During the cold days of the first month, the villagers ate dinner early, fearing the waste of lamp oil, and went to bed early.
After nightfall, several figures quietly entered the village and soon appeared outside the Hao Family’s courtyard.
The Hao Family’s courtyard wall was only a little over a meter high. Those people didn’t exert much effort before climbing over.
Because Yu Erlili had given birth to a son, each member of the Hao Family had their own thoughts. Although the lights were off, voices could still be heard inside.
Those people were obviously prepared. Someone fiddled by each window for a while, and then the house fell silent.
After more than ten minutes, someone walked into one of the rooms in the dark.
Soon, someone emerged holding a child: "Let’s go quickly."
The next day, when the daylight was bright, a heartbreaking scream rang out from the Hao Family courtyard: "My child."
This sound startled everyone who was still sleeping in the other houses of the Hao Family.
They rushed out of the yard without properly dressing: "What’s wrong, what’s wrong?"
All the Hao Family members immediately ran towards the room where Yu Erlili’s piercing scream came from.
At the same time, at Yilan County Hospital, Qian Xuekai’s wife, Liang Baozhi, gave birth to a son.
Qian Xuekai looked at the swaddled son, his face full of joy.
He said to his wife lying on the bed with a bandage wrapped around her forehead: "Now we have both a son and a daughter. Let’s live our lives well."
The woman on the bed had a smile on her face, but a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.
However, when she looked at the child in the man’s arms, a proud smile appeared.
*
Xinyan, the sister-in-law, followed custom by helping her newlywed second brother and sister-in-law by serving the chamber pot the next morning. After receiving the red envelope, she returned to school.
Jiang Peiqin saw her arrive: "Xinyan, Zhao Xiaoxue came looking for you earlier."
Hearing this, Xinyan had an inkling.
Before she could speak, Zhao Xiaoxue’s voice was heard from the doorway.
Xinyan turned to look at the entrance: "You were looking for me?"
Zhao Xiaoxue smiled: "Yes, I wanted to return the thirty dollars I borrowed from you before."
Xinyan was indeed surprised that Zhao Xiaoxue came to repay the money as soon as school started. It seemed this person’s character was reliable. Noticing the mix of bills returned: "Are you returning all your money to me?"
Zhao Xiaoxue hesitated a little, embarrassed: "I gathered all the money I had, managed to make it a round figure, and didn’t manage to change it into whole bills. I’m really sorry."
Xinyan waved her hand: "Don’t say that, whether it’s small bills or big bills, it’s still money. It can all be spent, and smaller bills are actually more convenient for use."
Zhao Xiaoxue didn’t expect Xinyan to not mind the small bills at all, her smile becoming more sincere: "Xinyan, I’ll find a way to repay the remaining seventy dollars to you as soon as possible."
Xinyan was a bit puzzled: "Wasn’t the money spent by your cousin? Why are you repaying it?"
Upon hearing Xinyan’s question, Zhao Xiaoxue sighed: "My cousin’s in-laws thought the medical expenses were too high and refused to take on this external debt. My uncle doesn’t have the means to help my cousin either.
My family complained because I helped my cousin on my own. After all, I caused this problem, so I must take responsibility. I can’t break my promise to you."
Hearing Zhao Xiaoxue’s words, Xinyan then offered: "If I can find a place for you to work part-time on Sundays, would you be willing to go?"
Zhao Xiaoxue was momentarily confused by Xinyan’s words: "Xinyan, I didn’t quite understand."
Xinyan smiled: "I can offer you a chance to earn some pocket money by working on Sundays."
Zhao Xiaoxue knew Xinyan wouldn’t joke about such matters, and her eyes lit up with joy. She replied excitedly: "Really?"
Seeing her reaction, Xinyan knew she had agreed: "However, it might require waiting for a while."
Zhao Xiaoxue was eager to earn money to repay the debt: "It’s fine, as long as there’s such a job, I can repay your money sooner."
Xinyan suddenly had a thought, maybe by accident, she found a treasure for herself.