The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 105: Unrivaled Thick Skin
As for the matter of the Yang Family, the relationship between the brothers, how it will end, only time will tell.
On the other side, with Zhu Zicheng and Wang Zhaodi, that day he covered her mouth and left the Wang Family, and the two had a falling out.
He thought she spoke without thinking and meddled in affairs, offending her own family for the sake of someone irrelevant, which he found utterly foolish. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
But she only felt wronged, it wasn’t an outsider; her aunt had been kind to her, that was her cousin, what was wrong with trying to help?
The whole world might not understand her, but he should. He was her closest bedfellow, and the father of the child in her belly...
Looking at the tearful Wang Zhaodi, pregnant, Zhu Zicheng could only suppress his temper and soften. However, a gap had grown between them, and the sweetness of before was no longer.
A couple of days later, Jiang Yan came to Huinan Village to talk to the village chief about recruitment. Zhu Zicheng had a job, so there was naturally no spot for him, and living in a remote place, by the time the selection ended, he was completely unaware of it.
But his cousin was chosen, and shortly after his cousin started the job, he heard from him about the recruitment and Jiang Yan’s involvement. Was Jiang Yan, the director of the steel factory, the same person he knew?
With a heart full of complexity, Zhu Zicheng went to Shanghuang Village to inquire and found out about the Wang Family, that both his father-in-law and mother-in-law had become official workers at the steel factory, leaving him with nothing to say.
He didn’t go to the Wang Family home, after the last time, he didn’t know how to face the Wang Family, and returned to his own small cottage in solitude.
Looking at the dilapidated little house in front of him, Zhu Zicheng felt very uncomfortable. Seeing his pregnant wife, busy in front of the small stove, his mouth was filled with a bitter taste, he wanted to say something but in the end said nothing at all.
Time passed quickly, and the weather turned colder. By the time Cheng Xue received the new cotton-padded jacket from Wang Pandi, it was already December 1972.
Cheng Xue immediately changed into it with delight, a stand collar with a frog closure, cinched at the waist, and edges trimmed. The cuffs and collar were embroidered with fine patterns of leaves using blue threads. Cheng Xue was petite, and wearing this short jacket made her appear even more playful and cute, like a flower bud about to bloom.
"Do I look good?" Cheng Xue happily spun around.
The eyes of everyone in the room lit up, and they all praised, "You look great."
"Miao Miao, you should go change and show us too." Liu Yulan urged when she saw that Wang Miaomiao was still wearing an old cotton-padded jacket.
"Alright..." Wang Miaomiao turned and went back to her room, picked up a medium-length black coat with a hood from the rack and put it on. It was a Korean style, quite loose, with two large pockets on each side. The cuffs were elastic, and the hem was ruffled. A drawstring allowed it to be tightened.
Wang Miaomiao found that after putting it on, her body, having eaten well and grown these past months, seemed even more alluring. Her already shapely figure had become more enchanting, and she didn’t like wearing cinched clothing anymore, preferring this loose style that suited her better.
"Well, Miao Miao, you’ve returned! Oh, you’ve become more and more radiant over the months. Indeed, having been to the big city, you look more and more like a city girl..."
Just as Wang Miaomiao changed and came out, the sugary comment made her get goosebumps.
"Aunt." Yes, the person who came was Wang Miaomiao’s aunt Zhao Qinfen.
"Oh, Miao Miao has really grown up and become sensible. Wearing this new outfit, cluck cluck, you’re a young lady now." Zhao Qinfen praised her with her mouth, but inside she was incredibly jealous. No matter how much she tried to hide it, she couldn’t help but add a sour remark, "Pandi’s craftsmanship keeps improving. I haven’t received work in months and am about to starve."
Jiang Yan gazed at the graceful young girl before him, his eyes dark and deep. The simple and elegant coat highlighted Wang Miaomiao’s tall figure and skin like white jade, giving her an aura like an orchid in an empty valley, with a refined elegance that captivated.
Her hands were soft like spring seedlings, her skin like silky cream, her neck like a cicada’s wing, her teeth like melon seeds, her forehead like a silkworm’s head, delicate stylish eyebrows, a bewitching smile, and bright eyes.
Because of Pandi’s clothes-making, Zhao Qinfen had often made such snide remarks, and had also spread rumors outside about Wang Pandi, claiming the little girl’s craftsmanship was lacking, and not to let her use good materials and end up making a mess.
However, people had eyes. At Wang Pandi’s, there were new styles to choose from, and people saw the craft of what was made, so others didn’t pay attention to Zhao Qinfen.
Unable to compete, Zhao Qinfen started a price war, lowering her fees for making clothes. Those who were simply out for a bargain, without caring for quality, began going to her.
Yet, Wang Pandi didn’t lower her prices, sticking to the original rates, even raising prices for some new styles. Now, each had their own client base, and things gradually stabilized.
Still, Zhao Qinfen couldn’t quite let it go, and would come by occasionally to make a sarcastic comment or two.
"Qinfen, do you need something? We’re about to have dinner. If you don’t have anything, go back." Liu Yulan frowned and directly showed her the door, giving no face.
Zhao Qinfen was secretly annoyed but didn’t show it, instead putting on a face of grievance, "Oh, big sister-in-law has become successful and looks down on poor relatives like us now." After speaking, she glanced at Jiang Yan sitting in the prime spot. It was him she was aiming for.
Liu Yulan understood perfectly, "No need to look at Xiao Jiang, I told you last time, it’s not happening. The factory recruitment is over, and even if there were more jobs, it wouldn’t go to your family."
Because of the steel factory positions, the second branch of the family had caused a fuss more than once, but Liu Yulan gave no face and was absolute in her refusal.
"Big sister-in-law, what’s this about? My older brother and I are own brothers, family doesn’t speak like outsiders. If the younger brother has done anything wrong, big brother and sister-in-law can vent however they like, I will silently endure it." Wang Baoan entered with two bottles of liquor, looking sincere.
He was someone who could bend and adapt, willing to lower himself for a steady job, "Big brother, you can’t write the name Wang without two strokes, we are blood brothers, can you really watch your brother fall on hard times without lending a hand? Our parents watching from the afterlife would be heartbroken."
Liu Yulan’s anger flared, "Ha, now you talk about being brothers, but back when the family split, you didn’t consider your older brother. Treated him like a burden, leaving him with nothing. You did it then, how do you have the face to come now..."
"Big brother, you can’t blame me for what happened back then. The family split was decided by our parents, and as the younger generation, we had to accept whatever was given." Wang Baoan ignored Liu Yulan and only looked at Wang Baoxing. He knew that arguing with his sister-in-law would be useless, as she deeply resented them.
