In a blink of an eye, it is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, which is the Little New Year in the north and also the day for mutual assistance and socializing.
There is a major funeral in Wu Meili's family and according to local tradition she can no longer attend public events. Especially during the Chinese New Year, whoever's house she visited would bring bad luck to that family.
She is familiar with the local customs and stays at home with her children to do handicrafts instead of going out.
The children have been extremely quiet and honest these days as they have experienced the loss of their father, being abandoned by their relatives, and being on the verge of becoming homeless. Except for occasionally going out to fetch water or collect firewood, everyone stayed at home, doing handicrafts or reading.
A sense of determination suddenly emerged in my mind.
"Aunt, my mother asked me to give these handicrafts to you."
Jiang Niuniu, the youngest daughter of the Jiang family, came to Qiao Baozhu's house with a timid look on her face, and gave her the handicrafts made at home before Qiao Baozhu went to work.
"Niuniu is here, don't stand outside, come in and sit for a while."
Qiao Baozhu was putting on makeup in front of the mirror. Just when she was halfway done, Jiang Niuniu came in. But she kept her mother's instructions in mind and just stood at the door, not wanting to come in and cause trouble.
"No, auntie, I'll put the things on the ground. You check them out. My mom said that my family is unlucky because someone died. If people outside knew that these were made by my family, they wouldn't be able to be sold. If they can't be used, we don't want the wages."
Jiang Niuniu held back her tears, unable to understand why this was happening.
Qiao Baozhu rolled her eyes speechlessly, put down her eyebrow pencil, turned around and dragged Jiang Niuniu into the house.
"It's a new society now, there's no such thing as superstition. Leave the things here first, and I'll check them after I finish putting on my makeup."
"Don't just sit there. I have something to ask you."
When Jiang Niuniu heard that Qiao Baozhu wanted to ask a question, she was so nervous that she didn't know what to do.
"Niuniu, how old are you this year?"
In this era, every family had many children. Instructor Duan’s family had five children, and Qian Ming’s family next door also had five children.
Wu Meili was very special. She was sent to the Jiang family as a child bride since she was young. She gave birth to seven children at the age of sixteen.
Her mother-in-law gave two of them to others, and kept five at home.
Jiang Niuniu had two older sisters, both of whom were given away by their grandmother. Originally, she was going to be given away when she was born, but was saved by Wu Meili.
Wu Meili was a child bride and was like an animal in front of her parents-in-law. She only worked and had no say.
Because Jiang Niuniu contradicted her parents-in-law for the first time, she not only kept her daughter, but also secretly got a sterilization.
"Aunt, I am ten years old this year."
Qiao Baozhu nodded, and looked at the little girl rubbing her hands nervously in the mirror, feeling sour in her heart.
"Is your mother okay these days? Has she been crying secretly? Has she been eating well?"
"Do you have enough food at home? Have you prepared candy and meat for the New Year?"
No matter what Qiao Baozhu asked, Jiang Niuniu answered honestly.
After putting on her makeup, Qiao Baozhu grabbed a handful of candy from the drawer and handed it to Jiang Niuniu, just like usual.
But this time, Jiang Niuniu didn't take it, but put the candy on the edge of the kang.
"Why don't you eat? Niuniu, you have never been so distant to your aunt before."
Jiang Niuniu lowered her head with a look of loss and said nothing. The past was the past, and the present is the present. Everything is different now.
When my father was still alive, they called Captain Shen "Uncle Shen" and Qiao Baozhu "Auntie". After my father died, my mother said that I should call my aunt "little aunt" and Uncle Shen "uncle".
My aunt and uncle-in-law gave their family too many things, so they can’t accept any more of my aunt’s things.
Jiang Niuniu didn't understand why she had to call her aunt. But she likes this name very much. Because my mother is different from others. She has no mother, father, or brothers or sisters.
Aunt became my aunt, and my mother had sisters.
Well, although dad is gone, mom has gained a new relative.
Thinking of this, Jiang Niuniu suddenly felt that life was not so hard anymore...
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