After Zhou Daya and the other two returned home, Tao Ying's house returned to its usual tranquility.

During this period, Tao Ying bought another shop.

It's near the city hospital, not as big as the previous one, only about forty square meters.

Tao Ying had also figured out the future use of the two shops. She planned to sell clothing in the shop near the state-run store.

Tao Ying planned to buy daily necessities at a shop near the city hospital.

They also hired professionals to handle the renovations of both shops.

They said it was a specialist, but it was actually a bricklayer that Wang Dashuan helped find. He repaired all the broken things in the house and even applied cement to the walls.

They even removed the original windows and had someone install large glass windows instead.

The door was replaced, and two changing rooms were built inside.

They also had a carpenter make shelves and clothes hangers; general merchandise stores also make their own shelves.

After three months, the two shops were almost ready.

Tao Ying has also officially retired, and her monthly pension is 28 yuan.

After systematic learning at night school and instruction from Cao Aihua, Wang Chunni is now able to work independently.

Wang Baomin was also promoted to a permanent employee and was able to drive a truck to transport goods.

Wang Baoshan has entered his senior year of high school, and his daily study tasks have become even more demanding.

Wang Chuntao successfully gained admission to the city's No. 1 Middle School and became a middle school student.

Wang Chunli was admitted to the city's No. 1 Middle School with the highest score in the county.

At Tao Ying's insistence, they moved into Tao Ying's home, specifically into the back room that had been prepared for the old man and woman.

Wang Dashuan and Li Guiying were extremely grateful to Tao Ying.

How can I feel at ease letting such a grown girl live outside? It would be much better for her to live at Tao Ying's house, and Wang Baoshan can go to school with her every day.

But my sister-in-law has so many children, it would only cause her trouble no matter what.

After discussion, the three agreed that Wang Chunli would live in Tao Ying's house, and Wang Dashuan would give her fifty catties of grain and five yuan for living expenses every month.

That's already a lot. If Wang Chuntao lived at school, she would save 20 jin of grain, but she would have to pay 10 yuan for accommodation every year.

However, Li Guiying still felt that her family had gotten a good deal, since her daughter had her own room and her sister-in-law's family was eating well.

After officially retiring, Tao Ying gathered up the money she had left.

I had a little over a thousand yuan left. After thinking about it, I took out two hundred yuan, of which one hundred yuan was exchanged for a deposit slip, which I sewed into the corner of my vest.

The remaining hundred yuan was hidden in various places, and several dozen yuan were also placed in his pocket.

I packed two sets of clothes, asked Wang Chunni to make some scallion pancakes, and boiled a few eggs.

I went to the community to get the certificate.

Everything was ready; the showdown would take place while the children were all at home.

“I’m going away for a while. While I’m gone, Chunni and Baomin will be in charge of things at home. Chuntao, you keep an eye on your sister and don’t be soft-hearted. No matter what Wang Baojun says, you’re not allowed to listen to him. Anyone who lets Wang Baojun into this house will have to move out when I come back, understand?”

Tao Ying looked at the children with a cold face, but she was actually most worried about Wang Chunni.

Wang Chunni is easily swayed and has no moral boundaries when it comes to dealing with people close to her.

Cao Aihua's quick acceptance of her had little to do with Wang Chunni's love of learning.

The main reason is that Wang Chunni treats her like an ancestor.

Wang Chunni believed that she should learn skills from Cao Aihua, and that in this era, an apprentice was equivalent to half a child.

So Cao Aihua keeps her office spotless every day, and her cup is always filled with just the right amount of tea to drink.

At lunchtime, they would rush to get the food for everyone, and after eating, they would carefully wash the rice bowls.

The ink for the fountain pens is pre-filled.

The ledgers were also prepared in advance.

Who wouldn't like someone like that?

"Mom, don't worry, I'll definitely keep an eye on my sister," Wang Chuntao immediately assured her.

"Mom, where are you going? I'll go with you. It's not safe for you to go out alone." Wang Baomin looked at Tao Ying with some concern.

Although those ten years have passed, things are still not peaceful now.

My mother didn't receive much education, so how can I feel at ease letting her go out alone?

“What’s unsafe about me? I’m a middle-aged woman, who could steal me? You all go back to your hometown and I’ll take you out to eat when I come back.” Tao Ying interrupted Wang Baomin’s next words.

In the end, the group could only watch helplessly as Tao Ying went out on her own.

Tao Ying bought a train ticket to Guangzhou as her first stop.

"Mom, why are you dressed like that? And why are you carrying that shabby bag?" On the day of departure, Tao Ying had just stepped out the door when she heard Wang Chunni's exclamation.

The others also looked at Tao Ying with confusion.

In the past three months, Wang Chunni made several new outfits for Tao Ying and even bought her new shoes after receiving her salary.

Who doesn't wear their best clothes when they go out? Look at my mom, her clothes are even more shabby than what she usually wears at home.

Tao Ying looked at her clothes with great satisfaction. These were old, dusty clothes that she had dug out from the bottom of a trunk, with several patches on them. The bag she was carrying was also a cloth bag that she had originally planned to take apart to paste insoles on her shoes.

"Wealth shouldn't be flaunted. I know that a woman in her fifties dressed so smartly and going out alone is practically inviting thieves to steal from me. Baomin is taking Mom to the train station," Tao Ying explained cheerfully.

In three months, Tao Ying has adapted to being a mother of several children.

He gave instructions to the others with increasing ease.

"Sigh." Wang Baomin didn't dare to say anything more.

Riding his bicycle with Tao Ying on the back, Wang Baomin kept giving me instructions, saying, "Mom, when you get there, remember to send me a telegram. If anything happens, call me at the supply and marketing cooperative. If you can't find the place, don't panic, just go to the police station and tell the police officers..."

"Baomin, you're so long-winded." Tao Ying was immediately exasperated. Wang Baomin had started saying this as soon as he learned that she was going out alone.

He would repeat it once every morning and evening, and he would also have Wang Chunni, Wang Chunli, and Wang Chuntao say it to him together.

Even Tao Chenyang remembered it and would say a few words to him every day when he saw him.

"Mom, I'm just worried about you," Wang Baomin said helplessly.

"I don't need your concern. Save your concern for your future wife." Tao Ying felt goosebumps all over her body.

“Mom…” Wang Baomin said helplessly.

"What 'Mom'? You're a grown man now, and you still keep calling me 'Mom' all the time. You can't do that when you get married," Tao Ying patiently admonished.

“Mom, it’s only right for a son to be filial to his mother. Even if I get married in the future, I should still be filial to you, and I will take my wife with me to be filial to you as well,” Wang Baomin explained softly.

"What if your wife is not filial to me?" Tao Ying pressed.

“Then find someone who is filial,” Wang Baomin replied without hesitation.

My mother's life has been difficult; it wouldn't do if her daughter-in-law was unfilial.

The next chapter will be posted tonight. I've been quite busy with work lately, so please point out any shortcomings in my writing.