Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 157: Encounter Again

Gao Hong seemed to let out a sigh of relief and quickly left.

When she got home and barely stepped through the door, Mrs. Cui pulled her over and demanded, "Well? Did that woman say anything?"

Mrs. Cui, who worked tirelessly all year round and had strong hands, didn’t even let Gao Hong admit she was in pain despite it being severe. Gao Hong nodded hastily, "Mother, she...she did say, I made things clear to her. She didn’t pursue the matter further, just said that in the future I must tell her..."

Hearing what she wanted to hear, Mrs. Cui let her daughter-in-law go, but couldn’t help venting, "It was just a bit of water from her, and she had to get stingy about it. Beautiful women are always the cruel ones. Such a person, you should keep your distance from her in the future!"

Gao Hong bowed her head, "I understand, Mother. I’ll get some water for you to soak your feet."

Mrs. Cui hummed indifferently, instructing her, "Call the two boys back and give them a bath."

Gao Hong, not daring to delay, ran out again to find them.

Soon she returned with Dabao and Er Bao, but Er Bao’s crying was almost loud enough to lift the roof.

Anger crossed Mrs. Cui’s face as she grabbed a shoe sole and threw it at Gao Hong, "You’re going to be the death of me, making my nephew cry. I’ll beat you to death today, you cruel-hearted creature! You resent me, don’t you? Taking it out on my precious grandson? You ungrateful wretch, do you think I would bother coming if it weren’t for the fact that you’re not showing more of that pregnancy? Why did you even bring my nephews along?" She continued to rant and lunged forward to hit her.

Gao Hong didn’t dare dodge, bearing the first hit from the shoe sole, she hurriedly said, "Mother, it’s not what you think, it’s because Er Bao wanted some candy."

"You wretch, did you provoke him again? Why would he want candy otherwise? And you dare to lie. Did you hit him?" Mrs. Cui continued to slap her across the face with the sole of her shoe, unrelenting and growing even angrier with each blow.

Er Bao stopped crying, and he and his brother, Dabao, watched their grandmother’s beating with great interest. Dabao even shouted, "Granny, hit her, it’s right to hit her. She’s so petty, when my brother and I visited her home, she wouldn’t even give us candy. Granny said our visit was supposed to bring you good fortune and help you have a baby brother, but you turn out to be an ungrateful wretch, not even buying us candy. Granny, hit her hard, make her stop being so stingy!"

Mrs. Cui, upon hearing the mention of candy, stopped her tirade and asked them both, "Who got candy?"

With his front teeth missing, Dabao called out, "It was that Zhao Dawu! He pushed me today and still got candy. He didn’t give me any. Granny, make him compensate us, a lot of money. I want to eat that fruit candy too!"

Hearing that it wasn’t her daughter-in-law hoarding candy for herself, Mrs. Cui’s anger subsided a bit, and she turned to curse the Zhao family instead.

Seeing Mrs. Cui in this state, Gao Hong didn’t dare stay in the room any longer and hurriedly went out to fetch the water.

Yang PeiMin, listening to the commotion from nearby, was also somewhat annoyed. She wasn’t someone who could fall asleep in a noisy environment. After taking a bath and applying a face mask, she lay in bed deep in thought.

Shen Yiguang came home late, and Yang PeiMin hadn’t waited for him, falling asleep on her own.

In the morning, she didn’t see him but found a note he’d left, reminding her to remember to get breakfast once she woke up.

She didn’t know how early he had left, because otherwise, with his temperament, he would have definitely brought her breakfast before leaving.

She checked her watch, seeing it was only seven o’clock, but outside it was already bustling with noise: greetings, calls to children for breakfast, gossip. The laundry brigade downstairs was gathering again.

Yang PeiMin quickly got up to wash and, taking her food container, went to the canteen for breakfast.

As she passed the laundry brigade, the Military Wives unanimously invited her, urging her to come to wash clothes and gossip after quickly finishing her breakfast...

As it turned out, the May Day performance was just two days away. As the time drew nearer, the atmosphere became more intense, with emotions running high.

Even the server ladling out the porridge seemed to be more generous than usual, "The Cultural Troupe arriving for the performance... the canteen has cooked extra food too. Sister, do you need anything else?"

Yang Peimin chuckled and said, "That’s enough."

She didn’t plan to eat in the canteen either. The military region was mostly bachelors, and it was rare to see female activity. It was normal for her to attract a few extra glances, but to eat under the scrutiny of a crowd would make her a little uncomfortable.

She did, however, spot the Cultural Troupe that the rice-distributing chef had mentioned.

They were eating breakfast at a nearby table, all dressed in the same shade of green military uniform. Their delightful figures clearly distinguished them from the male soldiers around them.

She glanced over briefly but didn’t spot Qiao Ying. She figured it must be the Cultural Troupe from another military region.

It might be that their uniforms were uniform, and it would be normal if Yang Peimin didn’t notice them right away. It was rather her own, non-uniformed presence that stood out as she walked by.

Then she heard Qiao Ying calling her.

The voice came from behind her, and Yang Peimin smiled too—what a coincidence!

Turning around, Qiao Ying was holding a meal box, also appearing to have finished getting her breakfast, standing tall and smiling at her.

"See, I told you."

Yang Peimin smiled wryly and was very pleased.

Qiao Ying also saw the meal box in her hand. "You came to get breakfast too. Let’s sit together."

Yang Peimin nodded.

A girl with a very good demeanor followed behind Qiao Ying, also in the same military uniform. She looked to be from the troupe, and seeing their reunion resembling that of old friends, her face showed surprise and she smiled, "Sister Ying, you’ve found a friend."

Qiao Ying quickly introduced Yang Peimin, "Wen Qing, this is Yang Peimin I mentioned to you before when we were in Q City. She has a great skill in makeup — the foundation we wear for our performances is her work."

Wen Qing’s face registered even more surprise and she discreetly sized up Yang Peimin, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes as she smiled and extended her hand, "Mr. Yang, I’ve long heard of your great reputation."

Wen Qing wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she had an elegant, ladylike air about her. Standing next to the attractive and striking Qiao Ying, she wasn’t completely overshadowed. With a gentle and soft demeanor, and eyes that seemed to speak, her lips lightly pursed, her eyes seemed to smile too.

Yang Peimin couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, this was the so-called ’if you’re lacking in looks, make up for it with charm’; a perfect example, and far better than those pretty but empty girls who roll their eyes at the drop of a hat.

She extended her hand and shook hands with Wen Qing, "I’m flattered."

Qiao Ying then said, "Enough with the formalities, breakfast is getting cold. Wen Qing, will you join us?"

Wen Qing apologetically said, "I’ve gotten steamed buns for Cai Xia. You guys eat slowly, and I’ll come to bother you later."

Yang Peimin and Qiao Ying sat down together.

Qiao Ying looked at her with an inexplicably shiny face. Yang Peimin held back, but finally couldn’t help asking, "Are you scheming something about me?"

Qiao Ying handed her one of her own steamed buns, "Why are you eating so little?"

Yang Peimin pushed it back, "No need, I can’t eat anymore, don’t try to change the subject."