The brigade leader has been feeling quite prestigious lately. Their brigade was the first to get electricity. The power company even serves their food in Hexi Village. The food from Qingshan Brigade is delicious, and they cook a variety of dishes. Last time they even sent them fish soup.
The team leader felt that Song Yan had gone to too much trouble. She said to Team Leader Wu, "Although the power lines are up, there will definitely be times when they malfunction. If we build a good relationship with them, they'll definitely be more accommodating if anything happens in the future. Fishing is just a little extra effort for me, it's not a big deal."
These words deeply moved Captain Wu. In the end, there was still some oil left over from the oil the captain had given Song Yan. This was completely unexpected. Song Yan smiled, because he had only made clear broth and hadn't used any oil.
Song Yan finished cooking early and went to the fields with everyone else. His mother-in-law's legs were mostly healed, so he didn't need to worry about housework. She didn't earn harvest points and didn't have to work. No one paid much attention to what she did. But there was one person—Widow Wang—who kept a close eye on what Song Yan was doing every day.
In autumn, sorghum, soybeans, and corn all need to be harvested. Besides working hard to harvest, everyone also needs to organize a group of people to guard the crops in shifts, day and night. In autumn, people steal grain, and animals come down from the mountains to damage the crops. As the militia captain, Cheng Yousuo naturally has to lead the patrols. These days, the militia are all armed. Widow Wang noticed that Song Yan often follows Cheng Yousuo wherever he patrols. Everyone else in the village is too busy and tired to care about this. Every day, Song Yan carries back either a basket of mushrooms or a basket of hazelnuts. She's trying to collect as much corn husk as possible now. With so much stuff, it's hard for her to carry it all back. She often asks Captain Cheng or Cheng Youfu to help her carry it back.
Widow Wang would occasionally make sarcastic remarks, especially in front of Cheng Yousuo's wife. At first, Cheng's wife didn't pay much attention, but after a few days, she noticed that Song Yan was indeed always following Cheng Yousuo. One day, she couldn't hold back any longer. She felt that Song Yan was her benefactor, and she would be grateful for the rest of her life. But she really couldn't understand the strange thing about him. However, she would never believe what Widow Wang said, no matter what. So, Cheng's wife went to Song Yan's house. Song Yan was a little surprised when she pulled him into the house. "Why are you being so mysterious? What's wrong?"
After spending a few months together, Sister-in-law Cheng realized that Song Yan was a straightforward person. Not wanting to beat around the bush, she directly said what Widow Wang had said.
Song Yan was stunned for a long time. This widow Wang really couldn't stand not causing trouble. Was Sister-in-law Cheng's visit today also to express her opinion? "Sister-in-law Cheng, what are you thinking?" If Sister-in-law Cheng also suspected her, she would still try her best to save Cheng Yousuo. But that would be it; they would never have any further dealings.
Sister-in-law Cheng: "You're not blind, and neither am I. My husband is nothing compared to yours. Look how old he is! Besides, my husband is as honest as a wooden stake, don't I know that? If you have any ideas, he'll find out and run away from you. Besides, you couldn't possibly have any ideas about her."
Song Yan couldn't help but laugh: "Then who could I possibly have feelings for?"
Sister-in-law Cheng paused for a moment. "Your husband will at least serve in the army for a few years before he comes back. But I think he's a promising man. Who knows what kind of good fortune he might have? In a few years, you can join him in the army."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Song Yan frowned.
"When a man makes a mistake and corrects it, he's called a prodigal son returning home. Women don't have that chance. I'm not afraid of you because you're so young..."
Song Yan's expression was not good.
"I'm so much older than you, what am I thinking? I just want to tell you, a woman can't afford to make a wrong move!"
"How could I possibly be wrong?" Song Yan really couldn't tell the truth—that she wanted to save your man! Luckily, your man only works the day shift. If he worked the night shift, she wouldn't be able to follow him even if she wanted to.
"Actually, my husband is very attached to his younger brother. He takes him everywhere he goes. Wherever he goes, good fortune follows."
"Hey! You really have a vivid imagination. How old is he?" In Song Yan's eyes, Youfu is still a child.
“You changed your age when you registered. You’re only two or three years older than him.”
Song Yan opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word for a long time. She always thought of herself as an old auntie, well! In other people's eyes, she was a tender bud. "How could you even think of that? We really don't see eye to eye, so you'd better leave!"
"No. Girl, listen to me. I didn't want to think of you like this either, that's why I came to ask. So why did you follow them wherever they were?"
Indeed, Song Yan had been closely following Cheng Yousuo these past two days. With Widow Wang's instigation, Sister-in-law Cheng's current attitude was quite unusual. And judging from her expression, she was almost crying, genuinely afraid of making a mistake. Moreover, because she had saved his child, she felt grateful and hoped he wouldn't be misunderstood and that he would be alright. Song Yan couldn't muster any anger. "Me? It's just that my body isn't strong enough for heavy work. Wherever Brother Cheng works, Youfu, Chen Xiaodong, Hu Youguang, and the others all follow him, right? My husband isn't home. They see me and lend a hand. Do you think I could carry a basket of things and a few bags of corn chips? I'm just asking them to help me carry some things!"
"Oh dear, you really are something." Sister-in-law Cheng looked Song Yan up and down. She seemed to have grown taller than when she first got married. But she was as thin as a stick and had no strength. "That widow Wang is really despicable. If she hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have thought of it this way. I was afraid you would make a wrong move, and Wei Aiguo's temper would definitely not tolerate it. I was afraid you would regret it for the rest of your life. It scared me to death."
Song Yan took out several cushions woven from corn husks. "Here, take these and use them!"
Sister-in-law Qiang looked at it carefully and found that it was woven from corn husks. "You have such skillful hands."
Song Yan said, "Sister-in-law Cheng, if you have time, you should also collect some corn husks. They should be neat and undamaged, and take them home to dry in the shade..." Song Yan explained his rough plan.
Will this work?
"Let's not talk about money, at least you can use these things to make them! I'll teach you to make them when I have time in the winter; I know how to make a lot of things."...
Sister-in-law Cheng happily carried the three prayer cushions back home.
When Widow Wang instigated things, Second Sister-in-law Cheng was there. She even cursed Widow Wang a few times. Seeing her sister-in-law's expression, she didn't take it to heart. Several days passed, and she didn't see her sister-in-law make any other moves. But where was she going so late at night? Second Sister-in-law Cheng was feeling uneasy when she saw her sister-in-law happily carrying several round things back.
Sister-in-law Cheng: "Look how skillful Song Zhiqing is. Let's take this and sit down, so our bottoms won't get cold when we're husking corn."
Second Sister-in-law Cheng kept observing her eldest sister-in-law. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Are you angry yet?"
The sisters-in-law, having known each other for many years, understood each other well. "Am I that kind of person? I would never be ungrateful."
The two smiled knowingly.
"By the way, where's the third son's wife? Tell her to collect some corn husks when she has time while she's husking corn. They'll be very useful." The three sisters-in-law of the Cheng family get along very well.
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