"So, this is also where Li Shengi is clever," she picks on Old Lady Gao and Zheng Xianghong, claiming, ’I ca here earlier than you, I know more about what goes on inside.’ Zheng Xianghong puts up with Old Lady Gao’s hitting not because she can’t fight back, but because she’s afraid of Old Lady Gao."
Dong ihua nodded, listening to Wang Aihua continue, "If Zheng Xianghong dodged or blocked, Old Lady Gao would faint. If you were the daughter-in-law, what would you do?"
"Doesn’t Zheng Xianghong have so dical skills?" said Dong ihua.
"With Old Lady Gao being so old, if sothing really happened to her, what would Zheng Xianghong do?"
Dong ihua fell silent, Xia Xiao was impressed with Wang Aihua for figuring this out.
"So, this is between Old Lady Gao and her daughter-in-law Zheng Xianghong, it doesn’t an Li Shengi is particularly capable. You should stop learning from Li Shengi." What Wang Aihua didn’t say was she thought Li Shengi engaged in so an tricks. If you had the skills, you’d fight Zheng Xianghong openly, but Li Shengi was effective with these clumsy tactics because she understood Old Lady Gao. It still had to be acknowledged that Li Shengi had so capability, yet her thods weren’t honorable.
"I didn’t learn from her," Dong ihua denied.
"But you are becoming more and more like her," Yang Xuehua said.
Dong ihua looked at Xia Xiao and stood up, bowing to her, "Xia Xiao, I am sorry. Please forgive ."
Xia Xiao smiled slightly, "As long as you recognize your own issues, that’s good. I forgive you. We are outsiders here, sent for re-education by the poor and lower-middle peasants, ford by fate. Maybe we will settle in An Family forever, or perhaps there’s a chance to return to the city, but as long as we can’t return, we have to live here. Would you prefer everyone to love and care for each other, or for us to quarrel and grow tired of each other every day?"
"Of course, it’s better if we love and care for each other," Dong ihua also smiled.
"That settles it then. Let’s all love and care for each other to make our days harmonious and joyful."
As soon as Xia Xiao finished, Wang Aihua and Yang Xuehua nodded in agreent. Wang Aihua said, "Well said. Accepting re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants, we originally ca down to the countryside to clear and build up the land. We need to endure hardships and find joy amidst the difficulties. We should really be more joyful."
Yang Xuehua also spoke, "Exactly, let’s put the past unhappiness behind us and get along harmoniously from now on. Of course, if there are conflicts or hardships, we should openly discuss them and help each other solve them."
After shaking hands in reconciliation with Xia Xiao, the matter was put behind them, and the dormitory regained its previous joyful atmosphere, which Xia Xiao greatly enjoyed.
Work was inherently tiring, and having conflicts made it even worse.
Previously at Youth Point, only Xia Xiao, Sun Yuhua, and Liang Wenchang were from S city. Now, they had been joined by three new people, Gu Weiguo, Yao Wangchun, and Xu i.
Having more folks from the sa hotown felt quite good, they all greeted each other warmly. Gu Weiguo, Yao Wangchun, and Xu i were new but quickly integrated into the community.
And with Xu i after her, Xia Xiao no longer had to be at the bottom.
Xia Xiao had expected Li Shengi to co and cause trouble for her, but surprisingly, Li Shengi had not co, and Xia Xiao hadn’t really seen her lately.
After Yang Hua and Gao Jianmin got their marriage certificate, Lin Xue i confined Yang Hua at ho for pregnancy care, so she also had no ti to bother Xia Xiao, making her days sowhat more relaxing.
However, Xia Xiao found herself missing S city more and more. She hadn’t received any letters and was even considering asking for leave to visit S city.
In July, Xia Xiao asked the team leader for leave to go ho, and before she even returned to Youth Point, she saw Wang Aihua from afar, waving, "Xia Xiao, you’ve got a letter."
Xia Xiao imdiately smiled broadly and ran towards Wang Aihua.
"Feeling relieved now, right?" Wang Aihua said, handing her the letter with a smile.
"Thank you, Sister Aihua."
Xia Xiao was so delighted that she saluted Wang Aihua militarily, amusing her, "Go ahead and open it to see. I’ll deliver the rest of the letters."
Xia Xiao nodded, waved at Wang Aihua, then eagerly opened the letter.
"Big Sister, I hope this letter finds you well! There’s been so much going on at ho, I haven’t been able to write to you, and I apologize for worrying you. Your family received the two letters you sent, and the food you sent earlier helped us through tough tis. Recently, Grandpa’s been sick, making life even harder at ho. Your second and third sisters wanted to quit school, but I borrowed so money and enrolled them back into their classes. Luckily, the food coupons and oil tickets you sent were exchanged for money to repay the factory."
Reading this far, Xia Xiao felt proud of her brother for being so responsible. She knew that aside from her younger sister, her other two sisters were also in primary school. With just a primary education, they had very low literacy levels, and with only five years left before educational reforms, it made sense to take advantage of the remaining years to learn as much as possible.
"I’m happy to see from your letters that you are doing well there. I’ve always worried about you because you were introverted; I feared you might be bullied or unable to fit in with the community after going into the countryside, but now I see you have beco more outgoing, grown up, and sensible. Mom and Dad are always reading your letters, praising you and delighted by your progress."
Xia Xiao smiled faintly, sighing a bit. She was living in the original host’s body and felt an obligation to support her family.
"Let share so good news. Mom’s pregnant again, and we’ll soon have another brother or sister."
Great news!!!
Xia Xiao widened her eyes in shock. My goodness, she already had an elder brother and three younger sisters, and now her mother was pregnant again!
Although people of that era favored large families, considering the family’s situation, having another child seed overwhelming.
Her mother might continue working despite the pregnancy, but with a pregnant woman at ho, there would soon be another baby.
That put a lot of pressure on her elder brother, a 17-year-old boy who had just entered social life less than a year ago, sharing the sa age with Gao Jiaxing. He was about to shoulder the entire family’s responsibility, and Xia Xiao couldn’t help but sympathize with her brother.
After finishing the rest of the letter, which mainly reminded her to stay safe, work well, and perhaps look for opportunities to move back to the city in the future, Xia Xiao felt ward but also sighed. Moving back to the city would probably take more than a decade.
Xia Xiao knew that her family’s situation was probably more difficult than her brother let on in the letter, but having finally received it, she felt more at ease.
Upon returning to Youth Point, Xia Xiao faced everyone’s concern, "How is your family doing?"
Xia Xiao said, "Grandpa was sick for a while, and my brother shared so good news in his letter; my mom is pregnant again, so next year we’ll have another little brother or sister."
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