The words of the two daughters-in-law ward Wang Guizhi’s heart; both her daughters-in-law were decent people, never demanding more just because their own younger sisters had married well, nor did they ever make her and her old man go to their daughter to ask for supplies for her maternal ho. They lived their days in an honest and straightforward manner.
After so thought, she still didn’t knock on Shen ng’s door, but turned around to the main room and back, then directly knocked twice on the door of the second room and entered.
"Xiao i, Qin Lan, haven’t you slept yet?"
"Mother, why are you here? Is it because you couldn’t sleep well over there?" Lv Qinlan said as she got down from the kang, thinking she could set up a place on the floor for herself.
Su Xiaoi didn’t move; her son was lying on her legs, and the child was a light sleeper, stirring and crying at any slight movent.
"No need to get up, I ca to bring you brown sugar, half a pound for each of you sisters, and I’ll buy more when you run out," said Wang Guizhi cheerfully, handing over the goods onto the kang. She had originally planned to give it after Shen ng left, but thought that giving it now would make her daughters rember her own daughter’s kindness more. She and the old man were both aging and if sothing bad happened in the future, Shen ng could only rely on her own brothers; it was also critical to maintain good relations with the sisters-in-law.
"Mother, this shouldn’t be done; this is what Xiao ng brought for you and Dad, it shouldn’t be given to . I don’t want it, but if you want, you can give it to Xiao i since she’s pregnant and should have so good food."
"Elder sister-in-law doesn’t want it, I don’t want it either, Mother. I’m quite healthy, no need for supplents. Dad coughs day and night and is still ill, please keep it for yourself and Dad!"
Wang Guizhi handed each daughter-in-law a pack of the separated brown sugar.
"Both of you take it. Xiao ng brought quite a lot, so you sisters first have half a pound each, and after it’s finished, I’ll get you more. Here, these fruit candies are for you too, keep them hidden well, and when the children crave sweets, give them one to sweeten their mouths. This is all instructed by Xiao ng, so you really can’t refuse, otherwise, if your younger sister finds out, she might think you have sothing against her, and you both know her temperant."
The sisters-in-law exchanged a glance, understanding that their mother-in-law wished for them to take the brown sugar and purposely said it this way. They shyly smiled and together thanked Wang Guizhi.
Such a good thing as brown sugar, what woman wouldn’t want it? The wife of the production team leader never ran out of it, they had secretly envied that, but with their own family’s situation, only during childbirth did they have so brown sugar, and even then, it was their mother-in-law who had to ask from the east and borrow from the west to get so.
Although there was little of the stuff, the sentint was deep. In the ten and eight villages around, no other mother-in-law had a kinder heart than theirs; both rembered her goodness!
"That’s right, Xiao ng also instructed that when the house is built and the furniture is made, to add two articles of clothing for each of you sisters and the children. Mother thought since we’re undertaking the big task of building a house, might as well prepare clothes and other things too; a good outfit can be worn for many years, and by then, everyone in our family will change for the better. Famine or no famine, we owe it to Xiao ng, as long as she’s not in a rush, our family will unite and slowly repay."
Wang Guizhi’s words ward the hearts of Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaoi. They had heard the remarks made by their younger sister-in-law earlier; hearing was one thing, but actually doing it was another thing entirely.
Getting along with sisters-in-law can be very difficult indeed; the younger sister-in-law had also shown them a pleasant face before, but her words and actions always carried an air of superiority, which was truly uncomfortable to bear. Coming here today, everything was properly settled.
"Mum, please don’t be offended by what I say, Xiao ng has really matured a lot this ti she ca back. She knows how to respect her parents, shows care for Shoutian and Xiao Bin from Yutian. The kids are also very happy, even Xiao i and I, she thinks of us too. She’s really grown up, and in the future, you and dad can really look forward to enjoying life."
"Xiao ng also reminded this evening that if the family can afford it, let the children go to school, saying that going to school leads to success. Mum, I think what Xiao ng said is right."
She never went to school, and because of her inferiority complex, she never even attended literacy classes. But she’s seen educated youth from the cities, and how they talk and act differently from the local old peasants. She wants her children to be like them. Moreover, good education might even secure them a job. It’s like a vocational high school that so many people desperately want to enter – a job for life.
If her son could pass the vocational high school exam and secure such a job, her life would be worth it.
Wang Guizhi never had this idea before, but hearing Xiao ng and her daughter-in-law talking about it, it got her thinking. If they’re going to attend school, they need to start early. Their Xiao Long is already thirteen and might be too late, but the younger siblings would still have a chance.
"Alright, we should focus on building our house and making furniture first, and wait until next year. After the red envelope at the end of the year, mum, be ready to sign up several children. As for Qin Lan and Xiao Long at his age, he might not want to go due to his pride, mum, ask around and see if he can learn a craft. Craftsn won’t starve even during disasters; as long as he has a skill, he’ll be able to support himself."
Lv Qinlan felt a warmth in her eyes, "Oh, I’ll listen to you, Mum."
The three of them continued talking for a while before Wang Guizhi went back to the partition room in the main house and took a while to fall asleep, her mind buzzing with excitent, feeling that life finally had hope.
Early the next day, the kids indeed woke up late. Shen Shoutian laid a cotton blanket in the cart, put the kids on it, and covered them with another blanket. He directly took the kids to the commune’s elentary school while Shen ng returned ho to send over the kids’ backpacks.
Wang Guizhi also cooked a pot of three-grain noodles.
Lu Mingyang and his siblings beca famously known on their first day of school; their drowsy appearances made all the parents who ca to drop off their kids burst into laughter.
Shen Shoutian, a straightforward man, had never been the center of attention and felt quite embarrassed, almost wishing he could leave the cart at the school gate and run away.
Registration didn’t have to be this early, but everyone felt it was better early than late, so arriving at the school gates before dawn with their children.
Lu Mingyang was tired from getting up; he stiffly held out his little face while his uncle, who was also grimacing, wiped his face with a wet towel. When Lu Mingfang got up, seeing her ssy hair and so many people, she quickly burrowed back under the covers, her little face flushed with embarrassnt.
Shen ng quickly rode up to the school gate on her bicycle, got the kids to brush their teeth, had them eat noodles before letting them off to school.
"Be brave, there’s nothing to it," Shen ng teased, but the kids remained unresponsive, except for Lu Mingkai who continued to drool while lying on the cart, and the noisy school entrance still hadn’t woken him up.
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