The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 124: Family Happiness Requires Adjustment

The last time he called home, he deliberately asked about Cheng Xue’s situation and learned that Wang Miaomiao wrote to Cheng Xue, persuading her not to give up her studies. Cheng Xue listened to her advice, agreeing to study at home while taking care of Cheng Hongbing.

When Jiang Yan heard his family praising her, the fatigue of many days dissipated somewhat. He couldn’t help but feel proud; she was the person he liked, indeed delightful, the best kind of existence.

For this, he even made a special effort to have Cheng Xue answer the phone, instructing her that if she encountered any academic issues she didn’t understand, she should not be ashamed to ask for advice. A confidant is rare and should be cherished. Friends should stay closely connected, or else the relationships would become distant...

Cheng Xue had long noticed that her little uncle had an undisclosed interest in her own best friend.

She felt conflicted; her little uncle and best friend were a generation apart, after all. If she introduced Sister Miaomiao to her eldest brother and let her become her sister-in-law, wouldn’t that be better?

"Got it, got it... Uncle, I have to go read now, that’s that..." Cheng Xue hung up the phone and decided not to listen to his chatter anymore. The future could wait, and she had inquired slightly; Sister Miaomiao was a staunch non-marriage advocate and hadn’t thought about such things at all.

Jiang Yan stared at the abruptly disconnected phone for five seconds, then frowned deeply, hung up helplessly, and went out to find that group of rascals to vent his frustration...

"All personnel, fifty thousand meters of weighted rapid march, set off..."

"Oh... Devil..."

"Oh... Pervert..."

"Oh... Lunatic..."

Murmurs arose sporadically in the dark.

...

Spring passed to summer, time slipped by quickly, and the years hurried like flowing water.

It was another summer vacation, and after this summer, Wang Miaomiao would be in eleventh grade.

In the past half year, nothing major happened; the family was well, and peaceful life is a blessing.

Yang Zhigang was adept at handling matters in the factory, aside from occasionally pleasing his father-in-law, mother-in-law, young sister-in-law, and little brother-in-law, he spent time developing feelings with his soon-to-be wife.

In the name of seeking advice from Zhaodi on preparing the wedding house arrangements, after all, post-marriage, it’s her home, so it must satisfy her; he seizes every chance to take her out for bonding.

The only oddity was the attitude of his third brother and sister-in-law towards him. Since last year, sometimes their gaze towards him felt strange, and their demeanor was hot and cold.

This year, the couple had their issues again, looking at him even more peculiarly; he had no idea what they were thinking, and they weren’t kids.

Forget it, no point thinking about it; it wouldn’t make sense anyway. They’re family, and if issues arise, he would assist them for sure.

Yang Zhiwei and Sun Xiangcao had indeed complex feelings. Especially Sun Xiangcao, who harbored resentment towards Yang Zhigang regarding a quota, inciting Yang Zhiwei into suspicion and resentment against his elder brother.

Initially, she thought they wouldn’t seek his help anytime soon, harboring some pride, but shortly, he became the factory director, a position almost like omnipotence...

She couldn’t help but strategize, persuading Yang Zhiwei to flatter his elder brother for future benefits. But Yang Zhiwei was stubborn; that was his elder brother, why should he flatter him? She was too fussy, one moment like this, another moment like that. Just womanly views!

As for the Zhu Family, not long after post-New Year work resumed, the villagers at the steel factory learned the current factory director was the brother-in-law of Zhu Changgui’s third daughter-in-law. Wow, what a rumble...

The savvy villagers directly brought gifts and sought the door. The cottage by the river, usually lonely, for the first time welcomed a large crowd, suddenly becoming bustling.

Words of flattery cost nothing, but Wang Zhaodi heard them as needles piercing her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidney.

That was her erstwhile dismissive matchmaking candidate, now thriving impressively. Looking back at herself, she was pregnant, yet living in a dark little house, uncertain when a new home could be built. Her husband was no longer as sweet as before pregnancy and argued over trivial matters regarding visiting her mother’s house multiple times. She felt an unspeakable bitterness.

She chose the man herself, and no matter how hard, she could only rely on herself. Moreover, she was carrying a baby, and for the child’s sake, she couldn’t pick fights with Zhu Zicheng anymore.

Wang Zhaodi sorted it out, intending to communicate well with Zhu Zicheng once he returned, for a better life together.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Family’s eldest sister-in-law Zhang Qiaoyun suddenly came to the cottage, notifying Wang Zhaodi and Zhu Zicheng to have dinner at the old house tonight.

How odd, not even inviting them over for New Year’s Eve dinner, yet today, unexpectedly inviting them for dinner. It might be a trap.

In the evening, when Zhu Zicheng returned from work, Wang Zhaodi told him the situation. Then, she outright stated reluctance to go, her expression full of disdain and sarcasm, "No need to guess, I know what your parents want to say: probably, they want to lobby us to get either your elder brother or fourth brother into the factory, or maybe they want both, wishful thinking."

Even though Zhu Zicheng anticipated the topic, his heart was still ill-at-ease. He knew Wang Zhaodi’s past well, and Yang Zhigang had been a drinking buddy multiple times, conversing happily at the table.

Now, that man soared to prominence suddenly, and he couldn’t compare even if he tried flattery. The psychological gap...

Both being sons-in-law of the Wang Family, whenever he visited the Wang Family, Yang Zhigang received the warmest welcome, whereas he had to humble himself, uplifting the atmosphere with flattery. His wife didn’t assist, becoming a hindrance, making him feel depressed.

Moreover, his wife’s attitude led him to believe that even if his parents had such thoughts, it was understandable. Now, connections seem necessary for every household to accomplish things. Yet, what was her expression, did she disdain his family, or him...

Zhu Zicheng, being a habitual scrambler, understood the villagers’ mindset. He knew well his parents’ character. Despite their flaws, they were his birth parents, and now Wang Zhaodi couldn’t even feign nicety.

Watching her with a protruding belly, he ultimately swallowed his retorts, only stiffly saying, "I’ll go, then you can stay if you don’t want to."

It would only lead to discord, so why bother?

Zhu Zicheng went to the old house, naturally picking up grievances, he knew it would turn out like this, so he casually parried them, knowing if he didn’t agree to help, he’d face trouble throughout the year...

Fortunately, the factory recently hired once, with no more hiring news for the time being, he decided to deal with it later. Oh... with such parents, what could he do?