Chapter 3

During the period, Ruan Xiuzhen, who had a junior high school education, stopped by for a while. Later, when she saw certain scenes, she felt embarrassed and blushed as she walked out.

...

Evening.

Zhang Xuan's elder sister, Zhang Ping, came to bring food.

Looking at her sister, who had a face as beautiful as a flower but had not even finished primary school, Zhang Xuan felt quite guilty.

In his previous life, after graduating from university and working for two years, he received a call from his elder sister. It took her a long time to finally say that her wooden house had been burned down, and she was planning to build a new brick house, asking him to lend her 8,000 yuan.

At that time, he was a moonlighter and didn't have 8,000 yuan to lend.

Recalling the long silence before his sister hung up, Zhang Xuan felt very uncomfortable. He had studied and come out, but he couldn't help his family, which made him feel useless.

The meal was sweet potato rice, with stir-fried lettuce leaves and a fried egg.

Knowing that her son didn't like sweet potatoes, before serving the food, Ruan Xiuzhen scooped the sweet potato grains floating on the surface into her own bowl, leaving the remaining white rice for him.

Zhang Xuan silently watched all this, did not resist, and started eating. However, the food tasted bitter in his mouth, and tears welled up in his eyes, making him want to cry.

Halfway through the meal, Ruan Xiuzhen remembered something, picked up a bowl, and walked to the window to look down. She then stared at the mason crouching by the flower bed and asked, "Did Yang Endei send you here?"

"Uh-huh." Zhang Ping was a bit shy but still responded in a low voice.

Hearing that Yang Endei had sent her, and seeing his sister's shy appearance, Zhang Xuan suddenly lost his appetite.

Yang Endei, though not very handsome, was tall, diligent, and hardworking. He never shirked his duties, was good at masonry, had a patient temperament, never lost his temper, had no bad habits, and didn't waste money. These were his strengths.

However, he was a filial son, and even a foolishly filial one, who obeyed his quarrelsome and harsh mother in everything.

In his previous life, after his elder sister married him, the first three years were fine, but after having two daughters, things changed.

That cold-hearted mother-in-law would often pick on his sister, and his sister, who was a pushover, would only cry in secret when wronged. Crying too much, she sometimes cursed the old witch to die early so that life would be easier, but the old witch lived to be over 95, and his sister's hair turned white from the stress, and she died before the old witch.

Over this matter, Ruan Xiuzhen had many arguments with the mother-in-law.

Where was Yang Endei during this time?

He became invisible, helping no one and not mediating. He only listened to his mother and controlled the family finances, giving his sister five or ten yuan each month to buy meat or go to the market, as if he were giving alms to a beggar.

Taking a few steps to the window, finding the figure smoking a leaf cigar, Zhang Xuan almost jumped up, damn it!

In his previous life, he fell for your tricks, and in this life, you, a toad, dare to show up again!

I'll shatter your dreams!

...

After finishing dinner without showing any emotion, he watched Niu Fen ride the 28-inch bicycle with flowers and leave.

Zhang Xuan then asked, "Mom, do you really plan to marry my sister to Yang Endei?"

Ruan Xiuzhen, sitting on the bed, looked at her son, who had never interfered in this matter before, and asked, "Do you seem to dislike him?"

Zhang Xuan nodded, "There are so many matchmakers in the village for my sister. Why did you choose the ordinary Yang Endei?"

Ruan Xiuzhen thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I prefer Ouyang Yong from the third production team. He is smart, good-looking, and from a decent family. His whole family is quite satisfied with your sister.

It's just that your elder sister has never been very smart, and after being hit by a truck, she became even less capable."

Pausing, Ruan Xiuzhen continued, "I'm afraid that if your sister marries Ouyang Yong, she won't be able to hold onto him and will end up with nothing. Yang Endei, on the other hand, though his family is known for being stingy, is a reliable and hardworking person, suitable for a practical life."

Mentioning his sister's stupidity, Zhang Xuan didn't know how to refute it.

Because his sister was indeed very slow in her studies, having repeated a grade in fifth grade. In the primary school entrance exam, the teacher didn't even let her take the test, leaving her in the classroom to guard the door, worried that her single-digit score would lower the average and affect the school's ranking.

On this point, Ruan Xiuzhen had been troubled for over a decade and still couldn't understand why her second and third children were so smart, while the eldest was so different.

Sometimes Ruan Xiuzhen couldn't help but wonder if the second and third children were like her, and the eldest inherited her husband's genes.

However, mentioning Ouyang Yong, Zhang Xuan's memory came back. This person followed his village chief father, liked using hair gel, and wore white shirts, western pants, and leather shoes, paying attention to his appearance, which made him look like a playboy in those days.

But one shouldn't judge a person by their appearance. He proved to the villagers with his life that he was a doting husband and a good man. His wife was even less capable than Zhang Ping.

Without arguing with Ruan Xiuzhen, Zhang Xuan asked after a moment, "Do you really want Yang Endei because you hope he will help with the farm work in the future?"

Seeing her son guess her thoughts, Ruan Xiuzhen didn't deny it and said in a low voice, "I'm not in good health and can't do heavy work. You will leave for studies in the future. Your second sister resents me for not letting her retake her exams and may not come back. The fields can't be left idle, and we need someone to do the farm work."

Forget it, expecting Yang Endei to help with farm work is like expecting a sow to climb a tree, Zhang Xuan silently mocked but didn't say it out loud.

Because he couldn't tell her what would happen in the next few decades.

Moreover, his mother had struggled for decades in the rural area, and her views and ideas were limited by the times. He couldn't blame her or change her mindset.

Around 6:30 PM, the doctor came to check on Zhang Xuan. After examining him, he told Ruan Xiuzhen, "He is recovering well. He can be discharged after two more days of observation."

This was a great piece of news, and Ruan Xiuzhen breathed a sigh of relief, expressing her gratitude.

Zhang Xuan, however, asked, "Doctor, can I be discharged tomorrow? I haven't taken a bath for several days."

The doctor was taken aback, looking back and forth between the two, seemingly understanding Zhang Xuan's thoughts—saving money. Hospital expenses were too high.

Not making it difficult for them, the kind doctor understood their hardships and said after a moment, "It's not impossible. But you still need to come to the hospital the next day or two for a check-up. Take the remaining medicine back to the village, and if you feel unwell, come to the hospital immediately. Don't delay."

"Okay, thank you." Zhang Xuan had long wanted to be discharged but didn't insist due to his mother's concern and stubbornness. Now that the doctor agreed, his mood improved significantly.

Hearing her son make the decision and reach an agreement with the doctor, Ruan Xiuzhen opened her mouth but didn't say anything. The family was in debt, and every bit of money saved was a help.

That night, Zhang Xuan continued to write articles for other city newspapers.

Ruan Xiuzhen carefully packed things, preparing for the discharge the next day.

...

The next morning, the weather changed. The clear sky was gone, and the north wind blew, bringing rain and snow.

Snowflakes fell densely from the sky, covering the ground layer by layer.

For breakfast, they ate a few cold steamed buns with pickled vegetables, hastily finishing. Mother and son then completed the discharge procedures and left the hospital.

The items were not expensive but were numerous, varied, and troublesome. Zhang Xuan felt like a beekeeper, with buckets, quilts, and hot water bottles hanging all over him.

Walking was a struggle.

Seeing her son's hard work, Ruan Xiuzhen, who also had her hands full, looked back but didn't see Zhang Ping or the tall Yang Endei, and sighed.

Ruan Xiuzhen blamed herself, "I shouldn't have saved the phone call last night. It would have been better to call your sister to pick you up. She is tougher and more resilient."

Mom, you're showing favoritism a bit too much, Zhang Xuan said with a forced smile, "It's fine, I can handle it."

The original plan was to go to the post office to cash the money order, but the two of them couldn't manage it and had to give up.

As the New Year approached, the streets became busier with people shopping for New Year's goods. The calls of vendors rose and fell, creating a lively atmosphere.

PS: New book, please give recommendations, collections, and reviews...