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Chapter 10: Aunt Ming Qing
My eldest aunt Mingqing married into the neighboring Yingxiang brigade. From Shangjiaqiao brigade to there, it takes at least an hour to walk. After the “Xisui” (a kind of purification or revitalization ritual) yesterday, Ming Leyao clearly felt her physical condition was much better than before — her arm strength was robust, and she seemed to have endless energy. Usually, after walking for an hour, she would be gasping for breath, but now, when she arrived at her eldest aunt’s door, her face was neither flushed nor breathless, as if nothing had happened.
Seeing the door left open, Ming Leyao called out loudly, “Eldest aunt, are you home?”
“Ah? Leyao, why have you come? Come in, come in quickly.”
Hearing the voice, Mingqing came to the door and welcomed Ming Leyao inside.
“Eldest aunt, this is a little gift from your niece, please accept it.”
“You’re such a child, why do you bring gifts when you come to eldest aunt’s place? Take it back at once.”
Mingqing pretended to look stern, disapprovingly.
“Eldest aunt, now that I’ve been separated from the old family estate, I have custody money in hand. Life is much better than before. You used to help me a lot, and I haven’t forgotten your kindness. Of course, I had to come visit.”
“What? You’ve been separated from the old estate? What happened? Tell your aunt everything.”
Ming Leyao told Mingqing in detail about everything that had happened recently. Mingqing listened and angrily cursed in the courtyard.
“I knew it! That Nai Laidi, that stupid woman, how could she raise such a daughter? She came up with such a vicious plan. You’re all family of the Ming clan, and your reputation is ruined. Doesn’t that affect her? You’re grown up now, still knowing nothing, just doing whatever you want. Your eldest uncle is no better, running around outside like a fool, not caring about his wife and kids.”
“Eldest aunt, it’s fine. I’m used to it now. I can support myself. It’s way better than before when I couldn’t even eat enough.”
“That’s good, that’s good. At least your grandmother had some conscience this time and let you leave that family smoothly.”
Ming Leyao didn’t want to comment on whether her grandmother was conscientious or not. As a daughter who was not favored by the old witch (her mother), she couldn’t evaluate her own mother.
“All right, stop thinking about it. If you have any difficulties, come to your eldest aunt, okay?”
Mingqing warmly hugged her great-niece. They hadn’t been this close for a long time. When the third brother was still alive, he treated her very well; after all, she was the only daughter in his family. How could she not care?
“Got it, eldest aunt. It’s late, I’ll head back now. When I have time, you come visit my new place.”
“All right, be careful on your way.”
After seeing Ming Leyao off, Mingqing took the basket to the kitchen, opened the cloth on top, and when she saw the contents clearly, she almost threw the basket away.
“Oh my goodness…”
She hurried back to the main room and placed the basket in front of her husband.
Her husband Li Baogang looked at her in confusion, “What’s this? Why did you put it in front of me?”
“Open it yourself and see.”
Li Baogang lifted the cloth with curiosity, saw the round eggs and the fine white noodles inside, then quickly covered the cloth again, his mood unsettled for a long time.
“So… so many?”
There were about twenty eggs, which their family would usually save up for a whole month. And the noodles… he had never seen such white dried noodles in his life.
“Sigh, that girl really makes one feel sorry for her.”
“You’re her elder, so you have to think more for her in the future. She’s a grateful person. Your family’s relatives can’t be relied on at all.”
“I know.”
Ming Leyao had just returned to Shangjiaqiao brigade when she was told the brigade leader wanted to see her. She turned and went to the brigade leader’s office.
“Uncle, you called for me?”
“Sigh, Leyao, you’re back?”
“I just went to see my eldest aunt and just got back.”
“How’s your eldest aunt?”
“She’s fine.”
“That’s good. So here’s the thing, this morning I called the commune. They are very supportive of our production team building an elementary school, saying it will allow children from nearby production teams to go to school.”
“That’s great news, uncle.”
“Yes, the school location has been discussed by our team. We will first set up a temporary shed on the vacant land beside Comrade Fu’s house. It’s still hot, so the shed can hold for a while. When we find a place to build a proper building, we’ll move back.”
“Comrade Fu?? You mean Fu Wencheng?”
She remembered Fu Wencheng’s house had a vacant lot next to it, supposedly belonging to Shangjiaqiao brigade along with the homestead. Fu Wencheng was injured and kicked out of the family; Pang Jian arranged for him to live there.
“That’s him, that’s him. Poor Xiao Fu, but now his luck has turned around. Sigh, never mind, let’s not talk about it.”
Ming Leyao “…..” wasn’t sure if it was because of guilt, but she felt the brigade leader’s words were aimed at her.
After leaving the brigade office, Ming Leyao pushed Fu Wencheng’s matter aside. Now that the teacher situation was resolved, she needed to find out the old estate’s situation and see when they would make their move.
Thinking of this, she casually wandered near the old estate, checked that no one was around, quickly climbed over the courtyard wall, landed on the chicken coop, and then jumped into the courtyard. She made no noise at all — not even the chickens were startled.
Ming Leyao couldn’t help but sigh that the “lotus seed” (a metaphor here meaning the effect of the revitalization?) was really a good thing.
She crept around and came to the base of the rear window of the main house, quietly hiding there.
“Mom, what second brother told me the other day is true? You don’t even know. Yesterday when I told my mother-in-law, she was so happy she gave me a meat coupon to buy a pound of meat. That night, we ate braised pork.”
When the Ming family heard “braised pork,” everyone subconsciously swallowed their saliva. Only Ming Zhong calmly ate his pickled vegetable and porridge without joining the conversation.
Ming Leyao didn’t expect second aunt to come so quickly.
“Ming Hu, this is definitely true. That money-wasting woman is enjoying life with my son’s compensation money. How could I let her have it easy? I’ll just send her to your little uncle’s stupid son’s family. Ha, then she’ll have to listen to me, the elder.”
“Mom, my little uncle is rich. When the time comes, ask for more. Don’t forget to give me some.”
“Alright, alright. Mom never forgets you. Which time hasn’t she helped you?”
“Mom is the best.”
Usually, when the Ming family ate in the main room, family members’ spouses were not allowed. They would sit separately in the kitchen. Ming Hu, married to the Party Branch Secretary of Xiwang village, was considered an official’s wife in the old days. Plus, the old witch’s favor, so she was allowed to sit with everyone in the main room for meals.
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