Chapter 4

This time, hearing that she was going to the county again, Tian Yufen felt as if the money in her pocket was shivering in fear. She tentatively asked,

“Um… are you running out of something? The road to town is far, and I’m afraid if you make the trip you’ll end up with sore feet again like last time. Why don’t you rest at home—tell me what you need, and I can go buy it for you.”

Lin Xi hadn’t planned on hiding her intention to earn some money, but since she hadn’t actually started yet, she felt there was no need to say anything now—it could wait until later. So she replied,

“Mom, you can just call me Lin Xi or Xiaoxi. Let’s go together! I have quite a few things I want to buy, so we can take a look together.”

Tian Yufen completely ignored the part about calling her by name—her ears only caught the words quite a few things to buy…

Her face immediately fell. Could she refuse? No. If she refused today, the house would surely end up in chaos—yelling, smashing, maybe even hitting.

Say there’s no money? That wouldn’t work either. Last time she said that, Lin Xi had marched straight into her room to search and ended up smashing a bunch of her belongings.

She didn’t dare say no, so she said instead,

“Lin Xi, I… I’ll go change into another set of clothes.”

With that, she turned and went back to her room.

Lin Xi remembered the original owner’s grand trip to the county and understood why the old lady’s face looked like she’d bitten into a bitter melon. She didn’t think it was unreasonable.

After all, last time the original owner had gone to the county, she’d waved her hand like a big spender—buying everything in sight and even hiring a vehicle to haul it all back.

Speaking of which, the floral fabric she’d bought last time still hadn’t been made into dresses.

Back then, she’d originally wanted to buy ready-made dresses, but how could the styles in this little county compare to the trendy ones in the provincial capital?

So she’d asked Tian Yufen, found out she could sew, and decided to buy two changes of clothes plus two pieces of floral fabric to have her make two dresses to order.

But she’d only ever known how to wear and choose clothes—she had no idea how to describe the styles she wanted. Which was why those two pieces of fabric were still sitting untouched in her room.

Thinking about them now, Lin Xi suddenly had an idea.

She took 100 yuan out of the 300 she had, put it back in its place, and kept the remaining 200 yuan close to her body.

Pickpockets were common these days, and this was all the money she had—it couldn’t be lost.

Before long, Tian Yufen came out wearing clothes without any patches this time.

Since her daughter-in-law hadn’t told her to bring extra money, she only brought 20 yuan. If Lin Xi insisted on checking later, she could take out a little more; if not, she’d just stick with this. That way, once the money was gone, she’d probably stop buying.

Anyway, if Lin Xi wanted to scold her later, so be it—better to be scolded than have all the money spent.

In the next couple of days, she’d have to find a way to send a telegram to her son to come back and see if the two of them could talk things out. If not, they’d just have to give her some money and have them divorce.

Money wasn’t the biggest issue—she’d always thought her daughter-in-law was just upset and that if she treated her well and gave in more, she’d eventually come around.

But now, with little Xingxing and Yangyang—if either child got out of sight, they’d be beaten. Their bodies were still covered with bruises. She couldn’t keep enduring this.

Thinking of this, she squeezed the 20 yuan in her pocket and said,

“Lin Xi, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Lin Xi glanced at the faded blue cotton clothes she wore but didn’t comment. She just grabbed a carrying basket and slung it over her back.

Seeing this, Tian Yufen was puzzled.

What’s going on today? She’s actually willing to carry a basket? Wasn’t she always saying that country things were dirty and smelly, all covered in mud?

Thinking this, she quickly stepped forward to take it from Lin Xi.

“Let me carry it. You’re not used to this thing.”

“It’s fine. I’m afraid one basket won’t be enough—you can carry another one.”

Lin Xi’s tone was casual, but to Tian Yufen it was like a bolt from the blue.

One basket isn’t enough?! She wants another one?!

She felt uneasy but still tried to say,

“We don’t have much money right now. Qingyan’s stipend hasn’t been transferred yet, and most of our money was spent last time we went to the county…”

“Mom, I’m paying for this trip. You just need to help carry things. Don’t worry—I’ve got it.”

Lin Xi found that once she’d called her “Mom” the first time, it wasn’t so hard anymore. After reassuring Tian Yufen, she turned to the two little rascals.

“You two behave at home. Don’t go outside, and no matter who knocks before we get back, don’t open the door. Stay here and wait for me to come back—I’ll buy you some candy. Yangyang, take care of your sister.”

The kids still looked wary, afraid, even hostile, but Lin Xi didn’t take it to heart.

They’d just have to get used to each other. She’d never truly had a family before.

If in the end they still couldn’t get along, she’d leave. Judging from things, that husband who’d run off overnight was probably eager for a divorce anyway.

She didn’t dwell on it and left with Tian Yufen, each carrying a basket. Since Tian Yufen didn’t trust the kids to be alone, she asked Aunt Liu next door to keep an eye on them.

It was mealtime, so they didn’t meet many people on the road.

After half an hour walking mountain paths to town, they took a bus for over an hour before reaching the county.

Lin Xi felt like she must have huge blisters on her feet—every step was sharp pain.

Tian Yufen noticed her limping and, feeling soft-hearted, suggested,

“Why don’t you tell me what you want to buy? I can go, and you can sit somewhere to rest.”

Lin Xi shook her head, hiding the pain.

“It’s fine. We’re already here anyway.”

Tian Yufen looked at this stubborn Lin Xi and felt something she couldn’t quite name. Before, even the slightest discomfort would set her off.

She remembered last time they came—walking from home to town took over an hour because Lin Xi kept complaining she couldn’t go on, and they even hitched part of the way on an ox cart. Without that, it might have taken two hours.

But today, she hadn’t complained once. Even when she was clearly tired, she only rested briefly—and she’d even paid for the bus herself, refusing to let Tian Yufen pay.

Lin Xi didn’t know what Tian Yufen was thinking. She gritted her teeth against the pain in her feet and used the original owner’s memories of the county—still fresh since it wasn’t long ago—to find the hair accessory shop she’d been to before.

Tian Yufen followed silently, expecting Lin Xi to buy the same expensive hair clips—two or three yuan each—and then move on to clothes and other things.

Maybe she’d only paid the bus fare because it was cheap. Tian Yufen sighed. The money she’d brought probably wouldn’t buy much—would Lin Xi cause a scene in the county?

And sure enough…

As soon as Lin Xi entered the shop, she pointed at a pretty little hair clip and asked the owner,

“How much is this?”

The shopkeeper, a man in his forties, had already noticed the two of them and, seeing their clothes, looked at them with open disdain.

Impatiently, he said,

“That one’s a yuan and a half.”

Lin Xi wasn’t from this era, but she had the era’s memories. For a hair clip that wasn’t even the newest style, the most it should cost was six or seven mao. He was obviously trying to rip them off.

“Boss, that’s way too expensive.”

Even Tian Yufen couldn’t help speaking up—she was worried Lin Xi would agree without thinking. The price really was outrageous.

Hearing this, the shopkeeper glanced at them again. Seeing Lin Xi about to pick up the clip, he barked sharply,

“Hey, hey, hey! If you can’t afford it, don’t touch it. These are all new—if you dirty it and can’t pay, I’ll never be able to sell it!”

Lin Xi looked at him expressionlessly and asked,

“So what you’re saying is, you’ve already decided I can’t afford it?

Fine then—it looks like you don’t care about my measly few dozen yuan.

Forget it. This county doesn’t just have your shop selling these. Mom, let’s go buy from that one across the street.”

With that, she turned and pulled Tian Yufen out, heading straight for the smaller shop opposite.