Chapter 66 - Maternal Family (1/2)
Madam Liu replied with embarrassment, “Little Han, there’s not much to do here. With your Auntie Zhou here to help, you really don’t need to help us…”
“Auntie, your words wrongfully make me an outsider. I consider Xiaocao and Shitou to be as close to me as true siblings are. We’re all one family, so don’t make it into separate ones. In the future if anything comes up, please speak up!”
Little Shitou was gleefully happy and a large smile bloomed on his face, “Brother Han, in the future our two families will live closer, so coming and going will be much more easy! I used to eat your family's food all the time, but from now on you should come over and taste my second sister’s skills! My second sister is a really good cook; she even made bean flour noodles taste better than wheat flour noodles!”
“Alright! Then in the future my stomach will be very fortunate!” Zhao Han raised his head to look at Xiaocao’s back for a second and then bent over again to cut the weeds.
Perhaps it was because the family branch had split off, but Little Shitou finally revealed his lively side as a small boy. He chattered non-stop but it didn’t delay his work. The small sickle in his hand flashed constantly in being swung around.
The little roe deer next to him had seemingly also been infected by his excited mood. It leapt through the underbrush and would occasionally lower its head to snip a plant off and present it like a treasure to Xiaocao, as if it was trying to ask for compliments and rewards.
On the other side, Madam Liu and Madam Fang also kept busy. The two of them worked as they talked.
After looking at the shabby old house, Madam Fang couldn’t help but say, “The Yu Family’s matriarch really is something! Brother Dahai earned so much money for the family but they only gave two taels to you. What can you do with two taels, it’s not even enough to fix the house! Younger Sister Muyun, if you don’t have enough money, feel free to tell me. We don’t have a lot at home but we definitely can take out several taels worth. The weather is still cold now, so no matter what you guys should get that house fixed up.”
Liu Muyun was so moved by her words that tears came to her eyes. She threw herself into pulling up more weeds to hide her emotions and replied quietly, “Thank you in advance, Danian’s wife…”
“What are you thanking me for? In the future, we’ll be neighbors. A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor. If there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me!” Madam Fang swiftly swung the sickle across the ground to cut the weeds. At a glance, one could tell she was a hardworking woman.
The family on the west side opened the gate in their rear courtyard and let a flock of ducks into the pond behind the residence. When the person saw that there was activity here, she came over to look things over and said, “Hey! Dahai’s wife! You guys are really moving over? Oh my oh my, Uncle Yu and Auntie Yu are really heartless. How can anyone live in this shabby old house…”
Yu Xiaocao raised her head and saw a woman with high cheekbones and thin lips. How come the more she thought about it the more she felt that the woman’s words seemed to be implying that she was taking delight in their poor circumstances?
“Don’t give her any attention! If you take Madam Mao’s words to heart, then you will really die of anger. Just pretend it’s a sparrow chirping and you’ll be fine.” The Zhou Family and Qian Family were the only two neighbors within a one kilometer vicinity of the old residence. The Zhou Family raised chickens, and the Qian Family raised ducks. The market for chicken eggs and live chickens were obviously better than the demand for ducks. The Qian Family’s daughter-in-law, Madam Mao, also had a sharp tongue and a big mouth, and whenever she saw Madam Fang she only had prickly words to say.
In the beginning, Madam Fang would also bicker a bit with her. Later on, after the two families had come to an understanding, she knew that Madam Mao didn’t truly have any personality problems besides her ability to make someone hate her as soon as she opened her mouth. Most of the women and girls in the village had all shied away from her as a result of that. It was only Madam Fang who didn’t let it bother her too much in an effort to keep the peace between neighbors.
Madam Mao apparently also realized that what she said earlier didn’t sound too good, so she hastily interjected, “If you need someone to help you fix up the house, come to my house and ask. My husband may not have any other skills but he sure is strong. In the future we’ll be neighbors, so it’s right and proper that we help each other. Don’t stop your work on account of me, I need to go to the docks to see if there are any fish for sale. I need to buy one for my son, Wen’er, to nourish his body…”
Madam Fang quietly commented, “Madam Mao’s eldest son goes to school in town and it’s said that he’s doing quite well. She’ll brag about him at any opportunity she can get. Like today, Qian Wen is coming home today to take a break and she has to bring it up.”
“I know, I know! Brother Qian Wen is really awesome, and he even placed first on the last exam!” Little Shitou interjected as he followed Zhao Han like a little tail, roving around happily.
Madam Liu watched her noticeably more lively son and smiled gently, “All parents treasure their children. In a mother’s eyes, their own children are always the best.”
Madam Fang thought a bit then smiled, “That’s true, that’s true! Even though my son, Hua’er, doesn’t have scholarly talents, but since he was young he has helped his father peddle goods on the streets. He doesn’t think it’s hard work and instead takes great pleasure in it. We have about a hundred or so chickens at home, but with my two daughters at home, I hardly have to ask and they’ll take care of them…”
Madam Liu glanced at her two daughters who were both steadily clearing out the weeds. Her eyes revealed a faint glow of happiness and she said, “Our children are all sensible and hardworking…”
Yu Xiaocao turned her head around and grinned, “Mother, Auntie Zhou, you should speak softer! If people overheard this conversation, they’ll all think the two of you like to give false praise!”
Madam Liu and Madam Fang both laughed and looked at her. Madam Fang replied, “Splitting the family was a good thing. Xiaocao’s personality has become more lively; she’s even making fun of us.”