April is more than halfway over, the big work in the fields is done, and the weather is getting hotter and hotter.
Every afternoon, a dozen or so elderly women gather under the big banyan tree in the village to chat, each bringing their own small stool. They sit there for most of the day.
"I heard that Qianqian from the Yu family went to school in the commune? She's already 18, shouldn't she be staying at home?"
"She got married and then went off to school; isn't all that trouble for nothing?"
"Yes, it's really strange that the Yu family agreed."
"Shen Qianqian has never been to school before, so why did she suddenly decide to go to school in the commune?"
"Haven't you heard? Shen Qianqian was able to go to school in the commune because the brigade leader arranged it for her. Didn't the brigade leader's granddaughter fall into the water before? Shen Qianqian was passing by and rescued her. That's a life-saving grace! What's a little schooling compared to that?!"
The old ladies' chatter startled the chickens pecking at the ground, which clucked and spread their wings, flying two meters away, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Wei Yi"
Shen Qianqian rode her bicycle straight into the group of old ladies, startling everyone who grabbed stools and moved aside.
move.
With his finger pressed on the brake, the wheel was only 10 centimeters away from one of the gossiping old ladies. The old lady didn't have time to dodge and was so frightened that she sat down on the ground.
"Eek!"
"Don't you know your place, kid? If you can't ride a bike, don't! Hitting someone is no joke!"
Someone muttered something behind their back.
Shen Qianqian stomped her foot on the ground, turned around and scolded back: "My eyesight is perfectly fine, Aunt Cai. I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've gone even balder. I've told you not to keep worrying about other people's business. Thinking too much will make you lose hair!"
Aunt Cai's face darkened, and she raised her hand to touch her head.
Shen Qianqian turned her head back and smiled at the old lady sitting on the ground, saying, "And Grandma Zhang, you're only fifty-five this year, and your arms and legs are still quite strong. How come your eyesight is already failing? Tell me where you heard that rumor. My going to school in the commune had nothing to do with the brigade leader. I got in based on my own merit!"
"Let me tell you, if you keep talking nonsense, don't blame me for getting angry. Ever since I hit my head, it's been hurting constantly. It hurts when I get angry, and when it hurts, I feel like hitting someone. I remember your grandson also goes to school in the commune, right? Yes, yes, I remember."
What did you remember?
Grandma Zhang looked terrified, as if she were thinking of her eldest grandson being beaten black and blue at school.
Shen Qianqian, having made her threats enough, didn't care what she thought. She took out a few sheets of paper from her small handbag.
"See this? This piece of paper was written personally by the principal of the commune's middle school, just to encourage me, the top student in Nanxian! To tell me to keep up the good work! These are my test papers. See these scores? Can your grandchildren do this well? If I don't go to school, who will?"
Shen Qianqian showed the papers in her hand. The first one was an encouraging message that Song Ming had written for her. The other few were her test papers, with huge red marks on them that even old ladies with poor eyesight could see clearly.
This action indeed stunned the old lady present.
Shen Qianqian carefully packed the things away; she still needed to send them back to the capital.
Woolen cloth.
"I'll only say this once: I, Shen Qianqian, got in on my own merit. I'm just naturally smart. I came in first place in the entire Nanxian County exam, and Principal Song even gave me a ten-yuan reward!"
Upon hearing this, a gasp rippled through the crowd.
Ten yuan! It costs ten yuan just to take an exam!
Oh dear, why couldn't their eldest grandson get it? That little brat Chen Qianqian snatched it from him.
Shen Qianqian got back into the car: "If my grandparents hadn't stopped me from going to school, I don't know how much money I would have earned to support them these past few years. My grandparents, they were just not born to be rich!"
The old ladies thought this made sense. After all, Old Mrs. Fang was just not destined to get rich. This granddaughter who wasn't her biological grandson was much better than her biological grandson. She could even get a bonus for her exams.
Shen Qianqian revealed her white teeth: "Grandma Zhang, remember what I just said. I'm not joking."
Old Mrs. Zhang shuddered.
Shen Qianqian hummed a little tune as she rode her bicycle away from the brigade's "intelligence center." The cloth bag, secured with a clip, swayed back and forth on the back seat, but showed no sign of falling off.
·
Hu Guichen took a sip of the sugar water and patted Grandma Fang's hand.
"Alright, this matter is practically settled. Later, let Xiuxiu and that young man from the Xu family meet more often, let them get to know each other. Nowadays, it's all about free love, not the arranged marriages of the past where you could only meet after the veil was lifted. What do you say, in-laws?"
Grandma Fang nodded repeatedly.
Feng Xiang hesitated a bit.
"They've only met once, and they're not engaged yet. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to let them meet alone?"
Hu Guichen gave her a warning look: "What do you know? That Xu boy is from the city. He's been around for so long, what pretty girls hasn't he seen? Besides, with me here, are you afraid you won't be able to get engaged? That Xu boy isn't going anywhere. What era are we living in now? Meeting him is like taking your life. Feng Xiang, you can't be like this. You'll have a city son-in-law in the future."
A son-in-law from the city!
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiang felt a surge of excitement; once her daughter married into the city, she would be just like her sister-in-law, a city dweller.
The people in the factory were incredibly envious of her.
It's good to have a son-in-law from the city!
Grandma Fang also said, "My mother-in-law is right. The two young people should see each other more often to build their relationship. Otherwise, how will they live a good life together in the future?!"
Hu Guichen patted Grandma Fang's hand.
“You’re the most understanding mother-in-law; you’re on the path of the new society.”
Grandma Fang was quite pleased with herself.
Feng Xiang nodded repeatedly, indicating that she would go to the county in a few days to talk to her daughter.
As soon as Shen Qianqian arrived at the Yu family home, she heard voices coming from Old Mrs. Fang's room, but she didn't pay any attention. She carried her books and walked towards her room, just in time to see someone coming out of Old Mrs. Fang's room.
She glanced at her and saw a plump old woman she didn't recognize. She had a round face, high cheekbones, and eyes that were narrowed to slits. Her demeanor gave off a cunning vibe. She didn't seem like a good person.
Shen Qianqian glanced at it twice and went straight inside.
Seeing this, Hu Guichen narrowed her eyes, which were already small, and they were almost invisible. She looked displeased.
"Mother-in-law, who is that?"
Grandma Fang: "She is my adopted daughter's daughter."
Hu Guichen: "How can such a grown person not even know how to greet people? Mother-in-law, even though her parents are not around, you should still teach that child manners, otherwise she will never be able to get married in the future."
Grandma Fang and Feng Xiang: "..." Who would dare?
They didn't want to die.
Ever since that axe was taken inside by that evil spirit, it has never been taken out again, and the only way to chop firewood at home is with a wood-chopping knife.
Grandma Fang nodded reluctantly.
"Yes, yes, I'll definitely talk to her about it later."
Shen Qianqian stood behind the door and heard the conversation clearly. She didn't care about this small offense, after all, even if two people from the Yu family had the guts, they wouldn't dare to provoke her now.
But who is that fat old woman?
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