Xu Qinghuan always knew that Yu Xiaomin was burdened by thoughts, and she didn’t want her close friend to keep feeling so distressed.
"It’s time to plant Chinese cabbage and white radishes now; we’re going to rely on them to get through the entire winter. We have to plant more around the house, but Xinyu and I don’t know how to farm."
Yu Xiaomin arrived quickly, "I know, I’ve specially asked the village ladies today, Aunt Zao Hua even said that once we prepare the plot, she’d come teach me how to plant them, so leave this to me."
Xu Qinghuan agreed, "Before the cabbages and radishes are harvested, we need vegetables to eat. I’ve talked to Comrade Jiang next door. Each month we give him a yuan, and we can pick from his plot. I noticed his vegetables grow exceptionally well."
Zheng Siqi jumped in, "The yuan can come from the three of us, okay? We often come over to eat, and we need veggies too. We’ll pick a bit more each time, and we can eat together or split it."
There were six of them in total, and by the end of the month, they would have eaten about a hundred to two hundred pounds of vegetables.
Yu Xiaomin felt embarrassed, but Dai Yifeng noticed too and said, "Yu Zhiqing, since you’re teaming up with us, we’re friends, and you’re not one to take advantage of people, so you shouldn’t feel burdened."
Chen Dewen said, "Exactly, thinking like that, should we take turns cooking like at the Zhiqing station and each time contribute staples? It was originally about comfort, and since you cook great food, we’ve been tagging along. Does that mean we’re taking advantage of you too?"
Yu Xiaomin’s eyes reddened, and she hurriedly waved her hands, "No, no, I just feel, feel, why are you treating me better than my parents, better than my siblings?"
As she spoke, tears streamed down, suddenly crying out of deep sorrow, making others sympathize deeply.
Fortunately, she quickly stopped, wiped her tears dry, "Sorry, I couldn’t hold it back."
Xu Qinghuan asked her, "What happened today?"
Everyone looked at her, saying nothing but with obvious encouragement in their expressions.
Yu Xiaomin said, "The postman came to the production team today, and I received a letter from my parents asking me to send some grain back to them."
She wanted to smile, but it was more strained than crying, "When I came, they didn’t give me a penny. If I hadn’t saved some money from picking up trash since childhood, I might not even have a cent."
She became more emotional, "Do you know, I originally had a job, and I didn’t need to come to the countryside. I accidentally saved a child, and the child’s parents helped me find a job, but my mom forced me to give the job to my brother’s future wife.
They said I would get ten yuan a month sent to me if I went to the countryside. Now, no money has come, and they say my brother is getting married, and the family is struggling, asking me to save some grain to send back."
How chilling!
Qiao Xinyu listened, enraged, "So what do you plan to do? Are you really going to send it back?"
Yu Xiaomin shook her head, "No, I gave them the job, considering it my repayment for the act of giving birth to me. As for being raised, I’ve done all the chores since childhood, and the little grain I ate was earned by working hard.
From now on, I want to sever ties with them completely!"
After saying this, she cautiously looked at her companions and saw appreciation, support, and sympathy, but no contempt or disdain in their eyes.
This moved and touched her greatly.
Xu Qinghuan gently patted her hand, "You’re diligent, brave, and independent. As long as no one drags you down, you can definitely live well, have a promising future, so don’t be afraid!"
Yu Xiaomin hugged Xu Qinghuan, "Thank you, Huanhuan!"
She turned and hugged Qiao Xinyu, "Thank you, Xiaoyu!"
At this moment, she truly considered Xu Qinghuan and Qiao Xinyu her best friends.
Qiao Xinyu candidly remarked, "Xiaomin, you shouldn’t thank us; you should thank yourself! Honestly, we would never support you sacrificing yourself to support your parents and siblings.
But, we couldn’t say that to you because relatives come first. Yet, if you can figure it out yourself and stand up, of course we support you."
Yu Xiaomin asked, "Don’t you think I’m ungrateful, unfilial, unruly?"
The trio, Dai Yifeng, simultaneously shook their heads, while Xu Qinghuan and Qiao Xinyu looked at her in disbelief.
The three were amused.
Chen Dewen said, "Yu Zhiqing, how do you repay kindness if you repay grievances with kindness? Of course, it might not quite fit here, but if parents don’t show kindness, children can’t be filial. The closer you are, the less you should make the other constantly give, even risking their lives."
Didn’t her family disregard her well-being?
She arrived here with nothing, worked a few days, and had only food from team subsidies. If she sent this little grain to her parents, what could she eat?
Would she not starve to death?
Determination flashed in Yu Xiaomin’s eyes, "My mom also said that it’s difficult at home, and I have to think more about the family. When my brother gets married, and once my sister-in-law’s settled, she’ll definitely send money to support me, even if I get married myself, I’ll rely on my natal family.
I can rely on them? Now is the hardest time for me. When I left, I asked my mom for money, and she only gave me two yuan. My brother even mocked me, saying going to the countryside was to earn money and grain, and I’m bringing money from home, am I trying to starve them?"
Xu Qinghuan patted her shoulder, "Don’t think about it anymore, in life, you can only rely on yourself. There may be parents you can rely on in this world, but obviously, we’re not lucky enough to meet them. Standing on your own is more important than anything."
"Yes, exactly!" Zheng Siqi admired Xu Qinghuan. There was an inspiring, independent spirit about her that was admirable!
After dinner, Chen Dewen and the trio scrambled to clear the dishes, but Yu Xiaomin pushed them away, "If you still have energy, go and turn over the soil quickly. Many families in the village have already planted their cabbages and radishes."
The trio, worried about not having cabbage or radishes this year, went to till the land, first in the front yard, then the back. Combined, the area was sizable, and if they harvested radishes and cabbages well, they wouldn’t worry about not having vegetables this winter.
The Zhiqing station could divide up land for them to farm if needed, but with so many people, judging by how the old Zhiqing farmed their plots, no one took care cultivating them. But if the trio farmed diligently, unless someone counted the cabbages daily, they might be swiped clean secretly.
Xu Qinghuan and Qiao Xinyu heated water in another pot for a bath, with Xu Qinghuan going first as she had things to do.
She didn’t even bathe in the room, once inside, she went straight into the space, swam a lap in the hot spring there, and her hair and body were clean. Coming out, she used the bathwater to wash clothes, creating splashing sounds to dispel any doubts.
Xu Qinghuan wore a twill shirt and green pants, but her hair was still wet. She towel-dried it halfway and tied it back with a hair tie before heading out.
Jiang Xingye picked two baskets of vegetables for Luo Jinhao, who wouldn’t stop blabbering, "Xingye, not only do your vegetables grow well, but they also last long. The veggies from the day before weren’t finished, and when I went to the state-run restaurant this morning, they looked fresher than ones freshly picked from the field."
Jiang Xingye saw Xu Qinghuan approaching, and his gaze softened as he hurried Luo Jinhao, "The vegetables are picked, now go!"