Chapter 63: I’m content with what I have.
She put down the stone pestle she was holding, looked all around, and then carefully returned the money and ration coupons to Shen Meng.
“Shen Meng, your wife, what are you doing? I don’t need this money or coupons. Please take them back. And this candy too; such a rare treat, please give it to Mingkai and the other children. Seeing you bringing things over, I know you’re a considerate and sensible person. I’m upset, but it’s not about you. We’re all villagers; there’s no need to be so polite. My anger is directed at Uncle Guai; he went to help you, but forgot to pick up the people in the county town. He almost lost the ox-cart job. Can you imagine how upset I am?”
Shen Meng was momentarily stunned. She had been sleeping at home and didn’t know about what happened to Uncle Guai, and now she was embarrassed.
Many idlers in the village were eyeing Uncle Guai’s ox-cart job. The round trip between the commune and the county town, plus Lu Family Village, would earn him ten work points a day. It was easy work, and who wouldn’t want it?
“I’m truly sorry, Aunt. I didn’t know about this. Because of this, you should absolutely keep the money and coupons. If Uncle Guai really loses his ox-cart job because of this, I feel terrible. Aunt, how about this? You give Uncle Guai one yuan to give to the production team. The village cadres should not say anything more. If there are any further problems, I’ll go and speak to someone.”
Zhu Juying paused in her refusal. While she hadn’t lost her husband this time, the issue was still there, and she feared that someone might use this to gossip about him in the future.
“Alright, Shen Meng, your wife. I’m embarrassed to accept this money. However, the coupons, I can’t take them. I can’t take the extra fifty cents either. It’s not for our family. We can’t accept even a single penny that isn’t ours.”
“Aunt, I’m not trying to be extravagant. I’m not here to impress you. I gave you these cotton ration coupons because Uncle Guai told me Xiangxiang is getting engaged, and she’ll be getting married next year. A daughter getting married deserves a decent quilt. The money for the coupons will still be spent by you and Uncle Guai. Zhenping sends money every month, and I don’t use all of it. Please take them. Consider it a gift from our family to Xiangxiang’s dowry.”
Zhu Juying looked at Shen Meng, who was smiling and speaking softly, and although she was reluctant, she couldn’t refuse the cotton ration coupons. Her daughter was nineteen, engaged to a good family. Sheโd carefully checked out the family, and only agreed after confirming they were a good match.
Although her husband worked driving the ox-cart, they were still farmers. They didn’t have much money. The cotton quilt she had saved for her daughter had already been taken by her daughter-in-law two years ago.
Xiangxiang comforted her, saying it was okay. She didn’t want to trouble her mother. This had been weighing on Zhu Juying’s mind for years. Seeing her daughter, she felt a pang of sadness.
Now, with Shen Meng offering these coupons, it wasn’t just a simple coupon; it was a way for her daughter to have dignity!
“Good, good child. Thank you. When Xiangxiang gets married next year, please come and celebrate with us!”
“Of course. Aunt, please keep these things safely. Don’t let anyone see them. It’s getting late. I should go now.”
“Yes, go now!”
Zhu Juying looked around, quickly tucked the money and coupons into her arms, and then went back inside with the bowl of sesame seeds.
After work, Lu Xiangxiang returned home, and her mother pulled her into the house. Seeing this, Huang Mao-chun, Lu Xingchang’s wife, darted her eyes around, threw down her hoe, and tried to eavesdrop.
“What are you doing? Dinner is ready.” Lu Xingchang called out to her.
“Don’t bother me.” She retorted and hurried inside.
Lu Xiangxiang’s sister-in-law, Yao Jinzhu, coughed lightly and said, “Mao-chun, what are you doing? It’s your turn to cook tonight. Hurry up, the children will be hungry.”
Inside, Zhu Juying opened the door.
“What’s going on? Do your work. Don’t be a troublemaker all the time. Xingchang, control your wife. What kind of behavior is this?”
Lu Xingchang opened his mouth, but seeing Huang Mao-chun’s angry glare, he didn’t dare say anything.
Zhu Juying saw her son’s cowardly behavior and felt disgusted. When they weren’t married, she had showered them with kindness, thinking they were honest and hardworking. She hadn’t expected to attract a troublemaker, and even her son had become spineless.
She didn’t want to say anything more; it wouldn’t change anything. Her daughter-in-law was already married, and they had grandchildren. What else could she do? She just had to endure it.
โโโ
Huang Mao-chun was furious.
“Old woman, you treat me like an outsider! What’s there to hide? Yao Jinzhu, you lot are like a bunch of starving ghosts! Make me cook? I won’t cook tonight. I’ll see if the whole family starves!”
“Mao-chun, don’t say that. I’ll cook. Yesterday was Xiaomei’s turn, the day before was your sister-in-law’s, and today is our turn.”
“Shut up! You cook, then who washes the clothes and looks after the children? I don’t care! I’ve worked all day and am exhausted. I want something ready-made!”
She snorted and went inside. Lu Xingchang saw Yao Jinzhu’s tear-filled eyes and sighed, “Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. She’s just like that. Don’t mind her. I’ll go back now. The child will be scolded by his mother if he comes back late.”
Yao Jinzhu was heartbroken. She never expected her previously gentle and thoughtful brother-in-law to be so spineless.
“What kind of person is this!”
The in-laws, and her husband and children, and her second brother and sister-in-law were all hungry. She wiped her eyes and went into the kitchen.
Inside, Zhu Juying told Lu Xiangxiang the story and gave her the cotton ration coupons.
Lu Xiangxiang, although happy, still hesitated and pushed the coupons back.
“Mother, I can’t take advantage of Meng’s kindness just because I’m getting married. Chang Hong told me that soldiers don’t get many coupons or allowances. Some soldiers even use their allowances to support the families of fallen comrades. Comrades sacrifice themselves for the country, and we shouldn’t complain about these little hardships. I don’t need these. They didn’t give much dowry, and I didn’t bring much dowry either. It’s fair. When it gets cold, Meng still needs to make winter clothes for Mingyang and the others. These coupons are probably Zhenping saving for them. Mother, we can’t take them.”
“My dear daughter, you’ve had a hard time in this poor family. It’s our fault.” Zhu Juying felt a pang of heartache.
“Mother, don’t say that. Many families don’t value their daughters. I haven’t suffered much. I’m content with what I have. It’s fine, Mother. Even without a dowry, I can make a good life for myself.” Lu Xiangxiang hugged her mother.
Shen Meng heated up the pig’s trotters soup. It was simple, but didn’t have a strong aroma. When Mingyang and the others came home from school, she had already packed the steamed buns and soup into a basket.
“Mingyang, Mother has wrapped the steamed buns in cloth, and the pig’s trotters soup is in two lunchboxes. Be careful on your way back, and walk around people so they don’t see you. Mother will wait for you at home.”
As they were leaving, they met Xie Jinghao, who was leading Xiao Gang home. Seeing it was getting dark, and Mingyang carrying the basket, and Mingliang and Mingfang following, they were heading out.
“Where are you going? It’s getting dark, don’t wander around!”
“Third Aunt, we’re going to collect the fodder we cut after school. We know where it is.”
Shen Meng waved to her, and just as she handed her the pig’s trotters soup, Xie Jinghao said, “These children are so well-behaved. They even earn work points on the way home!”
Shen Meng: “…”
One year of pregnancy, three years of foolishness. You believe that nonsense!
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