During this era, the flavor of the New Year is strong. People take it very seriously.
Vegetables in the south are available all year round, unlike the north, where the winter is so cold that only frost-resistant ones can be grown.
Lin Wan bought some lotus roots, potatoes, vegetables that can last a bit longer, and also bought dozens of eggs. Only then did she go back.
On the way back, from a distance, Lin Wan saw Ye Qing.
She was walking ahead with two peers from the village, chatting and laughing, but there was something hidden in those smiles.
Lin Wan did not curiously step forward to greet her, although she didn’t know why, in this lifetime she doesn’t want too much interaction with her.
When Lin Wan returned, Liang Hongmei had already finished grinding the rice and was sorting out the vegetable garden in her small courtyard.
"Xiao Wan, why did you buy so much stuff? We don’t have work now, need to save a bit." Hundreds of yuan in the countryside count as quite a lot, but the son needs to go to school and the daughter needs to start school next year, so still need to save a bit.
"Mom, I bought cheap vegetables, only spent one yuan, bought more eggs, brother is sick, needs some nourishment." Actually, she was already very frugal, she didn’t even buy any meat.
"I’ll tidy up the vegetable garden, next spring we’ll plant some vegetables, then we’ll have something to eat. Just now, your Little Grandmother next door gave us two pumpkins. Xiao Wan, take some eggs to your Little Grandmother."
Little Grandmother is Grandpa’s brother’s wife, has a son and a daughter, these years Little Grandmother’s family has been quite good to their family.
Just that her family is also poor, can’t help much.
Little Grandmother’s daughter married into the neighboring village, her family is considered well-off, had three sons and two daughters, usually help Little Grandmother’s family quite a bit.
But her mouth isn’t very good, when young, had a good relationship with Mom. But ever since Mom married Dad, she looked down on Mom from the bottom of her heart.
Later married well herself, feels even more disdain for overall earthy Liang Hongmei. When visiting relatives, never came to their house.
Lin Wan took seven or eight eggs, along with two or three potatoes, and went to Little Grandmother’s house.
Little Grandmother’s son, Liang Jian Country, is already over forty this year, has two sons, in the countryside counts as having few children.
In this era, in the countryside, whoever has more children, stands tall, talks tough in the village, especially those with more sons.
Uncle’s eldest son, Liang Zhi, is already twenty this year, because the family is poor, couldn’t afford a dowry, didn’t get engaged, year-round carrying timber at the timber factory in town. A month’s hard work only makes about ten yuan.
In the summer vacation, brother followed Brother Liang Zhi to the timber factory.
Second son Liang Song, is sixteen, two months older than Lin Wan, started school late, this year is only in second high school, in two years will take the college entrance exam.
"Xiao Wan’s here, come in quickly," says her aunt, Cha Zhenfang.
"Aunt, where is Little Grandmother?"
"Your Grandma is inside," aunt said, then Little Grandmother came out from inside, supported by a cane, "Is it Xiao Wan?"
"Little Grandmother, it’s me, went to the market today, Mom asked me to bring you some eggs," Lin Wan said, handing the bamboo basket to her aunt beside her.
"You’re such a child, it’s not easy to go to trouble, quickly take it back," aunt knows their situation, declines to accept.
"Xiao Wan, last time your Mom came back, said you started selling outside town?" Little Grandmother pulls Lin Wan to sit down and asks.
Lin Wan lowered her head and said, "I just want to earn some money to go to school."
"You poor child, it’s tough for you, don’t do business anymore, you are supposed to go to college, doing business is so embarrassing, if villagers know, who knows what they’ll say about you, understand?" Little Grandmother kindly advises.