219 Her Parent’s Hearts
‘Her husband started a business in town?’
Every word Liu Yinyin said left the villagers shocked as they wondered if they had misheard her.
‘How long has it been since the Su family got rich?’
‘So, the Su family has a business now?’
It was not easy to open a shop and start a business in town during that time since it cost a lot of money. Most villagers did not have the funds to do these things. Usually, only wealthy townsfolk could start businesses.
Most villagers returned to their senses and looked at Liu Yinyin enviously. “You’ve married a good man, Yinyin.”
Liu Yinyin’s smile deepened when she thought of the Su family’s kindness and unity. “Yes, Miss Lin. My husband’s family treats me well.”
“Why did he make you bring so many things home?” Someone said sourly, “Why didn’t he come with you?”
Of course, Liu Yinyin knew the real meaning behind those words. She looked at the woman and said, “Miss Li, my husband is busy running his business in town, so he couldn’t find the time to accompany me.
“However, he plans to close his shop early in the afternoon so he can come over to have dinner with us.”
Miss Li had always enjoyed comparing herself with Liu Yinyin. Her heart ached when she saw how well Liu Yinyin had been doing. Even Liu Yinyin could see her jealous expression.
If it were not for the villagers gossiping about Liu Yinyin and the Su family, Liu Yinyin would not have returned home to brag. She was content as long as she and her family could live good lives and did not feel the need to show it off, nor did she compare herself with them.
She did not compare herself with anyone even when the Su family’s conditions were not good. Instead, she felt satisfied that her husband and his family treated her well.
Even though her sister-in-law’s temper was terrible back then, it did not affect her much. Still, the Su family’s conditions had improved, and Liu Yinyin became even more content.
Her parents were cooking at home when one of their neighbors walked toward their door and shouted, “Mr. Liu, come and take a look! Your daughter has returned on an oxcart!”
Liu Yinyin’s parents could not believe what they heard. They wondered why their daughter would return on an oxcart. Nonetheless, they hurriedly put down the things in their hands and went to their door to check things out.
Then they saw their daughter sitting on the oxcart with all sorts of bags. The older couple was shocked as they wondered if they were hallucinating.
When Liu Yinyin approached the older couple, they finally reacted.
“W-What are you doing here, Yinyin?” Mrs. Liu was so shocked that she stammered.
Liu Yinyin replied, “Father, Mother, let’s talk inside. Oh, are Big Brother and his wife here?”
“Your big brother and his wife haven’t returned from the fields. We just came home to prepare dinner.”
The Liu family lived in average conditions and had more land. In addition, the family was very hardworking, making their days okay at best.
As Mrs. Liu spoke, her husband took down the doorsill and led the oxcart in. Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai greeted them, “Hello, Grandpa and Grandpa!”
Mr. and Mrs. Liu were thrilled to see their grandsons. “Hey, come here. We’ll bring you two in and give you some sweets.”
Mrs. Liu would give sweets to her grandsons and granddaughters whenever they visited.
After Mr. Liu closed the door, he asked lowly, “Yinyin, why did you bring so many things and return in an oxcart? Tell me what’s going on.”
Previously, when Mr. Liu opened the door, the villagers curiously looked inside, so there were some things he could not ask. Only after closing the door could he ask his questions.
Mrs. Liu also asked anxiously, “Yinyin, you must tell us the truth. What’s going on? Where did you get so many things?”
Liu Yinyin explained, “The oxcart belongs to the Su family, and my mother-in-law prepared the things for us. She told me to bring them to you.”
When she finished speaking, the older couple suspected they had misheard their daughter’s words because they knew the Su family’s conditions best. The Su family had borrowed grain two months ago, yet things had changed drastically.
Liu Yinyin looked at her parents’ expressions and knew they did not believe her. She filled her parents in on what had happened over the past few months, mainly about the shops.
“S-So, Wenzhe opened a shop in town and started a business? The Su family’s conditions have improved too?”
“It seems that your sister-in-law turned out to be a capable person after all. Her family has changed in such a short time.”
“Your life has improved, so we’re relieved.”
“You came home with so many things. Didn’t your mother-in-law and sister-in-law have any objections?”
Although Liu Yinyin’s parents said these things, they were no longer worried. Instead, they were smiling. They were concerned about their daughter in the past.
Liu Yinyin said smilingly, “N-No, I didn’t even want to bring back this many things, but my mother-in-law insisted. She said she is grateful for you guys’ help.”
“We’re family, yet they say such polite things. Still, we took a liking to their family’s unity. We knew Wenzhe was a good man, so we decided that you should marry him.”
“It seems we did the right thing after all. We’re glad to see your days have improved, Yinyin.”
Liu Yinyin smiled as she took the things down from the oxcart. She said, “These are white flour, rice, and meat. Those are pastries, and that’s some fabric that my sister-in-law bought on her travels. We don’t even have that type of fabric in our town, but she said it’s for you.”
Mrs. Liu looked at the high-quality fabric and could not take her eyes off it. “It looks exquisite and feels smooth to the touch! It will undoubtedly be comfortable to wear and will look good too!”
Women enjoyed looking beautiful and liked wearing new clothes, but they always needed to be frugal and think about their families. They could never buy what they wanted, only what they needed.
Mrs. Liu knew how to live her life. However, she could not bear to buy fabric to make clothes even during the New Year. She was thrilled to see the fabric that her daughter had brought.
The family talked for a while as the older couple wanted to prepare some food. However, Liu Yinyin said, “Father, Mother, these are dumplings. We’ll cook them for lunch today, and I’ll teach you how to make them later.”
When she took out the food basket, Mr. and Mrs. Liu were surprised. They had never seen something like that before.
“These are dumplings?”
“Yes, my sister-in-law came up with them. You’ll know how delicious they are once you’ve eaten them.”
Liu Yinyin’s mother asked anxiously, “Won’t I need a lot of white flour to make these?”
“Don’t feel anxious over food, Mother. I can always bring you more flour, so you can use it as much as you need. You guys should stop eating so much coarse grain buns.”
Even though her family’s living conditions were average, her parents always saved as much as possible. Therefore, the family would only cook with white flour during the New Year.
“You’re married, so you must live a good life with your husband. Don’t keep thinking about us, Yinyin.”
“As time passes, your mother-in-law and the others will have no objections. Don’t be silly and live a good life.”