She deliberately didn’t wipe her mouth, just so she could show off when she returned to the village.
When the Jiang Family heard the old lady talk about the big meats and braised pork intestines, they couldn’t control themselves and swallowed hard, thinking how great the eldest’s family’s meals were!
Looking at their own table set with various stir-fried greens and pickles, they suddenly lost their appetite, having not eaten meat for more than a week.
Only Zhao Xiaojuan, who was still nursing, got to eat some bacon or meat scraps every now and then.
In fact, the Jiang Family’s circumstances were already considered the best in the village because Jiang Changhai always brought a piece of pork home to nourish his family whenever he returned.
"Uncle’s family eats white rice, and their dishes are full of meat, and they can eat as much as they want. I ate a lot, and there are so many fun things in Mianmian’s room, things I’ve never even seen before," Zhiwu said, puffing out his belly and gesticulating excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Sun Lixia immediately regretted not joining the old lady and the others on their trip to the city to enjoy a meal at the eldest’s house.
However, thinking of her two sons enjoying a good meal there made her feel like she had gained something too.
After the meal, Zhang Guihua beckoned to the children: "Zhiwen, Zhiwu, Da Ya, Er Ya, Zhaodi, come here."
When the children came over, Zhang Guihua brought over the backpack she had carried today and handed Zhiwen and Zhiwu two metal pencil boxes with cool designs on them, saying with a smile, "Zhiwen, Zhiwu, the new term has started. You need to study hard."
"We know, grandma, don’t worry, we will definitely study hard," the two boys promised earnestly.
They meant what they said wholeheartedly, unlike their previous perfunctory assurances. After working through the summer vacation, they had finally realized the importance of education.
They truly did not want to work in the fields anymore!
Da Ya and Er Ya looked enviously at the pencil boxes in the boys’ hands, not daring to hope for their own.
After distributing the pencil boxes, the old lady took out a stack of exercise books and a bundle of pencils. She gave each child two exercise books, two pencils, and one eraser.
Da Ya and Er Ya had originally felt content just being able to go to school; they never expected to actually receive new stationery.
They cherished the new pencils and exercise books, quickly thanking her: "Thank you, grandma, we will study hard."
"Study well in the future and try to win a scholarship. If you get a scholarship, I will cook eggs for you," Zhang Guihua set the rule, mimicking her husband’s serious demeanor.
"Yes, grandma, we will," they replied.
Sitting nearby, Sun Lixia felt reassured seeing that the old lady had bought pencil boxes only for her sons, leaving the other girls without, and she was very pleased.
Hmph, even if Zhaodi had topped her grade last term, what of it? The old lady still favored her own sons! She still put the two boys ahead of them!
Thinking this, Sun Lixia flashed a smug smile at Er Ya’s parents, thinking that even though they had a son, it was useless; she had two sons!
Jiang Changhe and Zhao Xiaojuan, however, didn’t think as complicatedly as Sun Lixia. The old couple was already very content that several of the family’s girls could go to school.
Seeing that the old lady was now even willing to buy stationery for the girls touched them even more.
But for Zhaodi, holding the pen and paper in her hands, she was full of disdain. The old lady really never changed, always favoring boys over girls.