Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Zhao Fengying, who was selling goods at the counter, saw her son returning from using the public restroom outside, followed by two other people.

When she saw who was coming into the store, she was indeed very happy, just as Xu Bei had said, and immediately came out.

"Sister-in-law Wang! Third brother! Oh my, you two met outside? Come in and sit down."

Xu Li, who was also busy answering customers' questions, politely greeted them before continuing her work.

"Fengying, if we hadn't come to the tailor shop in this alley to get our clothes made and hadn't run into your son, we probably wouldn't have even come into this shop. How would we have known that it was you who owned it?"

Aunt Wang gripped Zhao Fengying's hand tightly, looked around, and, with tears welling up in her eyes, continued, "You look so good now, all dressed up and looking radiant. I thought..."

Zhao Fengying pulled the person aside and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law Wang, let's go sit on the small kang and chat. I have so much to tell you."

Aunt Wang rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. "Who isn't? Ever since you and your children disappeared, I've been getting a bit anxious. I was even thinking of going to your eldest daughter's workplace to look for you."

The two went inside to chat intimately, and Xu Bei also greeted Wang Laosan, who was looking around.

However, the other party tactfully found a stool to sit down and urged him to hurry up and get busy.

Xu Bei was quite familiar with Wang Laosan, who was a few years older than him, so he didn't stand on ceremony.

The buzzing of buying and selling goods on their side was constant, and Zhao Fengying and Aunt Wang, sitting cross-legged on the kang, also joined in the lively chatter.

"Fengying, are you really determined to get a divorce? It's not easy to go from one family to another! If there aren't any fundamental issues, I think you should..."

"Sister-in-law Wang, please don't try to persuade me anymore! This time it's different from the previous arguments. Xu Dashan really broke my heart!"

In particular, his sister pointed her finger at me and cursed me, saying I had killed several people. My son and I retorted a few times, and he even made us apologize to Xu Dahong, and then beat us up while we were in a frenzy…”

Zhao Fengying knew that it was ultimately inappropriate for her son to fight with his father, as it would easily lead to people gossiping and calling him a beast who didn't care about family ties. Therefore, she used a more subtle approach to tell the story.

"Also, our shop had been open for about two days when they found out about it from someone and came over. At the time, only my youngest daughter was in the shop, and she even tried to smash the glass counter."

Just because my youngest daughter stopped us from smashing it, she complained when we got back that we had corrupted the child.

The old lady and Xu Dahong resorted to their old tricks from their rural hometown, accusing me of secretly saving a lot of money to open the shop and demanding to settle accounts with me for all these years.

Sister-in-law Wang, we're neighbors. Others might not know, but surely you know about my family's situation?

Xu Dashan's monthly salary is limited, and he also has to send money and goods back to his hometown, as well as spend money on big and small matters.

Before my eldest daughter and son started working, they were always struggling to make ends meet, and sometimes they even had to borrow money or food from you.

"I was only able to open this shop because my son is capable. He borrowed five hundred yuan from someone else; otherwise, how would I have gotten the goods?"

Aunt Wang had always been on good terms with Zhao Fengying and had practically watched Xu Bei and the others grow up, so she was furious when she heard this.

"That's true. It's only because both kids are working, plus you do odd jobs selling popsicles and pancakes, that we can make ends meet a little."

Your old lady and sister-in-law are truly wicked; they've always been domineering and oppressive. They even caused quite a stir when your eldest daughter got married last year!

You have no idea, the other day when I went to his house, Old Xu wasn't there, and those two said some really nasty things to you, making a huge fuss about you!

Zhao Fengying could guess how the old lady and Xu Dahong had fabricated the story, but since she had already decided to divorce, she was too lazy to get angry with them. "Like my son advised me, let them do whatever they want. Anyway, I have nothing to fear. The neighbors all know what kind of person I am, and they can't spread rumors and judge me."

"Yes, everyone knows how good you are, you're highly praised!" Aunt Wang said, patting her chest. "Don't worry this time, when I get back, I'll definitely spread the word throughout our neighborhood, and we absolutely can't let them pin this on you..."

Zhao Fengying quickly waved her hand, "No need, Sister-in-law Wang. I'm just hoping to get the divorce letter out as soon as possible and get the divorce done. I don't want any more trouble. Making a scene will only make people laugh at me, especially since I still have a shop to run."

"Fengying, you're right. They say that harmony brings wealth in business. If someone comes to the shop and causes trouble, it'll be a disaster." Aunt Wang sighed. "But these letters of introduction aren't so easy to get. I remember someone from your brother Wang's workplace almost took poison at work. They only got them because they were afraid someone might actually die..."

Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying had intended to invite the mother and son to dinner, but Granny Wang shook her head vigorously and left with her third son.

Because of this little incident, Xu Bei didn't think much of it, but Zhao Fengying and Xu Li exchanged glances and started to overthink it.

When Xu Bei rode her bike home, the mother and daughter chatted quietly.

"Your dad has stopped making any moves. When will this end? By the time he realizes how profitable our business is, it'll be even more impossible for us to get a divorce."

"Indeed. They'll just stay here and refuse to leave, causing trouble every few days."

"Xu Dahong is younger than me, I can give her a good beating, but that old lady's bones are so frail, if she gets hurt, it'll be difficult to handle."

As Xu Li was talking, she felt nauseous again and covered her mouth to dry heave.

Zhao Fengying hurriedly offered the prepared spittoon and dried plums, saying, "Xiaoli, you're pregnant now, you don't need to worry about these things, understand?"

"Mom, I'm fine. But you don't need to worry. My brother, my sister, and I will always be on your side."

"I know." A determined glint flashed in Zhao Fengying's eyes. "Don't worry, Mom knows what she's doing. Tomorrow's Monday, and your dad's on the day shift. I'll go to his workplace this morning to see what this letter of introduction really means."

Xu Juan calmed herself down and quickly said, "Then I'll have my younger brother go with you."

"No need! I can manage on my own. If your brother goes with you, what if those two start fighting again? Everyone at work knows them, what will happen if they see that?"

Zhao Fengying had other plans in mind and definitely wouldn't bring her son.

When Xu Bei returned home, Zhou Qingwan had already been gone for half a day.

Xu Juan, who was working on a test paper, put down her pen and excitedly praised it to her brother.

"Brother, Sister Xiaowan explains things even better than our teacher. It's so easy to understand. If our teacher taught me like this, my grades would definitely be better than they are now."

Xu Bei chuckled and flicked his sister's forehead with his cool fingers.

"Then you should cherish the days when your little sister Wan tutors you. After the New Year, other students in the cram school will start school earlier than you, and you won't have time for tutoring even if you want to."