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Chapter 29: Bandits Become Hooligans

When Han Hongzhen walked out, everyone in the room looked at Xie Hushan. Xie Hushan looked around, took out a cigarette and gave one to each of the elders, then said with a smile:

"It's not a big deal, but I think it's time to talk about it, so I talked to Secretary Han this morning and asked him to come over tonight to be a witness. It's a good opportunity to take advantage of the fact that the second, fifth and second uncles of our Xie family are here, as well as our captain, Uncle Wu, so we can make things clear and avoid another trip tonight."

Several elders of the Xie family, including the aunt, second uncle, and second aunt from Xie Laoliu's side all looked at him, especially aunt Chen Chunxiang. The child had told her in the morning not to mention this matter when she came in the evening, but why was she talking about it again now?
"Well, go ahead. I'm listening too." Han Chengsong was about to leave, but when he saw that Xie Hushan had something to say, he sat down again, took the cigarette and said.

Grandma sat on the kang with her head down, silent, thinking that her grandson was going to tell what she had done in public.

"This is what happened. A few days ago, my aunt found me and said that I am already old enough to get married. My parents passed away early, and she, as an aunt, has to worry about me. So she and my uncle talked to my grandmother and planned to ask my uncle to use his connections to get me to the veterinary station to replace my uncle's job..." Xie Hushan said to several other elders of the Xie family and Han Chengsong.

Chen Chunxiang's eyes widened immediately. This bastard really wanted to change his words in public. However, before she could open her mouth, Xie Hushan continued:
"I cannot agree to this. I know my grandma, my uncle, and my aunt are all doing this for my own good. They care about me and feel bad that my parents passed away early. But if my uncle really wants to arrange a job for me, it should be for Daxiu. It has nothing to do with me, and I don't need it. Today I asked Secretary Han to be a witness for me, just to make it clear in front of all the elders that no matter how much of a bastard Xie Hushan is, he would not steal his sister's things, so don't persuade me anymore. Also, after Daxiu gets married, my uncle and aunt can't be left alone. I, their nephew, will be responsible for her raising and burying her. That's it. Secretary Han, please help me say a few words to everyone and don't mention this matter anymore."

Although Xie Hushan went to see Han Chengsong on purpose in the morning, Han Chengsong didn't know what he wanted to say when he invited him over in the evening. Now when he heard what Xie Hushan said, Han Chengsong was a little shocked.

Although New China has been established for many years, the concept of favoring boys over girls is still deeply rooted in rural areas. Xie Hushan's grandmother, uncle, and aunt all want him to inherit the family business so that he can help Xie Qimao and his wife in their old age. This sounds very reasonable to Han Chengsong.

After all, Daxiu is a girl, and a married girl is like spilled water. If she marries nearby, it would be fine, maybe three or five miles away, and she can walk back to her parents' home once every ten days or half a month. But if she marries more than fifty miles away and transportation is inconvenient, then the only relationship between her and her parents' home is for her to come back and stay for two days during the Chinese New Year.

When Daxiu gets married, Xie Qimao and his wife have no sons, so who will help them in their old age? It must be Xie's nephew. Even if it is not Xie Hushan, the nephew, it must be the son of his younger brother Xie Qifeng. Since they have to rely on their nephew for their old age, they naturally have to leave the family fortune to their nephew. This arrangement is reasonable.

But what Xie Hushan said now was that he would provide for Xie Qimao and his wife in their old age, but the couple's belongings would still be given to Daxiu, which was actually unusual.

To put it bluntly, the ones who should be afraid after saying this are Xie Qimao and his wife. If Xie Hushan does not touch their family business, and when they are really old, Xie Hushan regrets not providing them with retirement support, the villagers will not be able to blame him. Instead, they will laugh at the couple's foolish move to leave something for their daughter.

You gave all your property to your daughter, and only remembered your nephew when you were old?
When your nephew tells you that he will leave it to your sister, it may be a courtesy. So when he says that he will take care of you in your old age and see you to the end of your life, it may also be a courtesy.

But as the brigade secretary, I am an outsider, so I can't say much about the Xie family's affairs. Since Xie Hushan has made up his mind, all I can say is to praise the harmonious family, the elders' love for their children and grandchildren, and the children and grandchildren's ambitions. Thinking of this, Han Chengsong grinned:
"Okay, Sixth Aunt, Damao and his wife are both reasonable people. There is nothing wrong with what the elders did, but the younger generation said it better. Hu Saner is ambitious, which is a good thing! He dares to say such things in front of everyone. He is better than those cowards and will have a great future! Okay, since you said so, Second Uncle will be a witness for you. In the future, no one needs to mention this matter again. Just do as Hu Saner says!"

Grandma and Chen Chunxiang were both a little surprised. They didn't expect Xie Hushan to say that they had agreed to give it to Xie Hushan, but Xie Hushan didn't want it, thus lightly covering up what Grandma had said before.

Han Chengsong was ready to leave after he finished speaking, and everyone in the room also stood up and walked out. After everyone else left, only the aunt and grandmother returned to the room. Xie Hushan looked at the two of them:
"My grandma was worried that grandpa and aunt would have no one to take care of them when they got old, but she doesn't have to worry about that this time. Grandpa and aunt were worried that Daxiu would be wronged, but they don't have to worry about that this time either. I was most afraid of trivial matters at home, but now everything is fine, and everyone is happy. By the way, aunt, didn't you say you would send buns to my grandma in the evening? Where are the buns?"

Chen Chunxiang was a little insecure when she was left alone with her mother-in-law. When she heard her nephew's words, she spoke up and wiped her eyes:
"Mom, I'll go get the buns I brought back from the cafeteria at noon and save them for you and Hu Saner to eat in the evening. Oh, and let the eldest brother come over tonight to have a drink with Hu Saner and his father. In the blink of an eye, Hu Saner has reached the age where he can have a drink."

"Don't blame me. It's not that I don't love you and the eldest son." Grandma sat back on the kang, sighed, and said to her eldest daughter-in-law, "Da Mao is my biological son. I do this because I love you. Otherwise..."

"I understand." Chen Chunxiang stood up and ran away. Xie Hushan looked at his grandmother:

"Okay, grandma, just sit on the kang. My aunt will definitely bring uncle over soon. The couple will try their best to make you happy. I'll go to Yuanmen Bridge first to pull back the team's wonton cart."

After saying that, Xie Hushan walked back to his room. Han Hongzhen was standing at the door listening to Xie Hushan's words. When she heard footsteps coming this way, she quickly retreated to the kang and sat down. She looked up at the portrait of the great man and a pair of quotations written in brush on the wall: "Strategically, we should despise the enemy, and tactically, we should take the enemy seriously! If others do not offend me, I will not offend them; if others offend me, I will definitely offend them!"

Xie Hushan lifted the door curtain and looked at Han Hongzhen who was pretending to be so pretentious: "It's time to go. This room is not soundproof. I told you that I was going to pull the cart. Why are you still pretending not to hear me in my room? What's wrong? Is it that the team leader's words don't work?"

"How come you became the team leader without a vote from all team members?" Han Hongzhen walked out and said dissatisfiedly.

Xie Hushan pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard gate, rode on it first, and then waited for Han Hongzhen to sit on the back seat. Han Hongzhen sat on it sideways, and Xie Hushan pedaled the bicycle and said confidently:

"If you are not satisfied, go find Ermianfei. He accepted my bribes and arranged for me to be the leader of your team."

Han Hongzhen felt that this guy was not smart enough. He even said that he was justified in giving gifts to the production team leader and using the back door. She asked tentatively, "What did you give him to benefit him?"

"Shit." Xie Hushan said unhappily, and then asked:

"Is it shameful for you to set up a stall? The location of the stall is more hidden than the ambush points of the guerrillas during the Anti-Japanese War. You treat the people who come to the market as Japanese devils, for fear that they will discover you and your mother?"

"It's hard to compete with the stall with the best location. The stall that sells meat buns and meatball soup has the best location. The team has provided him with a donkey cart. He's the first to arrive at the market every day. After he arrives, he helps other stalls reserve space." Han Hongzhen explained when she heard Xie Hushan come up and complain about the bad location of his stall.

Xie Hushan turned his head to look at Han Hongzhen in confusion: "How come you are so unpopular? Everyone else is your friend, but you are the only one being isolated?"

Then I thought that this result was normal. The first time they met, she made me walk barefoot with my pants held up, and was mistaken for a hooligan by passers-by. Everyone would stay away from her after seeing this.

"What do you know? Those guys selling meat buns are not good guys. They rely on their good business to bully this one, manipulate that one, and dominate the market like gangsters. They help us reserve seats, and you think they are really kind. They are not taking seats for nothing, you have to give them benefits." Han Hongzhen said with a sharp voice.

"Bullying the market is not a good thing." Xie Hushan's eyes lit up after hearing this, a smile appeared on his face, and he muttered:

"I see. I was saying that I couldn't lift my spirits recently and felt itchy all over. Now I know the reason. All the people in our village are good people and no one deserves to be punished. I just like these bullies who bully the market, especially if they do the same business as me. That's even better. It relieves the itching."

"What are you mumbling about?" Han Hongzhen asked without hearing what Xie Hushan said clearly.

Xie Hushan said: "It's nothing. I said a lame donkey is paired with a blind horse, a turtle is carrying a stone tablet, an old crow is paired with a magpie, and a bandit is paired with a gangster. I am willing to follow..."

"Who are you talking about the stone tablet? You are the dead one. You may be willing, but I am not. Don't think I can't hear you. If you keep saying weird things to me, I will jump out of the car and go back to the team to complain to Ma Laowu! You are so young, but you are so unscrupulous!" Han Hongzhen suddenly came to her senses after listening to Xie Hushan's muttering, and said righteously.

"I...I...good man, who taught you to associate like that? What did you hear? I was saying that I am willing to take care of the hooligans! You are a stone tablet...I am willing, I am willing to do it! How can a pretty widow talk like that?"

Xie Hushan was caught off guard by Han Hongzhen's sudden reprimand. When he realized what was happening, he almost burst into anger and wanted to yell:
"Don't say anything. When we get back from collecting the car, you and your mother-in-law should hurry to report to the tofu workshop. Otherwise, I will ask the special commissioner to report you to the police. I will accuse you of disrespecting the organization and maliciously insulting the leadership. This crime is enough to get you executed at a public trial."

(End of this chapter)