“Why are you still standing here?”
Circling around to fetch the thermos, Qin Yang felt his ears heat up under her gaze, realizing her intention and quickly handed the thermos to her first.
Lin Chuxia took the thermos and glanced at him again.
Qin Yang touched his nose, knowing that he was being disliked by his wife, and bending over to take over Mrs. Qin’s task, “Mom, let me do the cooking.”
If it hadn’t been inappropriate, Mrs. Qin would have almost laughed out loud.
Who could have imagined that her reluctant younger son would also become clingy with his wife one day.
But cooking really wasn’t something he could do.
Her younger son couldn’t return home even once a year, and he was one of the more successful individuals in the village. With both the Party Secretary and the village chief present, how could she let him enter the kitchen? What would the Party Secretary and the village chief think?
Just after sending the person away, Zhang Guilan came back.
She washed her hands and entered the kitchen, noticing Lin Chuxia cooking and Mrs. Qin making the fire. She paused for a moment but didn’t mind, and went straight to steaming the buns— the dough had been prepared early in the morning.
Lin Chuxia stewed the braised pork in the pot while Mrs. Qin tended the fire. She then went to help Zhang Guilan knead the dough.
“Sister-in-law, how are the vegetable seedlings coming along in the fields? I heard from mom that new kidney beans and eggplants were planted,” Lin Chuxia made small talk while kneading the dough.
Zhang Guilan glanced at her. Lin Chuxia was smiling gently, which eased Zhang Guilan’s discomfort.
Actually, as soon as she left the house, she regretted using the dowry as an issue, as after all, the dealings of the Lin Family had nothing to do with their sister-in-law.
Long before the Lin Family considered a switch in marriage partners, they had inquired about it; the Lin Family favored the eldest daughter.
Though all daughters of the Lin Family, from childhood to adulthood, their treatment was worlds apart. In the village, it was common in families with several children that the eldest daughter and then another daughter were less favoured. They also understood that if it wasn’t for the eldest daughter of the Lin Family backing out, given the conditions of the Qin Family and the younger brother, a sudden switch in marriage partners wouldn’t have been possible.
Did she even have a choice in whom to marry, or how much dowry could she actually influence?
“The peas are turning out great. They’ve grown a bit and will need supports in a couple of days,” said Zhang Guilan, “The other plot with tomatoes hasn’t started transplanting yet. That can last a couple more months. After transplanting the tomatoes, we’ll plant some greens, then it’s time for the napa cabbage.”
Once she finished speaking, she glanced at Lin Chuxia, “Our family has three plots of land, about two to three acres each. The one near the western entrance of the village is a bit smaller. Currently, one plot is planted with beans, another with eggplants, and the smaller one with tomatoes. The bean and eggplant plots are nearby but far from our house, the tomato plot is closer to us but further from the other two plots, one in the south of the village, the other in the west. This year, both beans and eggplants have good prices, and tomatoes are not bad either.”
Mrs. Qin, upon hearing her elder daughter-in-law, turned her head to look over.
Lin Chuxia also understood. The lands were divided, but which family would plant which plot wasn’t specified.
While kneading the dough, she didn’t look up, “Then I want the one closer to home. It’s more convenient for me to work alone in the field, just makes me feel bad for taking advantage from brother and sister-in-law, harvesting the tomatoes they planted for half the season.”
Mrs. Qin withdrew her gaze, her eyes softly following the flames.
Zhang Guilan laughed heartily, “Hey, what advantage is that? The peak season for those tomatoes is almost over. As long as you don’t feel short-changed, it’s indeed the best plot for you. It’s close to home, right by the side of the village, and it’s not a bad piece of land.”
“I know, sister-in-law, you are always so straightforward.” Lin Chuxia sincerely complimented.
Zhang Guilan, a bit embarrassed, giggled, wanting to say something more but feeling somewhat restrained.
The situation grew somewhat awkward.
At lunch, the meal was jovial with plenty of wine and ample dishes.
The Qin Family tasted Lin Chuxia’s cooking for the first time and had no complaints about their new daughter-in-law.
In rural areas, when people marry a daughter-in-law, isn’t it just for someone who can handle everyday chores, cook well, and eventually bear a healthy baby boy?
In the afternoon, Brother Qin, his spouse, Mr. Qin, and Mrs. Qin were tidying up the poles at home, and Lin Chuxia went back to her room and discussed the selection of the tomato field with Qin Yang.
“At that moment, my sister-in-law asked me, and I just randomly picked one.”
Qin Yang didn’t mind, “Any plot is fine, as long as it’s closer to home.”
Farming inevitably involves getting up early and staying up late. With him not being home, he was also worried about his wife walking on the roads at night.
“When the time comes, just plant something simple, and let dad give you a hand. I have a salary, and we don’t need to rely on the little income from the land.”
He was worried Lin Chuxia wasn’t clear about the family’s financial situation, so he decided to clarify things upfront about getting up early and working hard in the fields.
“My current monthly salary is 63 yuan. I will send 50 back home, you give 10 to dad and mom, and you keep the remaining 40.”
His father has been on medication for a long time, and the money he had earned before was mostly spent on his father’s medical expenses. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have ended up in debt over a dowry of 300 yuan.
Lin Chuxia knew that Qin Yang worked on road and bridge construction, but she wasn’t familiar with the specifics of his job.
Sending her 40 yuan each month was even more than what a factory worker makes in a month.
She felt increasingly that this marriage exchange was a brilliant and fruitful choice, feeling very satisfied with Qin Yang.
“I don’t need much money at home, you should keep more for yourself,” she reasoned, as initial investments in a business are large, and she had that 300 yuan which was sufficient.
“Mm, I will see how it goes.”
Qin Yang didn’t give a definitive answer, and suggested they go out together.
Lin Chuxia finally voiced the doubt in her heart, “When will you be returning to your unit?”
She heard that in his previous life, he had left early on the second day of their marriage, and now it was already the afternoon.
“I’ll return after visiting your family’s home,” Qin Yang retrieved a net bag, “Let’s first go get our marriage certificate, then stop by the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things for your parents.”
This genuinely surprised Lin Chuxia, but she quickly recovered and agreed, “Okay.”
The two informed Mrs. Qin and immediately headed out with their bicycle.
Qin Han and Zhang Guilan were arranging poles in the courtyard. Seeing the couple leave, Qin Han suddenly remembered something.
“Oh right, we haven’t decided who will plant which fields. If the second brother’s family wants to plant string beans, we need to start setting up the poles these few days. Dad’s not in good health, and our sister-in-law definitely can’t handle such work. It’s good that the second brother is home; let him set up the poles for the string beans. Remind me to talk to him later.”
Zhang Guilan propped the carried poles against the wall, wiped her hands, “No need to tell them. They asked for the tomato field. Just go set up the poles for the bean seedlings early tomorrow morning.”
Qin Han turned around, “How come they want that plot? Did you discuss it with the second brother and his wife? Did you tell them how profitable beans and eggplants were this year? You didn’t make them choose the tomato field, did you?”
Zhang Guilan slapped Qin Han’s shoulder and pushed him a little, “Is that what you think of me? I’ve already said, the second brother’s wife chose it. She wanted a plot close to home. Besides, what’s wrong with the tomato field? Harvest the fruits every three days, sell them, and that’s money. Beans and eggplants are nothing compared to that.”
Qin Han stumbled but wasn’t annoyed. Seeing his wife getting irritated, he approached her with a laugh, “I knew my wife is generous. That’s absolutely right. It’s just me being petty, my mistake.”
He gave her a thumbs-up, Zhang Guilan pouted and glared at him but couldn’t help laughing too.