In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day of the first lunar month, known as the Little New Year.
Luojia Village, Luo Family.
Zhou Yuni got up early in the morning to prepare breakfast.
There were still so leftovers from yesterday when Luo Cuilan and her family visited for New Year’s greetings. She planned to simply reheat them to get through the day, as she was the only one in the house; as long as her stomach was full, it was fine.
This New Year was simply a tornt for Zhou Yuni.
Not only was she spending the New Year all alone, but she also dared not step outside during the festive season.
Because whenever she went out, there would inevitably be people asking her why her family’s New Year celebration was so bleak, although most people already knew the current situation of the Luo family. They just couldn’t stand Zhou Yuni’s past arrogance and took pleasure in mocking her.
Zhou Yuni, always concerned about her image, found it unbearable when questioned like this. She knew that people in the village were actually laughing at her behind her back, gloating over her misfortune, saying she deserved it.
It was her own excessiveness that led to her man abandoning her, her children wanting nothing to do with her, and now even Luo Zhiming ignoring her.
As Zhou Yuni thought about these things, she couldn’t help but tear up again. She really couldn’t understand how she ended up in such a pitiful state, like a lonely old widow.
Zhou Yuni sat alone at ho for a long ti until she felt hungry and ate sothing casually. She didn’t know how much ti had passed — it felt like it was almost afternoon — when she heard the sound of the gate opening outside. Zhou Yuni guessed that it was Luo Zhiming returning; they had agreed to co back on the third day of the first lunar month.
Zhou Yuni wiped her swollen eyes and walked out of the kitchen only to see indeed it was Luo Zhiming and his wife. She snorted coldly, "Why co back at all? I thought you’d spend your entire life at your in-law’s."
Luo Zhiming spent this New Year with Duan Fenghua’s family. Although Duan Fenghua’s ho conditions were better and had plenty of New Year goods, Luo Zhiming felt like dying after being berated by Duan Fenghua for several days.
Duan Fenghua constantly criticized him for his lack of ability, inability to earn money, and not providing a good life for Xu He, who was heavily pregnant and couldn’t even have enough food, letting her daughter suffer like this.
If only she had known Luo Zhiming was such a useless man, her daughter wouldn’t have married him even if she couldn’t find anyone else.
Hearing her mother berate him, Xu He didn’t try to stop her but joined in, crushing Luo Zhiming’s last bit of dignity in front of his parents.
During those few days, Luo Zhiming’s dislike for Xu He intensified.
For Luo Zhiming, those days seed to drag on like years.
Now, seeing that Zhou Yuni wanted to make a scene again, he wearily called out, "Mom, stop it. I’m going to the provincial city to work tomorrow. Please pack so things for ."
Although Zhou Yuni had previously suggested that Luo Zhiming work in the provincial city, she hadn’t expected him to leave so soon. During the New Year season, when others eagerly returned ho, Luo Zhiming was planning to leave, which made Zhou Yuni sowhat distressed, "Leaving so soon?"
Hearing this, Xu He glared at Zhou Yuni and snapped irritably, "The sooner he leaves, the sooner he can make money. With the current situation at ho, do you want us all to starve to death?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuni instinctively wanted to retort, but then she thought that this might motivate Luo Zhiming to earn money, so she remained silent.
Zhou Yuni sat in the yard for a while, then went into the kitchen to prepare so food for Luo Zhiming to eat on the road.
Luo Zhiming followed her inside, silently helping to stoke the fire for a while before suddenly asking, "Mom, where should I look for work after I get to the provincial city?"
"You should find your dad, let him ask your elder brother for help," Zhou Yuni confidently said, "Talk to your dad about our family’s situation; he will surely help you."
"Where do I find him?" Luo Zhiming didn’t even know where Luo Dashan lived in the city, it would be impossible to find him without a specific location.
Zhou Yuni thought for a mont and said, "Wait, I’ll ask the neighbor Yu’er to find out where your dad lives in the city. If I can’t find out, you should just go directly to Fang Pingying’s house. There’s no way Hong Lan isn’t there."
"I..." Luo Zhiming hesitated at the ntion of going to Fang Pingying’s.
Honestly, he now feared facing Luo Zhiyong and Fang Pingying, ashad and afraid that Luo Zhiyong might scold him.
Seeing his reaction, Zhou Yuni gave him a stern look and said, "What are you scared of? Fang Ping isn’t going to eat you."
She paused then added, "During the New Year, your elder brother will definitely visit there. If your elder brother is there, just talk to him directly and make your case pitifully. With your elder brother’s temperant, he won’t leave you in the lurch."
Luo Zhiming really didn’t want to seek out Luo Zhiyong and the others, but rembering the recent events at ho, he’d rather face them. He sighed and nodded, "Okay, I’ll try that. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll still look for my dad."
He paused, then sneaked a glance at Zhou Yuni and hesitated before saying, "Mom, I know you don’t have much money, but I still need so for my trip to the provincial city."
"You..." Zhou Yuni was about to reflexively refuse.
But Luo Zhiming imdiately explained why he needed the money, "It’s not for spending recklessly. It’s just the travel expenses to the provincial city, and I’ll need money for food and drink before I get my first paycheck."
Knowing the money was necessary, Zhou Yuni was still reluctant to part with it, gesturing outside, "Ask your wife for it."
"She doesn’t have any money," Luo Zhiming almost pleaded with Zhou Yuni, "Mom, just give 30 dollars. When I get paid, I’ll send the money back directly to you. Just give Xu He a little spending money each month."
Ultimately, Zhou Yuni couldn’t bear to see Luo Zhiming struggling and relented, "Fine, I’ll give it to you. I really must have owed you in my past life."
After saying this, Zhou Yuni went back inside and from under the bed pulled out an old jar containing three ten-dollar bills, which she handed to Luo Zhiming.
After Luo Zhiming received the money, he was about to return to his room, but after thinking for a mont, he secretly separated one ten-dollar bill and hid it inside his cotton pants, leaving the other two in his jacket pocket.
Once Luo Zhiming returned to the room, Xu He was already sitting on the kang waiting for him. Seeing him enter, she imdiately stood, her face full of expectation, "Did you get the money from your mom?"
Luo Zhiming looked at Xu He and nodded slightly, "Yes, I got the travel expenses."
Unsatisfied with his reply, as she had intended for Luo Zhiming to extract all 100 dollars from Zhou Yuni, Xu He stretched out her hand, "Let see."
PS: There’s another update tonight.
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