Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Li Mingwei was extremely tired and did not have much of an appetite. She drank a few sips of water and then rested. Dong Lei was the same. The two slept in Wang Chunhua's room where she had not yet married.

When she woke up, it was already dusk. Pushing open the door weakly, the colorful clouds on the horizon immediately caught her attention. She stood there blankly for a long time without realizing that several children were sitting on the steps in front of her.

"Big brother, what is auntie looking at?" Little Gang had a blade of grass in his mouth and shook his head, "I don't know, the sky?"

"What's there to look at in the sky?" It's always the same every day.

After a while, Little Gang's patience also ran out. He couldn't help but say, "Auntie, aren't you hungry?"

"Ah?" Li Mingwei looked around for the voice and only then realized that there was a group of children sitting on the ground in front of her from tallest to shortest. She was stunned, "Have you guys been here the whole time?"

"Yes!" Little Gang stood up, "My mom told me to keep an eye on you and call her when you wake up so she can heat up food for you to eat."

"Your mom is...?"

"My mom is the one who helped carry you back."

That was Wang Dashi's son. Li Mingwei remembered he was called, "Little Gang?"

Little Gang scratched his head shyly, "Yes, Auntie has heard of me before."

Li Mingwei smiled, "I've heard your Aunt mention you several times."

Aunt? Little Gang's smile disappeared instantly. I hope Aunt didn't say anything bad about him. Aunt and Mother were in cahoots. At lunch just now, Mother had ratted him out to Aunt, saying that he was naughty and asked Aunt to help discipline him.

"I'll go get my mom." Little Gang slipped away as fast as he could.

In the winter, the several adults in the Wang family gathered together to chat. Wang Chunhua briefly introduced Li Mingwei's background, then sang her praises.

Wang's Father knocked on his tobacco pipe to shake off some ash. He said dubiously, "Is this girl really that capable?"

"Of course! Would I lie to you?" Seeing her father's face, Wang Chunhua said with some pride, "At least she can tutor Dong Lei. You and Dashi are illiterate and can't help Dong Lei at all."

The grandson is also a grandson. If Dong Lei could become a successful scholar, the Wang family would also gain some fame by association.

She looked towards her son and daughters-in-law, "Just listen to what Chunhua says. When you're outside, just say she knows a capable girl."

"Yes, Mother."

"Those half-grown children listen obediently at first, then immediately forget about it." Mrs. Wang sighed, "I hope Big Sister didn't notice anything off. Father and Mother warned us over and over again not to let her find out."

"I know." Wang's Second Sister-in-law nodded, "If Big Sister finds out, she'll definitely give our family more money again. Brother-in-law isn't one to gossip, but Xiao Lei will have to pay his school fees again soon. We have to know when to stop."

Li Mingwei was on her way to get more salt for her noodles when she overheard their conversation from around the corner. She silently took her bowl outside to find the children. After giving them her shredded pork, she probed, "Is it delicious?"

"Delicious!"

"If you want your mothers to buy meat for you every day so you can eat it every day, just be extra good and obedient for her."

The children all shook their heads, "Mother won't buy us meat every day."

Li Mingwei crouched down to their level and pretended to act childish, "Why not? My mother buys me meat every day. Don't your mothers love you as much?"

"That's not it. Our mothers love us very much too. It's just that you need money to buy meat, and Mother doesn't have money."

"Why doesn't she have money?"

They didn't know the reason. In any case, if Mother says there's no money then there's no money. After half a day of fruitless questioning, Li Mingwei gave up on getting an explanation from them since they were still small. She turned her attention to Little Gang instead. He was already ten. He must know the reason.

After looking for him unsuccessfully for a while, she could only return her empty bowl to the kitchen first. Wang's Second Sister-in-law washed it for her as soon as she saw it. Li Mingwei thanked her and asked Mrs. Wang, "Sister-in-law, where is Little Gang?"

Little Gang's head popped out from under the stove. He still had two firewood in his hands, "Auntie, I'm here. What do you need me for?"

"It's not that I'm looking for you, your Aunt wants you."

"Oh." He tossed aside the firewood. "Mom, I'm going to see Auntie!"

Mrs. Wang waved her hand, "Go on, go on. Listen to your Auntie."

Little Gang followed Li Mingwei to Wang Chunhua's room. Wang Chunhua was still sitting by the bed, hesitating over whether to wake up her son. She turned around, "Little Gang? Do you need something?"

Little Gang pointed at himself, "Wasn't it Auntie looking for me?"

"It wasn't me." Wang Chunhua was still confused.

Li Mingwei quickly closed the door. She tattled, "I just overheard your big sister-in-law and second sister-in-law say that the family has run out of money."

Little Gang's expression changed instantly. He turned to run but had no way to escape.