CHAPTER 384: CHAPTER 384 NEIGHBORS

With Zhang Minghua around, Yang PeiMin felt he was living a pig’s life.

In the morning, when Shen Yiguang had to return to the military base, Yang Peihua got up early to wait for him. He had been staying here for several days, and other than helping to carry water and chop wood, he had nothing else to do.

He was used to being busy at home, so suddenly having nothing to do made him feel uncomfortable. He had already familiarized himself with the rooms and the nearby streets, and with nothing left to do, he wanted to go and have a look at the military base when he saw Shen Yiguang coming over.

Shen Yiguang, because he was returning for training and didn’t have time to take him along, told him to hang around here instead, "Yingzi has been here for half a year and she knows all the local spots to eat and have fun. Let her take you around. If you really find it boring, wait for me to have a break in a few days, and I’ll take you."

Shen Yiguang did want to entertain his second uncle well, but he was truly too busy these days to get away. He even saw Yang Peihua helping to wash his son’s diapers because he had nothing else to do. Touched by this, he planned to push work aside a little more and come back to spend time with them.

Beside them, Zhang Minghua heard and patted her son’s back, saying, "Don’t make trouble, have you finished all the chores at home? You have so much free time to go grocery shopping with Yingzi."

Yang Peihua nodded in agreement.

In the few days Zhang Minghua was over, she too was curious, first about how they could afford such a large room. When she found out about the rent, she couldn’t help clicking her tongue, "My goodness, I didn’t know renting a place in the city was this expensive."

"Wow, when did you get a TV at home? Is this one the landlord’s?"

Shen Yixiang laughed and told her, "No, landlords are not that generous. This TV was bought by your daughter-in-law."

Then Zhang Minghua turned to Yang PeiMin and asked, "Look at you being extravagant again. How much did this TV cost? You could build two houses back in our village with that money, couldn’t you?"

Yang PeiMin quickly reassured her, "Don’t worry, don’t worry, mom. I have money; you don’t need to worry about me. Didn’t I say before the new year that I was working on some clothing projects? All this was bought with my salary, and the Shen family had no objections."

Zhang Minghua still frowned at her daughter, feeling there was no need to spend so much, "You should save some money when you have it. Now there’s one more mouth to feed; be careful or my grandson might starve."

Then she herself got engrossed watching TV with her grandson in her arms.

Zhang Minghua was a warm and forthright person. It didn’t take long for her to befriend the neighbors. She even knew the names of their children’s parents. Often, she didn’t need to do anything else—just strolling in the yard holding her grandson or chatting with others was enough, in addition to watching TV.

The neighbor’s kids or idle women would join her at home to watch TV. The honest neighbors would praise her for being able to enjoy life now that her children had become successful. Even though she came to help her daughter through her postpartum period, the situation at her daughter’s was good. They ate well without batting an eye, and she wasn’t burdened with worries. When she was free, she just watched TV at home, something the neighbors envied.

At this point, Zhang Minghua felt a bit smug, "My girl has been frail since she was young. Of all my children, I worried most about her. There is no question of enjoying life; I just came to check in, and it gives me some peace of mind."

Then, she spoke about her own home, that they never preferred sons over daughters and that her relationship with her daughters was especially good.

When some neighbors inquired whether she was from the city or the countryside, and learned she was from the countryside, their surprise could not be concealed. Aunt Qu, who came with the crowd, exclaimed, "Does that mean all your children are also from the countryside?"

Zhang Minghua was slightly offended by the question. Wasn’t it obvious? If she was from a rural area, then, of course, her husband and children were as well. What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with being from the countryside? Likely not, since they neither steal nor rob. What does it have to do with her? She was strange, thought Zhang Minghua. They barely knew each other, having met only a few times, and now she had just walked in with everyone else.

Zhang Ming casually said, "Yes, we’re from the countryside. Us rural folks know how to enjoy ourselves. After getting busy for a few days, we take time to walk around and have fun. The one giving birth is my eldest daughter; she got into university here." Her daughter getting into university was their family’s proudest achievement, and she often boasted about it.

Aunt Qu hesitated briefly then chuckled, "You really did well to marry your eldest daughter into a good family. Look at us; who can afford to buy a TV?"

Zhang Minghua nodded, "She did marry well, but this TV was bought with my daughter’s own salary." She wanted to prevent others from thinking Yang PeiMin was squandering her in-laws money.

"Wow, your eldest daughter is really talented. What kind of work does she do? I heard she’s still studying. How can she work? I see your younger daughter is very diligent; is she also helping your eldest with work?" It was Aunt Qu asking again.

Zhang Minghua glanced at her, "My youngest daughter is here to help my eldest, isn’t that doing work as well?"

"You are truly blessed. Both your daughters are successful. Look at their attire; they seem even more like city folks than us. What do you do in the countryside? Did Yingzi have a job before too? I see that your eldest daughter’s sister-in-law also works at a garment factory. She seems quite capable too. Why don’t you leave your youngest daughter here, and let your eldest’s sister-in-law have a word? Maybe she can also get a job at that factory."

Wasn’t that being too nosy?

Zhang Minghua furrowed her brows slightly, "We’ll decide about that ourselves at home."

Aunt Qu leaned in, thinking she was very close, and whispered to her, "A sister-in-law is never as good as a real sister. Let your younger daughter find a job here too. It would make your eldest daughter stand taller, knowing she has someone to compare with the sister-in-law, who won’t dare commit any wrongs. Big sister, isn’t that right?"

Zhang Minghua’s eyebrows shot up, "What’s with you? This is our family’s business, and we don’t need you worrying about it."

The other neighbors, some of whom were close to Aunt Qu, knew her intentions. Considering everyone was neighbors, they wanted to help if they could, so they all chimed in, eventually dropping the subject. But then, someone took the chance to ask about Yang Peiying’s marital prospects, "Does your youngest daughter have a suitor?"

"Why, are you trying to play matchmaker?"