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Chapter 10
Half an hour later, Jiang Xi was tired from writing, so she put down her pen, rubbed her neck, and turned Pei Hejun over.
At this time, it was completely quiet outside.
Two o’clock was when everyone went to work. The Pei family had a banquet today, and everyone had been busy all afternoon, so by now, half past two, the village was mostly empty except for a few playful children.
Only then did Jiang Xi feel like going outside.
The two younger sisters were finishing up cleaning the yard, sweeping away garbage from the banquet. When they saw Jiang Xi coming out, they all shouted, “Big Sister!”
Jiang Xi went over and took their brooms: “Let me do it.”
“No, no, we’re almost done.” Jiang Ermei dodged her hand and quickly swept away a pile of garbage: “Auntie is returning the tables and benches. Big sister, you’ve been working all day. Go and rest.”
When hosting banquets at home, extra tables and chairs are borrowed from neighbors and returned after use.
Jiang Sanmei handed her the trash can and said, “Sister, I’m going to eat some melon seeds. Auntie just gave me a lot. Do you want some?”
“I’m not tired and don’t want to eat. If you want some, go ahead, but don’t spit out the shells,” Jiang Xi said, waving her hand. She worked with Jiang Ermei to clean up the yard and let Ermei go eat as well.
Jiang Xi watched as the younger sisters ate.
Jiang Sanmei felt uncomfortable being watched and offered some melon seeds: “Big sister, do you want some?”
Jiang Xi shook her head and took out a piece of paper from her pocket. It had drawings of leaves and flowers, all the same plant drawn from different angles.
The second and third sisters leaned in but couldn’t make out what it was: “Sister, what’s this?”
“Does it look familiar?”
Jiang Xi smiled and said, “Would you help me find this plant in areas with lush vegetation? I’ll pay ten cents per kilogram.”
The plant in the drawing is Patchouli, which is not uncommon in the village but not abundant either. It helps refresh the mind and relieve heatstroke. As a doctor, Jiang Xi needs her own supply of herbs.
Since Pei Hejun cannot be left alone for long, Jiang Xi needs someone to gather it. These two younger sisters are perfect for the job. If they can’t do it, she’ll need to think of another solution.
Jiang Sanmei’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly agreed: “Yes! I’ll go right away!”
She tried to grab the paper.
Even if she wasn’t sure how much it was worth, ten cents was a lot! If she found it slowly, she could gather a kilogram!
Jiang Ermei said honestly, “Sister, I’ll find it for you, but I don’t want any money. You can keep it.”
Jiang Sanmei’s excitement faded, but she agreed: “Then I don’t want it either.”
Jiang Xi laughed: “No, I still have ten cents left. For now, keep this picture. Go when you have time, but you still need to help with housework, okay?”
“I understand!” Jiang Sanmei said loudly. She pulled on her second sister’s sleeve and added, “Second sister, just accept what big sister gave you. You can use it to buy pens and notebooks in the future!”
Jiang Ermei nodded and said seriously, “Then let’s go now.”
“Go ahead.” Jiang Sanmei followed.
Jiang Xi smiled and told them to return before dark and avoid the mountains.
After explaining, the two sisters ran off hand in hand.
Pei’s mother returned from delivering the table and chairs. She saw Jiang Xi and asked, “What did those two girls do? They looked so happy.”
Jiang Xi stretched, got some water, and took the sugar jar from the house, saying, “I asked them to pick herbs for me and paid them ten cents for their work.”
“No wonder.” Mother Pei smiled more warmly. She wasn’t upset that Jiang Xi used money to send her sisters away. She was sweaty from moving things and was about to drink the water Jiang Xi poured. But she saw Jiang Xi adding sugar to the water and was shocked: “Why put sugar in it? Isn’t that a waste!”
Jiang Xi smiled and said, “It’s not wasteful. Eating well keeps you healthy.”
Mother Pei felt a bit touched and happy. The sweet taste made her feel dizzy.
She had always been frugal, giving away things bought by her son to her grandchildren. But since Jiang Xi came, she had been given things directly. She didn’t expect her daughter-in-law to care about her.
Jiang Xi made herself a cup of sugar water. The original owner had been malnourished and needed proper care.
_
After Pei’s mother finished drinking and took a breath, she eagerly went back inside. She came out holding a wooden box filled with money and bills. She handed it to Jiang Xi: “This is the gift money from today. It includes money and bills. Please take it.”
Jiang Xi quickly shook her head: “I don’t want it, Mom. I’ll need to repay it in the future. Just keep it.”
Mother Pei frowned: “Take it. Your father and I will handle the gift repayment in the future.”
Jiang Xi still refused firmly. Mother Pei gave up and said helplessly: “Alright, Mom will keep it for now, but you must take this.”
She pulled out a passbook from the bottom of the box: “This is the allowance that the third brother has saved over the years. He spent some on food and drinks for me and your father, and I borrowed some from your elder brothers before. This is what’s left.”
Jiang Xi took it this time. She didn’t expect much in the passbook—maybe a few hundred yuan.
But when she looked at it, she was shocked.
Two thousand two hundred yuan!
Jiang Xi took a deep breath and quickly tried to return the passbook: “Mom, this is too much. You should keep it.”
“No, this is the money he saved for marriage. Now that you’re married, it’s yours,” Mother Pei said with mixed emotions. She handed it over again and went to put the wooden box away. “The weather is getting hotter. Your father didn’t bring water when he left, so I’ll go get him some.”
Jiang Xi could only hold the heavy passbook and added: “Then please give Dad two spoonfuls of sugar too. Don’t forget!”
Mother Pei laughed and agreed, though she thought to herself that her husband was lucky to benefit from their daughter-in-law’s generosity.
Jiang Xi went into the room holding the passbook, looked at it several times, and confirmed it was indeed two thousand two.
She wondered how much Pei Hejun earned as a soldier.
She recalled meeting Lu Jianguo, who said a battalion commander earned more than 700 yuan a month and could save around 800 yuan a year if frugal.
Pei Hejun was 25 years old and had been in the army for seven years since he was 17. The army provides food and accommodation, so it’s understandable he could save that much.
Jiang Xi couldn’t believe it. How could someone save all their salary?
In her previous life as a doctor with a good salary, even saving all her money was considered frugal.
Pei Hejun is really impressive. He can save most of his money for his wife while also occasionally helping his parents with food and drink.
Jiang Xi knew she wouldn’t need the money immediately, so she hid it carefully, searching through drawers and boxes.
Two thousand two hundred yuan is a huge amount of money in this era. Once buying and selling are more common in the future, Jiang Xi plans to buy a house for investment, or it will be wasted.
_
While Jiang Xi was hiding the money, Pei’s mother was bringing water to her husband.
The workplace was far, so it took a while. When Pei’s father got the water, he was so thirsty that he almost drank pond water. He took a big gulp and then noticed it was sweet.
Mother Pei scolded him: “Xiaoxi said you are tired from work and need something nice to drink.”
Pei’s father smiled, wrinkles on his thin face deepening with joy. He took another sip and said, “Alright, you can go back now. Is there any meat at home? Cook some meat tonight. Xiaoxi looks quite thin.”
“I kept one thing especially.” Mother Pei nodded. It was sunny, and she was eager to leave, so she turned and went on her way.
She greeted people she knew on the street.
“Hey, bringing drinks to the men!”
“Yes, that old man left in such a hurry he forgot his kettle, so we had to bring it,” Pei’s mother complained with a smile.
After she left, people gathered and talked. The woman in the blue floral headscarf said, “Oh, things have changed. A few days ago, she was so sad and her eyes were swollen from crying, but now she’s smiling.”
The woman in the floral shirt next to her said, “Everyone knows her two sons aren’t close, so she relies on the youngest. She was unhappy before, but now she’s lucky to have a daughter-in-law.”
At that moment, a woman with a bitter face frowned and said, “What’s good about it? What kind of girl is she? She doesn’t care about her own mother and uncle and married without asking for anything.”
The woman in the floral shirt sneered, “She’s not cruel to raise her younger sisters. We know what kind of person her uncle is. If my daughter-in-law had such an in-law family, I wouldn’t let her stay! Look at the Jiang family before—their assets were emptied after the man died. I think she’s done well!”
The bitter-faced woman frowned and was about to speak when a loud argument broke out in front: “You lazy woman, are you slacking off all day? Did I marry you just to see you slack off?! Don’t you want today’s work points?!”
The bitter-faced woman looked sympathetic and said nothing more.
The woman in the floral shirt lamented, “What a shame! Xisheng’s mother is scolding his wife again. Xisheng’s wife looked very unhappy today. She even vomited several times. I told her to rest, but she refused. In the end, she was scolded!”
The woman in the blue floral headscarf added, “Xisheng is useless. He lets his mother bully his wife. She’ll be driven to death. Let’s see who will marry Xisheng in the future!”
As they talked, Pei’s mother was drawn to the noise and stopped. She saw a woman lying on the edge of the field, vomiting continuously.
An old lady with a mean face pointed at her and scolded: “Why are you pretending to be so ill? A hen that doesn’t lay eggs can’t earn work points. What do you want me to do with her?!”
Pei’s mother couldn’t bear it and suggested: “Xisheng’s mother, your daughter-in-law seems sick. Why not let Xisheng take her to the clinic? It could be serious.”
“Her life is worthless. Why go to the clinic? It’s a waste of money!” Xisheng’s mother immediately refused, not wanting to spend money on her daughter-in-law.
Xisheng’s wife, already vomiting, was now even more distressed, as if she would throw up all her bitterness.
Pei’s mother felt bad but could only give up. It wasn’t her family affair, so interfering wouldn’t be appropriate.
Just as she was about to leave, her eldest daughter-in-law spoke up: “Auntie Fen, my third sister-in-law is very skilled. I heard she learned medical skills from an old doctor. Let her treat Xisheng’s wife. If she doesn’t, you’ll have to spend money to find another wife.”
Pei’s mother glared at Xu Cui, annoyed by her words.
The old lady who had refused treatment was now interested and smiled, “Is that what He Jun’s mother thinks? I’ll go find your daughter-in-law right away.”
Mother Pei hurriedly said, “She’s talking nonsense. My third daughter-in-law is only good with dislocations. Your case is much more serious. She can’t handle it!”
But if Xisheng’s mother believed the treatment would work, they’d get praise. If it didn’t work, they’d have to pay compensation.
Xisheng’s mother had done this before. When Xisheng’s wife was pregnant and had a stomachache, she was sent to the clinic. After losing the baby, the old lady demanded five yuan in compensation from the doctor.
Xu Cui wasn’t afraid of Pei’s mother. With the third son gone, the old lady would rather trust an outsider than give up the pension.
She spoke even louder: “Auntie Fen, don’t underestimate my mother. She’s modest. My third brother’s wife is amazing. During the lunch banquet, she saved a choking child in no time. You can go without worry!”
“Xu Cui! Do you believe I won’t beat you if you keep talking nonsense?!” Pei’s mother was furious. She picked up a hoe from the ground and waved it at Xu Cui.
Xu Cui quickly moved away and added, “It’s good that mom saved someone. Why are you so angry?!”
She smiled and glanced at Xisheng’s wife lying on the field, looking like she was near death.
Xisheng’s wife had been acting strange, going to the toilet often, stumbling, and sweating profusely. Her face was pale, and her muscles twitched.
If Jiang Xi can cure this condition, it will be really impressive!
When she is blackmailed, will her mother-in-law still have the nerve to praise her daughter-in-law?
As expected, Xisheng’s mother, who didn’t want to spend money to marry a daughter-in-law, decided it was better to take advantage of the situation and started calling people: “Xisheng, come here and carry your wife to find He Jun’s wife; she can cure it!”
_
Pei Family
Jiang Xi, who was chatting with the system, suddenly saw a new task appear on the translucent screen in front of her: [Task 14: Treat people with food poisoning, task reward: 20 points].
***
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