dognovel Chapter 1543 Every family has sutras that are difficult to recite
Chapter 1543 Every family has sutras that are difficult to recite
Chapter 1543 Every family has sutras that are difficult to recite
"Actually, if you don't mind the trouble, you can just tell Brother Li and ask him to replace the stove."
Qin Jingru stood at the kitchen doorway, cracking sunflower seeds, chatting with Er Ya while also keeping an eye on the children.
Li Ning wasn't the only one playing with building blocks in the restaurant; Han Lidong from their family was also there.
Han Lidong's birthday was in mid-December 1968, so he's only a little over a year old now.
Unlike ordinary children who are so thin and small, Qin Jingru could not bear to part with Li Xuewu's two children as a model.
Honestly, what could she possibly be reluctant to part with? Two people could take care of the child, the old lady was in excellent health, and she spent all her time playing with her grandson, enjoying her old age.
Now, besides taking care of the children and managing the household chores, she has nothing else to do, and she comes here whenever she has free time.
If her sister still lived in the courtyard house, she might have been able to go there more often. But ever since the Jia family moved to the workers' new village, even Qin Jingru has been too lazy to go and join in the fun.
Of course she knew that her sister's house was already lively enough, and she didn't need to bring her child over to add to the excitement.
To this day, Liu Guoyou has not received a kind look from Jia Zhangshi, nor has she spoken to him again.
Even her sister Qin Huairu was sullen, and the old lady ignored her, so she ran away from home because of the stick.
To her sister, this behavior was called running away from home; to Jia Zhangshi, it was called leaving her hometown. She was forced to leave because of her own mother and stepfather.
The trouble has subsided, but the neighbors across the hall are not like family, and the two families still have ties.
On the surface, her sister seems successful and cheerful, but in reality, she knows the truth behind the scenes best.
If she can't even go to her sister's house, where else in the city can she wander around and visit other people? This is the only place she can go.
Li Xuewu is in Gangcheng most of the year and can only come back once or twice a month. Gu Ning is busy with hospital matters all day long, so only Er Ya is usually at home.
Sometimes on weekends, Zhao Yafang's younger sister, Yaping, would be at home; she was a studious girl.
Qin Jingru came to visit many times, and they would often chat for so long that it would coincide with mealtime. Gu Ning would never let her go home with her child like that; she would always insist on having her stay for a meal.
After dinner, Han Jiankun would come to pick up the mother and daughter and take them home; that was basically the routine.
Er Ya knew what she was thinking; she just wanted to find a job after the child was no longer in her care.
Of course, Brother Li and Sister Xiao Ning are good people; they didn't mean to use her instead of themselves.
Qin Jingru could see this too, but she wasn't a bad person. She even tried to force Er Ya to leave in order to earn this money, and the two got along quite well.
After all, as time went on, one became embarrassed and the other was naive, and Gu Ning had thought of this.
She finished her work at the hospital early today, which was rare for her to get home on time. When she got home, she saw Qin Jingru, and the two of them were chatting in the kitchen.
"Jingru is here."
It must be Qin Jingru who was able to enter this family and even receive a greeting from Gu Ning.
Besides family members and Li Xuewu's sworn brothers, who else could come and sit at our house?
Whether it's Honggang Group or Li Xuewu's friends, everyone knows that he hates bringing work home, so very few people come to visit him.
He lives far away, so even his family and relatives from several sides rarely come to visit.
Qin Jingru is the only one who comes regularly, and she talks to Gu Ningke quite often.
"Sister Xiaoning, why are you leaving get off work so early today?"
Hearing her voice, Qin Jingru turned and left the restaurant, asking, "Isn't the hospital that busy today?"
"It's probably Sunday," Gu Ning replied, then squatted down in front of the chubby Han Lidong, smiling as she looked him over.
Qin Jingru raised her child very well, having learned from the Li family to make complementary foods with eggs and milk, even though Han Lidong had brought enough food himself.
How could Han Jiankun, a mere deputy section-level cadre, have the money to support his family and raise his children in such a way?
Don't forget what his father used to do.
It's been so many years since liberation. His father must have accumulated a huge fortune for him while enjoying engineer-level treatment at the factory.
Let alone raising one Han Lidong, I could support three more.
Han Lidong is over a year old, but Qin Jingru doesn't seem to be in a hurry to have a second one.
Although family planning is encouraged these days, it's not a mandatory policy, and no one cares if you want to have children.
It's just that Qin Jingru doesn't want to have children so frequently, and she's also dealing with her grandmother's concerns.
The elderly naturally hope for many children and grandchildren, for many children bring many blessings, but only those who have given birth know the pain of childbirth.
Childbirth is a life-threatening ordeal, so why is pregnancy less arduous? The greatness of maternal love is not just empty talk.
Qin Jingru still wanted to earn her own money. Even though Han Jiankun handed over his entire monthly salary to the family, she still wanted to go out and work.
She came from the countryside and naturally felt inferior, especially since her whole family were city dwellers and she was the only one from the countryside.
Han Jiankun was capable, but he couldn't stop his mother from constantly praising her son for his hard work.
Who said this to whom?
Anyway, Qin Jingru didn't like what she heard. Didn't she know why her own husband was so concerned about her? Why did he have to act like an old lady and give her a reminder?
She not only takes care of the children, but she also has to serve her husband when he comes home. If that's not enough, what else is she expected to do?
Qin Jingru was no ordinary country girl. From a young age, she wanted to follow her sister's example and live in the city, which is why she dared to threaten suicide.
After getting what she wanted, she worked at Li Xuewu's house for almost two years before marrying Han Jiankun.
During this time, she compared herself to Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, and saw how the other two branches of the Li family got along with their spouses. She also wanted to live that kind of life.
Of course, Han Jiankun didn't have a high level of education, but he had the advantage of a gentle personality.
She spent money on food and clothing, and Han Jiankun never said anything. From then on, the young couple had a relatively good relationship.
However, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has always been a source of conflict that is difficult to resolve. One side cares about herself, while the other cares about her son, which can easily lead to a messy situation.
If it were up to Qin Jingru, the second child would have to be born later. Once the eldest child could walk and talk, she would leave him with the older child so she could go out to work and earn money.
Forget about supporting a family or not; she's figured it out: city women must have their own careers, otherwise they're not even as well-off as women in the countryside.
Her mother could manage the affairs of the gate at home, so how could she be expected to become a maid after marrying into the city?
To be fair, when it comes to progressive thinking, Qin Jingru is far more daring and decisive than the average girl.
Today, the old lady said something too talkative, like "save some money." Han Jiankun works hard to earn money to support the family, and just because she bought a pair of cotton shoes that he didn't make himself, he simply ignored his mother-in-law's comment and left with the child.
She nags even about buying a pair of cotton shoes. Does she have any status in this family anymore? She works like a slave all day long, and she's not even worth a pair of cotton shoes?
However, when the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are angry, they will never quarrel. She would rather take her child out to find some peace and quiet than argue with her mother-in-law.
She didn't learn anything else from the Li family, but she did pick up a bit of Li Xuewu's cunning.
She could handle an old lady like her mother-in-law with equal skill, if not absolute power.
She didn't make a fuss. When Han Jiankun came home from get off work and didn't see the mother and son, they would have to come up with an explanation.
The old lady had to explain the situation to her son, and Qin Jingru was indeed planning to do so. She let her mother-in-law speak first without offering any explanation.
When Han Jiankun comes to pick her up, he'll have to think about how he married her in the first place.
Let's not even talk about whether she has any connection with the Li family, or whether Li Xuewu has taken care of her. Let's just talk about whether Han Jiankun's achievements today are related to her.
If she hadn't been in the Li family, would Han Jiankun have gained Li Xuewu's trust so much? And how could he have been promoted from driver to cadre?
Yes, his father used to have some influence, but once someone dies, all favors vanish, and who would still give him that face?
It's not as easy as it is now to become a cadre; Han Jiankun needs to think about it himself.
Li Xuewu is not her father, and Gu Ning is not her mother, but this is her maternal home.
When Han Jiankun came to pick up the mother and daughter, they had to be more confident; it would have been a bigger problem if he hadn't come.
She didn't even need to cry to Li Xuewu; Li Xuewu would have to call Han Jiankun to ask what was going on.
Would Han Jiankun dare to argue with his superior about such trivial matters at home?
In the end, it was Han Jiankun who persuaded his mother and then came over to coax her.
Qin Jingru is so cunning; she always runs over here whenever something happens. She doesn't even give Han Jiankun a hard time when he comes to pick her up. She just says a few nice words and goes back with him.
When she got home, the old lady ignored her. She lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) humming and moaning, but Han Jiankun didn't get angry. She heated the kang, brought water for washing her feet, and called her "Mom" without hesitation. Han Jiankun saw all of this clearly.
In the end, in order to appease her, Han Jiankun had to take out the little bit of his savings he had managed to save and buy her things.
Women need to be smarter. If you don't have a background like Gu Ning, you need to be as clever as Zhao Yafang.
Qin Jingru wasn't stupid; she knew to proceed cautiously, and the Li family had three daughters-in-law, so she could choose whichever she preferred.
"Call her Auntie." Qin Jingru bent down and gently tugged at her son's little ear, teaching him, "Call her Auntie."
"Eh—" Han Lidong had barely uttered a word when he slurred it out. He'd forget it even if he was taught, so he just kept playing around.
Gu Ning looked at him with a smile and said, "Are you hungry? Auntie will get you some cookies."
"Stop it now, we've already eaten up all the food your family has. His daughter even gave us a piece this afternoon."
As soon as Qin Jingru finished speaking, Li Shu ran in from the living room, pounced on the sofa next to her mother, and curiously watched them talk.
"Have you finished your homework?" Qin Jingru teased her, "Did your aunt spank you?"
"My aunt didn't hit me hard." Li Shu shook her head nonchalantly and looked at her mother to boast, "I watered the flowers this afternoon, all by myself."
"Really? That must be so much fun."
Gu Ning smiled at her daughter and asked, "Are the flowers smiling at you?"
"Hehe—" Li Shu was so happy that her toes were sticking up, and she was lying there overjoyed.
She not only received praise from her mother, but also felt confident and excited about being recognized.
Completing a task independently always brings a sense of accomplishment and a desire for recognition.
Mom can provide all these kinds of emotional values, so of course she'll be very happy.
"My aunt taught me math, and it's so easy."
Li Shu is showing promise now, especially compared to her two younger brothers who can only stack things high.
Hmph, you foolish brothers—
She proudly counted on her fingers as she explained the addition she had learned that day to her mother and aunt.
Gu Ning sat down next to her, put his arm around her, and listened attentively to her boasting.
Li Ning and Han Lidong squatted on the ground, still holding building blocks in their hands, looking at her blankly, not knowing what their sister was so proud of or what nonsense she was talking about.
"Hehehe——"
Qin Jingru watched Li Shu grow up, or rather, Li Shu grew up in her arms. Naturally, she loved and cherished this little girl dearly.
Just like Li Ning is to Er Ya, Er Ya is growing up day by day while holding Li Ning.
"Wow, Li Shu is so smart."
She was better at providing emotional support than Gu Ning, and even managed to get Li Shu to get up and perform a dance she had just learned in kindergarten to liven things up for them.
If it weren't for her father's voice coming from the foyer, she really wouldn't have wanted to miss the chance to show herself.
"dad--"
Li Ning had better hearing; upon hearing the sound at the door, he darted out, kicking his legs as hard as he could.
"dad--"
He spoke more clearly than Han Lidong, and the little guy wasn't afraid of the cold wind his dad brought into the room. He kept waving his hands, wanting a hug.
"Tell Daddy, who's here?"
When Li Xuewu entered the hospital, he saw Qin Jingru's figure through the window of the octagonal hall; he asked her about it on purpose.
Seeing her father rushing to put on his slippers after taking off his coat, Li Ning hurriedly replied, "Auntie—"
"Oh, which auntie?"
Li Xuewu teased him deliberately, "Is it the aunt who goes to school, or the aunt who spanks you?"
Li Ning paused for a moment, then turned and ran back to the restaurant entrance. After taking a closer look, he ran back, clutching his backside, and said, "Spanking—"
"Hahaha—" Qin Jingru, who came out after her, laughed, "Let your aunt see your bottom, and then give it a couple of slaps."
"No—" Li Ning giggled and rushed to her father's side, hugging his leg.
"Who spanked me? Was it Auntie?"
Li Xuewu picked up his son, looked at Qin Jingru, and asked, "Where's the child? You didn't bring him?"
"I heard him say that it's a matter of course at the restaurant."
Qin Jingru explained with a smile, "We can walk very well, but we can't learn to run and jump like you, little brother."
"Little brother—" Li Ning pointed in the direction of the restaurant, indicating to his father where his little brother was.
"Ah, my little brother is here."
Li Xuewu held him at the restaurant entrance, looking at Han Lidong who had followed him out curiously, and asked, "Dongdong, do you still recognize your uncle?"
Han Lidong was somewhat afraid of him. He covered his mouth with his little hand and timidly hid behind his mother.
"Little brother—" Li Ning struggled to get down from his father's arms and reached for Han Lidong's hand.
"Take your little brother to play."
Li Xuewu walked into the restaurant, glanced into the kitchen, and saw Er Ya busy at work. When she heard him speak, she even took a moment to turn around and greet him.
"Brother, the food will be ready soon."
"Hmm, no rush," Li Xuewu replied, then looked at Gu Ning and asked, "You're early today?"
"There aren't many people today, so there's nothing much to do."
Gu Ning replied, patted her daughter's hair, and said, "Call Han Jiankun and tell him to come over and eat here."
"No need to call him, he probably ate at work," Qin Jingru explained. "He said yesterday he had to work today, I don't know what time it is."
"Let's ask him. If he comes back early, we'll wait for him." Gu Ning didn't treat Han Jiankun as an outsider. Back when Qin Jingru first got married, the couple had lived here.
Han Jiankun was honest and hardworking, and he did a lot of housework. Even Li Shu had to take the initiative to coax him.
After the New Year, Li Shu will be five years old (by Chinese reckoning). She looks like a big kid. When she saw her father sit down, she came over and sat close to him without being naughty.
"Go, call Uncle Han."
Li Xuewu gently patted his daughter's back and said, "You can use the phone in the living room, right?"
“I can say—” Li Shu smiled and raised her hand, jumped off the stool next to him and ran into the living room.
Qin Jingru was worried about her, so she stood at the restaurant entrance and asked curiously, "Li Shu can make phone calls now?"
"She's been wanting to try it out for a while, secretly playing with the phone. Why not just teach her?"
Li Xuewu stood up, smiled at her, and asked, "Did you go home for the New Year? Is your hometown doing well?"
“His father went back home for the winter solstice, but I didn’t go back because the child couldn’t stand the cold.”
Qin Jingru replied to him, watching as Li Shu skillfully lifted the white gauze from the small table next to the sofa, picked up the phone, and started fiddling with the dial, standing there like a little adult.
"Hello, I'm looking for Han Jiankun."
Li Shu, mimicking her father's tone in a childish voice, said on the phone, "Group Official Vehicle Management Section."
"She really remembers—" Qin Huairu turned around and looked at Li Xuewu in surprise, her eyes full of disbelief.
"Hehe, she even secretly calls her grandma and tells on her."
Gu Ning smiled, stood up, glanced at Li Shu, and went upstairs to change her clothes.
Er Ya is very hardworking; the boiler at home is almost always on, and the radiators are burning very well, so you can't wear thick clothes without worry.
Even though there weren't any airtight windows these days, the temperature inside wasn't low, and warm air was blowing in.
Do you know how to install radiators?
That's right, it should be installed under the window. No matter how well-made a wooden glass window is, it can't avoid letting in drafts.
Without a doubt, Er Ya patched up the window gaps with strips of newspaper as soon as the weather turned cold, but cold winds still came in through the windows, so she had to keep the boiler burning.
Actually, Gu Ning wasn't afraid of the cold. Li Shu and Gu Ning lived in the inner room and didn't feel cold either. But since there was a Northeasterner in the house, she felt that no matter how warm the room was, it wasn't warm enough, until the flowers that Gu Ning had grown bloomed.
Just imagine, how warm it must be for potted plants to bloom indoors without underfloor heating.
When Qin Jingru came to the house, she was only wearing a thin sweater, while Gu Ning came downstairs wearing only a cotton long-sleeved shirt with a thin vest made by her mother-in-law draped over her shoulders.
"Did the call go through?" she asked Gu Ning, who had just come out of the guest room, her hands tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Uncle Han has finished get off work, we couldn't find him."
Li Shu went to the guest room to call her aunt, who was studying, for dinner. After she finished speaking, Zhao Yaping left the room.
"Second sister-in-law, you're off work so early."
Zhao Yaping greeted Gu Ning with a smile. Although Gu Ning doesn't smile much usually, she gets along well with both Li Xue, who is already working, and Zhao Yaping, who is still in school.
She was supposed to go to her sister's house over the weekend. Zhao Yafang had already told her to go to the courtyard house after school on Saturday, go directly to school on Monday, and then return to Haiyuncang in the evening.
At first, she kept running back and forth like that, but later, after getting to know her second brother and sister-in-law better and realizing that they were good people, she no longer wanted to waste her time like that.
She usually goes to her sister's house once a month, or she waits for her second brother to come back so they can go together.
Gu Ning also liked her very much, especially her hard work in studying, which even she found tiring.
"Didn't you go out to play with your classmates today?"
"No, I was doing my homework." Zhao Yaping explained as she walked beside her, "The teacher said there are a lot of difficult questions in this year's final exam, so I have to study hard."
Junior high school girls are usually playful, but Zhao Yaping is more mature and composed.
Like a young lady, she speaks softly and gently, much like her older sister. She has also learned a sense of composure and calmness from Gu Ning. She relies on her older sister, and without realizing it, she has also begun to rely on Gu Ning.
Coming from a rural family, she felt somewhat inferior while studying at the joint school, especially since her academic performance was excellent and she was frequently mentioned by teachers. This drew more attention from her classmates, who gossiped about her background and said she was a "connection student."
Doesn't Zhao Yaping know she's a relative?
She knew that if it weren't for the fact that a college student had come from her family, and if it weren't for her brother-in-law and second brother's connections, she wouldn't have been qualified to come to the city to study in middle school, enjoy such good treatment, and have such a good learning environment.
At first, she cried secretly, not daring to tell anyone, but she did tell Er Ya, who lived with her.
Er Ya was also quite confused at that time, but she envied Zhao Yaping, saying that she was lucky.
From Er Ya, she saw a kind of simplicity, a struggle against life, and a desire to change her fate and yearn for a better life.
Compared to city kids, she is not as good, but how does she compare to Er Ya, who also comes from a rural background?
She was undeniably lucky.
No one offered her any guidance. If rural children don't learn to be independent and self-reliant, and grow up tenaciously and wildly, they will only be eliminated and become a weed in the vast wilderness.
So she began to face these facts honestly and confront the rumors that she was a relative of someone else.
Because of this change in mindset, she looked at her second brother and sister-in-law with a more open and natural gaze.
Li Xuewu noticed the change in her, but he did not intervene. Rural children are not so fragile.
Why is there no demand for mental health professionals these days? Because mental illness has no place in this era. If you say you have depression, your dad could beat you with the sole of a size 44 canvas shoe until you stop questioning life.
Because Li Xuewu was home for dinner, Er Ya specially added two more dishes, making a total of four dishes and a soup.
Even for a dual-income vocational school family, the Li family's meals only aim for nutritional richness, without demanding large amounts of meat and fish. Breakfast is simple, lunch is just so-so, and dinner consists of two dishes, half refined grains and half whole grains.
Li Xuewu and Gu Ning both eat coarse grains, while the children eat refined grains. It's not that they can't afford them, but that they like them.
This was the most unexpected thing for Er Ya after she came to work at the family home. Looking at the family's rice, flour, and cooking oil reserves, she thought that this family should have plenty of meat and fish at every meal.
Judging from her second brother's physique and appetite, she felt that even ten large steamed buns might not be enough to fill him up.
That's a bit of an exaggeration, but my second brother only eats two steamed buns at most for dinner, while he said he ate more at lunch.
"I don't really like eating pure white flour."
Qin Jingru waved her hand, refusing the plain steamed bun Er Ya offered her, and instead took the mixed-flour one.
"When I first came to the city, I thought that only white flour steamed buns were delicious and that no cornmeal should be mixed in."
She smiled and said to Er Ya, "Later, as I ate more, I felt uncomfortable. But when I took another bite, I realized that this is still the best taste."
"Eating more whole grains is good for your health."
Li Xuewu smiled and looked at her, saying, "But you can't just eat coarse grains all the time; you still need to supplement your nutrition."
"In our family, we still eat coarse grains all the time."
Qin Jingru looked at him with amusement and said, "I suggest we have some cornbread. It's alright for the first meal, but if we have this for the next meal, Han Jiankun will have something to say."
She mimicked Han Jiankun's tone vividly, saying, "What's wrong? We're out of fine grains!"
"It's not that he craves fine grains, it's that he's afraid of making us old ladies suffer."
"Brother Han is so filial," Er Ya praised. "He mentioned it last time he came, saying he was thinking of taking the old lady for a check-up."
"What's wrong? Is something the problem?"
Hearing her say that, Gu Ning turned to Qin Jingru and asked, "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"It's nothing—" Qin Jingru glanced at her helplessly and said, "It's just that she keeps causing trouble."
In fact, she was unwilling to expose her mother-in-law's shortcomings in front of Li Xuewu, fearing it would affect his impression of Han Jiankun.
However, since Gu Ning had taken the initiative to ask, she couldn't refuse to answer, so she simply gave a brief explanation.
"She whines whenever something happens." She could also laugh, explaining, "Jiankun couldn't take it anymore, so he said he would take her to the hospital for a checkup to see if she was really uncomfortable or just whining."
“You guys are really something, using the old lady’s health as a pretext for this—” Li Xuewu glanced at her and said, “If they find out something wrong, you’ll be in big trouble.”
"Even if it's not found out, it's still heartbreaking for the old lady. There's no need to put her through this."
"That's what I said too." Qin Jingru stuck out her tongue shyly and said with her head down, "He just said it casually, and I suppressed it."
“I’ve met your old lady. She’s not distant from you. When people get old, they all want their children to be by their side to take care of them and obey them. You can’t be impatient.”
Li Xuewu didn't treat her like an outsider either; his words were very blunt, as if he were reprimanding his younger sister.
Qin Jingru was obedient; seeing how serious he was, she listened attentively as well.
At this point, Gu Ning would not interrupt; she agreed with Li Xuewu's words, that much was certain.
What kind of personality does Gu Ning have?
She's always stubborn at home, and her parents have to coax her. So why is she so dependent on Li Xuewu?
Gu Ning saw something in Li Xuewu: filial piety towards elders, but not blind obedience.
Without this independence and self-confidence, one cannot even handle family matters properly, let alone stand tall and proud.
"I understand, Second Brother."
Qin Jingru listened obediently. Even though she was a mother herself, she was still as obedient as a child at this moment.
Han Lidong looked at his uncle, then at his mother, wondering what had happened.
After dinner, Qin Jingru wanted to help Er Ya clean up, but Er Ya stopped her, gesturing towards the living room and telling her to go talk to Er Ya there, and that she would take care of things here herself.
Qin Jingru never stays for meals when she comes to our house unless there's something important to discuss.
With the kindness and generosity of Brother Li and Sister Xiao Ning, she wasn't afraid of losing her job and even cared about Qin Jingru.
Seeing Er Ya like this, Qin Jingru felt even less inclined to do anything wrong behind her back.
Only Li Xuewu was in the living room reading the newspaper, listening to the children playing with toys around the coffee table.
Li Shu's toys are so numerous they could be hauled up by a truck. Before her mother went upstairs, she told her to find some toys that her younger brother wasn't playing with anymore and give them to him.
Toys you don't play with anymore?
The toys that Li Shu doesn't play with are meant for Li Ning and Li Tang, so she can only find toys that her younger brothers don't play with now.
Few of her childhood toys have survived intact; most are missing parts.
The toys Li Ning received from his sister weren't anything special; the good ones were all bought by his uncles. So the two siblings carefully considered them together.
Qin Jingru came out of the restaurant and, seeing that the children were having a good time, didn't disturb them and went straight to Li Xuewu's side.
She was quite tactful, sitting on the sofa next to Li Xuewu, hesitating about how to start the conversation.
Li Xuewu could easily tell that she had something on her mind. When she came over, he put down his newspaper and asked, "Is something wrong?"
“Well, brother…” Qin Jingru hesitated for a moment, but still mustered up her courage and said, clutching the hem of her clothes, “Lidong is getting older, and I want to go out and find a job.”
"Hmm? What are you thinking?" Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at her, asking, "Have you discussed it with Han Jiankun?"
“I mentioned it to him, but he didn’t say anything.”
Qin Jingru explained, "It's mainly me. Staying at home all the time is boring, so I wanted to find something to do."
"Yes, I understand." Li Xuewu nodded knowingly, understanding her feelings perfectly.
"When a couple lives together, neither of them is more confident than the other; both can earn money to support the family."
He put down his teacup and said, "If your mother-in-law is in good health and can take care of your child, it's not a bad thing for her to come out and find something to do, as long as her family doesn't object."
"Yes, that's what I think."
Qin Jingru clenched her fingers and looked at him hopefully, saying, "Brother, you know I'm not very capable, all I can do is wash clothes and cook. Look at me..."
"Want to lend Er Ya a hand?"
Li Xuewu smiled and looked at her. Seeing that she lowered her head shyly, he nodded slightly without saying anything.
Qin Jingru thought for a moment, then raised her head and explained, "I only went to fifth grade. I know addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and I recognize some characters, but I don't know how to use them."
The awkward tone didn't seem feigned; rather, it was genuine and frank, which is quite commendable.
“I didn’t mean to make things difficult for Er Ya, and I certainly wouldn’t dare to make things difficult for you, it’s just… it’s just…”
She said "that's all" twice before lowering her head again to explain, "You're the only one I can ask for help from."
She didn't speak when Gu Ning was there, but only spoke when Li Xuewu was alone, which shows that she is not confused.
She's here. She just finished eating. Why is Gu Ning going upstairs?
Even if she wants to read or has study assignments, it won't make a difference if she takes a little longer.
This shows they understood her meaning and were giving her time and opportunity.
Gu Ning can make decisions about some things in the family, but when it comes to matters of interpersonal relationships, Li Xuewu is the one who has to decide.
Knowing this, Qin Jingru waited until now to speak.
Li Xuewu listened to her but did not give an immediate reply, waiting for the sound of the door opening outside the courtyard.
He didn't lock the door when he went inside. Han Jiankun came to pick up Qin Jingru and her daughter, and he knew how to open the door.
Sure enough, a chill wafted from the entrance hall, and Han Jiankun appeared at the doorway.
"Boss, are you at home?"
"Hmm, come on, have you eaten?"
Li Xuewu gestured towards the restaurant and said, "Li Shu called you but couldn't reach you. We just finished eating. If you haven't eaten, ask Er Ya to reheat it."
"I've already eaten. I came from home."
Han Jiankun responded, glanced at Qin Jingru, and then went into the living room to sit next to her.
When Han Lidong saw his father arrive, he excitedly jumped into his arms and snuggled up to him.
Han Jiankun also loves children. Although he was a little embarrassed, he still picked up his son.
Li Ning just glanced at it and then continued picking out toys with her sister, without any reaction.
"Is there a lot of work at the office?" Li Xuewu gestured towards the tea cabinet, asking Qin Jingru to make some tea.
Qin Jingru then realized what was happening, wiped her eyes, and got up to make tea for Han Jiankun.
"It's harder to manage cars in winter, it's more troublesome."
Han Jiankun noticed Qin Jingru's expression, but at this moment he was only focused on replying to Li Xuewu's words.
He patted his son's bottom and let him play with his toys on the ground. He straightened up and reported, "Especially the older models of vehicles. If they hadn't moved into the building this year, we probably would still be burning 15 tons of coal."
To ensure vehicle availability, the small fleet had its own garage when it was at the Hongxing factory, where it was never cold in winter.
These days, cars don't have antifreeze, so you have to be careful to keep the tank from freezing in winter, or you're doomed.
Drivers may seem glamorous, but it's actually a skilled trade; they need to know how to repair cars.
Li Xuewu chatted with him for a while before gesturing to Qin Jingru, who had sat down again, and asked, "Jingru just told me that the child is getting older and she wants to find something to do."
He glanced at Han Jiankun and asked, "Are you aware of this? What are your thoughts on it?"
Han Jiankun first glanced at Qin Jingru, and seeing that she had her head down, he looked at Li Xuewu and nodded, saying, "She told me, and I have no objection."
Hearing him say that, Li Xuewu still looked him over carefully. Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, he nodded and said, "Okay, it's a good thing you can't stay still."
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Gender equality doesn't mean that women should stay at home their whole lives. It's good that you can understand."
"However, gender equality is also based on family harmony, regardless of who it is."
Li Xuewu glanced at the two of them, then looked at Han Lidong, who was squatting on the ground watching his older brother and sister play, and said, "The child is still too young. Let's wait until he's a little older."
Before Qin Jingru could speak again, he turned to her and emphasized, "You can't expect your grandmother to teach the child to speak, putting all the pressure on the elderly, can you?"
"At least we have to wait until he goes to kindergarten." Regardless of what Qin Jingru thought, Li Xuewu pointed to the sofa armrest and said, "I've been telling you to find something to do, but how can Jiankun bear to do that, and how can he be at ease?"
“You said you’re counting on me, but I don’t want you to go out and suffer like this, to commit this sin.”
He pointed to Han Jiankun sitting to the side and said, "He's a cadre now, and he can support you in taking on this job, but he can't bear to see you suffer like this anymore, right? We need to be understanding of each other in this matter."
“But, brother, I don’t know how to do anything else.”
Qin Jingru said with a wronged expression, "I don't think Jiankun is a cadre. Just because I'm a cadre's family member doesn't mean I can't work as a nanny. As long as I can earn money, that's fine."
"I didn't say that—"
Li Xuewu put down his crossed legs, pointed at her, and emphasized, "I'm reminding you two to be harmonious and to understand each other."
He looked at Han Jiankun and said, "Making a living isn't difficult; what's difficult is maintaining family harmony. What do you think?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, boss, I've caused you trouble." Han Jiankun's attitude was very proper.
Li Xuewu reached out and patted his arm, then turned to Qin Jingru and said, "I treat you like a younger sister. You're never mistreated at home, but with your temper, you'd never be able to stand being bossed around anywhere else."
"Forget it, don't force yourself."
He looked at Qin Jingru and nodded, saying, "Let's talk about it next year. First, wait until Lidong is a bit older, and you can really let go of her to your old lady before you come out."
"Secondly, it's more convenient for me too."
Li Xuewu turned to Han Jiankun and said, "You know about the Riverside Garden project, right?"
"I know, the one about bundled projects."
Han Jiankun sat up straight, nodded seriously, and said, "It's written in the newspaper that the total investment has exceeded ten million."
"Da Tou is at the International Hotel."
Li Xuewu shook his head with his eyes closed before looking at him and saying, "The Group's Management Committee means that next year, all senior and middle-level cadres of the Group will move into Riverside Garden, and the Management Committee will provide them with high-end housing."
He then looked at Qin Jingru and said, "Your sister Xiao Ning works here, so I can't let her move in with me. You'll be going next year."
"Huh? I'm going?" Qin Jingru looked at him in surprise and said, "I'm with you..."
"What are you thinking about—" Li Xuewu glanced at her amusedly, took a sip of his tea, and looked at Han Jiankun, saying, "You two should pack your things carefully when the time comes. I'll call ahead if I'm going over."
Han Jiankun glanced at his silly wife and replied to Li Xuewu, "Understood, leader."
Qin Jingru finally realized what was happening, and her face turned bright red as she was glared at by Han Jiankun.
"The work in Steel City won't be finished anytime soon."
Li Xuewu told Han Jiankun, and then looked at her and explained, "Even if we're going to live here, we need to tidy it up first. Just decorating and tidying up will take a while, and it's not appropriate to do it without someone in charge to keep an eye on it, so I'll make you wait a bit."
"Um... Brother..." Qin Jingru lowered her head, her face flushed, and raised her hand to tidy the hair behind her ear. It was clear that her ears were also red. "That's not what I meant."
"Hehe, whatever your intentions are, we'll have to wait until next year." Li Xuewu wasn't teasing her on purpose; he simply pointed at Han Jiankun and said, "Dongfeng Construction will handle the renovations. Keep an eye on things."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and Han Jiankun knew what he meant.
"Don't worry, I'll bring people with me, there won't be any problems."
Han Jiankun agreed earnestly, knowing that his superiors were worried about shady dealings during the renovation of the houses there.
There's no need to go into the details of the shady dealings; these days, technology may not be advanced, but people's hearts can be unpredictable.
Eavesdropping is nothing new, especially given Li Xuewu's increasingly important position within the group.
"Your sister Ning is busy and can't take care of things over there. You'll have to figure out what to do if anything comes up."
Li Xuewu nodded to Qin Jingru and instructed, "If you need money or anything else, just contact your brother Guodong."
"Okay, bro, thanks bro."
Qin Jingru was finally relieved to receive confirmation, and a smile returned to her face.
She came to Li Xuewu not because she wanted to go out and work, but because she wanted to work for him again.
Honestly, with Han Jiankun's salary and the family fortune from her elders, she really doesn't need to earn this money.
But she needs this identity.