Chapter 15

“When you and big brother both passed the high school entrance exam, mom only supported big brother to go to school. We can say that the Song family is poor and can’t afford to support two people. But now big brother is a formal employee and eats government food, mom still only thinks about him. He gets a salary of dozens of yuan a month, but has he ever given any of it to the family? But you, like an old ox, only know how to work hard, and you give all the work points you earn to the family. Xiaohua doesn’t even have money to buy a piece of candy.”

Li Guizhi felt aggrieved. Among the four children in the Song family, her son Song Chengcai did the most.

But what’s the point of doing the most? My father-in-law and mother-in-law think it’s their right and they are so dissatisfied.

Song Chengcai laughed innocently, “Why should we divide the family so clearly? I am not as smart as my elder brother, and I won’t be able to finish high school even if I pass the entrance exam.”

“How do you know you can’t read it if you haven’t read it? Song Chengcai, I say you are stupid!” Li Guizhi was furious and sat up from the kang.

“Let’s not talk about my eldest brother. Just look at my third brother. He’s a good talker, but he doesn’t do as much work as you do. But mom likes him. And my little sister, no matter how bad she was in the past, mom is willing to support her. If there are any good things at home, I will send them to her. And look at what we have? There is only endless work to do and endless anger to endure!”

“The third son will be 24 this year. Will we have to help pay for his wedding? I admit that I am weak because I didn’t give birth to a son, but I don’t want you, the Song family, to bully me. I think it’s better to split up the family!”

Li Guizhi became more and more excited as she spoke, and there was a cry in her suppressed voice. If she was not afraid of waking up her daughter, she would have had a fight with Song Chengcai.

Song Chengcai was also feeling uneasy. They were all sons, and he was the most honest one. But they were all brothers and sisters, and every family helped each other.

Since his eldest brother is not with his parents, as the second oldest brother, he naturally has to take care of his parents and siblings.

“Didn’t the work points earned by the third child go to mom? And my little sister has sent food over a few times in the past few days. As for my eldest brother, everything he does in the city costs money, and he may not have as much money as us. Mom and dad raised us, so isn’t it my duty to work harder?”

Song Chengcai comforted his wife, “Next year I will work harder so that Xiaohua can have candy every day.”

“Is this about sugar?” Li Guizhi shook off his hand and turned her back.

Her parents-in-law are partial to her, her husband is foolishly filial, and she has been married for seven or eight years, but she cannot save a single dollar. What hope is there in such a life?

That night, Li Guizhi cried until her tears ran dry.

……

After He Linyuan left, Song Li changed the bedding and quilt and pasted old newspapers on the wall. Although it still looked tattered, it was much cleaner.

She plans to buy two large wardrobes next time she goes to the city. Before, the three of them had no clothes to wear, but now she has more clothes than she can wear out in her space.

When the two children fell asleep, Song Li quietly entered the space.

She planted the seeds she bought during the day, and set aside half a plot of land for two ginseng seeds.

Although the soil in the space was of excellent quality, she was not sure if she could grow anything there.

After planting, the ripe fruits and vegetables were picked. After several plantings, Song Li has figured out the patterns of the space.

Her original ten-square-meter space was static, but the soil in the space was like one day outside and one year inside.

The jujube tree planted a few days ago has grown as thick as her waist. The dates it produces in a day are too numerous to eat. Fortunately, the state of the dates will not change after they are ripe, so even if she doesn’t pick them, they will not go bad.

Song Li felt that this rule was very humane, otherwise she would have to spend a lot more time just picking and storing.

After breakfast the next day, Song Li still left the two children at Old Song’s house.

Today she brought two extra date cakes and also gave Xiaohua a red hairband.

Zhang Xiu said not to let her take it away, “You just gave it yesterday, what are you giving today? Lin Yuan should leave some money for you, don’t just think about giving to your parents.”

Song Li didn’t respond. “I got the red dates from home, and I didn’t spend He Linyuan’s money. Besides, you didn’t eat the ones I brought yesterday, so it’s a good opportunity to try them today.”

“Red dates are only worth a few dollars, and they are made of sugar and flour. We farmers can’t bear to eat them. Mom wants to wait until the New Year for your brother to come back and have a taste together.”

“That will be two or three months later. It’s not like there will be no more jujube cakes in the future. Just make them during the Chinese New Year. Don’t just think about my eldest brother. He can’t afford any good food in the city. My second and third brothers have worked hard for a year, so they deserve some nourishment.”

Zhang Xiu had a strong personality, and his sons were all a bit foolishly filial. They didn’t think it was a big deal now, but how could they not have objections in the long run?

Zhang Xiu still listened to his daughter’s words, “Okay, then let’s make up for it. However, although this jujube cake is a good thing, you can’t eat it all at once. Just give each person half a piece to taste it, and eat the rest slowly.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you, mom.”

Zhang Xiu was used to being poor, and Song Li didn’t expect her to suddenly become generous. As long as she didn’t leave all her things to Song Chengye and his wife, it would be fine.

Didn’t you see that my second sister-in-law next to me had red eyes, obviously she had cried last night?

Although Li Guizhi has her own little thoughts, she is an honest and kind person. When the original owner gave birth to twins, she didn’t want to raise them, and it was Li Guizhi who fed them with milk. The original owner also ridiculed her second sister-in-law for not being able to give birth to a son. If she were replaced by a more aggressive one, it would be strange if she didn’t turn the old Song family upside down.

“Come here, Xiaohua. Auntie will tie a red hairband for you.”

Xiaohua has been coveting Qingqing’s hairband for a long time. Today, the little girl was not wearing a hat. She tied two little buns on her shiny black hair with a red hairband, making her as cute as little Nezha.

“Aunt, do I have one too?”

After all, she is a child, and Xiaohua’s eyes are sparkling.

“Of course.” Song Li gave her the same pigtail hairstyle as Qingqing, “Our little flower is so pretty.”

Xiaohua blushed, she liked her aunt so much.

“Mom, Qingqing is pretty too.”

Seeing that her mother only praised her sister and not her, Qingqing hugged her mother’s legs in jealousy.

“Yes, Qingqing baby is also beautiful.”

Song Li smiled and pinched the little girl’s chubby face, her eyes full of pampering.

Li Guizhi was surprised. How could this person change so much? Could it be that He Linyuan was going to divorce and scared his sister-in-law?

Li Guizhi thought somewhat darkly, it would be great if He Linyuan could scare her every day.

But no one in the Song family doubted it. Hasn’t their daughter/sister always been like this?

So the original owner was able to keep acting like this because the people in the Song family had too thick a filter for her.

After Song Li finished giving his instructions, he went into the city carrying his backpack.

Although she thought the date cake was good, she was still unsure how it would sell.

When she saw Xiang Qian’s happy face at the black market, Song Li knew that this business was secure.

“Sister Li, they are all sold out! Many people didn’t get one yesterday and are waiting to buy it today!”

I knew business was good, but I didn’t expect it to be this good.

Yesterday he listened to Song Li and took a piece of date cake for a sample. Many people thought it was expensive at first, but after tasting it, everyone bought it.

Twenty kilograms were sold out in one hour, except for two kilograms for tasting.