Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 78 - Family Matters

She considered herself the most beautiful among the Shen sisters, along with her twin, Shen Yiyue—with thick brows, large eyes, and a high nose bridge; it was just that her skin wasn’t quite as white, but she was robust and fit.

In the school’s Cultural Troupe, she also had a place.

As for Yang PeiMin with her abnormally white complexion, how healthy could she be?

When it came to working and laboring in the future, she’d be the one suffering.

“He Fen, He Fang, having white skin doesn’t necessarily mean you’re pretty.

Look at her, she’s not as sturdy as us.

She looks like she could be blown over by the wind, so frail that even Xiao Fang couldn’t lift her up.

You still like her?”

“We like her; we don’t need her to carry us.

We can walk by ourselves.

She talks to us really gently, and her voice is nice.”

Even their own mother, Shen Yidong, couldn’t bear to hear this and frowned, “What’s good about that?

Did she give you candy?

Or give you money?”

The little sisters became a bit frightened and shook their heads, not daring to speak.

Chen Guizhi scolded her daughter, “What kind of talk is that in front of the children, with no sense of propriety?

He Fen, He Fang, don’t mind your mother.

Your auntie also gave you candy, it’s just that it passed through your grandmother’s hands.

Those candies, they were all bought by your auntie.”

“Mom, that’s not…” Shen Yixiang was eager to argue, but her mother’s look contained a warning, so she could only turn away in frustration.

Shen Yidong gave her a meaningful glance and took her aside, whispering a few words into her ear that managed to pacify Shen Yixiang.

Shen Yiyue, curious, asked, “What secret are you whispering?”

“Nothing.

I was just advising her to always listen to Mom—a rule our elders walked by is sure to be better than any bridge we cross,” Shen Yidong pacified her.

Shen Yiyue wasn’t convinced but didn’t pursue it any further.

Meanwhile, Yang PeiMin was struggling in the kitchen.

She needed to boil water, but the pot was too large for her to lift when filled with water from the ordinary wooden barrel.

She had no choice but to spoon it in bit by bit, and now the water in the large barrel was running out.

She had to fetch water from the yard.

Considering her parents’ old age and her sister’s limited strength, Shen Yinian had prearranged with the team to fund the construction of a well in the yard for convenience.

Yet, she didn’t have the strength to do it.

Though she was better than before, her body still felt weak, and the only able-bodied person in the family, Shen Yinian, had gone to chop firewood.

He had limited holiday time, and every visit he spent tirelessly arranging everything at home inside and out, ensuring that the house was safe from leaks or hazards and that the pens for the livestock were repaired.

What’s more, he made sure there was an ample supply of firewood.

However, Yang PeiMin couldn’t easily ask for help from others; Shen Yidong had a pile of words waiting for her.

So she carried the water half a bucket at a time to the kitchen, and by the time the pot was full, she was exhausted.

She had just started heating the water when Shen Yiguang came back.

He went into the kitchen to wash his hands and took the opportunity to check on her.

Seeing her sitting in front of the stove gasping for breath, he couldn’t help but ask, “What have you been doing?”

Yang PeiMin explained, and Shen Yiguang patted her on the head, praising her, “You’ve worked hard.

Look at that, who has such a neat and virtuous daughter-in-law?”

She couldn’t help but give him a look, “Stop flattering yourself.”

“Tired?

Tonight, I’ll fill the bathtub for you and add some herbs to soothe you.” He had also taken the hint from the foot-soaking medicinal herbs she gave him, figuring a bath would have a similarly beneficial effect.

Yang PeiMin’s lips curled up slightly, and she nodded her head.

Seeing him not in uniform but in an old cotton jacket, she knew he had changed because he’d been chopping firewood.

Even so, there was no sense of downheartedness in his steady and resolute presence; on the contrary, it made him seem more approachable, even with some dirt on his face.

“Did you have any luck today?” Snow was still falling at night these days, outside was draped in silver, and the paths in the mountains must be difficult to navigate.

Going out to chop wood at this time was indeed a hardship.

Shen Yiguang sat next to her and shared, “I cut down a few trees as thick as bowls, hauled them back, and once they dry out, they’ll burn well.

Just that trap I set hasn’t been disturbed.”

Then the dirt on his face loomed large in Yang PeiMin’s sight, and she couldn’t help but say, “Shen Yiguang, I’ll find you some clothes.

Go take a bath first.

Did you sweat today?”

Shen Yiguang saw her expression and felt a bit helpless.

His wife liked cleanliness, which was obvious from her unusual bathing habits.

But who wouldn’t like a wife who loved cleanliness?

Plus, she was offering to find clothes for him, which made him happy.

“Alright, bring them to me, and I’ll go fetch the water first.”

Yang PeiMin, seeing him agree so readily, quickly stood up and headed to their room.

But before she got close, she heard children’s laughter coming from inside.

Puzzled, she quickened her pace and entered to find that it was her sister’s two girls.

Seeing her come in, the little sisters, who had been messing with her makeup, were startled at first, then became flustered, timidly calling out, “Auntie.”

Yang PeiMin was taken aback for a moment; she didn’t have a strong recollection of these two little sisters, but she liked children very much and greeted each one with a smile, full of goodwill.

She thought most kids were little angels, with their endearing childish babble.

However, as her gaze swept over the mess in the room, clothes strewn all about from being pulled out of the wardrobe, on the bed, and the floor—even the ground which was relatively clean had wet leather shoes, and there were pieces of a broken mirror—she massaged her forehead.

What to do with such mischievous kids?

“Xiao Fen, Xiao Fang, what are you doing?” she asked curiously as she walked over.

They were digging into her box of rouge and face powder, playing with it.

“Auntie…” The older one, He Fen, twitched her mouth and hurriedly set things down, putting her sister’s down on the dresser as well.

“Are you trying to put on makeup?

This is for adults, children can’t use it yet.

When you grow up a little, then you can have some.

How about auntie gives each of you a box then?”

Xiao Fen’s eyes lit up and she nodded vigorously.

“And how did auntie’s clothes get out?

Look, there are even some on the floor.

They’ll get so dirty.

Pretty clothes will turn into ugly ones.

Shall we pick them up together and put them back in their wardrobe home?”

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The sisters nodded, “Sorry auntie, it was me who dirtied them.

We can help clean up.”

Yang PeiMin smiled and patted He Fen on the head, “That’s great!”