Seeing her wavering, Zhou Jiao looked outside and whispered, "It doesn't matter if you gave gifts to your family. They're smart people who don't show off their wealth. If Xiaowu's two brothers-in-law wear them and say they were given by us, it will have a bad impact. These military supplies are very valuable. Not only are they rare in the world, but wearing them will also make people think too much. Even if they don't say anything, don't they still have their parents?"
A military coat and woolen yarn, that's quite a big gift. Look at the third-day-of-birth ceremony. If we were to follow the county standards, even a pound of woolen yarn would be a big gift. In the village, woolen yarn is like gold. You gave Xiaowu's family quite a bit of gifts, so the situation is a little different. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered to show it."
Zhou Jiao remembered the textile factory director wearing a military coat, and her little daughter boasted about it at school, saying she had military connections. She was in a state of panic. Wearing these five coats out would create conversation and entertainment. If her mother-in-law hadn't seen the coats, she wouldn't have given them away.
"Okay, I'll listen to you. The saved fabric will be great for making clothes for you. This time, I thought the material was good, so I bought several bolts of wool. You can make a Lenin suit and a coat for Xiaowu, and keep the rest for later use. You can also make a few pairs of overalls with this fabric; it's very sturdy and looks high-end."
This is how everyone in big cities dress now. You should dress up properly. I think you should throw away all those patched-up ones. Next time, I'll buy you two cashmere coats. I'll buy you a black and a brown one. Don't wear the red or green ones; they won't show off your elegance."
Zhou Jiao nodded happily. "We are mother and daughter, we have the same taste. Black and brown are good for matching clothes. You must be out of money, so remember to bring the savings certificate from Beijing back with you."
Zhou Jiao saw her mother's enthusiasm and agreed with her. Besides, she wasn't used to seeing her in patched, tattered clothes. Perhaps she would change if circumstances forced her to. But for now, she wanted to look beautiful, and every time she looked in the mirror, she couldn't bear to look at her own awful appearance.
"Don't worry, let your dad buy it, and keep your savings certificate. Mom has money, and your grandma has my savings certificate. Keep the things I gave you well, and don't take them out. A woman should have money on hand, keep it for herself to spend slowly, and buy whatever she wants.
Just think about it. Even if you don't work, it doesn't matter. Renting the yard for only 50 yuan a month is a bit less, but it's still better than those who work. What are you worried about? Mom's salary is over 100, almost 200 yuan a month. Add in your dad's salary, and we really don't need money.
You're the only one in our family, so you don't have to be so frugal and calculating. If Mom really cared about money, she'd be doing your aunt a favor for free. If you were someone who was so calculating and willing to break every penny into two, I would have rented it out to someone else long ago, at least for 100 yuan.
Look in the mirror, at your face. You look pale and thin, which means you're not getting enough nutrition. You must take good care of yourself this month. If you have good nutrition, your milk will be nutritious, and you will be safe and healthy. Besides, even if you show off and get into trouble, your mother can handle it. What are you afraid of?"
Zhou Jiao looked at her, with a look of arrogance on her face, and couldn't help laughing, "Mom, I know. It will be fine after the family branches out. Now if I wear new clothes every day, they will have to patch them up every day, which is not comfortable. When we get to the county town, I can spend it however I want. I can't make money and I can't spend money?
"Auntie, please don't mention doing her a favor from now on. It hurts feelings and ultimately makes the favor go to waste. Renting it to a public company is cheaper, and you don't mess up the yard. You can just work there, and everyone can keep it clean, without all the clutter and fumes. Private rent is more expensive, but collecting it is a hassle, and I don't like messing things up by moving tenants out."
"Your grandma told me the same thing. I know your aunt's situation. As long as she didn't cheat me or embezzle the rent, it's okay if it's less. Some things, like getting a marriage certificate, should still be hers to do. Mom won't say anything more.
Mom just feels sorry for you and is afraid that you won’t be able to buy anything. Xuezhen, your second uncle's family, was born at the same age and month as you. She is like a child who has not yet grown up. Whenever you see something good, you try to get it. Every time you ask me for a gift or spend money lavishly, your second uncle beat you up several times. That is what a 17-year-old girl should be like.
As for you, you had to take care of yourself early on, learning to read people's expressions and protect yourself at such a young age. It's all Mom's fault. Otherwise, you'd be like those girls in the compound, constantly thinking about fun places, delicious food, and pretty clothes, and shamelessly begging Mom for money. It's nothing like now, where I buy you, you're so cautious, either worried Mom doesn't have enough money or worried you'll spend too much.
It's because you've suffered that you're so sensible. Why didn't I go see your grandfather even though I was here? I was just angry that he didn't have enough money. I could have asked for it. Why should I be so harsh on you? You're not motherless. I mailed you so many clothes, and now your closet is basically all patched up and worn out.
Every time Xuezhen asks me for clothes, I buy two. I'm afraid you won't have nice clothes. Girls are shy and might feel inferior, so I mail them to you as much as I can. I've never forgotten to buy them all year round. But looking at the clothes in your closet, I just can't bear to see them. Whatever your dad thinks, I'm going to ask him why when he gets home.
I thought you, even without me by your side, would be a cheerful, outgoing girl with a smile as bright as the sun. In the countryside, you had a high-ranking grandfather, money, beautiful clothes, and many things that even city girls couldn't have. You were supposed to be carefree in the countryside, your word was yours, the kind of person you envied and hated, yet dared not offend. But what did you end up seeing?
My daughter was scolded by an uneducated person. She was left with only bones and grew up like a weed. She even kowtowed to that old man in grievance. Why did he treat you like this? Didn't we say we would take you back to the capital?
But he, this is what he said about taking good care of my daughter. I don't dare to see him, I'm afraid I'll slap him twice. I don't care if he spends my money, uses my money, but how can he go back on his word? Every time I send something, I know he has a granddaughter, and I'm afraid you will be bullied if you dress nicely, so I specially add some things, but he's still not satisfied. Look at how thin you are, where are his eyes?
Lin Lishan became more and more excited as she spoke, and in the end, she couldn't help but feel sad. She knew she was also wrong, but she, Lin Lishan, always walked around the capital with her head held high, and she didn't expect her daughter to suffer so much in the Zhou family.
If her daughter were in the capital, who would dare to touch her? Who would dare to give her a hard time? It was because of Zhou Xiaozheng that she had to hold back even her anger. When had she ever suffered such injustice?
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