Yesterday, Dong Jiahui said that someone would come to her and ask her to make clothes for that person. So today, Zhang Qiaoer asked Dong Jiahui when she returned from working in the field.
âYes, Iâm making them for her. Iâm making it for her now. Iâve received 3 yuan. 2 yuan for clothes and 1 yuan for pants. Iâve already received her payment, mom. Why donât you take the money? â
Dong Jiahui dared to open her mouth naturally because she was sure that Zhang Qiaoer would not take it. So, she âpretendedâ to say those words because she now lives with her mother-in-law, and families in the countryside were just like this. Dong Jiahuiâs mother-in-law is the head of the family, and she will hold all the family income, so no matter if Zhang Qiaoer takes it or not, Dong Jiahui must give it.
Sure enough, after hearing Dong Jiahuiâs words, Zhang Qiaoâer was in a good mood, so she smiled and said, âYou earned this money. You keep it for yourself.â You usually buy needles and threads, so you also need to spend money. â
Including this time and when she went to buy cloth and cotton in the town. Although her eldest daughter-in-law didnât say a word, Zhang Qiaoer also knew that she had paid for the cloth and she couldnât buy so many things for herself.
Whatâs more, in addition to buying fabric and cotton, Dong Jiahui also bought food for the children in the family.
âThank you, mom. Then I will make more clothes and save money to buy meat for mom.â
Everyone loves to hear pleasurable words. Zhang Qiaoer smiled till her eyes were almost narrowed into slits.
âYes, then Iâll wait for you to buy me meat to eat.â
âMom, there is one more thing. I want to make a small quilt for Yingbao and Heidan, two quilts each for the two of them. Where can we buy cotton for our production team?â
The cotton Dong Jiahui bought was only used for lining clothes to make cotton clothes. In making a small quilt for Yingbao and Heidan, ten or so pounds of cotton were not enough, and the cotton wool had to be popped by an adept person. Although the supply and marketing agency also sells cotton wool, one problem is that it is too expensive, and the other is that the ones sold there are large and not suitable for children.
âThere is a family on the next team. I will take you there tomorrow.â
âOh, okay.â
Zhao Donglinâs monthly payroll was on the twenty-fifth, two days before the team planted wheat, so Zhang Qiaoer did not have time to collect his salary. She had breakfast this morning and went out.
After Zheng Yuefen saw that his brother-in-lawâs salary was still being taken by her mother-in-law, she was relieved to know that her brother-in-lawâs salary was still in her mother-in-lawâs hands.
My brother-in-lawâs salary was 62 yuan a month. If he gives it to that woman, Dong Jiahui, that woman, Zheng Yuefen, will die of heartache.
This time she was glad that the two brothers of the Zhao family did not separate, and it was good that the three members of her family still followed their brother-in-lawâs glory.
Zhang Qiaoer took the money back and spent two yuan at the meat stall at the entrance of the village. The meat weighed about three pounds.
âTodayâs paycheck?â
The owner of the meat stall also knows Zhang Qiaoerâs pattern of buying meat after receiving her salary.
âUsually itâs the twenty-fifth, but this month itâs late.â
âThe team was busy the other day, so there was no time for that.â
âThatâs right. Well, itâs not bad. Iâll cut another piece for you.â
âOkay, thanks.â
âBy the way, do you have any more bones here?â
âYes, I just picked it off. If you want, I can give you a price of 50 cents to take away. â
Zhang Qiaoer took a look. The bones are quite a lot, but there is not much meat. She remembered the first time they went to meet the Dong family. At the Dong familyâs dinner table was bone soup, and Jiahui also said that drinking bone soup is good for children since itâs nutritious.
âOkay, give it all to me. Iâll take it back and give it to my daughter-in-law. Sheâs skilful and a good cook. â
âYour eldest familyâs or the second familyâs?â
âThe eldest familyâs.â
âOh, isnât that the one who just got married a while ago?â
âYes, she just entered the family, not even half a month ago.â
âThatâs your new daughter-in-law? Look at you. You are very satisfied with this new daughter-in-law. â No, very good.
No, sheâs very good. She can cook and make clothes. She can raise her children well and show filial respect to the elderly. Alas, the blessing of having a daughter-in-law in this life has been fulfilled by her.
In her first step toward entering the village, Zhang Qiaoer bought meat at the entrance of the village. In her second step, she praised her daughter-in-law, and her words spread to the entire production team. Everyone knows that she was particularly satisfied with her new daughter-in-law. In other words, naturally, she was dissatisfied with Zheng Yuefen.
At noon, Zhang Qiaoâer took ten yuan to give to Jiahui.
âToday, I went out to get Donglinâs salary. Take this 10 yuan. â
âMom, if you think itâs appropriate, then Iâll take it.â
âTake it, as long as you donât mind the small amount.â
Itâs a lot. With 10 yuan, you can already do a lot of things. Others want to have it, but they donât have it. â
Zhang Qiaoer laughed, âYou are good! You are content with what you have. How much money do I spend? I save a little money every month. When you need it, I can take it out. I will keep this money for you.
Dong Jiahui is not a fool. Naturally, she doesnât believe such words, but itâs not easy for Zhang Qiaoer to give her ten yuan. From her current life, she wonât ask for more.
It took three days for Dong Jiahui to complete Hong Taoâs clothes. Her work as the warehouse custodian was going well. When she first arrived at work, someone on the team had an opinion about her, both openly and secretly. Later, when they saw that she was very good at her job, she was warm and polite. No matter what others said or made face on her, Jiahui would always smile at them, which made them lose interest.
In addition to captain Ding Huishan and Zhang Qiaoerâs faces, a few people stood up to make trouble. After all, Jiahuiâs husband was the village secretary.
On this day, after making Hong Taoâs clothes, Dong Jiahui thought she had not returned to her motherâs home for several days, so she missed her motherâs family. She wanted to take advantage of sending the clothes back to see them. She told her mother-in-law about it early in the morning.
âOkay, then you can go after lunch.â
âOkay.â
Dong Jiahui was happy to be able to go back to her mother-in-lawâs house, and it just so happened that Zhao Donghe had caught a pheasant when he went up the mountain to cut branches, so Jiahui showed her skills and made a pot chicken.
In a farmerâs iron pot, the meat is cooked in the pot while the pastry is attached to the side of the pot. The pastry is baked during the stewing process, and the aroma of the chicken leaps onto the pastry, which makes the pastry taste even better.
In addition to the chicken, the pot was also filled with potatoes, carrots, frozen tofu, and a large pot.
âWhat delicious food is your family eating today? You can smell it from afar. â
Zheng Yuefen was playing outside in the yard with Shitou when Zhang Yulan came over to make small talk.
âDonghe caught a chicken and is stewing it at home.â
âWhoâs stewing it, your sister-in-law?â
âYes, although she is quite annoying, she is really good at cooking. I have gained weight recently.â
Zheng Yuefen touched the circle of flesh on her waist.
âIndeed, you become fatter, your face becomes rounder.â
Zhang Yulan came closer and asked, âIs your sister-in-lawâs cooking really that good?â
Despite her reluctance to admit it, Zheng Yuefen nodded her head.
âHey, let me say something to you. Donât be angry when you hear it.â
âWhat is it?â
Do you know it? âYour mother-in-law went to the village office yesterday to get your elder brotherâs salary.â
âYes, whatâs wrong?â
âDid she pass by the village entrance to buy meat on her way back?â
âYes.â
âGuess what your mother-in-law said?â
âWhat? Hey, sister-in-law, donât tempt me. Tell me what you have to say. â
âYour mother-in-law said that she is most satisfied with her new daughter-in-law and praised your new sister-in-law for being better than you in every way.â
Zhang Yulan said while looking at Zheng Yuefenâs face. Indeed, before she finished talking, Zheng Yuefenâs face had become very ugly.
Dong Jiahui was younger than herself, her face whiter than her own, her body more enticing than her own, her mouth sweeter than her own, and she could coax people. So what if sheâs better? Sheâs still divorced, and she canât have a baby. Just by this, Dong Jiahui canât compete with herself in her life.
She doesnât understand how her mother-in-law was so confused, preferring to treat Dong Jiahui well rather than herself.
âHmph, so what if she likes her? Itâs just a hen that doesnât lay eggs. â
Zhang Yulanâs heart secretly laughed on the surface but pretended to persuade. âHey, you cannot say this. If your elder brother heard your words, he should not be happy.â
Zheng Yuefen hummed disdainfully and said, âWhatâs wrong? The things I said were the truth! â
Youâre just too honest. You canât live your life like this. You canât say what you think. Why does your sister-in-law like your mother-in-law? Itâs because she can do things and behave.
Zheng Yuefen remembered a few days ago about wanting to make clothes, and her anger, which had cooled down, came out of her heart again.
At lunch, Zheng Yuefen looked unhappy and buried herself in eating. She didnât care about Shitou, who wanted to eat meat. Zhang Qiaoer saw that her second daughter-in-law had an expression on her face that someone owed her hundreds of yuan. She couldnât help sighing in her heart. She filled a spoonful of broth, mixed the rice, and fed Shitou one by one.
Although she couldnât bear to teach the second family a lesson, she didnât want the family to be noisy all day long, and she was afraid of affecting her son and daughter-in-lawâs relationship, so she had to endure some of her own tiredness.
When feeding Shitou, she looked at her eldest familyâs daughter-in-law who was eating their own food, and she also didnât forget to take care of Yingbao. Zhang Qiaoâer was so angry that her liver hurt.
Chapter 39 Part 2
âIâll send you there this afternoon.â
In the room, Dong Jiahui was putting things away when Zhao Donglin came in and said he wanted to drop her off. Dong Jiahui turned her head with surprise and asked, âArenât you going to the village office?â
âIâll send you there first and then turn back. Itâs not too late. â
Dong Jiahui pursed her lips and smiled. She packed her things with lighter movements.
âThatâs good, so will you pick me up in the evening?â
Zhao Donglin laughed, âOkay, Iâll pick you up after work.â
Dong Jiahui smiled and threw a series of winks.
âThen Iâll take Heidan and Yingbao with me.â
Yingbao can play with Tianniu, and Heidan can also play with Xiaoman. With Heidanâs character, if he often plays with children, it will help him have a cheerful personality.
After having lunch and grabbing her things, Dong Jiahui took her family back to her motherâs house.
The wheat has been planted and the village has entered the farming season. Chen Guixiang was at home today and was surprised to see her daughter and son-in-law back. She was squatting on the ground and turning dried vegetables. She immediately stood up in surprise.
âMom.â
âHey, why are you back today? Have you eaten?â
Chen Guixiang took Yingbao from Jiahui and also patted Heidanâs little head. She greeted his son-in-law, Zhao Donglin.
âWe already ate. Hong Tao asked me to make clothes for her. I finished it and I am sending it back to her. â
Chen Guixiang knew that her daughter wanted to go back to her motherâs house. If itâs just a dress, there is no need to make a special trip back.
âThen Iâll leave first. Iâll pick you up later.â
Dong Jiahui nodded. Chen Guixiang frowned and said, âSo urgent, drink a mouthful of water before leaving.â
Zhao Donglin smiled and politely refused.
âThere are still things going on in the village, and I canât eat, so Iâll pick them up when Iâm done.â
Chen Guixiang let out a cry. She sent Zhao Donglin to the door and watched him ride away.
When Dong Jiahui came back with a small basket of eggs, Chen Guixiang asked, âWhy did you bring something again? Last time, you also asked Hong Tao to bring back some food. Iâm telling you, you should not bring anything next time you come back. Are you still afraid to return empty-handed without your two bites of food?
Several sisters-in-law also echoed, âYes, you are married, and you are also our sister.â We will welcome you back when you come back.
âYingbao, you go play with your sister Tianniu.â
âHeidan, you go play with Brother Xiaoman.â
Xiao Man is about the same age as Heidan, but his birthday is several months later than Heidanâs. Chen Guixiang heard Heidan call his daughter Aunt instead of Mom, and after Heidan left, she asked quietly, âWhy did he call you Aunt? Who taught him that? â
A stepmother was still a mother. He did not call her mother, but instead, he called her his aunt. It does not sound good to people.
âNo, itâs what I taught him. Unlike Yingbao, he has a memory of his mother. He instigated a few words before Donglin and I married. He thought I was the bad woman who robbed his father. He was a little resistant to me. I told him that if he wanted his mother, he should study hard and go to the city to find her. For me, he can just call me his aunt. â
âHow so? What did Donglin say?â
Donglin wants him to change it, but I think it is better to respect the childâs idea and wait until he wants to change the way he calls me on his own.
Chen Guixiang sighed. Knowing that her daughter has always had this soft nature, Sheâs too good for people.
âHow are you and your mother-in-lawâs house? How about your sister-in-law? â
âMy mother-in-law is quite good. My sister-in-law is not very good, but itâs not in the way that she could affect me. â
âItâs hard to say anything about the other, but if you want to talk about family separation, the relationship between your three brothers and your sisters-in-law was not bad. I donât know much about the situation in your husbandâs family, but with such a sister-in-law, you will suffer in the future. â
Chen Guixiang was mainly worried that her daughter would suffer. After all, her daughter is too good-tempered and soft-hearted. She was afraid that her daughter would not be able to have a good relationship with Zheng Yuefen.
She had seen that girl named Zheng Yuefen, and looking at her appearance, she didnât look nice. (Not referring to the face, but the attitude.)
âMom, donât worry, I wonât be as stupid as before. If something really happens, I will certainly mention it to Dong Lin. But now, we donât have such a big contradiction. Dong Lin and mother-in-law donât want to separate. I canât do this as soon as I get married.â
On the other hand, Dong Jiahui was a person who was preparing to take the college entrance examination. In two years, she believes that she can enter the university. Sheâs a top student who has gone through the entrance examination and a postgraduate entrance examination. Would it be difficult for her to handle the resumption of the collegeâs entrance examination?
Not only themselves, but she will also actively encourage Meixiang and Donglin to participate together, if the three were admitted to a university, she would let Zheng Yuefen keep the old rural home for life.
When you think about it, itâs not that hard to get through the day, not to mention that the mother-in-law never favors Zheng Yuefen but implicitly favors herself, which is the main reason why Dong Jiahui has never made up her mind to bring up the separation of the family.
After talking to Chen Guixiang, Dong Jiahui took the clothes to Hong Taoâs house. Hong Tao was married to a second family. After the marriage separation, she didnât live with her mother-in-law. When Jiahui arrived there, Hong Taoâs house was busy, and several young wives on the team were chatting at her home.
âAiya, you also sent it to me at home. Thank you so much.â
âSister, go try it. If it doesnât fit, Iâll take it back and fix it.â
Several sisters-in-law also came around to let Hong Tao try it on. Hong Tao immediately took off her jacket and put it on. She buttoned it up and looked down. She stretched her arms. It was the right size. There was room to add a cotton-padded jacket inside.
âWell, itâs good. This color suits you.â
âThis style shows how young you are. The waist piece also shows no meat. â
In the village, many wives who have given birth to children inevitably have belly fat problems. They no longer have the young girlâs slim figure.
Seeing everyone say so, Hong Tao happily went into the house, took a look in the mirror, and came out of the house with a happy face.
âGreat, it really fits. Iâm so satisfied.â
Jiahui, why donât you make me one in this style too? Hong Tao can look great in it. Iâm not far from her. Iâm sure it will fit me too. â
Hongtao was also bright and cheerful, so she immediately took off the clothes for the others to try.
âGo try it. If it looks good, Letâs wear it together for New Yearâs Eve. â
These days, there is no fear of wearing the same styles of clothes. People all over the country wear so many different styles of clothes. Sometimes they feel friendly when they see others wearing the same outfit as themselves.
The other party was not polite. She immediately changed clothes when she received them. She was more robust than Hongtao. When Hongtao wore it, it was a little bit loose, but when the other part wore it, it was just the right size.
âYou look good when you wear it. It looks like youâre tall. â
âYou look good in it, and you look taller.â
âThis is a really nice version. Why donât I have one too?â
âIf you want it, you can have one. Itâs not too much to make a new dress for yourself all year round. â
âThatâs right, we women should treat ourselves. We should eat and wear dresses to make ourselves happy.â
In this way, Dong Jiahui, who just went to deliver the clothes, gathered a lot of orders. When she returned, she was accompanied by a few pieces of fabric in their hands. Some, who didnât have a cloth, for the time being, had an agreement that they would buy the cloth and send it to Jiahui later.
Everyone also gave a deposit. She received five yuan and the rest would be given when the clothes were made.
âYou are earning money quite fast. Iâll ask you, are you in charge of the money yourself or someone else? â
Itâs a good thing that a girl can make money, but if the money canât fall into her pocket, itâs useless. Chen Guixiang was not so happy.
She still remembers her daughter, who was married to Lu Chengyuan. She didnât have a penny on her body. Even the 80 yuan she gave her was robbed by Mrs Lu. She was really afraid that her daughter would go the same way as before.
As soon as Chen Guixiang opened her mouth, Dong Jiahui understood her meaning and opened her mouth to explain, âI am in charge of this money. In addition, my mother-in-law gives me ten yuan a month. She is taking Donglinâs salary, but sheâs not stingy.â
With that, Dong Jiahui also told Chen Guixiang what Zhang Qiaoer said to her.
Chen Guixiang is relieved. She is quite satisfied with her in-laws. After all, in the Dong family, Chen Guixiang is in charge of the familyâs income.
âItâs not bad. I gave you the bride price money, and your mother-in-law gives you ten yuan a month. You can also earn money by making clothes. Work hard and you will be able to save some in a year. â
After all, her daughter does not care about the familyâs expenses; there is nothing to spend, so it is already very good. Compared with the previous Lu family, they are one world apart.
What Dong Jiahui did not say is that after the marriage, Zhao Donglin also gave her three hundred yuan, a subsidy from the army to veterans. a total of more than 500 yuan. Zhao Donglin spent more than 100 yuan to buy her a watch. The 300 yuan was given to her, and the dozens of yuan were used to spend for themselves.
The money was not much, but it was more than enough. At least when it comes to spending money, you will not be unable to take out any money.
âLet me tell you something.â
âWhat is it?â
When Jiahui saw Chen Guixiang saying something mysteriously, she knew that it must be a big gossip. Her heart, which was full of curiosity, was also hooked up.
Just a few days ago, the new wife of the Lu family was caught in adultery.
âAh?â
Was what she was was thinking, right? That Caifeng was having an affair with another man?
âThey were hiding in a ruined house in their village, and they were naked. The man, ah, it was Lu Chengyuanâs childhood friend. The old woman, Lu, fainted angrily. â
This matter was hidden by the Lu family. Fortunately, there were only two people who saw the scene at that time. Lu Yougen is also the vice-captain. He came to the door and said good words to keep them quiet, but this kind of gossip could not be stopped. It spread from 1 to ten people, and from ten to hundreds of people. Within two days, someone spread it to Chen Guixiangâs ear.
Chen Guixiang was relieved to know this. Since she knew that Lu Chengyuan had that problem, she hated the Lu family for harming her daughter. Thatâs good. The Lu family is now in a mess. Her son canât be humane, and her daughter-in-law was caught cheating. Itâs not a bad report. The day has come.
Chen Guixiang knows this matter can be said to be relieved and smooth since she knows that Lu Chengyuan has that aspect of the problem she hates the Lu family harmed his daughter, this is good, that Lu family is now a mess of porridge, the son can not be humane. Itâs true when they say, âGood is rewarded for good, and evil is rewarded for evil; itâs not that it is not repaid, and the time has not come yet; when the time comes, everything is repaid!â
âIs that so? Thatâs really quite wonderful. â
Itâs a pity that there are no cameras or cell phones in this era. If that kind of hot blood scene was recorded, it would definitely make front-page headlines.
Dong Jiahui has no interest in Luâs family. Even if they are living a good or bad life, they cannot evoke half of her emotions.
Zhao Donglin came to pick up Dong Jiahui after work. Chen Guixiang, the mother-in-law, naturally, couldnât let her son-in-law go back with an empty stomach. She cooked dinner in the evening and waited for Zhao Donglin to arrive so she could have dinner quickly. so that their family of four can eat early and go back early before it gets dark.
On the way back, Dong Jiahui smiled and asked Heidan, âHeidan, did you have a good time today?â
The two children of the same age had a common language and soon became close. Looking at Heidanâs heartfelt smile, Dong Jiahui was very pleased that Heidan was finally like a four-year-old child.
Heidanâs heart was still in the happy mood of playing with Xiaoman, and he nodded his head vigorously, his eyes looking particularly bright in the dusk.
Dong Jiahui stroked the top of his shaggy hair. It seems that her decision to bring Heidan here was right. Heidan was not born autistic; he was only stimulated by his motherâs departure. A change in personality is caused by changes in the living environment. For such a child, she should be a little closer to him, be a little warmer to him, and should not make him feel excluded, but she should also not be too hasty.
âWhat about our Yingbao? Did you have fun with sister Tianniu today?â
Dong Jiahui spoke with Chen Guixiang when Zhou Yindi took Tianniu with Yingbao to visit the village. The two girls had an age difference of half a year, but the size difference was not much. They had the same fine white look, big eyes and a small mouth. They looked like a pair of twins, especially lovable. They brought back a lot of peanuts, candy bars, and home-baked cakes. They havenât stopped eating. They donât even need to eat dinner.
Yingbao snuggled up in Jiahuiâs arms and gave a soft mumble, and Jiahui smiled and kissed her little cheeks.
The sky was half dark. The moon was hanging in the sky, sitting on the back of the bike, with Yingbao in her arms. With this quiet and beautiful scene, Jiahui suddenly had the desire to sing a song. She hummed the song âThe Country Road.â
â Walking on the country road. The old cow who is coming back is my companion. Blue sky with a sunset in my chest. Colorful clouds are the clothes of sunsetâŠâŠâ