To please others? It's better to please yourself.

Qian Xing went to the factory and found that Chen Xia's body had long since turned to ashes. He was gone, and his clothes were gone too. She could only take her husband's personal belongings, such as his teacup, so she wouldn't leave empty-handed.

Qian Xing stared at the glowing red-hot steel furnace before her, tears streaming down her face. How would she survive from now on?

The No. 2 furnace in the workshop had been shut down, and the workers looked at Chen Xia's wife, unsure of what to say.

Director Wei came to Qian Xing and said, "Please accept my condolences! None of us wanted this to happen. Let's discuss the specifics later!"

Qian Xing wiped away her tears and followed them out of the workshop.

Director Wei didn't waste any time with pleasantries: "Regarding Chen Xia's funeral arrangements, specific arrangements and compensation, the leadership team will need to hold a meeting to discuss it before we can notify you. Go back and wait for news!"

"Director—" Qian Xing was unwilling to give up and wanted to try again.

"The factory will definitely take care of you and your child, and won't leave you without a place to live. Everyone's busy now, go back!" The director waved his hand weakly.

He knew what the other person wanted to say. But this time, with the accident, all the awards, bonuses, and promotions were gone.

And he might even have to take the blame, so he really doesn't know how to face his family right now.

Qian Xing had no choice but to walk home, and the neighbors she encountered along the way all lowered their heads and whispered among themselves.

Qian Xing assumed they were talking about her husband and didn't think much of it. When she arrived home, she found the gate wide open and a mourning tent set up in the yard, with two coffins inside.

The eldest sister-in-law knelt on the ground, sobbing. "Mom—, why did you leave like that?"

Only then did Qian Xing learn that her mother-in-law had also passed away. Thinking of her husband, whose remains had been lost, she was overcome with grief.

"My dear husband, Mom can't bear to let you go with me!"

Second brother — Chen Xia (died in a steel furnace in 77, his remains were never found) ✓

Xiangxiu and Qingshan, who are in their second year of high school, ran all the way back from school after receiving the news.

As soon as the two entered the house, they knelt down in front of the coffin with a thud and burst into tears.

People from the neighborhood committee and the subdistrict office also arrived. With tears in her eyes, Qian Xing gathered a set of her husband's clothes and put them in the coffin.

In early October, the body cannot be left for too long. Police from the local police station have already visited the residence to verify and confirm the cause of death.

Therefore, early the next morning, they carried the coffin out of the city and arrived at Zhao Wangcheng.

On the third day, Liu Qing went to the police station to obtain a death certificate and, while he was there, canceled the two people's household registrations.

Qian Xing received a notice of compensation from the steel mill and went directly to the director's office.

Director Wei got straight to the point: "After discussion among the factory leaders, it's decided that Chen Xia's work will be taken over by your son, Chen Qingshan, and you'll receive an additional 200 yuan in compensation. This is the work-related death compensation form. If you have no objections, sign it and put your fingerprint on it!"

Qian Xing took the compensation slip and looked at it. The cause of death stated that Chen Xia fell into the steel furnace due to negligence caused by illness.

The factory has regulations governing all compensation. This 200 yuan is a fixed amount; there is no extra compensation or deduction.

Qian Xing signed and pressed her fingerprint, then handed the form to Director Wei.

Wei Lai took the notice: "Collect Chen Xia's salary for this month in a bit. Have the child come to work next month."

"The child is still young, I will arrange a job for him."

Upon hearing this, Qian Xing bowed deeply to Director Wei, moved by the gesture.

……

Chen Family

These days, Chen Qingshan stays at home, not having to go to school or work, and is living a very comfortable life. "Auntie, the sweet egg soup should be sweeter, with extra sugar."

Liu Qing: "Don't worry! Auntie knows you like sweets, it can't be wrong."

The family already favored their only son, and now they're giving him absolutely nothing he asks for. Chen Qingshan is now eating nothing but eggs and meat every single day.

All the money and paper money in the house was in Qian Xing's hands. How could she not let her son spend it freely?

Chen Qingshan ate all of the family's monthly egg ration yesterday. Liu Qing had to go to the countryside to exchange for eggs. She carried more than 20 eggs by herself and didn't get home until 8 p.m.

Liu Qing's daughter, Xiangxiu, has been away at a farm learning program for the past two weeks, and she'll be gone for half a month. She's been sleeping alone with Liu Qing at night, and she's actually finding it a little strange.

Chen Qingshan has a sweet tooth, and lately he's been eating more and more sugar. He used to only need one spoonful of sugar for a bowl of sweet egg soup, but now he needs at least three.

However, white sugar is generally hard to buy now, so people have come up with "saccharin" in order to enjoy sweets.

The sugar was all gone this month. Qian Xing felt sorry for her son, and since she couldn't buy any more sugar, she asked someone to buy her a packet of saccharin instead.

"Xing'er, it's time for me to go to work. The eggs are ready, take them to the child." Liu Qing didn't even have time to eat before rushing out of the house.

"You know it's late, why don't you get up earlier? You're so lazy!" Qian Xing muttered.

"Qingshan, come quick! The poached eggs are ready. I boiled six."

Chen Qingshan came out and plopped down, took a bite of the bowl, and put it down. "My aunt is so stingy. I kept telling her to put in more sugar, but it's not sweet at all!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Xing got up and went into the kitchen, searching for a long time but finding no sugar in the sugar jar. Suddenly remembering the saccharin she had bought yesterday, she handed it to her son.

Chen Qingshan took the soup and poured it in without saying a word. The freshly poured soup was scalding hot, and the saccharin dissolved instantly upon entering the soup. Chen Qingshan ate bowl after bowl with the soup spoon.

Six eggs were enough to fill me up. After eating and resting for a while, I wanted to go out for a walk: "Mom, I told my classmates I'd go boating together today. Don't wait for me at noon!"

Qian Xing was washing dishes with her head down. "Okay, I got it. Remember to come back early!"

Chen Qingshan had long since disappeared.

Qian Xing was home alone at noon. She made herself some braised noodles with eggs, ate, and then slept all afternoon.

When Liu Qing got off work and prepared dinner, Chen Qingshan still hadn't returned.

"Xing'er, why isn't Qingshan back yet? The food will get cold soon. Did the child say where he went?"

Qian Xing is feeling extremely anxious right now. "He said he was going boating with friends and wouldn't be back until tonight."

"Shall we go out and look for them?" Liu Qing asked, still worried.

Qian Xing was even more worried: "Okay, let's go out and ask."

The two had just stood up when two police officers walked in. "Excuse me, is this Chen Qingshan's house?"

"Yes, is there something you need?" Liu Qing and Qian Xing looked at each other.

When the neighbors saw that the police had arrived, they gathered around and surrounded the Chen family's house.

"A male corpse was found in the river in Chaoyang Park today. After investigation and interviews, we learned that his name is Chen Qingshan. We would like to ask you to go and identify the body."

As soon as the police officer finished speaking, Qian Xing collapsed to the ground with a thud. Liu Qing was so shocked that his legs went weak, and he sat down on the ground, unable to get up.

The previously quiet crowd erupted into a clamor. "Good heavens! What's going on with the Chen family?"

"Isn't this deliberately making life unbearable for people?"

"With these green hills gone, there's no hope left. How will we live from now on?"

It's a complete mess!

"Xing'er, Xing'er, my poor sister, wake up!" Liu Qing cried out, holding Qian Xing and patting her back hard. Tears streamed down Qian Xing's face.

Eldest sister-in-law — Chen Qingshan (died by drowning in October 1977 after suffering from egg and saccharin poisoning) ✓

Those around them had tears in their eyes. The Chen family had suffered one misfortune after another; their luck had run out. They were truly struck down by bad luck.