Chapter 92: Give Up Zhang Quan’s Job
Old Woman Liu was just about to lose her temper when Huang Juan couldn’t hold back anymore and said sternly, “Old Woman Liu, that’s enough from you. If you insist on going home to talk, what exactly do you mean?”
She paused, then continued, “Don’t think everyone is as idle as you. Whatever requests you have, say them here. We’ll step out first.”
She glanced at Officer Li, signaling him to come out quickly as well.
Lu Qiaoge glanced at Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu, who had just secretly exchanged glances, and also exited the room.
There were more than ten people in the corridor watching the excitement, and someone curiously asked in a low voice, “I didn’t understand at all. What’s really going on?”
“Didn’t you see Officer Li from the police station is here? This matter isn’t trivial. It seems like slander or something.” Another woman lowered her voice and said.
All three of Officer Li knew exactly what it was about, but they couldn’t say.
But someone did know. For example, Aunt Xiu Mei, who was cleaning the corridor here, had overheard the entire thing and basically understood it clearly.
Her personality was straightforward; if she wanted to speak, she did: “I know. This morning, Zhang Quan had a high fever and passed out. There was no one at home except Xiao Bao. It was Comrade Lu from the neighborhood committee who took her to the hospital.
Originally, once she was sent to the hospital, that should have been fine. Xiao Bao at home was being looked after by the kind-hearted Fat Aunt, and then Wei Qiang came back too. His work unit gave him three days off to arrange family matters, but Wei Qiang didn’t go home. Instead, he told Deputy Director Huang that this month’s living expenses were in the wallet in the bedroom drawer and asked her to fetch it. But Deputy Director Huang found no wallet in the drawer, so Wei Qiang went to ask his mom.
Old Woman Liu said she didn’t know, and Wei Qiang believed her. He thought there must be a bad apple on that floor and had to root out the person. So he went to the police station to report it.
Officer Li is so sharp; in just a few words, he got it out—the wallet was taken by Old Woman Liu. Old Woman Liu’s excuse was that she was old and forgetful.
Then Officer Li called Wei Qiang at the hospital, and Wei Qiang ran to the police station to withdraw the case. Up to that point, the matter should have been over. But Old Woman Liu came to the hospital to settle accounts with Wei Qiang and Zhang Quan. She insisted that the couple had teamed up to frame and harm her.
She slapped Wei Qiang twice and was about to hit Zhang Quan too. Zhang Quan got so angry she fainted again. Officer Li had no choice but to call the neighborhood committee, and then they came running over.
Tell me, how many trips back and forth have Deputy Director Huang and Mediator Lu made for her family’s trivial matters?
It’s almost dark now, and they still haven’t gotten off work or eaten. Old Woman Liu looks pretty spirited; she must have eaten a full meal at home before coming. And now those two in the room don’t know what they’re saying to Wei Qiang.”
Officer Li rubbed his forehead; this was the first time he’d seen gossip so fierce.
But there was nothing wrong with it.
Aunt Xiu Mei had explained it very clearly; it was rare for her to have heard it so thoroughly.
The group of people buzzing around Aunt Xiu Mei, even after learning the whole story, didn’t leave. They still stood not far from the doorway.
One old woman sighed:
“No matter what Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu say, Wei Qiang can only agree. He doesn’t dare to refute.”
Another old woman said wistfully, “I’m even envious of Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu—having such a good son.”
Everyone sighed deeply.
Deputy Director Huang and the others had no choice but to wait.
Meanwhile, in the duty room, Wei Qiang looked incredulously at Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu.
The two of them were actually asking Zhang Quan to give her job to her apprentice worker nephew.
Old Woman Liu glanced at Old Man Wei and said in a tough tone, “As long as your wife agrees to give the job to Xiao Lei, I’ll go take care of your wife, and your sister-in-law can help out too. That way, you won’t have to worry about home when you go to work.”
Wei Qiang wasn’t a fool; he naturally knew the significance of giving away a job.
He said somewhat anxiously, “But if Zhang Quan loses her job, there’ll be no subsidy or salary. What about the medical expenses?”
Old Woman Liu said generously, “Then we’ll give you one hundred yuan. She’s just a paralytic; giving her water to drink is enough. She can’t do anything, yet she wants good food and drink. Let me tell you, Qiangzi, if you care about your mom, just agree straightforwardly.”
Wei Qiang anxiously grabbed a handful of his hair: “One job for just one hundred yuan?”
Old Man Wei said displeased, “Qiangzi, we’re all family. Xiao Lei is your own nephew, not an outsider. By rights, you shouldn’t even ask for money.” Then he sighed, “Truly, once you marry a wife, you forget your mother.”
Wei Qiang stared blankly at his scheming parents. He was filial, but he wasn’t stupid. They had long had their eyes on Zhang Quan’s job.
“I… I don’t agree. If Zhang Quan loses her job, medical expenses won’t be reimbursed. Without salary, just relying on me alone won’t work. Mom and Dad, can you please consider me too?”
Old Man Wei immediately flew into a rage: “We raised you all these years for nothing. If I’d known you’d be so unfilial, we should have drowned you back then!”
Wei Qiang looked at his father in disbelief. For some reason, hearing this made him feel very uncomfortable inside.
Old Woman Liu wailed even more: “You white-eyed wolf, you unfilial dog! You want to deliberately anger me to death, aaah, I won’t live anymore!”
With that, she charged toward the wall.
Wei Qiang was startled and quickly grabbed Old Woman Liu, his eyes red: “Mom, what are you doing?”
Lu Qiaoge had long been getting impatient.
She said while pushing open the duty room door, “This is a hospital; you can’t quarrel here!”
Then Lu Qiaoge said, “Brother Wei, I’ll take care of Sister Zhang. You all find a place to talk properly. This duty room isn’t suitable.”
Huang Juan was about to stop her, but then Lu Qiaoge suddenly exclaimed, “Uncle Wei, can I ask you something?”
Old Man Wei said reluctantly, “What do you want to ask?”
Lu Qiaoge smiled brightly: “I remember you’re from Xiaohe Village, living by Hongxing Lake back then. Someone asked me to inquire about a person from your village, named Wei Dechang. Same surname as you—maybe relatives?”
Old Man Wei was listening indifferently at first; what he was anxious about was his eldest grandson’s job.
If he could seize this opportunity to force agreement, he’d have nothing to worry about.
As for what others said, he didn’t really care.
Getting the benefit was what mattered.
Suddenly hearing the three words Wei Dechang, he didn’t react at first, but when he did, he froze in place, his face draining of color.
That was his own younger brother, and Wei Qiang’s biological father.
Old Woman Liu over there was also frightened.
She looked at Lu Qiaoge in fear, her voice trembling as she asked, “You, who did you say you were inquiring about?”
Then, reacting, she waved her hands hurriedly: “Who who who? We don’t know them.”
Lu Qiaoge blocked Old Woman Liu from leaving and glanced at Old Man Wei, who seemed flustered, still asking seriously, “Don’t rush off. That old man who went to the neighborhood committee also said Wei Dechang had two brothers. The older brother’s name was Wei Decai, and Wei Dechang had a son named Wei Qiang, little name Tie Dan, born in 1948—same name as Brother Wei.”
Not only was Wei Qiang’s full name the same, even Old Man Wei’s name was Wei Decai.
Huang Juan and Officer Li naturally knew this.
