https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-128-Sister-in-Law-You-Must-Take-This-Money/12849243/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-130-The-Entire-Village-Mobilizes/12849245/
Chapter 129: The Young Wives and Maidens Envy Her Tears
Chapter 129: The Young Wives and Maidens Envy Her Tears
"..."
Jiang Defeng couldn’t find any words to counter. Given her understanding of her elder sister-in-law, she knew that what the second sister-in-law said was not just a possibility but a certainty. When the time came, she would be in a difficult position, unable to refuse or accept.
Bu Dafang said, "That's settled then!"
Jiang's mother couldn’t help but interject, "Dafang, are you using the second son’s wages to pay for this? And if you go to help Mr. Q with his work, what about your fields? Who will farm them for you? Does Mr. Q's lychee orchard really need so many people to manage it?"
Hearing her mother-in-law’s doubts, Bu Dafang was too tired to argue any further. She would deal with her son’s frustration later that night.
So, Bu Dafang remained calm and said, "Mother, the money comes from my wages. Mr. Q said there’s a lot to do in the lychee orchard, and two people will be just right. As for the fields, I plan to rent them out. Whoever farms them will just need to pay the public grain and give us a bit of grain each year."
Jiang Dehu also explained, "Mother, don’t say that. Dafang going to work in the lychee orchard is Mr. Q’s idea."
Seeing her son speak up, Jiang’s mother knew this was likely true and didn’t say anything more, though she grumbled, "You really should have asked more clearly. You don’t even know how much she’ll earn each month."
Bu Dafang pretended not to hear and smiled at her sister-in-law, "Sister Feng, that’s settled then. Mr. Q said he will bring back lychee saplings after the New Year. When that happens, I and your second brother will go to the lychee orchard to help. If there’s anything you need done, do it while we’re still at home. Once we start working, it won’t be convenient for you to take care of the two children."
Jiang Defeng nodded happily, "I understand, Second Sister-in-law."
...
In Bobai County, the third day of the first lunar month is known as "Poor Ghost Day" or "Three Poors Day." Some people, for good luck, call it "Three Riches Day."
On this day, almost every household sweeps the floor, symbolizing the sweeping out of poor ghosts.
No one visits relatives on this day, and even neighbors don’t drop by. Entering someone’s home on this day is considered inauspicious, as it’s believed to bring poor ghosts inside, making the situation very awkward.
If there’s a real emergency, one must leave immediately after finishing the task and avoid staying overnight.
Therefore, Deng Shirong and his children stayed at home, sitting by the fire.
While roasting by the fire, they could also roast sweet potatoes, cassava, and other grains, which taste quite delicious when roasted. Roasted sweet potatoes are sweet and fragrant, and roasted cassava is even more aromatic.
They could also skewer a large rice cake or a steamed bun with a chopstick and roast it, enjoying it as they roasted, which had its own unique charm.
...
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Naye Village would inevitably hold a village ceremony.
Naye Village holds twelve ceremonies each year, and most of these ceremonies don’t have fixed dates. They can be held whenever the villagers decide, as long as they complete twelve ceremonies in a year. However, three ceremonies have fixed dates: the fourth day of the first lunar month, the second day of the second lunar month, and the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.
For most rural families, the ceremony on the fourth day of the first lunar month is the least anticipated. After all, the food during the New Year is much better than usual, with meat every day, so the village meat isn’t as eagerly awaited.
But the village ceremony, whether now or in the future, is something no household would miss.
As a local saying goes: "If you can’t even bear a village ceremony, what else can you bear in this world?"
This means that if a family can’t even participate in the village’s social activities, they are essentially considered to have no future.
Therefore, no matter how poor a family is, they must participate in these activities, even if it means partnering with others to share the costs.
In this era, after the New Year’s social activities in Naye Village, the festivities would largely come to an end.
In his previous life, Deng Shirong and Deng YunGui’s brick and tile factory would start operations on the fourth day of the New Year, not the sixth. Back then, rural people had few opportunities to earn money, and the wages from working in the factory were quite attractive. Everyone was eager to start working and earn as soon as possible.
...
The fifth day of the New Year.
Poxin Village.
Deng YunTai and Zhang Xiuping were preparing to leave after a three-day visit to her parents’ home.
Zhang’s mother tried to persuade them to stay longer, saying, “YunTai, you rarely come, why don’t you stay a few more days?”
Deng YunTai smiled and replied, “Mother, the factory is starting operations tomorrow, and I need to go back to work.”
Zhang Zhenfa added, “You can’t afford to miss work. Missing a day means losing seven or eight yuan. Bring Xiuping back when you have the time!”
Deng YunTai nodded. “Sure, I’ll bring her to see you when I can.”
On the other side, his two sisters-in-law were also trying to keep Zhang Xiuping.
Zhang’s eldest sister-in-law sincerely said, “Ping, stay a few more days. We don’t know when we’ll see you again after you leave!”
Zhang’s second sister-in-law chimed in, “Yes, Ping. We didn’t realize it before, but now that you’re married, I often think of you. Since you don’t have much to do at home, why not stay a few more days?”
Zhang Xiuping smiled. “Elder Sister, Second Sister, I’d love to stay longer, but the factory is starting operations tomorrow, and Tai needs to go back to work. I can’t stay here alone, so I have to go with him.”
Zhang’s eldest sister-in-law sighed. “That’s true, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Zhang’s second sister-in-law said, “Ping, your husband has to work, but you can come back on your own next time and stay longer!”
Zhang Xiuping laughed. “Elder Sister, Second Sister, once you’ve set a date for the shop to open, send me a message. I’ll come over to congratulate you then.”
Zhang’s eldest sister-in-law beamed. “Of course, we’ll let you know. The shop wouldn’t have opened without your help, so you must come!”
Zhang’s second sister-in-law also smiled. “Yes, we want to share your good fortune and make the shop’s business even better!”
Zhang Xiuping couldn’t help but smile. After chatting with her sisters-in-law, she went to say goodbye to her parents and brothers.
After saying farewell to her family, Zhang Xiuping and her husband packed some rice cakes and a bunch of garlic. Under the watchful eyes of her family, they each rode their bicycles and left Poxin Village.
Along the way, they greeted every familiar face they met.
The people of Poxin Village watched them go with envious eyes.
On the second day of the New Year, many women in Poxin Village brought their husbands to visit relatives, but none were as impressive as Zhang Xiuping and her husband. The new Phoenix bicycle she rode back on had the village’s young women and housewives green with envy.
(End of Chapter)
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