The next morning, Daya saw He Lang at breakfast. The corners of his eyes were crinkled with a smile as he patiently peeled boiled eggs for Ruanruan and Shiyi.
Xue Yue brought out the food and sat down next to him to eat.
He Lang casually peeled an egg for Xue Yue as well and placed it in her bowl. Xue Yue glanced at him.
Seeing this, Daya understood. ’They’ve already made up.’ She breathed an inward sigh of relief.
The mont Mr. He saw He Lang, he started nagging, "I know you’re busy with work, but you have to take care of yourself. What ti did you get back last night? I didn’t even hear you."
He Lang nodded. "I know. I’ll co back earlier from now on."
Xue Yue also wondered how he had gotten back, since the motorcycle wasn’t in the courtyard.
After breakfast, He Lang offered to give Xue Yue a ride. When they reached the mouth of the alley, Xue Yue saw his motorcycle parked there.
"Why’d you park it here? Aren’t you worried it’ll get stolen?"
He Lang said, "It’s too loud. I was afraid of waking everyone up, so I parked it here. No one’s going to steal it in the dead of night."
The motorcycle was registered, so even if soone stole it, they wouldn’t dare to ride it. The policies had gotten stricter in recent years, and theft was a jailable offense. As a result, the cri rate in Beijing City had plumted.
Even in supermarkets, there were fewer people trying to get away with petty theft.
When Xue Xingjun heard from Daya that his sister and brother-in-law had made up, he first breathed a sigh of relief. But then, a thought struck him, and he grew uneasy.
He mumbled to himself, "They made up that quickly? My sister is way too easy to appease."
Daya shot him a look. "What did you expect? It’s normal for couples to bicker. You’re the only one who thought the worst of it. So, now what? Didn’t you say you weren’t going to work for my uncle anymore? Then what are you doing here today?"
Xue Xingjun’s eyes darted around. "I was just saying that because I was angry! You can’t take it seriously. My brother-in-law definitely won’t hold it against ."
Daya chuckled. "I wouldn’t be so sure about that."
Xue Xingjun mulled it over. ’He Lang is a man with bigger things to worry about,’ he thought. ’He definitely won’t hold a grudge against .’
But when he timidly entered He Lang’s office, he found He Lang looking at him in surprise.
"Why are you still here? Didn’t you say you were quitting? Go find Daya, get your wages settled, and you can leave."
Xue Xingjun panicked the mont he heard that.
"Brother-in-law, I was wrong! Please, be the bigger man and forgive just this once. I was just talking out of anger, really!"
He Lang raised an eyebrow and snorted, "Too late. I don’t want you anymore. You should just go. I don’t dare keep soone around who would betray at any mont and even wants to beat up."
Xue Xingjun was stunned. He imdiately sat on the floor and grabbed onto He Lang’s leg, refusing to let go. "Brother-in-law, I didn’t betray you! Didn’t I even give you advice? I’m still young, you can’t take what I say seriously! Just forget it. I don’t even rember what I said yesterday."
He Lang scoffed. "You’re certainly forgetful when it suits you. Yesterday you said you were all grown up, and now you’re saying you’re young. I can’t afford to employ soone so fickle. Get out."
Clinging to He Lang’s leg, Xue Xingjun started wailing, "Brother-in-law, I can’t bear to leave you! You can’t fire ! If my sister finds out, you two will start fighting again!"
"Get lost."
Xue Xingjun only stopped after He Lang gave him a kick. He left the office, completely dejected, and went to find Daya again.
Seeing his crestfallen look, Daya asked curiously, "What’s wrong? Did Uncle yell at you?"
Xue Xingjun whimpered, "He really doesn’t want anymore. He told to find you to get my pay... WAHHHH—"
And with that, he actually started to cry.
Daya stared at him, stunned for a mont, but then she understood. Her uncle was probably just ssing with him.
Her uncle and aunt had already made up. Even for his wife’s sake, her uncle wouldn’t fire Xue Xingjun. Besides, Xue Xingjun was only standing up for his sister. He was a diligent worker and a decent person overall.
Daya comforted him, "There, there. Uncle is definitely just joking with you. Look how scared you are."
Xue Xingjun looked at Daya with tear-filled eyes. "Really? But he told to get lost."
Daya nodded. "He probably just found you annoying. Just stay out of his hair for a bit, and he’ll probably forget about it. If you don’t believe , just stick around. See if Uncle actually tries to kick you out."
Xue Xingjun thought about it carefully and realized that what Daya said made sense.
Sure enough, later that morning, he heard He Lang call for him. It wasn’t to kick him out, but to order him to make a trip to the clothing factory.
The Beijing City clothing factory had called him yesterday wanting to collaborate. However, He Lang now knew about Guan Wenwen’s connection to the factory, so of course, he refused. That’s why he was sending Xue Xingjun over.
When Xue Xingjun ca out of the office, he had a smile on his face. ’My brother-in-law really was just trying to scare .’
Then he scurried off happily to get to work.
As the twelfth lunar month approached, they prepared to go back to their hotown for the New Year. This would be the first year since Mrs. He had passed away, so it was ti for them to go back and pay their respects.
Shitou’s family was going back too. Their child was already two years old and could handle a long trip. It was also ti for them to go back and let Shitou’s father see his grandson.
The two families traveled back to their hotown in a large group.
They returned early this year, arriving just in ti for the village’s pig slaughtering. Mr. He, He Lang, and Shitou all went to help.
The children also went to watch the spectacle.
Xue Xingjun went to his own ho, carrying two large bags of things.
Xue Yue took the things she had bought and went to Gao Cuiyun’s place.
"Cuiyun."
Gao Cuiyun saw it was Xue Yue. "Oh, it’s you, Xue Yue! Co in, co in, have a seat."
"I heard Xiao Yang’s wife gave birth, so I ca to see."
Gao Cuiyun nodded. "Yes, it’s been almost a month. Chunlan is in her postpartum confinent period."
Xue Yue handed the things she was carrying to Gao Cuiyun. "Here are so snacks I bought, and a can of milk powder for the baby."
Gao Cuiyun took them, smiling. "You shouldn’t have. The baby’s awake right now. It’s a girl. I’ll take you in to see her."
"Okay."
Entering the room, she saw Wang Chunlan propped up in bed, looking at the baby lying beside her with a smile.
Gao Cuiyun said, "Chunlan, your Third Aunt is here to see you. She even brought milk powder for the baby."
Wang Chunlan sat up. She looked at Xue Yue, a little reserved. "Third Aunt."
"I just ca to see the baby."
Xue Yue walked over. "Oh my, how adorable."
She was just a tiny thing in the blankets, with a chubby little face, big eyes, and blowing bubbles from her mouth.
"This baby is just beautiful."
Gao Cuiyun said with a laugh, "She’s gained several pounds in a month. Chunlan’s milk is good."
Wang Chunlan blushed.
It had been a long ti since Xue Yue had seen a baby, so she leaned in closer and gently touched her little hand.
Gao Cuiyun said with a smile, "You really like children."
Xue Yue nodded. "Children are wonderful, aren’t they? It’s just that raising them is so much work. Otherwise, everyone would want to have a few more."
Speaking of which, Gao Cuiyun sighed. "With the family planning policy now, you’re not allowed to have more. Xiao Yang and his generation missed the boat, unlike us."
Xue Yue looked at the baby and said, "The focus now is on healthy births and good upbringing. One child is fine, too, as long as you raise them well. If they really want another, they’ll just have to have Xiao Yang work hard to earn the money and pay the fine."
"We can’t afford that! I heard the fine for an extra child is two thousand yuan now."
"That’s right. It’s about the sa in Beijing City."
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