Facing Chiang Yun's demand to go, Zhang Guohua continued to stay silent, simply staring at her unflinchingly.
Seeing him look this way, Chiang Yun became angry, "How do you even get by? You're the eldest in the family, yet you live a more miserable life than anyone."
"No, I have to talk to Little Yu. After all, she's their daughter; how can she just ignore the situation."
Chiang Yun also knew that in the Zhang Family, aside from Zhang Yu who was obedient and capable, it was unrealistic to expect any of the others to pitch in.
"What are you going to talk to her about?" Zhang Guohua asked, completely befuddled, not understanding why there was a need to speak to her in the first place.
"We need to talk, of course." Chiang Yun's expression was serious, "Like about the moving, she can't just not care, right?"
"All those things, are you expecting me to take care of them all by myself?"
"Or maybe you're expecting your dear brothers and sisters?" Chiang Yun retorted unapologetically.
"You're aware of the situation at your parents' place; you can't possibly be clueless," Chiang Yun knew it was pointless to expect Zhang Guohua to deal with packing.
Zhang Guohua gave in, "So we go now?"
"What else?" Chiang Yun gave Zhang Guohua a disdainful glance, "Hurry up."
The thought infuriated Chiang Yun, "I just don't get it, who the hell gets transferred to a new position and gets celebrated for it? Notified yesterday, hand over the work today, and dispatched tomorrow."
Chiang Yun wasn't new to job transfers and understood the process, but in her view, this was utterly unreliable.
As usual, Zhang Guohua would listen to his wife, "Do you think that girl, Zhang Yu, already knew about this?"
"What else?" Chiang Yun gave Zhang Guohua another disdainful look, a real blockhead; no wonder after all these years, he was still a low-level employee.
If it were her in Zhang Guohua's position, she would've risen to a much better place by now, but unfortunately, she could only vent her dissatisfaction internally.
Zhang Guohua had no idea about the resentment Chiang Yun harbored against him, or perhaps even if he did, he wouldn't have cared.
Zhang Dagu and the others were almost ready to rest when they saw Zhang Guohua and his wife hurry over late at night, which came as a bit of a surprise.
Zhang Yu greeted them and then continued to get ready to pack her things; if she wasn't mistaken, the reason Zhang Guohua and his wife came over was probably to talk to her.
Upon seeing Zhang Yu preparing to go upstairs, Chiang Yun asked, "Little Yu, what are you preparing for?"
"I have to depart tomorrow, but I haven't finished packing my things yet; I need to go up and continue."
Zhang Yu indicated she was busy, "I can help you pack," Chiang Yun offered enthusiastically, hinting that she had come over to help.
Help her pack? My God, Zhang Yu felt genuinely surprised by the offer.
"Sister-in-law, no need, I can manage by myself."
"If you have the time, you could help our parents pack up," Zhang Yu glanced at Pan Juan.
"Mom, don't worry; although I'm not at home, with big sister-in-law here, she will surely help you pack," Zhang Yu confidently said, allowing the neighbors passing by to hear and to know that the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhang Family was a hard-working person.
Knowing that Zhang Yu was heading out of town for work and had hurried over to help pack, as well as knowing that there would be someone to help pack when the Zhang Family moved, certainly spread the word.
The best strategy for dealing with someone who cares about appearance is, of course, through public opinion.
Everyone knows that Chiang Yun will help Zhang Dagu and his wife pack; would she dare to give up that responsibility and not help later on?
When the time came and the neighbors around muttered a little bit in front of Zhang Dagu and his wife, what would Chiang Yun and her husband do?
Zhang Yu could guess that when that time came, no matter how unhappy Chiang Yun was on the inside, she would still have to help pack up the stuff and probably would be kicking herself for it.
Only those who have done the packing know that Zhang Dagu and his wife could really be compared to gluttonous beasts, once something entered their home, there was no hope it would be thrown out.
Take this move, for example, even when they were told that the old and worn stuff wouldn't look right in a new house, they insisted on packing it.
When it was time for the new house to be decorated, no matter how beautiful the renovation was, no matter how out of place and troublesome those things were in the new house, they were adamant about moving them in.
It really infuriated the homeowner to death, but Zhang Guohua and others, although finding it unpleasant, did not say a thing.
After all, they were not the ones footing the bill for the renovation, nor would they be living in the house, and even less would they be the ones cleaning it.
Of course, they did not speak up, and they even advised the homeowner not to be too particular about these trivial matters, saying that since the elderly were getting on in years, they should be indulged.
It just wasn't clear whether their attitude would remain the same if it were them having to sort things out, them having to clean the house.
But perhaps even with all the dissatisfaction in their hearts, they wouldn't express it, and since they didn't want to say anything, they would just have to work hard.
Chiang Yun had not expected Zhang Yu to be such a talker and even to ask her to help Zhang Dagu and his wife pack.
No matter how much she wanted to curse at the moment, she knew that Zhang Dagu and his wife were watching right there, and the neighboring residents were listening.
No matter what, she had to keep a grip on her face, "Of course, I am the eldest daughter-in-law after all."
Hmph, she also wanted that old couple to know that as the one who gave birth to the Zhang family's only male grandchild, she couldn't be neglected, or how cold-hearted it would sound if word got out.
Whether Zhang Dagu and his wife caught the subtext in Chiang Yun's words, Zhang Yu was not sure, but she got what Chiang Yun was trying to convey.
Since someone loves to talk about being the eldest daughter-in-law all the time, let's give her a taste of what it's like to be one.
"Right, big sister-in-law, you are the Zhang family's eldest daughter-in-law, and of course, we will follow your lead."
"All the big and small affairs of the house are in your hands, I believe with your efforts, mom and dad's move, the house cleaning, everything will be completed well."
"This way, I can also be at ease while working out of town." If she insisted on maintaining her dignity, then she had better work hard for it.
What? Chiang Yun had not expected, just a habitual remark from her, could lead Zhang Yu to smoothly take it and run with it.
"I would really like to handle it all by myself, but my strength alone..." Chiang Yun was inwardly cursing, but what could she do?
Could she jump up and say that she had to work during the day and pack at night, treating her like a superhero?
But she dared not, considering that Zhang Yu had been working, doing housework after work, and busy with various things on weekends over the years.
It could be said that the outcome of this confrontation with Zhang Yu left Chiang Yun very unhappy, full of anger, but she just didn't know how to vent it.
"Of course, if I am free, I will come back too," Zhang Yu knew she couldn't infuriate Chiang Yun to death, and still offered a promise.
Although she really didn't want to come back, she couldn't stay away for such a big event as moving and packing up the house.
But coming back just once would be enough, as the main effort in packing certainly wouldn't be hers.
She'd come back on Saturday morning, then leave on Sunday afternoon; at home, at most, she would pack for one afternoon and one morning.
Not bad, not bad, Zhang Yu silently cheered herself on, thinking that this was indeed the way to do it.