Wang Meili quickly washed the pot clean, lit a fire, and glanced at Jiang's mother's face, saying somewhat awkwardly:

"Sister, I was wrong before. I apologize to you today. It's just that our family is not doing well either, and we have so many children. You always take some food with you when you come back, so my own children have to go hungry. That's why we had a conflict."

Jiang's mother quickly said, "It's nothing, sister-in-law. I was wrong before. Every family has its difficulties. Now things are better. Our family has separated, and life is easier. I remember all the kindness you have shown me before."

"What? You've separated your family? You should have done it a long time ago. Your old woman is no good. When Er Ya had her full-month celebration, Da Min ate an extra piece of meat, and your old woman's eyes widened as if she wanted to pinch Da Min's mouth and make him spit it out."

Jiang's mother asked in surprise, "There's such a thing? Why didn't any of you mention it?"

"It's all because of your mother. She said you're in confinement after childbirth. Why did I have to say it to make you angry? Actually, it's not that I don't want you to take things from your parents' home. Your family is in difficulty, so I can help you out a bit. The key thing is that I remembered that the things I took back were all fed to that old woman. You and Er Ya didn't get any food. That made me angry. When I got angry, I wanted to make a scene..."

Jiang's mother hadn't expected there to be such a story. She had watched her sister-in-law argue with her parents every time and had secretly complained that her sister-in-law was heartless.

Moreover, taking so many things today also reflects a desire to "make up for my past humiliations now that I have money."

"Sister-in-law, let's not talk about these things anymore. It's all in the past. Let's just live our lives well from now on."

"Hmm, but girl, I heard you're doing business at the market, is that true?"

As Jiang's mother stir-fried the vegetables, she didn't shy away from the topic. It wasn't anything shameful, so she replied, "Well, I haven't cooked these past few days, otherwise I could have let you try some."

"The business is so profitable! Look how little time has it been, you're a completely different person now. Look at what you're wearing, and you're even riding a bicycle."

Today, Jiang's mother specially dressed the whole family in newly made clothes, which made her look much younger and prettier.

Wang Meili touched her face. She had aged considerably from worrying about everything at home and outside. Looking at the clothes she was wearing, which were altered by her husband, she thought, "It's true what they say, comparisons are odious."

Jiang's mother shook her head and said, "It doesn't earn much money, maybe ten yuan a day, mainly because the initial investment is high."

Wang Meili pursed her lips, thinking that Jiang's mother was unwilling to tell her the truth.

"Ten yuan is not a small amount. Look at your brother, he works hard every day and works himself to the bone every month, but he can barely make enough to cover the family's expenses."

Jiang's mother knew that her brother was indeed exposed to the elements while building houses for others, and that now that her own family was doing well, she wanted to help support her family.

Thinking of her family, Jiang's mother said, "Sister-in-law, why don't you learn to do business too? Er Ya said that more and more people will start doing business. If we start early, we'll be among the first to get rich."

Wang Meili was also very interested, but she said with worry, "Your brother and I don't know anything. What kind of business can we do? Your brother only knows how to build houses, but there aren't many house builders in our countryside, so we have to do odd jobs from time to time."

"If you're interested, I'll keep an eye on you and see if there's anything suitable for you to do."

Wang Meili was overjoyed to hear this: "Then I'll be waiting for your letter. Thank you so much, sister."

“This is my family home. Now that you are all well, I can finally rest assured.”

While saying he was thinking about it, he also wanted to find a place to ask Er Ya for her opinion. After all, Er Ya was the one who made the decisions at home, and with her quick wit, she would definitely be able to find a suitable business.

While they were talking, they didn't delay cooking. Jiang's mother quickly stir-fried an egg with chili peppers, made a stew of pickled cabbage and pork, a classic stew of pork with vermicelli, and stir-fried two kinds of wild vegetables.

This is even better than what they eat during the New Year. Wang Meili wanted to make two more dishes, but after searching for a long time, she couldn't find anything to cook with, so she had to give up.

As soon as Jiang Damin and his siblings entered the courtyard, they smelled a delicious aroma and asked in surprise, "Is it New Year's at home? Why are there so many delicious things? Wow! Rice? Mom, you finally decided to let us eat it."

Wang Meili went up and slapped his forehead: "You talk as if I've abused you. Don't you see your aunt is here? Hurry up and call her."

Jiang Damin then shifted his gaze from the food to his mother's face, and called out apologetically, "Auntie, it's you! Are the bicycles in the yard yours?"

Jiang's mother patted Jiang Damin's head: "Damin has grown a lot taller, he's a big young man now. That's the car we just bought."

Jiang Damin muttered, "I'm not a child anymore, please stop touching my head."

Wang Meili went up to him and knocked him on the head: "How old are you? Huh? Tell me, where have you been? Look at you, you're covered in mud."

Jiang Ermin was an honest child. When he saw his mother getting angry, he lowered his head and said honestly, "We went to catch fish. My brother said he hadn't eaten meat in a long time and his mouth felt bland, so he thought we'd catch some fish to eat."

Upon hearing this, Wang Meili grabbed a rolling pin and was about to hit Jiang Damin: "You brat, how many times have I told you not to go to the river? Be careful you don't drown and no one will even know."

As Jiang Damin fled in all directions, he shouted, "Jiang Ermin, you traitor! Don't follow me anymore!"

"Hey, you dare yell at your brother? You're asking for it, aren't you? Let me loosen your skin for you."

After being hit a few times, Jiang Damin cried out in pain and dodged behind his mother, saying, "Auntie, stop my mother! She's going to beat me to death!"

Wang Meili angrily scolded him: "If you're so capable, go to your aunt's house, otherwise you won't escape this beating today."

This little rascal is getting more and more capable as he grows up. When he was little, he wouldn't run away when I hit him; he would just stand there and cry loudly. But now that he's grown up, he runs like a rabbit. I don't even have to hit him a few times before I'm exhausted.

"Sister-in-law, please forgive Damin this time for my sake. Damin, quickly promise your mother that you will never go to the river to play behind her back again."

Ermin chimed in, "Auntie, we weren't going to play, we were catching fish in the river. The river was really deep, it almost swept my brother away."

"What? Jiang Damin, you've run off to Dahe? I'll beat you to death, you believe me?"

To be continued!