Song Xia was completely stunned when she was chosen by the system; she couldn't understand it at all. She had never given birth, and her heart had long since turned to ice, so why was she chose...
The flower show in City A was accompanied by a large market. Many vendors set up stalls around the area during these days, creating a lively atmosphere. After eating and drinking their fill, Song Xia and her two companions went to buy New Year's goods.
"Sis, why did you buy pig's trotters and so much pork belly?" Song Jiao asked, puzzled. "Didn't you say it's better to buy these fresh and cook them?"
"These are intended to be sent to my uncle and aunt's family."
Upon hearing this, Song Jun curled his lip: "Then wouldn't it all end up in Song Hao's mouth in the end?"
"Don't be so hostile towards Xiao Hao, you're cousins."
"He always looks unhappy whenever he sees me."
“Your grades are better than his, and your uncle and aunt often compare the two of you. He’s jealous of you, so just don’t hold it against him. Besides, he’s never done anything wrong.”
Hearing Song Xia's words, Song Jun felt a little better. Indeed, the conflict stemmed from Song Hao's jealousy of him, so let Song Hao be jealous.
“No matter how much you two don’t get along, you have to consider your uncle and aunt’s feelings. They’ve taken good care of us these past six months. They not only helped with Dad’s funeral arrangements, but also sent us dumplings, cured meat, and sausages recently, didn’t they?”
Song Jiao pouted: "It's okay to send them to my uncle and his family, but you can't send them to my second aunt and her family. My second aunt and Sun Hui are so annoying."
Song Xia recalled the time in the mall when her second aunt loudly criticized and lectured them without understanding the situation, and then complained to her uncle as if they were so disobedient. Her expression turned indifferent.
"No need to see me off. Today, I'll teach you a lesson: there's no need to keep bothering or contacting people who only bring you trouble and pain. All relationships are reciprocal; there's no need to keep being drained in order to maintain something."
Song Jun and Song Jiao seemed to understand, but another thought crossed their minds: if they kept asking their sister to do things, would their sister stop contacting them in the future, and they would become strangers when they grew up? Just like how they didn't want to visit their second aunt now, would their sister also not want to have anything to do with them in the future?
The two of them hung their heads awkwardly. Absolutely not, they would never be as hateful and annoying as their second aunt.
Song Xia glanced at the two of them indifferently. They were not beyond redemption, since they could relate it to themselves.
On the day before the Lunar New Year, Song Xia, along with Song Jiao and Song Jun, went to deliver New Year's gifts to her uncle's family. In addition to a pig's trotter and a large piece of pork belly, they also bought some apples and oranges. The three of them were still children, and there were no other adults in the family. She felt that this was enough, and there was no need to give cigarettes and alcohol like others.
The day Song Xia knocked on her uncle's door, she didn't expect that her second aunt would also be there.
"Xiaxia, Xiaojiao, and Xiaojun are here. Why are they carrying so much stuff?" Aunt Chen Na looked at them with surprise at the large bags and bundles they were carrying. These children...
Song Xia smiled sweetly: "Thinking that my uncle and aunt have helped us a lot in the past six months, I bought some things to wish you a Happy New Year in advance."
Chen Na had mixed feelings: "Why did you buy so much meat and pig's trotters?"
"Auntie, you've given us a lot of cured meat, sausages, and dumplings before. We've been eating your cooking all the time, so we can't just eat for free."
“You’re all still children, and every penny you spend is a penny less. Your aunt and uncle never thought of giving anything back.” If she felt a little reluctant and unwilling to give them things before, now it has turned into sighs and guilt.
All three children know how to repay kindness. It's laughable that I was so petty before. No matter how difficult things are for my family, we are adults and we can always grit our teeth and get through it. These are three children, and no one has taught them yet.
"Come in quickly."
Chen Na warmly poured each of them a cup of tea, and then brought over some snacks and fruit.
Second Aunt Song Tianfang glanced at them and the meat, her expression shifting several times before she finally asked, "When are you planning to go to Second Aunt's house?"
Song Xia's eyelids twitched. Did they want her to send some New Year's gifts as well?
She forced a smile and said, "Second Aunt, your whole family is busy, so we won't go over."
Song Tianfang immediately pursed her lips and said in a sharp voice, "You're not even going to your second aunt's house for the New Year? So you've got money now and you look down on your second aunt. When your father was alive, he never said he wouldn't visit my house for the New Year."
Song Xia retorted without backing down: "Second Aunt, you were the one who said before that you were busy and told us not to come over unless necessary."
"Can the Lunar New Year be the same as usual?"
Song Jiao snorted angrily and said sarcastically, "Second Aunt, could it be that you saw us bringing things for Uncle and Aunt and now want us to bring things to see you too?"
Under Chen Na's gaze, Song Tianfang stiffly retorted, "How could Second Aunt mean that?"
Taking the opportunity, Song Jiao smiled and said, "Since you don't care about these things, when are you coming home? We can go and wish you and Uncle a Happy New Year today."
"Going today? Aren't you going to buy anything..." Under the sarcastic gazes of Song Xia and Song Jiao, Song Tianfang didn't finish her sentence, "Second Aunt has something to do today."
Chen Na handed her the sausages she had made: "Second sister, these are the ones you asked me to make last time."
"Is that all?" She rummaged through the bag, frowning in dissatisfaction.
Chen Na was still angry. Her second sister was unwilling to do it herself, so she gave her money to help her. It was only 500 yuan in total. How much could she possibly do?
"Second sister, meat is expensive now, and when making sausages, the skin has to be separated and discarded. After drying, it will shrink in size. I didn't take a single penny from you. The skin is here, you can take it with you."
"Sister-in-law, that's not what I meant. It's just that I have a lot of family members, and it doesn't seem like enough to eat. My two elderly relatives also really like this kind of food."
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