Siheyuan: Wang Bo's Happy Life

Since returning to the courtyard, Jia Zhang quickly resumed her original living habits. She cooked for Banggeng and Xiaodang every day, cleaned the house, and sat down to chat with a group of aunts and young wives when she had nothing to do.

This afternoon, with the sun still high overhead, a group of people gathered in the central courtyard again. They talked about what vegetables they were going to plant this year, and about their children. As they talked, they talked about Jia Zhang.

Liu Haizhong's wife looked at Jia Zhang who was still talking about life in prison, and listened to her bragging about how she was able to call the shots in prison, and couldn't help but say:

"Sister-in-law of the Jia family, I heard that you said the other day that you would go to find Lao Jia after you marry Lao Yi. It's just talk, don't take it seriously. Now that life is getting better, you have worked hard all your life, you can enjoy the good life with Lao Yi."

After hearing this, the women nearby also advised Jia Zhang that the children would be able to take over in the future and that the Jia family's life would only get better and better, so she should not be too depressed at this time.

Jia Zhang had just finished boasting about her own great achievements. She was in high spirits and was extremely arrogant. She was not willing to listen to other people's kind advice. Instead, she felt that she would lose face if she said something soft at this time.

Jia Zhang pretended to be heroic and said, "I am Lao Jia's person in life and Lao Jia's ghost in death. This time I had to let him down for the sake of the child. If I really live with Lao Yi, will I still be a human being?"

When others tried to persuade her, Jia Zhang waved her hand and said, "You don't need to persuade me. I, Zhang Cuihua, will stick to my words. Whatever I say is what I mean!"

Seeing that Jia Zhang was so determined, everyone lost the desire to persuade her and instead thought about whether they should remind Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu.

When Jia Zhang saw that everyone looked at her with admiration, she couldn't help feeling proud.

These people are so stupid. I was just talking, they don't really want to commit suicide.

I have discussed it with Qin Huairu. When the time comes, I will just pretend and ask her to save me. Who would be so stupid as to seek death?

In the steel rolling mill workshop, Yi Zhonghai was strolling around and instructing the apprentices in their work. He stayed with each apprentice for a while and gave a few words of guidance.

When Yi Zhonghai came to Qin Huairu, he lowered his voice and asked, "Did your mother-in-law beat you again last night?"

Qin Huairu, who was working, felt her eyes sore and she almost shed tears.

Seeing Qin Huairu like this, Yi Zhonghai continued with a look of astonishment: "Don't you think about it, your mother-in-law has been there for almost ten years, can she learn any good? She will only become worse, will only exploit you more, will punish you, and will not treat you as a human being anymore."

Seeing Qin Huairu wiping away tears sadly, Yi Zhonghai sighed and continued, "Fortunately, you came to me the day after she came back. I gave you an idea that you two could force each other to death. Then we can get rid of her together and solve the problem once and for all."

Hearing Yi Zhonghai say this, Qin Huairu trembled and asked in doubt, "Does it have to go this far?"

"Then what do you say we should do?" Yi Zhonghai said sternly:

"Why don't you think of a way to send your mother-in-law to jail again? If you can't make up your mind, I will just cancel the engagement. I can't stand her anyway, so you can live with her then."

Seeing that Qin Huairu was still silent, Yi Zhonghai knew that Qin Huairu had not made up her mind yet, so he tried harder.

"It will be two weeks before the deadline. I'll give you another week to think about it. If you want to be beaten and scolded at home every day for the rest of your life, and you want Banggeng to go to the countryside and never come back, then that's it. I can't delay it any longer. I will give my workstation to an honest child and have someone else take care of me in my old age."

When Qin Huairu heard Yi Zhonghai say that he would give his work position to someone else and Banggeng would not be able to come back from the countryside, she was scared. The two children were the things she cared about most in her life, and she could not accept either of them going to the countryside.

Qin Huairu said quickly: "No, Lao Yi, let me think about it."

Seeing that Qin Huairu was moved, Yi Zhonghai continued:

"Think about the children, and then think about your evil mother-in-law. Doesn't she always put the Jia family first? Now is the time for her to sacrifice herself. If she dies, your family will be better off. If she doesn't die, your family will be in turmoil. Sacrificing her will bring happiness to our family. How wonderful it is."

Qin Huairu was already tempted, but her fear of committing a crime made it difficult for her to make up her mind. She trembled and said, "But, but this is murder, I can't do it."

"I can do it."

Yi Zhonghai stared at Qin Huairu and whispered word by word: "We could have lived a good life together, but she messed it up. You cooperate with her and I will do it!"

Hearing Yi Zhonghai say that he would do it, Qin Huairu also made up her mind, "Okay!"

After seeing Qin Huairu made up her mind, Yi Zhonghai left with satisfaction.

While Qin Huairu was working, she was feeling emotional.

Mother-in-law, don't blame me for being cruel. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not treating me as a human being. For my happiness and Banggeng's happiness, just go with peace of mind.

Wang Bo was in Lao Zhou's office at that time.

He skillfully put the thing in his pocket, and also put away a sunflower lighter that Lao Zhou had gotten from somewhere.

Old Zhou lay on the ground for a while, caught his breath, and got up. He sat opposite Wang Bo and stared at him.

"Old Zhou, you can't afford to lose, right? Otherwise, even if you win this time, after all, you gave me cigarettes, alcohol, sugar and tea for ten years."

"I'm not that bad at losing," Lao Zhou pointed at Wang Bo, "I'm increasingly thinking of sending you to the army to train you. I'll give you a good beating there, and maybe you'll become a top soldier."

"Forget it," Wang Bo said nonchalantly, "Now those in power are trying their best to send their children to the army, but how could it be my turn? Besides, I'm almost 30 years old, which army would want me?"

Lao Zhou was not discouraged. He continued, "It doesn't matter if you can't be a soldier. You are such a good fighter. You can go to the army to be a commander. It will also dampen the enthusiasm of those people and let them know that there are always people better than you."

"Old Zhou, you are using me as a whetstone!"

"I'm sure you won't go there in vain. I'll give you an allowance here and apply for subsidies for you there. You're married now, so shouldn't you earn more money?"

Seeing that Wang Bo was a little moved, Lao Zhou leaned forward.

"Xiao Bo, you have all these skills hidden, don't you want to use them to your heart's content? Don't think I don't know. If I had your skills, I could fight from south to north in the army, from day to night, and I would fight to my heart's content. Don't say you don't have this idea."

Wang Bo tilted his head to look at Lao Zhou and asked curiously, "Lao Zhou, we have known each other for ten years. If you wanted to recruit me into the army, you would have mentioned this to me a long time ago. Why are you only telling me now? Is there something wrong?"

"Ugh."

Hearing Wang Bo's question, Lao Zhou leaned back, sighed and said, "In recent years, our relationship with the north has been bad. In March this year, we even fought a battle on Zhenbao Island. Although we drove them back, the situation on both sides has become more serious."

"In the current situation, we have to make preparations. We have adopted the strategy of digging deep holes and storing food. We have also dug air-raid shelters and underground bunkers in the city and the northwest to deal with this impending war."

"Of course soldiers are at the forefront of war. In order to train them well, my leaders and comrades hope to find some talented people, including retired military masters, to guide them. I think you are a good fit."

Wang Bo thought for a while, nodded and said, "If that's the case, I have no choice but to do it. But you have to increase my allowance. Like you said, I have to earn some money for milk powder."