Even with her heart aching, Mother Li had to agree, "Alright, those leftover corduroy scraps, how about using them for shoe uppers?"
Tian Jing waved her hand, "All the remaining scraps and remnants, give them to your mother-in-law to handle."
After putting on her thermal underwear and then her new clothes, Tian Jing felt warm from the inside out, from head to toe. Holding a bowl of Physalis peruviana, she went to Sister-in-law Niu's house to ask for her help.
"Sister-in-law Niu, I still need your help this afternoon. The cloth boards we made the day before yesterday weren't enough."
"Okay, I'll be there after lunch." Sister-in-law Niu was very straightforward, "Huh? Isn't that Physalis peruviana you're holding?"
Tian Jing placed the bowl in her hand, "It is. Try one, they're quite delicious. Remember to bring the bowl back this afternoon, I'm going home for lunch."
...
Sister-in-law Niu, who had already returned from her parents' home, rolled her eyes when she saw her sister-in-law bring in a bowl of Physalis peruviana, but she dared not speak. She didn't want to be sent back to her parents' house again; her parents' house was no longer her home.
Sister-in-law Niu tasted one herself first. The flavor was indescribably delicious. She ignored her sister-in-law's glare and placed the bowl in front of her mother-in-law, "Tian Jing sent these. She also asked me to help her make cloth boards this afternoon."
As soon as she heard it was from Li's young daughter-in-law, Mother Niu immediately peeled one and put it in her mouth.
Biting into it, crisp, sweet juice spread throughout her mouth. That warm feeling returned. After eating several, she then called her grandson to eat, "These are the Physalis peruviana you love to eat and play with, have some."
Sister-in-law Niu waited for someone to invite her to eat, so she could take the opportunity to make a sarcastic remark.
However, no one paid any attention to her. One by one, the Physalis peruviana in the bowl disappeared. Even her husband didn't give her one to taste, just put them in his own mouth.
No, she wasn't trying to taste the Physalis peruviana; she wanted to take the opportunity... Seeing everyone's unsatisfied expressions, she looked at her husband with grievance.
Brother Niu pretended not to see. He had stayed at his in-laws' for three days and had endured three days of being looked down upon. Why should he be subjected to such treatment now?
...
In the afternoon, Sister-in-law Niu, who had returned with Li's bowl, saw the scraps of cloth intended for shoe uppers and knew the reason, "Did the quilt cover get roughed up?"
"Mhm." Tian Jing casually shifted the blame, "Li Zhengguo's hands are too strong."
Li Zhengguo, the scapegoat expert, said, "Yes, it's the first time washing a quilt, I didn't know how much force to use."
"How would men know how to wash quilts?"
Sister-in-law Niu offered a perfunctory consolation, then smiled, "However, many people saw Brother Zhengguo carrying the quilt cover and lining to the Ku River to wash yesterday. Someone immediately said you're henpecked."
"Hehe, if you ask me, those who say that are just jealous. Her man never helps her with housework, does he? Tian Jing, you are blessed to have married a man who knows how to cherish his wife."
Tian Jing looked up at Li Zhengguo. If Sister-in-law Niu hadn't said this, she wouldn't have thought about the division of labor between men and women in this era.
Moreover, women generally thought that men who did housework were useless and henpecked. Su Dan Fiction Network.
But yesterday, Li Zhengguo had readily agreed, and Mother Li and Li Min hadn't said anything. It was likely that he had helped before, just that no one had seen it.
Now that Li Zhengguo had married a wife, washing and starching should be his wife's responsibility, that was everyone's opinion.
Li Zhengguo smiled at Tian Jing and replied to Sister-in-law Niu, "My wife is still young, what's wrong with me helping with housework? Those people are making a fuss over nothing."
"Yes, that's the point. Those people are just idle, they only know how to stare at your house. Ignore them."
After a few casual chats, Sister-in-law Niu and Mother Li began to make cloth boards.
Li Zhengguo continued to make furniture with Chen Suozhu.
Three days later, two cabinets and one shelf were finished. In the inner room, all the items placed outside were put into the cabinets.
With the shelf in the kitchen, pots and bowls were neatly arranged, and the space increased significantly.
Another three days were spent making two lounge chairs. After laying a thin quilt on one, Mother Li lay down and tears of joy fell. This was her daughter-in-law's idea, and she had asked her son to make it for her.
Tian Jing pretended not to see and tried lying on the other one. It was a bit hard, as both the backrest and the seat were made of wooden planks. But if she used coarse cloth, it would be too saggy.
"Li Min, you can lie on this too. Adjust it higher. You can knit sweaters while lying down, and no one will know."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Li Min, who had been envious, smiled and thanked her gratefully when she heard her sister-in-law was willing to share the lounge chair with her.
Giving the lounge chair to Li Min, Tian Jing said to Li Zhengguo, "Li Zhengguo, let's go to the county town tomorrow. We'll plaster the kitchen walls after we get back. I want to buy some plastic film."
"Okay."
Mother Li wiped away her tears. Life was getting better and better, she should be smiling. "Sweetie, I heard plastic film is hard to buy. You need a purchasing voucher."
Upon hearing this, Tian Jing looked at Li Zhengguo.
"I'll go find Captain Ou tonight." Li Zhengguo knew that Sweetie wanted to grow vegetables, and this was a good thing. He would get a purchase letter from Captain Ou and then ask Wen Jianshe for help.
Since Li Zhengguo had a way, Tian Jing was no longer worried. She planned to go up the mountain again. She had two hundred yuan left at home, which might not be enough for her expenses. She wanted to find something else to sell.
Li Zhengguo had no urgent work on hand, so he was naturally not at ease with her going up the mountain alone. Tian Jing did not refuse.
The two carried their bamboo baskets and left the Li family. Three of the five families to the west had already started building courtyard walls.
Seeing Li Aiguo, who was once again slacking off, Li Zhengguo couldn't help but frown. Living in the same village, and with others having rightfully allocated land, he had no way or reason to remove this disgusting person.
Tian Jing didn't even cast a glance in that direction, quickly heading towards the back mountain. It was already afternoon, and she wanted to venture deep into the mountains. She had no time to pay attention to extraneous people.
Li Zhengguo was only stunned for a moment before realizing that Sweetie had already gone far. He hurried to follow, limping.
Li Aiguo stood up straight and looked at the two people whose appearances were so mismatched, especially the limping figure. He was chasing after the slender figure moving at an extremely fast speed, appearing both ridiculous and pathetic.
Toad wanting to eat swan meat!
Jingjing must have sped up because she was annoyed by that pursuit, right?
Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo were unaware of Li Aiguo's elaborate inner monologue. At this moment, the two were discussing parting ways.
As soon as they reached the mountain, Li Zhengguo resumed his 'abnormal' gait. Tian Jing also consciously waited for him. The two met at the edge of the deep mountain.
"Li Zhengguo, you know my combat prowess. I'm going into the deep mountains to scout. I didn't refuse your company on the mountain because I wanted you to hunt some pheasants and rabbits nearby, which we can also sell for money. Don't break the harmony we've just established between us."
Seeing that Sweetie was unhappy, Li Zhengguo could only agree, "Then I'll wait for you nearby. You must come down before dark."
Tian Jing gave a hum of agreement and turned, leaping onto a nearby tree. With a few leaps from treetop to treetop, she disappeared from Li Zhengguo's sight.
For the first time, Li Zhengguo witnessed Tian Jing running on trees. Her speed was as if she were walking on flat ground, no, faster than on flat ground. Li Zhengguo thought, this must be the legendary Qinggong, right?
Then, recalling Tian Jing's confrontation with Ouyang Lei when they went to the county town last time, Li Zhengguo was no longer worried. No, he was still worried. He was worried that Tian Jing would forget the time.