Chapter 9: The Excellent Younger Sister-in-Law (9)

No matter how delicious the cured and smoked meat is, eating it for half a year would get tiring. How could it compare to fresh pork?

Indeed, even though they didn't have time to make braised pork that evening, the family still ate more than usual, chatting about the topic.

Under the influence of her daughter...

Of course, more importantly, because the eldest son's wife earned money by making pants and clothes in her spare time, almost as much as the eldest son's monthly salary, the mother-in-law treated her less harshly.

Although she still didn't give her a good face, she made sure she was fed three meals a day, with coarse grain porridge and cornbread.

As her daughter said, "You need to be full to do more work! Even a mule needs to be fed."

When she saw her daughter take out a stack of money from the last batch of clothes and the advance payment for the next batch, Mother Xu was pleasantly surprised:

"So much?"

"Of course! The designs I came up with and the work my sister-in-law did, we can definitely beat everyone in our small Mingyang County!"

"Ha, who can't sew? It's all thanks to my daughter!"

Mother Xu didn't want to praise her daughter-in-law.

The eldest daughter-in-law had no objections.

She felt that her current life was like heaven compared to before—

No need to go to the village to collect manure, no need to get up early to chop wood, and she only had to wash clothes for herself and her mother.

The most important thing wasn't the reduced workload, but—

She could finally eat her fill!

Since her younger sister-in-law gave her a bowl of thick porridge, she hadn't gone hungry again.

Sometimes she even felt full, with a bloated stomach.

Not only could she eat her fill, but since she started earning money for the family, her mother-in-law's scolding had decreased.

This made her see a future.

With a happy heart, her younger sister-in-law handed her a large note.

"Sister-in-law, this is your commission."

"Why should she get a share?" Mother Xu's face darkened. "She's your sister-in-law; shouldn't she help you for free? Take the money back!"

"Mom, I just talked, but Sister-in-law did most of the work. She worked harder than me, and of course, Dad and Mom worked hard too. So, the money should be shared. Here, Dad, this is for you! Go buy some cigarettes, not the cheap ones, but the filtered ones for a change. This is for Mom, who works the hardest, managing the household and taking care of everyone's daily life, so she deserves more."

Xu Yin kept five yuan for herself and gave the rest to Mother Xu.

Mother Xu was delighted: "All for Mom? Why don't you keep it?"

"I have enough. What do I need so much money for? Besides, we haven't split the household, so it's right for Mom to keep it."

Mother Xu felt very comfortable.

Such a large sum of money, and her daughter gave it to her without hesitation, showing how filial she was!

Xu Yin was relieved that her mother no longer questioned the ten yuan for her sister-in-law.

Originally, she wanted to give it secretly, but she was afraid of a slip of the tongue. It was better to be clear from the start.

Since the bulk went to Mother Xu, it was fine for her sister-in-law, as the main laborer, to get a smaller share.

Looking down, she saw her nephew sitting on a small stool, listening to the adults and playing with a paper frog. Xu Yin smiled:

"Oh, I forgot about our Dou Dou. I heard he's been very well-behaved lately, helping Grandpa collect firewood, helping Grandma sweep the yard, and even volunteering to wash the dishes after meals. Such a good child deserves a reward! Here, Auntie gives you two jiao!"

"Me, me too?"

Dou Dou was stunned, pointing at himself, seemingly disbelieving.

"Of course! Anyone who contributes to the family, whether an adult or a child, gets a share!"

Little Dou Dou was overjoyed.

The sky was completely dark, and to save electricity and kerosene, everyone washed up and went to bed.

In the east room, Mother Xu held the thick envelope, looking for a place to hide it.

Previously, she would roll the money with a rubber band and put it in an iron box or a hole in the wall.

But today, her daughter gave her too much money. It wouldn't fit in the iron box, and hiding it in the wall might attract rats. So, she looked for a suitable metal container.

While searching, she chatted with her husband: "Old man, look how sensible our daughter is! She gave me so much money. By the way, she gave you ten yuan. Where did you hide it? Give it to me!"

Old Man Xu: "… That's my daughter's filial gift."

"You should give it to me to keep. Do you really want to buy those filtered cigarettes?"

Old Man Xu blushed: "Trying something new isn't a big deal."

"You shouldn't spend your daughter's money on trying new things! If you want to, earn it yourself!"

"I've given you all the money I earned. When have you ever bought me cigarettes? My daughter is good to me!"

"You old rascal, do you want to sleep on the floor?"

Old Man Xu quickly begged for mercy.

Mother Xu laughed and scolded him for being naughty.

In the east wing, the eldest daughter-in-law carefully tucked the ten yuan into a yellowed leather notebook.

It was a prize her uncle from her hometown received for being an advanced laborer, given to her as a dowry. It was meant to hold coupons for cloth and food.

Unfortunately, she never had any coupons to use, but now it finally had a purpose.

She opened and closed the notebook several times, feeling very happy.

This was the first money she earned on her own.

Her younger sister-in-law said there would be more in the future, even more than today, as long as she worked hard!

Of course, she would work hard!

Her younger sister-in-law was intentionally motivating her!

"Mom, Mom, I have some too!"

Little Dou Dou tiptoed, trying to give his two jiao to her.

The eldest daughter-in-law smiled: "I'll keep your money separately. Ask Mom when you need it."

"I won't spend it. I'll save it to buy the best pastries and candies for Auntie. She gave me candies today!"

"Only for Auntie? What about Mom?"

"There! There! My younger sister said everyone gets a share!"

"Ha ha ha, Dou Dou is so well-behaved!"

She faintly heard laughter from the east room and the east wing.

Xu Yin looked at the yellowed mosquito net and smiled as she fell asleep.

The next morning, Mother Xu got up early to prepare the pork.

After the busy farming season, the weather was getting hotter. The meat had been hung in the well last night to keep it fresh, but it wouldn't last long.

Five pounds of marbled pork, in Mother Xu's eyes, was far less practical than five pounds of pure fat.

If she had to buy it, she wouldn't choose marbled pork.

But the prize her daughter won was different.

Mother Xu chopped the meat into three pieces—

One piece she salted to make cured meat for the July harvest;

One piece she prepared for braised pork at noon to satisfy her daughter's craving;

The remaining piece, about one and a half pounds, she tied with a grass rope and gave to her daughter to deliver to her grandmother in Da'ao Village.

(End of Chapter)