Font Size:
Wang Qian hadn’t interacted much with Ma Fenqing, but during the time she treated Wang Zhenguo’s illness, her directness made an impression. Being a child of an official family, she wouldn’t lack a certain temperament. Regardless of who Ma Fenqing argued with, Wang Qian viewed it as mere entertainment.
In the evening, they packed up everything Mingcheng needed to take with him, as well as items for the younger brother and the grandfather. Zhang Lan was worried about forgetting something in the rush, so the following day, the women set off together. With one person still teaching in the Red Class, Zhang Lan and the other lady could take turns resting.
Upon arriving in the city, they first went shopping at the store, focusing mainly on buying clothes. As for notebooks and other items, Mingcheng promised to accompany his sister to purchase them in the capital city.
Zhang Lan bought the appropriate bras for her elder daughter. Wang Xuan was so embarrassed that she couldn’t even look up. “Sister, there’s nothing to be shy about. Every woman wears these. Remember to buy the right size bra that fits you. Don’t blame me later if I didn’t remind you,” Wang Qian advised.
Although Wang Qian was only thirteen and her body hadn’t started developing yet, she was knowledgeable about bras, having experience from her past life.
To avoid any awkwardness, Mingcheng took Mingyuan to buy school supplies, while Zhang Lan and her daughters took care of everything for Wang Xuan. Wang Qian spotted a stylish pair of black lace-up shoes that she thought would suit Wang Xuan well.
“Mom, buy a pair for sister. They’d be perfect for any school activities, so she won’t struggle at the last minute,” Wang Qian suggested.
Considering that her daughter is a university student now, Zhang Lan agreed. After Wang Xuan tried on the shoes and found them to be a good fit, Zhang Lan purchased them. She also bought fabric for Wang Xuan, who had designed the outfits herself. Geng Lianhua and her daughter worked together to sew the clothes, with Wang Qian supervising at the store, ensuring they completed the outfits neatly in just two days.
Yang Nuo and Cong Tao came to discuss their departure date with Wang Xuan. Mingcheng took charge and arranged for them to leave together on Friday.
With the time frame becoming tight, Zhang Lan hurried back with the children to pack their belongings. Upon hearing that Mingcheng and Wang Xuan were departing on Friday, Wang Zhenhe lost focus on work, pondering what to get for the children as they wouldn’t have the same conditions at the school cafeteria.
Zhang Lan decided to send some sesame oil and soybean oil with Mingcheng and his group, which could improve their meals at their grandfather’s house. After all, in the city, food was still rationed, and certain items like oil were not readily available even if one had money.
Wang Qian asked Zhang Lan to buy some lean meat, which she chopped and stir-fried with soybean paste to make a meat sauce. This way, Mingcheng and Wang Xuan would have a dish to accompany their meals back at school.
“Sister, if you find the food at school unfamiliar, either go to Grandpa Chen’s house to cook for yourself or set up an alcohol stove in your dorm to cook. Don’t neglect yourself. If you ever crave something, just let me know. I’ll send it over. Also, bring some honey with you—it’s good for you and can serve as a nutritional supplement,” Wang Qian advised.
During these two days, Mingyuan and his sister tried to prepare some delicious dishes to add variety for their elder siblings. With Wang Xuan leaving, the household would only consist of the two siblings.
“Big brother, when you have free time, visit Big sister at school. Don’t let anyone mistreat her. You’re older than her roommates, and being newcomers, you might not be aware of everything. Take good care of your sister,” Mingyuan instructed his brother.
Glancing at Mingyuan, who was almost like his mother, Mingcheng reassured him, “Little brother, don’t worry. Grandpa Chen is there at their school. No one can bully your sister. Besides, Yang Nuo is there too. You can relax.”
Mingyuan couldn’t bear the thought of his sister leaving. Throughout high school, Wang Xuan had been the one cooking for them, and the three of them had studied together quite well. Now, with one person gone, he felt a sense of unease.
As much as they wished time would slow down, the day arrived for Mingcheng and Wang Xuan to leave. Zhang Lan and her family arrived in the city a day early and were joined by the Yang and Cong families the next morning. Cong Wei borrowed a car from work and helped transport everyone and their luggage to the train station.
Sending off her eldest son last year and now her eldest daughter this year, Zhang Lan felt a mix of joy and sadness as each child flew the nest. Ge Yun and Zhao Ru were emotional, tearfully giving their sons numerous instructions. It was Yang Mingxuan who showed some courage, waving them onto the train, urging them to board quickly. He couldn’t bear the emotional scene, “Yang Nuo and Cong Tao, study hard and take care of your sister. If we have time, we’ll come visit you.”
As the train slowly departed amidst Ge Yun’s heartfelt words, this was the second time Wang Qian had come to bid farewell. Feeling particularly heavy-hearted, she realized that her siblings, who had been together for so many years, were now starting to venture out on their own. Wondering if they would continue gathering together like in their childhood, she pondered the complexities of growing up. Longing for the simplicity of childhood, she found herself lamenting the passage of time.
Despite their shared sorrow, the three women found comfort in each other’s presence as they watched their children leave. Tears flowed freely this time, but having each other for support made the farewell slightly more bearable.
Wiping away a tear, Wang Qian reflected on how she disliked goodbyes, even after living two lifetimes. “Brother, let’s go back and focus on our studies. Let’s aim to reunite with our elder siblings as soon as possible. Just two more years.” The thought of the lengthy time ahead made her sigh in despair.
Wang Zhenhe affectionately patted his daughter’s head, “Little one, why are you in such a hurry? I haven’t even complained about you all growing up too fast. Instead, you’re the one complaining about time passing too slowly. Let’s take it slow, my dear. Dad should age gracefully along with you.”
Seeing Wang Zhehe’s wistful expression, the siblings immediately sprang into action, with Mingyuan using his sweet talk skills to cheer his dad up, eliciting hearty laughter.
Even with Wang Xuan gone, life returned to normal, and the cooking duties were now taken over by Geng Lianhua. Wang Qian assisted after school, while Wang Mingshan and the others were too busy to join for meals, opting to cook for themselves. The elderly lady continued to deliver food to them every morning.
As the school year began, news of a patriotic hygiene movement surfaced, focusing on eradicating pests. The school now required students to submit fly eggs. Wang Qian felt overwhelmed by the thought of collecting these disgusting things.
After school, the siblings discussed where to find fly eggs, realizing they needed to dig near the dry toilets where flies typically lay their eggs in the soil. “Don’t worry, sister. With me around, we can find a way to collect them near the outdoor toilets over the weekend and fill a bottle to submit. The teachers won’t inspect each bottle,” Mingyuan reassured his sister.
Aware of his sister’s reluctance to handle such things, Mingyuan took on the task, despite finding it dirty himself, all for the sake of his beloved sister.
That evening, Ge Yun and his family visited and shared their workplace tasks. Wang Qian found it amusing to learn that they were required to submit rat tails as proof of completion.
Ge Yun expressed his concern, “Auntie, do you have some rat poison at home? If you manage to kill some rats, save the tails for me. I’ve been trying to catch them at my place, but I still need more tails.”
Amused by Ge Yun’s dilemma, the elderly lady intervened, “Alright, don’t worry. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the store and help you with rat poisoning. You can have all the tails.”
During this time, everyone was on the lookout in every corner of the streets and alleys, hoping to catch a rat to complete their tasks. Thanks to Geng Lianhua’s efforts, Ge Yun finally completed his task, much to Mingyuan’s relief. However, catching the rats proved to be quite challenging, as each unit had its own task, and everyone was eager to rid their homes of rats.
As Mingyuan and his siblings returned home for the holidays, they witnessed significant changes in the rural area. Previously neglected tasks, like cleaning windows and maintaining hygiene, were now diligently attended to. Even the toilets were spotless. Families eradicated any pests, including lice on children, as they aimed to pass the thorough hygiene inspections. Failure to meet these standards meant not receiving the honor of a clean home certificate, a small paper pasted on the front door.
Even families like Zhao Xia, who were previously lax about cleanliness, started to tidy up. Zhao Xia diligently cleaned their bedding to remove any pests, displaying a newfound dedication to cleanliness spurred by the hygiene movement.
In Zhao Xia’s eyes, this patriotic hygiene movement was beneficial, as it resulted in cleaner households, reduced lice among children, and an overall improvement in personal hygiene awareness.
Upon his return, Mingyuan wasted no time in digging around the toilets to collect fly eggs. He swiftly gathered the necessary amount, even going the extra mile to thoroughly turn over the soil to prevent future fly infestations.
Spotting Wang Zhenhe handling pig manure in the pigsty, Mingyuan jumped in to assist. Meanwhile, Wang Qian helped by carrying the manure outside with a shovel. This task tested their physical strength and endurance, as it was crucial for replenishing the soil’s nutrients depleted by pig farming. Each household was responsible for contributing a specific amount of manure, with completion being rewarded and any failure resulting in deductions. Consequently, the Wang family accumulated pig manure outside for later collection and measurement by the village authorities.
Book recommendation:
Title: “I’m Pregnant with the regent’s baby” (Completed)
Title: “Lingquan Space: Fortunate Wife of a Farmer’s Family
Title: “Farm Girl’s Space: Picking Up a Major Villain during the Runaway Journey(Completed)