"But Smartie Huang is not at the Zhiqing point now."
"Not at the Zhiqing point? Do you know where she might be?"
Liu Pei arrived later than Huang Jiayun; she can be considered a new Zhiqing, only having a nodding acquaintance with the old Zhiqing, not very familiar.
She had no choice but to ask the old Zhiqing who was on good terms with Huang Jiayun.
Shortly after, Liu Pei returned with the news she had gathered.
"Smartie Huang has gone to help out at the Zhu family again."
"The Zhu family? Which Zhu family?"
The situation in the Li Hua Team is special; there are no prominent surnas.
There are several families with the surna Zhu, and Lin Xiang doesn’t interact much, so when Liu Pei ntioned the Zhu family, she didn’t know which one.
Liu Pei had to explain: "It’s the Zhu family at the west end of the village. His father’s a carpenter, and recently Zhu Zhu’s dad took on a big job, so Smartie Huang goes to help at the Zhu family every day."
Lin Xiang was puzzled, "Why does Smartie Huang go to help the Zhu family?"
"Smartie Huang and Zhu Zhu are engaged."
This was sothing Lin Xiang indeed didn’t know.
"Alright, I’ll go let them know." Lin Xiang said to Liu Pei, "I’m not in a rush; take your ti. Return them whenever you’re ready."
Lin Xiang walked out of the Zhiqing point and discovered Mrs. Huang pacing back and forth. The young man beside her was squatting on a stone stump, smoking; there were already two cigarette butts on the ground.
"Young comrade, has my Yunyun co out?" Mrs. Huang glanced behind Lin Xiang, but the courtyard of the Zhiqing point was empty.
There was no sign of Huang Jiayun.
"I heard from the Zhiqing at the point that Smartie Huang often goes to help her fiancé’s family recently. She should be at the Zhu family now; shall I take you there?"
"Fiancé?" Mrs. Huang’s voice suddenly rose, "My Yunyun is engaged? Why don’t I know? Huang Saner, why are you still smoking there? Hurry up and co with to find your sister!"
Huang Saner quickly tossed the cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out with his foot, then hurriedly stood beside Mrs. Huang.
Seeing Mrs. Huang shaking with anger, Lin Xiang tentatively suggested, "Why not call Smartie Huang back first?"
She was worried they might storm into the Zhu family and start a conflict.
But Mrs. Huang angrily retorted, "No need, I’ll go find her myself!"
All the way, Mrs. Huang didn’t stop talking.
"Before going down to the countryside, I repeatedly warned her that we would eventually get her a quota to return to the city, and she shouldn’t just settle for finding a partner in the village. But she just wouldn’t listen!"
"My daughter, pampered and spoiled since childhood, is going to her in-laws’ place to help before even getting married. What kind of thing is that? Even if she were rushing, it shouldn’t be like this!"
"Since she’s a pampered daughter, why let her go down to the countryside?" Lin Xiang inadvertently spoke candidly, "Everyone knows how tough it is to go down to the countryside. Once you decide to let her go, you should prepare her psychologically for hardship."
Mrs. Huang was silent.
She remained silent until they reached the entrance of the Zhu family.
"This is the Zhu family. According to the other Zhiqing, Smartie Huang should be here now; you can knock on the door yourselves."
She had brought them here as a kindness, and Lin Xiang certainly wasn’t keen to face the confrontation that might follow.
Noticing Lin Xiang was about to leave, Mrs. Huang grabbed her arm, "You can’t leave; you must wait until I bring Yunyun out before you go."
Lin Xiang was baffled, "I kindly bring you to find your daughter, and now I’m expected to provide after-service too?"
Mrs. Huang ignored this and knocked on the door so forcefully that Lin Xiang worried the door might be knocked down.
"Coming!"
A crisp female voice echoed from the courtyard, and shortly after, the door was opened. The young girl who answered the door appeared startled at first, then instinctively took a step back, visibly shrinking back.
This is the subconscious reaction of soone facing their fears.
"Mom, why are you here?"
Indeed, the girl who opened the door was Huang Jiayun, Smartie Huang.
Lin Xiang’s gossip radar was activated, and she was in no hurry to leave.
Mrs. Huang pushed Huang Jiayun, "If I hadn’t co, I’d still be unaware you secretly arranged your lifelong commitnt! Don’t you know how hard it was for your father and to raise you to adulthood? Even for sothing as significant as getting engaged, you didn’t inform us?"
"Mom, I’m not engaged; I just..."
"If you’re not engaged, why rush to help them? How have I taught you? How did you end up living so disgracefully!"
Though Mrs. Huang maintains an air of decency, her loud voice is no less than that of the village aunties; hearing the commotion at the door, the Zhu family mbers quickly ca out.
"Jiayun, what’s going on?" A young man stepped in front of Huang Jiayun, asking anxiously.
Huang Jiayun gently shook her head, "My mom and brother are here."
Zhu Zhu looked up and saw Mrs. Huang glaring at him, with Huang Saner leaning against the fence smoking.
He imdiately put on a smile, "Auntie, please co in and have a seat."
Mrs. Huang kept a stern face, brushed past Zhu Zhu, and entered the Zhu family ho.
She had let go of Lin Xiang’s hand, but Lin Xiang, wanting to watch the drama unfold, wasn’t keen on leaving.
The Zhu family was busy making furniture, and the yard was cluttered with wood and scraps, leaving little room.
Zhu Zhu’s parents and siblings made a clean area for Mrs. Huang to stand. Staring at the newly built brick house of the Zhu family, she frowned, her disdain almost palpable.
"My Yunyun is ant to live in an apartnt in the city, and such a house as yours, how can it be good enough for her?"
"Mom!" Huang Jiayun couldn’t bear it any longer, went over and grabbed her mother’s arm, "I ca to the Zhu family today for other matters, I’m not engaged to them. For a matter as significant as marriage, how could I possibly make such a decision without consulting you? Let’s go back to the Zhiqing point, and I’ll explain everything to you, okay?"
Huang Jiayun understood her mother’s personality too well and knew staying here would only make the Zhu family unhappy, so she decided to take her mother away first.
Before leaving, Mrs. Huang glared fiercely at Zhu Zhu; all Huang Jiayun could do was apologize on her mother’s behalf and hurriedly drag her away.
Once Mrs. Huang left, Lin Xiang apologized to the Zhu family as well.
"Originally, I was just thinking of going to the riverside for a walk when the two of them stopped to ask for directions, saying she was Smartie Huang’s mother. I thought the Zhiqing must miss their family dearly, having not seen them in years after coming here, so I brought them to the Zhiqing point. Later, I found out Smartie Huang was here with you."
"I didn’t know Smartie Huang’s mom was like that, sorry for causing trouble."
Zhu Zhu scratched the back of his head and laughed good-naturedly, "Girl, don’t say that. Your intention was good, this isn’t your fault."
"Then, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first."
With everyone gone and nothing left to watch, Lin Xiang returned ho.
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