Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 128 The Way to Make Money

As soon as the donkey cart entered the village, Zhang Shuhua saw the dark green jeep parked in front of Zhang Changyao's house.

"It must be Lin Qiu. Aunt, you come and catch the train. I need to go home first."

Zhang Changyao was so excited that he jumped off the donkey cart without even realizing it was moving.

He lost his footing and fell, trying to grab some dog poop but failing miserably.

He looked around awkwardly, making sure no one was watching, before touching his flushed face and heading home.

There was no one in the jeep, and the yard was quiet.

"Huh?" Shouldn't these two women be quiet like this?

Zhang Changyao began to have doubts and looked around the yard.

Finding nothing amiss, they then pushed open the door and entered the house.

Lin Qiu looked at the man on the kang (a heated brick bed) with red eyes.

The man remained silent with a stern face, his tightly furrowed brows adding a touch of solemnity to his handsome features.

Yang Wuni stood to the side, rubbing her hands together, looking eager to try but unsure of what to do.

"Lin Qiu, this young man on the kang (heated brick bed), is that Liao Zhi?"

Zhang Changyao entered and spoke first, breaking the silence in the room.

"Yes! Liao Zhi, this is Zhang Changyao, the classmate I told you about."

Zhang Changyao, this is my husband, Liao Zhi. I'll need your help to take care of him from now on.

There's still something to do at the grain depot, I have to go back first, Liao Zhi said, being a picky eater.

I've already told Wu Ni what he likes to eat.

Lin Qiu leaned down and got closer to Liao Zhi, wanting to say something to him.

Liao Zhi closed his eyes and ignored him. Lin Qiu sighed and had no choice but to turn and leave.

Zhang Changyao and Yang Wuni followed behind Lin Qiu and saw her into the car.

"Changyao, Wuni, I...I just need to... to take Liao Zhi away."

I'll be going on a business trip and won't be able to come for a while, please... I'll just leave it to you guys...

Lin Qiu stammered, sighed, closed the car door, and drove away.

Zhang Changyao and Yang Wuni nodded in agreement and waved goodbye.

"Zhang Changyao, Lin Qiu left him a thousand yuan, saying it was for Liao Zhi's food and drink expenses."

We can't let them touch it; I think this young master has quite a temper.

Lin Qiu said the pay would still be thirty yuan a month, and once that was enough to cover the days already paid, she would send us more money.

The two walked into the house, and Yang Wuni relayed Lin Qiu's words to Zhang Changyao.

"Isn't Lin Qiu coming to stay?" Zhang Changyao frowned, puzzled.

"It seems she has something to do and won't be staying for a while. Liao Zhi and she had a fight about this."

Liao Zhi scolded her, saying that she had no good intentions in sending him out.

They said she was just as heartless as her mother, and that she looked down on him as a good-for-nothing.

"Throw him into the trash heap like a rotten winter melon, don't want him anymore." Yang Wuni stopped and looked at Zhang Changyao.

"Oh well! Never mind, we're just hired nannies."

Why bother worrying about other people's lives?

Lin Qiu must have her reasons for doing this; perhaps she really does need to go on a business trip for a while.

People entrust their men to us because they trust us.

Putting everything else aside, we can't treat Liao Zhi poorly just because he only gets thirty yuan a month.

"From now on, you'll be raising the children and Liao Zhi, earning a high salary. Which woman in this village will be as capable as you?"

Zhang Changyao put his arm around Yang Wuni's shoulder, offering encouragement even as he felt dejected.

"Zhang Changyao, don't worry about that. I know Sister Lin Qiu is good to us."

In my current state, I probably can't help Liao Zhi turn over or wash her body.

Then we have to cook special meals for him, and we have to go to town to buy some special oil, salt and seasonings.

Sister Lin Qiu instructed that he shouldn't eat too much, and he shouldn't eat anything too oily.

If he gets an upset stomach, he'll suffer, and so will we.

Also, you have to turn over every now and then, otherwise you'll get bedsores and your body will ulcerate, which is difficult to treat.

Yang Wuni kept talking, but Zhang Changyao was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't hear a single word.

"Zhang Changyao, you've rammed the door!"

Yang Wuni grabbed Zhang Changyao by the back of his shirt and pulled him back. Zhang Changyao smiled bitterly and turned around to continue walking.

"Wu Ni, you're heavily pregnant, how can you take care of Liao Zhi?"

I noticed the kid was unhappy, so I went to coax him.

Zhang Changyao paused for a moment, steadied himself, and went straight into the west room.

Liao Zhi lay on the blue and white checkered mattress on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Her arms were placed on the white quilt, which was decorated with pink flowers and gold thread.

The gray plaid shirt made his fair, square face appear even more angular.

Her black hair was parted in a 3/7 ratio, glossy and dark, and her large eyes beneath thick eyebrows held a hint of sadness.

He murmured the name "Lin Qiu" from his thin lips beneath his high nose.

At first glance, he bears a striking resemblance to Zhang Changyao.

"Liao Zhi, are you thirsty? What would you like to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."

Zhang Changyao sat down next to Liao Zhi with his legs turned to the side, and asked him as gently as possible.

"I won't eat or drink, so stay away from me."

Lin Qiu paid you to do this, so you have to listen to me.

I will not call you; do not appear in front of me.

"You country bumpkins want to get rich? I think you're just obsessed with money."

Liao Zhi glared at him, his words carrying a hint of mockery.

"Liao Zhi, it's not that our family has to earn money to serve you."

I only agreed to her request because Lin Qiu said she had nowhere else to turn.

You know how your father treated Lin Qiu, don't you? She was forced to come to me for help.

Zhang Changyao tried his best to explain, hoping to salvage some dignity.

"Hahaha!

You really know how to flatter yourself, and you even asked Lin Qiu to beg you?

Our family has plenty of money, why would we need to beg a penniless guy like you?

You can hire anyone with money, so why bother sending me out to the countryside?

I think it's because you and Lin Qiu have an ambiguous relationship, and she's using my family's money to support you.

If I had known it would turn out like this, I shouldn't have saved her. I should have let her become paralyzed or drown.

Liao Zhi's eyes flashed with a fierce light; his hatred for Zhang Changyao and Lin Qiu had reached its peak.

"Changyao, Changyao, I heard your family's God of Wealth has moved in?"

Wang Ga barged in without permission, his eyes practically popping out of his head with envy as he looked at Liao Zhi on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Brother Ga, watch your mouth. Liao Zhi is in a bad mood and is throwing a tantrum." Zhang Changyao pushed Wang Ga towards the door.

"What? Are you going to put me under house arrest and prevent anyone from contacting me?"

Or are you afraid that I'll find someone better and steal your business?

The poor are despicable; they'll do anything for profit.

Liao Zhi's voice was loud, causing Zhang Changyao and Wang Ga, who were being pulled apart, to stand up and stare at him in surprise.

"Brother who just came in, could you ask around in the village if anyone would be willing to take care of me?"

"Thirty yuan a month, paid monthly, food and drink are all included."

Liao Zhi cannot move his neck or turn his head.

His only moving parts are his eyes and mouth; speaking is his only way of expressing anger.

"Changyao, tell me when you're not serving people. My wife is a very good at serving others."

How about you take thirty yuan and give me twenty yuan a month?

"I'm short on cash right now, so you can't keep this money-making opportunity to yourself."

"Wang Ga, you have twenty yuan, I only want ten yuan."

"Changyao, how about you transfer this job to me? I'll charge you ten yuan."