This week was busy and hard. During the Sunday break, Gong Linglong slept in at home and didn't get up until nearly 9:30.
Now that Bai Shuixian has resigned and returned, the fish cages are put to use again. She goes to set up the fish cages with other sisters-in-law every day. They caught a lot this morning and are now gathering in a circle to process the small fish.
"Linglong, get up."
Yu Ximei smiled and looked at her. "You worked hard in the disaster relief work in Xinjiang County last week. Take a break today and get some more sleep at home."
"It's almost time to sleep."
Gong Linglong was slowly eating porridge in one hand and a pumpkin pie in the other when she saw a strange figure approaching from a distance. She asked, "Sisters-in-law, I don't think I've seen that person before. Is he a new family member?"
Everyone turned to look at the newcomer. Yu Ximei told her, "It's Chen Ying, Director Tian's distant cousin from the hospital's surgery department. They're not actually related by blood. Aunt Jiao is Director Tian's stepmother, and Chen Ying is Aunt Jiao's niece."
"Hello, sisters-in-law. You are all cleaning up the little fish. It seems that you are a little later than usual today." Chen Ying strode over and spoke in a very familiar tone.
"It's Sunday off, and the monkey cubs at home are making a lot of noise, which delayed us."
Jiang Yaping took over and asked her, "This morning I saw your family members in the East District digging the soil in the vegetable garden. I guess you're planting vegetables too, right?"
"We have five mu of land under cultivation. My cousin's father-in-law is always busy. He does all the work in the vegetable garden and doesn't ask us to help. We just need to do the housework."
Chen Ying was of average height and appearance, standing unnoticeable in the crowd, but her eyes were bright and alert. She had already glanced at Gong Linglong and took the initiative to greet her, "Is this Deputy Captain Lu's sister-in-law?"
Gong Linglong smiled faintly: "Hello, Comrade Chen, my name is Gong Linglong."
"Hello, sister-in-law. My name is Chen Ying, and my cousin is Director Tian of the hospital."
Chen Ying had been coming here frequently recently. Knowing that she worked at the city's civil affairs department, she smiled faintly and said, "I heard that your sister-in-law usually works and leaves early and comes back late every day. Is she at home today because it's Sunday off?"
"Yes, I take one day off every Sunday." Gong Linglong smiled as usual.
While they were chatting, Yang Xiaolan had finished cleaning the fish. She looked up and asked, "Linglong, we're going to the mountains to chop wood. Aunt Bai said she wants to go with us. Do you want to go?"
"go."
Gong Linglong immediately finished the porridge in the bowl. Seeing that there were not many small fish in her mother's basin, she did not help and turned back to the house to get the hatchet and rope.
A group of military wives went to the mountains to chop firewood. Chen Ying said she wanted to go with them and quickly ran back home to get tools.
School is closed today, and the children don't have to go to school, so they all followed the others to the mountains. They screamed and ran along the way, scaring the wild rabbits in the mountains into running around.
"Gangzi, run slower, don't fall."
Gong Linglong was walking behind with a carrying pole. Seeing Chen Ying chasing after Gangzi and shouting, she raised her eyebrows and asked Wang Yumiao beside her, "Is Chen Ying already dating Deputy Battalion Commander Yuan?"
Wang Yumiao shook his head and whispered, "Deputy Battalion Commander Yuan is out on a mission too. He hasn't even met Chen Ying yet."
Gong Linglong: "...I've never met her, but she cares so much about Gangzi?"
Wang Yumiao smiled, her expression somewhat profound. "When she first came, Aunt Jiao brought her to talk to Grandma Gangzi every day. They got along very well because they were from the same hometown."
"So, when Deputy Battalion Commander Yuan comes back from his mission, there will be a new daughter-in-law at home?" Although Gong Linglong was talking to her, her eyes were on Chen Ying in front of her.
"It's hard to say. We asked Gangzi's grandmother a few days ago. She had a decent impression of Chen Ying, but because of Chen Eryan's situation, she's a little cautious about her son's marriage. She said she won't make decisions rashly anymore and will wait until her son returns to decide everything."
This was someone else's business, so Gong Linglong didn't discuss it further. She followed the group forward. When they reached the firewood chopping area, she said to Wang Yumiao, "Sister-in-law Yumiao, you take care of Jun Ge'er and help bundle the firewood. We, mother and daughter, will chop wood."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work again."
Wang Yumiao usually takes care of the children by herself and doesn't let her mother-in-law come to help. Zheng Yong is also out on a mission, so hard work like chopping wood is thanks to other people's help.
Chen Ying followed Yuan's mother and chopped wood with an axe. Seeing Gong Linglong working very efficiently, she took the initiative to talk to her: "Sister-in-law, you chop wood so fast."
"The temperature is not high yet, so hurry up and cut the trees. Then go home."
Gong Linglong continued, pointing to a crooked tree nearby. "Auntie, Chen Ying, let's chop down this tree together and divide it among the three families. It'll be enough for each family to carry a load."
"OK."
Yuan's mother was also a good worker. Seeing that her grandson was playing with his friends not far away and was very safe, she immediately came over with an axe and helped her chop wood.
The three of them worked together and quickly cut down the tree.
While cutting branches, Gong Linglong accidentally glanced and found that except for some calluses on the palms of Chen Ying's hands, there were no calluses on other fingers. They were not rough at all, which was very different from the hands of most people who did farm work all year round.
She remembered Aunt Jiao saying that she grew up in the countryside, her biological mother died early, her biological father didn't love her, her stepmother bullied and tortured her, and she had to do all the housework at home all year round. Normally, she should have thick calluses on her hands.
"Chen Ying, I heard that you and your aunt are both from Shanxi Province. I grew up in the south, and the environment in my hometown is similar to here. I haven't been to the north yet. Is there any difference between the countryside there and Seoul?"
When Chen Ying heard her ask this, she smiled and replied, "The environment here is quite different from my hometown. We usually eat noodles and coarse grains, and the environment is not as good as here. Unlike here with beautiful mountains and clear waters, my home is close to the coal mining area. There are coal dust everywhere, and there are no green trees on the mountains."
Gong Linglong nodded slightly, then asked subtly, "Who else is in your family?"
"My mother died early and she only gave birth to me, a daughter. Later, my father remarried and my stepmother gave birth to two sons and one daughter. My three younger siblings are still unmarried." Chen Ying's face was a little sad when she talked about her family.
Gong Linglong saw the expression on her face, her eyes moved slightly, and she said with sympathy: "Hey, you are also a miserable person."
Chen Ying curled his lips, lowered his head and continued to chop branches.
"Chen Ying, do you often have to work in the fields at home?" Gong Linglong asked again.
"Yes, I do all the housework and I also plant the wheat in the fields. Sometimes I even go to the coal mines to help carry coal to earn money to supplement the family income."
"I heard Aunt Jiao talk about you a little bit before. You are good at farming and doing housework. No wonder your father and stepmother didn't arrange a blind date or marriage for you. They deliberately want you to work at home to earn money to support them."
Gong Linglong wanted to find out more, so she chatted with her idly until the firewood was chopped and carried home.
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