Transmigrated into a deeply affectionate male supporting role in a period novel - Chapter 35

This was only the treatment for a Level 2 technician.

It was hard to believe how much subsidy tickets a Level 8 technician received in addition to their salary of 86 yuan.

When Zhao Lihui returned to the technical department, he was called over by the boss and praised, and then he began to arrange his future work. “You’ll be working with the Level 2 technicians. Yang Er, come over and take him.”

Yang Er was thirty-three this year; he was the second child in his family, so everyone called him Yang Er. Zhao Lihui followed Yang Er to the workshop to start working.

Master Rong also returned to his workshop. After all, the level of technical skill was different, and so was the work. If he wasn’t mentoring apprentices, he wouldn’t be there.

Chen Wansheng was busy following Master Zhang, feeling a deep sense of sorrow that he had nowhere to express. He could only work harder to finish his apprenticeship sooner and then take the certification exam. After all, becoming a Level 2 technician was achievable; he could do it!

Seeing Chen Wansheng working as if he were energized, Master Zhang smiled and continued to teach him the simplest and quickest methods to complete the tasks.

The change in work environment didn’t have much of an impact on Zhao Lihui. He was just a bit busier than when he was an apprentice. The people in the workshop saw how skillful he was becoming and gradually relaxed their concerns; having a colleague with real skills was something everyone appreciated.

After work, he went to the supply and marketing cooperative in Tongxin Alley to tell Ye Guidong about his regularization, and Ye Guidong was also happy for him. “Your apprenticeship period was quite short, which shows that your abilities are really strong.”

“Otherwise, how could I have passed the exam for the Level 2 technician certification?”

“You took the exam? And you got Level 2? That’s really impressive!”

Zhao Lihui nodded happily and told her about the salary and subsidy tickets for Level 2 technicians. Ye Guidong’s eyes widened in surprise, “So much?”

“The salary is structured so that for each level from Level 1 to Level 8, you get an extra nine yuan. The subsidy tickets are additional on top of what a Level 1 worker receives. So I’m really curious, how much do Level 8 workers get in terms of subsidy tickets? What do they even include?”

“Well, it must all be good stuff; after all, they’re Level 8 workers, and that’s nationally certified.”

After Zhao Lihui joined the machinery factory, Ye Guidong also learned a lot about it. “Workers below Level 5 take their exams in the city, while those above Level 5 have to go to the provincial capital.”

“I’ll aim to get a Level 8 certification before I turn thirty,” Zhao Lihui said while stroking his chin.

“If it’s you, I believe you can do it.”

Ye Guidong’s words made Zhao Lihui’s face turn red. “So, how about inviting Uncle and Aunt over for dinner at our place tomorrow night? My parents will definitely prepare a feast to celebrate.”

“Sounds good,” Ye Guidong said, covering her mouth with a smile.

Soon, Ye Guidong finished work, and Zhao Lihui still took her home before returning.

He bumped into Zhao Dageng at the entrance of the Alley, and without hesitation, he sat in the back seat as Zhao Dageng drove him home.

“Is the second sister back?”

As Zhao Lihui pushed open the yard gate, he saw Zhao Lihong washing vegetables by the water well.

Zhao Lihong’s eyes were a bit red, but when she saw them return, she smiled, “Yes, I came back to see you all.”

“Then you must come back often,” Zhao Lihui said. He didn’t ask anything else, and Zhao Dageng opened his mouth to say something but, under the gaze of his younger son, closed his mouth and nodded in agreement with Zhao Lihui’s words.

It had rained a couple of days ago, and the bike wheels were covered in mud. Zhao Dageng filled a bucket with water in the yard to wash the bike, while Zhao Lihong focused on washing the vegetables. As for Zhao Lihui, he went to take a shower as usual, carrying a pot of water from the stove. It was hot that day, and he actually preferred cold showers, but after being scolded several times by Chen Cuifang for that, he obediently mixed hot water with cold to take a lukewarm shower.

“Didn’t Xiang Yi come back with you?”

While Zhao Dageng scrubbed the mud off the bike wheels, he asked,

“He’s on the night shift today,” Zhao Lihong said softly. “Dad, I just had a few arguments with my sister-in-law. I couldn’t stand it and didn’t want to eat the meals she cooked, so I came back. There’s nothing else.”

“Is that not a big deal?”

Zhao Dageng furrowed his brow. “Didn’t you say last time that you’d bring up the idea of splitting the household to keep her in line? Was that useless?”

“It was useful. You see, she brought up household chores again. My sister-in-law has a job, while I’m just doing odd jobs at the market. She thinks I should spend all my free time at home helping out instead of resting. I go out early and come back late; I’ve earned money and brought home supplies. It’s not like I’m living off free meals. Even my in-laws haven’t said anything about me, yet she acts like she’s the head of the family.”

She didn’t mention the more excessive things. The household chores and kids at home were managed by Liu Mother and Eldest sister in law, but due to her upbringing, she and Liu Xiangyi took turns washing each other’s clothes. They all shared meals, so there really wasn’t much trouble for Eldest sister-in-law Liu.

But Eldest sister-in-law Liu wanted to take the opportunity to confront her, simply because Liu Xiangyi had brought up the idea of splitting the household, which Eldest sister-in-law Liu held a grudge against. Since Liu Xiangyi had a decent job, she couldn’t say much to her and instead picked on Zhao Lihong. Zhao Lihong had been pampered at home, so out of respect for her in-laws, she endured Eldest sister-in-law Liu’s behavior for two days. But today, she couldn’t take it anymore and almost got into a physical fight with her.

“Didn’t your in-laws say anything?”

Zhao Dageng frowned even more tightly.

“My father-in-law isn’t home, and my mother-in-law just tries to smooth things over,” Zhao Lihong sighed. “I should have taken my time and gotten to know his family better before considering marriage. After all, who knew that my in-laws were like this after just a few meetings before the wedding?”

“I think you should consider enrolling in a night school,”

Chen Cuifang said after listening for a while when she noticed Zhao Lihong hadn’t entered the kitchen.

“Mom, night school isn’t for someone like me who only graduated from elementary school; I can’t even meet the entrance requirements,” Zhao Lihong sniffed, “I should have studied hard back then.”

“Now you’re regretting it? Back then, I couldn’t even get you to study with a broom,” Chen Cuifang poked her forehead and then softened her tone, “But I had even less education, and I’m still living just fine, aren’t I? Life is what you make of it; it has nothing to do with education. That’s all in the past; don’t dwell on it, or you’ll just get me scolding you.”

“Scold me all you want,” Zhao Lihong said defiantly, “I’d rather be scolded at home than go back and face the same thing.”

“Did she scold you?”

Chen Cuifang’s expression changed.

“She was sarcastic, but she didn’t scold me directly. However, when I argued with her today, I let it all out,” Zhao Lihong said with a hint of pride. “Can she really look down on me for not having a job? She didn’t even finish elementary school! She got together with my brother by getting him drunk, and then things just happened without her even thinking; she came into the house pregnant…”

“What? Who said that?”

Chen Cuifang’s expression changed.

Both Chen Cuifang and Zhao Dagen looked over.

“My mother-in-law said it,” Zhao Lihong touched her nose. “When I brought this up, my mother-in-law’s face turned sour, but I was so angry at the time that I just vented my frustration.”

“No wonder you didn’t dare stay over there for dinner. But your mother-in-law is something else; once something is in the past, why bring it up again?”

Chen Cuifang scolded her a few times. “And you, you didn’t use your head while cursing. What kind of thing can you say like that? You offended four people at once!”

“Four? Who are the four?”

Zhao Lihong was taken aback.

Zhao Lihui came out carrying the dirty laundry. “Your in-laws and your brother and sister-in-law, right?”

Their voices weren’t low; Zhao Lihui could hear them clearly.

“For your in-laws, this matter is very embarrassing. For your brother, it might not be a pleasant memory either. And since your sister-in-law did something like that, it’s like having her dirty laundry aired in public! Haven’t you offended four people?”

Seeing her daughter’s foolish expression, Chen Cuifang also regretted it. “If I had known your in-laws’ family was so complicated, I wouldn’t have agreed to this marriage.”

“Who says otherwise?” Zhao Dagen’s expression was equally grim. “What do you mean ‘getting drunk’? A man can’t perform when he’s drunk at all. What drunkenness? Bah!”

“What are you saying in front of the child?”

Chen Cuifang scolded Zhao Dagen a few times, then pulled Zhao Lihong into the kitchen.

Zhao Lihui soaked the dirty clothes, then brought in the vegetables Zhao Lihong had just washed. As Zhao Dagen rinsed the bicycle wheel, he mumbled, “I was just speaking the truth.”

After bringing the vegetables in, Zhao Lihui thoughtfully didn’t linger and left space for the mother and daughter to talk. He went outside to wash the clothes, then went to the backyard to tidy up the vegetable patch. It was only when he was cleaning up the chicken coop that he noticed the little dog following him.

“Little shadow,” Zhao Lihui squatted down and poked Diandian’s head. Diandian thought he was playing with it and happily wagged her tail, nudging his hand with her nose.

Zhao Lihui decided to play with her for a while.

“Shake!”

Diandian chased her tail, playing.

“Come here, sit!”

Diandian continued to nuzzle his hand.

“Is it that your ears are having problems?”

Zhao Lihui wondered, pinching her muzzle.

“Time to eat!”

Chen Cuifang shouted, causing Diandian to pull it’s nose away from Zhao Lihui’s hand and happily run toward the main room.

Zhao Lihui said, “It’s not that it doesn’t understand; it just doesn’t want to listen. This dog!”

During dinner, Zhao Lihui mentioned his formal employment and certification exam, and sure enough, Zhao Dagen and his wife decided to prepare a special dinner the next evening, asking him to tell Ye Guidong to come over.

“Make sure to bring Xiangyi along too, so our family can get together for a meal.”

Zhao Lihong nodded, “Okay.”

She was happy and somewhat proud of her brother, saying, “Sister-in-law’s brothers are all useless, but my brothers are great! It drives her crazy!”

Chen Cuifang felt like the words she had said in the kitchen to her daughter were in vain.

Seeing her mother’s gloomy expression, Zhao Lihui said, “Mom, the things I asked you to make before are all done. I can deliver them to them tomorrow.”

“Oh, right,” Chen Cuifang brightened up, “I was just wondering when to send them to you and Xiangyi. You came at the perfect time.”

“What things?”

Zhao Lihong asked curiously.

Chen Cuifang told her to eat first before explaining.

After dinner, she told her to take a bath and then put on the freshly cleaned clothes she had made for her. Zhao Lihong was as happy as a child, exclaiming, “My brother is really the best brother in The Alley!”

“Just in The Alley?”

Zhao Lihui raised an eyebrow.

“Well, then he’s the best brother in our city!”

“Just in the city?”

Zhao Lihui stroked his chin.

Zhao Lihong put her hands on her hips, declaring, “Then he’s the best brother in the whole country!”

“Well, that’s pushing it a bit,” Zhao Lihui nodded. “Even though the fabric color is the same, the styles of the clothes are different. Mom made them according to your preferences.”

Zhao Lihong liked stand-up collars and wide sleeves, so Chen Cuifang made the clothes in that style.

“Mom, you’re so good, and Dad is good too, and my brother is good,” Zhao Lihong sobbed as she hugged Chen Cuifang’s arm. “I’m the only one who can’t do anything right, always causing trouble for you.”

“If you keep talking like that, I’ll take the clothes off you and give them to Li San’s girl,” Chen Cuifang teased with a laugh.

Zhao Lihong quickly wiped her tears away. “She wouldn’t be able to wear them anyway! She’s so skinny; this size only fits me! I look the best in them, right, Dad? Right, Third Brother?”

“Absolutely.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

The father and son both nodded with smiles.

This made Zhao Lihong feel incredibly pleased.

At this moment, the food had just been served at the Liu family’s table.

Sister-in-law Liu hadn’t expected Zhao Lihong to know about her past, so she was distracted while cooking dinner. As a result, the food was either burnt, too salty, or just tasteless.

Liu’s mother was extremely upset. After Zhao Lihong left, she lay in her room.

Now, sitting at the table eating this kind of food, her anger was even greater.

“Oldest Brother’s wife, do you think you can’t survive if you don’t do something every day? You keep picking on Third Brother’s wife, telling her what’s wrong and what’s not! What kind of food did you cook tonight? How dare you criticize her? You’re wasting food, do you even realize that?”

No one expected Liu’s mother to be this furious.

Especially since Liu Dad was one of those who worked outside and didn’t know what was happening at home.

“I’m sorry.”

Sister-in-law Liu pinched her nose as she apologized, her tearful expression resembling that of a young wife being bullied by a wicked mother-in-law.

“If you really can’t get along anymore, then let’s split up. Your dad and I won’t live with you two anymore; we’ll live with Fourth.”

Liu Xiangzu’s eyes widened in shock. What on earth had happened for his mother to say such a thing?

According to their family tradition, the parents were supposed to live with the oldest son in their old age unless the oldest son was very unfilial.

Liu Xiangxin, the oldest son of the family, also changed his expression. He had always known that his parents would live with him in their old age. “Mom, why would you say something like that? Of course, I’ll take care of you and Dad.”

“Why do I say such things? Your wife can’t settle down and live her life, how can I not say something? It’s infuriating! Whoever wants to eat this food can eat it!”

Liu mother threw down her chopsticks and returned to her room.

Liu Xiangman and his wife huddled together like quail, carefully eating their meals, and even the child sitting between them imitated his parents, being cautious not to make too much noise while chewing.

Liu Dad sighed as he looked at the whole family. He quickly finished eating, then took Liu Mom’s bowl and chopsticks to serve himself some dishes before heading inside.

After finishing his meal, Liu Xiangxin directly pulled his anxious sister-in-law Liu back to their room. As soon as the door closed, Liu Xiangman and his wife heard the sounds of arguing coming from inside.

“It must be because of Third Sister-in-law,” second sister-in-law Liu whispered.

“Isn’t it because of her?”

Liu Xiangman was puzzled.

Second sister-in-law Liu shot him a glare. “Third brother is working the night shift today. He had lunch and then went to work; he’s not home!”

“Oh, oh,” Liu Xiangman nodded. “But Sister-in-law is indeed too harsh on Third Sister-in-law; clearly, she’s doing everything quite well.”

“Keep your voice down,” second sister-in-law Liu glanced at the few children sitting across from them and stepped on his foot, signaling him to stop talking. The older kids understand things and will pass messages to the adults.

Liu Xiangman immediately shut his mouth. Having finished eating, he held his child and fed him.

Liu Xiangyi returned home from work at midnight and saw Liu Xiangxin squatting at the gate smoking.

He put away his flashlight. “Eldest Brother?”

“Third,” Liu Xiangxin stood up when he heard his voice. “Sorry, your Eldest Sister-in-law got Third Sister-in-law upset, and she went back to her mother’s house.”

Liu Xiangyi was already aware that Sister-in-law had been particularly sharp-tongued these past few days. He had told Zhao Lihong earlier that if he wasn’t home, she should just go back to her family.

Looking at his elder brother’s guilty expression, Liu Xiangyi sighed, “Eldest Brother, can I ask why? Is it because we didn’t agree to give up half of the house and raised the issue of splitting the family? Or is it something else? There must be a reason. We work outside and still have to face Sister-in-law’s sarcasm when we come home; it really becomes unbearable over time.”

Faced with his brother’s question, Liu Xiangxin was at a loss for words. He had his own selfish reasons regarding this matter. In the family, apart from the second couple who had one child, he had the most children, and as they grew up, it became increasingly crowded. So when his wife acted against his brothers, he actually… turned a blind eye.

“I’ve already spoken to her properly; this kind of thing will absolutely not happen again. Tomorrow, please trouble you to bring Sister-in-law back,” he said.

Liu Xiangyi was on the night shift, so the next day was basically a day off for him. “Okay.”

Early the next morning, Liu Xiangyi didn’t even eat breakfast before taking a bus to the Zhao family.

When Zhao Lihong saw him arrive, she stepped forward with a hint of grievance. “I was too impulsive yesterday; I was wrong too. Mother must have been really angry, right?”

“It’s okay,” Liu Xiangyi gently held her hand. “It was right for you to come back since I wasn’t home. That sister-in-law can do anything when she’s mad.”

Zhao Lihong was taken aback. “What happened?”

“I only know that at first, when our parents didn’t let her in, she took a knife and tried to commit suicide at our doorstep. It wasn’t a threat; she actually cut her wrist,” Liu Xiangyi said in a low voice.

Zhao Lihong gasped in shock, and when Chen Cuifang heard the noise and came out from the backyard, the couple tacitly avoided bringing up that matter again.

When Zhao Lihui finished work and got off the bus at Tongxin Alley, he saw Ye Guidong waiting at the alley entrance. “Why didn’t you go over to your aunt’s place first?”

“Then why did you get off here?” Ye Guidong retorted.

Zhao Lihui shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

“Then I’m used to it too,” Ye Guidong said. Today, she had her hair styled in two braids that hung down to her chest. As she stood next to him and looked up, the stray hairs at her temples fell down, giving her a playful look. Zhao Lihui couldn’t help but reach out to tidy it up a bit.

“Then let’s go together, Comrade Guidong.”

“My dad gave me two movie tickets. Do you want to go see a movie together tonight?”

Ye Guidong invited.

“What time is it?”

“8:30,” Ye Guidong smiled.

“Why does your uncle always receive movie tickets?”

Zhao Lihui was really curious, as lately, both he and Ye Guidong had been getting their movie tickets from Ye’s dad.

“He has an acquaintance who is a leader at the cinema. Every time he comes to our house to ask my dad for medical advice, he likes to give him movie tickets.”

“I see,” Zhao Lihui squinted. “So, who did you go to see movies with when you got those tickets before?”

“Don’t get jealous,” Ye Guidong laughed lightly. “My older sister, second sister, and third sister used them when they were dating. My third sister just got married earlier this year.”

This meant that the movie tickets she received were used to go out with people around her.

Zhao Lihui grinned widely, which made Ye Guidong unable to hold back her laughter, “Look at you!”

“This is the inherent flaw of men,” Zhao Lihui said, leaning closer to Ye Guidong’s ear, “along with possessiveness.”

Ye Guidong felt her ears getting warm. She gently pushed Zhao Lihui, who playfully stepped back and accidentally stepped on someone.

“Ah!”

“I’m sorry!”

Zhao Lihui jumped in surprise and turned around to see it was Sun Baozhu, who looked pale and had dark circles under her eyes.

“Sorry, are you okay?”

Ye Guidong was startled by her complexion and quickly followed up with an apology since it was her and Zhao Lihui who were playing around and stepped on her.

“Can you watch where you’re going?”

Sun Baozhu didn’t want to see them at all, scolding them before quickly walking away.

“Looks like she’s fine,” Zhao Lihui said, relieved to see she was walking fine. “With her appearance, I was afraid she might just collapse if I bumped into her.”

“Her complexion is indeed poor,” Ye Guidong nodded. “It looks like she hasn’t had a good sleep in a long time.”

“It’s probably because of the last time we saw them arguing; they haven’t reconciled since. But Chen Wansheng still seems to be eating and sleeping well,” Zhao Lihui recalled Chen Wansheng, whom he encountered almost every noon. He seemed to be getting along well with several masters in the technical department, showing no signs of being troubled by his romantic issues.