Everyone says mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are natural enemies, but Zhou He feels that she’s extremely lucky to have such a wonderful mother-in-law.
The next day, Ji Ying mentioned giving the earrings as a gift. She turned to Xu Nian’an and said, "Nian’an, when you get married someday, I’ll make sure you and your wife won’t be shortchanged, just like your eldest brother and sister-in-law."
Ji Ying was fair and impartial, fearing that Xu Nian’an might feel slighted in the future. She had only two sons and naturally didn’t want any animosity to arise between them over such matters.
"Mom, you make the decisions and that’s fine. Both my future wife and I won’t mind," Xu Nian’an’s words elicited laughter from everyone. He continued, "I haven’t made any money yet. It’s actually the elder brother and sister-in-law who have contributed a lot to this family."
He spent most of his time studying, and since last summer vacation, he hadn’t earned a single penny, only spending it.
"If it weren’t for you and your sister selling mung bean jelly to earn money, our home wouldn’t be in the state it is now," Xu Nianji immediately joined the conversation, acknowledging his younger brother and sister’s contributions and goodness, of which he was well aware.
Therefore, many times, Xu Nianji would share the virtues of his brother and sister with Zhou He.
The family lived in harmony without any undercurrents. Seeing this, Xu Qinghe grinned from ear to ear with happiness. The factory was almost completed, and as the father, he was sure to be impartial once there’s money.
Xu Nianhua watched the scene with a smile and, when she had free time, began making air-dried rabbit and beef jerky.
Four days later, Xu Nianhua packed up the spicy air-dried rabbit, the tasty beef jerky, a gold bracelet, and the letter she had written, and sent them all off to Ningbei Province.
"Auntie Wan, is there a letter for me?"
As soon as Pei Yining returned home for vacation, her first question was about her mail.
"Little Yining, South City is half a month’s trip away from Ningbei. It takes that long just for one round of mailing," Wan Hongxing looked at her with a kind face and said, "How’s your study going? Do you like the food at school? I cooked your favorite chicken braised with potatoes today, come and try it."
"That’s true." Pei Yining’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment, but thinking that Auntie Wan’s words were reasonable, she shelved her feeling of loss. Since the school term began, she had clearly felt that the homework, which used to be a struggle, was becoming a bit easier now.
Especially in foreign languages—she used to be utterly lost, but now, at least, she could understand some.
The ring of a phone call sounded.
Pei Yining quickly answered and said, "Hello, is that Nianhua?"
"Little Yining, you’re really not fair. You only remember Nianhua and forget about your brother Cheng Hao," Cheng Hao couldn’t help feeling upset. Why did everyone else get a gift and not him?
"Oh, Cheng Hao." Pei Yining shifted to a more comfortable position and asked, "How is my brother doing? Did he go to Xi Province for his leg treatment? How’s his condition?"
She asked with concern, ever since she knew that her brother Pei Yicheng was going to Xi Province for his leg treatment after the Lantern Festival, it had been on her mind.
"Want to know, huh?" Cheng Hao drew out his question teasingly.
Pei Yining’s grip on the phone tightened as she said decisively, "Of course I want to know."
"Then call me," Cheng Hao leaned back against the phone booth, imagining Pei Yining far away rolling her eyes in frustration, and he couldn’t help but crack a smile.
"Cheng Hao, brother," Pei Yining said without thinking. She was irritated; after all these years, she didn’t know how many times she had called out like that. One more time wouldn’t make a difference.
"Why does everyone get a gift but not me?" Instead of answering Pei Yining’s question, Cheng Hao asked his own, voicing the quandary that had been bothering him for days.