Chapter 218 - 218 Disbelief
218 Disbelief
Shen Qiuhua packed many things for her daughter-in-law to bring home. When the Su family could not afford to eat in the past, Liu Yinyin was the one who brought back grain from her parent’s house for the Su family to eat.
The Su family could only return the favor after the autumn harvest. Also, Liu Yinyin had taken her two children home when Su Wenzhe went to work at the Zhu residence.
Shen Qiuhua could not forget what her daughter-in-law had done for her family. She felt sad whenever she thought about that, but she could finally repay Liu Yinyin and her family for their kindness.
Liu Yinyin looked at everything her mother-in-law had packed and was thrilled. She wanted to save face when she returned to her parent’s house instead of only going to them for help.
Also, the Su family had an oxcart, so Shen Qiuhua told her daughter-in-law to use it, making it more convenient to transport things to her parent’s house.
Liu Yinyin thought the neighboring villagers would no longer gossip about her if she rode the oxcart home.
Her family’s house was in the neighboring Willow Village, which was neither close nor far away.
However, she could reach home by noon if she took the oxcart. At that time, the villagers of Willow Village would return from the mountains for a lunch break and could see her returning with many things.
Therefore, Liu Yinyin decided to rush home at that time. That way, the villagers would no longer gossip about the Su family.
The villages were close, and they would find out certain things about the neighboring villages and gossip about them.
The folks of Willow Village knew little about the Su family because one of their village members, Liu Yinyin, had married into the Su family from Su Teng Village.
In the past, Liu Yinyin would take food from her family’s house, and their neighbors would know about it. The villagers also knew she often stayed with her two children in her parent’s home.
In that era, people’s thoughts were more old-fashioned. They would gossip about married women living with their children at their parent’s house, so Liu Yinyin wanted them to know that the Su family treated her and her children well.
She wanted the folks at Willow Village to know that her in-laws’ conditions had improved and that they should envy her instead of gossiping.
Shen Qiuhua knew what it would be like for Liu Yinyin to return to her family’s house, so she wanted to make her daughter-in-law look good in front of the villagers.
Liu Yinyin looked at the things on the oxcart and said, “Mother-in-law, there are too many of these.”
After some thought, Shen Qiuhua said, “What should I take off the oxcart?”
Su Binglan interjected, “Oh, didn’t I buy some fabric when I came back, Mother? Give some to Sister-in-law so she can give them to her parents to make clothes.”
Most villagers bought fabric to make clothes so they could save money. Even fabric was expensive back then. The villagers were fortunate enough to wear new pieces of clothing during the New Year.
Most wore the same piece of clothing, sewing and mending them whenever they ripped or torn. Therefore, the fabric was an expensive item to own.
Shen Qiuhua almost forgot about it. She said, “Right, there’s that too. The color is great, so anyone can use it to make clothes. You should bring the fabric to your parents so they can make new clothes.”
Liu Yinyin’s expression changed. “B-But I can’t accept that. Binglan traveled far to buy this fabric, and it was very expensive. My parents work in the fields, so they don’t need these.”
She thought the fabric was too expensive and felt guilty just holding them. Her parents would probably nag about it if she brought the fabric home.
Su Binglan said, “We have plenty of fabric to make clothes, Sister-in-law. It’s okay if you bring some home.”
Believe it or not, she did not buy that fabric. She had cured someone’s health issues during her travels, and that person just happened to be looking into a clothing store. That person bought the fabric and gave them to Su Binglan.
Shen Qiuhua went inside to take the fabric and placed them on the oxcart, saying, “Binglan is right. You can take these.”
Still, Liu Yinyin declined.
Then Shen Qiuhua said, “You’re still treating me like an outsider, aren’t you? Take them.”
Liu Yinyin helplessly took the fabric under her mother-in-law’s insistence, but she felt touched.
When she brought Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai back to Willow Village via oxcart, she could no help but feel the cloth. She smiled uncontrollably.
Liu Yinyin’s parents were very frugal and could not bear to buy fabric to make new clothes. As their daughter, her heart ached when she thought of that.
She was thrilled now that she could bring some fabric to her parents. In the past, she wanted to buy things for her parents, but the Su family was suffering, so she could not.
There was a massive burden in her heart, but she was relieved now that she could finally treat her parents well.
Su Xuexuan looked at his mother’s smile and said, “Mother, you’re smiling.”
He noticed his mother’s expression because Liu Yinyin never looked like that in the past when she brought him to his grandparent’s house.
Liu Yinyin nodded and said, “Yes, I’m smiling because I’m happy.”
Su Xuexuan was a little puzzled. After all, children were simple-minded and did not understand the thoughts of an adult.
Liu Yinyin explained softly, “I’m also happy because things are different now.”
…
Liu Yinyin and her two sons arrived at Willow Village in the afternoon. Any family with a cow was a family that was well off. Therefore, there were few cows in the village, let alone oxcarts.
When the villagers returned from the mountain and the fields, they curiously looked at the oxcart. They were shocked when they saw Liu Yinyin on it.
Some womenfolk collected their thoughts and greeted her as her oxcart passed by. “Hello, Yinyin. Are you going back to your parent’s house?”
Liu Yinyin responded smilingly, “Hello, Miss Li. My sons are on break from the academy for the next two days, so I brought them back to visit their grandparents.”
She was skilled in speaking as she discretely mentioned that her two sons were studying at the academy. Everyone was astonished when they heard that.
“Did you just say that your sons are studying at the academy?”
Everyone was in disbelief.
Liu Yinyin had married into the Su family, and the entire Willow Village knew of the Su family’s conditions. They heard that Su Wenzhe’s family was having a hard time. Otherwise, Liu Yinyin would not have needed to return to borrow food.
If that were the case, Liu Yinyin would not have stayed at her mother-in-law’s house for so long. The villagers wondered how she could afford to send her sons to school now and if the Su family’s conditions had improved.
Liu Yinyin said smilingly, “Yes, my two sons are studying at Blue Mountain Academy in Tenghe Town.”
Her response was like a bomb, as the villagers could not believe it. Two children attending school was not an easy feat, let alone attending Blue Mountain Academy.
No villager in Willow village would even dare think about that.
A month’s school fee was at least for silver taels, not to mention buying pens, ink, paper, and inkstones. Everyone thought Liu Yinyin might have exaggerated, but they knew her well enough. She would never lie.
There were many things, including the eye-catching piece of fabric on the oxcart she rode home. Everyone was envious when they saw it.
A passerby asked, “Yinyin, are your in-laws making a fortune or something?”
Liu Yinyin explained smilingly, “My husband just started a business in town. We don’t make a fortune, but it’s enough to get by.”