Read Novel Full Chapter 98
Chapter 98 : Objects in the City
Li Youtian advised her, “Lizi knows what’s going on, so stop nagging.”
“I’m just anxious. I heard that Qin, the educated youth from our team who got married in the winter, is pregnant. Lizi got married several months before her, so why is there still no news?”
Li Youtian calculated, and it seemed to be true.
Zhao Jingui was worried. “Could it be that this child has been too malnourished these past two years and it has affected her health? No, I have to find a way to get her some good food to supplement her. Go ask the villagers if anyone has any herval, and we can buy some and send it to her.”
“Okay, I’ll go later.”
Zhu Xia, who was eavesdropping in the courtyard, curled her lips and said, “How much money does your family have? Why are you so eager to send things to other people’s families?”
But she only murmured this under her breath. She looked at Daniu, who was playing with firecrackers nearby, and rolled her eyes. “Daniu, go tell grandma that you want some candy and New Year’s money too. If grandma doesn’t give it to you, you’ll cry and roll on the ground, do you hear me?”
Li Daniu’s mouth watered when he heard about the candy. He rushed into the kitchen and grabbed Zhao Jingui’s trouser leg to ask for money. Zhao Jingui advised him, “Didn’t you eat candy today? Eat it tomorrow.”
“I don’t want the ones from home, I want Mai miao’s candy bars and New Year’s money.”
Zhao Jingui was furious. This kid knew exactly what lucky money was and even specifically asked for candy. It was clear that Zhu Xia had instigated this.
“Xia, come here.”
When Zhu Xia was called by her mother-in-law, she shuddered but dared not disobey, moving forward slowly.
“I don’t want to hit the child during the New Year, but if you keep being so restless and coveting the children’s New Year’s money, then I won’t be polite.”
Zhu Xia, scolded by her mother-in-law, felt a bit dissatisfied. “Mom, Daniu is also a child of the family. Why can everyone else eat it, but Daniu doesn’t get a share? We’re all children in the same family. Why didn’t she give the New Year’s money to Da Niu? Why did Jiang Li give her the right?”
“Why? They can spend their money however they want. It’s not your place to decide. When you told the children not to go to Bailutang to pay New Year’s greetings in the afternoon, it was because you didn’t want him to walk the road, but you still wanted to take all the benefits. Do you think it’s that simple? Also, you want to eat it yourself but push your child to ask for it. What kind of mother is that? You’ve corrupted a good child.”
Zhu Xia was scolded and angrily went into the house.
Compared to the large population of the Li family, the Jiang family next door was often quiet.
“Where is Tianci going again?”
Jiang Changyi frowned and asked Wang Juhua. Wang Juhua was a little nervous and replied, “Where else can he go in this cold weather? I guess he went out for a walk. The child is upset, so don’t keep scolding him.”
“Did you give him money again? He’s getting worse and worse. He disappears every two or three days and comes home late at night.”
“Where is the money at home? You have all the big money. Don’t you need to use the little money I have for food, drink, and toilet?”
Wang Juhua felt a little guilty. She did feel sorry for Tianci. The child had been unhappy ever since he was expelled from school. From time to time, she gave him one or two yuan so he could go to the county and buy some food to cheer him up.
Jiang Tianci walked in despite the snow and wind. He didn’t even greet his parents when he saw them. Jiang Changyi was furious, “Stop right there. Where have you been?”
Jiang Tianci kept his head down and didn’t answer. Wang Juhua, sharp-eyed, immediately noticed a red mark on Jiang Tianci’s neck. “What’s wrong with your neck? Did you fall?”
She reached out to touch it, but found that it would come off as soon as she rubbed it. Wang Juhua raised her hand to smell it, and it turned out to be lipstick. “Tianci, do you have a girlfriend outside? Where is she from? From the commune? Or from the county?”
Wang Juhua’s heart skipped a beat. Not only did he have a partner, but it seemed like they were very close. She couldn’t accept it right away, “Child, are you talking?”
Jiang Changyi raised his hand to hit him, “You haven’t been home these days. It turns out you’ve been fooling around. How old are you? If someone reports you for having an affair, will you be sent to the farm?”
Seeing Wang Juhua crying and Jiang Changyi furious, Jiang Tianci felt a deep sense of impatience. He pushed Jiang Changyi away and said, “None of your business!”
Jiang Changyi was caught off guard and was pushed to the ground. Looking at his tall, strong son with anger on his face, for the first time, he felt a bit of fear.
Jiang Tianci turned and went into the house, and Wang Juhua followed him in. It was unclear what they talked about inside, but when Wang Juhua came out, her face was full of joy.
She pulled Jiang Changyi over and said, “I’ve already asked Tianci. His girlfriend is from the county. I heard she’s devoted to him. She doesn’t want a dowry for the marriage, and she said she can help him find a job. As long as we get together 200 yuan, everything will be fine.”
Wang Juhua was delighted at the thought of her son working hard, finding a job, and marrying a wife. Who said being expelled from school meant you had to work in the fields?
Look how capable her son is, he can marry a wife without spending a penny.
Jiang Changyi was half-believing, half-doubting. He didn’t trust Jiang Tianci. He was a country boy, had been expelled from school, and wasn’t outstanding academically.
What city girl would want to marry someone from the countryside? Not to mention that she promised to help him find a job, clearly a lie.
“Do you think work is like cabbage in the field, something you can just pick up whenever you want?”
Jiang Changyi poured cold water on her enthusiasm as soon as he opened his mouth. Wang Juhua was upset. With her son’s looks and education, wouldn’t it be easy for him to find a city girl?
“What do you mean? Do you look down on our son? Or do you really want to see our son succeed?”
Jiang Changyi was too lazy to argue with a woman whose mind was clouded, “Anyway, the two hundred dollars cannot be touched.”
Wang Juhua couldn’t persuade him, so she hurried to the kitchen. It was such a cold day, and the children hadn’t eaten yet since they came back from outside, so she had to get some eggs to fill their stomachs.
Wang Juhua brought the stewed eggs into the room and found Jiang Tianci slamming the cabinet shut. He turned around, fell on the bed, and covered his face with the quilt impatiently, “Why did you come in again!”
Wang Juhua put the eggs on the table and patiently coaxed Jiang Tianci, “Son, mother made stewed eggs. You must be hungry. Come quickly.”
“I’m not hungry! I’m sleepy and need to sleep, so take it away quickly.”
The cabinet door, which wasn’t fully closed, opened a small gap, and something fell out. Wang Juhua glanced quickly and found that it was a small, bright red dress, which didn’t look like something a young girl would wear.
“Mom, please get out now. I want to sleep.”
Before Wang Juhua had a chance to ask about the clothes, Jiang Tianci pushed her out the door.
She began to wonder about this young man, how old was he, and what was his family situation like? No, she had to ask him about it some other day.