Seeing them take the bait, Jiāng Lín smiled.

Although Dabao and Xiaobao learned to recite books quickly from their grandparents, they didn’t like learning to read and write, especially Xiaobao, who couldn’t sit still for long.

As for Wensheng, Jiang Lín found him very obedient and quick to learn.

Often, he would learn something after just one try and would eagerly take over chores to let her rest, showing how considerate he was.

Unconsciously, Jiang Lín had begun to overlook his appearance and truly saw him as an older brother to Dabao and Xiaobao.

So Jiang Lín took him with her to repair roofs and lay tiles.

If any child dared to insult him, she would immediately scold them back, scaring those children from ever daring to chase and insult him again.

As Jiang Lín and Wensheng moved around together, outsiders noticed his resemblance to Cheng Rushan, his older age compared to Chéng Yunzhi, and his closeness with Jiang Lín, leading to quiet discussions.

However, given Cheng Rushan’s fierceness and Jiang Lin’s toughness, no one dared to gossip openly.

Discussions about adult relationships and children insulting others were naturally different matters.

If Jiang Lín found out, they would be in deep trouble.

Therefore, even if they were curious, no one dared to openly discuss such matters.

When some people heard Wensheng call Jiang Lin “mother,” they not only didn’t feel like gossiping but also sympathized with him—what a poor child.

Especially seeing him work alongside Jiang Lín, efficient and well-behaved like a child, innocent and carefree.

Gradually, sympathy grew, and no child dared to chase after him and call him “fool” anymore.

There were also elderly people who remembered Wenshēng’s lively demeanor as a child and couldn’t bear to see him suffer silently.

They quietly provided remedies to Yán Runzhi, hoping it might help him, though it was more for their own peace of mind than any real usefulness.

One day, when Jiang Lin returned with Wénshēng from Hòumiàozi Village after laying tiles, the sun was setting, and the autumn breeze was cool, making it the most comfortable temperature.

Wensheng picked a bunch of wildflowers and ran back, saying, “Mom, these are for you,” as he handed them to Jiāng Lín.

Jiang Lin hugged them and said with a smile, “They’re beautiful.”

Just then, a few women returning from work saw Jiang Lín and Wensheng and couldn’t help but gossip quietly.

One of them caught up with Jiāng Lín and asked, “Jiang Zhiqing, when will our house get its tiles laid?”

Jiāng Lin casually replied, “I’m following the list, one by one. When did you buy your tiles?”

The woman from Suotou said a date, and Jiang Lín checked her notebook, finding no record of it.

Perplexed, the woman asked, “I told you earlier, why isn’t it there? Did you forget to write it down for me?”

Jiang Lín understood and replied, “You did say it, but you haven’t paid yet.”

When they were about to buy tiles before, Jiang Lin had shouted to them several times, “We’re going to buy tiles tomorrow. Please pay quickly after making reservations. I don’t have money to pay in advance.”

Some people, if you don’t make it clear to them, think that since you have money, you should help them pay in advance.

They keep dragging their feet and don’t want to pay back.

Regarding buying tiles, clearly it’s their own roof that’s leaking, so they should take proactive action.

But there are a few households who just sigh all day about how bad things are, even though Jiang Lin has proposed improvement methods.

They still just sigh and don’t take any practical action.

For such people, Jiang Lin just shrugged, “Whatever, it’s not my roof leaking anyway.”

Most people paid promptly because Jiang Lin said she would distribute the tiles in the order of payment received, without any special treatment.

Jiang Lin kept accounts.

Some households paid a few bucks, some a dozen, and some pooled together a few hundred bucks.

Mrs. Suo Tou didn’t keep records.

Mrs. Suo Tou was a bit embarrassed, “Really? I remember I paid.”

Jiang Lin said, “You paid for the house repairs, not for the tiles.”

Later, another woman overheard and ran over, “Jiang Zhiqing, we also want to buy tiles. We’ll come to pay you tonight.”

Unable to hold back anymore, seeing neighbors already had their roofs tiled while her own was still thatched, it was really unsightly.

Especially after a light rain a few days ago, water leakage was unavoidable.

Jiang Lin told them to just go ahead, then took Wensheng home.

Cheng Yunzhi was spinning cotton and reciting Tang poetry with the kids.

Although Jiang Lin told Cheng Yunzhi not to work, he couldn’t sit still.

If he didn’t work hard in the fields, he applied to the brigade to help spin yarn and earn work points.

Yanghong Brigade’s Miaoziliang had sideline textile work, from picking cotton, carding cotton, spinning cotton strips, spinning yarn, weaving fabric, dyeing, and more.

“Mom, we learned a new poem.” The kids ran over to Jiang Lin and Wensheng when they came back.

Jiang Lin smiled, “Recite it, let’s hear.”

The Dabao stood straight, hands on thighs. “Returning to the countryside to write a book, Mom, who do you think wrote it? What dynasty?”

Jiang Lin: “!!! You think I wouldn’t know? I just haven’t used it in many years, but I still remember from my childhood.”

She smiled at the younger one, “Come on, you go first, let’s see if you know.”

Xiaobao: “I know! Returning to the countryside to write a book, by He Zhizhang, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty! and must be very sweet!”

“Ha ha ha.” Jiang Lin and Da Bao laughed together; this boy always wanted to eat candy.

When reciting, his grandpa taught him, “The great poet of the Tang Dynasty.”

He added his own line, “The Tang Dynasty must be very sweet.” And then he remembered it as the Sweet Dynasty Great Poet.

Wen Sheng immediately said, “I can do it too, ‘Leaving home young and returning old…’” He recited a verse and then proudly raised his chin, seeking praise.

Jiang Lin said, “Wen Sheng is great. Da Bao and Xiao Bao are also great.”

Xiao Bao asked, “Mom, do we get a piece of candy as a reward?”

Jiang Lin replied, “I’ll reward you with the Tang Dynasty instead, it’s sweet for three hundred years.”

Xiao Bao pouted, “Lin Lin, you’re so sneaky.”

Yan Runzhi, already preparing dinner, laughed, “Lin Lin has been trained by you. She’s always on guard against your little tricks.”

Jiang Lin went to wash her hands and face, getting ready for dinner.

Dinner was egg dumpling soup.

Use a bit of oil to stir-fry some chopped green onions, add in crushed tomatoes until the red oil comes out, then add water and bring it to a boil.

Pour in the already mixed dough pieces, then add beaten eggs, sprinkle with chopped spinach or other leafy greens, stir well, and it’s ready to serve.

It smelled delicious.

Jiang Lin could drink two big bowls without needing any staple food.

Yan Runzhi saw her eating so happily and teased, “There are no potatoes. If there were some small potato chunks in it, it would be even more delicious.” She referred to potatoes as “ground beans” or “ground eggs.”

Jiang Lin said, “Let’s plant some potatoes ourselves.”

Yan Runzhi replied, “We don’t plant many here; they don’t grow well. They keep getting smaller and smaller, it’s not worth it.”

Potatoes prefer cold climates and are usually bred and widely grown in the northeastern and northwestern regions of China.

In warmer places, the seeds degenerate, resulting in smaller yields each year. After two years, they become tiny.

Locals find planting potatoes a waste of space, preferring crops like squash, which can be stored and eaten throughout the winter.

Besides the dumpling soup, Yan Runzhi also made a few pumpkin pancakes.

Small squashes from the zucchini family go well with eggs.

She grated them, sprinkled them with salt to remove moisture, mixed them with eggs and flour, and fried them in oil until they were fragrant and delicious.

Even with minimal oil, they weren’t greasy, but Yan Runzhi still made a dipping sauce for them.

Whenever Jiang Lin and the children praised the food, Yan Runzhi felt a surge of happiness and contentment.

For her, family reunions with children and grandchildren were the greatest joy.

Just as Jiang Lin finished eating, a few women came by to pay, including Gousheng’s mother.

After finishing his meal, Cheng Yunzhi took Wen Sheng, Da Bao, and Xiao Bao out for a walk, while Jiang Lin attended to the women.

Most people paid promptly and thanked Jiang Lin for her help.

However, there was always one or two who were either picky or critical, always finding faults and demanding perfection, such as insisting every tile be smooth without any defects.

Some even felt jealous seeing Jiang Lin’s improved meals, thinking their own hard-earned eggs were being eaten by Jiang Lin’s family, which made them uncomfortable and bitter in their words.

…..

She loved her family but didn’t necessarily love the village.

To her, the village was just a stopover, not a place where she’d get entangled in the social dynamics and have to compromise.

Moreover, she was an educated youth, and her in-laws’ past status made their relationship with the villagers complicated; she didn’t care much.

No one lives for someone else, and no one should have to put up with someone stepping on them!