In front of absolute strength, all underhanded tactics are futile.
Li Chuxia had long seen through Qin Wen’s little sches. When he ca to her house to confront her, seeking to regain the face he’d lost in front of the village chief by stepping on her to advance his position, she personally shattered his beautiful dream.
If he hadn’t co looking for trouble, perhaps out of consideration for the Qin Family, she might have given him so face. But now she realizes that so people just aren’t worth the courtesy.
Little Zhuangzhuang bounced back from outside and, upon seeing everyone, shouted, "Grandpa, Grandma, Little Auntie, I got a red flower today!"
"Wow, Zhuangzhuang is so amazing, a red flower on the first day?" Li Chuxia said with a smile.
Little Zhuangzhuang nodded proudly, "The teacher asked who could count, and I counted the most. I can also do addition and subtraction. I knew it all even before the teacher taught us, and my classmates were so envious of ."
"Zhuangzhuang is really great."
Li Chuxia gave him a thumbs up.
"It’s all because Little Auntie taught ."
He lowered his head, tugged at his shirt, and then shyly held up the red flower in his hand, "I want to give the red flower to Little Auntie."
Li Chuxia reached out and hugged him, "Thank you, Zhuangzhuang, Little Auntie is so happy."
Zhuangzhuang’s face turned even redder.
The family went back inside to continue making dumplings, with a filling of pork and chive that was never enough no matter how much they ate.
Li Chuxia ended up eating until her belly was round.
"Mom’s cooking is really good, I’m stuffed."
If soone else praised her cooking, Mrs. Qin might believe it, but coming from Li Chuxia, Mrs. Qin just smiled, "How can it compare with yours? Look at the n in our family, after having your cooking, they’ve all started to criticize mine."
"It’s different, Mom’s cooking has the taste of ho."
This taste Li Chuxia only experienced once in her past life at Sun Lanlan’s house, yet she rembered it for a lifeti.
Mrs. Qin took it as a complint, feeling happy inside, "If you like it, Mom will make it for you often."
.........
In the afternoon, before Li Chuxia had gone to the food factory, soone ca to look for her, saying she had a phone call.
All business dealings at the food factory were handled by Su Wensong. If soone was phoning for her, it was likely Qin Yang.
Once she reached the office at the food factory, the phone rang shortly after, and indeed, it was Qin Yang.
His voice was filled with restrained joy, "Xiaxia, I have good news for you. My transfer is confird; I’m moving to our city."
Li Chuxia’s eyes lit up. Transferring to their city ant he would be very close to ho.
Moreover, she had been planning to expand into the city market, so this ant they wouldn’t have to live apart anymore.
"When is the transfer?"
"I still have so handover work to do here, but at the latest, I’ll be able to transfer next month, and I should be able to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival at ho."
Qin Yang replied succinctly, then paused for a mont, his tone seeming a bit tentative, "Xiaxia, I’ll be working in the city. Can you co over?"
"Qin Yang, have I told you that I’ve also opened a Bun Shop in the city? I was planning on developing there anyway, just starting with the Bun Shop to test the waters. If you can transfer there, I can move my plans forward."
This was her way of agreeing, and Qin Yang’s voice couldn’t hide his joy, "Then once I’m settled in the city, you can co over."
"Okay."
Long-distance calls were not only expensive, but the reception on Qin Yang’s end was also not very good.
After finishing their serious conversation, they exchanged a few caring words before hanging up the phone.
Su Wensong ca back from outside and saw Lin Chuxia in a visibly good mood. He teased, "Mr. Lin is all smiles, is there so good news?"
"Indeed, there is good news. Qin Yang is being transferred back here."
"That really is good news. Congratulations to Mr. Lin, no more living apart from your husband."
Before he got married, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with Lin Chuxia and her situation.
Now, enjoying the warm and gentle company of his wife every evening, he could empathize with Qin Yang’s plight.
Lin Chuxia smiled in acknowledgnt. Knowing that everything at the food factory was running smoothly, she didn’t linger any longer. She had to share this good news with Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin.
Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were still at ho waiting; they guessed the call must have been from Qin Yang.
Knowing that they rarely called, typically writing letters instead, they were worried it might be so urgent matter.
Hearing that Qin Yang was being transferred and that he would be moved nearer ho, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were delighted.
Especially Mrs. Qin, who pulled Lin Chuxia aside and spoke earnestly, "When Yangyang is transferred back, you should go with him to the city. After all, a big city is better than our small county town. I’ve heard the buildings in the city outnumber those here, and the streets are wider. Didn’t you also say that the clothes in the city’s malls are prettier?"
Lin Chuxia listened to her ramble with a smile. Mrs. Qin was so worried that she would once again refuse to reunite with Qin Yang for the sake of her career.
"Mom, I was also thinking of expanding into the city. It’s perfect timing with Qin Yang’s return. Even if he wasn’t coming back, I would still be heading that way next year."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qin was completely reassured. "That’s wonderful. Then you two won’t have to be apart like this. Business is just fine as it is, as long as there’s enough money. Once Yangyang is back, you should hurry up and have a child. I heard Wu’s wife is already expecting her second. It’s about ti you had one too."
"Okay, mom, we’ll consider it."
...
The sunshine of early autumn was warm and gentle, the breeze mild, and the sky a tile blue adorned with clusters of white clouds, soft as marshmallows.
Today, in the Li Family of Xiaoqingshan Village, it was the celebration of Li Guangyuan’s son’s first full month of life.
In the village, getting a daughter-in-law and adding a mber to the family were both occasions for joy. No matter how tight the finances, at least two tables must be set out for guests.
But Li Guangyuan was not just tight on money; he was burdened with debts unrecovered, and without money to hold a banquet, so he only bought a pound of at to host Lin Jiayi’s family.
Lin Jiayi sat on the kang, watching her son.
On the day because of an issue with cooked food, Li Guangyuan and Old Mrs. Li’s family confronted her, which led to her premature labor. Fortunately, she gave birth to a son.
Despite Old Mrs. Li’s claims that the child in Lin Jiayi’s belly might not be Li Guangyuan’s, as the child’s father, Li Guangyuan knew very well.
Moreover, when the child was born, he was the spitting image of Li Guangyuan—what else was there to say?
Now that he had his own son, who would volunteer to raise a widow’s son? Old Mrs. Li’s words were all spoken in the heat of the mont.
A widow that brings ill-fate to her husband—she was still counting on Li Guangyuan to support her in her old age.
The cooked food incident seed to be swept under the carpet. With the birth of the child, the family began to live a simple and honest life again.
Even Li Guangyuan started selling vegetables again to pay off his debts and provide for his child.
And Lin Jiayi, who finally had a son of her own, no longer had to raise children for others, which was definitely a boost to her pride.
When Lin Jiayi saw Mr. Lin and Mother Lin co inside, she looked behind them with expectation, yet did not see the person she was hoping to see.
Once everyone was inside, Lin Jiayi couldn’t wait to ask, "Mom, why didn’t the younger sister co?"
Mother Lin herself couldn’t understand why her eldest daughter was always competing with her younger one.
Even though she didn’t think highly of the younger daughter either, it was clear that the current situations were different, and the eldest daughter was no match for the younger.
Furthermore, after hearing the news, she completely gave up on the idea of competing with the younger daughter.
Reviews
All reviews (0)