Chapter 212 From Appeasement to Conquest

It's already late autumn, and everyone is wearing sweaters.

Winters in Yun County are very cold, the kind of chilling cold that seeps into your bones.

Yao Shula's children also put on new sweaters.

After the start of autumn, Yao Shula went to the department store to buy yarn and asked the Yao family's sisters-in-law and Miao Yamin to knit new sweaters and pants for the three children in the family.

Yao Shuxin and the others initially said no, saying that last year's sweaters were still wearable.

Who knew that Yao Shula would take apart their old sweaters the very next day and wash the yarn.

“We’ll knit a new set and alternate wearing them!” Yao Shula insisted on her idea.

Yao Shuxin and Yao Shuli could only remain silent.

Xiao Tiantian didn't refuse. He happily stood in front of Yao Shula and let Miao Yamin measure his size.

In his view, whether his older sister made him clothes or shoes, it was a way of showing her love for him. Since it was a way of showing love, why shouldn't he accept it?

Anyway, it wasn't the older sister who knitted the sweater...

"Big sister, I want the little airplane design!" Xiao Tiantian said, expressing her idea.

Yao Shula nodded, and then said to Miao Yamin, "Tian Tian likes airplanes. If you don't mind the trouble, cousin, could you knit an airplane pattern for Tian Tian?"

"Since I'm going to knit a sweater anyway, knitting an airplane pattern wouldn't be difficult, would it?"

Miao Yamin, who had already finished measuring Xiaotian and was winding a ball of yarn, raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry, I'm not like you, who can't even finish a simple stitch without missing a stitch. I'll draw an airplane on every day," Miao Yamin joked with a smile.

Just as Yao Shula was about to laugh, Xiao Tiantian immediately chimed in, "As long as it's done by Big Sister, I'd love it even if it's a missed stitch!"

Yao Shula and Miao Yamin smiled and patted Xiao Tiantian's head, telling him to go out and play!

And so, Xiaotian and Yao Shuli went out to play, while Yao Shula and Miao Yamin played with yarn balls in the yard.

"Cousin, are you getting used to classes at No. 1 High School?" Yao Shula asked.

"It's great, the students are all quite obedient! Right now I'm just a subject teacher, I've decided to be a subject teacher for two years first, and then become a homeroom teacher in the third year."

"Back then, I taught students from the first year of junior high all the way to the third year," Miao Yamin said immediately.

"Cousin, why don't you become a homeroom teacher next year?" Yao Shula asked curiously.

Miao Yamin glanced at Yao Shula, then at Yao Shuli standing at the door.

"Shuli should be in the first year of junior high school by now! If he works harder these next two years, he should be able to get into the top high school."

"Once he gets into No. 1 Middle School, I'll take him into my class. I'll watch over him, I'll watch over him until he's in his final year of junior high. No matter what, I'll make sure he gets into high school!" Miao Yamin whispered.

Yao Shula then understood Miao Yamin's good intentions.

"Cousin, thank you so much!" Yao Shula said softly.

Miao Yamin snorted, "I should thank you! If it weren't for you, I probably would be in the fire pit by now."

Oh, my brother's child will be sent to Yun County next year. My parents will be watching over him, and I heard he'll be attending primary school here.

My brother and sister-in-law's idea is to send their child to school here until junior high, and if he can get into the top high school, he can go to high school there.

The teaching quality of Yunxian No. 1 Middle School is no worse than that of Pengcheng Middle School.

Yao Shula said "Oh," no wonder her cousin has been in a good mood lately. It seems that her aunt and uncle won't be bothering her for the time being.

The two sisters were whispering to each other.

"My cousin Chunian and her husband have been arguing a lot lately," Miao Yamin said, sharing what she knew.

"I've heard about it too. My cousin Chunian is really something now. She doesn't give the Zhang family any face at all."

The former Chun Nian had a people-pleasing personality, but the current Chun Nian has a confrontational personality.

If anyone from the Zhang family says anything that displeases Chun Nian, she immediately starts firing like a machine gun...

"Boom!" A sound like a firecracker came from outside.

Yao Shula and Miao Yamin were both stunned for a moment, but they quickly realized that the old man who sold popcorn must have come out to set up his stall again.

Yao Shula glanced at the gate and gave Miao Yamin a slap.

"In less than five seconds, those two little ones..."

"Big sister, the popcorn is here! We want to eat popcorn!" Yao Shuli and Xiao Tiantian immediately ran to Yao Shula's side.

Yao Shula raised an eyebrow at Miao Yamin. See? I wasn't wrong!

"So, do you eat rice or corn?" Yao Shula asked while asking for money.

"It's rice-based. Last time we had corn-based, but it wasn't very good. It wasn't as fragrant as rice!" Xiao Tiantian immediately said.

Yao Shula put a dime into Xiao Tiantian's hand.

"One can of rice is enough. If there's too much, just let it soften."

Without saying a word, Yao Shuli and Xiao Tiantian immediately grabbed a dime and ran towards the kitchen, then grabbed a bamboo winnowing basket, filled it with rice, and ran outside.

“Tell the old man to put in less saccharin,” Yao Shula shouted at the top of her lungs.

The two children agreed and ran towards the door.

It's as if if you're even a little late, you won't be able to get in line.

Yao Shula and Miao Yamin both stood at the door and glanced towards the street corner.

The old man who specializes in popcorn has already started cranking the handle on the stove.

Children from the surrounding families brought rice or corn from their homes, lining up with baskets, basins, or buckets.

The children were all chattering away, looking at their things.

Yao Shuli and Xiao Tiantian were faster and were positioned very close to the front of the line.

The children watched as the old man popped pot after pot of hot popcorn and rice. Whenever they saw the old man take the stove off the fire, put on a bag-like thing, and then step on it...

With a "boom!", a batch of popcorn was ready.

...

Yao Shula and Miao Yamin continued talking in the courtyard.

"My cousin is really angry this time. I reckon there's going to be a big scene in the next couple of days."

"Shula, if your cousin ever comes back to her parents' house for help, remember to call me. I can always ask another teacher to reschedule my class today," Miao Yamin whispered to Yao Shula.

Miao Yamin is now particularly interested in these petty squabbles among family members.

After every fight, she would deliberately run up to Aunt Yao and say, "Mom, it's a good thing I'm not married. If I were, we'd probably be fighting every day by now..."

Yao Shula nodded, but she still asked a couple more questions.

"What's going on this time?! Weren't the Zhang family pretty well behaved after Cousin Chun Nian taught them a lesson? What kind of trouble have they gotten themselves into this time?!"

Miao Yamin's face immediately showed a look of disdain.

"What else could it be? That guy Zhang Tiesheng took the money that my cousin Chun Nian worked so hard to earn and gave it to his younger brother."

Do you think Chun Nian wouldn't be anxious?

Upon hearing this, Yao Shula immediately perked up.

"I've been busy these past few days, cousin, please have a good talk with me!"