Xu Ningyan made her a bowl of brown sugar water without asking any further questions.
Chen Fangfang quickly returned to normal. After finishing breakfast and tidying up, she opened the things she had brought.
It was a bright orange sweater.
"Didn't I say before that once I make money, I'll knit myself a sweater and you one too! I picked out this color in the county town; it makes your skin look fair, and it's perfect for young ladies like you. Would you like to try it on?"
After Chen Fangfang finished speaking, her face turned slightly red: "It's just that I don't have much money on hand, so I didn't buy the best wool yarn. Please don't mind."
The orange sweater is knitted in a thick double garter stitch, with a sweetheart neckline. White trim is added only at the collar, cuffs, and hem. It feels soft and substantial in the hand.
Xu Ningyan fell in love with it at first sight and couldn't put it down.
Chen Fangfang was a little embarrassed: "There's not much yarn in this color, so I can only knit this kind without a pattern. Otherwise, I could knit a lot of different patterns."
Xu Ningyan quickly replied, "I love this solid color, it looks really good! Thank you!"
Chen Fangfang finally breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm glad you don't mind!"
Xu Ningyan put the sweater on right then and there, and it fit perfectly, making her feel warm and cozy.
After putting on the cotton-padded coat, I looked at Chen Fangfang again and saw that she was still wearing her old sweater. I couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you say you were going to knit yourself a new sweater?"
Chen Fangfang smiled wryly, having held it in for so long, she finally couldn't help but complain a couple of times.
Complaining about her mother-in-law's favoritism, Xu Erchun's cowardice and gullibility also revealed a hint of confusion: "You know, thanks to you, I was able to keep making hair ties and have an income every month. I was so happy back then! I could earn money myself and didn't have to listen to gossip every day saying that I was a freeloader and that I didn't want to work, so I used tricks to marry Xu Erchun."
“I am truly grateful to Xu Erchun for marrying me back then, and I truly wanted to live with him! But as we made money, life became even more miserable! I also want to have children, but with the situation at home, do I dare to have them? He has an older brother and two younger brothers. His parents-in-law favor the eldest son and dote on the younger ones, leaving him stuck in the middle, unloved by his parents!”
“I was willing to marry him back then, otherwise, given his family’s situation, he wouldn’t have been able to get a wife if he wasn’t willing to pay a bride price! But now that I’m marrying into his family without paying a bride price, it’s become my fault! They say I’m worthless and that I’m giving money to their family! They say he’s a scavenger, that he takes what others don’t want!”
“We work the hardest, and every month I give a third of my earnings to my family. Even so, we don’t get any credit! They still think I don’t give enough and that I should give it all to support the eldest, third, and fourth children and their families!”
"How could I dare to have a child with this? If I did, he'd probably end up like his father, toiling away making clothes for others! I told him before that I'm saving money for our own little family. Once we have a bit more money, it would be best if we separated the household and had another child, so at least our child would have a better life in the future!"
“He agreed so readily before, saying he would listen to me! I was the only one who cared about him and thought of him! Now, after only a few good days, he's been coaxed by his parents with a few worthless compliments and has forgotten all the hardships he suffered. He's now on the same side as his parents and brothers! Now they're a close-knit family, inseparable even if their blood is broken! I'm thinking of my own family and him, but I'm pleasing no one and have become an outsider!”
As Chen Fangfang finished speaking, she let out a cold laugh, her face full of self-mockery.
Xu Ningyan knew that Chen Fangfang was probably heartbroken and furious, otherwise she wouldn't have said those words.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Ningyan asked Chen Fangfang, "So what are your thoughts?"
Chen Fangfang's eyes were blank: "I don't know either! I just feel it's so meaningless! You know, after a woman gets married, she's an outsider to her own family and an outsider to her husband's family! It's like a rootless duckweed, never having a home of her own in her entire life—"
After saying this, he paused for a moment and said, "I'm only saying this to you. The more he acts like this, the less likely I am to have children! The less likely I am to give in to their wishes! If they wanted the money in my hands, they would be willing to give me more if they had a better attitude, spoke more politely, and flattered me a little! But they want to ride on my neck and also want me to give them money to spend. Do they think I'm stupid? At worst, we'll just go our separate ways!"
There was a hint of resoluteness in his words.
Xu Ningyan knew Chen Fangfang; she seemed gentle, but was actually a very resilient person.
Now that she's said it, she won't easily back down.
Knowing what Chen Fangfang could achieve in the future, he naturally couldn't watch her wings be clipped by Xu Erchun's family.
Besides, he and Chen Fangfang have known each other since they met, and they've gotten along well and become friends.
We should at least lend a hand.
Seeing that no one was outside, he gestured for Chen Fangfang to turn her head and come closer: "What I'm saying today is for you to hear! I heard in Beijing that the country needs a lot of talent, and the policies from above have been relaxed. If you don't want to be stuck in this small mountain village for the rest of your life, then don't give up on your studies! Anyone can betray you at any time, but what you learn yourself will never betray you!"
Chen Fangfang was an extremely intelligent person and immediately understood what Xu Ningyan meant.
Her eyes lit up instantly, she covered her mouth, and looked at Xu Ningyan.
Xu Ningyan nodded.
Tears welled up in Chen Fangfang's eyes, and she choked back sobs as she grasped Xu Ningyan's hand: "Don't worry! I'll remember your words! Really! If that day ever comes, you will be my greatest benefactor in this life! I won't say anything more, just wait and see!"
After saying that, she wiped away her tears and smiled slightly: "I thought life was meaningless, but after hearing what you said, I can keep going! One day I'll get through this!"
Xu Ningyan patted Chen Fangfang's hand: "I have a few books here. Take them back with you and read them when you have time! Be careful and think more about yourself! As for the rest of the books, you can go to the recycling station or borrow them from others. Just don't give up! Don't mention any favors or gratitude. We're friends now. As long as you do well in the future, you'll have lived up to our friendship!"
As she spoke, she found a set of "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" that she had left here in the cabinet. This set was found at a scrap yard and was a bit damaged, with the cover missing. However, it was still quite rare to be able to collect the whole set.
He took it out and placed it on the table: "Take this back! Tell them I'm leaving the Unity Brigade and I'm leaving it to you as a keepsake! With my name on it, no one should dare touch your books! I'll write you an address in a bit, remember it! If you don't understand anything, or if anything comes up, just write to me!"
As he spoke, he took a piece of paper, cut it into a small strip, and left the address of Mao'er Hutong in Beijing with Chen Fangfang.
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