The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead-Chapter 448: Extra Six

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That year, Manman and Zhuang Yan drove back to their hometown.

They first stayed in the county town for two days. In the county town, Zhuang Chen showed them the family apartment building of the Public Security Department. Someone was selling a unit, so he helped Zhuang Yan to buy one. Since they were not often in town, Zhuang Chen and his wife could help look after the place.

After Zhuang Chen got time off work, he went back to the village with his brother and sister-in-law.

Zhuang Chen’s family lived in the next village, but the house that had been built for Zhuang Yan was in Ten-miles Village, because Zhuang Yan’s old house was also there.

The couple returned home early and bought some stuff at the market these past days.

The commune had now become a marketplace, and there was a market every two days. During the New Year period, there was one every day.

Nowadays, many daily necessities were available for purchase without tickets.

Manman was not short on cash. The two of them would drive to the market and bought a lot of condiments.

As for steamed buns, Shen Manman knew how to make them. The elder uncle’s family gave them some, and they made some themselves too.

Zhuang Yan could also cook, having lived alone before.

Now he was even more skillful in the kitchen, bustling about every day under Shen Manman’s direction.

The villagers were extremely surprised to see this side of Zhuang Yan.

"Getting married really changes a person, he’s learned well."

"Just look at him, now driving a car. Zhuang Yan really has made something of himself out there."

"He married well, his wife—heard she used to be one of the educated youths from our team, what’s her name, Lu something?"

"Lu Jingqiu."

"Right, they are sisters."

"Oh my, those educated youths back then, couldn’t carry or lift a thing. They stayed here for so many years, who knew the policy would change, and they all got admitted to universities. I heard that educated Lu also went to university."

"Not all those who went to university are good, though. Just look at the Old Xia family."

Once the Old Xia family was mentioned, several aunties pursed their lips in disapproval.

In the past few years, ever since the youngest daughter of the Old Xia family was imprisoned, their family had lost much of their say in the village.

Even though the sons had contracted farmland, the positions like village head and party secretary had all changed hands.

Especially after hearing about what Xia Lin did.

"Back in the day, those two girls from the high-educated Gao fought constantly over that high-educated guy, always arguing and bickering. We thought it was just young love, nothing serious. Who would’ve thought she’d be so vicious, daring to harm someone."

"Sigh, it’s all because the Old Xia family spoiled her. They indulged that daughter so much and see now, her trouble has implicated the whole family. That’s why I say, children, especially girls, need to be disciplined."

"Better stop talking, those Xias aren’t to be trifled with nowadays."

"How so?"

"Xia Lin has brought back her second husband."

"Oh, I saw them a few days ago. How come I feel that man looks older than Xia Lin?"

One of the aunties laughed: "Second marriage, and she’s already been ’through the mill.’ How good can it be to get remarried? Can she still be choosy like a young girl?"

Another, younger sister-in-law commented: "You can’t say that. Xia Lin’s still quite capable. Her new man works in a government office, a leader at that. I’ve heard Xia Lin has started a factory again, and what’s more, she’s recruiting workers in our village."

"Where is it located?"

"Probably in the southern part. This time the factory is big, hiring more than a hundred people."

"Who would dare go?"

"Hey, quite a few have gone. Forty yuan a month, and there’s something like piece-rate wages too."

"How much?"

"Forty, with food and accommodation included."

"Wow, that’s not low at all. That’s several hundred in a year."

These words stirred some thoughts among many people.

Shen Manman, busy at home, naturally knew about Xia Lin’s return.

She asked Zhuang Yan, "That person has been out for several years now, right? I heard she married someone with the last name Qi?"

Zhuang Yan was quite familiar with the matter and replied, "Yeah, Qi Anmin is now the deputy secretary in a southern city. Xia Lin is quite capable, managing to get Qi Anmin to divorce his wife for her after getting out of prison."

"Tsk tsk, Qi Anmin’s kids aren’t young anymore, right?"

"One’s in high school, and the other might be in university by now."

"Stepmothers sure have it tough."

"Who cares about her, I get annoyed just looking at her now."

"Humph, I heard you used to like her?"

Zhuang Yan was quick to explain, "Well, ...that was all in the past, when I was in my teens. Back then, she was the village belle of Ten-miles Village. It was my own short-sightedness to see only the beauty in the ’well.’ Now, my heart and eyes are full of nothing but you."

Shen Manman snorted, "Cut it out."

"But it’s absolutely true, marrying you is something to be proud of for generations."

"Okay, okay, don’t exaggerate so much. I can’t take it. Let’s go to the Educated Youth Department later to have a look; I’d like to see where my sister lived when she went down to the countryside."

"That place was bought by two families in the village and is now divided into two courtyards. Everything’s changed, the old looks are gone. You can’t really go and see it, but I can take you to see around it."

"Okay."

Although they were back, with two or three days left until New Year’s, they couldn’t keep eating at the uncle’s place. Besides, going back and forth every day for meals was inconvenient since they were in the next village. freewebnσvel.cøm

So, the aunt had brought them more than ten pounds of grains, pickled vegetables, fish, meat, buns, and naturally frozen dumplings that had been fresh for several days.

She let them cook for themselves in the morning, and they could come over for dinner once or twice a day, but today it had started to snow.

They didn’t go over for dinner that evening either.

After they were done with the kitchen work, Zhuang Yan led Shen Manman outside.

Shen Manman had never stayed in the north and didn’t realize how cold it could be.

She had come with a down jacket, wearing a sweater inside, but once she arrived here the down jacket didn’t feel warm enough, so Zhuang Yan draped his military coat over her.

When they came out, many villagers who were idle and chatting saw them.

You see, Zhuang Yan was handsome, but previously in the village, he’d been known as a lazybones who wandered around without working, and no one thought well of him.

Now, however, things were different. When they saw him come out, they all greeted him warmly.

Zhuang Yan greeted everyone in return. He had long since become accustomed to such treatment.

Ever since he followed his mother to remarry here, the initial days were tough, having to live at the mercy of his stepfather’s family.

A few years later, the stepfather passed away, leaving him and that sister who shared neither the same mother nor the same father behind.

The siblings struggled through life together for several years, he being a bit rough around the edges.

The sister from his stepfather’s side married while he was in prison for those few years.

She didn’t move far, just a mile to the neighboring village.

Even though Zhuang Yan was wayward, he treated that half-sister well.

Later on, when he brought back goods from West City, he even got his brother-in-law involved in buying clothes to support him.

His brother-in-law turned out to be quite capable.

During the years he followed Zhuang Yan in the county town, he made a fair amount of money. They managed to build a house for the family.

After that, Zhuang Yan moved to West City and opened a clothing store in the county for the couple.

Life was pretty good for them.

So, the house on this side was left to him, and the relatives from his stepfather’s side had no objections.

Now that he was successful, they started treating him like family again.

From time to time, they would ask if there were any job openings at the factory.

Zhuang Yan didn’t put on airs. If there were job opportunities at the factory, he would refer them.

It is said that four or five people from his stepfather’s side had been arranged to work there.

He also arranged for two from his niece’s side to get jobs. As long as they worked hard, saving a few hundred yuan a year wasn’t a big deal.

Of course, if they didn’t work hard and only caused trouble, he would not be so lenient.

After all, it wasn’t his own factory.

On his wife’s side though, there were many girls in the factory, and the niece from his brother-in-law’s side wanted to go there too.

Manman agreed; their factory was expanding and needed about a dozen more workers.

It worked out that the pay was lower for recruits from here, but they were willing to work.

Especially the young girls – what do they have at home that is better than working in the factory? They didn’t need to do household chores all day, and at the factory they were fed, housed, and could earn their own money to spend. Of course, they still had to send money home.

It was still better than being at home, since few village girls went to college, and even fewer went to high school.

They just waited for the opportunity to work for a few years, earn some money, and save for their own dowry.