“How can that be okay? I know city kids are precious, and your two are so smart, they might end up like Mr. Bai, going to college. We can’t let my Jingjing ruin them, impacting their future studies.”
“No need to be so serious, really, don’t be polite.”
“Sister-in-law Song, you city folks are really nice. If we were in the countryside, people might even demand compensation. I know you wouldn’t miss these two bucks from me, take these veggies for your dinner tonight since Mr. Qin and his family are coming over.”
“Really, you should keep it…”
Both were being polite, and then Lin Chuxia heard a man’s voice, probably Bai Xiaoming and Qin Yang returning, so she stepped out of the kitchen.
She saw not only Bai Xiaoming and Qin Yang, but Feng Dajun had also come with them.
When Qin Yang saw Lin Chuxia, he couldn’t take his eyes off her and walked straight towards her, while the others were still chatting at the door.
Lin Chuxia gave him a look, asking what was going on, why was Da Jun here?
“On the way back, we bumped into Engineer Feng. He said a neighbor left him a message that his daughter had broken Bai Tian, and he came to check,” Qin Yang briefly explained.
Lin Chuxia nodded, and without much comment, stood with Qin Yang watching the two parties discuss.
Generally speaking, Sister-in-law Feng was being very polite, Mr. Bai and Sister-in-law Song didn’t take it seriously, and Feng Dajun awkwardly apologized.
After a few exchanges, the matter seemed to be settled. Since they were colleagues, as Qin Yang and Lin Chuxia stood in the courtyard, Bai Xiaoming politely invited Da Jun and his family to stay for dinner.
Da Jun politely declined and left with Sister-in-law Feng and Feng Jingjing, but Lin Chuxia clearly saw Sister-in-law Feng’s eyes light up when Bai Xiaoming invited them.
What a peculiar woman.
The food was almost ready, especially the braised pork, which was just coming off the stove.
The red and glistening braised pork, with its rich aroma, trembled in the plate with layers of fat and lean meat, making one’s mouth water.
“Mom, is this the braised pork made by Aunt Lin?”
Bai Liang and Bai Tian were guarding this pot of braised pork and hadn’t moved, now swallowing their saliva as they watched.
Sister-in-law Song hadn’t expected to make such delicious braised pork and smiled somewhat proudly, “What, your mom isn’t fit to make this kind of braised pork?”
“It’s not about fitting, mom just doesn’t know how,” Bai Tian corrected without hesitation.
“You little rascal, mom didn’t know before, but from today onwards, she will know, and mom will often make this kind of braised pork for you.”
“Really?” Bai Tian’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Lin Chuxia, “Aunt Lin, you actually taught my mom. You’re really our family’s lifesaver.”
Bai Liang nodded seriously, “Aunt Lin is our family’s benefactor, I have to go tell dad this good news.”
Lin Chuxia: “…”
Still happy Sister-in-law Song: “…”
Another side, Da Jun Feng walked home with his wife and daughter.
“What exactly happened? You didn’t make it clear when you left the message.”
“It’s just that your daughter accidentally hit Mr. Bai’s young son’s head. I intended to give a sincere apology, but they didn’t accept it,” she lifted the vegetables in her hand.
Seeing the wilted vegetables, Da Jun Feng slightly frowned, “If you wanted to sincerely apologize, you should have bought something decent. How do you expect them to accept a bunch of wilted vegetables?”
“We villagers don’t have much to offer; these vegetables are the only ones we had, and city folks have seen much better anyway. They say it’s the thought that counts, but I think they just look down on us.”
Hearing this, Da Jun Feng looked around warily and then glared at her discontentedly.
He didn’t dare to speak further outside and went straight home.
By this time, it was the dinner hour; other families were already having their meals, but their home was still cold and empty.
Sister-in-law Feng took the vegetables to the kitchen and continued to grumble to Da Jun Feng, “You see, when Mrs. Qin came, Mr. Bai and his wife invited them over for dinner. When Jingjing and I first arrived, no one invited us.”
Da Jun Feng didn’t think much of it, “We’re not in the same project group anyway; I don’t have that kind of rapport with Mr. Qin or Mr. Bai. Why should they invite us?”
Sister-in-law Feng thought differently, “Rapport is built by interaction. If we don’t interact, how can we build rapport? I think they just look down on us because we come from a rural area. If we were from the city, I bet they would treat us differently.”
“Just stop overthinking. Everyone is here to work; who cares where you are from? Work is about individual ability. As long as you’re capable, it doesn’t matter if you’re from the countryside or the city.”
Sister-in-law Feng looked at Da Jun Feng helplessly shaking her head, “Da Jun, how can you think like that? Thinking this way, you’re forgetting your roots. We are from the countryside. Jingjing, myself, and our family back home are still living off agriculture. If it weren’t for your father finding you this opportunity, could you have access to commercial food? Are your words fair to your father?”
Da Jun Feng lost his patience, “It’s you who feels inferior coming from the village, why blame me?”
“I’m not blaming you, I just want to remind you to never forget that we are different from them. They look down on Jingjing and me, which means they are looking down on you too. What good is it if you do your job well?”
Da Jun Feng felt like it was impossible to communicate with his wife and simply gave up.
Seeing him grab his jacket and head for the door, Sister-in-law Feng quickly asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going out for a walk,” he said, leaving the house.
Sister-in-law Feng watched him until his silhouette disappeared from view before finally withdrawing her gaze.
She turned to her daughter, who had been silent the whole time, and gently touched her head.
“You see how stubborn your dad is? He doesn’t realize we’re different from them. Jingjing, remember, we are rural people, and we’ll never be equal to city folk. We are inherently lower. Even if you deny it, they will only mock you. You dream big but your fate is fragile. Don’t be like your dad; don’t forget your roots after living in the city for a few days, understand?”
Jingjing nodded, somewhat understanding, “I understand, Mom.”
“That’s right. Tomorrow, if you run into Bai Liang and Bai Tian, go and apologize again. Bai Tian is about your age, try to please him a bit. Whatever you have, if he wants it, you give it to him.”
Jingjing hesitated, “But… I don’t want to give it to him,” referring to her two beloved toys given by her father, what if Bai Tian wanted them?