Upon hearing this, Zhuzi was stunned, his Aunt Xiu Lian felt a bit displeased, but the Village Chief's eyes lit up, saying, "Zhuzi, you silly calf, listen to what your wife says, distant relatives aren't as good as close neighbors. When there's something big or small at home, just call out at the door, and people come to support you right away. If they don't support you, no matter how great you are, people will ignore you. What does that make you?"

Zhuzi peeked at his mother, then hesitantly said, "Xiaomei, are you, are you really interested in Shen Qiang?"

Hearing this, Zhuzi's girlfriend burst into tears: "Do you think I'm like you? Seeing a pretty girl and just moving forward. I'm a bit fat, I'm not good looking, I'm not flower-like, but when it comes to living day to day, where do I lack? Cooking, making meals, going to the market, working the fields, where am I bad?"

"I haven't even married you yet, haven't even entered your home, and you're treating me like this, smashing my phone, kicking the thermos. If I do marry you, won't you beat me?"

Zhuzi sneaked a look at his mom, Aunt Xiu Lian glared at him fiercely.

Then she smiled: "Xiaomei, don't be mad. Our Zhuzi smashed the phone, isn't it because he cares about you? If he really didn't care about you, would he care who you talked to? Think about what I'm saying, is it right?"

Zhuzi's girlfriend remained silent, tears kept falling: "I'm going home."

Upon seeing this, Aunt Xiu Lian gave the Village Chief a fierce look, her eyes clearly saying, aren't you going to persuade them quickly?

The helpless Village Chief sighed and said, "Xiaomei, listen to the Village Chief, I'm not lying to you, Zhuzi is a good kid, he just hasn't got a good mom. Your mother-in-law curses the neighborhood every few days, either with the Li Family today or the Zhang Family tomorrow."

"In our village, she's notoriously sharp-tongued, it's not hard to find out. You should have known when you dated Zhuzi, but you're a good kid. You look at Zhuzi, it's him who really spends his life with you, not his mom."

"Otherwise, who would want to be in-laws with someone like Ma Xiulan?"

Completely ignoring Aunt Xiu Lian's glaring white eyes, the Village Chief said, "Zhuzi was misled by her, but you're not. You're much more sensible than the two of them. Just because you said that distant relatives aren't as good as close neighbors, I know you're definitely a good wife."

"Zhuzi!" The Village Chief turned to call Zhuzi.

Zhuzi stupidly replied with an "ah".

The Village Chief was exasperated, raised his hand, and gave him a good whack on the neck, stunning him: "Your mom is infamous in the village for her quarrelsome nature. Except for arguing, see how many people in the village bother with her. What are you learning from her? Apologize to your wife, you've played with Shen Qiang since you were young, he often pushed you into the river, but every time you fought with the Li Family twins, didn't Shen Qiang always help you?"

"When you were in grade school, those few boys from the south of the camp beat you up and took the buckle of that Tiger Head belt from you, didn't Shen Qiang always help you? What are you arguing with him for? You really can't tell good people from bad ones, apologize to your wife, and promise it won't happen again!"

Zhuzi was flabbergasted, raising his eyebrows: "He always bullies me."

The Village Chief, out of breath, gave Zhuzi two kicks on his behind: "You silly calf, don't you understand words? Apologize to your wife, and promise not to do it again. Also, take your wife to town tomorrow morning to buy a phone, pick a good one, if it's less than six thousand, Xiaomei won't let him off, let him buy it as a lesson!"

Hearing this, Zhuzi nodded repeatedly: "Xiaomei, I'm wrong, forgive me, there definitely won't be a next time. I'll take you to town tomorrow morning to buy a phone."

Zhuzi's girlfriend stopped crying, but still looked a bit aggrieved.

The Village Chief smiled and said, "Xiaomei, I also have to tell you one more thing, whether you believe it or not, your mother-in-law isn't a truly wicked person, she just likes to show off, likes to take advantage, likes to step on others to show off her abilities, she wouldn't do truly evil things."

"Moreover, there are both pros and cons in everything. Your mother-in-law isn't popular, but she's fierce, if you marry over, in our village, you definitely won't be mistreated. As for how to handle relations with the neighbors after you marry, that's up to you and Zhuzi."

Meanwhile, while the Village Chief was mediating between Zhuzi and his girlfriend, at the Shen Family, Shen Qiang and his dad sat on the sofa in the living room on the second floor.

On the table were a plate of peanuts and a plate of sliced sausage.

Transparent glass wine glasses.

Two bottles of seventy-two degree baijiu.

Father and son shared a smile.

Shen Qiang opened a bottle, filled two glasses, leaving about a third of the bottle.

"Time flies by, I thought it would take you at least three years, maybe even ten to come back." Shen Honestly said.

Shen Qiang laughed: "When I was young, I never believed in luck, but now I've started to believe. When the time comes, no one can stop it; if the opportunity doesn't come, it's no use forcing it."

"Such a kid, pretending to be mature." Shen Honestly laughed, then looked at Shen Qiang with a smile and said, "When we were building the house, your Aunt Xiu Lian made a fuss about the sunshade, I gave her fifteen thousand yuan, your mom encouraged it, planning to let you go settle with them. I said not to tell you, if something happened, we couldn't afford to spend this year."

Shen Qiang laughed and responded with an oh.

Then he picked up the wine glass, saying, "Shall we down it?"

"One glass is fine." Shen Honestly laughed.

Shen Qiang also laughed,

The two clinked glasses, and downed the drink in one go.

A cool sensation traveled down the throat, followed by a fiery heat, like a knife cutting through the throat.

"Really hard to drink." Shen Qiang laughed as he put down the glass.

Shen Honestly also laughed: "I usually don't drink this, it's too strong, and it's more expensive now. It used to be three yuan fifty, now it's sixteen yuan."

Shen Qiang laughed and said, "Why not come to the Provincial City with me? Your son is doing really well in the Provincial City now, taking off like a little cow on a plane."

Shen Honestly laughed: "Don't try to woo me with that, I don't care for it. If I wanted to go to the Provincial City, I would have gone long ago, no need for you to call me. Your mom and I like it here, we know everyone in the village, the Zhang this, the Li that, it's interesting, if I went to the Provincial City with you, we wouldn't know anyone there, would your mom and I just sit at home playing checkers all day?"

Shen Qiang smiled, looking at the thick frost on the window, saying, "Can't you look after the kids too?"

"Alright, stop right there! Don't give me that crap." Shen Honestly said: "It was hard enough raising you for over twenty years, and now that I've just relaxed and don't have to worry about anything, I can roam around and have fun, and you want to find me some work to do?"

Shen Qiang laughed: "Aren't I just worried you might get bored?"

Shen Honestly laughed: "Why would I be bored? Nothing to do but have a drink, go fishing, play some mahjong in winter, just take care of the little bit of land, I'm enjoying it. But you, you're getting a bit too lofty, haven't even gotten into the Fortune 500 yet and you're already beginning to show off?"

Shen Qiang sighed: "It's not that easy, I'm just afraid if I don't show off a bit, you won't let me in the house."

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