This is a really good idea. Why didn't He Tiantian think of it before?
Once home, everyone busied themselves with their own tasks. Sister-in-law Yulan immediately began preparing dinner. The children, tired from running around all day, quietly lay down on the straw to rest.
He Tiantian wanted to take this opportunity to draw a sketch of the house, but her family didn't even have paper and pen.
Helpless, He Tiantian had no choice but to secretly buy a calligraphy brush and two crumpled sheets of yellow paper from the mall. The yellow paper was the kind used to burn for ancestors in the afterlife.
After all, she wouldn't dare buy the good ones. Only this kind of paper looks cheap and unassuming.
He Tiantian slowly drew her ideal house on paper. The four houses were connected, which reduced the amount of adobe bricks.
Also, the gate to the courtyard must face south, because south-facing houses receive plenty of sunlight and bring good luck.
In ancient times, before furniture existed, a chest to store things was extremely precious. He Tiantian's family had nothing; everything was piled on the floor, making it look very messy.
So, once the house is built, she plans to hire a carpenter to make a set of modern furniture for her home.
With that in mind, He Tiantian also drew out the shapes of the furniture she needed.
Night fell, but the people of Changfeng Village did not rest.
The men continued building the house under the bright moonlight, while the women sat in the courtyard chopping wild vegetables.
By the time He Tiantian finished drawing all the pictures, it was already late at night.
The clanging and banging sounds that had been lingering in the village had stopped sometime ago, and now all that could be heard were the hissing and chirping of insects in the grass outside.
At this late hour, no one in the Zhao family's old house was asleep yet.
"I disagree! I'm the most suitable person to do this job, why should my sister-in-law have to do it!" Cheng said in a shrewish manner, knowing that the old woman was biased towards her sister-in-law.
From the moment she walked in that door until now!
For so many years, she has worked like a slave in the Zhao family, toiling away, but the old woman's heart is as hard as stone, impossible to melt!
Old Mrs. Zhao was also very unhappy with Cheng's attitude. "You disagree? When did it become your place to speak in this family? You should take a look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are. You even steal food when cooking at home. If you go to such a big restaurant, can you hold back? Don't embarrass yourself."
Old Mrs. Zhao's words struck a chord with Mrs. Cheng.
She would secretly eat a little while her sister-in-law was cooking, but wasn't that so that everyone could taste the seasoning first?
"Don't I usually do all the housework, like washing pots and pans? I've been doing this for so many years, what can't I do? And I promise I won't steal food, it's a restaurant in the county, I wouldn't dare to do that," Cheng said confidently.
Sharpening a knife for a thousand days is for a single moment of use.
It's a good thing she's washed dishes for the Zhao family for so many years, otherwise she wouldn't have had the courage to challenge the old woman like this.
"Sister-in-law, tell Mother, is it most suitable for me to do this job?" Cheng pointed the finger at Tao, because she knew Tao's weak nature.
If my sister-in-law doesn't want to go, there's nothing I can do.
Tao hesitated, unable to make up her mind for the moment. She had never been to such a far place before, and she wasn't sure if she could do a good job there...
"Oh dear, sister-in-law, say something! It'll be dawn soon if we dawdle any longer!" Madam Cheng glanced at the sky outside and urged impatiently.
Old Mrs. Zhao also looked at Tao Shi. Tie Zi's mother had come to their house that evening to discuss the matter. However, the restaurant only had one vacancy for a handyman, and there were children at home, so it was impossible for both daughters-in-law to leave.
Tiezi's mother said that they would decide by dawn who would go to the county with her.
The whole family discussed it for so long, but still couldn't reach a conclusion.
Old Mrs. Zhao also wanted to know what Tao was thinking. As long as Tao said she wanted to go, she would immediately make the decision.
"I think I'd better not go. Da Niu is getting married next month, and there's a lot to do at home," Tao said in a low voice.
She was still a little reluctant to give up this job.
Cheng's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes, this is a big event for our family. We must handle it properly."
Cheng couldn't hide her joy. It was wonderful; she was finally free from the hellish life of the Zhao family. She would no longer have to be treated like a spinning top at home.
Besides, the county town is great! It's a big restaurant! There's nothing new or exciting there. After living for over twenty years, she's finally going to broaden her horizons.
Old Mrs. Zhao rolled her eyes at Tao Shi for being so spineless.
She least wanted Cheng Shi to go; she was a person who was never reliable in anything she did, and going out would only make her look bad.
"Don't be too happy yet. You'll have to endure a lot of hardship over there, or you'll be sent back to be humiliated." Old Mrs. Zhao glared at Cheng Shi, giving her a warning.
Having achieved their goal, the Cheng family no longer cared about these sarcastic remarks.
She laughed and said, "I know, I know everything!"
The decision was made before dawn, and Madam Cheng hurriedly went back to her room to pack her luggage. This was the first time she had been away from home for so long, so she had to pack everything she needed to take with her.
Cheng was so excited that he barely slept all night, and ended up carrying three packages full of all sorts of things.
Just as dawn was breaking, Zhao Xiangnan took her to the oxcart driven by Uncle Li at the village entrance. Tiezi's mother hadn't arrived yet, so they would have to wait a while longer.
The village entrance is closest to the dilapidated temple belonging to He Tiantian's family. At dawn, a sheep's bleating broke the silence of Changfeng Village.
Cheng looked suspiciously in the direction of the dilapidated temple and asked incredulously, "Did Wanzi's mother buy sheep?"
Zhao Xiangnan was also somewhat incredulous, staring blankly in the direction of the dilapidated temple, and gave an uncertain answer.
"I think... I think I heard it too."
Uncle Li turned to look at Madam Cheng and Zhao Xiangnan, tapping his pipe on the ground.
"You heard me right, Maruko's mom bought a female goat yesterday. She came back in my oxcart."
"What!" Cheng's scalp tingled with shock, and her initial excitement turned into jealousy.
That wretched woman, He, is living a better and better life. She eats meat, raises chickens, and now she's even bought sheep to raise.
It's just doing that damn cross-stitch business. Once she goes to the city to work and earns some money, she'll buy some livestock to raise.
Farming really does keep you poor your whole life; only working can make you rich!
Cheng looked resentfully in the direction of the dilapidated temple. Besides the bleating of sheep, she heard crowing of roosters, followed by barking of dogs…
Her heart was heavy with sorrow, and she looked at the half-built mud house next to the dilapidated temple, feeling puzzled.
[Author's Note]: This chapter is still featured in the recommendation section, please vote for it!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
