If this hadn’t happened, He Ximei would definitely be full of confidence, working in the factory, imagining earning a bit more money to find a wife for Pengzi and bring her home.
It didn’t matter if the wife was particularly outstanding, as long as she could manage the household affairs for Pengzi, that would suffice.
But some things couldn’t be accomplished just by imagination. Although this matter had nothing to do with her, and not much to do with Guaizi and Pengzi either, some things just weren’t suitable.
She nodded, "With you taking care of things, I can rest assured. Besides, if the factory makes money, half of it is mine, isn’t it? I don’t have to do anything and still get money; how wonderful is that."
He Ximei, Su Xiaofeng, and Pengzi returned to Lihua Village.
Fortunately, the old house had been nearly repaired, so they wouldn’t be homeless upon their return. Sitting at the dining table, Su Xiaofeng looked at He Ximei bringing two dishes out of the kitchen and suddenly spoke, "Fatty, thank you."
He Ximei rubbed her hands on her apron, feeling somewhat shyly embarrassed, "Thank me for what? We’re all simple folk here. If something really happens, would you expect Xiaofeng to deal with us or with the problems? I trust Xiaofeng’s abilities; she can definitely handle it. We can just do whatever we want at home, how great is that?"
Being in the countryside was more relaxed than being in the city, where doing anything would invite gossip about being country bumpkins who didn’t understand anything.
"After the incident, I was afraid Xiaofeng would blame me. Hearing there’s no trouble, the rock weighing on my heart for over a day finally dropped. You’re right, it’s best for us to come home. In this way, Xiaofeng can manage however she wants without her closest kin interfering and holding her back; she can work freely." Guaizi had thought of this too. He had wanted to return to the countryside long ago but had been afraid to mention it, worried that Fatty and Xiaofeng wouldn’t agree.
"So, we should stop being involved in managing and producing for the factory. We’ll just lead a steady life in the countryside. If the factory makes money, we’ll wait for our share. If it loses money, Xiaofeng will at least have a warm bowl of rice for us when she comes back." Having experienced the events of the past two days, He Ximei deeply understood that it was easy to set up a factory, but just as easy to shut it down.
That was why she had suddenly decided to return to the countryside. Even if the factory really couldn’t operate in the future, at least the family would have a nest and a place to eat, not left with nothing.
"You’re right," Su Xiaofeng agreed, nodding, "Xiaofeng manages production outside, we manage production at home."
Upon hearing his words, He Ximei sat down to start eating, "What are you thinking?"
"Do you remember the peaches that Xiaofeng sold last time? I ate one, and it was indeed quite tasty. Why don’t we plant some too?" He did want to plant more, but the farmland was scarce, and no one had extra land to spare for others.
There might not be enough farmland, but there was plenty of mountains.
Not to mention other families, his own family had several large mountains. Aside from their occasional trips to gather firewood, they were left unattended.
Upon hearing this, He Ximei’s eyes gleamed with excitement, "That’s a good idea. But how many years would it take for the peach trees to bear fruit?"
"Why not ask Xiaofeng, see if this idea is feasible?" Even for fruit trees, it was at least two years before they bore fruit.
"Sure." He Ximei was thinking the same, "By the way, I’ll go back to my mother’s house tomorrow. I’ve been in the city these days, and I don’t know how things are over there."
Every three days a small quarrel, every five days a big one, she was convinced.
While the three were having dinner, He Yong ran in from outside, "Sister, it’s not good, my brother-in-law came to our house."
He Ximei looked at her suddenly flustered brother and rolled her eyes at him, "What nonsense are you talking about? Your brother-in-law is right here eating, when did he go to your house?"
He Yong glanced at the brother-in-law at the dining table and realized his mistake. It wasn’t this brother-in-law; it was the former one, "It’s Zhang Dacai, he went to our house."
He Ximei was unflustered, "What’s he doing at our house?"
They had divorced so many years ago, and now he suddenly showed up, it must be for no good reason.
He Yong stuttered, not daring to speak out.
"Speak," He Ximei demanded, suddenly furious.
"Sister, brother-in-law, if I tell you, please don’t get angry." He Yong regretted making this trip. Zhang Dacai too, you don’t make contact for a decade, and when you do, you make such an unreasonable request, who would entertain you? "Zhang Dacai said, said to take Pengzi back. If older sister is willing to go back too, it’s also possible."
Su Xiaofeng slammed his bowl down, "He Yong, say it again."
He Yong had never seen his brother-in-law angry. The sudden outburst made his heart beat wildly, "Apparently, it is said that Zhang Dacai’s wife’s son is not his, but born from an affair his wife had with another man. In a fit of rage, he kicked them out of the house."
When He Ximei heard that, she burst out laughing. Indeed, this was karma. Although it was late, it eventually arrived. Back then, he had kicked her and Pengzi out of the house. Now, he had kicked out another pair. That was all Zhang Dacai was good for.
She snorted coldly, "Go back and tell him that he and I are already divorced. He didn’t care about Pengzi’s and my life or death back then. Pengzi is no longer his son."
Now he thinks of his blood son when it suits him. Where was he all this while?
Back then, he was so boastful, saying someone had borne him a healthy son. No matter how she pleaded, he kicked her and Pengzi out.
"Fatty, there’s a saying, ’even a day-long marriage has a hundred days of grace.’ We were husband and wife for over a dozen years. You say there’s no connection and there’s none? And as for Pengzi, he’s my son, I’m his father. You say there’s no connection, but when I’m old, he’ll have to support me," a robust man swaggered in from outside, his eyes fixed on the lady of the house. Looking at the skinny Su Xiaofeng, he snorted contemptuously, "Of course, you don’t have to come back with me. But I’ve heard your man has a daughter, beautiful as a flower, only a bit loose in her morals, likes flirting with men at a young age, not really suitable for a decent family life."
"Zhang Dacai, what on earth did you come here for?" As soon as He Ximei heard this, her eyes threw daggers at He Yong, questioning him as if to ask, who told him this.
In a nervous retreat, He Yong tried to appease with an embarrassed smile, "Sister, I’m only thinking of your best interests. You care so much for Xiaofeng, and she doesn’t appreciate it, not even as grateful as a white-eyed wolf. Plus, with the way Xiaofeng is, the whole eight villages know how many old bachelors have their eyes on her."
A woman as beautiful as a flower, visibly pregnant, those wolf-like eyes have ideas of their own, who knows what they’re thinking.