Zhao Xiangxiu hugged the two strings of coins tightly, feeling indescribably happy. Cheng Yue was truly her lucky star.
Her second son fainted from hunger, and it was Cheng Yue who saved his life with the cornbread she brought. Although Cheng Yue later became timid and hesitant, it was all because of that old woman Zhao's misdeeds.
Now they're paying her to make clothes and buying her sweet potato flour. In just a few days, she's got three hundred coins in her pocket. It's like a dream.
"Shuanzi, Zhuzi, you two must remember Aunt Chengyue's kindness, especially Zhuzi. When you were little, you were starving and fainted, and it was Aunt Chengyue who gave you a bite to eat. You mustn't forget that!"
"I know, Mother. You say that every year, I can't forget it," Liu Zhuzi replied, scratching his head. Just now his mother was grinning, but in the next moment she was trying to scare him.
Even if his mother didn't tell him, he wouldn't forget it. He was almost five years old that year, so naturally he would remember it.
Zhao Xiangxiu nodded and said, "With these three hundred coins, plus what Mother saved before, we'll soon have two taels of silver. Then the eldest son won't have to worry about making a living."
Liu Shuanzi knew this was his mother's worry, but he didn't think so. After the family split up, his grandparents only gave him three mu of land, which was forced upon him by the village head. They didn't get anything else.
How can a family that can't even afford to eat get married?
All the money was spent on him, yet he couldn't bear to see his mother and younger siblings suffer.
Regardless of whether anyone is interested in him, even if they are, would he let the girl suffer along with him?
However, he only dared to think these words; saying them aloud would hurt his mother's feelings.
“Mother, there’s no rush. After the wheat harvest and planting, I’ll find some odd jobs and earn some money.”
Zhao Xiangxiu interrupted hastily, "What do you mean 'not in a hurry'? You're already fifteen. If you keep dragging this out, all the good girls from good families will be betrothed. You're not allowed to do any short-term work. Qian Niang will find a way."
Since Liu Dazhuang's accident, Zhao Xiangxiu has kept a closer eye on her three children, living in constant fear that something might happen to them.
Liu Shuanzi had said several times that she wanted to find a temporary job, but she just couldn't get over that mental hurdle.
I'd rather be poor than have anything happen to my child.
Liu Shuanzi knew what his mother was thinking, so he pursed his lips and didn't say anything. Liu Zhuzi sensed that the atmosphere was not right, so he quickly changed the subject.
"Mother, don't you think Aunt Cheng Yue is different from before?"
Zhao Xiangxiu sighed and said, "Of course it's different! That's how it is after the family is separated. You stand tall, you can be in charge, and you become more assertive!"
Even before we separated our households, wasn't Mother the same to us? Whatever Grandma said, Mother had to be on her guard!
"That's not what I meant. It's that the person has completely changed. Oh dear, I don't know how to say it..." Liu Zhuzi frowned and pondered for a long time, but couldn't think of a suitable word.
After Liu Zhuzi said that, Liu Shuanzi also felt that it made sense, but he couldn't quite put his finger on how he felt.
Zhao Xiangxiu joked nonchalantly, "That's right, it's normal for them to change. What do you know! Once you get married, I promise I won't mistreat your wives, so they definitely won't change."
Okay, let's hurry home, your little sister is waiting for us to eat!
After saying that, Zhao Xiangxiu ran off quickly; she needed to hurry home to hide the money.
The two brothers exchanged a glance, smiled helplessly, and followed.
On the other side, Cheng Yue put away the sweet potato flour and then asked the family to try on the clothes.
The villagers don't have particularly good clothes-making skills; they're mostly just doing ordinary sewing and mending.
Zhao Xiangxiu's skills were average, but it was clear that she had put her heart into it, as her stitches were very fine.
Except for the fact that the clothes for the three siblings were a little too big, the clothes for her and Chen An fit perfectly.
However, Zhao Xiangxiu said that the child still needs to grow taller, so making it bigger would allow the child to wear it for another year.
Few children in the village have ever had new clothes made. They grow up quickly and use up a lot of fabric. Most of the clothes are hand-me-downs from adults, altered, patched, and then worn again. Ultimately, it's because they don't have money.
The next day.
Except for Chen An, the whole family put on new clothes and looked refreshed.
The three siblings, Chen Lin and his sister, were initially reluctant to wear them, thinking they would wait until the New Year to wear them. However, they also worried that they might get them dirty while working at the noodle stall.
However, thinking that they were doing business with their mother, wouldn't it be embarrassing if they dressed in rags? That would be a disgrace to their mother, so they all changed into new clothes.
The three Chen siblings were already good-looking, and now that they've changed into new clothes, they really catch Cheng Yue's eye.
The only drawback was that the three of them had somewhat dry and frizzy hair; of course, her and Chen An's heads weren't much better off either.
In her past life, she was most annoyed by her oily hair, which she had to wash every two days. Now, however, she can go a month without washing it and still not get oily.
However, this is all due to lack of food and malnutrition. Given their current food standards, they should recover in a few months.
After the family finished breakfast, they went to set up their stall as usual. When Cheng Yue arrived at the dock, she didn't see the woman selling wontons. She guessed that she wouldn't be coming today.
The mother and her children skillfully set up the stove and arranged tables, chairs, and benches.
The dockworkers had just finished their shift and all rushed over. Ignoring their excited expressions, anyone who didn't know better would think they were about to have a brawl.
The first man to arrive yesterday slammed his coins on the table, grinned, and shouted, "Hey girl! Quick, cook me a bowl! I'm starving! And don't forget to add chili!"
This tastes amazing, and the portion is huge. Yesterday, he carried a big bag all afternoon, and he wasn't hungry at all until he finished work, unlike usual when he would be starving.
"Me too! Mine doesn't want spicy!"
"Me! Me! I'll cook a bowl!"
Those men who didn't get to eat yesterday rushed over quickly, crowding at the front, their eyes gleaming as they stared at the pot.
Cheng Yue pressed down on the dough, smiled helplessly, and said, "We've prepared a lot today, there's plenty of food. Don't crowd, just line up properly."
"Exactly, why are you pushing and shoving? You have to stand so close to the pot, your spittle is spraying in!"
"Go away! You can't run fast because you have short legs, so you blame others for standing in front."
As Chen Lin and his two siblings busied themselves, they chuckled to themselves. How desperate were these people to have a bowl of he luo noodles?
But looking at my mother, I feel very proud. When will they be able to be as capable as my mother?
Cheng Yue was quick, and the group of men didn't have to wait long before they were wolfing down their noodles. Soon, the fifty jin of noodles were almost gone.
I looked up and saw a familiar face. It was Master Chen. Was he also going to eat noodles?
Looking at the dark noodles in the pot, Uncle Chen frowned. "Are these noodles really that delicious?"
The dockworkers were going crazy yesterday, saying that a new noodle stall was exceptionally delicious and unforgettable after just one bite.
He came over out of curiosity, but when he saw it, he thought it was just so-so, and it wasn't even made of white flour, so how delicious could it be?
"Third Master Chen, would you like me to make you a bowl?" Cheng Yue looked at his inexplicable expression and knew it was because he had never seen or eaten this kind of coarse grain before.
In the eyes of the rich, this is something only poor people eat.
Master Chen has an extraordinary presence; anyone with eyes can tell he's no ordinary person.
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