Chapter 228 Invisible Hand

Actually, when Grandmother Fang came back from surgery, Second Uncle Fang came to give money to take her back. Fang Dihua didn’t ask for money and didn’t let her go. Grandmother Fang also took the initiative to go back.

Second Uncle Fang went back to discuss with eldest brother and sister-in-law, saying that the younger sister couldn’t spend money on her own, and that their family had to share the medical expenses.

Although the eldest aunt was not very happy, Uncle Fang agreed to her and she had no objection. However, Third Uncle Fang and his wife refused and kept dragging it out.

Uncle Fang scolded Third Brother several times, and the most recent time he said to him: "It’s good for mother to live with the daughter-in-law to relax, but what’s the point of spending the New Year there? Let people poke your back and laugh at your three sons for not being able to tolerate your mother?"

Since ancient times, being unfilial has been the most serious accusation against children.

Uncle Fang San couldn't bear it anymore, and finally agreed to share the money.

They also realized that if the three brothers didn't share the money, the younger sister wouldn't let my mother come back, and my mother herself probably wouldn't want to save face for her sons.

Uncle Fang San agreed, although my mother was not happy, but it didn't work.

So the three families pooled their money, carried a bag of food, and came to take my mother back to celebrate the New Year.

Fang Dihua still didn't want the money. She had discussed it with the old man before, that they would support her in her old age. After all, the old man had a salary, and she also made money, so she didn't burden her children and grandchildren.

But Grandma Fang took the money and counted it with a "Puh". There were 10, 5, 1.5 yuan, and 60 yuan in

odds and ends. 20 yuan for a family, which was not enough for her to see a doctor and buy hearing aids. There were also travel expenses for seeing a doctor and food expenses...

Fang Dihua saw that the old lady pouted a little and seemed dissatisfied, so she took the money and said to her two brothers, "Okay, this is enough."

Grandma Fang said, "There is a receipt. I spent almost 100 yuan, and there is..."

Uncle Fang's face froze.

At the end of the year, it was not difficult for a family to get 20 yuan, but more would be a bit nervous.

Even for 20 yuan, the third brother's wife cried.

Fang Dihua said, "It's enough. Shaotang has given me the extra money. He is close to grandma."

Uncle Fang still looked unhappy. Lu Shaotang spent money on grandma, but the grandchildren didn't.

The Fang family now has five generations living together. There are many people in the family and the expenses are high.

Grandma Fang was relieved. She said, "Hua'er, I have to go home for the New Year after I live here for a few days."

She knew that after the New Year, it would be spring plowing and planting. The family would be busy, and the adults and children would have to go to the fields.

She could help her granddaughters-in-law look after the children and cook.

Hua'er didn't let her do any work here. She couldn't do anything. She felt uneasy eating and drinking for free all day.

The main reason was that the eldest and third wives also had opinions. It would not be good for them to have discord with each other after she died.

Fang Dihua also knew about this situation. The more she knew, the more she didn't want the old lady to go back. She was 90 years old, and she still had to cook and work for the family?

It was enough for you to dress, wash, eat, and go to the toilet by yourself. It was good enough that you didn't add burden to your children. There was no need to ask for such high standards.

In addition to being straightforward, she didn't beat around the bush and didn't know how to euphemistically express her intention of not wanting her mother to go back.

"It's still early for the New Year, don't rush."

​​Uncle Fang: "It's already the last month, the children at home also miss grandma and great-grandma, especially the girls Gaoliang and Hongdou, who keep asking when great-grandma will come home."

Lin Shu looked at her mother-in-law's expression and smiled: "Uncle, didn't Gaoliang and Hongdou want to learn to make clothes from Xiuxiu? Now there is no work in the last month, why not let them come and live for a few days, learn from Xiuxiu, and go home with my grandma at the end of the year."

People carried a big bag of food today, and let the two girls come and live for half a month.

The main thing is that there are more and more orders now, and Xiuxiu can't handle it alone, and Lin Shu... is quite lazy. It's okay to make a piece of clothing or design a new style occasionally, but she can't stand it if she and the tailor do it every day.

It's better to teach a few more girls who are well-informed and have good character, so that they can be companions to Xiuxiu and help each other.

Lin Shu had a good impression of Gaoliang and Hongdou. Gaoliang was honest and honest, much like Uncle Fang. Hongdou was smart but seemed innocent. The main reason was that they were very filial to each other's grandmother.

When Lin Shu said this, Fang Dihua agreed.

She also thought it would be good to find two girls as companions for Xiuxiu. How else would she find a partner after spending all day at home making clothes?

Moreover, the government now advocates late marriage and late childbearing, so Gao Liang is not in a hurry to get married. He can learn some skills and find a partner with better conditions.

She asked Lu Cuicui to call Lu Xiuxiu over.

Lu Xiuxiu was quite happy. She didn't like to go out to visit relatives and socialize, but she was still very happy to play with girls of the same age.

Uncle Fang saw this and said, "That's fine. I'll come to pick them up on the New Year's Eve."

Uncle Fang said, "Then I'll send another bag of food tomorrow."

Fang Dihua said, "No need. Isn't there a bag already? Forget about our mother's. She doesn't eat much."

Grandma Fang, who can eat a big bowl of vegetable soup and fried cakes for one meal now: ...?

The next day, Uncle Fang sent the two girls a bag of corn again, and told Gaoliang and Hongdou to learn to make clothes from Xiuxiu. When they learned to make clothes, the family would save money to buy a sewing machine.

Uncle Fang chatted with his mother and sister for a while, but he didn't want to stay for lunch and left.

Hongdou was very happy to learn how to make clothes, while Gaoliang was not very enthusiastic about it, but they were happy to come and play with Xiuxiu.

There was nothing fun outside in the winter, so Lu Xiuxiu started to teach them how to use the sewing machine and learn simple straight-line quilting techniques in the afternoon.

Hongdou had some talent in this area, and she could basically tread on the straight line as soon as Xiuxiu taught her, and she could also learn to sew the pieces of cloth together.

Hongdou studied very seriously, and she liked making clothes, so she made rapid progress and studied day and night.

After two or three days, Hongdou became familiar with the sewing machine, and Xiuxiu asked her to practice by mending clothes for the family, and then learn simple tasks such as hemming and buttoning.

Seeing that Xiuxiu taught very well, Lin Shu didn't need to worry, after all, Lu Xiuxiu had a solid foundation in basic skills.

Gao Liang was... usually, she felt overwhelmed just looking at those fabrics, so she would stroll to the incense factory while going to the toilet, and then take the initiative to help Fang Dihua, and she would learn it quickly.

She likes to do this kind of work that requires some strength, and doesn't like to do work that is too delicate.

Fang Dihua didn't refuse, and let her do it.

Gao Liang was very happy, and worked very hard every day. Fang

Dihua was a little tired when Second Brother Lu was not around, but now she felt relaxed with Gao Liang's joining.

Fang Dihua discussed with Lin Shu quietly that she wanted to keep Gao Liang, and let her come to help during the busy farming season in the future, and she could be paid.

Lin Shu smiled and said, "Mom, you have the final say on adding people to the incense factory."

The people Fang Dihua found were all very capable and would not cause trouble.

For example, Xu Erzhu and his wife and Xu Dazhu and his wife really don't look like they were born from the same mother. Oh, they don't have the same father, so there is still a big difference.

Xu Erzhu and Shunnier worked here, which made Xu Dazhu and his wife very jealous. They asked Jin Ping'er to use her connections to get them in several times, but Fang Dihua refused.

Lin Shu thought that her mother-in-law was very good at this, that is, she could withstand the pressure of relationships.

Fang Gaoliang was indeed capable and had a lot of Fang Dihua's shadow, so Lin Shu was naturally happy.

After a few days, tomorrow was the Laba Festival.

Fang Dihua and Lu Laodi missed Tiantian and Panpan early in the morning, so they discussed with Lin Shu to bring them back.

Father Lu: "I always feel like something is missing when the two children are not at home, and the meals are not tasty."

Lin Shu smiled and said, "Then I will go and pick them up tomorrow."

Fang Dihua said, "It's very cold. It's not safe for you to ride a bike with the two children. Let your sister-in-law go."

Because Sister Lin and her family had to go to the farm to visit Mr. and Mrs. Hou for the New Year, Lin Shu accompanied her sister back to her parents' home two days ago.

It was freezing and snowy in May, and the two of them rode a bike, one taking the lead, but Lin Shu fell while riding a bike.

Both of them were wearing thick cotton clothes and were not injured, but Lin Shu still had bruises on her arms and the outside of her right hip. Her skin was white and delicate, and the bruises looked a bit scary.

Lu Shaotang felt distressed and told Fang Dihua not to let Lin Shu ride a bike if there was something going on at home.

Fang Dihua knew that and she dared not let her ride a bike out in the winter.

Lin Shu grinned in embarrassment and tried to make up for herself.

Sister Lin smiled and said, "Linjiatun has also installed a telephone. You can give Lin Yue a phone and ask him to send them back."

Lin Shu hung up the phone and went back.

Before lunch, Lin Yue pushed a wheelbarrow to send the three children back, and also brought two big grass carps, which were not frozen to death in the icy bucket.

In addition, they also brought a big jujube mountain cake and a piece of red jujube and yellow rice cake, which were thank-you gifts from Uncle Jie and Aunt Jie.

They used the plasters and medicinal wine given by the Lu family very well and were very grateful. Before, Lin's mother refused to take the money, so they sent some food.

"Mom!"

"Grandpa, Grandma!" "

Third Auntie!"

"Brother and sister..."

The three children ran home with laughter and shouted, "I miss you so much!"

Their little mouths were so sweet that people would not doubt their authenticity at all, if everyone didn't know that they asked to stay at grandma's house for several days and refused to come back.

Father Lu was still very happy, and he smiled at each of them, "Wow, we eat well at grandma's house, we have gained weight."

Hou Wei raised his hands to show off, "Grandma and Grandma Jiang also sewed gloves for us."

Tiantian's was red striped, Panpan's was dark green, and Hou Wei's was blue.

Father Lu praised each of them one by one, and made the three children very proud.

Father Lu said to Fang Dihua, "Now that the children are back, should we kill the pigs?"

Lin Shu heard this and said hurriedly, "Dad, my elder and second brothers haven't come back yet."

Whether Lu Shaotang is at home or not doesn't affect the killing of the pigs, but the elder and second brothers still have to be at home, as they are the main force.

Father Lu said reluctantly, "Okay, wait a few more days."

Seeing them come back, Gao Liang and Hong Dou followed Xiu Xiu and Hou Ying out to greet them.

The three children were so happy to see two more beautiful older sisters at home that they waved their hands. They really liked the hustle and bustle.

Pan Pan coaxed them sweetly, "If we had known that Gao Liang and Hong Dou were coming, we would have gone home earlier."

Hong Dou was learning to operate a sewing machine, sewing a few handkerchiefs with the fine cotton cloth given by Lin Shu.

Lin Shu drew a few simple and unique patterns, and Hongdou also learned to use colored thread to make them, which looked better than the handkerchiefs she bought.

The children in the family each had one, and everyone was very happy.

Father Lu did not kill the pig, but in order to show that he was happy that the children came back, he asked Sister Lu to kill the hen that did not lay eggs at noon.

Now that life is good at home and there is no shortage of eggs to eat, meat cannot be eaten casually, so only meat can express his feelings.

It is cold in winter, and the dishes get cold quickly, so Lin Shu makes stews for the family.

The hen was stewed, and everyone drank half a bowl of chicken soup, then added water to cook hot pot vegetables. In this season, there were cabbage, radish, potatoes, spinach and leeks covered with straw, and bean sprouts grown at home, plus wide vermicelli, which was quite rich.

Lin Yue was left to eat a delicious chicken soup pot with everyone. After he left, Tiantian hugged Old Man Lu's neck and started to coax him. She first stroked the beard on his chin and smiled, "Grandpa, are you jealous? Don't worry, although we are playing at grandma's house, we are still best friends with you in our hearts."

Although he knew that she was coaxing him, Old Man Lu was still very happy.

He smiled and said, "Grandpa is not jealous. I am so happy that your grandma and grandpa are so good to you."

Tiantian reaffirmed, "Grandpa, don't worry. I am still best friends with you."

Grandma Fang smiled and said, "Oh, don't let your dad hear it. He will definitely be jealous."

She found out that although Shaotang looked strange and cold, he was actually a jealous person.

Panpan: "Grandma, don't worry. No matter what Tiantian said, she must be best friends with my mom in her heart."

No matter who she said she liked the most, it was just to make people happy.

It's the end of the year and it's time to give out New Year's money.

Grandpa Lu smiled and said, "Then Grandpa is not jealous at all. You are best friends with mom."

Originally, they thought that Lu Erge and his wife would be able to come back on Laba Festival, but they only came back with Lu Shaotang on the 14th of Laba.

This time, Lu Shaotang brought back a few barrels of wine, which were asked by Yang Shumin, Yan Zhendong and the two military district leaders to help make medicinal wine.

Lin Shu was afraid that he would find it annoying to help others carry things, so she poked Lu Shaotang's waist quietly, "If you don't want to help them carry things in the future, just say it's inconvenient, they won't mind."

Lu Shaotang grabbed her hand and held it in his palm, "It's convenient, I'm not doing it on purpose, it's just by convenience."

Even if it's not convenient, he will help his wife if she needs it, anyway, it won't delay work.

Lin Shu smiled and said, "This time, make more rheumatism medicine. You can take it and put it in the No. 8 courtyard for your family to drink."

Lu Shaotang thought about it and realized that the unit's funds included medical expenses, so this could also be considered medical treatment. He nodded and said, "Okay."

He turned his head and looked, "They haven't come back yet?"

Lin Shu knew that he missed his children. "They came back, but couldn't stay at home, so they went to play with Xiaoyou."

She should have said that she went to be Xu's mother.

Daya and Erya were working here, and Mrs. Qiu was looking for trouble.

I don't know if Xu's mother was stupid or did it on purpose. Since the beginning of eugenics, she has loved to associate with Mrs. Qiu.

In the winter when there was no work, Xu's mother always invited Mrs. Qiu to her house to talk, and she would inevitably scold her daughter-in-law, little girls, and the like during the conversation.

That's all. The key point is that the two of them also said that Lin Shu instigated Zhou Xiulan and the ladies to leave Qiu Jintian, and called Daya and Erya to work for free. They both blamed Lin Shu for their son's forced sterilization

. Xu Xiaoyou was so angry that she quarreled with them, but she was weak and the two old women came to ask for help before she could win the quarrel.

Panpan and Tiantian took a group of children to Xu's house to quarrel.

Lin Shu asked Lu Shaotang to pick up the children and bring Xiaoyou over for dinner. If they saw Lu Hehuan and Xu Shihua, they should also come over.

Lu Shaotang agreed and left.

Lin Shu prepared to cook dinner. Tomorrow they would slaughter a pig, and they would have slaughtered pig dishes to eat. Tonight they would keep it simple, and eat dumpling soup.

Stir-fry the small potato cubes with some lard in a pot with scallions, add water and bring to a boil, then put the dumplings in. When the dumplings are cooked, stir in a bowl of egg liquid, and when they are ready to be served, pour in a bowl of spinach.

The dumpling soup, which was greasy, contained large yellow egg flowers and emerald green spinach, which looked very appetizing.

Mrs. Lu was in a good mood after the operation because Lin Shu and Lu Shaotang helped her a lot. She was also very affectionate to Lin Shu at this time, and kept talking about her experiences in big cities and big hospitals.

Lin Shu was fine, but Lu Cuicui pouted and said sarcastically, "My third aunt has been to Qizhou so many times, what does she not know?"

Do you need to show off?

Humph!

As soon as Lu Ersao came back, she was irritated by the concubine. She raised her hand to hit her, but Lu Cuicui had already run away.

She complained to Lin Shu angrily, "Look at her, is there such a concubine in the world? She treats her mother like an enemy and can't stand seeing me happy."

Lin Shu didn't try to persuade her, because Lu Cuicui's expression of mocking her mother was exactly the same as Lu Ersao's.

The mother and daughter don't like each other, but outsiders think that their tempers are particularly similar. They are sarcastic to each other but don't admit it. After

Lin Shu finished cooking, she served the dumpling soup and put it on the table to cool down for Grandma Fang and the others to eat first.

Grandma Fang: "Didn't Shaotang go to pick up the kids? Why hasn't he come back yet?"

Lin Shu: "Nothing, he'll be back soon."

Everyone gets a share of the lump soup, and it doesn't matter if he comes back to eat it. The kids will like it better if it's not hot. Lu

Shaotang, who was missed by everyone, was standing in the Xu family yard. It was cold in winter and everyone was indoors. The yard gate was open but the door was closed to block the wind. He called out from outside and came in when no one answered.

Then he stood in the yard and listened to the verbal sniping in the house and felt a little...dazed.

Tiantian: "Grandma Qiu, why is Daya's father lying on the kang all day and not doing any work? Is he paralyzed?"

Mrs. Qiu: "You little girl, why are you talking so viciously?"

Panpan: "If he's not paralyzed, why is he lying on the kang and not doing any work? I heard that food has to be brought to his mouth, didn't Daya and Erya say that?"

Huahua rushed over and said, "We said that."

Honghong: "We saw it."

The two of them are Mrs. Qiu's granddaughters, and Mrs. Qiu doesn't dare to beat or scold them.

Mrs. Qiu: "Nonsense! You are so young and gossiping. You will never grow up and you will never get married! Da Ya's father was tired from working in the fall. Shouldn't he rest in the winter?"

The children started to talk back at her, "He was so lazy during the autumn harvest. He said he had been sterilized and didn't have the strength to work, so he was lazy. The team leader even scolded him!"

"Yes, Da Ya's family has fewer work points this year and owes money to the team again."

"Daya's father wants Daya and Erya to support him. How shameless of him!"

Panpan: "It's too famous. Everyone in my grandmother's village knows about it!"

Mrs. Qiu blushed, "How can you be so gossipy? You even went to Linjiatun to tell it!"

Tiantian: "It wasn't us who said it. It was the electrician who came here to learn and saw it. He went back and made a joke. He said Daya's father asked his son and daughter to work, saying that he had to rest and take care of himself. How old are they and he needs to take care of himself? My grandma is so old and still works to earn work points!"

"Just lazy!"

"Lazy men must be punished!"

Xu's mother: "Okay, let me show you what you can do.

You are such a nagging little bitch. Be careful that you won't get married!" Panpan: "It's okay. You two are always gossiping and talking nonsense. Aren't you still single?"

"Yes, you are the ones who are nagging!"

"Old nagging!"

The children made Xu's mother and Mrs. Qiu so angry that they screamed and made a gesture to hit them with a broom. Of course, they didn't dare to hit them, but just made gestures to scare them. The children

ran away screaming, "Run! The old witch is hitting people!"

Every time they encountered danger, Panpan let Tiantian run first, and he and Huzi and Huahua followed behind.

Tiantian ran out of the house and fell on Lu Shaotang's legs.

Lu Shaotang hurriedly picked her up.

Tiantian was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling, "Dad, my dad is here!"

Xu's mother and Mrs. Qiu heard it and hurriedly threw away their brooms.

Xu's mother was also desperate. She had unilaterally cut off ties with the Lu family since her son had been sterilized. Although she was afraid of Lu Shaotang, she hid in the house and refused to go out to say hello.

Lu Shaotang didn't go in either. Knowing that Xu Shihua and Lu Hehuan had not returned yet, he asked Xu Xiaoyou to bring his brother over for dinner.

Xu Xiaoyou went back to the house first to carry the baby quickly.

It was cold in winter. Although she and Xu's mother didn't get along, they stayed on the kang during the day to keep warm and save firewood.

It's almost nine months old, and now he can sit, crawl, and babble.

When he saw his sister stretching out her hands, he knew that she wanted to hug him, and he immediately crawled forward quickly with joy, drooling.

Mrs. Qiu laughed in a low voice: "Look, it's like a big □□."

She knew that Xu's mother didn't like Lu Hehuan's child, so she didn't hesitate to say it in front of Xu's mother.

Xu Xiaoyou supported Kuai Kuai to stand on the edge of the kang. They were going to their uncle's house. They were too lazy to have another quarrel with Mrs. Qiu. Kuai Kuai

supported his sister and jumped vigorously with his two chubby legs.

Children of this month have particularly fast hands and great strength. When he saw Mrs. Qiu approaching with an expression different from others, he raised his hand and clawed her.

"Ah~"

Mrs. Qiu was grabbed on the face by Kuai Kuai's claw, and a small piece of skin and flesh was immediately lost. She screamed in pain.

Xu's mother quickly scolded: "You naughty child who deserves a beating!"

While Xu's mother was helping Mrs. Qiu to look at her face, Xu Xiaoyou quickly carried his brother away.

Lu Shaotang and the others were still waiting in the yard. When they heard the sound, they were about to go in, but they saw Xu Xiaoyou coming out with the child.

Kuai Kuai was nine months old, and was chubby from being fed. It was the time for him to learn to stand, so he was not obedient at all. His two little fat legs always wanted to kick up.

It was very difficult for Xu Xiaoyou to hold him now.

Lu Shaotang directly carried Kuai Kuai over, took Kuai Kuai's small blanket and gave it to him, and ignored Xu's mother and the others and took the children away.

When Lin Shu saw them coming back, she served them some dumpling soup from the pot.

There were so many people that one table couldn't accommodate them, so everyone shared the food, and the others had basically finished eating.

Old Man Lu and Fang Dihua were still sitting at the table talking to Lin Shu, mainly talking about the medicinal wine.

Seeing them come back, Old Man Lu took Kuai Kuai over and let Lu Shaotang and the others eat.

Lin Shu used a bowl to serve Kuai Kuai a spoonful of noodle soup. There were no lumps in it, just soup, which made him savory.

When Lin Shu put the bowl over, Xu Xiaoyou's face changed and he shouted, "Don't grab it!" Kuai

Kuai's invisible hand was very fast. He grabbed the bowl with one claw and stuffed it into his mouth in the blink of an eye. As

soon as he came, he saw a big bowl in front of others, which contained something very fragrant and delicious. Now he saw one in front of him, how could he not grab it?