In the book, the female supporting role dreams of being an idle fish

"You're too much of a loner. Blending in with the crowd is the way to survive. If you wear clean clothes when everyone else is wearing tattered clothes, then you're making a mistake."

"You're the youngest person in our office. You have to argue with them when you need to. Even a fight wouldn't be excessive. It's a mistake to be too strong. Have you ever asked anyone else for your job?"

"Those three people can help each other, so why can't you? You never go out during work. Why? Who in the offices to our left and right doesn't go out for a stroll when they have free time?"

"Sometimes, trying too hard is a mistake. Perhaps your family circumstances have had a profound impact on you. But think about it: you have a lifetime ahead of you. What do you want to gain? That's what's important. It's not what you give to others, but what you take from them."

Gu Lixia really didn't know how to respond. She didn't look like someone who would engage in a heart-to-heart talk.

Aunt Shen always has a gentle and cheerful face and a beautiful smile. But she also has a lot of wisdom in life. It's a state that makes people very envious. "So what do you ask of your daughter-in-law?"

"I don't ask for tea or water. We live in a courtyard. This courtyard has five rooms in total. In fact, it's pretty much the same as the houses in the staff housing complex."

"But these five rooms are all living quarters. We four each have one. The other room is vacant. When grandchildren are born, they will live there. When they get married, they will move into the room that belongs to them."

"My requirements are simple. Whether I marry or not, I just want to have enough food to eat. I have been living like this all these years."

"To be honest, I don't really love my grandchildren at all. It's just that every family has to give me the filial piety money every month, and I spend it on them and the children. That way it's better for my reputation. It's not much, just 5 yuan per person. And coincidentally, the two wives I married are both working people."

"That's 10 yuan per room. I don't care about their affairs, I just love the younger generation. They can live the life they want. The eldest family is particularly stingy and saves it all. The second family is also responsible. They just send the money back to the mother's family."

"I don't care. They can just take care of their own wives. I'll give them the house to live in, and we'll split it up in half after a hundred years. My things will most likely be given to my eldest granddaughter."

"You can please people with your sweet words. I'm bored, so naturally I like it. I spend all my monthly salary. I used to run a restaurant, but it's still open now. It's just that ordinary people can't find it."

"Think carefully about the problems you and the Jiang family are facing. Now you're facing the issue of going to the countryside. It's not enough for the children to just have enough food and clothing. You have to find them jobs. Finding a job is like buying a job. To keep a good reputation, you can't touch the part that belongs to his father and grandfather."

"Hold on to your and Jiang Wen's wages for the past few years. Try not to spend them. The same goes for food. Only buy what's your share."

"As for those three children, wasn't it the same when their father was around? Just treat them the same. Of course, these are just superficial efforts. But sometimes, things often go wrong because of these superficial efforts."

"Jiang Wenneng led Jiang Huaibei for six years. Jiang Huaixi was also led by Jiang Xiu for more than two years. But he couldn't be led by Jiang Xiu for six years. You lead Jiang Huaixi for three years. No one will poke your spine."

Gu Lixia felt that Aunt Shen must be advising her younger self when she said this. "Why are you suddenly telling me this?"

Aunt Shen still didn't look into Lixia's eyes, but just stated, "Because you are young, there are many times when you choose a path when you are young and think it is the right one, but not long after, you will regret it."

"The remaining three in our office. When they got married, they also fantasized countless times about being together forever, having a happy marriage, living in harmony, growing old together, and having children soon."

"They don't even have other people's children standing between them. But they have parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, older sisters-in-law, older brothers, sisters-in-law, younger brothers, and younger sisters."

"There's nothing between you two. You and Jiang Wen are the only ones who can run the household. If my sister-in-law passes the exam, she can continue studying for another four years. If she fails, she'll have to work in two years."

"Buying a job is very difficult. It requires a lot of effort. As for those three boys, it's not time to worry about them yet. Just keep them well fed and clothed every day. Jiang Xiu will take these into consideration for the time being."

"It's especially important to maintain a good appearance. You may appear to be just an aunt, but in reality, you're a stepmother. It's difficult to strike the right balance here. At the very least, once you have a child, your attitude will determine whether you can keep a man's heart."

"The crime of hooliganism isn't that scary, actually. There's a family living nearby. Of course, we all live in the house allocated by the transport team. The men are out, and the women entertain the guests."

"Neighbors gossiped about this woman, and everyone wrongly accused her. She jumped into a well once, and no one gossiped about her again. But the truth is, everyone knew that her second son didn't look like her husband."

"But the second child wasn't evidence. The eldest and third child both looked like her husband. As a result, not long after, the men in the transport team started spreading rumors. Her husband was out and had a child with someone else."

"This woman is very smart. She doesn't make a fuss. She wants all her salary and some of the extra income. That's how they live together. The truth is sometimes important, and sometimes it's not. What matters is whether you have the ability to manipulate others."

"You don't seem to care about Jiang Wen at all. Except for that rainy day, you've never been to his office. A couple working in the same office will unconsciously pay a lot of attention to each other."

"Jiang Wen is in that office, and I've heard a lot from my colleagues. You don't value him. In a society where men are the backbone of the family, what consequences will you face? Classmate friendship won't give you any leverage in your marriage."

"You have to pretend when you need to. Didn't you say you married him for this job? That's the truth. You don't have a child now, so you have to keep this job. Without this job, the Youth League Office will immediately notify the Street Office and send you to the countryside."

"Let's not even talk about those far away. There are still many unmarried young women in the family compound. Let's put aside those who have already graduated and gone to the countryside. What about the batch graduating next year? Who can you defend against?"

"Not having children gives others an opportunity to take advantage of you. You're working for the job, and so are they."