Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 858 - 859: 1960s Quadrangle Courtyard 107

Chapter 858: Chapter 859: 1960s Quadrangle Courtyard 107

Zhang Yu returned home and immediately asked Zhang Li if she knew about this matter.

"Of course I know, sister. You don’t know? Teacher Yan even said it was a joyous addition to the family and that Xu Damao and his wife should treat everyone."

"Impossible." Zhang Yu was certain, "Xu Damao’s income is barely enough as it is, he has his own expenses to worry about."

In the past, he might have paid some attention to it, concerned about what to do if the other party were to have a child.

Now, knowing that won’t make women pregnant, of course, it’s all about having fun.

"Qin Huairu has not advanced in her technical level over the years, and her family was already big. Now there’s one more to add."

Zhang Yu knew without thinking, that the Xu Family’s finances must be very tight right now.

"I don’t know, but Bang Geng has lost a lot of weight." Zhang Li said softly, "Isn’t the street urging people to go to the countryside now?"

"That day, I heard Xu Damao saying he plans to send him there."

Zhang Yu was stunned; of course, she knew about this, but who would willingly send their own child to the countryside? No matter how nicely it’s blown up, it’s still the countryside they’re going to.

Which child would honestly do farm work? Going there is truly going to suffer.

"It’s really not your own child, so you just don’t care." Zhang Yu sighed, "But considering Bang Geng’s attitude towards Xu Damao, one really can’t expect Xu Damao to have a good attitude towards her either."

Once, while busy at work, and busy with pregnancy care, she had seen Bang Geng roll her eyes at Xu Damao and make punching and kicking gestures behind his back, even calling him out by name.

"No matter how bad Xu Damao is, at least he’s providing for Qin Huairu and her son." Although the food isn’t great, at least there’s something to eat and drink.

"He hasn’t left them to sleep on the streets." Of course, this statement is a bit over the top, but considering the Jia Family’s mess, what’s the difference between that and directly sending them to the countryside.

"He even found her a temporary job." Saying that Xu Damao is good is an overstatement, but is Qin Huairu really such good merchandise?

Without Xu Damao, he could continue to live well, even remarry, but what could Qin Huairu do? Definitely no job.

"Bang Geng was spoiled by Lady Jia Zhang." Did she really still think she was the same Bang Geng who could strut around the courtyard?

Since Lady Jia Zhang was locked up, Yi Zhonghai now has a grandnephew to attend to, with no spare attention for the child of a deceased apprentice, especially one who has gone bad.

Not to mention Sha Zhu, who is now a quiet presence in the courtyard, relying on Yu Shui’s family to support him in his old age, plus the house is in Yu Shui’s name.

Before Zhang Yu had her child, Bang Geng had gone to the Northeast, and it was Qin Huairu who registered him, reasoning that a boy should get out and toughen up more.

Everyone was initially surprised, but soon they realized, to Qin Huairu, Bang Geng’s status in her heart wasn’t as high anymore since he was now a waste.

Not to mention she now has to fawn over Xu Damao, of course being obedient, without daring to disagree.

As for everyone’s gossip, Xu Damao didn’t care; he is now successful, already in the position of a deputy director.

At the steel rolling mill, he’s on the rise; in the courtyard, he’s very prestigious, even Yi Zhonghai has to keep his distance.

The Zhang Family didn’t get involved with these matters; after all, they have already distanced themselves from the courtyard and avoided contact where possible.

Fortunately, Xu Damao was only targeting a few people, like Sha Zhu and a few others, not lashing out at everyone else like a mad dog.

Ever since the wind blew, Zhang Yu and her family have been living low-key lives; after Zhang Li graduated from high school, she took over and started working at the textile factory.

Zhang Yu, through her connections, managed to get Zhang Li a job at the textile factory’s archive room—a place seen by many as a cold, bureaucratic yamen, yet free from disputes and issues.

Zhang Li truly enjoyed this job. Going to work meant reading books and newspapers, occupying a position without prospects.

After high school, Zhou Jiangtao was sent to the military by Zhou Zhitao, who utilized the connections of his old comrade-in-arms.

As for Zhou Min, the child hadn’t even started junior high. Why worry? Anyhow, Zhang Yu and her husband had agreed to support their education up until high school graduation.

By then, if it was still required to be sent to rural areas or to join the army, they would see if they could leverage connections or buy a job placement.

Time passed day by day. Not long after Zhang Yu gave birth to her second child, another son, finally came some good news.

Overjoyed after she received the news, Zhang Li said, "Sister, I can take part in the college entrance examination now."

Ever since Zhang Li started working, there wasn’t a lack of matchmakers arranging dates for her—she went to see a few, but things never progressed beyond that.

The men were either unsatisfactory, overly enthusiastic activists, or had difficult families to deal with. More often than not, they hoped to live with the Zhang Family after marriage.

Zhang Yu let Zhang Li decide. When they built their house, they had already considered such aspects, making it easier to split the family property if needed.

Zhou Zhitao’s house was also vacant and available for them to move into.

Enraged, Zhang Li instantly declared she would absolutely not marry such a person. They hadn’t even exchanged betrothal gifts and were already eyeing her house. Because of this, Zhang Li’s marriage prospects gradually diminished, and she became known as the old maid.

With Zhang Li’s reputation taking a hit, Zhang Yu and her husband’s reputation was not expected to fare any better, carrying a notably bad name as well.

Regarding such talk, the couple didn’t care; they lived their own life, independent of others’ opinions.

With frustration brewing in her heart, Zhang Li wanted everyone to know that her staying unmarried had nothing to do with her sister and brother-in-law.

The truth was that the local boys were simply not up to her standards, not meeting her expectations at all.

"Sister, I want to take the college entrance examination. I don’t believe that I won’t find a suitable partner after getting into university," she said.

Zhang Li initially wanted a change of scenery, after all, she was still young. Who could truly enjoy spending her days in an archive room? The young girl had her aspirations; the situation had just been quite particular before.

Now, with the great chance to change her destiny, Zhang Li really wanted to give it a try.

"Such a great opportunity, of course you should try," said Zhang Yu, knowing the college entrance examination would be resumed. She had been keeping a watchful eye on Zhang Li, who was obedient and studied whenever she could at her workplace.

"Starting from today, study hard aiming to get into university, and become our family’s college graduate," she encouraged.

If it had been before, Zhang Yu might have harbored thoughts of taking the exam herself, but now with two children, that ambition had faded away.

"I wonder if Jiangtao wants to go to college." Zhou Jiangtao’s grades weren’t bad, but he just hadn’t encountered the right opportunity.

"He probably does," Zhang Li hesitated before answering, not quite sure. If he were among the intellectual youth, Zhou Zhitao would definitely sign up for the college entrance examination.

But now, Jiangtao was in the military and it was uncertain if he could take the examination, "Ask your brother-in-law," she suggested.

When Zhou Zhitao learned that the college entrance examination was to be resumed, he immediately called his brother to find out if he was interested in taking the exam.

The answer turned out that he did want to take the exam, but his aim was to enter a military academy, which had not yet opened its doors to external candidates. If he insisted on attending a military academy, he would have to take the internal pathway.

Zhou Zhitao understood Zhou Jiangtao’s intentions; he wanted to strive in the military and achieve the goals set by the brothers.