Chapter 31

Xu Wen was so frightened that he opened his eyes.

The room was pitch black and I couldn't see anything.

When I closed my eyes again, I saw a palm-sized mirror that had its own glowing effect.

"Hello, new stepmother, please allow me to introduce myself." The little mirror bowed like a gentleman, "My name is Magic Mirror, but I am not the magic mirror in the hands of Snow White's stepmother. I exist to help you educate your children better.

You can ask me about all the difficulties you encounter in parenting. Of course, I may not know everything. "

Xu asked: "..."

What's the use of you then?

Xu Wen was complaining in his heart, but the magic mirror was anxious, "Of course I am useful, I am very useful!"

"for example?"

The mirror suddenly doubled in size, about the size of a tablet, and the mirror surface was replaced by a screen, which displayed a bunch of densely packed text, telling her: "This is my instruction manual."

Xu Wen had been busy all day and was tired and sleepy. He managed to read two lines before completely losing consciousness.

I only remember that magical sentence: "Magic mirror, magic mirror..."

As soon as Xu Wen woke up, he heard a voice accusing him, "You are going too far!"

Xu Wen looked around in confusion. The unfamiliar environment took her a while to react and she remembered that she was already married and this was her new home.

Dongsheng next to me was sleeping soundly like a little frog, lying on his stomach with his butt sticking out and saliva at the corners of his mouth.

Xu Wen finally remembered that the sound seemed to be the magic mirror, but he didn't know if it was a dream.

She tried to clear her mind and closed her eyes again.

As expected, I saw the magic mirror biting its finger... the handle in grievance.

"What exactly do you do?" Xu Wenxin asked.

The magic mirror showed the instruction manual again.

After reading it, Xu Wen said, "I still don't quite understand it."

The magic mirror raised its neck proudly, "It's OK as long as I understand."

Xu Wen thought about it and tried to ask according to the instruction manual: "Mirror, mirror, what breakfasts are suitable for three-year-olds?"

With a beep, a bunch of recipes appeared on the mirror.

Xu Wen snorted, "These recipes of yours are not from this era at all."

Who among ordinary people can afford to drink milk or something like that nowadays?

The magic mirror retorted unconvincedly: "These ingredients are available in this era, but your family doesn't have them."

"Are you mocking me for not being able to afford it?"

Seeing that Xu Wen was a little unhappy, the magic mirror avoided the main point and suggested: "You can also choose to make it with the ingredients you have. For example, this egg pancake with millet porridge."

As it spoke, a detailed recipe for egg pancakes appeared on the mirror. Not only was there a list of ingredients, such as 60 grams of flour and two eggs, but there were also vivid step-by-step pictures, as if to prevent people from understanding it.

Xu Wen was amazed and praised it: "I didn't expect you to be useful."

The magic mirror raised its head proudly...Mirror: "That's it!"

Xu Wen opened his eyes and looked at Dongsheng who was still sleeping, then tiptoed out of the bedroom.

This was the most sound sleep she had had in the past one or two years.

I have no family and no roommates. Although I have a little boy named Dong, he sleeps soundly and doesn't talk in his sleep or snore, so his presence can basically be ignored.

Xu Wen was no longer afraid of revealing anything by talking in his sleep.

There was also a well in the yard of his home. Xu Wen fetched some water and took out a brand new toothpaste and toothbrush from the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Lu Yuanzheng is really a very thoughtful person. He even prepared vanishing cream for Xu Wen.

When Xu Wen thought of the long journey, his nose felt a little sore again. He shook his head quickly and got busy with other things.

Worrying about it will not help, so why make yourself sad for the rest of your life.

Xu Wen first swept the yard and then used water from the well to wet the bluestone floor, which prevented dust from rising and also helped to cool down the floor.

I also tried to make a plate of egg pancakes according to the recipe given by the magic mirror.

You know what, the broken mirror is quite useful.

Xu Wen, who used the magic mirror for the first time, said he could barely give it a five-star rating.

While waiting for the millet porridge to be cooked, Xu Wen sat by the stove, lighting a fire, counting money and checking accounts.

The total amount of money Lu Yuanzheng left for her before leaving was two hundred and twenty yuan and twenty cents.

Xu Wen was secretly surprised. It turned out that Lu Yuanzheng was a wealthy man?

I married a wife without any foreign debt and still have some money left?

Lu Yuanzheng spent a lot of money to marry her, and the betrothal gift to the Xu family was 199 yuan.

In accordance with current fashion, we have prepared three turns and one sound and seventy-two legs.

The banquet was also quite sumptuous.

Although the account book clearly showed that some money was still owed to the supply and marketing cooperative and some of its members, there was still a lot left even after paying off the debts from the gifts.

Xu Wen counted the gifts and found that he had received a total of 567 yuan, and owed 148.7 yuan.

Part of it was money for cigarettes and alcohol from the supply and marketing cooperative, and some was money used to buy chicken, duck, fish and meat from other members.

Although individual economy is not allowed, special arrangements can be made occasionally.

For example, marriage.

For example, when Lu Yuanzheng and Xu Wen got married, there were 20 to 30 tables. How could they have so many meat and grain coupons all at once?

Therefore, for weddings and funerals, members are allowed to borrow items from their own private plots first.

This kind of borrowing usually means returning the money but not the property.

I've already eaten, where else can I go?

Xu Wen now had a total of 787 yuan in his hand. After deducting the 148.7 yuan he owed, he still had 638.5 yuan left.

Xu Wen sighed, "I thought I picked a poor boy, but I didn't expect to marry an invisible rich man."

Six hundred yuan was a huge sum of money in 1977!

Xu Wen once saw a statistic that one dollar now is equivalent to approximately two hundred and twenty dollars in forty or fifty years.

According to this calculation, the six hundred yuan in her hand is equivalent to more than one hundred and forty thousand yuan.

"It turns out that getting married can make you rich!" Xu Wen curled his lips in self-mockery.

The money in her hands is real hard-earned money.

It was gained through long journeys and risk of life and death.

According to Lu Yuanzheng, his monthly allowance was forty or fifty yuan.

But the allowance also increases from small to large.

If you calculate it at an average of 40 yuan a month, it's less than 500 yuan a year.

Dong was more than three years old, which means the long journey took more than three years.

After deducting the necessary living expenses, the remaining 1,500 yuan is about 1,200 yuan.

However, I heard from Lu Yuanzheng that they would be paid thirteen months' salary a year, and there would also be rewards for meritorious service.

Even if we calculate it based on 1,500 yuan, I estimate that he would have spent all of it to marry her.

Xu Wen felt a little uncomfortable. Lu Yuanzheng was too kind to her. She felt unworthy of it.

Xu Wen put out the fire and found a new notebook to start recording the accounts again.

I want to keep track of every penny I spend.

"Mom!"

Xu Wen heard Dongsheng calling someone and went into the inner room.

Dongsheng sat on the bed, rubbing his eyes. He was originally unhappy, but when he saw her, he turned from sadness to joy. "Mom, I thought you were gone."

Xu Wen patted his head and said, "I won't leave. We will live together from now on."

Dongsheng nodded vigorously.

"Can you dress yourself?"

"Can."

"Then get dressed yourself and I'll serve the food."

The weather was not too hot in the morning. Xu Wen moved a small table to the patio and sat at the table face to face with Dongsheng, who had just washed his face.

Each person had a bowl of millet porridge, a plate of egg pancakes and a plate of cold cucumber salad on the table.

Dongsheng ate voraciously.

"Eat slowly! No one is competing with you for the food. I can make more if it's not enough." Xu Wen saw that Dongsheng was about to choke, so he poured him a bowl of cold boiled water.

Dongsheng washed it down with water and then spoke: "Mama made it so delicious! It's great to have Mama."

"Then I will cook for you every day in the future."

"Not every day. Dad said you have to go to school. You can't do it when you are in school. Wait until you have a holiday and let me do it."

"Okay." Xu Wen responded, but he was thinking in his heart that Dongsheng was already three and a half years old and should go to kindergarten according to his age.

But the production team had no kindergarten, so they had to go to the commune.

I have to discuss this matter with my uncle and my younger uncle's families later.

After finishing breakfast leisurely, Dongsheng rushed to wash the dishes. Xu Wen first cleaned the pot and then taught Dongsheng to wash the dishes again.

He was small and couldn't wash the bowl clean, so there were still millet grains on the outside of the bowl.

After cleaning up the house, Dongsheng took Xu Wen to pay the debt.

Xu Wen reported to the person: "Liu Sangou."

Dongsheng took her to Liu Sangou's house and owed him five dollars and eight cents.

After paying off the money, Xu Wen crossed out Liu Sangou on the account and moved on to the next one.

We were all from the same production team, and the amount of money we borrowed was not much, so there was no IOU, and we borrowed and repaid the money entirely on credit.

Dongsheng took Xu Wen to visit all the families who owed money, leaving only the last big creditor - the production team supply and marketing cooperative.

"Dongsheng, you are so smart! You've only been back with your dad for a month, and yet you've managed to remember so many families?" Xu Wen praised him sincerely, like a little native.

"My father taught me. Every time I change my environment, I have to get to know the people first, so that I can distinguish between good people and bad people."

“Do you guys change places often?”

"Yeah. I spend most of my time in the compound, and often go out with my dad. We would set up tents on the beach and swim in the sea..."

The two, one big and one small, chatted as they walked. After settling the accounts with the supply and marketing cooperative, Xu Wen was finally debt-free.

Not only is she debt-free, she's also a relatively wealthy woman.

When the rich young lady led the rich second generation to the door of her home, she saw Xu Wen waiting outside.

"Brother? Why are you here so early?"

"Mom was worried that you and the kids would be hungry, so she asked me to come pick you up early and take you home for breakfast."

A warm feeling surged in Xu Wen's heart.

Before he could even open his mouth to thank her, Dongsheng retorted unconvincedly: "Uncle, I'm not hungry. We've already had breakfast. Mom's cooking is delicious."

Xu Wen had eaten Xu Wen's cooking before and rolled his eyes: "Yes, your mom's cooking is delicious, but it wastes a lot of oil!"

Xu asked: "..."

Although Xu Wen came to pick up Xu Wen, Xu Wen still rode his own bike. He couldn't go back and trouble Xu Wen to take him back.

From a distance, I could see Zhu Meizhen and the others waiting at the intersection.

Xu Wen was not used to this scene, and he muttered, "Such a big scene, like entertaining guests."

She had clearly returned home and had just gotten married yesterday.

"It's your son-in-law who's waiting on you, not you! You're taking advantage of him if Lu Yuanzheng isn't here." Xu Wen glanced at Xu Wen and teased her, "A married daughter is a guest after all. Of course she has to be polite to you!"

Xu Wen was so angry that he reached out to hit him, "You are the guest! I am my parents' little princess."

"Don't fall!" Xu Wen tried to reach out to hold Xu Wen's handlebars, fearing that she would fall. "You have bad riding skills but a bad temper!"

Xu Qiushi, who was not far away, said, "I told you that Wenwen is not the type who would just cry and whine, right? You still didn't believe me. Look at her heartless smile!"

Zhu Meizhen retorted: "Wenwen is not heartless. This girl is thoughtful and likes to keep things to herself. Don't mention Xiaozheng all the time later."

"Grandma, grandma!" Dongsheng poked his head out from behind Xu Wen and waved to Xu Qiushi and Zhu Meizhen.

"Why!"

Xu Qiushi and Zhu Meizhen responded at the same time.

Zhu Meizhen really liked Dongsheng. The child was good-looking, sweet-mouthed and good at coaxing people. "Come, let grandma hold you!" She took a few quick steps and took Dongsheng down from the back seat of Xu Wen's bicycle.

"You guys go home first, I'll return the bike." Xu Wen patted the handlebars.

The bicycle was borrowed, and Xu Wen didn't need him to deliver it in the afternoon, so it would be better to return it early.

At lunch, Xu Wen took out 500 yuan and put it on the table, "Mom, Dad, second brother, sister-in-law, use this money to build a house first."

Xu Qiushi was the first to refuse: "No! Xiao Zheng is not at home, and you are taking money from home to send it to your parents' home. If others find out, won't they poke you in the back?!"

"It's a long journey."

"That won't work either." Xu Wen disagreed, "You can't earn work points now, and you still have to go to school. Dongsheng is usually sent to someone else's house, so you have to give him living expenses, right? Five hundred yuan seems like a lot, but it's really hard to spend when you live on it."

"Wenzi is right." Zhu Meizhen said, "Wenwen, living with your neighbor is different from living on your own. Before you got married, we took care of everything. After you get married, you have to rely on yourself. Xiaozheng gave you 200 yuan as a betrothal gift when you got married, and we can't empty out all your family savings.

Besides, this money is the gift money you just received, right? This money is equivalent to borrowing, and you will have to return it as a gift if someone has problems in the future. You gave it all to us, and if there are many things happening to relatives this year, what will you give as a gift? "

Sang Xiaoqing moved her lips but said nothing.

She actually wanted the money, not because she was greedy, she just wanted to borrow it.

Which woman doesn't want to have her own house?

But she really didn't have the face to ask for the money.

If it weren't for her complaints, Xu Wen wouldn't have married so early.

The groom left before the wedding was even over.

Although her parents-in-law didn't say it, they might blame her in their hearts.

When I heard my mother-in-law say that this was a debt of favor, I dared not speak any more.

"You live your life on your own, so it doesn't matter what others say. I've already set aside some money for Dongsheng and I to live." Xu Wen asked, "We really should build two more rooms. We can talk about the future later, and let's get through this difficult time first."

"I agree with asking." Grandma said, "We can unite as a family. If she has money, we can use it first, and then return it to her when we have money, isn't it the same?"

"Mom!" Xu Qiushi sighed, "Let's not talk about anything else. Where can we build a house with such a small area? There is no extra housing plot in the team. There are a lot of people who want to build a house waiting in line!"

Xu Wen suggested: "How about, brother and sister-in-law move in with me?"

There are still many empty rooms in her house.