She muttered to herself and continued to walk forward aimlessly. As she walked, she came to the outside of a movie theater. Under the enthusiastic call of the owner, she walked in as if possessed and watched the movie alone.
"Little Taiwan" has recently become popular with permed hair, the kind with small curls all over the head. Some young girls even dye their hair a little color.
Those who had their hair permed wandered around the village all day long, dressed in a neither-country nor-Western style, and showed off proudly in the village.
Zhang Xiaoqin has always been competitive and unwilling to lag behind others. Although she doesn't think this new trend is particularly attractive, her vain heart can't help but envy and hate it.
She walked through the village, watching the glamorously dressed women pass by. They were all smug, their heads held high, completely ignoring Zhang Xiaoqin. Zhang Xiaoqin was about to greet them, but they pretended not to see her, their heads held high as they walked past.
She looked down at the floral shirt she had worn for several years, then at the pigtails tied at the back of her head, and kept muttering to herself and complaining.
How am I any worse than them? I just got a perm and two new clothes! What's so great about that? Pah! When I get a perm and some decent clothes, I'll put all of you to shame.
In fact, it wasn't because they looked down on Zhang Xiaoqin because she had permed her hair, but because they were all young women, most of whom were newly married. Their families warned them to avoid interacting with Zhang Xiaoqin, telling them that a woman like her with bad behavior, who had been driven out by men, would lead them astray.
No one told Zhang Xiaoqin openly, and Zhang Xiaoqin didn't know the real reason. She thought those people looked down on her dress.
She ran back home angrily and shouted at Wu Ju who was peeling cotton berries in the yard.
"Mother, give me some money. I want to get my hair permed and buy two new sets of clothes."
Without the living expenses sent back by Shumei, Wu Ju has been living off her savings for a while. She only has so little money on hand, and the fat pig at home has not been sold yet. How could she have any extra money to support this disappointing daughter?
Even if she had any, she would keep it for emergencies.
"You have no money, and you need money, but you don't know how to go out and earn it yourself. Your aunt is at home all day long, and I have done my best by not kicking you out."
"Oh! Mother, my dear mother, don't you love me the most? Look, Ji Zong is gone too. Besides father, I'm your only relative, right? How could you bear to send me away? Just give me some money. At worst, I'll pay you back when I have money. Is that okay?"
Zhang Xiaoqin squatted beside Wu Ju, pretending to help Wu Ju peel the black cotton fruits, and began to brainwash Wu Ju again.
"Xiaoqin! No matter how much I love you, I will eventually go ahead of you. You can't do this. If one day I'm gone, who will you ask for money? You have to be self-reliant."
Wu Ju earnestly persuaded Zhang Xiaoqin. It was not until today that she realized that her doting on her was harmful to Zhang Xiaoqin. She now hoped that Zhang Xiaoqin could go out and find a job to support herself, or find a down-to-earth and capable man to take good care of her husband and children.
"Mother, I promise I'll find a job and help you with the farm work. This time, just give it to me so I can handle the emergency, okay? I'll dress up beautifully so I can help you find a capable son-in-law, right?"
Zhang Xiaoqin was really shameless. She swore to the sky with a very confident look on her face.
Wu Ju has been fooled by her for more than 30 years. This time, she will not be soft-hearted no matter what.
"Even if you talk a lot of nonsense, I still have the same two words - no."
"Okay, fine, I'll earn it myself, that's all right!"
Zhang Xiaoqin stood up angrily, threw the cotton balls in her hand into the winnowing basket, and rushed out of the yard angrily.
She wandered aimlessly in the village, holding a thin bamboo pole in her hand and whipping the weeds on the roadside.
"Xiaoqin! How did these grasses offend you? Are you so cruel to them?"
Fu Jun, the neighbor who was passing by, saw Zhang Xiaoqin's hateful look and joked.
"None of your business, go do what you need to do. I'm just cutting grass, how can it bother you? You're such a naive man, no wonder you can't get married, you deserve to be single for the rest of your life."
“You—you—”
"I-I-what's wrong with me? Did your family build this Lu? Did you grow this grass? Are you so short of grass at home? Are there too many animals eating grass? Or do all animals like to eat grass?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
