“Things aren't as you imagine. Chen Jianye was injured before, but he came out of the hospital completely recovered.”
“There's a reason he had grudges with others; usually, he's a kind and amiable child.”
Third Aunt reluctantly explained.
“Alright, you don’t need to say more.”
Zhao Laohan waved his hand.
“From now on, our two families won't associate with each other. Don't say you're familiar with me; I don't have a sister like you.”
Han Great-Aunt even wanted to break off relations.
They couldn't get along anymore.
“Oh, don't listen to Granny Jia's one-sided story! She has a bad relationship with Chen Jianye, that’s why she’s speaking ill of him.”
Third Aunt tried hard to argue.
“Let's go, wife.”
“There are plenty of good young men in Four Nine City; we need to keep a close eye on our daughter.”
Zhao Laohan was too lazy to argue further and stepped away.
Han Great-Aunt glared at Third Aunt, then turned and left directly.
Jia Zhangshi's face showed a happy smile.
Refreshing!
Still want to find a wife?
With me around, you can just stay a bachelor from now on!
What's the use of your Chen Family having you if you can't find a wife? You'll still be without an heir.
“Granny Jia, what do you mean?”
“I finally found a girl for Chen Jianye, and you say those things? Who would marry their daughter here?”
Third Aunt's face flushed with anger.
“What's wrong with what I said? I'm just stating the facts.”
“I'm not like some people, who ruin other people's daughters for a bit of silver.”
“Hmph!”
Jia Zhangshi raised her head, put her hands on her hips, and left.
“Alright, alright, when Chen Jianye comes back, I'll definitely tell him everything clearly. You just wait!”
Third Aunt shouted loudly.
“Go on, say it! Go to the Rolling Mill now and tell him!”
“Do you think I'm scared? I'm doing a good deed, acting upright and proper. Even if it goes to the Public Security, I'll be in the right!”
Jia Zhangshi sat at the doorway, passionately clashing with Third Aunt.
Spit flew between the two.
The Courtyard's Great-Aunts all came over to listen.
Third Aunt insisted that Jia Zhangshi had ruined Chen Jianye's good fortune.
Jia Zhangshi said she had a clear conscience, saving the girl from a life of suffering, and hadn't made anything up.
Both sides had their points.
The Courtyard's Great-Aunts also split into two camps.
Some supported Jia Zhangshi, while others despised her character.
The Courtyard was quite lively.
Chen Jianye finished work and returned to the Siheyuan (Courtyard).
“Jianye, come here.”
Third Aunt stood at the steps of the doorway, waving to Chen Jianye.
“Third Aunt, what is it?”
Chen Jianye walked over.
“Oh, today I was supposed to introduce you to someone, but I didn't expect…”
Third Aunt talked about Zhao Laohan and his wife coming over during the day, and Jia Zhangshi's meddling.
“It’s all that Granny Jia's fault, she deliberately picked out your flaws to talk about.”
“For a blind date, you naturally talk about your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. After she stirred things up like that, your match is gone, and the Han Family sisters have broken off ties with me.”
Third Aunt sighed heavily.
“It's alright, Third Aunt, you worked hard.”
Chen Jianye pulled five mao from his pocket and handed it over.
“Oh, what are you doing, child? What do I need your money for?”
Third Aunt waved her hands repeatedly.
“Third Aunt, you've done a lot for me; I've seen it.”
“The Chen Family is a family that understands etiquette; we can't let you work for nothing.”
“If there's a chance in the future, please help me introduce someone again.”
Chen Jianye said calmly.
“Alright, alright, you're really a good child.”
Third Aunt took the money with a beaming smile.
Indeed, once the money was in hand, the feeling in her heart was different.
Fifty cents wasn't a lot, but it wasn't too little either.
More than that, it was the satisfaction of being recognized.
Chen Jianye prepared to leave.
“Oh, Jianye, let me tell you a few more things.”
Third Aunt walked down the steps and held Chen Jianye's hand: “If I continue to introduce you, Granny Jia will definitely cause trouble again. City people are clever; they know to understand the situation beforehand.”
“If you don't mind, I can introduce you to a girl from the countryside. Then, we can keep it a secret, get the marriage certificate first, and then have the banquet. Once it's done, Granny Jia won't have any tricks up her sleeve.”
“Let's wait a bit longer. If a girl marries over and finds out about my situation, our home won't be peaceful either.”
“I'll recover a bit more, thank you, Third Aunt.”
Chen Jianye said with a smile.
“Alright then, don't worry, I always keep your matters in mind.”
Third Aunt didn't force him either.
Finding a country girl would mean greater pressure later, she understood.
Chen Jianye didn't explain either.
He still hoped to get to know a girl first and enter into marriage after a thorough understanding.
Returning home, Chen Jianye glanced in the direction of Jia.
Jia Zhangshi wasn't sitting at the doorway making shoe soles.
Ultimately, she felt guilty.
Chen Jianye also had no intention of going to Jia's door.
After all, what Jia Zhangshi did was harmful to others and not beneficial to herself, but from a moral standpoint, there wasn't any major problem.
After returning home, Chen Jianye tidied up, cooked, and ate.
While washing dishes, Chen Jianye ran into Yu Li.
The latter even comforted Chen Jianye a few times, encouraging him to work hard and that he wouldn't have to worry about not meeting a good girl in the future.
Chen Jianye smiled and thanked her, with not much ripple in his heart.
The next day.
Jia Zhangshi swaggered to work.
As soon as she arrived at the team, Wang Lif started scolding her.
“Slacking off during work, disappearing, what kind of behavior is that?!”
“If you can do it, do it. If you can't, resign. Don't harm the rest of our team!”
“The Leader’s disciplinary action has come down: your day's wages deducted, and a five yuan fine. Do you accept it?!”
Jia Zhangshi was initially dazed, but when she heard Wang Lif's latter words, she instantly perked up: “I don't accept it! Why are my wages being deducted?!”
“Not accepting it is useless. The order has been approved. If you don't accept it, just bear it.”
Wang Lif roared loudly.
“You want to get paid without working? You're dreaming.”
“Exactly, if you can get paid, then what do those of us who are working on the job become?”
“In my opinion, the money should be deducted to teach Zhang Shi a lesson. When you're at work, work properly. Do you think you're here to play?”
The Pliers worker team members all spoke up.
Venturing their dissatisfaction.
Jia Zhangshi was screaming in anger.
Wang Lif called Yi Zhonghai over to take his apprentice away.
From now on, he needed to be strictly supervised.
If slacking off during work happened again, Yi Zhonghai would also be punished.
Three days passed in a flash.
Chen Jianye was working at his station.
Suddenly, he heard a crisp sound.
It sounded like a glass cup cracking after being exposed to cold and heat.
A lot of Carpentry knowledge flooded into his mind.
Suddenly, a lot of Carpentry-related knowledge was crammed into his mind.
Chiseling, filing, sawing, scribing, drilling, reaming, tapping.
Threading, scraping, grinding, correcting, bending, riveting.
His understanding of filing and chiseling, in particular, reached a specialized level.
Chen Jianye put down his work, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
He knew that his Fitter Skill had upgraded to LV3.
Opened the panel.
Name: Chen Jianye
Skills: Yang Style Tai Chi (Perfected)
Cooking LV2 Experience 201/500
Fitter Skill LV3 Experience 3/2000
Indeed, Carpentry had reached LV3, and the next level required two thousand experience points.
