Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Cheers and Jubilation
The Mo family was bustling and chaotic, like a pot of messy porridge.
At the old residence, life was a bit hard, but there was peace, and Xuexue was very content with her current situation, of course, provided that the Mo family didn’t come to stir up more trouble.
But as for Auntie Sun’s account, she would settle it sooner or later, just not now; a moment of peace was still a moment to cherish.
Tomorrow was another market day, and Xuexue and Madam Xie had spent the entire evening cleaning the river snails and clams. Removing the tails of the river snails was quite time-consuming.
“Mommy, Mommy, I want to help too.” Chuner watched Xuexue handle the pliers, snapping off one river snail’s tail after another, and found it fun, loudly expressing her desire to help.
“Okay, Chuner, sit next to your sister.”
Seeing that her wound had nearly healed, Madam Xie handed her a pair of pliers and had her sit on a small wooden stool to work so she wouldn’t get tired squatting on the ground.
The first time they removed the tails of the river snails, they used stones, and it was exhausting. Later, when Chuner got hurt, Madam Xie had to stay home to take care of her.
Xuexue went to town alone to sell the river snails, and when she passed by the grocery store, she specially bought a few pairs of pliers to make the job easier, as the business would continue for a while longer. Using stones every day was not only tiring but also time-consuming.
“Chuner, would you like to go to town with your sister tomorrow for fun?” Xuexue asked while she worked the pliers, smiling at Chuner.
Last time she left Chuner at home alone, the girl nearly lost her life. This time, Xuexue and Madam Xie had decided to take her along. Tomorrow, the three of them would go to the market together.
“Yes! I’ve never been to town before.”
Upon hearing this, Chuner instantly cheered, “Xiao Mu always talks about how fun the town is. This time, I can show off to him too.”
Xiao Mu was a neighbor’s little boy, the same age as Chuner, and they usually played together a lot.
“Good, I’ll buy you lots of pork lard cakes, and you can make him envious.”
Chuner pouted, “Not at all! Xiao Mu is nice to me. When I was sick a few days ago, he hid an egg that his mom gave him and let me eat it. When I get pork lard cakes, I’ll share them with him too.”
Xuexue found this somewhat amusing and spoke in a feigned angry tone, “But didn’t you say he bullied you last time? It’s really ungentlemanly for a boy to bully a girl.”
“That was last time; this time it’s different. Oh! Sister, you don’t understand our world of kids; just leave us alone.” Chuner put on an air of an adult.
Xuexue smiled warmly, “Alright, your sister won’t bother you anymore.”
A little while later,
As Chuner, who had been focusing on her task, looked up at Xuexue with a troubled expression, she said, “Sister, it looks so easy when you do it, why is it so hard for me?”
Having said that, she held up her little hands for Xuexue to see, “Look, they’re all red. It’s so painful for Chuner.”
“It hurts and you still do it? Are you silly?” Xuexue, heartachingly, snatched the pliers from her hands, stopping her from continuing.
“But Mommy and you both look so tired, and it makes me feel sad.” They say a poor man’s child grows up fast – at five years old, Chuner was much more sensible than most kids her age.
“You are still small, Chuner. When you grow up, Mommy and your sister will need you to take care of them.”
“Yes, when has your sister ever lied to you?” Xuexue nodded earnestly, then pointed at the basin of river snails, “Look, there aren’t many left; your sister will finish them quickly while you wait by her side.”
Chuner peered into the basin, and indeed, there weren’t many river snails left, so she obediently sat to the side and waited.