Chapter 53

When Ning Shu came out of the clothing factory, she was extremely happy.

This trip was definitely worthwhile. Not only did she earn an extra 200 yuan, but she also signed a design agreement with Director Wang.

She would provide four designs for the clothing factory each year, one for each season, and each design would earn her 50 yuan.

That added up to 200 yuan a year, equivalent to the income of a temporary worker for a year.

It’s not that Director Wang was being stingy; there were two main reasons:

Firstly, intellectual property rights were still quite superficial in this era. Once Ning Shu’s designs hit the market, other clothing factories could easily replicate them.

This made the design sketches not as valuable.

Secondly, the concept of design itself wasn’t seen as valuable in the eyes of people in this era.

Although it was a form of skill, it was different from the technical skills of a technician.

But for Ning Shu, earning an extra 200 yuan was pretty good. She felt so good that she didn’t even charge for the design of the camouflage coat and cotton-padded jacket set this time; she gave it to Director Wang directly.

“Mom, did you earn a lot of money today?” Erbao’s eyes widened as he watched his mother count the money.

His mother was so amazing, she earned so much money.

“Yes, but when we go back to the brigade, you can’t tell anyone. If someone finds out, everyone will come to borrow money, and we’ll run out of money. Then we won’t be able to buy meat, fruit, or rice. Understand?”

Ning Shu didn’t deceive them by saying she didn’t earn much money. Instead, she felt that teaching them was more appropriate than deceiving them.

“Mom, I’m not like San Bao. I’m already a big kid. I definitely won’t tell anyone,” Erbao said, staring. Nobody would be allowed to borrow money for his meat, fruit, or rice.

“Mom, I won’t tell either.” Yi Bao shook his head like a rattle, shaking his head so much that he got dizzy, afraid that his mother wouldn’t believe him.

“Bao won’t tell.” Sanbao covered his mouth.

Ning Shu wanted to roll her eyes at Erbao after hearing the three kids’ words. She wanted to say that Sanbao, being so young, was the least likely to speak out because he didn’t understand anything. “Since you’re all so well-behaved, how about we go to the state-owned restaurant for lunch today?”

“Mom, what’s a state-owned restaurant?” Erbao was immediately interested when he heard about eating.

“I know what a state-owned restaurant is…” Yi Bao said, “I heard my aunt say that her classmate would go to the state-owned restaurant to eat, but she had no money, so she never went.”

Sanbao still covered his mouth. Mom said not to speak, so why were the others talking? They weren’t being good.

Erbao, hearing what his brother said, quickly asked Mom, “Mom, can we invite Auntie to eat with us?”

He was young and didn’t understand many things, but he knew that Auntie had never eaten at a state-owned restaurant, so he wanted to invite her since they were going.

Yibao pursed his lips. He felt this was wrong.

They were still supported by Mom, using Mom’s money.

They shouldn’t let Mom also bring Auntie to eat.

But he was a bit confused because when they were at home, Mom also invited Hai Cai to eat with them. So, could they invite Auntie or not?

Ning Shu neither opposed nor approved but instead asked, “But I only brought enough money for the four of us today. If you want to invite Auntie to eat with us, you’ll have to share some of your portion with Auntie. Is that okay?”

Upon hearing this, Yibao said without waiting for Erbao’s answer, “Mom, I can share some of my portion with Auntie.”

San Bao Son finally stopped covering his mouth. Everyone was talking, so why couldn’t he? He was also going to speak.

He said angrily, “Bao’s portion is for Mom.” His voice was particularly loud because he was upset.

Ning Shu was moved by her sons’ actions. What should she do?

Yibao and Erbao felt a bit embarrassed after hearing Sanbao’s words.

They also quickly expressed, “I can share mine with Mom too.”

“And mine too.”

Ning Shu patted Sanbao’s head. “Thank you, Yibao , Erbao and Sanbao.”

Sanbao was too young to understand what he meant by giving to Mom, but what he gave to Ning Shu was the most direct affection.

However, when Yibao and Erbao also said they would give to her, that direct affection disappeared.

Of course, Yibao and Erbao were filial. After living together for the past two months, Ning Shu knew that they were filial too.

Their responses just now were simply because she had asked them such a question.

So, the children just focused on answering the question.

At the beginning, she only treated them as roommates, after all, they lived together. She also treated them as the sons of the landlord, as Lin Guodong would send money back every month, and there was even some left over after spending on them, which she kept for herself.

She also treated them as a comfort when she felt lonely.

Having only one heart in a strange world was very lonely.

But with their chattering voices, it felt like a warm stove. They had changed in her heart.

There’s an old saying that even raising a dog can create affection, let alone people? It seemed like she was blending into the role of a mother.

When you blend in, you care, especially when they treat others better than they treat you.

“Mom?” Elder Son was a sensitive child. Although he didn’t feel that Mom was angry, he vaguely sensed that Mom seemed to have something on her mind.

He looked at her with a worried and helpless look, along with the fragility of a child.

Erbao looked at Mom, then at Yibao, but couldn’t understand.

Meeting Yibao’s eyes, Ning Shu came back to her senses.

She smiled at Yibao, “Sit tight, I’m going to ride the bike. Let’s go…”

“Let’s go…” Erbao reached out as if he was going to fly.

“Let’s go…” Sanbao rubbed Mom’s waist with his small hand, his little mouth smiling so much that it seemed like he was drooling.

Then, he hugged Mom, his cheek pressing against hers, and his drool sticking to Ning Shu’s clothes.

Yibao wasn’t as happy as his two younger brothers. He furrowed his brow.

The bicycle quickly arrived at County No. 2 Middle School.

“Comrade, can you help me call someone?” Ning Shu shouted towards the guard booth, where the person looked to be in his forties.

Guard: “Hello, who are you looking for?”

Ning Shu: “I’m looking for Lin Xiaojing, a senior in high school. I’m her sister-in-law.”

The guard looked at Ning Shu pushing her bicycle, accompanied by three children. She didn’t seem like a bad person. “Can I call her? Which class is Lin Xiaojing in?”

Ning Shu: “… I’m sorry, we don’t live together, so I don’t know which class she’s in. I brought the children to eat at the state-owned restaurant today and thought since she’s studying in the county, I’d come and invite her.”

Guard: “Oh?” The guard frowned. “I’ll have to ask class by class. There are three classes in senior high. You’ll have to wait a bit.”

Ning Shu: “No problem, thank you so much.”

(Class 2) Senior 3

When Lin Xiaojing heard the guard’s words, she frowned as well. “My sister-in-law is looking for me to eat at the state-owned restaurant? Could it be someone else?”

She didn’t have such a sister-in-law. Big Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law would never go to a state-owned restaurant.

Ning Shu… might go often, but wouldn’t invite her.

Guard: “It’s impossible. I’ve asked all three classes of senior high, and you’re the only Lin Xiaojing. That lady is riding a bicycle and has three children with her. She doesn’t seem like a fraud. Why don’t you go and see? It’s inside the school, so you won’t be in danger even if she’s a fraud.”

Lin Xiaojing caught on, “She’s with three children? Are two of them twins?” If that was the case, it might be Ning Shu.

But why would Ning Shu invite her to eat at the state-owned restaurant? Could it be a prank?

Lin Xiaojing remembered when she returned home earlier, her family mentioned Ning Shu and the clothing factory.

They praised Ning Shu for her luck in getting in. Hearing her mother praise Ning Shu, she silently swallowed the fact that she had also taken the exam.

Later, her mother said that Ning Shu sold her job because of a conflict with the director of the clothing factory.

At that time, she felt that Ning Shu was really open-minded. If it were her, she would definitely not give up that job.

Knowing that Ning Shu sold her job for 200 more than the market price, she thought Ning Shu was amazing for daring to negotiate with the director of the clothing factory.

Yes, Ning Shu has always been amazing. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have married her third brother.

Lin Xiaojing didn’t dislike Ning Shu as much now. Since she started treating the three kids well, and especially after their encounter at the clothing factory, and then hearing that Ning Shu gave up her job there, her feelings had softened.

In fact, she even envied Ning Shu a bit. Ning Shu lived so vividly and freely, a quality she didn’t possess.

Not to mention a country girl like her, even many city girls couldn’t live as vibrantly as Ning Shu.

Guard: “I didn’t pay much attention to whether they were twins, but that lady was quite fair-skinned.” Such fair skin would leave a deep impression.

Lin Xiaojing: “Got it, I’ll go take a look.”

Lin Xiaojing followed the guard to the entrance, or rather, before reaching the entrance, she saw Ning Shu and the three kids from afar.

It really was Ning Shu.

For a moment, Lin Xiaojing thought about retreating back to the classroom.

But seeing her three nephews there, she gritted her teeth and went forward.

Even if Ning Shu embarrassed her later, she’d just have to accept it.

“Little aunt, little aunt…” Erbao saw Lin Xiaojing and waved happily, shouting, “Little aunt, we’re looking for you to go to the state-owned restaurant together.”

Hearing Erbao, Lin Xiaojing felt like she was hallucinating.

She didn’t respond, but walked to the entrance and glanced at the three kids. Seeing that they had gained weight, she felt relieved.

Then she looked at Ning Shu. “Why are you looking for me?”

Her tone wasn’t very good; she was used to talking to Ning Shu like this.

Ning Shu didn’t say much, just explained the situation. “I happened to be in town for some errands and planned to take them to the state-owned restaurant for a meal. But the two brothers wanted to invite you along.”

It really was because of them; otherwise, she wouldn’t have thought of inviting Lin Xiaojing.

Of course, she couldn’t say it like Yibao did, implying that Lin Xiaojing had never been to a state-owned restaurant, which might make her feel embarrassed.

Hearing that her nephews were thinking of her, Lin Xiaojing was also happy.

“Thank you, Yibao and Erbao.”

Then, she awkwardly said to Ning Shu, “I think I’ll pass. I… I have some pocket money my mother gave me, but I don’t have a ticket.”