Wealthy Beauty in the 60s
Chapter 101 - 100: Hidden Danger?

Chapter 101: Chapter 100: Hidden Danger?

Dad can’t work anymore, and Mom is just a temp, and all my younger brothers and sisters are still little. We might not even be able to live in these workers’ quarters soon, let alone survive.

Once people find out, the consequences could be big or small. Xia Xiao thought about the current era, unsure if it would become a huge problem.

So she asked, "Dad, Mom, does anyone else know about this?"

"Your grandparents, uncles, aunts, and Mom’s relatives should all know," Li Wenjuan said.

Xia Weiguo obviously caught Xia Xiao’s drift and nodded; family matters indeed can’t be kept secret among relatives.

Xia Xiao’s heart sank at the thought. If this was exposed during a special period, it would spell big trouble.

Xia Weiguo said, "It’s not a big deal; at worst, I’d lose my job."

"Big sis, it’s alright. These things happen all the time, and besides, if our family loses the power plant job, what will we do? We definitely won’t be able to live here anymore."

What to do, Xia Xiao wanted to say I’ll support you, but she found those words too hard to voice.

It wasn’t just the issue of providing for the family; there was also the matter of housing. The entire family would have to leave; where would they go? The Xia family had several mouths to feed.

But at the moment, telling her eldest brother to stop working wasn’t practical. Although her family was kind to her, they wouldn’t listen to her on this matter.

Xia Lin was still sniffling with self-pity, and Xia Xiao simply took out a candy and soothed her with it.

"Big sis, I want candy too," Xia Jing and Xia Hong also crowded around, and Xia Xiao handed a candy to each.

Li Wenjuan was heartbroken, "Why are you still buying candy? How much money is that wasting?"

"Mom, I rarely come back. It’s nothing to have a few candies on hand," Xia Xiao said.

Li Wenjuan didn’t say more, just told Xia Xiao, "Don’t let them eat too much, or they’ll crave it when you’re not here, and Mom can’t conjure up candy."

Xia Xiao nodded in agreement and even popped a candy into Li Wenjuan’s mouth. Li Wenjuan let out a yelp of surprise, not wanting to spit it out despite her shock.

Xia Xiao smiled faintly and offered a candy to both Xia Weiguo and Xia Chunrong, but they declined, shaking their heads resolutely.

Xia Xiao said, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, it’s a rare occasion for the New Year, eating a candy won’t hurt. And candy is sweet; I hope it signifies that our family’s life will be as sweet and wonderful as this."

Li Wenjuan readily agreed, "You’re right, big sis. We should aim for a better life."

Only then did Xia Weiguo and Xia Chunrong take the candies and put them in their mouths, tasting the sweetness that seemed to reach their hearts, as rare smiles appeared on their faces.

Xia Xiao softly told Xia Lin, "Little sis, you can’t say such things to others, understand?"

Xia Lin nodded with the candy in her mouth, and Xia Xiao added, "If people find out, Big Brother would lose his job, and we would have to leave home, possibly never returning. We couldn’t live here anymore and would be thrown out, ending up homeless on the streets, without school to attend, hungry and cold. Look outside at the bitter cold and falling snow; could you endure standing out there in light clothing with an empty stomach all the time, with nowhere to sleep at night?"

This speech terrorized her little sisters, with Xia Hong asking, "Is it really that bad, big sis?"

"Why would I scare you for no reason? Ask Dad, Mom, and Big Brother if it isn’t true," Xia Xiao replied, and Xia Weiguo, Li Wenjuan, and Xia Chunrong all nodded in confirmation.

Li Wenjuan interjected sharply, "If someone finds out, your dad and brother might even end up being taken away."

The mere thought struck fear into Xia Jing, Xia Hong, and Xia Lin, and seeing their expressions, Li Wenjuan nodded with satisfaction, glad they understood the seriousness and the importance of keeping their words in check.

Turning to Xia Jing, Xia Xiao said, "Second sis, with Big Brother busy and me not around, you’ll have to teach the third and fourth sisters and our little brother, you understand? You’re also due to be assigned to the countryside someday. If you don’t guide your siblings properly, could you leave home with peace of mind?"

Xia Jing nodded; at fourteen and already in junior high, she understood a lot more now. Besides, it’s common for poorer families’ older children to mature early; with big sis away and Big Brother constantly busy, she shouldered the responsibility of looking after her younger sisters, and now the newborn brother was also in their care.

"Waaah..."

"Little brother woke up," Xia Jing announced.

Xia Xiao then saw the little brother, Xia Hua, getting up from the bed. In the Xia household, except for Xia Chunrong, everyone felt like strangers to her.

Of course, Xia Chunrong was also a stranger to her, but he was her Old Dong after all, the second person she became familiar with in this era.

"Little brother, look, this is our big sis, Xia Hua. Our big sis is back for the New Year," Xia Hong eagerly informed him.

Xia Hua’s eyes rolled toward Xia Xiao without much reaction.

"I’ll take little brother to pee," Xia Jing announced, picking up Xia Hua and heading out the door.

The workers’ quarters were two-story buildings, with five rooms on both the upper and lower floors, all about the same size. The kitchen area was just at the entrance with a bathroom and shower room.

Li Wenjuan was already outside chatting with the other women. As Xia Xiao stepped out, she saw the row of stoves, with everyone cooking.

The women cooked and chatted, laughing and joking; the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Seeing this, Xia Xiao couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Originally, she had thought of letting her family try some wild game from her trip, but she hadn’t expected that cooking and preparing food would lack privacy with everyone watching.

Back at her production team’s base, people mostly still ate in the communal dining hall, and being in a more remote area, they received news later than the rest.

"Your big sis is out," said one of the women nearby.

Xia Xiao smiled at them, and Li Wenjuan introduced, "This is your Aunt Guo, she works at the same factory as Mom."

"Aunt Guo," Xia Xiao greeted.

Aunt Guo smiled back at Xia Xiao, then told Li Wenjuan, "You are blessed; each of your children turns out better-looking than the last."

Li Wenjuan chuckled, and from the third room a person emerged, commenting, "What good is that if they can’t move back to the city?"

Xia Xiao turned and saw the same bitter woman as before. Before Li Wenjuan could respond, Aunt Guo retorted, "Wang Hong, can’t you just settle down? We’re all getting along fine. Why do you always have to say unpleasant things? You don’t hear Wenjuan complaining about you taking her assignment."

Xia Xiao was taken aback, wondering about the meaning behind this.