Chapter 64: The Hardships of the Uneducated

The house was topped out. 

Thanks to their father and uncle, and Qiao Jiangxin’s design, it was two small two-bedroom, one-living-room houses side-by-side, with the kitchen and utility rooms outside.

This way, they could easily separate when the uncle got married.

The tiles had been delivered, and they could be installed in a few days.  Then, they would paint the walls, and the house would be almost finished.

Qiao Jiangxin carried two bowls towards the north of the village, one with fish bones and one with cooked fish.

After the topping-out ceremony, there were fewer taboos, and Liu Xinyan often looked at the house when the Qiao family went home for meals.

So, no one was left to watch over the construction site during lunch.

“Sister Xinyan”

Qiao Jiangxin called out. Before Liu Xinyan could respond, her dog excitedly ran out.

Its tail wagged furiously, licking Qiao Jiangxin’s feet and nudging her legs.

Qiao Jiangxin smiled, “Lick-dog, you’re the fastest.”

Liu Xinyan ran out of the yard with a pair of chopsticks.

“You didn’t even call, and it ran out.”

Qiao Jiangxin handed her the food, “Are you eating? Here.”

Liu Xinyan took the food and led Qiao Jiangxin inside, “Have you eaten? Want to join us?

We made stuffed tofu, with meat filling.”

Old Man Cheng called from inside, “Daya, come in.”

Qiao Jiangxin looked inside.  An old square table, Old Man Cheng, and a man were sitting there.

The man sat upright, expressionless.  Seeing Qiao Jiangxin, he nodded politely.

Qiao Jiangxin smiled back, greeted Old Man Cheng, and politely refused, “I’ve eaten.  Eat your meal. I’ll give the dog some bones.”

Liu Xinyan didn’t insist and took the fish inside.

The dog was already waiting by its bowl, tail wagging, its tongue lolling out.

Qiao Jiangxin put the bowl down, “Lick-dog, eat.”

The dog focused on its food. Qiao Jiangxin knelt beside it, stroking its fur.

“You get treats from me often, so you must watch over our new house and patrol around.

If you see bad guys, bite their butts.

Be diligent, okay? I’ll bring you more treats tomorrow!”

Liu Xinyan came out with a bowl of rice, two stuffed tofu, and the fish Qiao Jiangxin had brought.

She picked up a piece of stuffed tofu with her chopsticks and insisted Qiao Jiangxin eat it.

Qiao Jiangxin reluctantly took a bite and almost spat it out.

She whispered, “Who made this?”

Liu Xinyan’s face was wooden, “I did…”

Qiao Jiangxin was speechless, “The tofu and meat are wasted. You’re a talent. I’ve never seen stuffed tofu with bitter melon.

And you added salt to the filling, and then added more salt while cooking?

It’s too salty! No wonder you said even lick-dogs don’t like your cooking.”

Liu Xinyan was flustered, “I didn’t know! We always ate in the canteen in the compound.

And at the military hospital, there’s also a canteen. I rarely cook. I tried my best.

Third Aunt said bitter melon is cooling, and it’s hot, so I added it.”

Liu Xinyan cautiously glanced inside, “It’s good you brought food. When you called, Old Man Cheng’s eyes lit up.

Sigh, an old man and a patient eating this… it’s a sin.”

Liu Xinyan picked up a piece of fish and ate it, humming contentedly, “Auntie’s cooking is still the best.”

“Jiangxin, ask your mother if she wants another daughter. I’ll be her daughter.”

Qiao Jiangxin rolled her eyes, “My mother doesn’t want another daughter, and I made this; it has nothing to do with my mother.”

Liu Xinyan’s eyes lit up.

Qiao Jiangxin quickly raised her hand, “I don’t want another daughter either.”

In her past life, she had been a housewife in the Chen family for over thirty years.

For many years, to supplement the family income, she also made boxed lunches to sell at construction sites.

Her cooking skills were excellent, even in this area.

Most people didn’t use much oil when cooking, usually stewing everything together. The taste wasn’t good.

Liu Xinyan looked at the large vat, “Jiangxin, teach me how to cook this fish.”

She whispered, “I think Gu Yunzhou likes it.  Fish soup is nutritious.  When we went to market, people said they bought fish for breastfeeding mothers.”

Qiao Jiangxin glanced at the large vat under the eaves, “Didn’t you say those were your son’s fish?

The lick-dog climbed up and got its paws dirty, and you chased it around and beat it.”

Liu Xinyan said while eating, “I raised him for many days; it’s time for him to repay me.”

Qiao Jiangxin said, “I’ll teach you how to cook; you teach me how to read?”

Liu Xinyan had heard Qiao Jiangxin say she started school at seven, only reading three semesters (two semesters a year, three semesters means finishing the first year) before being forced to work.

“Okay, it’s a deal. I’ll teach you. I graduated from high school; I can definitely teach you.”

Qiao Jiangxin’s eyes lit up, “Good. I’ll take the bowls back and get the books. Wait for me at home.”

Qiao Fangfang had finished fifth grade, and Qiao Jianguo and Qiao Jianhua had finished junior high school; they had plenty of books.

Qiao Jiangxin, without being noticed, went into the storeroom and carried out a clean burlap sack she had carefully kept before the family split.

In her past life, she suffered because of her lack of education. She was looked down upon everywhere.

Especially when accompanying Che Jinmei and her husband to the hospital, Qiao Jiangxin couldn’t understand the complicated procedures on the electronic screen, so she had to ask people repeatedly for help and signatures.

Those with good tempers would help her; those with bad tempers would ignore her.

She was already nervous, and the people behind her impatiently urged her, “Ma’am, can you hurry up? There are many people behind you.”

“Yes, figure it out before you come out. Don’t waste everyone’s time!”

At such times, Qiao Jiangxin would bow repeatedly and apologize.

Even when selling boxed lunches and working, she suffered because of her lack of education.

Chen Wende and Chen Zhi were unwilling to talk to her because they thought she was stupid.

They didn’t want to take her out or tell her what she was doing wrong.

They would only say, “What do you know?”

Qiao Jiangxin could only cook for the family, brew medicine for her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and add dishes her sister-in-law and brother-in-law liked when they came home.

When they were chatting and laughing, she couldn’t join in because she was uneducated.

Even when smartphones became popular, she only used an old-fashioned phone. She couldn’t shop online or order takeout. She tried to fit in and learn, but she had a bad memory.

She asked Chen Wende to teach her, and he said, “You’re too stupid; it’s a waste of time.”

She asked Chen Zhi, and he said the same thing.

Lack of education was a source of deep insecurity for Qiao Jiangxin in her past life. 

It left her behind, with no one willing to help her.