Working in Dongguan: The Girls I Met Over the Years

Early the next morning, Liu Dongmei kicked Ma Dazhu, who was sleeping on the ground.

"Hey, get up!"

Ma Dazhu opened his eyes, then got up.

"Dongmei, what's wrong?"

Liu Dongmei bared her teeth and cursed.

"Ma Dazhu, stop playing dumb with me. Have you already forgotten what you said yesterday?"

Ma Dazhu knew that this matter could not be avoided.

He glanced at his daughter, Huahua, who was still sleeping in a small bed next to him.

He made a "shh" sound.

He said helplessly.

"Okay, okay, keep your voice down, keep your voice down!"

"I know, I know!"

Liu Dongmei glared fiercely at Ma Dazhu, her voice rising rather than falling as she angrily spoke.

"Go quickly!"

"If you don't make this clear today, you can forget about having a son in the future!"

Ma Dazhu got up, opened the door, and went out.

Walking into the courtyard,

Suddenly I saw Ma Junjie standing in the yard, bent over, feeding the chickens.

Ma Dazhu was somewhat embarrassed and coughed a few times.

A smile appeared on his face, and he went up to greet them.

"Ah Jie, you...you got up so early?"

Ma Junjie slammed the chicken-feeding bowl he was holding onto the ground with a clatter.

He clapped his hands, stood up, and said...

"I can't help it, I heard the roosters crowing all night, and they started crowing again this morning... I can't stand it!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Dazhu's face flushed red and then turned pale, feeling inexplicably embarrassed.

He said with a stern face,

"Oh, by the way, Ah Jie, I have something I want to tell you!"

Ma Junjie stared at Ma Dazhu and spoke.

"Brother, that's perfect! I also have something I wanted to tell you!"

Ma Dazhu suddenly paused, looking at Ma Junjie.

"Oh, Ah-Jie, well...you go first!"

Then, with a "bang," the door opened.

Ma Junjie looked over.

Seeing Liu Dongmei stride out aggressively, he cupped his hands over his chest.

Then he glared at Ma Junjie.

Ma Junjie ignored Liu Dongmei and continued Ma Dazhu's words.

"Brother, I'm going out to work."

"Huh?" Ma Dazhu was startled; his first reaction was worry.

"Ah Jie, why are you suddenly thinking like this? You've never been outside before; it's dangerous out there..."

"Cough cough!" Liu Dongmei coughed forcefully.

Ma Dazhu turned his head and glanced at Liu Dongmei, only to find her glaring at him.

He immediately deflated.

asked,

"Ah Jie, where are you going to work?"

"I don't know either, I haven't figured it out yet."

"Ah Jie, it's dangerous outside, maybe we shouldn't..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ma Dazhu felt a shadow looming over him from behind.

Soon, someone pinched his waist hard.

"Ouch!" Ma Dazhu cried out, turned around, and saw Liu Dongmei.

Liu Dongmei smiled and said to Ma Junjie,

"Ah Jie, your sister-in-law supports you."

"Young man, you should go out and explore. I've heard there are opportunities everywhere, gold mines galore. Maybe you'll make a fortune if you go out there!"

"Never be like your good-for-nothing brother, who can do everything but get by. I was so blind to marry him!"

Ma Junjie smiled slightly.

"Sister-in-law, I think you're right too."

Liu Dongmei clapped her hands and cheered, then looked at Ma Dazhu.

Ma Dazhu looked worried.

He knew Ma Junjie's personality and temperament.

Kind, loyal, honest, reliable, and compassionate.

This kind of personality is not suitable for city life.

There, you're likely to be bullied and cheated!

Liu Dongmei noticed that Ma Dazhu didn't react.

With a loud "smack," a thick hand slapped hard across Ma Dazhu's back.

Ma Dazhu cried out, "Ouch!"

Liu Dongmei winked at him.

"As the older brother, now that your younger brother is going out to make something of himself, can't you say a few good words about him?"

"Who knows, if he leaves, he might come back rolling in money, a millionaire!"

"And besides, I've heard that city girls are really fresh and youthful. Although their figures aren't as good as mine, they're still pretty hot. Ah Jie, you should try harder. If you can bring a city girl back, you'll be something special, hahaha!"

Ma Junjie glanced at Liu Dongmei.

Whether she did it intentionally or unintentionally,

It looks like she's not wearing a bra underneath.

The two things drooped down like loofahs.

It hung all the way down to the belly button.

He turned his head, looked at Ma Dazhu, and said...

"Brother, I've made up my mind. I've packed my things, and I'm leaving today."

"Ah, Ah Jie, you?!" Ma Dazhu was taken aback.

He looked into Ma Junjie's determined eyes.

I roughly understand.

Liu Dongmei's words last night may have deeply affected him.

Ma Dazhu suddenly felt that he was very useless as the older brother.

Feeling down, he said,

"Ah Jie, I'm so sorry, brother."

Ma Junjie smiled slightly.

"Brother, don't say that. Between brothers, there's no one who owes anyone anything."

"Thanks to your care over the past few years, I should thank you!"

His gaze deepened as he looked into the distance, muttering to himself.

"My departure might be a good thing for you, and perhaps a good thing for me as well."

"Ah Jie..." Ma Dazhu understood the meaning behind Ma Junjie's words and felt even more ashamed.

He lowered his head and reached into his pocket.

"Ah Jie, since you've made up your mind, I won't keep you any longer."

"Ah Jie, here's some change. Keep it for your travel expenses or to buy food!"

Ma Junjie looked up.

Seeing that Ma Dazhu was clutching several crumpled banknotes in his hand,

It looks like it should be over a hundred yuan.

Ma Junjie didn't stand on ceremony and reached out his hand to take it.

Haven't even encountered any money yet.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands snatched the money away.

Ma Junjie and Ma Dazhu were both startled and looked over.

They discovered that Liu Dongmei had quickly stuffed the money into her pocket.

She said with a grin,

"Ah Jie, you know Hua Hua will be starting kindergarten soon, and we haven't even saved up the tuition fees yet. We can't skimp on education, no matter how poor we are. Let's save this money for her!"

"Ah Jie, I'll get you some steamed buns. You can use them on the way, right?"

Ma Junjie was dumbfounded and speechless.

Ma Dazhu hadn't expected Liu Dongmei to be so shameless, and said...

"Dongmei, let's keep things separate. That was my secret stash of money, a token of my affection for A-Jie!"

"Give it to me, hurry up and give it to me!"

Liu Dongmei simply put the money into her underwear.

He stood tall and shouted.

"Come on, take it! Take my pants off right in front of your brother!"

"Ma Dazhu, I really misjudged you! You're a beast! You have money but don't think about your daughter's education; you just squander it!"

"Ma Dazhu, don't touch me again. And forget about me having a son? If you want one, go have one with your brother!"

Having said that, he was furious.

And he seemed somewhat smug.

She turned around, wiggled her hips, and strode into the room.

Ma Dazhu was furious; his face turned deathly pale.

He spread his hands, looking at Ma Junjie with a very helpless expression, and said...

"Ah Jie, you've seen it yourself, there's really nothing I can do."

He then said earnestly,

"Ah Jie, listen to me. When you're looking for a wife, don't choose one who's too beautiful or has a great figure. The more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive you..."

Ma Junjie seemed to be deep in thought.

He opened his mouth and said,

"Brother, I've got it. But sister-in-law, she doesn't seem pretty, and her figure isn't good either!"

"Uh, you...!" Ma Dazhu was suddenly speechless, and shook his head.

Then he turned his head and looked at the door.

The door was found to be closed.

So he quietly lowered his voice and said...

"Ah Jie, come here..."