Chapter 129 The Young Girl and the Young Wife Cried with Envy

Chapter 129 The Young Girl and the Young Wife Cried with Envy

"This..."

Jiang Defeng couldn't find the words to refute. Based on her understanding of her eldest sister-in-law, she knew that what her second sister-in-law said wasn't just a possibility—it was bound to happen. If that were the case, she would be stuck in a dilemma, unsure whether to refuse or not.

Bu Dafang declared, "It's settled now!"

Jiang's mother couldn't help but interject, "Dafang, you didn't give this money from the second son's salary, did you? Also, if you go to work for your grandfather, who will take care of your family's fields? Who will help with the planting? Does your grandfather's lychee mountain really need so many people to manage?"

Hearing her mother-in-law's doubts, Bu Dafang decided not to argue. She would save her frustration for her son later that evening.

Instead, she calmly replied, "Mom, this money comes from my own salary. My husband said there's a lot of work on the lychee mountain, and it's perfect for two people to handle together. As for the fields at home, we plan to rent them out. Whoever takes them will just need to pay the public grain and give us a portion of the harvest each year."

Jiang Dehu added, "Mom, don't say that. It was her husband's idea for Dafang to work on the lychee mountain."

When Jiang's mother heard her son confirm this, she realized it was likely true and stopped pressing the issue. She muttered under her breath, "You guys are really careless. You didn't even ask how much you'd earn each month."

Bu Dafang pretended not to hear her. She turned to her sister-in-law with a smile. "Sister Feng, it's settled then. My husband mentioned he'll get some lychee seedlings to plant after the New Year. Your second brother and I will go to the lychee mountain to help. If you have anything to take care of, do it now while we're still at home. It'll be harder to manage the two kids once we start working."

Jiang Defeng nodded happily. "I understand, sister-in-law."

...

In Bobai County, the third day of the Chinese New Year is known as "Poor Ghost Day" or "Three Poor Days." Some people call it "Three Have Days" for good luck.

On this morning, almost every household cleans thoroughly, symbolically driving away poverty.

No one visits relatives on this day, and even neighbors generally stay away. Entering someone's home on this day is considered bringing in poverty, which is seen as unlucky and awkward.

If there's an urgent matter, you should leave immediately after finishing your business. Staying overnight is out of the question.

Therefore, Deng Shirong and his children stayed home that day, sitting by the fire at their doorstep.

While warming themselves, they roasted sweet potatoes, cassava, and yams. The roasted sweet potatoes were sweet and delicious, while the cassava had a rich, fragrant flavor.

They also skewered pieces of dough with chopsticks, roasted them over the fire, and ate them. It was a unique and enjoyable treat.

...

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Thatchfield Village held its community ceremony.

Thatchfield Village hosts twelve community ceremonies each year, most of which are held at irregular intervals. However, three of these 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 community meat on the fourth day of the New Year is the least anticipated. During this time, food standards are much higher than usual, and meat is eaten daily, so the community meat isn't as eagerly awaited.

But whether now or in the future, almost every household participates in the community event.

As a popular local saying goes: "If you can't even take care of the community, what else can you do in the world?"

This means that if a family doesn't participate in the community, they have no future.

Therefore, no matter how poor a family is, they must contribute to the community, even if it means partnering with others.

In this era, after the New Year festival in Thatchfield Village, the New Year celebrations are essentially over.

In Deng Shirong and Deng Yungui's previous life, the tile factory they co-owned wouldn't start work until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. But on the fourth day, rural people had no other means of earning money. Working at the tile factory offered a decent income, so everyone was highly motivated to start work as soon as possible.

...

The Fifth Day of the First Lunar Month

New Dock Village

Deng Yuntai and Zhang Xiuping were saying their goodbyes. They had been home for three days, and it was time to return.

Mrs. Zhang tried to persuade them to stay. "Yuntai, it's rare for you to come here. Why not stay a few more days?"

Deng Yuntai smiled. "Mom, the tile factory starts work tomorrow. I have to go back."

Zhang Zhenfa nodded. "We can't delay work. Missing a day means losing seven or eight yuan. Bring Xiuping back when you have time."

Deng Yuntai agreed. "Okay, I'll bring Xiuping to visit when I can."

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiuping's sisters-in-law were also urging her to stay.

Mrs. Zhang said sincerely, "Pingmei, please stay a few more days. We don't know when we'll see you again after you leave this time."

Mrs. Zhang added, "Yes, Pingmei, I didn't realize it before, but now that you're married, I often think of you. There's nothing urgent for you to do back home, so why not stay a bit longer?"

Zhang Xiuping smiled. "Sister-in-law, I'd love to stay, but the tile factory starts work tomorrow. Brother Tai has to go back, and I can't stay alone, so I have to go with him."

Mrs. Zhang sighed. "There's really no helping it."

Mrs. Zhang suggested, "Pingmei, since your brother-in-law has to work, that's unavoidable. Next time, you can come back by yourself and stay longer."

Zhang Xiuping smiled. "Sister-in-law, when your store sets an opening date, let me know. I'll come to congratulate you."

Mrs. Zhang's face lit up. "We'll definitely inform you. This store only opened thanks to you. How could we not have you there?"

Mrs. Zhang chimed in, "That's right. We want to ride on your good fortune, Ah Ping, to make our store'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 bidding farewell to her family, Zhang Xiuping and her husband took their hair buns and a handful of garlic. As their family saw them off, the couple rode their bicycles and left New Dock Village in style.

Along the way, they greeted every acquaintance they met.

The people of New Dock Village who witnessed this scene couldn't help but feel envious.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, many aunts and sisters from New Dock Village returned with their husbands to visit relatives. But the most impressive were undoubtedly Zhang Xiuping and her husband. The brand-new Phoenix bicycle she rode back must have made the young girls and wives in the village green with envy.

(End of this chapter)