Capítulo 457: Chapter 457 Information
But it wasn’t long before they returned,
with somewhat uncomfortable expressions on their faces.
The group with Yang PeiMin over here became curious; it seemed there was another story brewing.
“Yo, why didn’t you have some tea before coming over?” Luo Dahua said with a smile, “You didn’t even warm the chairs on that side before rushing back over, you guys really are something.”
Among them, a bold and frank Military Wife, looking annoyed, waved her hand dismissively at Luo Dahua, “Don’t mention it, I just can’t swallow that tea.” This Military Wife was named Zhu Yindi, a young twenty-five or twenty-six-year-old, the daughter-in-law of a second company deputy company commander. She hadn’t been with the military for long. A straightforward Military Wife, she was easy for others to accept but also easy to offend people. Yang PeiMin had dealt with her several times, and while Zhu Yindi could sometimes be blunt, Yang PeiMin quite liked her. Zhu Yindi wasn’t mean-spirited.
Zhang Yonggui just glanced at her, shook her head, and said with a smile, “Yindi dear is just frustrated with someone, it’s nothing serious. We’re all Military Wives living in the same compound, isn’t this just how we mesh and get along? Actually, Mr. Wen didn’t mean anything by it; she said her home was too cramped for guests, and she’d find another time to host us. There’s nothing wrong with what she said, so let’s not take it to heart.”
Zhang Yonggui had been with the military for over a decade in these parts, and her conduct always considered the bigger picture. She followed the rules of the army, echoed the organization’s slogans, and the idea of unity and collective progress was deeply ingrained in her. Even if she knew the truth behind some issues, her face always portrayed a sense of righteousness.
Zhu Yindi respected Zhang Yonggui; after all, when she first arrived, Zhu Yindi knew nothing and had made several blunders, and it was Zhang Yonggui who pulled her aside and taught her a great deal. So although Zhu Yindi felt upset, she managed not to show too much emotion on her face.
When others asked about it, Zhu Yindi spoke indifferently, “At Mr. Wen’s place, the tea invitation didn’t include us. We showed up uninvited, which made the host feel awkward, because the guests she had invited were all city Military Wives with high-ranking positions.”
The Military Wives who stayed behind were surprised, and apart from Zhang Yonggui, another Military Wife who had gone to take a look, Wang He, also seemed to confirm this with her expression.
Gong Chunhua glanced at Yang PeiMin and said to the few who had gone to Wen Qing’s house, “That doesn’t make sense, usually Mr. Wen seems quite good at socializing. Doing this is just embarrassing, isn’t it? Who would want to go to her place next time?”
Frankly, Yang PeiMin was curious too; Wen Qing was usually adept at keeping up appearances, so how had people seen through her true face?
Zhu Shoudi then said, “She didn’t say it outright, but the Hu family insinuated it in their words, and the hostess, Mr. Wen, didn’t come out to stop it, which is as good as agreeing, right? When we went there, it wasn’t that there were no seats; nobody even asked us to sit down…”
Zhang Yonggui interrupted her, “Alright, alright, where’s all this speculation coming from? Wen probably didn’t mean anything by it, who doesn’t have times when they’re not thoughtful enough? Let’s be generous and not hold grudges.”
Gong Chunhua tactfully changed the subject, steering the conversation toward other matters.
Suddenly, a child started crying.
It turned out that the kids were fighting over toys, and the second son of a Red Army wife had pushed down Gong Chunhua’s little boy and snatched his toy car, which led to the crying. Both kids were around the same age, a little over four years old.
The adults found it amusing to watch. The Red Army wife told her son to return the toy. Always a little tyrant, her boy steadfastly refused to give it back. The Red Army wife was so exasperated she smacked his bottom a few times, but he still wouldn’t hand it over. As she was about to hit him again, people intervened, “Let the kids play, isn’t this normal? Let them be, come sit down with us and continue our conversation.”
“That little brat is stubborn as a tiger; not even a spanking scares him. Only his father can manage him; nothing I say makes a difference. The ones I’ve given birth to are like debt collectors haunted by past lives. You wouldn’t think so, but the youngest, barely over a year old, is just as bad. When he cries, it’s like he could lift the roof off. I’ve bitten the bullet and sent the second one to kindergarten; I’ll send the youngest once he grows a bit more. They’re driving me crazy at home; my headache never stops…” the Red Army wife vented her frustrations.
Everyone laughed in response, “Isn’t it the same in every household? Boys are a bit naughtier. Once they grow up, they’ll be fine.”
“It’s not like that in my home; my two boys annoy me so much, I keep thinking I don’t want another son if I could choose again, a daughter would be nice,” said Wang He.
“It’s not that troubling, is it?” replied another. “The Red Army wife said it, just send them to kindergarten. I sent mine, and now the house feels too quiet, I’m not used to it…”
“I know how you feel,” Gong Chunhua added. “I don’t have much else to do, and being busy with the kids, time just flies. Now that they’re in kindergarten, I’ve got nothing to occupy my day.”
“Goodness, aren’t you lucky this isn’t our hometown; you’d never run out of chores. Haven’t you asked the kindergarten? They’ve started a small canteen just for the kids, with special meals just for them. They were understaffed not long ago; you could help out in the kitchen or with cleaning,” Zhang Yonggui suggested.
“You don’t understand, sister,” Gong Chunhua retorted. “Don’t think I haven’t asked, but they don’t think much of me. When they were hiring teachers, I even signed up. I’ve had a few years of schooling and you don’t need much for kindergarten work, just know how to care for kids. But see, I’m not from the city. I can’t compete with those city Military Wives. I heard that even the new Mr. Wen has been appointed as the director there.”
The military kindergarten may have looked small, but it actually served over one hundred thirty or forty kids, and accordingly, the staff count was also around a dozen people, of various professional ranks.
The conversation once again landed on Wen Qing, stirring up Zhu Yindi, who had earlier been snubbed. Rolling her eyes, she said, “I wonder what qualification Mr. Wen has?”
Zhang Yonggui jokingly scolded her, “Never mind her qualifications; she’s military personnel too. The leadership promoted her to that position with the policy of giving priority to military members.”
Zhu Yindi had nothing to say in response, though how full or empty her heart felt was known only to herself.
Yang PeiMin hadn’t expected that Wen Qing would end up in the kindergarten. Although the position sounded prestigious, it ultimately had little room for advancement or power, and Wen Qing didn’t seem the type to be content with mediocrity. Had she given up her position in the Cultural Troupe, or had something else happened? It seemed Yang PeiMin needed to write a letter to Qiao Ying and ask.
The topic shifted once more, and people stayed for a while longer before noticing the time and gradually dispersing.