Along the way, Li Aihua talked about the changes at the cannery over the past two years. She mentioned that many new people had started selling goods there, and she had no idea where they had all come from. The three of them had been careful not to associate with these newcomers, fearing that saying too much would lead to trouble. Since last year, police had been frequently showing up at the cannery to crack down on speculators. Now, whenever they went to sell their goods, they had to go in disguise for fear of being recognized. Hu Lin praised Li Aihua for being sharp, which made Li Aihua glow with pleasure. She then began sharing gossip she had heard from her customers.
The journey passed quickly, and they arrived at Hu Jiaoqiao’s home just in time for a meal. Hu Jirui’s home was hosting Gao Ruqiong and her pregnant daughter-in-law; Hu Guangjie and his wife were there as well. At the dinner table, both families acted as if they wanted to wipe the slate clean of past grievances and be a family again.
After the meal, Sun Fangfen pulled Li Aihua aside to chat, while Gao Ruqiong’s pregnant daughter-in-law, advised not to move around too much, sat nearby to keep them company. Zhao Hong and Hu Guangjie, for once, didn't talk exclusively among themselves but sat together, making desultory conversation. The discussion was dominated by Li Aihua and Gao Ruqiong, with plenty of flattering remarks exchanged between them. Watching from the sidelines, Hu Lin found it all quite remarkabl…
Chapter 203