Xie Jinghao took several deep breaths and, with a stiff smile, approached Shen ng. She was heavily pregnant and couldn’t help Shen ng carry the sack, so the two sisters-in-law looked at each other and then shifted their gaze towards the frail children at the entrance of the main room.
Shortly after, Shen ng gave up and went to the kitchen to fetch a vegetable knife, using it to cut the rope binding the sack.
The first thing she pulled out was a large iron pot, which had been purchased when the original owner married Lu Zhenping. However, it had been coaxed away by Liu Sanjin soon after their marriage, and they were still using an old iron pot from the Lu Family that had been in use for decades, its rim missing several chunks. Shen ng always feared puncturing the pot while cooking.
Next ca candies, pastries, lean pork ribs, towels, toothbrushes, cups, basins, clothes, shoes, socks, bed sheets, quilt covers...
Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang ran back and forth between the sack and the main room, both boys feeling as though the sack their mother brought was a bottomless pit, endlessly producing countless items.
After everything from the sack was taken out, the floor of the main room was nearly covered.
Shen ng looked at the three stunned individuals, feeling sowhat sheepish as she touched her nose.
"It’s a bit much, huh!"
"Uh, elder sister-in-law, did you move the entire Cooperative Society here?"
"I rarely go to the county, so I just bought everything we were lacking. The Cooperative Society there is really big. Luckily, they sell ready-made clothes for adults and children; otherwise, relying only on your handiwork wouldn’t be enough. I noticed next month it’ll start getting chilly; Mingyang and the others don’t even have proper warm clothes for school, and the school is far from our village. Their shoes are so worn, they can’t possibly go to school barefoot. Besides, I bought larger sizes, so they can wear them for several years!"
While speaking, Shen ng sorted the children’s clothes, distributing two sets of changeable outfits for each child, including shoes, socks, notebooks, and pencils, as well as three military green sling bags, all of which she had scoured from a small commodities market at very cheap prices.
Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang stared at the stack of goods on the ground in front of them, their eyes wide with astonishnt, especially Lu Mingyang who had always thought this an woman was faking her kindness to perhaps sell them off later. But who would spend so much money on children right before selling them? He didn’t think he was worth that much.
Lu Mingliang hugged the new clothes in front of him, looking at Shen ng with surprised delight.
"Mother, are all these really for ? These liberation shoes look so smart. Da Zhuang from our uncle’s family has a pair and always shows them off when he cos."
"Mhm, they’re all for you. After the autumn harvest, you and your brother will go to school together. Mingfang is timid; don’t let anyone bully her at school."
Lu Mingliang, having received his beloved items and hearing that he should protect his sister, imdiately puffed up his chest proudly.
"Mother, I am a man, I will definitely protect my sister well."
Lu Mingyang watched Shen ng who was talking to his brother, her expression gentle, her voice...
After sorting the children’s things, Shen ng told them to store their items and wash them before wearing them. After tidying everything up, Shen ng took out the items she bought from the Cooperative Society—an additional piece of polyester cloth, a piece of floral cotton-silk cloth, and a piece of military green polyester, ensuring there was enough for both adults and children.
"Jinghao, I used to be ignorant and often argued with you. You’re kind-hearted and didn’t mind, and also treated Mingyang’s children well. I am truly grateful to you. This is so fabric I bought for Xiao Gang and the child in your belly. The extra fabric can just be used to make shoes for Xiao Gang. And here are so brown sugar and candies, please take them."
A package of items was almost too much for Xie Jinghao to hold onto.
"Oh no, I can’t accept this, elder sister-in-law. Jiasheng and I have been well taken care of by your older brother, I can’t accept so much from you. I treat Mingyang’s children well because they are sensible; it’s not for things. Please take these back, elder sister-in-law."
"It’s not for you to take away now. When you married in, I didn’t add anything to your dowry, so consider this making up for that. Even if you don’t want it, what about Xiao Gang and the child in your belly? Look at this cotton fabric, it’s so soft; these two shoe soles are just the right size for Xiao Gang. I have no use keeping them. You know , Jinghao, I am not a kind person. Those sisters-in-law and my mother-in-law, even if they asked, I wouldn’t bother. I’m not asking you to take these things ho now. You make the clothes and shoes here at my house, take them when they’re done. If you bring them ho now, you won’t be able to keep anything."
Xie Jinghao looked at Shen ng’s sincere expression, feeling grateful. Even if she took care of Mingyang’s children, it wasn’t worth as much as Shen ng was giving. Shen ng, her elder sister-in-law, gave too much.
But thinking about the little fabric stored in the family’s chest, not to ntion making clothes, it wasn’t even enough for shoes. But to accept so much from her sister-in-law felt shaful.
Shen ng saw Xie Jinghao’s conflicted look and sighed.
"Jinghao, objects are inanimate, people are alive. Your older brother is in the army, and I’m raising four children alone. I’m not good with needlework, nor can I manage the physical labor like carrying water or chopping wood well. I’ll inevitably need your and Jiasheng’s help. If you don’t take my things, how can I keep asking you for favors? This simple logic, even a usually arrogant person like can understand, why can’t you?"
Xie Jinghao knew that Shen ng was trying to persuade her. She gritted her teeth, set aside her pride, and held onto the items Shen ng gave her.
"Alright, elder sister-in-law, then for Xiao Gang and the baby in my belly, I thank you. Whatever you need in the future, just ask ."
"Oh!"
The sisters-in-law agreed and then unpacked a parcel in the courtyard. The soldiers had sent local specialties from Diannan, including locally woven cloth, small pieces of ham, flower cakes, Yunnan Baiyao, and mostly mushrooms and rice noodles.
"These are all good items, Jinghao, let’s eat at ho tonight!"
"No, no, elder sister-in-law, I must go soon. My parents finish work and need to eat; I have to go back and cook."
Shen ng looked at her round belly, opened her mouth but said nothing, as back in those days, there was hardly the notion of not letting pregnant won work, and if there were, it was rare.
"Alright, you go then. Eat a bit less, and bring Xiao Gang out for a walk tonight; I’ll save you so dinner."
"Elder sister-in-law, I really don’t..."
"Don’t persuade , I know what the Lu Family eats. Look how skinny you are; you are going to suffer during childbirth."
Hearing this, Xie Jinghao didn’t say anything more. Her elder sister-in-law genuinely cared, was warm-hearted, and she had misjudged her before. When she left, Shen ng gave her three yuan, which was the support money given by the main house for next month.
Shen ng felt uncomfortable giving it; she had given the support money but they hadn’t eaten together. It didn’t feel like they had separated households, and the private plot was also planted by the Lu Family, no matter how she thought about it, she felt she had lost out greatly.
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