Chapter 35 A Sudden Family Meeting

In order to avoid being watched by the old ladies, children and women in the courtyard, Wang Yuanchao went to Teacher Cao's house to practice guitar.

Teacher Cao smiled and said:

"You come to my place every day to practice guitar, and you carry your guitar back and forth. How tiring it must be?"

Then the teacher's wife quietly pinched Teacher Cao's waist and said, "What's wrong with that? You are the one who is talking too much, right?"
Wang Yuanchao smiled naively and said:

"With you here, teacher, I feel at ease. My proficiency is improving rapidly!"

Teacher Cao sighed:

"It's because your teacher is incompetent that he didn't discover your talent during your three years in junior high school. You should have been encouraged to apply to an art school. That way, even if you are not a cadre, you will be a member of the art establishment, and it will be much easier for you to join the art troupe."

Wang Yuanchao smiled bitterly:
"Teacher Cao, I didn't even get into high school..."

Cao Yuanxiang shook his head and went back to work.

When he went to class, Wang Yuanchao also followed him back to the courtyard because he needed to catch up on his sleep.

……

"Bang~bang~"

"Bang~Bang~Yuan Chao is at home, right? Yuan Chao?"

Someone knocked on the glass and called his name. It was the auntie next door.

Wang Yuanchao had no choice but to respond:
"Third Auntie, here we are!"

The three aunts said:

"This child stays in his room every day reading and studying, or playing the piano..."

Wang Yuanchao shook his head, it was obvious that the third aunt was not talking to him.

"Yuan Chao, come out quickly, Officer Zhao from the street is coming!"

Wang Yuanchao slid off the bed, ruffled his hair and wiped his face, trying not to let the third aunt's good words be exposed, otherwise he would not be beautiful anymore.

In the courtyard, Street Officer Zhao was standing there with his hands behind his back, looking at him with a smile, and said:
"Wang Yuanchao, congratulations. I just received a notice from the Railway Art Troupe. They asked you to go to the Erqi Theater to complete the employment procedures."

Wang Yuanchao's heart was beating so fast that he rubbed his hands unconsciously and said:

"I really don't know how to thank Secretary Zhao. Without your help, I wouldn't have this opportunity!"

Secretary Zhao laughed even more and said:
"I'm just here to inform you. Please find time to collect your files. Do you have one-inch photos? Please bring a few more when you report.

But you are indeed amazing. I heard that their art troupe is only recruiting a few people this time, and there are hundreds of people in the city applying for the job!"

The three aunts took advantage of the opportunity to say:

"Oh, Yuan Chao is an artistic activist in our compound. He plays the piano really well."

Wang Yuanchao smiled and said:
"Third Aunt, please don't praise me anymore, I will be proud!"

Officer Zhao said:

"Are you alone at home?"

Wang Yuanchao said honestly:
"My parents and brothers all went to work, and my younger sister went to the Children's Palace to attend classes. I am the only unemployed young person left."

Officer Zhao showed a trace of imperceptible disappointment on his face and said:

"Then your family is really amazing, you are all workers!"

Wang Yuanchao waved his hands repeatedly:
"My second brother is still a temporary worker. It's very difficult to get a permanent job these days. I'm just lucky. I'm lucky."

The three aunts are still nearby. They have such a big family, but only one teacher and two temporary workers. Don’t provoke the neighbors.

Sure enough, the third aunt's smile gradually froze, and she said:
"Secretary Zhao, you two can chat, I'll be busy now."

As soon as the three aunts left, Secretary Zhao said:

"Why don't you invite me in for a cup of tea?"

Wang Yuanchao quickly invited everyone into the main room, took out the tea that his father was reluctant to drink, made a cup for Secretary Zhao, and also made a cup for himself.

Secretary Zhao looked at the tea leaves rising and falling in the cup and suddenly said:
"There are still bamboo mat marks on your face."

Wang Yuanchao closed his eyes. No wonder people kept looking at him with a smile. The third aunt was lying with her eyes open.

Wang Yuanchao was a little confused about what Secretary Zhao was thinking, so he smiled and said:
"If you are tired of watching, just take a short rest and regain your energy before fighting again.

You see, it's almost noon, how about I treat you to a bowl of noodles to thank you for bringing me the good news!"

……

Wang Yuanchao went to get the files and invited Secretary Zhao to come out for a bowl of shredded pork noodles. He had to keep his word.

After he had money and tickets, he often went to restaurants to supplement his nutrition and grow up. After saying goodbye to Secretary Zhao at the small restaurant, he bought a lot of fresh steamed buns and put them into the space when he left.

Anyway, we must stockpile some food in the space, raw, cooked, and paper.

Otherwise I won’t feel safe.

When he got home, his younger sister was preparing to heat up her morning steamed bread, and he stuffed two big white steamed buns into her mouth. His younger sister said happily:

"Third brother, have you made a fortune?"

If he could explain it clearly, he would have treated my little sister to some shredded pork noodles!
Wang Yuanchao smiled and said:
"I found a job! In the art troupe!"

"ah--"

Wang Li threw himself into his arms, extremely excited.

The Wang family has six members and five workers. What an amazing thing!

In the evening, my eldest brother and mother came home from get off work and heard the good news. They were overwhelmed with emotions and didn't know what to say.

After receiving the call, my father borrowed a bicycle from the factory and pedaled for more than an hour [it was getting dark later and he couldn't ride fast].

Wang Yuanchao felt that his father had been coming back too frequently recently and it was unnecessary, but he had no idea that his mother had personally gone out to make the phone call to inform him.

My father arrived home exhausted and said as soon as he entered the door:

"Pour me a glass of water. My legs are weak from all the kicking today! You, boy, really know how to surprise people!"

The mother immediately handed over a glass of water and pulled the father into the room to whisper something.

The three siblings looked at each other again and again, wondering what their parents were doing.

During this time, my mother came out and poured another glass of water for my father.

About half an hour later, his parents came out of the room. Wang Yuanchao looked at the clock in the living room and it was almost 9 o'clock.

The sweat on my father's face had dried.

"Let's have a family meeting. Wang Li, you can sit in as well."

This topic is a bit serious.

The family sat neatly around the octagonal table, with the parents at the top and the three siblings on either side. Wang Li sat at the bottom very consciously.

She was a little excited and a little nervous, but she didn't dare look around. She just stared at the flame of the kerosene lamp on the table, just like last time.

Everyone was seated, and the father said:

"Last time Heping said he wanted to borrow some money from us, and he clearly mentioned that he would separate and live separately in the future. But now he is not married, has not been married, has no permanent residence, and still lives with us.

So he doesn't have to attend this family meeting today."

This sounds a bit cruel. My second brother was expelled just like that?

Last time, Wang Yuanchao ran out to sell stockings and didn't participate.

No one spoke. The three siblings all stared at the kerosene lamp on the table, as if there was a flower in the wick.

After a pause, the father continued:
"Now Wang Sheng and Yuan Chao both have jobs, and except for Wang Li who is still in school, everyone in our family is a worker.

This is all inseparable from the hard work and teaching of your mother, Comrade Miao Cui..."

"Cough~" Comrade Miao Cui couldn't help but coughed dryly.

Comrade Wang Quan immediately changed his words:

“Of course, it also depends on your own efforts.

But, but, our family is so outstanding that we stand out too much in this courtyard.

Neighbors will unconsciously watch our every word and action.

This is not in line with our family motto of keeping a low profile."

Wang Yuanchao complained in his heart: This is so incompatible, my parents are so low-key that they dare not tell us their real salary...

However, at this time, Wang Yuanchao had to admire the wisdom of his parents. The tenth year was about to come, and if he stood out too much, he would be easily targeted.

The father continued:
"Wang Sheng, how are you getting along with your friends?"

The eldest brother then raised his head and whispered:

“We went to the zoo last weekend…”

Mother Miao Cui was anxious and said:

"Don't we know this? How far have you come? When can both parties meet their parents?"

(End of this chapter)