Chapter 15:
Chen Shi turned a blind eye and didn’t want to bother with so much.
Her man went to town to work, and she wanted to sleep a bit longer.
Hearing people outside alluding to her with curses, making a fuss and then openly cursing her as lazy bones for not getting up, she covered her ears with the quilt in the quilt…
“Noisy, noisy, noisy, so annoying!”
“As soon as we return to this poor gully, it’s this attitude. I’ve had enough long ago. When Second Brother comes back, we’ll go back to town.”
Humph! They still wanted her to wait on their whole family for food and drink. She didn’t have to do these things at her maternal family. Why should she?
After coming back a few days, her hands had become rough again! She had been cutting wheat continuously for half a month, and her face was tanned black like charcoal…
“Mom, Jiabao is hungry!”
“Jiabao, Jiayong also a bit…”
“Wait!”
Chen Shi got up and found some snacks brought back from town in the bag to tide them over first…
When coming back, she didn’t bring any snacks for the children at home to try…
Wouldn’t that cost silver?
Jiabao was eating a small twist in his mouth and wanted to take it out to show off to the others, but she pulled him back.
“Stop, I knew you silly boy couldn’t hold it in!”
She specially whispered to them not to go out to eat, but to finish it in the room.
Especially not to tell Eldest Sister-in-law’s Yunliang and Muqing, the two brothers. When they got up later and went out, there would always be something to eat…
Just as she felt it was quiet for a while, Liuliu shouted at the doorway: “Second Wife, Mom is calling you to get up and help light the fire…”
She cursed inwardly: What a lazy woman, even lighting a fire requires calling her…
“Liuliu, Second Wife isn’t feeling well today. I’ll come in a bit. Let your mom do it first…”
Luo Zhi’er was making pig lung soup. Miaomiao was sitting in the kitchen watching her bustle about. Li Sanmao chopped firewood and carried it over to her…
Miaomiao also followed to carry a few pieces.
Li Sanmao touched the small bag on Miaomiao’s head: “Miaomiao, carry fewer pieces. You’re still small and your bones are tender. Don’t let it crush you.”
“Dad, it’s not heavy. Miaomiao can do it!”
Seeing the stove cavity had no firewood, she helped stuff in a few wooden blocks, added some firewood. “Miaomiao is so capable!”
Luo Zhi’er scooped a ladle of water into the pot and, seeing this, also smiled gently and said.
Miaomiao was extremely happy…
Li Daqiang saw his wife making breakfast. He had originally carried two buckets of water into the kitchen to pour into the water jar, but as soon as he entered, she cursed and belittled him…
“Got so much honey, but won’t let us have even a bite. Who did you give it to?”
“You’re the honest one. Second Brother could go to town with Dad, why couldn’t you? Why are you so out of favor?”
Li Daqiang’s face was full of embarrassment…
“You blockhead! If you want to be an old yellow ox, don’t drag us mother and children along!”
“Making me suffer with you! If Second Brother’s Wife’s Jiayong goes to school, I don’t know what you’ll do!”
Thinking of last night, Second Brother helped Mom speak, which must be why Mom let him go to town with her to sell things…
“Humph! Remember this: if Yunliang and Muqing can’t go to school, I won’t be done with you Li!”
Li Daqiang couldn’t stand her nagging and venting resentment indiscriminately, harming the innocent. He shook his sleeves and went out to the fields to wander…
As soon as he left, there was a clatter in the kitchen…
Li Daqiang’s ears were finally clear…
But he was also anxious and distraught!
The matter of his sons not being able to go to school! With no silver at home, what could he do?
He could only hope on this wheat, and Third Child hunting to sell for some silver!
Speaking of which, they had been so thrifty before, working hard on farm work, and earning silver from odd jobs in slack seasons. Where exactly had that silver gone?
Mom always said there was no silver. They had hardly eaten meat a few times!
Liuliu was a bit scared hearing her mom curse. Seeing Miaomiao outside, she ran over too. The two little girls together.
Seeing this plump Third Aunt and Third Uncle both very close to Miaomiao, and remembering that this Third Aunt gave her honey yesterday, she felt a bit fond of her.
A little envious, with a hint of sadness in her eyes…
In no time, Zhou Shi’s sharp and piercing shouting rang out.
“Liuliu, where the hell are you?”
She ran out and saw her with Luo Zhi’er’s family, immediately fuming. She grabbed her hair and dragged her away.
“Mom, it hurts!”
Liuliu was in so much pain tears streamed down…
“Hurts what hurts?”
Luo Zhi’er couldn’t bear to watch.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, Liuliu is still small. Don’t treat her like this…”
“What? Do I need you to manage how I discipline my own daughter?”
She picked up a thin bamboo strip from the ground and beat her head to toe: “Making you cry, making you howl!”
She beat even harder! Luo Zhi’er was furious and wanted to go reason with her, but Li Sanmao held her back!
“Humph! Get lost!”
Once in the backyard kitchen, she scolded Liuliu.
“Dead girl, what thing hooked your soul? Didn’t you see your own mom busy? Don’t you know to lend a hand?”
Liuliu hung her head and silently shed tears, not daring to retort.
Red welts all over her face.
“In the future, stay away from that dead girl Miaomiao! Hear that?”
“Got it!”
“Pick this shepherd’s purse, and wash this wood ear mushroom.”
“Yes, Mom.”
