Chapter 54: I Want to Eat White Noodles

Someone like Cheng Hongying would never know pain unless she truly felt the sting of loss.

If she gave in this time, she’d just do it again the next.

“You go get the fabric and cotton back. I swear I’ll make it myself this time.”

“That stuff’s been sitting around for nearly twenty days. If you really meant to make it, you would’ve done it already.”

Cheng Hongying was fuming. “This time I really mean it! I’ll get it done before New Year’s Eve, okay?” Even though she knew her daughter was doing it for her own good, she still couldn’t accept how easily the girl threw money at problems.

Was it so hard to talk things through properly? Why insist on spending so much money on a coat she could’ve sewn herself?

Qiu Yinuo didn’t bother responding. “You’ve lost your credibility.”

“What credibility? I’m your mother, I said—”

“If you say one more word, I’ll go give her even more money.”

“Qiu Yinuo, don’t you go crazy on me. I must’ve owed you something in a past life…” Cheng Hongying muttered, deciding she’d rather swallow her pride and ask for the money back herself.

She was so upset she barely touched her dinner.

Once everyone had eaten and returned to their rooms, she snuck out of the house.

As soon as she left, Qiu Qianjin went to his sister’s room to report.

 “Sis, Mom’s gone. I think she’s heading to Aunt Ma’s place. She must be trying to get the money back.”

“I know.”

“You know and you’re so calm about it?”

“Before Mom even came to find me, I’d already made arrangements with Aunt Ma. We agreed to put on a little act and fool her. Even if she didn’t go, Aunt Ma would’ve come to return the money anyway. I’m not stupid, spending four bucks to make a cotton-padded jacket.”

Right now, she wasn’t making money, so her money had to be spent wisely.

Qiu Qianjin was stunned for a moment and then gave her a thumbs up. “Sis, your brain’s got more twists than a lotus root. I don’t admire many people, but I admire you.”

“Go away! Don’t disturb my sleep.”

“Okay!”

Qiu Qianjin didn’t get angry. When he left, he made sure to close the door gently.

He Ziqing shook her head, smiling. “Actually, Qianjin is a good kid. You don’t need to be so harsh with him, Sister Yinuo.”

“Qianjin isn’t bad at heart, but he’s too impetuous. His personality is unstable, and just a little attention will make him think he’s the best. If I don’t keep him in check, he’ll get into trouble sooner or later.”

Since coming into this world, life had been mostly smooth for her. Apart from worrying about where her next meal would come from, she hadn’t had any major troubles.

She was content with the current situation, even with her family.

No matter if it was her sharp-tongued but soft-hearted mother or her carefree younger brother, she liked them both.

Of course, she hoped they could live better and that even small changes would improve things.

Before the twins grew up, she was counting on her brother to support her.

Cheng Hongying successfully got back the two bucks, and her mood was lifted.

She went straight to the kitchen to prepare the dough, as it was the custom here to make steamed buns and other treats on the 28th of the twelfth month.

Qiu Yinuo followed her into the kitchen and asked suspiciously, “Where did you go just now?”

Cheng Hongying jumped in surprise, patting her chest hard. “You scared me! Where could I have gone? I went to the restroom.”

She didn’t want to dwell on the matter and easily changed the topic. “Tomorrow we’ll steam some rice cakes. Use more white flour. Didn’t I give you money for the New Year? Don’t be stingy with it.”

“Why are you so picky? Why insist on eating white flour? Do you know how many pounds of white flour we just bought this year?”

“So what if I want to eat something nice for the New Year?”

“How can you, a grown person, be so greedy? Next year, Dabao and Erbao will be able to eat solid food, so save the white flour for them.”

Qiu Yinuo nodded. “Fine, I’ll buy it at a high price.”

“You… you… are you trying to make me angry?” Cheng Hongying grabbed her and pulled her back, afraid that she might go out and throw money around again. “Eat, I’ll make sure you have enough! But don’t go playing the fool with other people again.”

She angrily scooped some more white flour. “Is this enough?”

“Not enough, add more!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll give you enough to eat. After the New Year, our whole family will be surviving on nothing but the wind from the northwest.”

After preparing the dough, Cheng Hongying was ready to go back to her room to sleep.

Looking at Qiu Qianjin, who was lying on the kang and reading a comic book, she was instantly filled with frustration. “It’s so late, and you’re still not asleep? What are you wasting electricity for?”

Ever since their village got electricity thanks to Taolin Village’s connection, the household expenses had only increased. And now that her daughter was back, they still didn’t even know how high the electric bill would be.

Money seemed to be on her mind every moment. Cheng Hongying had really gotten tired of living in poverty.

Without mercy, she yanked the electric light cord by the door, and the room immediately went dark. “Go to bed. If you keep wasting electricity, I’ll spank you until your backside is red.”

Qiu Qianjin looked out the window, where he could still see that his sister’s room had its light on. “Mom, why does my sister get to keep the light on? Why don’t you go tell her?”

Cheng Hongying had just sneakily gotten the two bucks back, so she was feeling guilty now.

Using the dim light from the window, she slapped Qiu Qianjin. “Shut up! I was almost asleep, and you woke me up!”

Qiu Qianjin: “…”

…

On the 28th of the twelfth month, it was time to make steamed rice cakes, steamed buns, and stick flowers on them.

In the morning, Cheng Hongying felt in a good mood as she felt the extra two bucks in her pocket.

She even let Qiu Yinuo sleep a little longer. Although the girl spent money recklessly, it was all to make her new clothes, so thinking about it made Cheng Hongying calm down.

Wang Hongxia, at the eastern end of the village, had five sons, and none of them had bought new clothes for her or their wives. Her girl, however, was filial.

Qiu Yinuo woke up to the fragrant smell of the steamed rice cakes, and her stomach was already growling.

With her current build, she could eat three meals a day and still feel hungry.

The first thing she did after getting out of bed was wash her face, and the second thing was head straight to the kitchen.

He Ziqing saw her enter and immediately knew she was hungry. She quickly handed her a warm piece of steamed rice cake. “Sister Yinuo, try it. How does it taste?”

The steamed rice cake was soft and sweet, almost like real sponge cake.

She ate three pieces in one go. At that moment, Cheng Hongying shouted to He Ziqing, “Qingqing, the bean paste buns are ready, put them in the steamer… Why are you always in the kitchen the moment you wake up? You didn’t even go check on Dabao and Erbao first.”

“They have you to look after them. I’m not worried.” Ever since she returned home and He Ziqing had recovered, she and her mother had been taking turns watching the twins so that Qiu Yinuo could sleep a bit longer. She would just prepare the milk powder and feed the babies at night, which wasn’t too much trouble.

Once they hit six months and started on solid food, she planned to wean them off.

Qiu Yinuo now regretted her earlier stubbornness. If she’d agreed to return to the village when her mom first asked, wouldn’t she have started living this good life a whole month earlier?

While she and her mother were chatting, He Ziqing’s voice suddenly came from outside. “Sister Yinuo, the people from Taolin Village are here again. They want you to go and change some parts, and they also asked if they could watch you do it.”

“Now?”

“Yes!”

“Why the rush?” She thought it would be after the New Year.

“Village Head Lin said he can’t enjoy the holiday unless that tractor is fixed. He wants to know if you can come now?”

Qiu Yinuo replied without hesitation, “I’ll go. Invite them in to warm up a bit—I’ll change clothes and leave with them right after.”