People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Tu Nan and Xiao Ting came out of the kitchen.

"Dad, did you find my razor?"

Zhuang Chaoying capped her pen, stood up, folded the letter, and put it aside.

He turned and walked towards the small house, took Tunan's basin from under the bed, and then took his own razor, replacing the blade. "Come on, Dad will teach you!"

Zhuang Tunan followed behind Zhuang Chaoying, muttering, "Dad, I think I should be able to do it. I see you shaving every day. Even if you haven't seen pork, you've seen pigs run, right? It should be fine."

Zhuang Chaoying turned around and gently patted Tu Nan's head: "You brat, so much nonsense. I'll teach you this once, and you can shave yourself from now on."

The father and son arrived at the pond in the front yard.

Zhuang Chaoying patiently instructed: "Wash your face first, then lather up the soap and apply it to your face."

Zhuang Tunan followed his father's instructions step by step, though his movements were slightly clumsy.

Zhuang Chaoying held up a mirror, her eyes fixed on her son's movements: "Yes, that's it, tighten the skin a bit."

Just then, Lin Dongzhe looked out the window and saw Uncle Zhuang and Brother Tu Nan.

He pushed open the door and came out.

"Brother Tunan!"

Zhuang Tunan was startled, his hand trembled instinctively, and the razor made a small cut on his chin. "Tear!"

Zhuang Tunan cried out in pain and turned around to see Lin Dongzhe. "Lin Dongzhe, why are you shouting so loudly? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Lin Dongzhe ran over and looked at Zhuang Tunan's face. "Brother, you've grown a beard."

Then he touched his chin: "Uncle Zhuang, do you think this is a beard?"

Zhuang Chaoying couldn't help but laugh when she saw this. "Dongzhe, those are just body hairs!"

Song Ying had planned to take a nap in the room, but while she was still half asleep, she heard Lin Dongzhe's voice.

I stretched, put on my shoes, and went outside.

As soon as I stepped out of the house, I saw Tu Nan standing in front of the pond in the yard, his face covered in soap suds.

Song Ying couldn't help but laugh and tease, "Tu Nan is really a young man now, he's even grown a beard. I wonder when our Lin Dongzhe will grow up and become more sensible."

Lin Dongzhe was displeased upon hearing this. He straightened up, widened his eyes, and looked at his mother: "Mom, look at me, I'm almost as tall as you now. How am I being unreasonable?"

At that moment, Huang Ling's voice came from inside the room: "Song Ying, come in, there's a style I don't understand!"

Song Ying smiled and pointed at Lin Dongzhe: "Don't disturb your brother Tu Nan's shaving, he's here, Sister Ling!"

Lin Dongzhe pursed his lips helplessly, then plopped down on a chair to the side.

His gaze fell on Uncle Zhuang's movements as he taught Tu Nan to shave, and a question arose in his mind.

Unconsciously, he touched his chin and lips, constantly wondering when he could grow a beard like Tu Nan.

He remembered a classmate saying that shaving makes facial hair grow thicker. A thought suddenly popped into his head, and he decided to secretly shave while his mom and dad were asleep that night.

...

Zhuang Chaoying took the letter and pushed her bicycle outside. She planned to go to the post office to mail it.

When he arrived at the post office, he went straight to the counter, spent eight cents to buy a stamp, and mailed the letter.

I came out of the post office.

Zhuang Chaoying stood on the side of the street, looking at the old buildings, and began to make plans in her mind.

I've saved up some money, so I might as well buy an old courtyard house.

Whether you keep this old courtyard to live in and appreciate the passage of time, or wait for it to be demolished and redeveloped in the future, it can be considered an investment.

He has published seven books in recent years, which makes him a prolific writer in the literary world.

The royalties from these books combined amounted to less than eight thousand yuan, all of which were kept by Ah Ling.

In addition, he also has three sets of monkey stamps on the system's shelves.

Once we find a courtyard that's for sale, we'll sell a sheet of monkey stamps and use the money to buy a few courtyards to keep.

Zhuang Chaoying pushed her bicycle back to the courtyard.

At this moment, Huang Ling was sitting on a small stool in the yard, knitting a sweater with her head down.

Hearing Zhuang Chaoying return, he slightly raised his head: "Chaoying's back. Did you send the letter?"

Zhuang Chaoying sat down next to Huang Ling: "It's been sent out."

Huang Ling gently put the yarn aside, stretched her stiff neck and slightly sore wrists from sitting for so long, and then turned to look at Zhuang Chaoying.

Zhuang Chaoying stood up, walked behind A-Ling, gently placed her hand on A-Ling's neck, and then pressed down hard a few times.

Ah Ling couldn't help but cry out, her brows furrowing. "Chao Ying, it hurts too much! Be gentle!"

Zhuang Chaoying quickly loosened her grip and lightened her strength: "How's this pressure?"

Ah Ling tilted her head slightly to make it easier for Zhuang Chaoying to apply force. "Okay, use more force on the left side. My hands and neck have been sore and uncomfortable these past few days."

While expertly massaging her neck, Zhuang Chaoying said thoughtfully, "Ah Ling, our family isn't short of money. We're both working, and I even get a stipend from the Writers' Association. Why are you knitting so diligently?"

Huang Ling raised her head slightly, looked at Chao Ying, and lowered her voice: "Song Ying wants to buy a refrigerator. She's knitting a sweater, so I'll knit one too. Anyway, the factory isn't doing well right now, so it's always good to have an extra source of income."

Zhuang Chaoying nodded gently. After massaging Huang Ling's neck, she took Huang Ling's hand and carefully massaged her from her arm to her fingers.

"Ah Ling, why don't you take a leave of absence without pay too? How much savings do we have at home right now?"

Huang Ling looked at Zhuang Chaoying with some surprise: "I can't just stay at home on unpaid leave, at least I still have a job now. In two years I won't have to work night shifts anymore, and it won't be so tiring. I've put your salary and royalties into the savings account. Now the family has..."

At this point, Huang Ling seemed to suddenly remember something, quickly got up, picked up the knitting basket, pulled Zhuang Chaoying into the house, closed the door, and sat back on the bed: "Our family has more than 12,700 yuan now, and more than 200 yuan in cash, which we keep for living expenses."

Zhuang Chaoying nodded after hearing this: "Ah Ling, let's buy a refrigerator and a washing machine. Lin Gong must have connections at the compressor factory and be able to get a refrigerator without needing a ration coupon. Buying a washing machine will also make washing clothes more convenient."

Huang Ling listened and nodded slightly, thinking to herself, "Why save so much money if I don't spend it? Especially since washing clothes in winter is such a pain."

"I'll talk to Song Ying about it later and ask her to speak to Engineer Lin on my behalf."

Zhuang Chaoying continued massaging Huang Ling's wrist and fingers. "Washing machine... I heard the department store got a single-bar model. Tonight I'll go to the black market and see if I can get a voucher for it."

Huang Ling pulled her hand away from Zhuang Chaoying's: "Chaoying, be careful when you go to the black market. How about I go with you in a few days when I'm on the day shift?"

Zhuang Chaoying grabbed A-Ling's hand again and continued to massage it, saying, "I'm buying things, not selling them, it's fine. Once we buy the refrigerator and washing machine, our family's life will be much more comfortable."

,,,,,,