CHAPTER 110: CHAPTER 92: LIN LISHAN’S HEARTACHE

Zhou Jiao watched her waver and glanced outside, whispering, "It doesn’t matter if you give gifts at home, smart people don’t show off their wealth. If it’s said that we gave Xiao Wu’s two brothers-in-law the clothes, it would look bad. These military supplies are extremely valuable, not only rare in the market, but wearing them would make people think too much. Even if they don’t say anything, aren’t there still their parents?"

"The military coat with yarn is heavy enough as a gift. Look at the washing ceremony gift. Following the county level, even a pound of yarn is a heavy gift. According to the village standard, yarn is like gold. You’ve already given quite a lot to Xiao Wu’s family, which changes things. Otherwise, I wouldn’t plan to stand out."

Zhou Jiao recalled the director of the textile factory wearing a military coat, and her young daughter boasting at school that her family was connected to the army, which gave her a headache. These five military coats would provide yet another topic for gossip. If her mother-in-law hadn’t seen the military coats, she would never have given them away.

"Fine, I’ll listen to you. Saving the fabric to make clothes for you would be nice. This time, I saw good quality fabric and bought several bolts of woolen material. Make a Lenin suit, a coat for Xiao Wu, and keep the rest for later use. Plus, make several pairs of work trousers; the material is really durable and seems upscale."

"Nowadays, big cities dress like this, so you should dress well. I say throw away those patched clothes. Next time mom brings you two cashmere coats, buy black and brown ones; don’t get red and green ones, they don’t suit your style."

Zhou Jiao nodded happily, "No wonder we’re mother and daughter, we have the same taste. Only black and brown ones, they’re easier to match with clothes. You probably don’t have money on you, remember to bring the Beijing savings book back."

Zhou Jiao saw her mother enthusiastic, matching her mood, and besides, she really wasn’t used to wearing patched clothes. Maybe forced by the future circumstances, she might change, but for now, she wanted to look beautiful, her reflection in the mirror was unbearable.

"Don’t worry, let your dad buy it, keep your savings book. Mom has money, your grandmother has my savings book. Keep the things I give you well, don’t take them out. A woman should have money and spend slowly on herself, buy what you want."

"Just think, even if you don’t work, renting out the yard brings in 50 yuan a month, more than some who work. What are you worried about? Mom’s salary is 100, almost 200 monthly, plus your dad’s salary, our family really doesn’t lack money."

"You’re the only one in our family, spend without calculating. If Mom really cared about money, I wouldn’t have given gifts to your grandaunt for free. If I were like you, counting every penny, I’d have rented out for at least 100 yuan."

"Look in the mirror, see your face—it’s yellow, skinny, lacking nutrition. This month, you must nourish well; good nutrition means nutritious milk, and Ping’an will be healthy. Even if you’re flamboyant, cause trouble, your mom can handle it. What are you afraid of?"

Zhou Jiao looked at her, a face of wealth arrogance, couldn’t help but laugh, "Mom, I got it. Once we separate, it’ll be better. If I wear new clothes every day, while their family is always patched, it won’t feel comfortable. Once in the county, spend as you like. Can’t earn money but can’t spend money?"

"Later, don’t say about gifting to your grandaunt too much, it hurts feelings, and even the previous favors would be wasted. Renting to the government has a lower price but won’t spoil the yard; working there means everyone is clean without messy cooking fumes. Private rental offers more, but collecting rent is troublesome, and moving tenants is chaotic."

"Your grandmother says the same. I know what’s up with your grandaunt—as long as she doesn’t cheat me or embezzle rent, less is fine. And she helps with things like marriage registration. Mom won’t talk about it anymore."

"Mom just worries about you, afraid you’ll be timid buying things. Your second uncle’s Xuezhen was born the same month and year; she acts like she hasn’t grown up, always wants nice things, begs gifts, spends freely, and gets beaten by your second uncle many times—that’s what a 17-year-old should be."

"But you, early on had to take care of yourself, learn to watch faces and protect yourself, all Mom’s fault. Otherwise, you’d be like the girls in the Big Courtyard, thinking about where’s fun, where’s tasty, which clothes are pretty, whining to Mom for money. How you cautiously spend now, afraid of mom’s money running out or spending too much yourself."

"You’ve become sensible through hardships. Why haven’t I gone to see your grandpa? Because I’m angry he could ask me for money but makes you suffer. You’re not motherless, I’ve mailed so many clothes; your wardrobe is all patched, faded."

"Every time Xuezhen asks for clothes, I buy two sets. Fear you’ll lack pretty clothes, girls have thin skin, will feel inferior, so I mail them intensely, not forgetting throughout the seasons. But looking at your wardrobe, I don’t want to see him; wait for your dad, I’ll ask why?"

"Mom thought you’d be like a sunshine girl, even without mom around, in the countryside, with a high official grandfather, money, pretty clothes, things city girls don’t have. You should be carefree, envied and feared, saying what you want, not what I saw in the end?"

"My daughter was scolded at home by some uncultured thing, skinny as bones, growing like weeds. Forced to bow before that old man. Why treat you this way, weren’t we always saying to bring you back to Beijing?"

"But him, he said he took good care of you; I dare not see him or I might slap him. Spending mine, using mine, I don’t care, but how can one be so dishonest? Every package I send reminds me you have a cousin afraid you’ll be bullied if dressed nicely, and still not satisfied. Look how thin you are, where are his eyes?"

Lin Lishan became more emotional the more she spoke, finally unable to hide her sorrow. She knew she was to blame too, but she, Lin Lishan, walked unchallenged in Beijing, never expected her daughter to suffer in the Zhou Family.

Her daughter in Beijing, who dared touch her? Show her faces? It’s only because of Zhou Xiaozheng she’s held back, when did she endure such grievance?