Time flies, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Wangjia Village in 1973 had hardly changed from three years earlier. Apart from the addition of a strong laborer, the Wang family was no different.
Zhuzi graduated from high school last year. But because the county no longer recruits outsiders, he can only stay in the production team to work. But because he is a high school student, he also joined the food factory to help Qian Shulan make braised eggs.
Those who entered this group were all people Qian Shulan trusted, and they were given at least fifteen work points every day.
When the food factory is not busy, he will go to the fields to work, very diligently. The aunties in the village like this kind of down-to-earth, hardworking and quiet young man. In fact, with the living standards of Wangjia Village, the young men in Wangjia Village will not have trouble finding a wife.
In addition, Zhuzi was handsome, kind, and hardworking, so many women in the village wanted to introduce their nieces to him.
Li Chunhua was so overwhelmed by the choices she made. The fact that she adopted Zhuzi was no secret in the production team. Many people said she was stupid and often made fun of her in some way. She became more and more introverted and stayed at home and rarely went out.
It’s different now. She has become very active, as if such an outstanding son is enough to slap those people in the face. The words “proud” and “feel proud” are just missing from her face.
Qian Shulan had just come out of the chicken farm and walked onto the road when she heard a middle-aged woman in front of her praising Li Chunhua, "Oh, Chunhua, you've finally made it. You worked so hard to raise Zhuzi. In the blink of an eye, you're already 18 years old and can earn money now."
Li Chunhua smiled from ear to ear, but she was modest, "No, he is not as good as your Dajun. He started working in the team after finishing elementary school. Our Zhuzi just started working, so he can't compare to him."
Qian Shulan rubbed her forehead, feeling a little overwhelmed with what she was saying. She wanted to quicken her pace and walk over.
But she heard someone calling her from behind, "Aunt Qian?"
When Qian Shulan turned around, she saw a woman who was probably about forty years old. She was wearing a white shirt with a pencil stuck in the pocket of the shirt, black Dacron pants, and her hair was cut into a cadre style.
Qian Shulan knew no more than three middle-aged women who dressed so fashionably. "Who are you?"
The middle-aged woman smiled, her smile gave people a gentle feeling, "Aunt Qian, I am Zhuzi's biological mother."
Qian Shulan was still thinking about what happened more than ten years ago when she saw Li Chunhua, who had been talking excitedly just now, suddenly became stunned and turned around to see the person coming.
She strode over and said aggressively, "Zhu Zi is my son, you can't take him away."
Zhuzi's mother was stunned for a moment, then waved her hand at Li Chunhua, "I know, you are so good to Zhuzi, how could I snatch him away. I just want to come and see him."
After hearing what she said, Li Chunhua's originally tense face immediately became embarrassed, but she still felt a little uncomfortable. If she really recognized Zhuzi, wouldn't Zhuzi know that he was not her biological son
Li Chunhua's thoughts were written all over her face. The middle-aged woman leaned close to her ear and whispered, "If everyone in the village knows it, Zhuzi must know it too."
Li Chunhua opened her mouth in surprise. She obviously didn't expect that the secret she tried so hard to keep was already known by Zhuzi.
She lowered her head and thought for a while before she said to Zhuzi's mother, "Then you go take a look at him."
Qian Shulan felt that things were not that simple. If she really missed her son, why didn't she come to see him once before? Instead, she came fifteen years later.
Thinking of Li Chunhua's stupidity, Qian Shulan felt that she should go and see it in person.
When the group arrived at the old house, Zhuzi happened to be at home.
When Zhuzi's mother saw her son, she was very excited. She put the things she brought on the table and rushed to Zhuzi, "Zhuzi, I am your real mother."
Zhuzi looked at her face, then looked back at Li Chunhua and Qian Shulan, and said "oh" lightly.
Zhuzi's mother was confused by his indifferent attitude. She covered her chest with her hands, her eyes instantly turned red, and she looked incredulous, "Zhuzi, do you hate me?"
Zhuzi shook his head. "I don't remember you anymore. To say I hate you is a bit too much."
Qian Shulan and Li Chunhua walked in and sat opposite the two of them. The people who had come to watch the fun had already gone back home to cook.
At this moment, there were only four people in the main room. Qian Shulan looked at this extremely unfamiliar family recognition scene and could only describe it in four words: calm.
Compared to the sadness and despair of Zhuzi's mother, Li Chunhua was in a particularly good mood. You see, although Zhuzi was not her biological child, the child only remembered her as his mother.
Zhuzi's mother held Zhuzi's hand and kept explaining, "Zhuzi, please believe me. I had no choice but to give you away. I know I feel sorry for you. So this time, in addition to visiting you, I also found a job for you. I really want to make it up to you."
What she can give, this rural woman cannot give. Her son should be able to forgive her, right
But Zhuzi didn't react at all after hearing that. "No need. I'm fine now."
Zhuzi's mother patted his hands, looking distressed, "Silly boy, it's so good to be a worker. You can earn 20 to 30 yuan a month, sit in an office, away from the wind and rain, how comfortable it is. You are a high school student now, you have studied for so many years, you can't waste it."
When Qian Shulan heard this, her eyes flashed.
Li Chunhua could no longer sit still. Being a worker? What a great temptation. Her husband wanted to make his son a worker, but now it is different from the past. There is no flood or disaster. The factories in the city have not hired people for several years. Zhuzi can only stay at home to work, but she didn't expect that this woman could do what her husband couldn't do. Li Chunhua asked anxiously, "Where is the job?"
Zhuzi's mother smiled and explained, "It's in the county education bureau. When he first got in, he could only be a clerk. I had to ask someone to use his connections to get him a position."
Qian Shulan frowned slightly, narrowed her eyes and asked, "Didn't you marry someone from another province?"
Zhuzi's mother smoothed her hair and explained to her with a smile, "My husband works in the Education Bureau of Linjiang Province, and he has an old friend who is a leader in the Education Bureau here. I heard that Zhuzi has not been able to find a job since graduating from high school, so I asked him for help."
Qian Shulan nodded calmly and looked at Zhuzi, "Let you make the decision on this matter alone! You are old enough."
Zhuzi still insisted on his original decision, "I won't go. I'm doing a good job now and I get paid more than the clerks in the Education Bureau. Why should I owe others a favor?"
This last sentence made Zhuzi's mother collapse directly, "Zhuzi, I am your biological mother, how can I be considered an outsider? You kid, are you trying to dig out my heart?" She looked at Zhuzi with extremely excited eyes.
But Zhuzi was not moved at all, "From the day you gave me away, I am no longer your son. The relationship between mother and son also depends on fate."
What a heartless person! Zhuzi's mother thought she could help her son find a job to narrow the distance between them, but she never expected that he would be so determined and not be tempted at all to become a worker.
She couldn't do anything about him, so she had to look at Li Chunhua, "Sister, I know Zhuzi still hates me, but I really want to make it up to him. You are also Zhuzi's mother, he will definitely listen to you, can you help me persuade him? Don't gamble your future with me."
Seeing her holding her hand and begging her like this, Li Chunhua felt very sorry for her, but at the same time she felt that Zhuzi was too cruel. After all, this was his mother's good intention. How could he treat her like this
She cleared her throat and looked at Zhuzi, complaining, "Your mother is doing this for your own good, Zhuzi, this opportunity is so rare! You should..."
Before she finished, Qian Shulan was so angry at her stupidity. It was just a job, but she was so shameless and blamed Zhuzi. She stood up and interrupted Li Chunhua, "That's enough. If you are stupid, you should know yourself and stop relying on your status to make demands on others."
Li Chunhua didn't expect her mother-in-law to be so disrespectful to her. Her face turned red but she couldn't do anything about her mother-in-law.
Qian Shulan looked at Zhuzi's mother and said calmly, "Zhuzi, you've already seen it, and it's too late today. Go back!"
"What about the work?" Zhuzi's mother asked, a little worried.
Qian Shulan narrowed her eyes and looked at her. "There are a lot of stupid people in this world, but there are also many smart people. I have no objection to your wanting to recognize Zhuzi, but you are trying to sow discord between them, which is vicious. You don't have to come here anymore, and Zhuzi won't accept your job. You'd better take care of yourself!"
Zhuzi's mother stared at her blankly, obviously not expecting that she would be seen through so quickly. She thought she was kind, otherwise she would not have given Zhuzi to her for adoption. But who would have thought... Her face changed slightly, secretly regretting that she should not have exposed her purpose so quickly.
Li Chunhua was stunned. What did that mean? Was he trying to sow discord between her and Zhuzi
Zhuzi's mother was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead. She tried to defend herself, "Aunt Qian, I didn't do that. I just wanted to compensate Zhuzi."
Qian Shulan didn't give her any face at all, "Forget it! In the past fifteen years, you have never visited him once. You had countless opportunities to make it up to him, but you didn't. Now Zhuzi has grown up, and you come to pick peaches. You think it's a good idea. You are so capable, why don't you go to heaven!"
It had been a long time since Zhuzi's mother had been scolded so mercilessly by others, especially after her husband became the leader of the Education Bureau, she also had the right to speak. Now, she was actually scolded by a country old woman. She wanted to cut the other party into pieces, but she also knew that she was not right, so her face was only stiff for a moment, and soon returned to its original state, saying aggrievedly, "Aunt Qian, you have a deep misunderstanding of me now, I'll leave first."
She took a deep breath, looked at the pillar with a longing look, and walked away, looking back every few steps.
They looked so inseparable, if not for the huge age difference, she would have thought they were a couple parting forever. Qian Shulan felt a chill in her heart.
After the people left, Zhuzi immediately expressed his position, "Grandma, I won't recognize her, and I won't be a worker, don't worry!"
Qian Shulan walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "Grandma certainly believes that you are a good child. Your mother is not a simple person. You must not get involved in her new family."
Zhuzi nodded and agreed.