four or five partners.

Lu Weihua clicked his tongue, "What nonsense, have you seen me bringing a girl since returning? Previously unsettled, bored and passing time, now I’m grown and started working, can’t be like before. I’m a proper man, don’t talk nonsense."

Tian Chenhui laughed.

He’s proper?

Yeah, right!

This guy surely has his eyes on some girl and is putting on the good guy act.

Mechanical Factory.

After lunch, Tian Xiang planned to go over to the family compound, who knew snowflakes suddenly floated from the overcast sky.

This year’s snow came so early, just entering deep winter.

The first snowfall of winter, initially mixed intermittently with rain for over a week, seemed not a big deal, but suddenly grew heavy for three days, with cold winds carrying large snowflakes quickly whitening roads, making even nearby people hard to see through the flying snowflakes.

On the first day, people braved the wind and snow and stayed at their posts, but couldn’t on the second day, snow piled as high as knees, streets couldn’t be cleared in time, cars halted, the community’s broadcasting station announced citywide suspension of work and classes.

Tian Xiang stayed at home for two days, and was informed upon returning to work that she was going to the countryside for disaster relief.