Chapter 120 Wang Yuexia's Day
It was early in the morning, before daybreak, and the doors and windows of Yang Dalan's house were closed, making the room pitch dark.
"What time is it?" Wang Yuexia suddenly sat up from the bed and saw that it was pitch black all around. She took out her cell phone from under the pillow and saw that it was not yet five o'clock.
She has to go up the mountain before six o'clock to grind fresh soy milk for this morning. It's still early now.
Wang Yuexia lay back down, and Yang Dalan replied to her later: "It's still early...sleep a little longer..."
After saying this, he started snoring again.
Listening to the snoring of the man next to her, Wang Yuexia was a little unable to sleep. Yang Dalan was her second man. Her previous man was a truck driver. Wang Yuexia married him when she was 19. They had three children. The man drove the truck and might not come home more than twice a month. All three children were raised by her and her mother-in-law.
My mother-in-law is just an ordinary rural woman. She doesn't have any bad intentions, but she is a bit gossipy. She has been arguing with Wang Yuexia for more than ten years, and she is closer to her than my husband.
If nothing unexpected happens, their ordinary life will continue like this until their three children grow up, start their own families and build their own careers...
But an accident happened.
Wang Yuexia's husband was driving a truck while fatigued and hit people, resulting in two deaths and one injury, including her husband.
The insurance compensation money just filled the hole, leaving Wang Yuexia with nothing to raise her child, and she didn't need to fill the hole. Wang Yuexia didn't know whether she should cry or be happy.
The man was the only boy in the family. After the accident, his mother-in-law couldn't bear the shock and had a stroke and was hospitalized. She spent almost all the savings that the man had earned over the years.
Wang Yuexia has forgotten how she got through that period. She couldn't even cry. She had to comfort her children, deal with her husband's funeral, and take care of her mother-in-law who was paralyzed by a stroke. Looking back, it feels magical that she didn't cry once and just gritted her teeth to get through everything.
But the days that followed were not easy. The family had no money and was extremely poor. She could only find a job, moving bricks for others in the town's brick factory, earning a little over 100 yuan a day. This kind of physical work was mostly done by men. If the family was not really in financial difficulty, which woman would be willing to do it?
Working in the brick factory was tiring and hot. So many bricks had to be transported at a time that the men couldn't stand the heat, so they put towels on their shoulders and worked with their upper bodies bare.
Wang Yuexia couldn't express how envious she was of men.
While she was working, her mother-in-law needed someone to take care of her. Since she couldn't find any help, Wang Yuexia had to let her children take a leave of absence from school. Five mouths were crying for food, and her mother-in-law had to see a doctor. Many times when her mother-in-law was awake, tears fell down her face, her hands became like chicken claws, and she pointed and shouted outside.
She wanted her children to push her out into the river.
My mother-in-law has been thinking about committing suicide for a long time. Whenever she finds an opportunity, she tries to crawl out of bed, even if it means throwing herself to the ground. But God doesn't let her go. She breaks some bones but doesn't die.
She was hospitalized for a fracture, and Wang Yuexia spent money and worry. For the first time, she cried and beat her mother-in-law, telling her that she might as well die early to avoid burdening the family.
Her mother-in-law was also crying, unable to speak, sobbing, her eyes looking very sad.
The mother-in-law was afraid of dragging Wang Yuexia down, so she thought about committing suicide. How could Wang Yuexia not understand her?
The two women who stayed at home have been together for more than ten years. They have quarreled and scolded each other, loved and hated each other, and have become comrades in the same trench. They have experienced countless battles and are full of trust and understanding for each other.
Thinking of the past, Wang Yuexia gritted her teeth and scolded her mother-in-law, telling her to give up the idea of committing suicide as soon as possible. She had only one way to die, and that was to die of old age.
After enduring this for a while, her mother-in-law realized that she couldn't commit suicide under the eyes of her children. She would get hurt and spend money, so she finally stopped.
More than half a year passed like this, and someone proposed a marriage to Wang Yuexia. Although she already had three children, the eldest was just over ten years old, but Wang Yuexia was only in her thirties and could still have children, so remarriage would not be a problem.
Wang Yuexia also wanted to remarry. Having a man to help out at home was completely different from having no man at all. However, she had conditions for remarrying.
The man has to accept her three children and her mother-in-law.
As soon as Wang Yuexia stated her request, the matchmakers who were trying to find her a husband thought she was crazy. She wasn't that pretty, nor was she that young. It would be bad enough if she brought three little kids, but she also brought an old one. Wasn't that just a joke?
The old bachelors in the countryside who can't find wives are not picky, but they can't accept marrying a wife who will give her away with her.
Time passed, and all the matchmakers in the surrounding area knew how outrageous Wang Yuexia was. Gradually, fewer and fewer people came to matchmake for her. Some people also tirelessly advised her not to have children as soon as possible, saying that it was the right thing to do to escape from this misery.
Wang Yuexia beat the man out. All three of her children were born from her belly and she raised them herself. How could they become a sea of suffering?
Wang Yuexia was not annoyed that no man was willing to be with her. She knew that her demands were outrageous, so she could only grit her teeth and work hard in the brick factory. After work, she had to work in the fields. She tried to earn as much as she could. She couldn't keep her three children at home on leave from school forever. They would have to go back to school sooner or later, so she had to save more money.
Things took a turn for the better. That evening, someone came to the house again. It was the mother-in-law of Wang Yuexia's cousin. People outside called her Shi Hongniang, but Wang Yuexia called her aunt.
When Shi Hongniang came, she asked her if she wanted to find another man to live with.
Wang Yuexia smiled and said directly: "I want to find one too. Auntie, have you heard my requirements for finding a man?"
She pointed at the three young and one old woman in her family and said, "I have to take them with me. If they don't accept me, I won't marry them."
Shi Hongniang also smiled and clapped her thigh, saying, "That's perfect. I told him about it, and he said he didn't mind! He even praised you as a kind and loyal woman. He likes that."
Wang Yuexia's jaw almost dropped in shock. She thought Shi Hongniang was teasing her and told her to stop joking.
Shi Hongniang said she was not joking and asked Wang Yuexia to pack up and go to Yanggou Village to take a look. The two of them could talk face to face and maybe this matter could really be accomplished.
After she left, Wang Yuexia was also in a state of uncertainty. She didn't know if she had been fooled. How could a man be willing to agree to these conditions?
But her house was penniless and her child was crying for food. She couldn't hold on for much longer on her own, so she had no choice but to go and check out the situation.
When Wang Yuexia met Yang Dalan for the first time, she found that the man in front of her was very different from the rumors.
Yang Dalan, nicknamed Yang Dalan, is a well-known lazy man. He would not even help if the oil bottle at home fell over for three days. He would starve to death if no one turned around to help him with a big pancake hanging around his neck.
I heard that he is sloppy and his family is poor, otherwise he would not have been unable to find a wife at such an old age.
But when Wang Yuexia saw Yang Dalan, the vegetable patch in front of his house was neatly tended. Although his house was an old one and looked very poor, it was very clean. Yang Dalan had his hair cut, shaved, and changed into new clothes. He looked quite young and did not look like he was thirty-five or thirty-six at all.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m too lazy, but I have a good attitude, so I look young.
Wang Yuexia had a good first impression of Yang Dalan, and if the two of them could really be together, she would be willing.
I'm afraid that Yang Dalan was fooled by others and I don't know what's going on with her.
So Wang Yuexia told him.
"My husband died and left me three children."
"I know."
"My mother-in-law had a stroke and needs my care."
"I know. My mother also lies in bed every day and needs someone to take care of her."
"If you marry me, I have to take both the child and my mother-in-law with me."
Yang Dalan smiled shyly, perhaps because of the word "marriage". He scratched his head in embarrassment: "I know, then when are we getting married?"
He answered so quickly that Wang Yuexia wondered if the man was sick or had some other trap.
But Wang Yuexia had no other choice.
Yang Dalan's family has land and channels to sell vegetables in the village. I heard that if he takes good care of those few acres of land, he can earn tens of thousands of yuan a year.
Wang Yuexia also signed a written agreement with Yang Dalan, and the two of them will not get married for the time being, and will wait and see for a while.
So she moved to Yanggou Village with her children and mother-in-law.
Yang Dalan's mother was sick and spent most of her time lying in bed. Wang Yuexia went from taking care of one elderly person to taking care of two elderly people, but at least she didn't have to go to the brick factory to work. Yang Dalan was not as lazy as others said. He worked very hard. There was a girl named Xia Wu in their village who rented a mountain. There was a lot of work to be done on the mountain, so Yang Dalan did odd jobs for her and earned at least more than 3,000 yuan a month.
In addition, people come to their village to buy vegetables, so Yang Dalan can earn 1,000 yuan a month by planting two acres of vegetable fields.
It’s much more than what Wang Yuexia earns in a month working hard in the brick factory.
And after being with Yang Dalan, Wang Yuexia found that Yang Dalan was a really good person. He did not lie to her. He was kind to her three children but knew how to keep a distance. He never said anything to her mother-in-law.
Wang Yuexia was determined to live a good life with him. It was not easy for Yang Dalan to work alone, so Wang Yuexia also wanted to find some work in the village.
She asked Shi Hongniang to help her find a job. Shi Hongniang went to plead with Xia Wu and actually found a job for her.
Although she and Yang Dalan did not get married, a wedding banquet was held on the day of her wedding. The food at the banquet was cooked by Wang Yuexia herself. Xia Wu liked her cooking so much that she specially found a job as a cook for her. She cooked for people in the mountains in a big pot. It was a bit tiring, but the salary was high.
Xia Wu paid her a salary of 3,000 yuan. At first, she only had two meals a day, but later it was increased to three meals a day, and she also gave her a salary increase.
Later, Xia Wushan had more fruits than he could eat, so he picked them and made them into jam. Wang Yuexia took the initiative to take on this job.
At first, she intended to repay Xia Wu and had no intention of asking for extra wages, but Xia Wu was a conscientious person. Not only did he give her a raise, he also gave her a share of the profits. She could get a little more money for every bottle of jam she sold.
At this point, Wang Yuexia was extremely glad that she married Yang Dalan, otherwise, there would not be so many benefits.
The elderly people in the village all like to come to Xia Wu's courtyard by the well, pick vegetables for her, and do some small chores within their ability. Xia Wu then provides meals for the elderly in the village.
She also brought the two old women from Wang Yuexia's family to work in the mountains early in the morning and went back at night. There were many people in the courtyard by the well, so anyone could help her look after the two old women.
The village secretary said that all children must receive nine years of compulsory education. In the past, Wang Yuexia's life was not easy and her child had to stay at home to take a leave of absence. Now that someone is helping her, it would be inappropriate for the child not to go to school.
So all three of her children returned to school smoothly.
A month ago, Wang Yuexia was still worried about this and that.
After living with Yang Dalan, all her troubles seemed to be solved, and her life became more and more hopeful.
Wang Yuexia worked for Xia Wu for several months and earned more money every month than Yang Dalan. Yang Dalan gave her all the family money for safekeeping. The two young couples who started working late at home lived a more loving life than many other young people.
Now that Xia Wu has founded a company, she and Yang Dalan have become formal employees. They are covered by five insurances and one fund, and their salaries are stable. Wang Yuexia can't believe that such a happy life is real.
She shared the same idea as many people in the village who worked for Xia Wu: they had to work hard, make the company bigger and stronger, and work hard to make money, so that they could maintain their current happiness for a little longer.
I don’t know how long I thought about it, but it was getting light outside and the sound of chickens crowing could be heard from the village.
Not long ago, Xia Wu bought dozens of milk-producing buffaloes. He had to milk the cows early every morning and then process the milk into steamed buns and pastries. Yang Dalan was responsible for milking, and Wang Yuexia was responsible for the subsequent processing.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Wang Yuexia couldn't sleep anymore and pushed Yang Dalan: "Dalan, wake up, it's time to go up the mountain to work."
Yang Dalan was woken up from his sleep by someone, but he wasn't angry at all. "What time is it?"
"It's half past five, hurry up and pack up and go up the mountain."
As they were talking, Wang Yuexia had already put on her clothes. Yang Dalan went to the kitchen to heat up the breakfast for the children before going to school. It was all buffalo milk and buffalo milk buns that she brought back from the mountains. They could be eaten as soon as they were heated. She also boiled a few eggs, which were nutritious and filling for the children.
Wang Yuexia went to the two maids' rooms, changed their clothes and cleaned them. After taking good care of them for a period of time, her maids' conditions improved a little. Now they can barely hold a fork by themselves and maintain the same posture to eat noodles.
In the past, Wang Yuexia would have been afraid that she would stab herself to death with a fork.
But now she doesn't have to worry.
She is living a good life now, even her ex-mother-in-law is enjoying it with her, and has never said anything about being a burden to Wang Yuexia. If she really doesn't want to burden her, the right thing to do is to eat well and take care of her health.
A woman can earn money by herself and doesn't have to ask men for money. Wang Yuexia is full of energy and motivation.
Although she married Yang Dalan with a "burden", she did not feel that she was inferior. She could earn money, her children were obedient, the old wives did not cause her any trouble, and she and Yang Dalan were deeply in love. The two of them planned to save money for two years and then have another child.
After finishing her housework, Wang Yuexia went to the courtyard by the well and immediately started working. She had a smile on her face and was humming a little tune happily.
The moment the sunlight shines over the mountain and hits her body, she feels warm and comfortable, just like Wang Yuexia’s good mood.
Buffalo milk was continuously delivered to the courtyard with the well. After finishing breakfast, Wang Yuexia adjusted the camera position, put on various equipment, and started kneading dough in front of the camera.
After the dough has risen, the women in the village finish their work in the morning and start steaming buns in the afternoon. They have to make thousands of buns a day, vacuum-pack them after cooling them down, and then send them out via cold chain express that day to deliver the buffalo milk buns to thousands of households.
This is Wang Yuexia's day. It's filled with immense happiness and contentment.
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