Chapter 62
Gu Xi was practicing calligraphy when she heard a knock on the front door.
She went to open the door and saw Ma Chunling standing there holding a bowl; she immediately understood.
"Sister-in-law Ma, what brings you here? Come in and sit down," Gu Xi said warmly, opening the door for her.
Seeing Ma Chunling hesitate, she reached out and pulled her inside, giving her no chance to refuse.
Although she disliked social interactions and dealing with unfamiliar people, she decided to take the initiative because of Yu Xiaoyue.
Ma Chunling originally intended to leave after delivering the items, but faced with her enthusiasm, she found that she couldn't refuse at all and could only passively follow her lead.
Comrade Gu looks thin and weak, but he is surprisingly strong.
Ma Chunling followed Gu Xi awkwardly into the main room.
Seeing that Gu Xi was about to pour her some water, she quickly said, "No need for that. I came to bring you some homemade fried dough sticks. They're freshly made and still warm. Please try them." After hesitating for a moment, she added, "Thank you for yesterday. I heard from Xiao Yue that you were too kind."
Gu Xi still insisted on pouring her water, asked her to sit down, and said, "It's nothing. I really like Xiaoyue. She's well-behaved, hardworking, and very capable."
Ma Chunling forced a smile, looking somewhat lost and unsure of what to say.
She is gentle and taciturn, and with a domineering mother-in-law, she is treated like a submissive wife. She has little opinion of her own and is a hard-working and dutiful person at home, only knowing how to work silently.
If her daughter hadn't eaten the sweet soup and cookies at Gu Xi's place yesterday, she wouldn't have come over on her own initiative.
Gu Xi knew exactly how to communicate with someone like Ma Chunling, because she had seen many "Ma Chunlings" in the countryside before, and she herself used to be one of them.
In the past, the Gu family often complained that she was dull, couldn't speak well, and wasn't likable.
Even now, she still doesn't know how to speak well, how to please people, or how to do anything to please them.
Gu Xi pulled Ma Chunling aside and asked, feigning curiosity, "I heard Xiaoyue is already eight years old, right? Why haven't you sent her to school yet? If she doesn't go to school at this age, she'll fall behind other children, which isn't good for her studies."
Ma Chunling stammered, "Xiaoyue is a girl, she doesn't need to study..."
"What are you talking about?" Gu Xi frowned and retorted, "Precisely because she is a girl, she needs to study even more! Girls who can read and write will have more opportunities and more choices in the future! Don't parents want their children to be successful and live a good life?"
“Sister-in-law, I heard that the tuition for a semester at the military primary school isn’t much. It won’t cost Xiaoyue much to go to school. Why don’t we send her to school to learn something? If a girl can graduate, she’ll be successful. Look at my sister-in-law, she’s a military doctor. Everyone who meets her says she’s promising, right?”
Holding the water glass in both hands, Ma Chunling felt a little dizzy and subconsciously said, "Yes, yes..."
Without realizing it, her thoughts followed Gu Xi's words.
If Gu Xi had mentioned other female colleagues, Ma Chunling wouldn't have felt anything, since she didn't know them and had no idea what they were. But since Gu Xi mentioned Dr. Ji from the family compound, she got excited.
Dr. Ji Ya, the wife of Regiment Commander Gu, is also very famous in the family compound. Everyone admires her, and whenever someone feels unwell, they will go to her for a checkup if she is home.
I heard that Dr. Ji used to treat military leaders, and even the leaders in the army valued her highly...
Dr. Ji is undoubtedly a very promising woman and a role model for outstanding women.
If Xiaoyue can become as successful as Dr. Ji in the future... then she would definitely be willing to send Xiaoyue to school.
Gu Xi held Ma Chunling's hand, looked at her earnestly, and said sincerely, "Sister-in-law, Xiaoyue is your daughter, and I believe you want the best for her. Why not send Xiaoyue to school so she can be like you? Your eldest and second children are also in school, and their books can be given to Xiaoyue. You don't need to buy books; it really won't cost much!"
"Xiaoyue is still young, and she can't do much work if she stays at home. It would be better to send her to school so that she can learn some knowledge and build a solid foundation..."
Ma Chunling's dull gaze gradually regained its sparkle.
Looking at Gu Xi's sincere expression, she suddenly grabbed her hand tightly and said, "Comrade Gu, you're right. Xiaoyue is a girl, and she really should go to school to learn more."
Gu Xi smiled gently and said softly, "It's wonderful that you think this way, sister-in-law! You're truly a sensible person. Xiaoyue is so lucky to have a mother like you! I can tell that Xiaoyue is a smart child, and she's very filial. She'll definitely take good care of you in the future. If she's successful, she can even help her two brothers. Da Bao and Er Bao will be proud to have such a sister, and everyone will look up to them..."
Those last words truly resonated with Ma Chunling.
Da Bao and Er Bao are her children, and since they are boys, they will carry on the family line in the future, so of course she loves them more. Her daughter, Xiao Yue, will be ranked after them.
If Xiaoyue becomes successful in the future and can help her brothers, wouldn't that be even better?
-
Ma Chunling returned home quickly.
When she got home, her mother-in-law had just returned from grocery shopping. Seeing her come back from outside, she was very unhappy and immediately started scolding, "Where have you been? You haven't washed the clothes, watered the vegetables, or fed the chickens! What are you trying to do? Hurry up and wash the clothes! Oh, and remember to mend the knees of Da Bao and Er Bao's pants. If you can't mend them properly, you'll have to make them two new pairs..."
Yu Xiaoyue was cleaning the chicken droppings in the chicken coop with a broom when she heard her grandmother scolding her mother. She was a little worried, but dared not say anything.
When Grandma scolds people, it's better if they don't make a sound. If they do, Grandma will scold them even more severely, and she might even pinch them. Each time she pinches a little bit of flesh hard, and it hurts a lot.
Ma Chunling let her mother-in-law scold her and silently went to wash the clothes.
After washing the clothes, she went to water the plants and pick vegetables. Seeing that it was almost time, she quickly went to cook. She was busy all the time, and her daughter, Yu Xiaoyue, also helped her with the chores.
Seeing her daughter's thin and weak appearance, and her hair becoming messy again after just one night, Ma Chunling couldn't help but recall Gu Xi's words, which kept churning in her heart.
In the evening, everyone in the Yu family returned home.
After dinner was ready, the family sat down to eat together.
During the meal, Yu Dabao and Yu Erbao fought over the dishes on the table. The two brothers were used to being domineering and would rush to put the best food into their own bowls, leaving some for their father and grandmother at most, without caring about anyone else.
The two of them kept talking, exchanging words back and forth in a lively exchange.
Deputy Commander Yu ate his meal in silence, while Grandma Yu kept nagging, sometimes calculating the household expenses, sometimes reminding her two beloved grandsons to eat more and not to go hungry.
Ma Chunling and her daughter ate their meals in silence, like two invisible people in the family.
Suddenly, Ma Chunling spoke up: "Mom, Lao Yu, Xiaoyue is already eight years old. I want to send Xiaoyue to school."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaoyue, who was sitting there, trembled as she held the bowl, and a glimmer of surprise appeared in her eyes.
Deputy Commander Yu was slightly taken aback, and the two brothers who were talking also looked over.
"No way! What's the point of a girl going to school? It's such a waste!" Grandma Yu said firmly and unhappily, "No, we don't have the money!"
The light in Yu Xiaoyue's eyes immediately went out, and she silently lowered her head.
In the past, Ma Chunling might have kept quiet and wouldn't have had the courage to argue with her mother-in-law.
However, Gu Xi's words kept replaying in her mind all day, refusing to fade away, and giving her more resolve. She said firmly, "Mom, Xiaoyue's schooling doesn't cost much. Apart from tuition, nothing else is necessary. She can use Da Bao and Er Bao's books. Da Bao and Er Bao already have paper and pens, so Xiaoyue can use those..."
Grandma Yu's face grew increasingly grim. She glared fiercely at her and said angrily, "Ma Chunling, are you trying to rebel? No way! Girls shouldn't go to school; it's a waste of money!"
Being stared at like that by her mother-in-law almost made Ma Chunling lose heart.
She swallowed hard, turned to her husband, and said through gritted teeth, "Old Yu, let Xiaoyue go to school. If she can graduate, she can be like Dr. Ji and help Dabao and Erbao in the future..."
"Why are you mentioning Dr. Ji?" Grandma Yu said unhappily. "Can Xiaoyue compare to Dr. Ji? He's a doctor who has treated leaders. This little brat Xiaoyue is no match for him."
Ma Chunling felt a lump in her throat and said painfully, "Mom, why can't Xiaoyue do it? Xiaoyue and Dr. Ji are both girls. If Dr. Ji can do it, Xiaoyue can definitely do it too!"
For some reason, whenever she thought of what Gu Xi said, she felt that her daughter could do it too.
Grandma Yu choked for a moment, instinctively wanting to retort, but not knowing how.
Yes, Dr. Ji is also a girl, but she is a military doctor and is highly respected. She receives a monthly salary and the hospital also provides benefits. She lives a very comfortable life.
If Xiaoyue can become a doctor in the future, she will definitely be able to help her two older brothers...
Hearing his wife's words, Deputy Commander Yu was somewhat surprised and asked, "You want Xiaoyue to be a doctor like Dr. Ji in the future?"
Ma Chunling opened her mouth and said, "Yes, yes, I think..."
That's not what she meant. It's just that Dr. Ji is the most respected woman in the family compound, and it would be great if Xiaoyue could become a doctor like her.
After thinking for a moment, Deputy Commander Yu said, "Then let's send Xiaoyue to school."
"Oh? How can that be?" Grandma Yu wanted to object again.
Ultimately, she just couldn't bear to spend money, especially on a girl. After all, the girl would eventually marry out and belong to someone else's family, so she always felt it was a waste to spend money on her.
However, Deputy Commander Yu had already made a decision to let his daughter go to school.
He said to his wife, "Tomorrow, take Xiaoyue to the school to ask about the situation and see if Xiaoyue can transfer in. It's only been a month since school started, so it should be possible."
Ma Chunling immediately became happy and excitedly agreed.
For some reason, even though she had only managed to get her daughter into school, she felt as if she had accomplished something amazing, and her mind and body felt lighter. She was especially happy when she saw her mother-in-law muttering and still trying to object.
-
The next day, after finishing her chores at home, Ma Chunling prepared to take her daughter to the military primary school.
Grandma Yu watched the mother and daughter leave, still very unhappy. Even with Dr. Ji as a role model, she still couldn't make up her mind to let her granddaughter go to school and always wanted to stop her.
After all, waiting for my granddaughter to become a doctor will require too much time and money, and I don't know when I'll see the results.
Yu Xiaoyue went out with her mother and saw her grandmother's unhappy look, which made her heart jump.
She's been feeling dizzy since last night, like she's dreaming.
She can actually go to school? Is that true? She can go to school with her schoolbag like her two older brothers and sit in the classroom learning...
Feeling uneasy, Yu Xiaoyue couldn't help but ask, "Mom, can I really go to school?"
“Of course!” Ma Chunling said without hesitation, “Your dad has already spoken, so it’s definitely possible.”
“But Grandma…” she said cautiously, “Grandma seemed very unhappy when she left just now…”
Ma Chunling said, "It's okay, your dad has already agreed. As long as you study hard in the future, he won't object when he sees your good grades."
She may be gentle and timid, but that doesn’t mean she’s stupid.
Although the mother-in-law has the final say at home, the husband is the one who truly makes the decisions. However, he usually prefers to obey his mother and doesn't like to argue with her over trivial matters. He rarely opposes his mother's decisions, and once he makes a decision, his mother's objections are useless.
Yu Xiaoyue hurriedly said, "Mom, I will definitely study hard!" A joyful smile appeared on her face, and she looked at her mother with bright eyes, saying shyly, "Mom, I will take good care of you in the future, and buy you pretty clothes and delicious food..."
She wants to be like Dr. Ji, a capable person.
Seeing her unusually happy expression, Ma Chunling suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
Although she loves her son more, she also gave birth to her daughter, so how could she not love her?
She stroked her daughter's hair and said, "Actually, I have to thank Comrade Gu for this. If it weren't for what Comrade Gu said to me, I wouldn't have thought about sending you to school..."
Comrade Gu?
Yu Xiaoyue immediately thought of someone, "Is it Aunt Gu?"
She remembered that yesterday, while her grandmother went to buy groceries, her mother specially made fried dough sticks and took them out to deliver to Aunt Gu.
"Yes! She's Commander Shen's wife." Ma Chunling smiled. "She told me that you're a very smart child and that we should send you to school. Maybe you'll grow up to be like Dr. Ji..."
Actually, she wasn't sure if her daughter would become a doctor in the future, but she hoped that her daughter would be as capable as Dr. Ji, so that her husband and mother-in-law would allow her to go to school.
If my daughter is successful in the future and can find a good husband, I won't need to worry about her too much, right?
**
When Gu Xi met Yu Xiaoyue, it was already dark.
Yu Xiaoyue came over and knocked on the door. Standing at the doorway, she said in a suppressed, excited voice, "Aunt Gu, my parents sent me to school. Thank you so much!"
Gu Xi invited her in to talk.
Yu Xiaoyue waved her hand: "I came out secretly. I still have chores to do at home. If Grandma doesn't see me, she'll scold me. I can't stay outside for too long."
"It's alright!" Gu Xi reached out and gently lifted the little girl inside. "If she scolds you, just tell her that I need your help."
Yu Xiaoyue was an honest child, and immediately asked, "Aunt Gu, is there anything I can help you with?"
She was happy to help Aunt Gu, even if her grandmother scolded her, she would endure it.
Gu Xi made up a random excuse: "I want to learn some of the local dialect from you so I can communicate with my fellow villagers more easily."
"Huh?" Yu Xiaoyue looked at her in confusion. The girl spoke with a strong rural accent, which was exactly the local accent.
Ma Chunling is from this area; her family is from a nearby village. She married Deputy Regiment Commander Yu through a matchmaking arrangement and moved into the military. She usually takes care of her daughter, so her daughter speaks the local dialect.
Gu Xi made the little girl a cup of malted milk powder. When the girl was about to refuse, Gu Xi said, "Didn't you say you would help me? Drinking this will help me."
Yu Xiaoyue: "..."
Gu Xi asked Yu Xiaoyue to sit down and asked her about her studies.
Yu Xiaoyue recounted how her mother had suggested she go to school during dinner the previous night. Although Gu Xi's language skills weren't great, she managed to extract the details and understood that her words had worked on Ma Chunling, encouraging her to persist in advocating for Yu Xiaoyue's education.
Gu Xi was very happy.
Perhaps it was because she had envied those who could go to school since she was a child, cherished the opportunity to study, and knew the benefits of education for girls.
Seeing Yu Xiaoyue inevitably reminds me of my past self, and I feel a deep empathy for her, so I want to do something about it.
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