Back home, feeling frustrated, Zhou Mingjiao couldn't help but yell, "Can you two please stop arguing?"
Seeing that Zhou Mingjiao's cotton-padded clothes were all wet, Zhou's mother said, "Jiaojiao, where have you been? Come and warm yourself by the fire, dry your clothes, and drink some hot water, or you'll catch a cold."
Zhou Mingjiao eventually sat down by the fire to warm herself, thinking of the argument she had heard, "Mom, what were you arguing about just now?"
"It's all because of your second brother. He wants that brat Zhaodi to go to school, but where is the money coming from? Your father has already agreed to let him save the money himself. He doesn't have the ability, so why is he blaming us?"
Zhou Mingjiao seemed to have thought of something, "Mother, since Zhaodi wants to go to school, just let her go."
"What? Jiaojiao, it's not that I'm a heartless grandma, but you know, the New Year is just around the corner, and your fourth brother still hasn't gotten married. When spring comes, I'm planning to ask a matchmaker to find him a wife. But you know, everything costs money, so where can we find the money?" What's more, last time that damned Shen Banxia ripped me off.
Not only now, but all social obligations cost money.
"Mom, how about this? I won't need any new clothes this winter. You can give them to Zhaodi to use for school."
Zhou's mother didn't want to agree, but seeing the look her daughter gave her, she finally gave in.
Turning to look at the dazed second son, he said, "Did you hear what your little sister said? You must remember how good your little sister is to you in the future."
Zhou Lao Er looked at Zhou Mingjiao with gratitude and smiled sheepishly, "Little sister, thank you."
Zhao Di, who had been completely oblivious to the scene, witnessed this moment and gained a real sense of her grandmother's favoritism.
The opportunity she had so desperately sought was nothing more than a new dress for her aunt.
It was the same in their past life; all three sisters sacrificed themselves for their aunt.
She's the good one; she does all the good work, while her grandmother does all the bad work.
But she forgot where she heard it, but as a beneficiary, was she really so innocent?
However, thanks to a single sentence from Zhou Mingjiao, the long-standing argument finally calmed down.
As for Shen Banxia, her greatest pleasure nowadays is burying herself in books.
As for Zhou Mingqian, he also has his own things to do, and the couple each enjoy their own lives.
The day for slaughtering the pig arrived quickly, and despite the heavy snowfall, it couldn't dampen people's enthusiasm.
This is a meat feast! Anyone who isn't enthusiastic about it must be out of their mind.
Wearing a thick hat and mask, wrapped in a new cotton coat, and with sheepskin boots that her grandmother had found on her feet, Shen Banxia arrived at the bustling dam area with her grandmother's tight support.
A large bonfire was burning in the middle, and the children wanted to get closer, but were scolded by the adults.
Amidst the laughter and commotion, with a sudden "Oink—", the pig quickly fell silent under Butcher Zhang's hands.
The meat was cut and divided into pieces. The meat from the neck and other parts of the body was taken by Aunt Zhu and others. There was a large iron pot next to the fire.
Under Aunt Zhu's skillful hands, a steaming pot of stewed pork with pickled cabbage and radish was prepared. After it was done, Aunt Zhu shouted, "The stewed pork is ready!" and everyone lined up with their bowls to get their food.
After enjoying the pork stew, the next step is to line up and get your share of the pork.
Although the process is similar every year, eating fresh pork and looking forward to next year, Shen Banxia suddenly felt that this place is actually quite nice, isn't it?
At least everyone is content with what they have.
Shen Banxia and her husband didn't have many work points to begin with, and they weren't transferred from the Zhou family at the time. Later, Zhou Mingqian became a purchasing agent, so they had even fewer.
But after Shen Banxia became a barefoot doctor, the eight work points she earned every day were indispensable. Although they weren't much, they were enough to exchange for some meat.
Shen Banxia didn't join the queue, even though she really wanted to join in the fun, but her grandmother was watching from the side.
Because of the meat-sharing tradition, everyone had a warm smile on their face, and the freezing weather couldn't dampen their enthusiasm.
When Aunt Zhu finished her work and came over, she pulled Chen Banxia aside and said, "Hey, Banxia, you've been so busy these days, you have no idea what big things have happened in the village."
"What's the big deal?" Shen Banxia really didn't know.
"Accountant Zhang's daughter got divorced! My God, how could she be so bold? And, from what I've heard, she took the initiative to divorce that man," Aunt Zhu said, truly unable to believe it.
Shen Banxia understood why she was so surprised. In this day and age, there are basically no divorces. In their eyes, divorce is so shameful.
"What's the reason?" Shen Banxia asked, quite curious.
"According to Zhang Chunhong's man, Zhang Chunhong seems to be having an affair. I heard that she was talking in her sleep and shouting it out."
Shen Banxia scratched her head, "Is this dramatic?"
"Who are you calling?"
"I don't know about that. But now, Accountant Zhang was originally going to demand an explanation, but now she has no choice but to bring Zhang Chunhong back. I heard that she didn't get back the dowry she was given. Well, how could she have the face to do that? How can she still be thinking about other men after getting married?" Aunt Zhu couldn't understand it either.
While they were gossiping, the snow started falling heavier and heavier, and Aunt Zhu couldn't help but mutter, "It's getting colder and colder." Even with a big bonfire outside, everyone was still getting restless.
Although Shen Banxia wanted to hear more gossip, it was just too cold that day.
After returning home, Shen Banxia immersed herself in medical books again.
As for the Zhang family, although they reluctantly brought Zhang Chunhong back, no one gave them a friendly look.
Zhang, the accountant, rubbed his temples, feeling that his children were a burden to him, as he hadn't even attended such a grand event as the pig slaughter feast.
"Who exactly is that man?"
Zhang Chunhong bit her lip and lowered her head.
Grandma Zhang twisted Zhang Chunhong's ear and said, "You brat, look what you've done! Your brother isn't even married yet, and you're already courting death! You're such a money-loser! That was all made of the best wood!"
Zhang Chunhong felt the pain, but she also knew that her grandmother was the head of the household, and her favorite child was her younger brother.
Accountant Zhang's temper flared up as well. "Are you going to tell me or not?"
Grandma Zhang chimed in, "You brat, if you don't talk, get out of here! I'll beat you to death, you shameless thing!"
The more he talked, the angrier he got, and he started slapping and hitting.
Zhang Chunhong couldn't take it anymore, but she knew that saying it out loud wouldn't work, so she gritted her teeth.
Grandma Zhang was even angrier when she saw this. "Tell me, which wild man seduced you?"
Zhang Chunhong refused to say anything.
Grandma Zhang was so angry that she kicked her out, saying, "You can come back in whenever you want to talk."
Although Accountant Zhang felt a little reluctant, she was also angry when she thought about what her daughter had done.
Thinking about my two children, each one more troublesome than the last, makes my head ache even more.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
