Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The time for the allotment distribution arrived quickly. After receiving the notification, Jin Xiuzhu took her daughter along with her.

The location wasn't far; it was behind the residential building, near the foot of the hill. When Jin Xiuzhu arrived, many people were already there, including Qian Yufeng and Wu Po. Qian Yufeng waved at her.

Jin Xiuzhu led her daughter over to her. The temperature in March and April had risen significantly, especially since it had been sunny during the day recently. Many people had come out wearing only light jackets.

Qian Yufeng chuckled and said, "Each family can claim two plots. Later, we'll choose adjacent ones so that we can keep an eye on each other's."

She continued, "It's truly wise leadership. With our own plots, we'll save a lot of money in the future. Vegetables may be cheap, but they add up over the year."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, though her thoughts differed from Qian Yufeng's. She didn't know how to farm, and now that she could earn her own income, buying vegetables was more convenient for her. She came here mainly because she didn't want to pass up a free opportunity. Rather than growing vegetables, she preferred to plant some fruit trees so that she could make preserved fruits.

She asked worriedly, "Will they be stolen?"

With so many plots together, someone might casually pick some while passing by.

Qian Yufeng lowered her voice. "It's hard to say. There are plenty of shallow-minded people around."

Wu Po, standing nearby, said, "At first, there will definitely be theft. We should just plant a little bit. Once it happens too often, someone will step in to manage it. That's when things will improve."

Jin Xiuzhu agreed. "Auntie is truly wise."

Wu Po waved her hand. "What wisdom? I've just lived longer, that's all."

After chatting for a while, once everyone had gathered, two young soldiers in military uniforms appeared and instructed them to line up to claim their plots.

Wu Po let Qian Yufeng go ahead and stood aside to wait.

Jin Xiuzhu walked behind Qian Yufeng. As they waited in line, Qian Yufeng suddenly brought up something about her family. "Da Ya went to school yesterday. Her father discussed it with the relatives back home. They decided to send twenty yuan every month, as we need to live too. At first, when they called, they cried poor. Her father and grandmother felt sorry for them, but I insisted we shouldn't give in. It's not that I'm heartless, but I'm really tired of this kind of life. However, when they saw we were firm, they started cursing us, saying we're heartless and don't care about our family's well-being. In my opinion, we shouldn't even give them the twenty yuan. What's the point? They're just a bunch of ungrateful wolves."

Jin Xiuzhu knew about this. Yesterday, Xiaoyan mentioned that Da Ya's older sister also came to school and sat right behind him. She was very focused during class.

However, Wu Xiaojun acted rudely. When Da Ya called out to him, he ran away, feeling embarrassed to have a sister who was a grade lower than him.

Regarding other people's affairs, Jin Xiuzhu didn't feel comfortable commenting. She simply told He Yan not to gossip outside.

He Yan had become much more sensible, influenced by Jin Xiuzhu, knowing what to say and what not to say.

Regarding Qian Yufeng, Jin Xiuzhu maintained the same stance. Even if she felt that the Wu family hadn't handled the situation well and would have cut ties completely, she said, "Captain Wu and Auntie are good people. Good deeds bring good fortune. Your family still has a long way to go. Every family has one or two troublesome relatives. Don't get too upset. As you said, it's better to spend the money on Da Ya's education. This arrangement is much better, isn't it?"

Qian Yufeng's expression softened. "That's true. Da Ya doesn't cost much for her education. We can still save some money."

Indeed, it didn't cost much. Apart from the five-yuan tuition fee at the beginning of the semester and some expenses for stationery, there weren't many other costs. Jin Xiuzhu thought of Xiaoyan, who ate breakfast and dinner at home and brought lunch from home as well.

She wondered why they hadn't sent Da Ya to school before?

Compared to having a son, Jin Xiuzhu wanted to have another daughter in the future. Sons rarely grew close to their mothers, whereas daughters were more affectionate and understanding.

Qian Yufeng remembered something else and said hastily, "Oh, did your husband tell you? By July or August, we can move into the apartment buildings."

Jin Xiuzhu looked at her curiously. "So soon? He didn't mention it to me."

"Your Captain Jiang is a man of few words. It's normal for him not to say anything. I wonder if our families will end up living together. I heard it's going to be decided by lottery. It's all down to luck."

Jin Xiuzhu sensed something amiss and asked, "Is there something wrong with the apartments?"

"It's not that. The apartments have electricity lines, and the electric lights are bright enough to make it seem like daytime. Moreover, there's running water in the kitchens. You know what running water is, right? Just turn a knob, and water comes out. It's quite amazing, but everything comes at a cost."

"The only concern is if we end up on the first or top floor. I've heard that the first floor is particularly damp and has poor lighting. The top floor gets cold in winter and hot in summer. The best floors are the middle ones."

Jin Xiuzhu made a mental note and nodded. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known. Sister-in-law has such good connections."

Qian Yufeng loved flattery and covered her mouth with a smile. "I enjoy chatting with people in my spare time. Speaking of which, I heard something interesting recently..."

She suddenly paused, looking slightly regretful, as if blaming herself for speaking out of turn.

Jin Xiuzhu understood that this interesting news involved her family. She glanced at Qian Yufeng disapprovingly. "With our relationship, is there anything we can't talk about? Besides, I would find out sooner or later. Don't worry, I won't mind. I plan to make some new pastries this afternoon and was thinking of bringing some over to you."

Hearing there was food involved, Qian Yufeng immediately put her hesitation aside. She glanced around furtively and whispered, "Do you remember the woman I mentioned before, the one your husband used to court?"

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, instantly recalling the details. The woman, like her, had a daughter, but she worked in a factory. In this world, factory workers held high status.

Qian Yufeng continued, "I heard recently that she's courting Captain Yang. You probably don't know Captain Yang. He serves under another regiment commander. He's decent-looking, with a square face, but not as handsome as your husband."

"I've heard people talk about Captain Yang several times. Everything else is fine except that he has a formidable mother. I heard his first wife died due to his mother's mistreatment, and his second wife divorced him after only a year. Despite many leaders trying to mediate, nothing helped. After the divorce, he never remarried, and no one dared to introduce him to anyone. I don't know who is so heartless to set her up with him. Let me tell you, choosing a spouse isn't just about the person themselves, but also their mother. No matter how good the person is, if their mother is unreasonable, life will be difficult."

Her own mother-in-law was reasonable, yet living with her family was exhausting. How much worse must it be with a meddling mother-in-law.

Fu Yanyan squatted nearby, watching ants. Hearing this, she pursed her lips. In her previous life, it was like this. Whenever that woman suffered any hardship, she would seek out Father Jiang. He, being soft-hearted, would help her, leading Jin Xiuzhu to suspect something between them. Coupled with others' gossip, it eventually led to Jin Xiuzhu refusing to speak to Father Jiang.

That woman's child would cry and say, "It's all your mother's fault. Father Jiang was supposed to be my father."

That woman's child was beautiful and smart. The other children at school would gather around her and join in criticizing Fu Yanyan, calling her and Jin Xiuzhu thieves who stole others' happiness.

Back then, she felt panic, fear, guilt, and sadness. She believed she owed them an apology, as "Jin Xiuzhu" had told her that if it weren't for her, she wouldn't have acted that way.

It was all her fault.

So when she later heard that Jin Xiuzhu wanted to divorce Father Jiang, she was happy. She returned Father Jiang to them, proving she wasn't a thief.

When Jin Xiuzhu heard this, a hint of surprise flashed across her face but quickly disappeared. She smiled at Qian Yufeng and said, "Sister-in-law is truly insightful. I can't comment on this matter, but I sincerely hope she finds happiness."

What Qian Yufeng admired most about Jin Xiuzhu was her ability to remain composed no matter what she heard, much like her mother-in-law, who could keep secrets and had a good heart.

---

By the time they finished claiming their allotments and returned home, it was almost noon. Jiang Mingchuan had already returned. He washed the vegetables Jin Xiuzhu had prepared earlier, chopped them, cooked them, made rice, and stewed a bowl of egg custard.

Daughter didn't like boiled eggs, so every day she was served a bowl of steamed egg custard to supplement her nutrition.

When Jin Xiuzhu returned, she saw a large package on the table and asked Jiang Mingchuan, who was in the kitchen, "What's that on the table?"

"It came from the capital, we haven't opened it yet."

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu knew it was from his adoptive parents and said, "I'll open it then."

"Okay."

Jin Xiuzhu opened the package, which looked full from the outside, but upon opening, there wasn't much inside. On top was a letter, below which were two large baked flatbreads and some steamed buns wrapped in cloth. Underneath were a few books and notebooks, all of which were old. The first book was titled My Father.

Jin Xiuzhu raised an eyebrow, then opened the letter, which contained only a brief sentence, "Understood."

From what she knew, Jiang Mingchuan had written to them about his marriage and that he wouldn't be able to send money for a while.

Just reading the text, one could imagine the sender's coldness.

Looking at these items, one couldn't help but think more into it. While this world was indeed somewhat impoverished, Jiang Mingchuan's adoptive parents had respectable jobs and their household wasn't poor, so they wouldn't just send a few steamed buns and two flatbreads to their own child.

It was too demeaning.

But to outsiders, it did appear as a large package. Jin Xiuzhu smiled, finding it rather interesting.

Only Fu Yanyan wasn't surprised at all. The attitude from the capital towards Jiang Dad had always been cold and distant, but they always acted very caring towards him in public.

Every time "Jin Xiuzhu" argued with Jiang Dad, she would mock him about this, and seeing Jiang Dad's silent distress would make her laugh triumphantly.

Fu Yanyan looked at Jin Xiuzhu and noticed that although she was smiling this time, it seemed more like a mocking smile after seeing through their act.

Jin Xiuzhu met her daughter's gaze and whispered, "Learn from this."

Then she took the letter and turned to go to the kitchen.

Soon after, Fu Yanyan heard Jin Xiuzhu's gentle voice coming from the kitchen, "They don't cherish you, but I do. Someone as wonderful as you deserves the best in the world. How dare they treat you like this? I wish I could give you my heart..."

"..."

Thus, when the two emerged from the kitchen after preparing the meal, Fu Yanyan found that not only was Jiang Dad not upset, but he also had rosy cheeks and bright eyes.

During the meal, they held hands under the table in a mushy manner.

Fu Yanyan lowered her head speechlessly, pretending not to notice.

Author's note:

Jin Xiuzhu: No man is beyond my reach.

Jiang Mingchuan: My wife is the best in the world.

He Yan: What happened?

Fu Yanyan: Disgusting.