Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling finally applied for a divorce certificate. Wang Gang didn't know how Zhuang Chaoying settled the matter with Zhuang's parents and Zhuang's parents. Anyway, the two elders didn't bother Huang Ling anymore.
After the divorce, Zhuang Chaoying quickly moved out of the alley, and Huang Ling took care of Zhuang Xiaoting alone. Sometimes Song and Ying would help take care of the children.
People in the alleys did talk a lot about Huang Ling's divorce at first, saying anything, but Huang Ling pretended not to hear them and went to work as usual.
Song Ying stood up for Huang Ling several times and quarreled with her neighbors. In the end, Huang Ling and Lin Wufeng persuaded her to go home.
As time passed, the neighbors' comments gradually disappeared.
Zhuang Chaoying originally wanted to move back to his father's and grandma's house, but Zhuang Ganmei disagreed, so he could only temporarily move to the school dormitory.
Wang Gang later visited Zhuang Chaoying once and found that he was quite well alone, and then returned to Shanghai.
Before leaving, Wu Shanshan wanted to skip class to see him off, but Wang Gang scolded her back.
After Wang Gang returned to Shanghai, he immediately moved out of Xie's house and moved into a newly bought small bungalow.
Although they moved away, the relationship between Wang Gang and the Xie family was not severed. After all, Xie Huayuan helped a lot when he bought the house. Wang Gang returned the favor and continued to tutor Xie Lingling in her homework.
Two years have passed very quickly, and Xie Lingling is about to face the most important college entrance examination in her life, and everyone in her family attaches great importance to it.
Wang Gang estimated Xie Lingling's grades. It would be a bit risky to take the Fudan University exam, but it would still be fine to take the exams for Jiaotong University and Tongji University.
As for Wang Gang himself, he has successfully graduated from Fudan, completed all undergraduate courses in three years, and is preparing to stay in school for postgraduate entrance examinations.
In June, Wang Gang made a special trip back to Suzhou because Zhuang Xiaoting was about to enter the third grade of junior high school and take the high school entrance examination next year.
Huang Ling also had some problems. The cotton spinning factory was not performing well. It canceled the quota for children of employees to join the factory, and even sent many interns home. The situation was very big, and Huang Ling was also affected.
In fact, the cotton spinning factory has not paid wages for several months, and Huang Ling has been relying on savings to support herself. Wang Gang had to come back.
Huang Ling was still the same as before. When she saw Wang Gang coming back, she reported good news but not bad news. She even cooked a large table of dishes to welcome him and invited Song Ying's family to come and have dinner together.????
Lin Wufeng was very happy to see Wang Gang back and asked specifically about work.
"Tu Nan, you have graduated from college, where do you plan to work in the future?"
"Uncle Lin, I'm still young, and I plan to stay in school for graduate school." Wang Gang smiled and said, "I wrote back and mentioned the postgraduate school, and my parents are very supportive."
Lin Wufeng nodded and said, "That's right. You are still under eighteen years old this year. People of your age have just taken the college entrance examination. You have graduated from college and should continue your studies."
Song Ying smiled and said: "Tu Nan is a genius. He has been skipping grades in elementary school, middle school and university. How can he be like ordinary people?"
"Sister Ling, why are you so good at giving birth? Your son is a genius and your daughter is both good in character and academics. Why can't I give birth to a child like Tunan?"
Huang Ling laughed and said, "Dongzhe is pretty good, too. He's lively and outgoing, and he's very lovable."
Song Ying said disgustedly: "What a good thing! I don't know if he will be admitted to the No. 1 Middle School next year. I'm not sure about his grades."
While eating braised pork, Lin Dongzhe shouted: "Mom, don't look down on others. The teacher said that as long as I work hard, there is still hope that I can get into No. 1 Middle School. I will continue to be Xiaoting's classmate."
Song Ying said angrily: "The teacher is trying to comfort you. How many pounds do you have? How can we not know!"
Huang Ling interjected: "Actually, this kid Dongzhe is very smart and can learn anything quickly. As long as he works hard in the last year, he may not be able to succeed."
Wang Gang said to Zhuang Xiaoting: "Xiaoting, you usually try to tutor Dongzhe. While teaching others, you are also deepening your understanding, which is good for you."
Zhuang Xiaoting said: "Dad usually comes back to help us with our homework."
Wang Gang was stunned and couldn't help but look at Huang Ling.
"I asked your father to come back." Huang Ling said calmly.
Wang Gang understood in his heart and said nothing more.
Song Ying said: "Sister Ling, people on the street wanted to introduce you to someone before. Why didn't you agree? Is it because of Teacher Zhuang?"
Huang Ling said: "I think it's good to be like this now. Before Xiaoting's college entrance examination, I don't want to think about my own affairs."
Wang Gang asked: "Mom, is the factory encouraging employees to stay without pay?"
Huang Ling said: "Don't worry! It won't affect me. Your mother and I are in the leadership position now."
Song Ying sighed and said: "The factory has been unable to pay wages for two months, and my old Lin has to go out to take on private work."
Wang Gang looked at Lin Wufeng and said, "Uncle Lin, if you take on private work, it won't have any impact!"
Lin Wufeng is an engineer at a compressor factory. He belongs to a technical position and is not an ordinary worker. If he is found to have taken on private work, the consequences will be serious.???
"The efficiency of our factory has also deteriorated, and the superiors have turned a blind eye to us taking on private work."
Wang Gang asked: "Aren't the authorities now encouraging private companies to build factories? Uncle Lin has never considered starting a business."
Lin Wufeng laughed and said: "It's not that easy to start a business. Although private factories are now allowed to be built, private factories are severely suppressed by public units and their efficiency is even worse."
Song Ying said: "There was indeed a private boss who hired my old Lin with a high salary before, but he didn't go."
Lin Wufeng explained: "Private factories are still unstable. We don't know what will happen tomorrow today, so public units are more secure."
Wang Gang advised: "Uncle Lin, in the future market economy, privately built factories will be the general trend. You'd better make preparations in advance."
Lin Wufeng frowned and said, "Tu Nan, did you hear something in school?"
Wang Gang smiled and said: "Uncle Lin, if you have a chance, go to the south and see it! The reform there is very powerful now, and the scene is very different from ours."
Lin Wufeng said curiously: "I have also heard about some reforms in the south. They are really so good."
Wang Gang nodded and said: "It's a pilot project over there. Once successful, it will be rolled out across the country soon, and the impact on state-owned units will be huge.
Times are changing, and we must change with them, falling behind step by step."
Lin Wufeng fell silent, seeming to be considering Wang Gang's words.
Huang Ling saw that the atmosphere at the dinner table was a little dull, so she said, "Tunan, how many days can you stay here when you come back this time?"
Wang Gang said: "Seven or eight days! What can I do?"
Huang Ling said: "Go and see your dad when you have time. He may want to buy a house and is short of money."
Wang Gang was stunned and said in confusion: "My dad bought a house, doesn't he live in the school dormitory?"
Huang Ling said solemnly: "He is not buying a house for himself, but for your third uncle's family."
Wang Gang raised his eyebrows and said unexpectedly: "Uncle Third, why do you need my dad to borrow money to buy a house?"
Huang Ling said with a gloomy face: "I don't know the specific situation, you can go and ask."
Wang Gang knew that Huang Ling didn't want to ask about Zhuang Chaoying's affairs, so he immediately agreed to go to the school to find Zhuang Chaoying after dinner.