Tian Jing tidied the clothes into the kang cabinet. The cabinet wasn't small, but it contained pitifully little: two sets of frayed green army uniforms, a green velvet suit, two undershirts, and two pairs of shorts. There weren't even any socks.
These clothes were on the upper shelf. Tian Jing placed her own clothes on the lower shelf. Apart from the winter outfit which took up some space, her own tattered garments occupied only a small corner of the cabinet.
After tidying up, she prepared to get off the kang, her gaze falling on the quilt at the end of the kang. Folded and piled there was a mended old quilt, its patches so numerous that the original fabric was unrecognizable.
Judging by its thickness, it was one thick quilt and one thin quilt, with the thick one underneath and the thin one on top. It seemed to have been used recently.
On the kang was a coarse cloth sheet that had been washed to an unidentifiable color. It wasn't faded; rather, white had been mixed in during washing, giving it a dull greyish hue.
She felt the softness and hardness beneath her knees. The padding of the bedding wasn't sufficient, likely about the same thickness as the thin quilt. What would happen in winter?
These weren't the main issues. The problem was that there was only one quilt for both autumn and winter. How was she supposed to sleep? It was one thing to be forced to share a kang with Li Zhengguo, but to share a quilt as well?
Although in the original owner's previous life, Li Zhengguo had always been a gentleman, and she remained a virgin until she left, many things were different in this life. She couldn't rely entirely on the past.
Li Zhengguo returned after heating the kang. Seeing Tian Jing staring at the quilt, lost in thought, he quickly said, "You use the thick quilt first. It looks thick, but it's not warm. I'll find a way to make you a new quilt."
That's right, it was like this in the original owner's past life. In winter, Li Zhengguo had somehow procured a new quilt, completely new from the inside out.
Li Min saw it when she visited her mother's home and argued with the original owner. She accused the original owner of being unfilial, claiming that she had a new quilt while her mother, who had poor health, was using an old quilt over twenty years old.
The original owner retorted sarcastically, asking Li Min why, as a daughter, she didn't bring her own new quilt to show filial piety to her mother, knowing she used an old quilt over twenty years old. She pointed out that her mother had raised her for 18 years, so why should the daughter-in-law, who had never been raised by her mother-in-law, be the one to contribute a new quilt?
It was this argument that made Li mother disappointed in both her daughter and daughter-in-law. Li mother didn't want the new quilt; she wanted family harmony. But her daughter came back and was bossy, and her daughter-in-law's words were too sharp, making Li mother extremely angry.
It was also during that winter that Li mother fell ill and her health weakened further. She didn't live to see the next winter, nor did she live to see her son bring her another new quilt before she passed away.
In Tian Jing's heart, she always felt that Li Zhengguo's character was too cold-hearted. No matter how much the original owner stirred up trouble, she shouldn't have placed her own mother, who bore and raised him, behind her tempestuous wife.
"If you have a way, get two new quilts. Give one to your mother. If not, it's best that neither of them appears."
Li Zhengguo didn't understand why Tian Jing's tone was so cold, but he knew to obey. "Okay, I'll listen to you. Let's go eat; it's getting dark."
"Mm," Tian Jing replied softly, got off the kang, and went straight out of the room. Li Zhengguo felt her unhappiness and his own spirits sank.
Dinner was served on the kang in the east room. Four people sat facing each other. The main food was sweet potato congee and black steamed buns, served with black pickled vegetables and a large bowl of cold mixed spinach. Finally having some different food, Tian Jing's mood improved considerably.
Seeing her eat happily, Li Zhengguo couldn't help but curl his lips. He picked up some spinach and placed it on her steamed bun. Tian Jing couldn't refuse and had to accept.
Li mother glanced briefly, then lowered her head to drink her congee. Her son, who was usually expressionless, showed the most emotion today. That was good; having someone he cared about made him more lively.
"Hmph," Li Min snorted from her nose upon seeing her elder brother serve food to Tian Jing.
Li mother glared at her daughter. She usually urged her elder brother to find a wife, and now that he had a sister-in-law, she was causing trouble.
Seeing Li Zhengguo reach for a second serving, Tian Jing, who had been about to refuse, heard Li Min's hmph. She resolutely took her steamed bun and waited for Li Zhengguo to place the food on it. She turned her head and thanked Li Zhengguo.
"Thank you. Serve your mother some too, and eat yourself."
These words made Li Zhengguo so happy he wanted to fly. Tian Jing was sweetly caring about him. He picked up some spinach and placed it on Li mother's steamed bun. "Mother, if you're afraid of it being cold, you can warm it in the sweet potato congee."
"Alright," looking at the joy on her son's face, Li mother also felt happy. "You eat too."
"Mm!" Li Zhengguo took a small portion for himself, then continued to serve Tian Jing.
Li Min watched the three of them interact, feeling as if they were the real family and she was an outsider. A sense of grievance welled up within her.
She wanted to put down her bowls and chopsticks and refuse to eat, but the family hadn't had a decent meal in days. The black flour was borrowed from their cousin's family, specifically for today.
She ate her meal with suppressed anger, then pushed her bowl away. She had cooked, so they wouldn't expect her to wash the dishes, would they?
Li Zhengguo glanced at his sister, then started clearing the kang table, taking the bowls to the kitchen. Tian Jing got off the kang and returned to the west room.
When Li Zhengguo came over for the second time, he glanced at his sister again, picked up the pickle bowl, and the empty vegetable dish.
"I say, you," Li mother chided her daughter. "What are you making a fuss about? After your tantrum, you'll pack up and leave, leaving me and your elder brother to face the person you've offended."
"Besides, your elder brother has taken a liking to her. Can't you see that? You're pushing your elder brother away."
Li Min lowered her head and remained silent.
Li mother sighed. She decided not to lecture her anymore. If she couldn't teach her now, she would suffer the consequences later.
After washing up, Li Zhengguo added water to the cauldron and boiled a large pot of hot water. He brought a basin to his mother and then took two basins to his own room.
To Tian Jing, who was idly rolling around on the kang, he said, "Come wash your face and feet. Let's go to bed early."
The kang in the west room was connected to the kitchen. After eating, drowsiness set in, and with the warm kang, Tian Jing worried that if she didn't roll around and move, she would fall asleep immediately. "Okay, thank you."
She seemed to have thanked him many times today.
"You're welcome. You wash first; I'll go out. After you're done, leave it, and I'll empty it."
Li Zhengguo placed two new towels by the basin and left.
Tian Jing didn't stand on ceremony. This person was determined to be good to this body, and she couldn't avoid him. She would take it as it came.
She washed her face in the small basin and her feet in the large one. She didn't touch the new towels; she had her own face towel and foot cloth.
She opened the thick quilt, took off her outer clothes, and crawled in, then called out to the outside.
When Li Zhengguo came in, he only saw her small head peeking out from the quilt. It was the same then, but her eyes then held fear, while now they held peace. It was different.
His gaze fell on the clothes taken off at the end of the kang. The clothes were new, different. Thinking of the two bundles she brought, the new bundles seemed to contain cotton-padded clothes, again, different.
It was good. With so many differences, the ending this time would surely be different too!