Chapter Fifteen

"Are you done yet? You're so slow. There's no movement ahead. You're about to leave because you need to go to the toilet. It's always like this. It's so infuriating."

Zhou Wushi combed her hair neatly with the hair oil she usually couldn't bear to use, put on her most presentable cotton clothes, and shouted towards the outhouse.

Zhou Laosan pulled up his pants and came out muttering to himself.

"What's the rush? The sun's still high in the sky. People have to use the restroom sometimes, you can't expect them to hold it in."

Zhou Wu waved her hand, fanning the stench toward Zhou Laosan.

"Alright, let's hurry up and go. You know how long it takes to get to my mother's house, even without resting, it will take at least half an hour. We also need to visit the other brothers' houses, so we can't get there before noon."

"Mom, I have to go too later."

As soon as Zhou Wushi finished speaking, Zhou Qiang rushed into the outhouse.

Zhou Wushi: "..."

It's true that a son is just like his father.

By the time the family had finished getting ready, it was already quite late.

Zhou Lin and Zhou Ming carried New Year's gifts, while Zhou Wu's three older brothers and one younger brother carried quite a lot.

She brought eight pounds of meat alone, not to mention other sweets and wines. Now she's bringing all the good stuff to her parents' house.

Mu Qing was pregnant, so she had to rest after walking a short distance. The group walked and stopped frequently, but fortunately they arrived before noon.

"Why are you so late? I almost had your older brother pick you up."

Aunt Wu Niu, with her eyes crinkled in a smile, welcomed them into the house.

Wu Niu was a typical rural woman, with thick eyebrows, small eyes, and a robust figure; she looked like a skilled worker in the fields.

"This must be the eldest son's husband, right? Oh my, what a fine young man! The eldest son is truly blessed."

As everyone entered the main room, Madam Wu Niu took Mu Jin's hand and carefully looked her up and down.

When Zhou Lin got married, they went to the wedding banquet, and left after the meal, without ever seeing their new husband.

I only knew that she looked pretty good in Mujia Village, but now that I've seen her, I can confirm that her appearance wasn't exaggerated.

Mu Jin felt a little embarrassed by the gaze and smiled shyly, "Auntie, you flatter me."

Zhou Laosan and Wu Jia Dage chatted about crops on the side. Before long, the families of Zhou Wu's other brothers arrived one after another.

Mu Jin's face was presentable even in the town, which brought Zhou Lin a lot of prestige.

“Oh my, this eldest son doesn’t look like someone from our village at all. He’s fair-skinned and pretty. You can’t find him anywhere else in the surrounding villages except Baiyun Village.”

"Who says otherwise? When Tiedan comes to arrange a marriage, if he finds someone like this, I'll be laughing in my sleep."

Everyone laughed. Mu Qing said, "Fourth Uncle, how old is Tie Dan'er? You're already in a hurry to find him a wife."

"Oh dear, we must arrange a marriage for these good young men and women as soon as possible, otherwise they will become someone else's."

A group of women and husbands were talking inside the house, while Zhou Lin and his two brothers, along with several of his cousins, were chatting in the courtyard.

The brothers teased Zhou Lin, their conversation filled with envy.

After overcoming her initial shyness as a new husband, Mu Jin became quite poised and charming among her aunts and uncles, speaking and behaving with grace and sweet talk, making them regret that she couldn't keep him as their husband.

Zhou Wu rolled her eyes, saying that they only saw the surface and didn't know that this person was a vixen and two-faced.

But she couldn't keep up with the conversation, and occasionally she would say a few bad things about Mu Jin indirectly, which would then earn her a reply.

"Such a husband, he's handsome and eloquent, sister, you should be content."

"That's right. I thought your second husband was already very good, but I didn't expect your eldest son to marry someone even better. Fourth sister, you are truly blessed."

Zhou Wushi was at a loss for words, and Mu Qing's expression was also not good.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the uncles and aunts, who had other guests arriving, went home first.

Zhou Wushi, along with Mu Jin and Mu Qing, delivered the New Year's gifts they had brought to each household.

According to custom, the more generous the gift left at whose house you eat at, the more you leave behind. Since there were eight catties of meat, more than four catties were left at the eldest brother Wu's house.

Mu Jin had a fairly good chat with her aunt and the others, and felt that Zhou Si's claim that her aunt was the stingiest was somewhat exaggerated.

Unexpectedly, when the food was served, there was hardly any oil or grease on it.

Wu Niu Shi, oblivious to her own ignorance, modestly said, "It's just a simple meal, everyone please don't mind. Start eating, start eating! Jin Ge'er, this is your first time here, so don't pretend. Just make yourself at home and eat, eat, eat."

Hibiscus gazed at a large bowl of cabbage and tofu, and a large plate of stir-fried dried green beans with shredded pork, but couldn't see a trace of the shredded pork.

The eldest uncle's family has several mud-brick houses and a spacious, bright courtyard, so they don't seem to be short of money.

Mu Jin sighed inwardly. This aunt really only knew how to talk. Compared to her stepfather, he was extremely generous.

This person is not worth getting too close to; it's best to treat him like a regular relative.

Zhou Laosan's long face was almost drooping to the ground, his displeasure was clearly visible.

Wu's eldest brother acted as if he hadn't seen anything, and didn't even offer to take out the wine he brought to have a drink with Zhou Laosan.

It's true that you can't have two kinds of people sleeping in the same bed.

"I had heard before that my aunt was very thrifty and good at managing the household, and now that I see it, it's true."

Mu Jin picked up a piece of tofu and smiled.

Wu's eldest cousin still had a little bit of shame; upon hearing this, his earlobes turned so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

“I just remembered, when I went to my father-in-law’s house yesterday, my mother-in-law gave me a sausage. I’ve been so busy today that I forgot. Ah Ying, go and cut it up and make a meat dish.”

Yunying, the husband of Wu's eldest cousin, was about to get up when she heard this, but was stopped by Wu Niu's wife.

"There's meat and vegetables here, but the fire in the stove has gone out. This cured meat still needs to be steamed and boiled. Sister, brother-in-law, do you think there's not enough meat? Alas, we farmers don't have many ways to earn money. We'd rather split a copper coin in half than spend it. Your older brother isn't very capable. This stir-fried pork with dried green beans is something we can only afford to eat once a year during the New Year."

They made no mention of the four-pound meat that Zhou Wushi had brought.

Zhou Wushi valued her reputation most in front of her family, so she naturally wouldn't say much.

Old Zhou protested with a sour face, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. At his age, he had earned a reputation for being greedy.

The remaining younger generation was even less likely to criticize their elders, and Mu Jin didn't want to cause any more trouble, so she didn't say anything more.

The meal was rather unappetizing, and the Zhou family didn't stay long, saying goodbye and heading home while it was still early.

On the way back, Zhou Laosan cursed at Zhou Wushi: "If you don't come to your mother's house next year, don't bring any meat back to your mother. Your eldest brother's handling of this matter is truly shameful. Did you travel several miles just to eat his family's chaff and wild vegetables?!"

Zhou Wushi was also angry, "You've been here before, don't you know what my elder brother's house is like?! Now you're acting all high and mighty with me, why don't you say something to them at the dinner table!"

Zhou Si murmured, "Next year we won't be eating at my uncle's house anymore."

The other uncles were more generous than the eldest uncle.

Mu Jin chuckled, wondering how many people would be left to go next time it was the eldest brother Wu's turn.

We arrived home amidst much bickering, and it was still early.

Zhou Qiang patted his stomach. "Mom, I didn't eat enough at my uncle's house. Could you warm up the leftover braised pork from breakfast for me?"

"Alright, eldest son, go start the fire. The youngest must be tired from the journey. Go back inside and rest for a bit, he'll be fine soon."

Mu Jin wasn't full either, and after walking for a while, she simply warmed up all the food for the whole family.

The Zhou family ate dinner early.

Back in the house, Mu Jin took out the red envelopes she had received from the Wu family and counted them with Zhou Lin.

The Wu family's life was not as good as the Zhou family's, and they didn't receive much in return.

There was a one-yuan note sandwiched between the two notes; even a fool could tell who had wrapped it.

"There's also a six-cash one, given by my fourth uncle."

Mu Jin's eyebrows curved into a smile, and her fourth uncle alone gave her more than all the other families combined.

Eleven coins aren't a lot of money, but when put together with the silver coins in the money box, they can make up four hundred coins.

Having spent no money these days, Mu Jin put some of her spare change back into her money box. She now had a full four hundred coins in the box, and with some spare change left, she put it into her outer money bag.

"This makes it easier to move the bed."

Mu Jin helped Zhou Lin put the bed board on the stone, which was much easier than moving the bed before.

As darkness fell, a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Mu Jin lay in bed, thinking about the new clothes that Zhou Wushi had taken away. In a couple of days, it would be time to get them back.

Zhou Lin rolled over twice, tightening his grip on Mu Jin's arm, clearly eager to make a move.

"Ah Jin, we've only learned two picture books so far, how about we learn another one today?"

Mu Jin patted his hard, thick arm and said, embarrassed and annoyed, "Oh no! We've walked so much today, aren't you tired?"

Zhou Lin couldn't hold back any longer and sat up while holding Mu Jin.

"I'm not tired, you can just lie down, I'll take care of the rest."

Mu Jin couldn't get angry anymore. Since she didn't have to put in any effort, she just let him be.

Amidst the swaying and staggering, Mu Jin heard Zhou Lin's hoarse voice say something that seemed to come from a distant, faraway place.

"Ah Jin, my Ah Jin."

As the sun rose, it was the Wu family's turn to visit the Zhou family today, and quite a few cousins ​​came.

To Mu Jin's surprise, Yun Ying, the husband of Wu's eldest cousin, brought the cured meat that they hadn't had yesterday.

I suspect it was my older cousin and his wife who took it.

Mu Jin sighed inwardly. Her aunt's family wasn't very good, but her cousin's husband was alright.

While I was thinking, I saw Zhou Si run in from outside with red and swollen eyes. She ignored everyone, went back into the room, closed the door, and then there was no more sound.

"Si'er, what's wrong?"

She just went to her uncle's house to get some dried chili peppers, so why did she come back crying?

The sound of sobbing came from inside the house, followed by Zhou Wushi cursing.

"Stop crying! It's Chinese New Year, your cousin and uncle are all here, don't you think it's bad luck? Try crying again and I'll beat you up!"

The crying inside the house stopped, but Zhou Si didn't go out until her uncle and cousin returned.

I didn't even have lunch.

After the guests left, Zhou Wushi angrily shouted at Zhou Si in the house, "You're so capable! If you're so capable, then don't ever come out of the house again. You won't starve to death."

After saying that, she ignored him and locked the cupboard, leaving him absolutely nothing to eat.

Mu Jin looked worried, glanced at Zhou Lin, and felt that Zhou Si must have something to be upset about, and it was something serious.