Chapter 41: Can’t You Be a Little Gentler?

When Qiu Qianjin stumbled into the house looking dazed and confused, Qiu Yinuo asked calmly, “Did Grandpa give you the money?”

“You knew he was going to give me money?”

Of course she knew—she was the one who tricked him into it.

“Sis, what’s going on with Grandpa and Grandma? Usually, I can barely get a few bucks from them, but suddenly they give me 150 yuan. I feel so uneasy about it.”

“150 yuan?”

The loud voice startled the siblings, and Qiu Qianjin patted his chest. “Mom, lower your voice! You scared me to death.”

Cheng Hongying immediately pressed, “Why did your Grandpa and Grandma suddenly give you so much money?”

Before her son could answer, she asked again, “Did something happen to them?”

“Don’t ask me. Ask my sister,” Qianjin replied. He really didn’t know anything.

Qiu Yinuo didn’t bother to hide the truth. She explained how she had schemed and managed to coax the money out of the old couple. “At first I wasn’t planning to do anything about it. But then Auntie went through all that trouble to send them over, and I couldn’t just ignore her efforts.”

Cheng Hongying exchanged a look with her son, both of them twitching their lips. This girl—his sister—really had a dark heart.

“When the house is finished, we’ll invite Grandpa and Grandma over to stay for a few days. After all, they contributed money, we can’t let them spend it for nothing,” Qiu Yinuo added.

“And since they’ve paid up, I won’t compete over the new house anymore. Don’t want them thinking I’m trying to take advantage. I’ll take the larger room in the renovated house across the way.”

As for how she would design the interior layout, she still needed to think about it.

Getting to live in a new house without spending a cent—what a great deal.

Qiu Qianjin pouted. “I’m the one who gave it to you, it’s not like you stole it. Just move in and enjoy the new place!”

Qiu Yinuo gave him a side glance. “Don’t go stirring up unnecessary trouble for me.”

“Listen to your sister,” Cheng Hongying agreed. “Now we have an extra 150 yuan. If nothing else, we can tear the old house down properly and fix it up for your sister, make it look brand new.”

Thinking about the 150 yuan from her in-laws, Cheng Hongying felt a little guilty. “Jinzi, your eldest uncle and youngest uncle aren’t dependable, and your grandparents have always favored you since you were a kid. If one day those two refuse to care for your grandparents, you must step up for your father’s sake. Take care of them in their old age.”

Qiu Yinuo had no objections to filial piety.

After all, Qiu Qianjin had enjoyed the favor of Grandpa and Grandma, so he should be prepared to repay it.

Jinzi nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take care of Grandpa and Grandma.”

He also handed over the money in his pocket to Cheng Hongying. “Mom, you and my sister take this money. I don’t need it.”

“Even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t let you. The moment there’s more than a few coins in your pocket, they start itching to escape.”

Outside the house, He Ziqing had already set the table for dinner and shouted, “Aunt, Yinuo, Jinzi, dinner’s ready!”

Unknowingly, the three of them had been talking for quite a while.

Cheng Hongying frowned. “I was planning to cook dinner with Qingqing, but it turns out the child had already made it all.”

“To be honest, Qingqing is really capable.” The five yuan wasn’t wasted after all.

…

Another half month passed, and the two houses next door had risen from the ground. The two buildings connected to form an L-shape. Just looking at them from the outside, they appeared particularly grand, drawing plenty of envy from the neighbors.

Cheng Hongying instructed the workers to come over for a meal in a couple of days. When the house was completed, it was only right to invite people over to socialize.

Once all the helpers had left, Cheng Hongying and Qiu Yinuo began making their guest list. “We definitely need to invite your uncle and second uncle’s family. Oh, and your eldest aunt too. She’s in the village next door. It would look bad if we don’t invite her. Your second aunt is too far away, so let’s not bother with her.”

“Village head, the party secretary, the accountant, and the timekeeper should all be invited.”

“And don’t forget the people who helped with the work,” Cheng Hongying glanced at the list her son had written. “How many people is that in total?”

“At least four tables,” came the reply.

“Each table can fit eight people. If we estimate conservatively, that’s around thirty people,” Qiu Yinuo asked, “Can you and Qingqing manage to cook for all these people?”

Cheng Hongying responded with an exasperated tone, “You don’t want to help, do you?”

Since getting married, this girl had become increasingly lazy.

“Exactly. I’m not planning to help.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Hongying was nearly driven to the point of losing her temper. “How can you say that so confidently? If you’re not going to help, I’ll have to find someone else.”

“Go ahead, just get a few extra hands, and I’ll have an easier time. I have to look after the kids and entertain the guests—how can I find time to cook?”

“Forget it. I really can’t count on you. Jinzi, later on, go run an errand and ask your Eldest Aunt and Little Aunt to come early to help out.”

Qiu Yinuo frowned. “I suggest you ask the neighbors, the aunties and sisters-in-law nearby, for help. As for Aunt and Little Aunt, better leave them out.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Do you think my eldest aunt will actually help out seriously, or that my younger uncle’s wife won’t stash away our food and sneak it home later?” Honestly, neither of those two women could be trusted.

Cheng Hongying sighed. “You’re right about that.”

“Find the neighbors to help. At least they’ll be happy if we give them some food afterward. If it were my aunts, they might even badmouth you for being stingy behind your back.”

Cheng Hongying’s temper flared. “Fine, we won’t ask them then. I’ll get Sister Hehua from next door and Jiawang’s mother. Those two work well and are reliable.”

“Okay, it’s settled then.” Qiu Yinuo lazily yawned. “It’s getting late, let’s get some rest. I have to get up early tomorrow to go to the market.”

“Buy things that are affordable and practical, something that gives good value for money. Don’t get those flashy things that are a waste of money.”

With the house almost done, Cheng Hongying was feeling at ease. However, life still had to go on, and it was always better to save where possible.

“Got it.”

After the house was built, Qiu Yinuo, He Ziqing, and the two kids continued living in the old house’s main room.

In an effort to save on firewood, Cheng Hongying stubbornly refused to sleep separately from her son.

She insisted on waiting until the weather warmed up, and they no longer needed to make a fire to keep warm before they could each sleep in their own rooms.

The next day, before dawn, Cheng Hongying crept into Niu’er’s room. “Niu’er, it’s getting late, it’s almost six. Zhang Dazhi, who drives the ox cart, will be leaving soon.”

Qiu Yinuo, who had a chronic problem with getting up early, only wanted to snuggle under the blankets and sleep.

“Just a few more minutes.”

Cheng Hongying patiently tried to coax her, but when she still didn’t get up, she threw back the covers.

“Qiu Yinuo, get up quickly!”

A rush of cold air hit her, and she instantly woke up.

Before she could fully adjust, Cheng Hongying ruthlessly yanked the pillow from under her head, causing her to bang her head on the kang. The pain made her clutch her sore scalp. “Can’t you be a little gentler?”

“Alright, I’ll be gentler.” Cheng Hongying then moved Dabao and Erbao’s blankets to the corner of the bed, speaking softly, “Our Dabao and Erbao, you two sleep well. Grandma will make your milk once I finish folding the blankets.”

Qiu Yinuo: “…”