Unexpectedly, Laosan had actually sent them a device through mail, and by the looks of it, it must have cost quite a bit of money, right?
"I’ll give it a try tonight?"
If it really made cooking more convenient, then it would be much easier come spring plowing time; all one needed to do was plug it in and cook, then just come back to eat when ready.
Zhao Family’s second branch.
"Brother Xiao Hai, I heard that mom brought back a huge parcel, I have no idea what Laosan sent to dad and mom through the mail, shall I go have a look later?"
Zhao Tianhai immediately stopped his wife from entertaining that idea, "That’s something Laosan mailed to dad and mom. If mom wants to give us something, she would bring it over. It wouldn’t be right for us to go there and ask for it so brazenly."
But aren’t you curious about what Laosan has sent to mom and dad this time?
Laosan’s family is in Capital City, and now that they have taken so many people there to earn money, why can’t they spare some for the two of them?
Still holding onto the grudge from that fight?
That happened so long ago.
They say though bones may break, sinews stay connected, and real brothers should help each other out.
They’d rather help strangers, even.
And dad, too—how could he let big brother’s family farm the four mouths’ worth of fields belonging to Laosan’s family?
They were still capable of farming those fields as well.
"Now that the fields are in our own hands, let’s farm them well. I, your husband, guarantee you’ll eat and drink well," Zhao Tianhai said.
Zhao Tianhai knew he was as good a worker as his wife; he used to be quite lazy, but now that the fields were theirs, he dared not continue to be lazy.
"I believe in you, Brother Xiao Hai."
Over in Capital City.
It had been three days since they’d been to the shop.
"Xiao Yun, I’m thinking of going to the Police Station to ask about the situation. We can’t just idle around at home all the time. Every day we keep the doors closed, sister-in-law loses a fair amount of money," Zhao Xinxin said.
Fang Meiyun nodded in agreement. That did make sense.
Ever since they had arrived in Capital City, they ate and lived at sister-in-law and Third Brother’s place.
They had hoped to work well and earn money.
"Uh-huh, let’s go take a look."
"Grandma Fang, Sister Xinxin and I are going to buy some groceries."
Without the sausages and cured meat to smoke anymore, Grandma Fang suddenly found herself idle and leaned on the bed, listening to the radio.
"Go ahead, come back early, and take the keys with you."
Because it was cold, Grandma Fang seldom went out except to the public bathhouse to bathe; she usually stayed at home.
The two women made their way to the Police Station together.
"Comrade, we would like to ask about..."
The young Public Security officer’s eyes lit up when he saw Zhao Xinxin, "Comrade Zhao, you’ve come? Are you here to ask about those rowdy kids?"
This mention made the young Public Security officer startle, "To..."
The older Public Security officer looked at him, noticing his sidelong glances at the female comrade and guessed his little crush.
Wang Jianguo was feeling the stirrings of spring.
But this female comrade was indeed pretty.
"Ladies, please come inside."
Wang Jianguo led the two women inside.
As a party directly involved, Zhao Xinxin could be updated about some of the progress in the case.
Wang Jianguo glanced at the older Public Security officer.
"They’re sticking to their story, claiming they wanted to collect a protection fee because your shop was doing well," he said.
They even dared not admit to bullying.
But the female comrade shouldn’t slander them either.
"But that man... he bullied me, as a woman..." As Zhao Xinxin spoke, she began to choke up and sob.
"Comrade Zhao, please don’t cry." Wang Jianguo quickly offered her a tissue; anyone would be scared in that situation.
"Public Security officer, if they are only locked up for a few days and are released, what do we do if they come to our door again? What if they bear a grudge against us?" Fang Meiyun’s face was filled with panic and fear.