Chapter 5

The boss figured Lin Xi was just bragging and putting on a show to get attention. Following behind the two women to the store entrance, he spat at their backs:

“Pah! Poor nobodies, acting all high and mighty!”

Lin Xi heard him, but she had always believed that if a mad dog bit you, you shouldn’t pounce on it and bite back — you wait for the right moment to let it feel the pleasure of a good beating with a stick.

Tian Yufen, hand in hand with Lin Xi, also heard the words. She glanced at Lin Xi, who was calm as ever.

“She really does seem… different.”

At that moment, the “calm” Lin Xi thought: …Ow—my foot hurts… really hurts…

The two stepped into the smaller shop opposite. The shopkeeper was a young woman who looked to be in her twenties. Seeing them enter, she came forward with a friendly smile:

“Ladies, what are you looking for?”

Lin Xi took a quick look around. The store might be small, but it was well stocked — though with so much merchandise, space was naturally cramped.

She didn’t want to waste time; she wanted to finish buying and go back quickly — her foot hurt.

She stated her request directly:

“Boss lady, I’d like to see your cheapest small hair clips and headbands.”

The shopkeeper didn’t look down on her for asking for the cheapest items. She immediately brought them over and even added a few prettier styles for Lin Xi to consider:

“These are the cheap ones you asked for, but they don’t really stand out once worn. You’re so young and pretty, and your hair’s so nice — I think these few would suit you, too. Why not try them all on, and buy whichever fits you best?”

Though it was a sales pitch, the way she said it felt warm and pleasant.

Lin Xi examined the materials, then glanced around at the shop’s hair accessories.

By this time, headbands and hair clips were already getting flashy — bright colors and over-the-top designs everywhere.

She wanted the simplest plain models with no frills. A plain plastic headband cost 0.5 yuan apiece, a small hair clip was 0.15 yuan, and a bag of old-style elastic hair ties — 100 pieces — cost 0.8 yuan.

After some bargaining, she ended up buying 100 headbands, 100 hair clips, and 4 bags of elastic ties.

To her surprise, the store also carried yarn and fabric. The colors weren’t many, but enough for her needs.

Worried she might not have enough floral fabric at home, she bought 20 yuan’s worth, plus 10 yuan’s worth of yarn and a crochet hook.

Altogether, the purchases came to 95 yuan, and the shopkeeper even threw in five small spools of sewing thread.

When Tian Yufen heard the quantities Lin Xi was buying, she tried to dissuade her:

“Xiao Xi, we won’t be able to use so much. The ones you have at home are much prettier than these. Isn’t this a bit too much…”

While the shopkeeper stepped away to fetch something, Lin Xi explained patiently:

“Mom, I have a use for these things. And I brought enough money.”

Well, since she put it like that, Tian Yufen couldn’t say more for fear of upsetting her. She could only look on worriedly as Lin Xi paid.

Claiming there wasn’t enough space to turn around in the shop, Lin Xi stepped outside before setting down her carrying basket so the shopkeeper could bring everything out to pack.

Across the street, the boss of the other store had been leaning against the doorframe, waiting to laugh at the two “country bumpkins.” But soon, the smile froze on his face.

The two really did buy a basketful of goods! Watching the shopkeeper across the way chatting and laughing with Lin Xi, he felt deep regret — as if his guts had turned green. He wished he could slap himself. That lot must’ve been worth over a hundred yuan!

Once everything was packed, Tian Yufen set down her own empty basket and stepped forward to carry the full one instead, telling Lin Xi:

“Your foot hurts, I’ll carry it. It’s not that heavy.”

Lin Xi felt a touch of warmth in her heart. Since the supply and marketing cooperative wasn’t far, she said nothing and simply headed there with Tian Yufen.

In truth, Tian Yufen was thinking:

She’s probably just holding it in because we’re out in public. No telling when she’ll snap. If I take the initiative now, maybe she’ll cool down.

At the co-op, they weighed out some candies and biscuits. Tian Yufen pulled out money to pay, but Lin Xi stopped her:

“Mom, I brought enough. I’ve been eating so much from you — it’s only right I buy something for the family.”

Seeing no trace of impatience or anger in Lin Xi’s eyes, Tian Yufen’s guard began to lower. Maybe…

Lin Xi then had her buy rice, flour, sugar, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise — all the daily staples and seasonings.

She had wanted to get some meat, too, but it was already noon and the butcher’s stock was sold out.

So she bought 40 eggs instead — still nutritious and a good option.

Lin Xi insisted on paying for all of it. As she talked about how Xingxing and Yangyang were growing fast and needed good nutrition, she also bought two bags of milk powder for the children.

Without realizing it, Tian Yufen’s worries had completely faded. She felt she ought to trust her daughter-in-law again.

Once they’d bought almost everything on Lin Xi’s list, they hurried to the bus station — otherwise, there’d be no ride back to town.

Along the way, Tian Yufen was nearly stunned by Lin Xi’s shopping style. She had tried several times to stop her but never succeeded, and now she could only watch the money disappear — over a hundred yuan gone from Lin Xi’s pocket.

Halfway back, Tian Yufen switched her own lighter basket for Lin Xi’s, taking the heavier one herself. Lin Xi didn’t argue — her foot really hurt too much.

On the way to the station, Lin Xi bought 20 big pork buns. The two then boarded the bus with their full baskets to head back.

By the time they reached town, it was already afternoon. The rest of the way would have to be on foot. Tian Yufen glanced worriedly at Lin Xi’s foot.

Looking up, she spotted two people ahead driving an ox cart. Her eyes lit up with joy, and she called out:

“Third Sister-in-law!”

The people on the ox cart turned at the sound. Seeing the two women, they stopped. The woman on the cart called back to Tian Yufen:

“Yufen, what are you doing here? And with so many things? Come on, ride with us — it’ll be dark soon, and it’s not safe to walk with all that stuff.”

Lin Xi’s heart leapt with joy! She’d been dreading the long walk, certain her foot might give out — but now her mother-in-law had managed to get them an ox cart.

“Lin Xi, that’s my third sister-in-law from my mother’s side. You should call her Third Auntie.”

Tian Yufen pointed to the woman on the cart, who had turned back to wave at them, and introduced her.

They had been getting along all day, and she didn’t know if Lin Xi would greet her or not — but judging from today’s attitude, it shouldn’t be too bad.

To Lin Xi, Huang Cuihua — waving from the ox cart — looked like a fairy descending to earth. Well… a middle-aged fairy was still a fairy.

She gritted her teeth, quickened her pace, and followed Tian Yufen toward the cart, her smile bright as could be.

Huang Cuihua knew who Lin Xi was. Back when she’d heard her nephew had married a beautiful city girl, she and her sisters-in-law had happily gone to help out.

But the bride’s nose hadn’t been a nose and her face hadn’t been a face — she’d looked down on them completely, never even sparing them a proper glance.

She had even complained about them smelling of earth, telling them to stay away from her. If it hadn’t been for her sister and nephew’s sake, Huang Cuihua would’ve pretended not to know her — and maybe even spat on the ground if they crossed paths!

When the two reached the ox cart, Huang Cuihua smiled and moved to take the basket from Tian Yufen’s back.

Tian Sanzhu put down the rope and whip for the ox and reached to take Lin Xi’s basket, but Huang Cuihua stopped him with a kick:

“Hold the ox steady and keep the cart from shaking — that way Sis can get on easily.”