How could Hu Yan not know about this?
In her previous life, she had never paid attention to the stock market.
Otherwise, she would have bought stocks and gotten in on the action herself.
But now she knew nothing about it, so she didn’t dare touch it.
To reassure Chen Guangze, she readily agreed.
“Don’t worry. I don’t understand this stuff.”
As they talked, Chen Guangze’s gaze fell on his wife’s feet.
Her small feet were fair and delicate, with cute, rounded toes.
Unable to resist, he squatted down and gently rubbed and played with them, reminding her softly,
“It’s best if you don’t get involved in Little Sister’s business.
“She’s basically a walking bomb right now. She’ll blow up whoever gets too close.”
Hu Yan had no intention of getting involved in her husband’s family affairs. She could easily end up being blamed for everything.
Chen Xiangyun had clearly been brainwashed by Zhang Qiulian.
As long as Chen Xiangyun didn’t come looking for trouble with her, Hu Yan couldn’t be bothered with her mess.
After washing Hu Yan’s feet, Chen Guangze went outside to dump the water.
On the way, he stopped by Teacher Bai’s place and snagged two fried dough twists.
Then he quietly slipped back.
“Hehe, Yan, our kitchen is built now.
“But we can’t use it yet. Have some fried dough twists tonight to tide you over.”
Hu Yan wasn’t really hungry, but since Chen Guangze had brought them, she ate them anyway.
“There’s malted milk powder in the cabinet. Make two bowls. We can dip the twists in it.”
“Sure thing!”
Chen Guangze happily followed his wife’s instructions.
As the couple ate, taking turns biting pieces from their bowls, noises began coming from the other households.
There was a constant rustling and scraping.
Chen Guangze and Hu Yan carried their bowls outside and followed the sounds to the second branch’s room.
Dust was flying everywhere.
Chen Guangming and Lin Xiulan were bent over, working hard inside.
They were both gripping shovels and vigorously digging into the ground.
Chen Guangze and Hu Yan stared in surprise.
Leaning their elbows against the window, they couldn’t help asking,
“Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, what are you doing?”
The two looked embarrassed.
Lin Xiulan moved closer to Hu Yan and explained with a grin,
“Hehe, it’s all because of Zhang Qiulian. She desperately wanted these houses.
“So your Second Brother and I thought we’d dig around and see what exactly could have made her so obsessed.”
Chen Guangze pointed toward the third and fourth branches’ rooms.
“So Third Brother and Fourth Brother are digging too?”
Chen Guangming nodded.
“Yeah. All of us think there must be something strange about these houses.
“We couldn’t sleep anyway, so we figured we’d take a look.”
Chen Guangze burst into laughter, clutching his stomach as his laughter echoed through the courtyard.
“You guys are geniuses.”
Hu Yan lowered her head and quietly laughed as well.
She knew Zhang Qiulian only wanted their houses because she had learned in advance about the upcoming demolition.
Fortunately, these were old-fashioned adobe houses, with bare earth floors.
Digging them up wouldn’t do much harm.
If they had all been tiled floors, that would’ve been a disaster.
Outside, the brothers teased one another and laughed, calling each other idiots.
Inside the main house, Old Chen sat on the floor continuing to weave baskets.
Teacher Bai sat on the kang with Chen Xiangyun.
She took a handkerchief out of the kang cabinet, sat beside her daughter, and slowly unfolded it layer by layer.
Inside were rolls upon rolls of ten-yuan bills.
“Daughter, now that the family has split up, your father and I set aside a share for you.
“According to the village rules, there isn’t normally a precedent for daughters to receive a share of the family property.
“But you’re still studying, so your father and I insisted on getting you something.
“There are 285 yuan. Count it yourself.”
Chen Xiangyun’s eyes reddened.
She hadn’t expected her parents to fight for a share of the family property for her.
“Mom, I don’t want it. Keep it for yourselves.”
Teacher Bai shoved the money into her hands.
“Silly girl, you still have another year before graduation. You’ll have plenty of expenses afterward.
“This is what you deserve. Study hard.”
Clutching the roll of bills, Chen Xiangyun nodded firmly.
Seeing that her daughter’s emotions had settled, Teacher Bai told her everything that had happened in the family over the past few days, including all the trouble Zhang Qiulian had caused.
“Xiangyun, your family won’t hurt you.
“Your Fifth Brother has traveled all over the place. What hasn’t he seen?
“His judgment is especially sharp.
“You saw his reaction today. He’s made quite a bit of money in Shenzhen.
“But has he ever touched those… um… those stocks you mentioned?”
Chen Xiangyun was much calmer now.
“Mom, he’ll come to the house tomorrow. You can all look into him yourselves.”
Teacher Bai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“The city is a mess these days. This boss, that boss… plenty of men outside have mistresses.
“You’ve been at school all this time, and I’m worried you’ll get taken advantage of.
“Since he’s from Tujia Slope, which isn’t far from Liushu Bay, have your brothers find out what his family is like.”
Chen Xiangyun had initially been quite annoyed that her family opposed the relationship.
But after hearing about everything Zhang Qiulian had done, she began to waver.
There was no harm in having someone investigate him.
She really didn’t know much about Wang Mingxu’s circumstances.
For example, where he worked or what his family was like.
She had indeed been a little too impulsive.
Teacher Bai made the bed, and mother and daughter lay down together.
Chen Xiangyun hugged her mother’s arm.
“Mom, when did Fifth Sister-in-law become so fashionable?
“That curly hair and those clothes—she looks even more stylish than us college students.”
Teacher Bai thought she was drawing far too much attention.
“She went to the city to buy those things a few days ago.
“Having a little money and not knowing how to spend it. Your brother likes it, so there’s nothing I can do.
“These past few days, he’s been staring at her like a wolf watching a rabbit.”
Chen Xiangyun could tell her mother didn’t approve.
“What’s wrong with looking good? Fifth Sister-in-law is only twenty, just a year older than me.
“Isn’t it normal for a young woman to dress up and want to look pretty?
“And look at her figure.
“Those high-waisted jeans look amazing on her. They wouldn’t look nearly as good on me.
“If I were Fifth Brother, I’d be completely smitten too.”
Teacher Bai sighed.
“Of course I know she looks good. There isn’t another woman for miles around who looks as beautiful as she does.
“But your brother is away from home most of the year.
“When a tree grows too tall, it attracts the wind. When you have too much money, you attract thieves.
“And when your wife is too beautiful, what does she attract?
“Don’t you understand?”
Teacher Bai couldn’t shake the uneasiness in her heart.
After everything that had happened during the family division, she had realized that her fifth daughter-in-law was intelligent, capable, and had a mind of her own.
She understood things almost immediately and was even more clever than herself.
She was afraid her son wouldn’t be able to keep up with her.
Her fifth son adored his wife so much that if something ever happened between them, it would be a shame.
Chen Xiangyun didn’t think that deeply about it.
She simply felt that young women should dress nicely.
Teacher Bai eventually realized she’d gotten off topic.
She turned around and reminded her daughter,
“Xiangyun, you’re a girl, so you’re more likely to be taken advantage of.
“Absolutely do not let him touch you before you’re married. Understand?
“If you get pregnant before marriage, his family will look down on you.
“Do you hear me?”
Her daughter had suddenly announced that she wanted to quit school and get married.
Teacher Bai’s heart had skipped a beat.
Could the girl already be pregnant?
She was also testing her now by saying this.
Chen Xiangyun blushed, her answer vague and embarrassed.
“Mom, what are you thinking? We’ve only known each other for a short time.
“Talking about this is so embarrassing!”
Why had her mother suddenly brought this up?
Seeing that her daughter hadn’t suffered any harm, Teacher Bai finally relaxed.
As long as things hadn’t gone that far, it was fine.
Tomorrow, she’d observe that man carefully.
If she really didn’t like him, she’d have her fifth son find a way to separate the two.
Her fifth son always had plenty of ideas. It shouldn’t be difficult for him.
Meanwhile, the mother and daughter gradually fell asleep as they talked.
Outside, the Chen family members had dug more than a meter deep.
Yet they hadn’t found a thing.
The brothers were exhausted, panting heavily and cursing Zhang Qiulian for being crazy.
Why had she insisted on fighting them for these lousy houses?
They were exhausted.