Chapter 4
On the day of the Little New Year, there was a heavy snowfall. Boss Lin, who worked at the county food factory, also had a day off. He rode his brand new Phoenix bicycle back to Dongxi Village to celebrate the Little New Year with his family.
Early in the morning, Zhang Yueju went to the commune to cut five pounds of meat, bought some spices and stewed them into braised pork, fried a basket of oil cakes, pulled the radishes from her private plot and stewed them with beef shanks to make a milky white soup, and also made a few vegetarian dishes. Lin Youqing even took out all the Xifeng wine he had brought back. The whole family gathered together, it was lively and prosperous.
After eating and drinking, Lin Youqing told the Lin family about his plan to adopt Jiang Jiang.
"Everyone is here, so I want to tell you something. Guijuan and I have discussed this, and we plan to take Fusheng's daughter Jiang Jiang to live with us. She will be treated as our daughter from now on."
The Lin family didn't react for a moment.
After a long while, Lin Lao Er frowned and asked, "Lao San, are you serious?"
"Other people's children are not as close as your own. If you really want to raise a child, Feng Yin is the same age as Jiang Jiang..." Li Hongmei said hurriedly.
Old Mrs. Lin put down her chopsticks and asked, "Why would you adopt a wild child from outside?"
Although Mr. Lin and Mr. Zhang Yueju had their own ideas, this was after all the business of the third brother and his wife, so they didn't want to interfere too much.
Lin Youqing glanced at his wife and explained, "Mom, Brother Fusheng was very kind to me when we were young. One time, my son was bitten by a snake. If it weren't for Brother Fusheng risking his life to suck out the poisonous blood for me, I wouldn't be alive today. Brother Fusheng is gone, and Jiang Jiang is left without a father or a mother. It's really pitiful. I adopted her to repay Brother Fusheng for saving my life. Logically, this should have been done when Brother Fusheng passed away, but I have been working away from home for the past few years. It was only when I came back this time that I learned that Brother Fusheng had such an accident."
Noticing that Old Lady Lin was moved, Lin Youqing paused and said, "Besides, my son is now working in the county committee. Adopting Jiang Jiang will also be good for his reputation."
Mentioning the life-saving grace of the past, and her son's words that it would be good for his official reputation, Mrs. Lin's face improved a little, but she was still unhappy in her heart, "If you want to do good things, bring her home, let her light the fire for me, help with farm work, and give her food to keep her from starving. There is no need for her to stay with you."
The third brother and his wife are as soft-hearted as cotton. If they really adopted Jiang Jiang as their daughter, wouldn't she be spoiled to the sky? Old Mrs. Lin didn't want this to happen.
If there are good things, their own children should enjoy them first. Why should they give them to outsiders?
What's more, the third brother didn't even say that he would take her to the county town to enjoy a good life. How could he let this wild girl go to the city to enjoy a good life first?
"It hasn't been decided yet. Jiang Jiang hasn't agreed yet. We don't know if she's willing or not." He Guijuan felt uncomfortable listening to this. If Jiang Jiang was really her daughter, she would not leave her in Dongxi Village to be ordered around by her mother-in-law.
"Why would she be unwilling?" Old Mrs. Lin sneered rudely.
"Okay, let's eat first." Lin Youqing picked up a piece of radish for his wife.
Old Mrs. Lin and everyone else thought that Lin Youqing and his wife agreed to Old Mrs. Lin's plan, so they didn't continue the topic anymore.
A child can't eat much food, so just raise him for a few years and then marry him off. You can also get a gift money and have a good reputation.
Feng Yin listened to the adults' conversation, lowered his head and ate his meal, hiding the gloomy look on his face.
When Jiang Jiang woke up, it was already bright.
Yesterday was the Little New Year, and there were some leftover rice cakes, chicken, and chicken soup at home. These were all brought over by Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin yesterday. After washing up, Jiang Jiang heated up the rice cakes and chicken soup. After eating, she planned to clean the house first and then go out to wash the clothes she had taken off.
She has two sets of underwear. When conditions permit, she will boil water to take a bath and change and wash the clothes she wears underneath. There was no way she could get a thick cotton coat as it was the only one that fit her, and it was made from an old cotton jacket that Uncle Fugui didn't want anymore.
Jiang Jiang's family has a total of three earthen caves. In addition to the room where she sleeps, there are two unused caves filled with miscellaneous items. There is a lot of dust inside, and the miscellaneous items are piled up to the point where there is no room to step. Jiang Jiang rarely goes in.
There was an old cabinet with peeling paint in the room where she slept. Although it was a bit old, the cabinet door parts were still quite sturdy and there were auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes printed on it. It was her mother's dowry.
Jiang Jiang wet the rag with water, carefully wiped the tables, chairs and windows in the house, then swept the floor, then went to the river carrying a large wooden basin filled with dirty clothes.
Feng Yin was standing at the edge of the field. She saw Jiang Jiang squatting by the river washing clothes in the distance. She clenched her fists and couldn't help but feel jealous.
Given the character of Lin Youqing and his wife, once they decided to adopt Jiang Jiang, they would definitely bring Jiang Jiang to the city and would not irresponsibly abandon her in Dongxi Village.
They are both five years old. Why is she so lucky to be favored by Lin Youqing and his wife? She is obviously more considerate and sensible. Why? Just because her parents died?
Feng Yin looked at the bumpy fields in front of him, made up his mind secretly, gritted his teeth and jumped down.
The daughter of Lin Youqing and his wife can only be her.
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