Wei Juan Hong quickly lifted her head to glance at Xia Xiao Lan.
Xia Xiao Lan’s expression remained unchanged – staying in Beijing wasn’t a big deal. The Beijing of 1985 was far more welcoming than it would be 30 years later, with cheaper housing prices and more opportunities.
When housing prices would reach tens of thousands per square meter, even university graduates would struggle to put down roots in the capital, let alone farmers from remote areas.
Couples coming to the city for work didn’t count as putting down roots – having a home meant having a shelter that was your own, where you wouldn’t be pushed around by landlords.
Now, during the Reform and Opening period, those who worked diligently could easily earn enough for a small nest of their own.
While courtyard houses within the Second Ring Road cost tens of thousands and were unaffordable, one could look further out. The dilapidated single-story houses beyond the Third Ring Road didn’t cost much now. It wouldn’t be difficult for the Shi family to stay in Beijing. Shi Kai’s compensation would be more than enough to buy such a house… they wouldn’t even need to touch Shi Kai’s compensation money, as the Shi family wasn’t without support – Zhou Cheng would help.
Wei Juan Hong spoke up precisely because she knew this.
Mother Shi didn’t know, which was why she strongly opposed it.
“Auntie, Sister-in-law Wei is right. Beijing is more developed than Botong County, and this gap will only grow. If we can arrange good jobs for Sister-in-law Wei and Brother Shi Ping here, there’s no problem with your family staying,” Xia Xiao Lan said.
Mother Shi would at least listen when Xia Xiao Lan spoke.
But the more she listened, the more confused she became.
The conditions for martyr family placement had already been explained to Mother Shi.
The Shi family’s situation was special, so they were given an extra job placement quota, allowing both Wei Juan Hong and Shi Ping to work for the state. This opportunity to escape rural life stirred up Wei Juan Hong’s family, and various Shi family relatives kept visiting. Even brothers would turn against each other over a job quota – that’s how precious and rare they were!
And that was just for jobs in Botong County.
How could it be so easy to arrange in Beijing?
Even as a rural woman, Mother Shi knew the state wouldn’t arrange for martyrs’ families to move to Beijing – if everyone did this, how could Beijing accommodate so many people?
Zhou Cheng had brought her family from Botong to the capital and arranged for the best doctors to perform surgery. Mother Shi guessed Zhou Cheng must be very influential… but he didn’t owe the Shi family anything. Wouldn’t the whole family be shamelessly imposing on Zhou Cheng if they insisted on settling in Beijing?
“Juan’er, how can we do this…”
Mother Shi tried to reason with her daughter-in-law.
Wei Juan Hong remained silent. Zhou Cheng didn’t let Xia Xiao Lan continue speaking. “Auntie, don’t argue with Sister-in-law Wei yet. I’ll look into job opportunities for her and Shi Ping first. You’ve just had surgery and need to rest. Stay in the hospital and focus on recovery. We might have news during this time. Then you can decide whether to stay or not, alright?”
Mother Shi fumbled to grab Zhou Cheng’s hand, at a loss for words.
Xia Xiao Lan and Guan Hui E exchanged glances. Guan Hui E said Mother Shi needed rest after surgery and left the hospital room.
“…Speaking too late, it seems resentment has already built up.”
“Auntie, to me it looks more like she’s acting out of spite. It doesn’t matter – if they want to stay in Beijing, let them stay. It’s just that you’ll need to help coordinate their job arrangements. If they stayed in Botong County, Zhou Cheng would worry. Here in Beijing, we can help look after them for Zhou Cheng.”
Resentment was normal.
Xia Xiao Lan felt they should do what needed to be done here with a clear conscience, reducing Zhou Cheng’s guilt. Time would reveal true intentions, and if Wei Juan Hong couldn’t get past this, there was nothing Xia Xiao Lan could do.
No matter how capable she was, she couldn’t control others’ thoughts.
She wouldn’t hesitate to give what was due, but if someone wanted to manipulate Zhou Cheng for life using his guilt… Xia Xiao Lan could only say the world wasn’t that sweet!
As soon as Zhou Cheng left, Mother Shi’s voice could be heard questioning her daughter-in-law.
However, no matter how much Mother Shi argued, Wei Juan Hong wouldn’t change her mind.
This martyr’s widow, who had once been wary of big cities, had now completely changed her attitude and was determined to stay.
She even asked Zhou Cheng and Guan Hui E not to tell Mother Shi the truth – what exactly was she planning?
Seeing Zhou Cheng emerge, Guan Hui E softened her expression. “We’ll handle the job arrangements with your father. You should head back to the academy first.”
Zhou Cheng remained silent. Guan Hui E noticed he had lost a lot of weight and felt especially concerned: “This isn’t about causing trouble for the family. You’ve always been independent and strong-willed, but please consider your father’s and my feelings – we’re very willing to help you.”
Xia Xiao Lan gently tugged at Zhou Cheng’s clothes.
Guan Hui E pretended not to notice. She believed Zhou Cheng’s personality had developed this way partly because she had left him with nannies when he was young.
Perhaps Zhou Cheng felt he couldn’t rely on his parents, so he became extremely independent.
This independence made Guan Hui E proud most of the time, but occasionally it pained her – like when Zhou Cheng went to the front as a teenager without even discussing it with his family!
Xia Xiao Lan could influence Zhou Cheng’s decisions. Guan Hui E couldn’t be bothered to feel jealous now – she turned a blind eye, pretending not to see Xia Xiao Lan secretly tugging at Zhou Cheng’s clothes.
Zhou Cheng finally nodded, “I’ll do as you say.”
Guan Hui E rolled her eyes, pointing at Xia Xiao Lan: “If you won’t trust your mother, at least trust the partner you chose yourself. She’ll keep an eye on things!”
Xia Xiao Lan felt immense pressure. Zhou Cheng had been acting strange lately, and Guan Hui E might truly get angry.
“Zhou Cheng, if you don’t trust me and Auntie, who can you trust?”
Zhou Cheng was speechless. For men, there were two terrifying situations: one was when their mother and wife didn’t get along, and the other was when their wife and mother joined forces!
At such times, survival instinct told Zhou Cheng how to choose.
He could only surrender:
“I’ll check on Kang Wei and then leave.”
That was more like it.
Guan Hui E knew this was Zhou Cheng’s bottom line. She showed a slight smile: “Kang Wei is recovering well, just complaining about being confined at home. Keep him company and talk some sense into him. It takes a hundred days for tendons and bones to heal – whatever plans he has, he needs to wait until he’s fully recovered.”
Xia Xiao Lan’s hands were scarred, Kang Wei was still recovering from brain surgery, and the martyred Shi Kai was also connected to the Du family. Zhou Cheng’s hatred for the Du family had accumulated bit by bit, reaching a breaking point – though the academy’s combat mission was suspended, it didn’t mean Zhou Cheng’s actions were. He had to do something!
Inexplicably, Xia Xiao Lan felt anxious. She took Zhou Cheng’s hand on her initiative.
“Zhou Cheng, don’t rush. We can handle all of this!”
Shi Kai’s sacrifice seemed to have changed Zhou Cheng somehow. It wasn’t that he was neglecting Xia Xiao Lan, but previously Zhou Cheng’s thoughts had been straightforward and passionate, completely unconcealed before Xia Xiao Lan. Now he gave her the feeling of being unfathomable… a small part of Zhou Cheng’s inner world was shrouded in mist, beyond even Xia Xiao Lan’s understanding.
Whether this was good or not, Xia Xiao Lan didn’t know. Everyone had secrets, and she had things she didn’t want Zhou Cheng to know – like her being reborn into a second life, a secret she would take to her grave.