Chapter 189: “regret”
“Done.” Gu Mu nodded.
She called Gu Qingzhou over and gave him the list written by Lin Zhao, asking him to read the prices.
“Qingzhou, how much is the aluminum lunchbox?” Gu Mu asked.
Gu Qingzhou quickly glanced at the price list, “One yuan and eighty cents.”
“So cheap, I’ll go get the money.” Huang Xiulan said in surprise.
At the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, one costs more than two yuan, and requires industrial coupons.
Gu Mu was not a domineering, controlling mother-in-law; she had been a daughter-in-law herself and knew a daughter-in-law’s thoughts, so she allowed Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang to keep some money on hand. Therefore, Gu Family’s Eldest Branch and Second Branch all had more or less some private savings.
Huang Xiulan went to get the money, and Zhao Liuniang picked out a few pencils with uneven paint on the shafts.
Seeing this, Lai Mei grinned cheekily and came over, “Mom, is this for me and my brother?”
Zhao Liuniang said: “No, it’s for Yu Yu.”
“Hmph hmph.” Lai Mei hummed twice, slyly saying: “Definitely not, Yu Yu is so little, she can’t even hold chopsticks steady, let alone grip a pencil properly.”
She casually took away the pencils.
She kept one for herself and gave one to her brother.
“Brother, use it sparingly, don’t wear it down again, I won’t lend you mine anymore!” Lai Mei reminded her brother.
Bang Bang glared at her, “Got it.”
Gu Qingzhou saw some defective towels and said: “Mom, it’s time to replace my towel.”
His towel had several holes and would fall apart with a gentle tug.
“It does need replacing.” Gu Mu picked one with the least noticeable defect, “This one, the stitching isn’t good, I’ll sew a couple of stitches for you.”
Gu Qingzhou nodded with a smile.
Earning money is hard in the countryside, so no one had strong spending desires; they just bought some daily necessities they lacked and stopped.
Seeing her family members pick what they wanted, Gu Mu thought of her old friend and said: “Qingzhou, go call Aunt Qian and let her pick first.”
“Okay.”
Gu Qingzhou went out to call her.
Soon, Old Woman Qian came to the Gu Family.
She picked and chose, buying two items; the rest weren’t lacking buyers either, no need to even ask, they sold out quickly.
Gu Mu personally went to deliver the money to Lin Zhao.
“Third son’s wife, everything has sold, here’s the money.”
Lin Zhao took it and had Yu Bao put it in the drawer in her room; Yu Bao went off to do it with a serious little face.
Gu Mu was stunned, thinking her daughter-in-law trusted the child too much, letting Yu Bao handle the money without worrying the child might take it randomly.
In that dazed moment, Yu Bao came running out of the room.
Seeing his grandma’s odd expression, the child tilted his head to look at her, eyes puzzled.
Meeting her grandson’s bright black eyes, Gu Mu let go of her doubts; Yu Bao was the most obedient and wouldn’t steal money, she really shouldn’t think that way.
With that thought, she affectionately stroked Yu Bao’s head.
……
That day, Lin Shisheng came over, carrying meat and two packages of red bean cakes.
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow and glanced over, a flash of understanding in her eyes, her fair face showing a smile, “Second brother, is that matter you mentioned before settled?”
“Of course.” Lin Shisheng was full of high spirits, beaming, “Your brother didn’t let you down, I’m a temporary worker in the transportation team now.”
“Congratulations, second brother.” Lin Zhao gave him an admiring look; second brother had gotten the job himself, which was truly impressive.
Lin Shisheng felt as refreshed as drinking iced soda on a hot day, utterly comfortable.
Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng, the two sisters, were also delighted.
“Dad’s a worker now?!” Zheng Zheng’s voice had a rare excitement, her tone higher than usual.
Lin Shisheng gestured downward with his hand, “Keep it low-key, low-key, it’s just temporary for now, wait until I become permanent to celebrate.”
Zheng Zheng’s little face was still beaming brightly like a little sun, “Temporary worker is already amazing.”
The little girl’s eyes sparkled as she looked at her dad, “Dad is so awesome!”
Xuanxuan was happy too, saying: “Dad, like uncle, are you going to work in the county now?”
The smile on Lin Shisheng’s face faded a bit as he looked seriously at his two good daughters, “I joined the transportation team, the kind that goes on the road with the truck, you might not see me for ten days or half a month, do you mind?”
“Not at all!” Zheng Zheng said loudly.
She asked again: “Is it that big truck?”
Lin Shisheng: “Yes.”
“Wow.” Zheng Zheng cupped her face, eyes full of worship; in her eyes, daddy was especially tall, taller than mountains, stronger than big trees.
Xuanxuan’s smile didn’t fade either, radiating joy all over.
“Dad, work hard, strive to…” Thinking of what Lin Shisheng had just said, Xuanxuan said: “Strive to become permanent soon.”
“Good.” Lin Shisheng smiled, noticing the new hair ties on his daughters’ heads and the new clothes they wore, knowing his sister had made them new ones for the two girls, a warm feeling surged in his heart.
He said: “Once brother gets his salary, I’ll go to the provincial capital to buy you a new outfit.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes curved in a smile, “Clothes in the provincial capital are expensive.”
“Expensive is fine, second brother is willing to buy it for you.” Lin Shisheng said grandly.
“Then second brother, save more money, you still need to buy for Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng, they don’t have many new clothes.” Lin Zhao reminded.
“Buy for all.” Lin Shisheng felt sorry for his daughters too; once he started working, he’d have stable income, and his daughters would have what city girls had.
He slipped to the foot of the mountain, delivered some things to Meng Jiusi and his two sons, didn’t stay long, and left Fengshou Brigade to go home.
Lin Zhao watched her second brother leave.
Wang Chunhua was watering the vegetable patch at her doorstep and called out: “Yu Bao’s mom, your maternal family’s second brother came to see you again?”
“Yes. My second uncle joined the county’s transportation team and came to tell me this good news.” Lin Zhao’s eyes held a smile.
Wang Chunhua was stunned, “Transportation team? The kind that drives around everywhere?”
“Yes.” Lin Zhao nodded.
“Oh my, that’s a good job, congratulations to your family.” Wang Chunhua said enviously, “Your parents are so lucky, all their kids are workers.”
Thinking of Yu Bao’s second uncle’s divorce, she felt that divorced woman truly had no fortune, not even hot shit could catch up; the Lin family’s good days had nothing to do with her.
Back home.
Wang Chunhua shared the gossip with her family.
The Wang family looked envious.
“Yu Bao’s maternal uncle is a worker too, right?” Wang family’s eldest daughter-in-law sighed, “Yu Bao’s mom is a worker, now his second uncle is one too; for them, how is work so easy to get?”
Wang Chunhua wasn’t blinded by envy and calmly said: “The Lin family all have good education, their former classmates from school definitely have many with jobs; just ask around a few people and you can get the news.”
That’s what she thought.
So she sighed: “People still need culture.”
Saying that, she touched her grandson’s prickly head, “Da Zhuang, study hard, that way when you grow up you’ll have good prospects, not like your dad, who can only do manual labor.”
Wang family’s eldest son, already several years old, felt unconvinced; he was born to his mom, his brain took after his biological mother, studying didn’t click… the problem was obvious where.
Da Zhuang smiled honestly, “Yeah, I’ll study hard.”
The child really liked the twins’ room, with a bookshelf full of books and all sorts of toys…
“Grandma, I’m going to Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s to read books.”
Wang Chunhua smiled happily, “Go ahead.”
She reminded again, “If you’re hungry, come back, don’t sneak eating their stuff.”
Da Zhuang replied crisply, “Got it.”
As soon as the words fell, he grabbed his grid paper and pencil and ran next door, thud thud thud.
He hadn’t arrived yet but shouted first.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao!”
Da Huang recognized the little friend who got along well with the little masters and lay in its den without even lifting its head.
Amber had grown a size bigger, body round and plump, eyes round too; she loved playing with the little masters most, but they were reading in the room now, so she was bored playing with a little bamboo ball in the yard.
Seeing Da Zhuang, she bounced over happily.
“Woof woof…”
Her bark was tender and full of energy.
Yu Bao looked up, saw Da Zhuang through the window, and called lightly and cheerfully: “Da Zhuang, come inside.”
“Coming!” Da Zhuang petted Amber, then her front paws, and happily went in.
“Da Zhuang, I’ll share half an egg cake with you, but you have to wash your hands, you just petted the dog, mom says you can’t eat right after touching a dog.” Heng Bao and Yu Bao sat side by side at the desk, swinging their little short legs, saying loudly.
Egg cake?
Da Zhuang had never had it.
He licked his lips, “You guys have it?”
“Yes, plenty.” Yu Bao said.
Hearing that, Da Zhuang put down his notebook and pencil and went to wash his hands at the sink.
Back inside, he saw both good brothers had half a piece of egg cake in hand, and Mao Dan’er had some too.
There was still half a piece on the little porcelain plate on the table.
“This is mine?” Da Zhuang asked expectantly.
“Yes.” Heng Bao picked it up and stuffed it into his hand; a few days ago Da Zhuang had given them eggs.
“Thanks!” Da Zhuang thanked in surprise, took it, and took a tiny bite— so sweet, even better than the fried dough twist the twins shared with him.
The little friend didn’t dare eat it all at once, carefully put it away, planning to share with his sister at home.
His sister washed his clothes, it was hard work.
The twins didn’t pay much attention, finished their egg cakes, drank some juice, and started writing.
Mao Dan’er was older than the twins; his grandma Ning Lao Tai came from an old society big family, well-read, and he had learned from her since young, knew many characters, a cultured little youth.
He really liked Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s bookshelf, so many books, couldn’t finish them in a short time; Mao Dan’er super enjoyed it.
The children were reading and playing next door, their crisp laughter occasionally reaching the main room; Lin Zhao, who was writing a letter, smiled knowingly, her mood calm.
Halfway through the letter, she got stuck, propped her chin, and looked out the window.
She had just told Wang Chunhua about her second brother becoming a transportation team worker, not just to show off, but with another purpose.
She wanted the news to spread to the Qiu Family.
The Qiu Family was greedy and vain; if they knew their former son-in-law became a worker and they got no benefit, they’d surely regret it bitterly and feel awful…
Lin Zhao could imagine it.
It felt so satisfying.
Everything went as Lin Zhao thought; news of Lin Shisheng joining the transportation team first spread throughout Fengshou Brigade, then quickly spread to the brigade where the Qiu Family was.
The Qiu Family had finally fixed their roof, using up a third of their savings, both heartbroken and furious, feeling utterly stifled.
That day, the old couple came home from work and were stopped on the road.
“Qiu family, I heard your former son-in-law joined the transportation team, is that true?”
Lin Shisheng, that damned one, became a worker?!!
The Qiu Family instinctively rejected this reality.
No.
Impossible.
If he could join, he would have long ago, why wait till now?
Old Woman Qiu pulled a sour face, her cracked mouth spitting cold words, “Who did you hear that from? Absolutely impossible, Lin family’s second son has no skill to drive, if he did, he’d have been a worker long ago, no way he’d wait till today!”
The speaker smiled slyly: “You say Lin second son has no skill, then why back then did you insist on clinging to them, making Qiu Lian marry into the Lin family? Old auntie, that sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it.”
Another said: “The news is all over, probably true; your former son-in-law who divorced your daughter really became a worker, too bad your family didn’t get the benefit.”
“Oh my, Old Woman Qiu, your Qiu Lian doesn’t have the curse of widow-making, does she?” A superstitious old lady exclaimed suddenly: “When your Qiu Lian was still Lin family daughter-in-law, the Lin family had no good fortune; after Qiu Lian went back to her maternal home, good news came one after another for the Lin family—eldest son became a worker, second son just divorced Qiu Lian and also became a worker, this…”
At these words, the surrounding people’s expressions turned odd.
No way?!
Old Woman Qiu was furious.
She still wanted Qiu Lian to remarry and collect another betrothal gift, couldn’t let her reputation be ruined.
Anxious and angry, suddenly a flash of inspiration hit her.
She pointed at the speaking old lady.
“You dare spread feudal superstition, believe it or not I’ll report you to the commune!”
That old lady came from feudal society times, used to superstition, wasn’t scared at her words, put hands on hips: “Go ahead, report me, my neck’s already buried in dirt, what do I have to fear!”
She didn’t believe just saying a couple sentences would do anything. If so, how many would be in trouble.
Old Woman Qiu couldn’t outtalk her archenemy, head aching with anger, ignored these onlookers, and hurried home.
The village gossip stirred waves in the Qiu Family’s hearts.
The whole family was so depressed they couldn’t even eat.
Qiu Lian’s brother gulped down water to vent his anger, but it only burned fiercer, resentfully saying: “Mom, how did you raise Qiu Lian? Which village girl would do something shameful like stealing a man? Only her! Such a disgrace!”
“The Lin family was so good, two workers, even scraps from their fingers would let us eat well…” He was full of regret, “Now, great, our family gets none of the benefits.”
Old Woman Qiu heard the resentment in her son’s words, heartbroken.
Her face darkened, “You were greedy for the Chen family’s meat too, you saw it and didn’t say anything yourself, now blame me? Truly wasted my love on you.”
Qiu Lian’s brother dodged his old mom’s poking hand, irritated, “Who’s blaming you! Can’t I even say it! So close, so close to us eating meat every month, now nothing…”
The more he thought, the worse; he stood up, knocking over the wooden stool too hard, it flipped with a clatter.
Qiu family’s only son wasn’t panicked, coldly said: “I’m not eating, going back to lie down.”
Lying in bed, looking at the dirt-dropping ceiling, unwillingness rose in his heart.
If not for Qiu Lian being so stupid, he’d have a worker brother-in-law; with those connections, maybe he could become a worker too, even temporary would do.
All Qiu Lian’s fault.
She ruined everything!
In the yard.
Old Man Qiu puffed on his pipe, smoking leaves he dried himself, one after another, extremely irritated.
After a long time, he exhaled smoke, without looking at his old lady, his aged voice laced with resentment: “You didn’t raise Qiu Lian right. Such a good son-in-law, what a pity…”
Old Woman Qiu was unhappy that father and son dumped all blame on her, her old face full of grievance, “You didn’t say anything either, you ate the meat Qiu Lian brought back too; put down the bowl and curse, you old man, have some shame.”
Old Man Qiu flew into a rage from shame, “I’m too lazy to argue with a woman like you.”
With that, he stormed back inside angrily.
Regret.
At this time, Qiu family’s daughter-in-law seemingly casually said: “Mom, haven’t seen Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng in a while, maybe go visit?”
Old Woman Qiu’s eyes lit up.
Right, right, the two money-losing goods born by Qiu Lian were still at the Lin family.
A calculating glint flashed in her eyes; she patted her buttocks and eagerly went back to the room to discuss countermeasures with the old man.
In place, the gaunt, sallow-faced woman flickered her gaze a few times, silently entered the kitchen.
