Chapter 63

Chapter 63

"I've just eaten, Auntie Jinhua. Why don't you rest for a bit? We can have some water before we go." Bai Xiuxiu invited her into the house.

By now, the two children were already dressed neatly, each carrying a small cloth bag containing their toys.

The Women's Federation office was located at the brigade headquarters, which had a spacious courtyard where the two kids could play.

Chen Jinhua hurriedly declined. "I won't have any water today. Director Xiao Wang is waiting to hand over the duties to me. The few of us in the Women's Federation can manage. There's quite a lot to do, so let's set off."

"Alright, I'll lock the door, and we'll leave. Mingming, Yueyue, it's time to go out."

Bai Xiuxiu took the two children with her and locked the door.

As Chen Jinhua looked at Bai Xiuxiu's children, she thought about her own sister who had been unable to conceive for several years. Although her sister wasn't mistreated by her in-laws, she always felt insecure.

If her sister had a child, wouldn't life be smoother for her?

The Wang family members working in the yard felt uneasy seeing Bai Xiuxiu leaving with Chen Jinhua.

The job at the Women's Federation was prestigious no matter how one looked at it.

How nice would it be if it fell on his own wife?

The one who felt the most aggrieved was Liu Xiaoe, hiding in the kitchen.

Liu Xiaoe watched Bai Xiuxiu, dressed neatly, leading her two children away with Chen Jinhua. Her nails dug into the windowsill almost cracking them.

Why did my sister-in-law have such good luck? She had a son, a caring older sister, and mother, and even her brother listened to her. She didn't have to work!

And yet, this job still fell on her?

"Second daughter-in-law? Hurry up and boil some water. Make some saltwater for everyone to drink. They're doing physical labor, they need saltwater," Wang Shoucheng's voice carried through the walls into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Liu Xiaoe felt even more heartbroken.

Why was her fate so bitter?

She was the only one who stayed home every day to take care of the elderly and the whole family.

Everyone else had proper jobs.

Though she felt wronged, Liu Xiaoe didn't dare show it on her face. She vented her anger by stoking the fire.

Bai Xiuxiu followed Chen Jinhua outside. In an empty spot, she secretly took out the small cloth bag that Wang Qinghe had prepared for her from her large cloth bag. Inside was a pound of red sugar, ten eggs, and the fabric her sister had given her.

She had cut three feet of the fabric. It wasn't enough for adult clothing, but it was suitable for making smaller items.

"Auntie Jinhua, you've been busy helping me. My husband and I have nothing to thank you with. Please accept these things. When we have better things in the future, we will thank you again." Bai Xiuxiu handed the small cloth bag to her.

"Oh, what are you doing?" Chen Jinhua said this, but she didn't refuse.

This trip had indeed required effort on her part for Bai Xiuxiu, and she had offended others. After all, who wouldn't want a job that didn't require work and came with money?

It was also prestigious and desirable for those with ambition.

The merged brigade of three villages certainly wasn't short of people.

She had offended others, so she accepted the gift without guilt.

Chen Jinhua took the items and felt them, knowing what was inside. Indeed, Xiuxiu knew how to handle people. The items inside were currently scarce.

Looking at Bai Xiuxiu, she felt even closer to her. "Xiuxiu, I won't refuse your gift. But I know you're grateful. Don't give me anything else in the future. I won't feel right accepting it."

Chen Jinhua held the cloth bag, feeling even more that Bai Xiuxiu knew how to handle people. Carrying it like this made it seem as if it was her own, and there was no need to hide it.

When they arrived at the brigade headquarters, there weren't many people around. Apart from the accountant and the brigade leader who came every day, the others were either busy with their own affairs or attending meetings at the commune or working at home.

The commune's brigade consisted of six tiled houses with a neat, two-meter-high wall surrounding the courtyard. The courtyard itself was levelled.

Seeing Chen Jinhua arrive, the brigade leader nodded when he saw his wife bringing Bai Xiuxiu's eldest daughter-in-law. "Xiao Wang is waiting for you. Go ahead."

"I'll go right away. By the way, the food in our pot is still warm. Mom wasn't feeling well and didn't eat when I left. Take a break later and make sure Mom eats." Chen Jinhua instructed her husband briefly before taking Bai Xiuxiu into the room.

Inside was a large table made by joining four small tables together.

There were three people in the room.

One of them was a tall woman in her thirties wearing military green clothes and sporting short hair.

She was the busiest, showing the other two various documents and discussing them.

Upon seeing Bai Xiuxiu and Chen Jinhua enter, she greeted them. "Auntie Chen, you're here? We've been waiting for you. I've almost finished handing over everything. Here's your portion. I still need to go to the commune to complete my registration. Time is tight.

Now that you're here, you can take over the remaining tasks?

If there's anything you're not familiar with, come find me at the commune later."

Hearing this, Chen Jinhua was delighted.

What she feared most was that Director Xiao Wang would leave with a long list of requirements.

Since she was leaving now, it was perfect.

Chen Jinhua accepted everything Director Xiao Wang handed over. "Director, don't worry. I'll definitely manage the Women's Federation well and cause you less trouble. May everything go smoothly for you at the commune."

"Thanks, Sister Chen Jinhua. I'll be on my way then."

Director Wang works as briskly as Chen Jinhua does.

Once they left, Chen Jinhua felt much more at ease and looked at the other two. "Let me introduce you. This is Bai Xiuxiu from Xiahe Village."

"You can call me Xiuxiu." Bai Xiuxiu smiled amicably.

"Xiuxiu, the one in the blue shirt on the left is Liu Xiaohui from Shanghe Village. She's a bit older than you, twenty-six this year. She took over my old position. You can call her Sister. The one in the green shirt on the right is Xiao Miao. She's the daughter of the village head of Zhonghe Village, just turned twenty.

You can call her Miao. She does the same work as you.

From now on, when we go to mediate family disputes, you two will come with us.

You two will be responsible for taking notes."

Chen Jinhua introduced the three young women in the room to each other.

Liu Xiaohui is now the second-in-command in this room.

She looks like someone not to be trifled with, but she is friendly.

Miao is curious about Bai Xiuxiu. The main office is in Xiahe Village, so she walks around the village.

Bai Xiuxiu’s mother-in-law often spoke ill of her, saying she was lazy, but Jinhua Auntie recently dispelled that rumor.

The few people in the room greeted each other and quickly became familiar.

They were all part of the same team, so they got to know each other quickly.

"We don't have many major issues every day. If a wife or mother-in-law comes crying to complain, we just need to go and mediate."