Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 178: Borrowing Things (Monthly Ticket 20+)

Yang PeiMin had just arrived at the base when she first suffered from the venom of rumors, knowing all too well the high damage value of such gossip, so she was still quite worried.

She had originally hoped that Qiao Ying would be able to weed out the rumormonger, to then plan the next step.

However, Shen Yiguang didn’t want her to get involved anymore, and his attitude was rather forceful.

"After Labor Day, I’ll arrange a train ticket for you to go back and solidify your application to study here. I heard that Principal Li arranged a review class for you. Since you’re going to take the exam, you should aim for a good score."

The implication was that she should focus on her exams.

He then naturally also took care of which school she’d be attending.

Yang PeiMin looked up at him, this cunning man.

Shen Yiguang, however, was unfazed, "You’re not here to keep an eye on things, lest another woman covets your man."

Yang PeiMin pinched the soft flesh of his waist.

"Feeling pretty smug, huh?"

Shen Yiguang hugged her, "Wouldn’t dare."

Yang PeiMin had slept too much during the day and couldn’t sleep at night, but fortunately, Shen Yiguang didn’t mind and even seemed somewhat content.

The next morning, Shen Yiguang got up early as usual to go to the training ground, and Yang PeiMin turned over and fell asleep again.

Shen Yiguang looked at her posture and shook his head.

But in these barracks, it was destined you couldn’t sleep in. As the bugle sounded, the Military Wives also got up, the noisy footsteps and voices at the door, along with the children’s playful noises, meant that unless someone was dead asleep, they couldn’t hope for a peaceful rest.

It wasn’t long before Yang PeiMin also got up.

Just like usual, after washing up, she was ready to make breakfast.

When she went out, she ran into Gao Hong. It was normal to see each other often as their houses were close by, but usually, she would just smile and nod as a greeting and then move on, rarely stopping to chat for a bit, especially since Gao Hong wasn’t much of a talker.

This time, however, Gao Hong stopped her, "Sister-in-law, I was thinking of coming over to borrow something from you." She spoke so softly that if Yang PeiMin wasn’t close to her, she wouldn’t have been able to hear, yet Gao Hong still looked around warily, as if afraid of being overheard. Yang PeiMin was puzzled—was it some valuable item she wanted to borrow with such caution?

Borrowing everyday items like cooking oil, salt, onions, and garlic amongst neighbors was quite common, and generally, anyone who wasn’t too stingy would lend things because you never knew when you might have an emergency and need to borrow from a neighbor.

So, she asked in a low voice, "What do you need to borrow, sister-in-law?"

Gao Hong glanced toward the room behind her, "Sister-in-law, let’s go inside and I’ll tell you..."

Yang PeiMin gave her a look, unsure of what to say. Borrowing things was just that, borrowing; it wasn’t some unspeakable matter that required behaving like a thief. Could it be money she wanted to borrow?

She turned and went back into the dormitory, letting her in, "Sister-in-law, you can speak now, right?"

Hearing her look at herself and ask that, Gao Hong grew tense again.

After stammering for a bit, she finally spoke smoothly, "It’s, it’s like this, my husband has half a day off this afternoon, and we’re running out of cooking oil and salt at home, planning to go to town to restock. I, I haven’t been out for a while, and also, these days, there’s been a lot going on at home, my face is a mess, so, so could I borrow some makeup from you, sister-in-law..."

After she said this, her face almost buried itself into her chest, her face even redder.

Yang PeiMin was also taken aback. This wasn’t like the future, where would a rural woman need to specially borrow makeup before going out? Even brides weren’t that particular, let alone the always honest Gao Hong.

"Sister-in-law, why are you asking about this?"

Gao Hong lowered her head even more, her voice becoming slightly frantic, "I know, I know you are skilled, talented. Don’t worry, I’ll only use a little bit, just a tiny bit is enough, I can give you money to replace..."

Yang PeiMin became even more skeptical as she saw Gao Hong’s agitated state. Offering money to replace it? She must have heard wrong. Ever since Mrs. Cui arrived, taking control of the Cui family’s finances, even the savings that Gao Hong once held were scavenged by her. She had unintentionally overheard Gao Hong asking Mrs. Cui for money to buy needles and thread next door – even the money for such small things had to be requested from the mother-in-law, and in the end, Gao Hong was scolded harshly by her.

Regardless of whether she truly had no money or was pretending to, with Mrs. Cui around, she couldn’t possibly keep it a secret from her mother-in-law. If Mrs. Cui found out, there would be hell to pay, and even Yang PeiMin, the one who lent the items, would be implicated.

Then she asked, "Does auntie know about this, sister-in-law?"

At the mention of her mother-in-law, Gao Hong across from her visibly flinched, shaking her head hurriedly, "Sister-in-law, you can’t let her know about this."

"But sister-in-law, if you put makeup on your face, anyone with eyes could see it. Wouldn’t auntie know? Wouldn’t she ask questions?" Yang PeiMin expressed her doubt.

"She won’t know, I won’t let her find out, please just help me out, sister-in-law?" Gao Hong lifted her head, her voice pleading.

Yang PeiMin said, "Lending it to you isn’t a big issue, but can you tell me, why do you suddenly want to wear makeup? Have you done it before? How are you planning to apply it after borrowing it? What kind of effect are you hoping for? And can Brother Cui accept it? Or have you always gone to town like this?"

She was even impressed with herself for asking so many questions in one breath.

Gao Hong instantly started to stammer.

And her words were disjointed.

Yang PeiMin looked straight into her eyes and asked, "Sister-in-law, tell me, did someone ask you to come borrow from me?" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Gao Hong’s eyes darted away, "No one, no one, I wanted to borrow it myself, sister-in-law, please don’t ask anymore..."

Yang PeiMin almost laughed out of exasperation, "Sorry, sister-in-law, I don’t lend to strangers. Moreover, this item is rare, and not something money can buy..."

Gao Hong stared at her, bewildered, "Sister-in-law, I, I really didn’t lie to you, it’s really for my own use..."

"Alright then, since it’s for your use, tell me how you want to apply it, and I’ll do the work, I’ll apply it for you, I’m professional, after all."

Gao Hong was instantly at a loss for words.

Seeing her like this, Yang PeiMin was speechless, patiently asking in a gentle tone, "Who really asked for it, sister-in-law? Can’t you tell me? And why didn’t they come themselves? I’m not stingy, we’re all neighbors, and our men are comrades-in-arms, that relationship can’t be compared. Are you afraid I wouldn’t lend you something? As long as it’s not for your own use, I’m sorry, I’d feel uncomfortable. I’ll also tell you the truth, it’s not easy to get this stuff, and I only have so much. If it gets dropped or dirty, who would be responsible?"

Seeing her sincere words, Gao Hong whispered to her, "It’s the Shao Family sister-in-law who wants to borrow it."

Yang PeiMin thought for a moment before she realized, this Shao Family sister-in-law was none other than Du Juanjuan!