After feeding the rebellious Little Lian’en and washing thoroughly with three basins of dirty water, it was already late morning.
Since everything now is about being revolutionary, and the whole country is advocating diligence and thrift. Lianshan wanted to give his son a grand full moon banquet so that everyone in the ten-mile radius would know that even though this wasn’t his biological son, he had the heart of a true father, but he didn’t have the chance.
Why? Because he feared being accused of extravagance and waste, showing bourgeois tendencies of hedonism.
Being a proper poor farmer for eight generations, maintaining a pure lineage wasn’t easy. Regardless of his desires, he didn’t dare joke around with such matters. Otherwise, if he were publicly criticized and struggled against, his peaceful and happy little life would be no more.
But sometimes, just when you want peace, disturbances arise unexpectedly.
Take Little Lian’en’s full moon, for instance. Many who had borrowed from their announcement on the purchase of herbs made some money, and those hoping to foster a closer relationship by following the family’s success with vermiculture, chicken-rearing, and mushroom farming, or purely neighbors coming to celebrate, made for quite the gathering.
The gifts weren’t extravagant, but the sentiment was deep, making refusal difficult.
With no choice, Lianshan could only have Shuzhen meticulously account for each family’s contributions, thinking of reciprocating when they needed it in the future.
They prepared a few hundred eggs, boiled them in a large pot, and dyed them red with paper. Each visitor received two as a token of appreciation from the couple.
Even though a full banquet was not held, such an important event as the child’s full moon meant that as uncles and aunts, close relatives had their duty to come and celebrate.
As blood relatives, Liu Shouren and Liu Shouyi’s families naturally brought their gifts early.
Knowing their little sister’s family had an abundance of grain, no lack of cloth, and plenty of eggs, the Liu brothers didn’t fuss with small items and simply handed over twenty yuan each family, telling Shuzhen to buy whatever pleased her.
Of course, being skilled with her hands, the second sister-in-law Su Hongying also made a small outfit for the little one.
The red and white checkered little jacket, with tight stitches and a delicate appearance, was just taken out when the newly arrived Lian Yue and Qiu Fang showered it with praises, turning the ever-generous Su Hongying slightly red with compliments.
"Oh my, I’ve heard my big nephew is strong and lively, irresistibly charming. Alas, it’s only today that Auntie sees him for the first time. Here, Auntie gives money so the big nephew can buy sweets tomorrow!" Lian Yue, smiling broadly, looked at the little one in swaddling clothes and pulled out twenty yuan to slip under the baby’s wrap.
With the elder sister-in-law leading the way, Qiu Fang naturally followed suit, smiling as she handed over twenty yuan.
Shuzhen was about to refuse when Lian Yue and Qiu Fang feigned anger together: "We’re all the same siblings, Sister-in-law can’t show favoritism! Since you’ve accepted the Liu brothers’ gesture, there’s no reason to keep us out."
"Look at these two who don’t know a good heart! I’m just thinking for you?" Shuzhen chuckled, gently tapping her sister-in-law and sister-in-law’s forehead: "Anyway, now there’s a campaign for diligence and thrift, perfect to start with our gestures. Otherwise, one twenty each, if five or six families come, won’t the gift money be over a hundred each?"
"I’m willing! As long as the Lian family can be recognized as prosperous, I’d willingly give beyond a hundred, even ten thousand! Sister-in-law, you can go ahead and keep pushing, don’t hold back on my account!" Lian Yue stuck out her tongue and made a fist in an encouraging gesture to Shuzhen.
"Right, our little Yue speaks correctly. Money is earned by people, and as long as there are people, there is money. Ultimately, a prosperous household is fundamental!" Ning Jianshe, half in and half out of the door, nodded repeatedly, agreeing wholeheartedly with his wife’s view.
Are we getting teamed up against by this couple?
Whether it’s intentional or not from her sister-in-law’s son-in-law, with her sister-in-law drenched in teasing, Shuzhen felt the need to regain her footing.
Immediately giving her agreement: "Jianshe is right, in the future, sister-in-law must work harder! After all, with Ning Jianshe being the only one left in the Ning family, it’s naturally beneficial to expand the family tree. Also Xiao Fang, though you and Hai Zi already form a good pair, don’t we always strive for excellence, even better, right?"
Oh, so you think with your mouth shut, I wouldn’t know you’re secretly happy, huh?
If I don’t drag you into this, you wouldn’t know that not everyone’s excitement is free to watch!
Unable to hold back, Su Hongying quickly covered her mouth, not fearing that her laughter would embarrass Lian Yue and Qiu Fang.
Just afraid her sister-in-law would shift attention, turning the cannon on her for a good roasting!
Because in terms of eloquence and limits, she was nowhere near her sister-in-law.
Ultimately, even Lian Hai couldn’t bear seeing his wife flushed red with embarrassment from teasing, speaking quickly to change the topic.
But as soon as he spoke, the embarrassment vanished, only leaving a room full of tension.
His always-tempered sister slammed the bedside with her palm: "Is this real? Goodness, Lin Yuanzhi is utterly shameless, now rallying everyone to follow along with his shamelessness?"
"Cough cough!" Choking at his sister’s relentless "shameless" remarks, Lian Hai finally caught his breath, full of excitement and hope, said: "Not entirely, Lin Dui also said if this succeeds, he’ll apply for you to be a March 8 Red Banner Holder, provincial labor model or something. And if this succeeds, it contributes enormously to our village, town, even the entire province and nation’s farming.
Allowing every household to have some income, letting everyone nationwide eat to their heart’s content eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs.
What a noble thing, so honorable! Who knows, sister-in-law might even be selected for her outstanding contribution as a national model worker to visit Beijing and take photos with the great leader!"
"Bah! I see you’ve been bewitched by Lin’s pie-in-the-sky talk!" Wanting to learn skills while unwilling to lower oneself and humbly inquire, yet fixated on selling dreams.
Should sister-in-law beg tearfully to teach the method of vermiculture, and if successful, it’s due to Lin Yuanzhi’s wise leadership, collective effort of all members?
If failed or criticized, it’s the sister-in-law being young and overly ambitious.
It’s like a blind fortune teller betting on both ends, strategizing a winning, no-loss approach!
Shameless, making her morning sickness worsen.