Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

No sooner had Zhao Fengying finished speaking than Zhu Wenliang's footsteps could be heard outside the door.

Xu Bei had some things he wanted to say to his mother, but he couldn't say them now.

Xu Li, however, said without any hesitation, "Don't worry, Mom, I have your son-in-law figured out."

Xu Bei's expression almost crumbled.

I feel that my sister is still too confident and naive.

After all, many things that happened in my previous life proved that people can change.

However, with him protecting me in this life, no matter how some people change, things won't be so hard anymore.

At this moment, Zhu Wenliang opened the door to the outer room and came in.

It also brought a breath of cold air and fresh air from outside.

"Wife, what did you say about pinching? Who are you going to pinch?"

This interruption made Xu Bei and the others laugh.

Xu Li also gave Zhu Wenliang a blank look and laughed, "Who else can I pinch? You! We've all finished eating, but you're just sitting there blocking the table, and my little brother has to keep you company. Alright, hurry up and finish your drink, then let's pull up our chairs and leave."

Zhao Fengying quickly said, "What's the rush? Let Wenliang have some more drinks and dumplings."

Zhu Wenliang waved his hand with a smile, "No, Mom, I've actually eaten a long time ago. I just wanted to chat with Da Bei a little longer. My younger brother has been getting more and more capable lately, and his way of speaking has become so sophisticated that even I, as his brother-in-law, am quite impressed..."

Hearing her son-in-law praise her son, Zhao Fengying was naturally happy from the bottom of her heart. "This kid has indeed changed a lot recently."

Xu Bei laughed, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Brother-in-law, this is nothing. You'll be amazed in the future."

Zhu Wenliang thought his brother-in-law was joking, so he laughed along, "Really? Well, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens."

The couple quickly tied more than a dozen wooden stools to the back of their bicycle and then left together.

Xu Bei glanced at the time, said goodbye to his mother and sister who were tidying up the east room and kitchen, and then got dressed, pulled the sled, and left the house.

When he estimated that it was about time, he dragged dozens of wooden stools home and saw that Big Black had already come to his house and was the first to run out to greet him.

"Da Bei, you're back. As soon as I heard from Auntie that you went to get the stools, I didn't rush to leave."

"Then why are we leaving? How much did you order?"

"Twenty-six. I just heard that Guodong came and ordered twenty. He's quite the 'orderer'."

"Really. You're all incredibly talented, each one a promising sales talent."

The two chatted as they untied the rope.

More than twenty stools were transferred directly to the sled that Big Black had brought.

After they tied and secured them, they moved the rest into the west room.

After sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and drinking some hot tea to warm himself up, Dahei took out the money for the eighteen wooden stools he had taken yesterday from his pocket.

Xu Bei nodded again, then took out his commission of one yuan and eighty cents and handed it to the other party.

Today, Dahei didn't make any more money-kissing gestures, but its eyes and brows were full of joy.

"Da Bei, if I could make money this easily every day, I wouldn't want to work that lousy job anymore. I work myself to the bone all day and that's all I get, plus all the social obligations."

Xu Bei couldn't help but laugh. "Going to work is about making money. If there's an easier way to make money, then you definitely won't want to do hard work."

"Yeah, right. But I'm just a talker. If I dared to skip work, my dad would kick me to death first."

Big Black paused, glanced at the outer room, and then asked curiously in a low voice, "You've been resting here for several days now, haven't your uncle and aunt been urging you to get back to work?"

"How could I not urge them?" Xu Bei didn't say the next thing he was going to say about arguing about this, but changed the subject instead, "By the way, haven't you been arranging to go to the movies together several times? I think tomorrow night is fine, I can bring my mom and my sister along."

Big Black immediately grinned, showing his big teeth, "Great, great! They're showing 'Shaolin Temple' tomorrow night, I'll go buy the tickets when I have some free time during the day."

Since Xu Bei wanted to take his mother out for a walk and also let his younger sister, who had just finished her exams, relax, he naturally didn't want anyone else to spend money. "No need, I'll buy it myself."

Dahei said very seriously, "Dabei, what's a few movie tickets! If you're my buddy, don't argue with me!"

"They gave me such a good job, and they even let me help them. I delivered some free roe deer meat to you guys, and then your family gave me ribs and pork too. You have no idea, when I got back, my mom gave me a good scolding..."

Three movie tickets only cost a few cents, so Xu Bei didn't insist anymore. Besides, he could buy food and drinks to bring in, so it was the same. "Okay, then I won't worry about the tickets."

Dahei chuckled, "That's right! Then I'll invite Guodong and the others too? It'll be more fun with more people."

Xu Bei naturally had no objection, "Sure. Since your workplace is nearby, you can go and notify them."

After seeing Dahei off, Zhao Fengying and Xu Juan reacted very differently when they learned that they were going to see a movie the next night.

The former had some concerns and worries, while the latter had already begun to look forward to it.

Xu Bei understood her mother's thoughts, of course. After all, she had just had a fight with Xu Dashan. Although she was usually outspoken and capable, she still valued her husband and cared a lot about his opinion.

Therefore, his brainwashing had to be carried out in a subtle and gradual manner.

"My dad is still on the night shift tomorrow. We can leave after he finishes eating and leaves."

Also, Mom, you told my sister before that this is how your life will be, and I wanted to say to you then, you're only in your forties, you absolutely can't accept your fate.

There's a female restaurant owner around your age who opened the first privately owned restaurant in China in Beijing a few years ago. Business was booming; she even made it into the newspapers and on the radio.

Zhao Fengying's eyes immediately lit up as she chimed in, "I know, I've seen it in the newspaper too. You're talking about Liu, right? She used to be a nanny, but later she opened a restaurant, and foreigners even ate there. Business was booming!"

"Yes, that's the person. So, Mom, don't give up on yourself just because you're getting older." Xu Bei took the opportunity to paint a rosy picture for his mother, "We'll earn more money in the future, and maybe one day you can open a shop and be your own boss."

The pancake was big and round, and it really touched Zhao Fengying's heart.

She said she couldn't compare to others, but a seed was planted in her heart, which quickly took root and sprouted...

The next day.

It was early morning, and the sky outside was still dark.

Xu Bei probably ate too much oily food last night, and instead of sleeping until he woke up naturally, he was woken up by a stomachache.

He quickly put on his cotton-padded trousers and jacket while silently reflecting on his situation.

Living in a bungalow has many advantages, but going to the toilet can be quite a hassle.

Especially in the dead of winter, it's easy to use the urinal, but it's impossible to relieve oneself indoors.

After he put on his shoes, got out of bed, put on his hat, wrapped himself in his coat, and opened the door, he was ready to leave.

A gust of cold wind blew relentlessly, like countless tiny ice blades slashing at my face; I could clearly feel that it was much colder today than yesterday.

Xu Bei subconsciously squinted and shrank his neck as he ran towards the toilet.

After finishing, she clutched her stomach and ran back into the house as if fleeing.

When Zhao Fengying, who had already gotten up to start cooking, heard her son say he had an upset stomach, she immediately prepared painkillers for him.

Xu Bei dared not take such old folk remedies blindly, fearing that they would not only be ineffective but also have the opposite effect.

While the mother and son were struggling in the kitchen, Xu Dashan returned from his night shift.

Unlike yesterday when he stormed out with a dark expression, this time he was enveloped in the cold and snow, his cheeks red from the cold, and he even had a slightly ingratiating smile on his face...