Qin Ping's illness gradually improved.
Deng Zhilan added spiritual spring water to her daily diet, and her complexion became visibly rosy.
The Wei family resumed their normal lives.
Qin Ping did not go to the fields to plant rice again. Instead, she moved to a shady place and went to the cowshed to clean the toilet.
She never fainted again, so Wei Xiaotian and Wei Yanzhen, father and son, were completely relieved.
…
That evening, Deng Zhilan sorted out the dirty clothes, put them in a basin, and gave them to Wei Yanzhen.
The two went to the river to wash clothes together.
Just before leaving, Wei Yanzhen turned back.
"Wife, wait for me, I'll go get something."
Deng Zhilan saw that she was holding the soap in her hand and Wei Yanzhen was holding the washboard. What else was missing?
Soon, when the man went out again, he moved a chair, took a shawl, and held a kettle in his hand.
“You are…”
"There are a lot of dirty clothes, so it will take a long time to wash them. When the time comes, you can sit by the river and enjoy the cool breeze. If you are thirsty, you can drink water. I have made some brown sugar water for you in the kettle."
Deng Zhilan smiled and said angrily: "Comrade Wei, you are very thoughtful!"
Wei Yanzhen held the kettle and the chair in one hand and the wooden basin in the other, and followed Deng Zhilan like a little wife.
Now that he has come to the countryside, he will do everything he can to make his wife live a more comfortable life.
…
When they arrived at the river, Wei Yanzhen first put the chair away, put a shawl on Deng Zhilan, and then placed the kettle steadily aside.
He rolled up his sleeves and began to wash the clothes.
The setting sun in the evening shines on the river, making the waves sparkle.
Deng Zhilan sat on the chair, watching Wei Yanzhen washing clothes seriously, and her heart was filled with comfort!
She picked up the kettle, poured a cup of brown sugar water, and handed it to Wei Yanzhen, "Come on, Comrade Wei, you've worked hard, drink some water."
Wei Yanzhen took the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
The two of them were washing clothes while talking and laughing, and even playing around from time to time. The splashing water sparkled with crystal light in the setting sun.
Tired of playing, Deng Zhilan leaned back in the chair, motionless, with her eyes slightly closed, her thick black hair spread out, and as the evening breeze blew by, she looked like the most flourishing lotus by the river.
Wei Yanzhen stood up, covered her with the shawl that had fallen on the ground, gently brushed away the loose hair on her forehead, and then continued to wash clothes.
At this moment, after dinner, the aunts who came to the river in groups of three or four to wash clothes all saw Deng Zhilan. She was surrounded by a faint glow of light and wore a light purple dress. She was so beautiful that no one dared to touch or desecrate her.
"Mom, is she a fairy?"
"Only fairies don't have to do laundry. She's so pretty."
Some girls in the team had never seen such a beautiful person and their eyes were filled with envy.
Aunt Liu curled her lips, inwardly despising Deng Zhilan for being a lazy thing. While her husband was washing clothes by the river, she was just sitting there leisurely.
She showed off her white calves and soaked in the river water. She looked so damn comfortable!
"Liu Zhaodi, if you don't want to do laundry, you should get married quickly. Marry a man who won't let you do laundry!"
A little girl named Liu Zhaodi burst into tears when her mother scolded her. She cried and made a scene: "I don't want to get married. I don't want to sell myself to save up money for my brother's dowry. I hate my brother..."
Aunt Liu took the clothes pestle and hit the little girl on the butt.
Deng Zhilan was suddenly awakened by the crying sound. When she opened her eyes, she saw this scene.
She frowned.
"The child is still young, don't hit her like this."
Aunt Liu rolled her eyes. The man didn’t even want to let her wash his clothes. He was so lazy!
"This is my own child. I can beat him however I want. It's none of your business."
Deng Zhilan didn't get angry either. She took out a candy and handed it to Liu Zhaodi, "Don't cry, eat the candy."
Liu Zhaodi stopped crying and timidly took the candy.
Wei Yanzhen noticed the commotion here and asked Deng Zhilan about the situation. Then, the man said with a look of disapproval:
"Nowadays, people emphasize gender equality. Children should not be beaten or scolded like this, and they should not sacrifice themselves for their younger brother in the future."
The aunts around heard this and started talking about it. Aunt Liu felt embarrassed and had to put down the hammer.
It was at this time that Song Yitao came to the river.
She also came to wash clothes in the evening.
Then I heard some aunts saying that Deng Zhilan was a lazy bitch, and that she was lucky because she was not even allowed to wash clothes, and that her husband really loved her to the core.
Song Yitao felt bitter in her heart, but it was just her good fortune!
Just go to the back mountain and you can find a bunch of precious medicinal herbs.
She was exchanged for food and meat, and her family still doted on her so much that she didn't suffer any hardship at all.
Unlike her, she is all alone!
"Girl, come and do the laundry?"
"I have some soap powder here, would you like some? Beating clothes with a mallet won't get them clean!"
When Song Yitao came to her senses, an aunt appeared in front of her, looking like she wanted to sell her soap powder.
"Oh, I want soap powder. How much is it?"
Song Yitao spoke subconsciously.
The other party said two cents a bag, but when she was about to take money out of her trouser pocket, she suddenly realized that she didn't have a dime on her.
Song Yitao smiled awkwardly, "Auntie, I was in a hurry to go out and didn't bring any money. I'll buy yours next time."
But the aunt refused to give in. "Sister, you can use it first, and then give me the money later."
Song Yitao was a little annoyed.
Why can't she understand what I'm saying? Do I have to make her admit in person that she has no money now?
"I already told you I don't want it! You're forcing me to buy it!"
"Hey! How can you talk like that, female comrade? I see you have a mallet but no soap powder, so I'm here to help you out of kindness..."
Song Yitao's quarrel with others was soon noticed by Deng Zhilan. It was not the first time she had quarreled with others, so Deng Zhilan was no longer surprised.
Deng Zhilan put away her shawl and walked to the river. She thought it was time to go home.
Wei Yanzhen put the wooden basin behind a big rock. Deng Zhilan looked curious, "Aren't you going to go home? Why put the wooden basin here?"
The man kept it a secret, "You'll know in a moment."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
