How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 80 - Exhortations_1

80: Chapter 80: Exhortations_1

80 -80: Exhortations_1

Song Lin’s face turned ugly, “Mother, if you can’t speak nicely, don’t speak at all.” His aunt clearly had their child’s best interests at heart, and he should have just agreed, instead of being confrontational.

Mrs.

Song, embarrassed and without face, muttered, “I’m just speaking the truth.”

The atmosphere became awkward.

To ease the tension, Li Jiaoyang started to inquire about learning to weave from Old Mrs.

Qin.

Old Mrs.

Qin finally cracked a slow smile, “Qiaoqiao must have told you about it, we’ve taken an order from the supply and marketing cooperative.

In half a month, we need to deliver at least 200 woven vases to them every week, and we’re short on hands.

If you’re interested, come to my house later, it’s very simple, you’ll learn it right away.

I’ll pay you ten cents for each one.”

Li Jiaoyang was stunned for a moment but then realized, this was the price that could be disclosed to outsiders.

The price Li Qiao mentioned was what they gave to the supply and marketing cooperative.

200 to be delivered.

Would Jin make around 10 yuan from that?

At least close to 50 a month.

Looking forward to her sister’s improved life.

Her eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled in agreement, “Okay.”

Mrs.

Song couldn’t resist interjecting, “Can I do it?”

Old Mrs.

Qin, without looking at her, said, “Yes.”

Li Qiao sat for a while, thinking of leaving.

Li Jiaoyang forcefully asked her to stay for dinner.

Mrs.

Song didn’t have a way with words, but she was a down-to-earth person.

Knowing they would come, she bought a chicken in advance.

When Li Jiaoyang was making soup, Li Qiao took out morels from her bag.

“Add these to the soup, they’re really fresh.”

Mrs.

Song joked, “Oh, bringing condiments when visiting relatives, just make sure it’s not poisonous and doesn’t drug us all.”

Li Qiao couldn’t help but chuckle, “It’s not poisonous.”

Li Jiaoyang annoyed, said, “Mother, why do you always talk like that?”

Mrs.

Song, clueless, replied, “What’s wrong with what I said?

Even talking bothers you, seriously, I’m not helping you anymore.” She walked away.

After Mrs.

Song had walked away, Li Qiao whispered, “Eldest Sister, have you seen this before?”

“Not commonly, I remember they are around when we harvest grain, but I’ve never seen anyone pick them.

People don’t recognize them and wouldn’t dare eat them even when starving.

How do you know them?” Li Jiaoyang asked.

Li Qiao replied, “I learned about them from books.

Next time you see them, pick and take them home to dry, and send them to me.

I’ll pay you for them.”

Li Jiaoyang scolded fondly, “We are sisters, why talk about money?”

The voice of Li Qiao lowered even further, “I also sell them for money.”

“Sell?

Is it Jin who’s trading stuff?

Does he have a permit?”

Li Qiao pondered, “I’m not sure about that.

He probably has one, I’ll ask him later.”

Li Jiaoyang cautioned, “Without a permit, don’t get involved in this business.

If someone reports you, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Have you told anyone else besides me?”

“Only grandmother knows.”

Li Jiaoyang advised, “From now on, don’t tell anyone about earning money, not even your second sister.

The more people know, the more jealousy it breeds.” She added, “Especially Li Jinhua, you used to be close with her and didn’t like hearing me speak ill of her.

It’s not that I mean to speak badly of her, she’s very cunning.

Just look at how she’s attached to Jin.

Nine out of ten, she’s heard about Jin’s abilities and is eager to ingratiate herself.”

Li Qiao admired her eldest sister’s perceptiveness and her clear understanding of Li Jinhua’s character.

Li Jiaoyang continued, “Although Jin doesn’t have the best reputation, those who follow him say he’s loyal.

He must be responsible; you’ll be fine if you live well with him, and he definitely won’t let you down.”

Li Qiao agreed.

The sisters chatted while busying themselves, preparing a meal.

The children seldom ate meat, and as soon as the chicken was served, they scrambled for it.

Li Jiaoyang knocked the chopsticks from two of her nieces’ hands and served the chicken legs to Li Qiao and Old Mrs.

Qin instead.

Old Mrs.

Qin placed it in her young nephew’s bowl.

Li Qiao put it back in her oldest niece’s bowl.

“Thank you, Auntie,” said the niece.

Li Qiao smiled with curved eyes, “You’re welcome, good girl.”

The second-born stared longingly, “I can say thank you, too.

Third Auntie, you’re so biased.”

Li Jiaoyang helplessly said to Li Qiao, “If it’s given to you, just eat it.

Why do you have to give it to her?

Look, now the other one has something to say, right?”

Li Qiao, “There’s only one chicken leg, it’s your own fault for being the second.

The good stuff should be given to the eldest sister.”

The second-born felt utterly wronged, “But Mom said the elder ones should yield to the younger, and we all yield to our younger brother, so big sister should yield to me.

Now, what’s this?

I have to yield to my younger brother and also show filial respect to my elder sister?

That’s not fair.”

Li Jiaoyang tried to mediate, “Eldest, give your sister a few bites.”

The eldest hugged her bowl protectively, “No way, this is from Third Auntie.”

“Why did you make me the second-born?

It’s too miserable for me…” the second-born pouted and began to cry.

Li Qiao was at a loss, it was just a chicken leg, what’s the big deal?

She hurriedly took out five cents from her pocket, “Er’nini, can this make it up to you?

Next time there’s a chicken leg, Third Auntie will definitely give it to you first.”

Only then did the second-born crack a smile, “Deal!”

“Silly girl.”

The whole room laughed at the second-born.

Li Jiaoyang ate mushrooms, her eyes suddenly widening, “Hmm, Qiaoqiao, these mushrooms taste good, there’s a mysterious fragrance, crispy and chewy.

Next time you see them, pick some for me to make soup.”

“Eat them yourselves, but don’t spread the word.

Otherwise, if people in the village start picking, you won’t find any,” Li Qiao said.

“Of course.”

…

After the meal, Li Jiaoyang followed Li Qiao and Old Mrs.

Qin to the Qin family’s home.

Only then did Li Jiaoyang understand how to weave vases.

“I saw them at the co-op’s counter before, a lot of people were buying them.

Turns out you made them.”

Yu Feng couldn’t keep her mouth shut, “Exactly, I just don’t understand those rich folks, praising something that’s meant for burning.”

Old Mrs.

Qin, “Once it’s processed into a craft, those who appreciate it will naturally buy it.” If she had the money, she would buy one too, place it at home, on the desk at work, insert a bunch of flowers, and enjoy the fragrance of the flowers, how pleasant would that be?

Yu Feng, “What craft?

If you ask me, those people just have money to burn.”

Old Mrs.

Qin couldn’t see eye to eye with her and moved a stool to teach Li Jiaoyang.

Li Jiaoyang learned quickly and soon could weave properly.

Yu Feng found something else to say, “You’re quite clever, not like my eldest daughter-in-law.

She tried learning for several days without making any progress.

When I criticize her a bit, she doesn’t like it.”

Li Jiaoyang smiled, “Different people have different levels of understanding.

If she can’t learn weaving, she must be good at other tasks.” In reality, she had been smart since childhood.

When her mother was alive, she was still in school and ranked at the top of her class, but unfortunately, those good times didn’t last.

Ever since her father married Dong Lamei, she had to drop out of school.

Yu Feng disparaged, “As if she can do any task well, everything inside and outside the house relies on me and my younger daughter-in-law.”

Yu Cuiying couldn’t stand it anymore, “Big sister, didn’t Xiaohong work digging the river ditch for a month, recently?

Her back was bent from fatigue.

You say she didn’t do anything.

You should be forthright and have the eldest son bring her back and take good care of her.

Otherwise, if she gets upset and doesn’t return, the eldest will have to stay single.”

“A good man needn’t worry about finding a wife.

Even Jin could marry a high school graduate.”

Old Mrs.

Qin was displeased, “Where did my kid offend you?”

Li Qiao chimed in, “Exactly!

How handsome is Jin?

Whenever he walks by, all the girls and young women drool over him.”

A roomful of people laughed heartily.

And didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed.

Old Mrs.

Qin gave Li Qiao an approving look.

That’s a granddaughter-in-law with taste!

She hinted pointedly, “Unlike some people, with features that won’t admit defeat to anyone, finally manages to get a daughter-in-law and still complains about this or that, as if their son is some priceless treasure.”

Yu Feng, “….Is that a veiled criticism?”

Li Jiaoyang made one, and Li Qiao helped fine-tune it, “Big sister, you have to do it like this to meet the delivery standards.”

“Okay, I’ll practice more when I get back,” Li Jiaoyang said, worried about the children at home, and proposed leaving.

After seeing her off from the village, Li Qiao waited for the educated youth to send back their notebooks, then began packing her things to return to school.