The Fat Wife of the 1980s Awakens

The roar of the small truck broke the tranquility of the early morning, like a loyal messenger, bringing Xu Xiufang and her group safely to Xiaoxi Village.

Amid the flying dust at the entrance of the village, the villagers looked at us with surprise and envy.

Xu Xiufang returned in the iconic pickup truck belonging to the Xiafeng Garment Factory. This scene was undoubtedly a symbol of success for them.

Several elderly ladies, their clothes fluttering in the wind, walked quickly towards Xu Xiufang, curiosity and eagerness flashing in their eyes.

"Hey, Xiufang, are you coming back on the car from the garment factory? Could it be that you found a job there?" One of the aunties' voice was full of surprise and curiosity.

Another person whispered, "Could it be that the village party secretary acted as a matchmaker? I heard that his daughter got into the garment factory that way."

There was a hint of jealousy and resentment in his words.

Someone else couldn't wait to ask: "I tried my best to find a job for my daughter-in-law, but I couldn't find any. How did you do it? Please share with us."

Facing the villagers' barrage of questions, Xu Xiufang seemed a little unprepared, so she had to raise her voice and clarify: "Everyone misunderstood. I just helped them fix something, including the old sewing machine at home, which I sent back to the factory after it was repaired."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere around them suddenly cooled down, like smoke swept away by an autumn breeze, and the original enthusiasm and flattery disappeared without a trace.

Instead, a sour smell spread in the air.

"How much money can you make from repairing things?" someone muttered contemptuously.

Another person chimed in: "That's true. It's not as profitable as working as a regular employee in a garment factory."

In the tone of the conversation, the deliberate compliments had been blown away by the wind, leaving only sourness and dissatisfaction.

"It is said that the daughter of the village chief can earn seven dollars a day. Listen, that's a lot."

Xu Xiufang's ears were filled with such voices, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

But today, she was in a particularly good mood and had no intention of getting involved in a verbal battle.

"Okay, let's go home." She said softly, taking the hands of the three children and preparing to step into her own yard.

Live your life quietly and accumulate wealth quietly without showing off.

However, just as he stepped over the threshold, Xiaobao excitedly took out an envelope folded into a square from his pocket, with a gleam in his eyes.

"Mom, the uncle gave it to us today. He said it was your wages, and he also asked us to go to a restaurant for a good meal."

As soon as the little guy finished speaking, Erbao immediately clung to his mother like a little sticky cake.

"Mom, I'm so old, but I've never seen a restaurant! Shitou said the sweet and sour pork with pineapple there is so sweet that it makes your teeth itch. I really want to try it."

Dabao glanced at Erbao with a look that said "Why are you so useless?"

Xu Xiufang felt calm in her heart. She believed that Chen Anping was not a stingy person. Moreover, the two of them had not yet settled the repair costs of the sewing machines.

However, when several aunts not far away heard this, their peace was immediately disturbed.

They gathered around in twos and threes, their eyes full of inquiry and envy: "How much can you get paid for repairing those machines? You can even go to a restaurant and have a good time?"

An aunt frowned and estimated: "I'm afraid we can only make a few dozen dollars per machine."

"Hey, those iron things don't break down every day, whether it rains or shines. They only break down once or twice a year, and the money you earn is just some pocket money at best."

Another one continued.

"What can you do with pocket money? After you've had enough, you still have to worry about the next meal."

Another helpless sigh.

Xu Xiufang shook her head gently, a hint of helplessness revealed between her brows, as if to say, this is the way the world is, when things reach the mouths of those aunts, no matter good or bad, they become spice for their after-dinner conversation.

Just then, a slight creaking sound came from far away, and Li Guifang appeared in everyone's sight riding a slightly old bicycle, followed closely by Xu Xiaohua. Both of them had beads of sweat on their faces, but they could not hide their hardworking spirit.

The old iron and copper piled high on the car sparkled with mottled light in the sun. They were traces of labor and also testimony to the unremitting pursuit of life.

The expressions of the aunts around were like the unpredictable weather, gradually changing from the initial excitement of gossip and curiosity to an indescribable disdain and contempt, with a bit of contempt in their eyes.

One of the aunties curled her lips and said in a deliberately low voice that was loud enough for people to hear: "Hey, it's not enough to earn that little money. You have to pick up some waste. Can picking up rags be considered a decent job?"

There was a sting in these words, and it was clear that there was something else behind them.

Another person added, "They are so mysterious all day long. If you don't know, you would think they are doing something earth-shattering!" His words were full of sarcasm and disbelief.

When Li Guifang heard this, her expression changed. She swept her eyes over the group of aunts who were talking about something, and a stubborn spirit of not wanting to admit defeat arose spontaneously.

"What does it matter to you whether we earn a lot or a little?" She said in a firm tone, trying to block the source of the rumors in the most direct way.

Unexpectedly, these words touched the sensitive nerves of a certain aunt.

"Hey, you, you've been clinging to Xu Xiufang like a little tail every day. Do you have some ulterior motive in your mind, wanting to become Xie Yi's wife? You're so eager to take the initiative." These words were spoken in a sarcastic manner, with an obvious intention to stir up trouble.

When Li Guifang heard this, she was instantly furious and jumped out of the car without hesitation. Her eyes were almost spitting fire and she was just about to give the woman a loud slap in the face.

But she finally endured it, took a deep breath, and imitated Xu Xiufang's usual carefree attitude, retreating in order to advance.

"If anyone gives me five dollars a day, I'd be happy to be around her." His words were a bit teasing and provocative, successfully diverting everyone's attention to himself.

When everyone heard that Xu Xiufang actually paid Li Guifang five dollars a day, they were shocked.

You know, in this small town, this amount is almost comparable to the income from a hard day's work in a textile factory.

The work intensity in a textile factory is very high. Not to mention the three shifts, even going to the toilet requires reporting. How can you be so free and easy, riding a tricycle around and earning money easily?

"Oh, some people just like to show off and spend their money to show off. I feel sorry for them." An aunt sighed. Although her words were sincere, there was also a bit of sourness.

After all, in this small town, everyone knew that Xu Xiufang's family was in a difficult situation. She had to wait until Xie Yi got paid to pay back the money she paid for the salt she bought on credit from the store. How could she have any extra money to pay the workers?

Just as the group of aunts were discussing enthusiastically, Xiaobao seemed to have seen the right opportunity. He carefully took out an envelope from his pocket, which contained several neatly arranged banknotes, and handed it to Xu Xiufang.