It's simple to understand that in rural areas, children's clothes are made by first making them too big, then tucking them in and attaching them to the top. As the child grows, they are gradually enlarged, so that a single garment can be worn for several years.
New for three years, old for three years, patched and mended for another three years.
Even with these new clothes, if you wear them like this, in the end they'll just be patched upon patched.
Some families even make shoes two sizes too big. Just the thought of a child wearing adult clothes and slipping on oversized shoes makes one feel uncomfortable, let alone how the child feels.
However, it's already a very rare and precious thing to have a new garment made, so who would nitpick about the size?
It's no wonder the old lady asked that question. This boy is at the age where he's growing taller, and his clothes are even shorter, barely washed.
"No need, no need. The coat that goes over the padded jacket is just a little bit bigger, and the padded jacket is just a little bit bigger than the other side. The same goes for the shoes. If they're too big, the kids won't feel comfortable in them, and they won't stay still. As long as they can move around freely, it's fine."
The old lady glanced at her; she really wasn't stingy, but she didn't say anything. It was her own stuff, so she agreed.
"Okay, a bigger one. It'll definitely be enough for this winter, and I can wear it until spring, okay?"
"Okay, okay."
"You're just too generous."
It's so simple and natural, you can practically tell they don't know how to manage a household.
"Hehe, that depends on the person, right? When I went there before, my second aunt was so good to me. She made me new clothes, and she saved all the good food for me instead of giving it to them. This time she even brought me some local specialties. She's not stingy with me at all."
The old lady paused for a moment while scissors were being used.
"Your own aunt?"
"Yeah,"
"That's really good. Not to mention your aunt, even your own mother might not be able to give all the good things to her daughter and not her son. That's really good."
"Right, right?"
His smug look made the old lady's face crinkle with laughter.
"You, you, although you arrived a little late, these family members are quite nice. I can tell from your mood that you like them."
Jian Dan wasn't upset, and what she said was the truth.
"Yes, actually, these relatives were quite unexpected, especially since they are my grandfather's brothers, two or three generations removed, not exactly close. I didn't expect them to treat me like an outsider."
"You know, good deeds are rewarded, do you believe it now?"
"Maybe."
Given her past life's background, she naturally had her own standards for discerning good people. However, it must be said that the saying "good people are rewarded" is actually quite fitting in describing this situation.
Strictly speaking, it all started when Cheng Chao fell into the simple back garden.
If they hadn't rescued him then, and had left him to fend for himself in the backyard or simply handed him over to the village chief, perhaps there wouldn't have been so much contact afterward, and naturally, there would have been no chance of them recognizing each other.
After having several children, their simple life became completely lively.
However, she did have some free time.
After all, someone was looking after the children, someone was feeding the dog, and someone was watching over her when she did her laundry—she even had to do it secretly. She couldn't possibly take care of the three children. Cheng Rui and his brother had arranged everything in a very orderly manner. The young girl had just come from the army and was very familiar with these rules.
After a few days, if the two children weren't really bad at cooking, Jianyi would have almost been unable to even get a chance to cook.
"If you guys lived here for a year, you'd spoil me rotten,"
“My mom said that since you’re the only girl in our family, we have to spoil you.”
"that is."
The little girl next to me ran over to protest.
"Me too, me too, I'm a girl too,"
Cheng Rui didn't think before he spoke; his mouth slurred out the words faster than his brain could process them.
"You don't have the surname Cheng, so you don't belong to our family,"
Cheng An retaliated by giving him a light rebuke.
"Brother, what are you saying?"
The little girl couldn't hear anything else except the words, "You don't belong to our family," and she burst into tears.
"I am... I am from my sister's family. You... you're not from there, you bad guys, you bad guys, boohoo..."
By the time Cheng Rui realized what was happening, the little girl was already crying her eyes out, and he was completely at a loss.
"Hey? You, you don't cry, I misspoke, I misspoke, please stop crying, okay?"
The boy was so anxious that his face turned red. He didn't dare to raise his voice and frantically tried to soothe the boy, constantly glancing back at the kitchen, afraid that Jian Dan might overhear. Before long, he was covered in sweat.
"Xiao An, come quickly and help me comfort her. I didn't mean it that way, I just said it offhand, really!"
Cheng An really didn't want to deal with her brother who would occasionally lose his mind, but she subconsciously glanced at the kitchen and resigned herself to taking care of the child herself.
"Okay, okay, Xin Xin, Brother Rui was just kidding you."
The little girl was still sobbing.
Cheng An started to deceive people.
"Really, really, he's just envious of you, that's why he's talking nonsense,"
"Huh?"
Not only was Cheng Rui dumbfounded, but the little girl also slowly stopped, peeking her eyes through her fingers.
Really?
“Really, really,” Cheng An said, pulling the child close and instructing Cheng Rui to fetch a wet towel.
The little girl pried at him anxiously, asking why.
"What's your last name, sister? What's yours?"
Although the little girl wasn't perfectly fair-skinned and her nose was a bit red after being cleaned, she was still acceptable; she was well-behaved and obedient.
"My surname is Jian, just like my sister's. Didn't you know, Brother Xiao An?"
Cheng sighed, mimicking the installation process.
"Yes, look, you and your sister both have the surname Jian, but what's your brother Xiao Rui's surname? His surname is Cheng. So tell me, who's related to whom?"
The little girl's eyes lit up.
"I, my sister and I are from the same family."
Cheng Rui squatted down beside him, looking heartbroken.
"Sigh, you all have the surname Jian, so people can tell you're family just by looking at your names. I was so hurt that I said the wrong thing. Can you forgive your brother?"
The little girl hesitated, a bit haughty, but Cheng Rui really seemed very sad.
"Do you also want to have the surname Jian like us?"
Huh?
Cheng Rui was taken aback. So tolerant? Could this really be resolved?
"Me, I can also have the surname Jian?"
Cheng An was also stunned. He wanted to say something, but then he shut his mouth.
Never mind, whatever makes you happy.
With a haughty snort, the little girl turned around, her face immediately lighting up with a smile, and she happily went to find Jian Dan.
"elder sister!"
Cheng Rui slowly stood up.
"Xiao An, aren't we lying to each other?"
Cheng An turned around and rolled his eyes at him. Hindsight is 20/20!
"Where did you lie? Which sentence was false?"
"My sister is clearly family to us,"
“She and Jian Xin are family too. Don’t forget, they’re on the same household registration. What you just said was wrong.”
"I know I misspoke, but they share the same surname, yet they're not really family,"
"Just because we don't share the same surname, does that mean we're not family?"
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