"No need, second brother, you can just sit here and rest."
Zhang Xiaomei had many tasks every day, including peeling shrimp, stir-frying shrimp, braising meat, drying, issuing wages, and grinding ingredients.
While others in the factory also handled these ingredients, the variety was vast, and everyone's preparations differed.
"Then you do your work, and I'll stay by your side and talk with you." Zhang Liuxing had made sure to find out that only Zhang Xiaomei could access Zhang Liunian's ingredients. Thus, he was determined to stay close to Zhang Xiaomei, waiting for an opportunity.
"..." Zhang Xiaomei didn't know how to respond, then busied herself with her work.
Zhang Liuxing followed her, chatting and offering help from time to time.
They were busy like this all day until the afternoon when someone from the factory came to ask her to deliver more ingredients. Zhang Xiaomei then took the key from her neck to get the goods.
"Xiaomei, what are you getting?" Zhang Liuxing asked, feigning curiosity as he watched Zhang Xiaomei retrieve a basket of ingredient packs from the recipe room.
Zhang Xiaomei, oblivious to the flicker of excitement in his eyes, casually took out some ingredients from inside and placed them outside the door, then stood up and locked it. "Just some seasonings for processing pickled vegetables."
What Zhang Xiaomei didn't see was that as she turned to lock the door, Zhang Liuxing discreetly pocketed a few packs into his sleeve.
"Oh, so it's ingredients. It seems third brother's individual business is doing very well." Zhang Liuxing falsely praised Zhang Liunian, leaving Zhang Xiaomei with the impression that his relationship with Zhang Liunian was amicable.
In fact, after interacting for the past couple of days, Zhang Liuxing had realized that Zhang Liunian hadn't disclosed their disputes to their family, especially Zhang Xiaomei. She seemed unaware of the discord between their brothers.
Otherwise, she would never have allowed him to stay here for so long.
"Third brother is very capable. You're currently unemployed; why don't you talk to him when he gets back? He'll surely give you a job."
The village's pickled vegetable factory was always hiring. If Zhang Liuxing was willing, he could definitely join the factory, earn a salary, and support his child, making life not too bad.
Zhang Xiaomei's thoughts were simple. Since Zhang Liuxing had lost his job, joining the factory was the best option. Moreover, as he was her second brother, he wouldn't even need to go through the selection process to get hired.
Then he could live with everyone in the village and earn a salary, which was no worse than working elsewhere.
However, Zhang Xiaomei was not Zhang Liuxing, and she couldn't comprehend Zhang Liuxing's immense pride.
Ever since he was admitted to university, he had looked down on everyone around him, especially his third brother who aspired to attend university just like him.
Furthermore, he owed his current predicament entirely to this very brother. He would rather die than work under Zhang Liunian.
"I'm used to living outside and can't adapt to village life. You don't need to worry about my job; I'll find a way to solve it."
Once he delivered the ingredients to the Tang family, they could arrange something for him, and he would certainly have a job. Perhaps it would even be a better job than his last one.
With this thought, Zhang Liuxing couldn't wait any longer. He dropped a sentence, "It's getting late," and left the educated youth dormitory.
Zhang Xiaomei watched his hurried departure, thinking he was too proud to ask for help. She secretly resolved to ask her third brother to help her second brother once he returned.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Zhang Liuxing, after leaving, returned to Zhang Liushui's house and was about to leave with his bicycle.
Yu Xiaohua saw him and hurried out to ask, "Second child, where are you going?"
A few days ago, Zhang Liuxing had suddenly returned to the village, saying he wanted to come back to accompany them because their third brother had lost his job. However, he had been nowhere to be seen during his stay at home.
Now that he had finally returned and was pushing his bicycle as if to leave, Yu Xiaohua was puzzled.
"I'm going to Nancheng for something, I'll be back now." Zhang Liuxing didn't want to deal with his parents much, but after some thought, he made up an excuse and then pedaled away on his bike.
"Why does second child seem so strange? Could it be he's been hit hard by losing his job?" Yu Xiaohua muttered, watching her departing son.
Zhang Wenxue, who was inside the house, came out and happened to hear this. He said, "Perhaps. He got a good job after finally getting into university, only to lose it. He must be feeling terrible."
Not to mention his son, even Zhang Wenxue himself was shocked and found it difficult to accept when he heard that his second son had lost his good job.
They had favored their second son all these years, only for it to end up like this. It was like investing a lot of effort and ending up with nothing, naturally leading to feelings of loss and unwillingness.
Fortunately, even if their second son wasn't doing well, their third son had become capable. The factory kept expanding, and production kept increasing. The members of the Ten Mile Brigade were all cheerful, with smiles on their faces.
Now, when he walked out of his house, everyone he met would compliment him on raising sons.
"Isn't third child's factory hiring again? Why don't we find an opportunity to ask third child if he's willing to let second child work in the factory?" Yu Xiaohua suggested, her eyes lighting up when she heard this.
Zhang Wenxue was taken aback, then gave a bitter smile. "Others might not know how bad the relationship between second child and third child is, but we do.
It's best if we don't bring it up, it might upset third child."
"Brothers don't hold grudges. If you don't say it, I will. When third child comes back, I'll talk to him. He's hiring anyway, so it's only right for him to offer second child a job since second child lost his job because of him." Compared to Zhang Wenxue's pragmatism, Yu Xiaohua was naturally not as clear-headed.
"If you end up getting snubbed, don't blame me for not warning you." Zhang Wenxue didn't stop her from her intention but still felt obligated to give this warning.
"Third child will definitely agree."
"..."
On the other side, Zhang Liuxing rode his bicycle out of Zhang family village, only to collide head-on with Zhang Liunian returning in a tractor.
The two brothers met head-on, with no smiles, only sparks flying in their gazes.
As they passed each other, Zhang Liuxing suddenly smiled, a smile that sent a jolt of unease through Zhang Liunian, as if something was about to happen.
With this thought, Zhang Liunian withdrew his gaze and asked Zhang Qian, who was driving the tractor, "When did Zhang Liuxing return? What has he been doing since he got back?"
"He's been back for two days and only said that he lost his job because of you."
However, few people in the village believed him. Everyone was grateful to Zhang Liunian and considered him the most capable and kind person in the village.
Therefore, they didn't spread rumors. Most people forgot about it after hearing it and didn't speak ill of Zhang Liunian at all.
Of course, it was also possible that everyone was too busy with the autumn harvest and making money to bother with such gossip.
"He's trying to poison my reputation, has he done nothing else?" For some reason, Zhang Liunian felt that things couldn't be that simple.
"Oh, for the past two days, he seems to have been hanging around the educated youth dormitory, bothering sister Xiaomei. I don't know what he's up to," Zhang Qian said, as he had to deliver shrimp every day and thus frequented the female educated youth dormitory, which is how he saw Zhang Liuxing.