The weather was getting colder. In mid-November, Su Li received an email from Beijing, which contained a book publishing contract and a payment slip for three short stories, with a one-time payment of 110 yuan.
Su Li's novel "Spy Action" has received unanimous praise from the publisher. The general story is that after the fall of Hai City, our army's undercover codenamed Doctor, who was disguised as a Japanese naval officer, provided our army with important intelligence about the Japanese army.
At that time, the Japanese army secretly lurked in the confidential unit of the Haishi Military and Political Department to perform an extremely difficult task. During this period, the doctor and the female teacher Ying, his partner Hong Chang, and others developed deep revolutionary feelings in the constant misunderstandings and suspicions.
The anti-Japanese war was won. The doctor and Fu Ying successfully completed their tasks and went to the battlefield hand in hand.
The president personally wrote a letter, hoping to sign a subsequent book publishing agreement with Su Li and whether she could become a long-term contracted author. The publishing contract also showed great sincerity.
The contract roughly meant that the publishing house would be responsible for printing and distribution. In addition to the 1,000 yuan manuscript fee, Su Li would receive a 2% share of the profits from each book. Su Li was happy to accept the contract, and after signing it, she also attached a thank-you letter.
The 1,000 yuan bill for the manuscript was soon sent back to Shanghe Village. The two bills together totaled 1,100 yuan.
The fact that Su Li published a book caused a sensation in the entire Shanghe Village and even in Sujiaba. Everyone thought that Su Li would quickly spend all of Xie Zhengchuan's pension and that he would definitely live a miserable life in the future. But who knew that he would actually publish a book and get so much money.
One book costs more than one thousand, so 10 books would cost more than ten thousand.
How much money is more than 10,000 yuan? It's a lot for villagers to earn 100 yuan a year.
Now, in the eyes of the villagers, Su Li is a golden baby who can make money. Moreover, she is a widow, raising four children alone. Some poor men without wives and those who envy Su Li's wealth have begun to have ideas.
Xie's mother didn't know what those people were thinking. She only knew that her daughter-in-law had a baby and her future life would be good.
Especially Xie Li, when he was not working, he would wear homemade clothes, hold a pipe in his mouth, and wander around the village with his hands behind his back, praising Su Li whenever he met someone.
When Su Li went to the county town to collect her royalties, she also did a few more business deals. Now, in addition to Xie Zhengchuan's pension, she had more than 30,000 yuan in her own small treasury.
When Su Li rode his bicycle back to the village, he brought two large sacks filled with fresh vegetables, fruits, snacks, meat, vegetables, ribs, rice and noodles, all of which he had taken out from the space when he was about to leave the village.
When Su Li had nothing to do these two days, she was knitting clothes for the children. The kang was warm, Tiedan was writing on the table, and Huzi and Shitou were also writing and drawing. There was a plate on the table with some raw melon seeds in it.
Baoya held a small bowl in her arms, which was filled with sunflower seeds that Su Li had given her. She sat next to Su Li and watched her weave clothes.
She had some snacks and started to peel some melon seeds and eat them. Occasionally, she would feed Su Li some crispy and fragrant rice.
While eating, the little guy suddenly asked, "Mom, can I take some to Xiangzhi and the others?"
Su Li was stunned for a moment, then took her bowl and refilled it, "Give this bowl to them! Tiedan, take a rest, write for a while, go with your sister, and mom will bring you oranges when you come back."
"good!"
After a while, Tiedan came back with Baoya, whose eyes were red, followed by Xiangzhi, Xianglan, Xiaofang and Xiaoqin.
"Aunt."
"Young aunt."
The four little girls greeted Su Li shyly and reservedly.
Su Li smiled at them, "Xiangzhi, Xianglan, Xiaofang, Xiaoqin, here you are, come in quickly."
Baoya walked up to Su Li with red eyes, pulled her sleeve and said, "Mom, the sunflower seeds I wanted to give to my sisters were taken away by my aunt and given to Brother Laifu. She didn't give any to my sisters."
Su Li's face turned cold after hearing this. She couldn't control Pan Zhaodi's virtue of favoring boys over girls, but she would have to teach her a lesson sooner or later. The Xie family was a good family, so how could such a bad apple come out of it?
Su Li glanced at the four children of Xiangzhi who were feeling awkward. "Tiedan, take your sister, brothers and sisters to the main hall to play. The main hall is big. I'll give you some melon seeds to share with you."
Tiedan obediently took the plate of melon seeds and took the children to the main room to play.
After playing for a while, he came running over again, tugged at Su Li's sleeve, and asked Su Li in a low voice, "Mom, can I share the candies you bought for us with my older sister?"
Su Li smiled and nodded, "Okay, you can go to the cupboard in the main room and get some yourself, but each person can only eat three at most, no more, you can count them yourself, there are fruits in the cupboard, take a few oranges and share them."
"good!"
With permission, Tiedan ran away happily. He stayed in the room for the whole morning. Su Li was afraid that they would be too tired, so she gave them some fruit to replenish their water.
Xiangzhi and the other children were able to wear clothes because Xie Ersao had altered them some time ago, but they were very thin. Children in the countryside are all thin. However, after being fed by Su Li for some time, and drinking spiritual spring water from time to time, and having milk and eggs every day, Tiedan and the other children have gained some flesh on their faces.
Seeing that it was almost noon, and there were so many children at home today, Su Li packed up her things and went to the kitchen to cook.
Su Li stewed a pot of rice, took out a casserole of braised large intestine from the space, put it on the stove to heat it, and cut some garlic sprouts and put them in, which made it more fragrant.
There were tomatoes taken from the space in the cupboard. Su Li took three and washed them, then added 8 eggs and fried a large plate of tomato and eggs.
I also stir-fried a plate of Chinese cabbage and cooked a pot of yam and pork ribs soup.
Today's lunch is ready.
"Tiedan, ask grandpa and grandma to come home for dinner. Huzi, take your elder sister, younger brother, and younger sister to wash their hands and have dinner."
"Okay! I'll go right away."
Seeing that it was time to eat, Xiangzhi, Xianglan, Xiaofang and Xiaoqin hurried out.
They can't stay here anymore. If they don't leave when people are about to eat, it will be annoying.
My young aunt has been very good to them. This year they have new clothes to wear and new cotton-padded jackets and shoes in winter. They also ate so many delicious foods today, so they dare not stay for dinner.
Seeing that they were about to leave, Su Li hurriedly stopped them, "Where are you going? Go wash your hands with Hu Zi. Grandpa and grandma will be here for dinner soon."
Xiangzhi looked at her sisters and said, "Aunt, your family is going to have dinner. We need to go back. My parents must be waiting for us to eat."
Su Li looked at the little ones and said, "What good food can you have when you go home for dinner? Besides, Auntie has already made your portion. If you don't eat it, who would eat it if I made so much?"
In fact, Xiangzhi and the other children had smelled the fragrance of the food early on and even swallowed their saliva secretly.
After hesitating for a while, Xiangzhi still insisted on leaving, "Aunt, we won't eat anymore. I'm going to take my sisters back. You should go eat with your brothers!"
Xiaofang also echoed Xiangzhi, "Yes, we are going back, Auntie."
Su Li really likes Xiangzhi and her children. They are humble, understanding, and know when to advance and retreat.
Su Li shook her head. "No, my aunt has cooked a lot of food. After we finish eating, let's go back with grandpa and grandma, okay?"
Xiangzhi was about to say something when the door was pushed open by Tiedan. Xie's mother came over wiping her wet hands and saw that Xiangzhi and the others were about to leave.
"Xiangzhi, take your sisters to wash their hands. We will have dinner at your aunt's house today."
Tiedan took Xiangzhi and the others back to the main room. Su Li put the food on the table and placed the dishes on the table. "Dad, mom, please persuade the girls to stay for dinner. They insist on leaving and no matter how much you persuade them, they won't go."
Xie Yu put his hands on Xianglan and Xiangzhi's shoulders and said, "Sit down and eat. Look at how much delicious food your aunt has prepared for you. The cabbage and corn cob noodles we can eat at noon today are incomparable to the food at your aunt's house. Don't be polite to your aunt."
Su Li placed a bowl full of rice in front of them and said, "That's right, listen to Grandpa, don't be polite, and eat your meal obediently."
Tiedan, Baoya, Huzi and Shitou looked at their sisters sitting next to them with smiles, and then started to eat from their bowls of rice, their chopsticks dancing quickly in their hands.
"Mom, it's delicious and smells so good! The eggs are delicious too, and the meat is delicious too!" Shi Tou said while eating.
Xiangzhi and the others were eating more reservedly. Huzi looked at them and took out a piece of pig intestine for each of them with his chopsticks. "Come on, sisters, eat quickly! It smells delicious. Eat with big mouthfuls."
Xiangzhi and the others looked at each other and started eating with big mouthfuls. Their little eyes were sparkling as they chewed.
Hu Zi picked up a piece of pig intestine with chopsticks and put it in his mouth, "Sister, isn't my sister's intestine super delicious?"
Xiangzhi nodded heavily, "Delicious!"
Xianglan, Xiaofang and Xiaoqin also agreed, "It's delicious, brother."
Xie Xu and his mother were also eating with great delight. Since the third brother's family became better off, the lives of the old couple have really taken a qualitative leap.
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