Yu Zhou looked at the little bean sprout, who couldn't even use chopsticks properly but was heartily devouring food in front of him, a trace of heartache flashing in his eyes.
Business at their stall had been good these past few days, but due to their busyness, neither he nor his wife had brought their little bean sprout home to care for her.
It wasn't until today that Jiang Jie finally couldn't stand it and made a special trip to the suburbs. Seeing her daughter eating like this, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
"I'll settle our accounts today. Only Third Uncle hasn't found the IOU, so he didn't take it back. All the other joint IOUs will be burned."
There were no outsiders in the kitchen, and Jiang Jie treated Wu Dabiao like a younger brother.
So, while eating, Jiang Jie didn't need to be secretive and spoke directly to Yu Zhou.
"You gave your parents money again, didn't you? They still refused to take it?"
Yu Zhou understood his wife very well due to his constant longing for her in his previous life.
Unless they were truly out of money, she would give her parents money every time she visited the suburbs.
In her words, her parents had moved back to their old house in the countryside and given them their city courtyard, which was already a great disservice to them as children. If they were to bicker with their in-laws like other wives, it would be ungrateful and invite divine retribution.
"They took it this time. After I told them about us making money, they agreed. However, they were a bit reluctant about Xiao Yu."
Jiang Jie's eyes sparkled as she said this.
He was fortunate that both his parents and his in-laws were reasonable and cared for him.
If it weren't for this reason, given Yu Zhou's previous behavior and lack of ambition, Jiang Jie might have considered divorce long ago.
"It's good that they accepted it. It's good that they accepted it. Tonight, why don't I sleep with our daughter?"
Yu Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, but then looked at Jiang Jie with anticipation.
Since he was reborn, he hadn't slept in the same room as his wife. Every time he brought it up, his wife Jiang Jie would make excuses.
If you don't let me into the room, then I'll sleep with our daughter. You can't object to that, right?
However, Jiang Jie wasn't swayed by this.
She immediately hugged her daughter and said with a laugh, "Xiao Yu'er! Do you want to sleep with Daddy tonight?"
The little bean sprout, with her hands full of grease, shook her head without hesitation.
"I won't sleep with Daddy. Daddy smells bad."
Yu Zhou was speechless, his expression one of utter disappointment.
Seeing his elder brother looking dejected, the simple-minded Wu Dabiao hesitated, "Brother, should I not go back tonight..."
"Get lost..."
Yu Zhou glared at the guy angrily, his temper flaring.
Wu Dabiao felt wronged. Was he that heartless?
The next few days of setting up the stall went without incident, but the stall itself no longer had the same bustling scene as before.
However, the money earned was no less. The daily net profit of over a hundred yuan would have attracted envy long ago if the couple hadn't kept it a secret.
After all, even a formal factory worker's monthly salary was only a little over a hundred yuan in those days.
And they, just a simple stall, earned that much in a single day. It was terrifying.
However, before a few days passed, in mid-December, a change occurred.
One day, as Yu Zhou and Wu Dabiao were packing up and heading home, they saw a group of temporary workers in work uniforms still lingering in the yard.
Some of them looked distressed, others looked pained, but their expressions, without exception, made Yu Zhou guess that something had happened.
"Da Zhou is back? Come sit, come sit. We have something to discuss with you."
The speaker was an old factory worker in his forties, his expression filled with unease and guilt.
At a glance, Yu Zhou knew that these people were in trouble, and he had even vaguely guessed what they wanted to say.
"Brother Zhang, you don't need to be like this. Let's just talk openly. Huh? Where's Xiao Jie?"
Yu Zhou had actually prepared himself for this earlier.
He had thought that this would happen sooner or later, but it had happened sooner than he expected, within the next couple of days.
What surprised him was why his wife wasn't in their yard with them. Logically, she shouldn't be hiding at this time.
"Xiao Jie went back to her room. She said this matter is entirely up to you."
A female worker said with low spirits.
Then she quickly explained, "This really isn't our fault! If we continue to work for you, we'll truly have no chance to work anymore."
"I also know that it will be difficult for you if we suddenly tell you we're quitting, but the higher-ups have already given their word. If we work for you for another day, we'll definitely be on the list of the first batch of laid-off workers..."
She was anxious.
Even if making bracelets and sweater chains in this small courtyard could provide them with a living, it was nothing compared to a "rice bowl" job. Even though Yu Zhou and his wife treated them well, and even though they didn't want to give up this opportunity to earn money, the "rice bowl" was more important.
"So, you're all leaving?"
"Was it Liu Dalong who made the threat? He said that as long as you work for me, he'll put all of you on the layoff list?"
Even though Yu Zhou had expected it, he hadn't expected Liu Dalong to do something so despicable.
The entire second factory was currently only operating two workshops; the rest were either shut down or idle.
Although the first list of laid-off workers had been finalized, adding a few more people to it was not impossible.
Was he using this tactic to stop them from setting up their stall? This malicious method was indeed typical of Liu Dalong's way of doing things.
"We truly have no choice. The layoff list hasn't been finalized yet. If we are really included because we worked for you, then our families will truly have nothing to eat..."
That Brother Zhang, in his forties, was also conflicted.
After all, the factory was still closed, and no wages were being paid.
But if he were to give up the "rice bowl" he had cherished his whole life for an income of one or two yuan a day, no one would hesitate in their choice.
Nothing was more important than a stable job.
"Then you should have said something in advance!"
"Who was it that eagerly wanted to come work for us in the first place? Who said they would stick with us as long as the factory was closed?"
"Did my wife and I owe you wages? Or have we offended you?"
Suddenly, Jiang Jie's voice cut through the room like a knife. She was truly furious.
These people had clearly been summoned for discussions by the factory in recent days, yet they hadn't breathed a word of it to him.
And now, after they had all made their decision, they came to tell him they were quitting. This was clearly trying to sabotage their family!
At the same time, Yu Zhou's expression changed.
He frowned and looked at these former workmates.
He said coldly, "You were all summoned long ago? Why didn't you tell me?"