Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 364: Thoughts by Day, Dreams by Night

Chapter 364: Chapter 364: Thoughts by Day, Dreams by Night

"Is there pork?"

Qin Jiu curiously chimed in, and Wen’s mother turned to him, "Xiao Jiu, craving some meat?"

"It’s almost autumn harvest."

He grinned broadly, "We’ve all been given a break for the busy farming season."

Yi Chichi, "??? Really?"

"Yeah, no need to go to school tomorrow."

But there’s still a few days left, why are they starting the break today?

Well, a break is good too.

"Tomorrow, go buy some meat with Auntie."

Buy more to stock up; the busy farming season lasts nearly a month, and without meat, we won’t have the strength.

Qin Jiu’s eyes lit up, "Auntie, will you take me to the commune?"

"I will!"

This kid has only been back and forth between Kao Shan Village and the nearby primary school since following his granduncle’s relocation.

He hasn’t even been to the commune, much less anywhere further.

Thinking about it is a bit upsetting; taking him around the commune would be a good experience.

It’s a different kind of eye-opener.

Qin Jiu was overjoyed, "I’ll go tell the great-grandpa."

Before the words were even finished, he darted out like lightning. Big Orange, who had been napping at the doorway, opened its eyes to find him running out and, with a twitch of the ear, followed swiftly.

Soon, both the person and the cat disappeared from the view of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Wen’s mother laughed, "He’s been cooped up too long."

Yi Chichi agreed, well, three years without stepping outside, she couldn’t even imagine it for herself.

Wen’s mother washed her hands and was about to start cooking. As she passed by Yi Chichi, she remembered something, "What about Mr. Chi’s clothes?"

"No way."

The fabric’s not cheap, nor is the workmanship, and the costs add up. You can’t just waste it like that.

Wen’s mother puzzled, "It’s already late September, why haven’t they come to pick it up?"

"We agreed it would be before winter, so they’ll come eventually."

Wen’s mother acknowledged and ran off to cook. Her daughter-in-law was quite opinionated, so she’d only ask when appropriate and not worry too much.

Yi Chichi scurried after her, "Mom, can I help you?"

"No need for you; go embroider your flowers."

Wen’s mother shooed her away like swatting a fly, "Your hands aren’t made for rough work."

"So I won’t ever have to do it?"

"No."

Wen’s mother answered decisively and directly, "When you’re with Wen Shi, let him do it. If he’s busy and I’m not around, just..."

She paused, then lowered her voice, "Hire someone."

Yi Chichi’s eyes brightened and she leaned in to whisper.

"Mom, do you think we can hire someone in the future?"

"Yes."

Wen’s mother was very sure, "The country won’t remain like this forever. Once things turn around, your granduncle’s family will surely return, and those learned folks will make their contributions to education."

At this point, she asked Yi Chichi, "Are you planning to continue studying?"

"Mom, do you want me to?"

Yi Chichi answered with a question, and Wen’s mother pondered seriously, "As you like. Actually, if you plan to go into politics or join the military, then studying would be beneficial, but in my understanding of you, those paths don’t suit you. You’re naturally talented in crafts, so whether or not you study won’t matter much."

"But that’s not the main point; the point is your knowledge (skills) isn’t bad."

She had never seen any young intellectuals who could speak several foreign languages, and little Jiu’s math, science, and chemistry problems, she couldn’t even begin to decipher.

It was only when the Old Song couple let it slip that she learned her daughter-in-law was very good at higher mathematics.

With such a base of knowledge, other things weren’t as critical.

Otherwise, she would have to push her daughter-in-law to review and prepare for the future.

As for now, "Do you want to study?"

"No."

Four years apart, and without accepting an assigned job after studying, she’d have to start from scratch anyway.

As for starting a career while studying...

Sorry, she had seriously considered it, but it wasn’t feasible for her. One must know that a person’s energy is limited. If she aimed for academic success, her career would have to pause, and trying to balance both would likely end with neither succeeding.

Truly, she wasn’t that capable.

"Let Wen Shi study. I’ll be responsible for earning money to support the family, and he can focus on climbing up."

That’s a good arrangement, just one thing, "Chichi, have you heard this saying?"

"What?"

"Get a high position, and change your wife."

Yi Chichi’s eyes widened, "Mom, that’s your son."

What kind of mother would say that to her daughter-in-law?

Wen’s mother smiled knowingly, "I know, but I still want to tell you, in a long marriage, responsibility outweighs affection. Moreover, people’s hearts change; don’t just see Wen Shi being devoted to you now; the future is uncertain."

With a serious tone, she advised, "So, you must be cautious. Men can be terrifyingly heartless."

This is the truth. Those who speak of loyalty are often the butchers, and the unfaithful tend to be the educated.

There’s even a modern colloquial saying about how the first thing a man does upon achieving success is dump his significant other.

Relying on a man’s conscience to appreciate a woman’s contributions is a risky bet.

So, Yi Chichi adopted a humble and inquisitive stance, "Mom, how should I be cautious then?"

"Hold onto the money, so when the day comes, you can go wherever you want."

The policy requiring proof to travel would eventually be a thing of the past, and then she could go wherever she wished.

"And just leave Wen Shi behind?"

Wen’s mother rolled her eyes. "If he has no conscience, why would you still want him?"

Patting Yi Chichi’s shoulder, she earnestly said, "Listen to me, if he wrongs you, find someone better to spite him."

This left Yi Chichi genuinely puzzled. She couldn’t quite figure it out, "Mom, are you really my mom or Wen Shi’s mom?"

"Definitely Wen Shi’s, I couldn’t have given birth to a daughter like you."

"Then why are you teaching me this way?"

"I want you both to last a long time and remain steadfast in the belief that you’re each other’s one and only."

Yi Chichi thought, luckily Wen Shi wasn’t here; otherwise, the mother-son relationship might fracture.

"Alright, I understand; I’ll definitely take care of the money."

Wen’s mother still felt unsure, "Wen Shi’s face is quite handsome; do you think any girl would be willing to spend money on him for that face alone?"

Yi Chichi felt thirsty, so she poured herself a cup of mint tea to alleviate her thirst. But just as she took a sip and hadn’t swallowed, she heard what Wen’s mother said, causing her to spit the water out in surprise.

"Did you choke?" Wen’s mother rushed over anxiously to pat her on the back. Yi Chichi waved her hand, "Mom, I’m fine."

The main thing was the shock of her words, "Mom, don’t worry, Wen Shi promised me he’d only rely on me."

The implication being that even if another woman liked his face and was willing to support him, he wouldn’t agree.

Wen’s mother thought about Wen Shi’s character and found it reasonable.

"In any case, you two just need to be happy together."

"We will be."

Perhaps it’s what you think about during the day that manifests in your dreams, because that night Yi Chichi had a dream.

She dreamt Wen Shi was surrounded by women who adored his face, brandishing money and saying they’d support him.

Wen Shi was initially impatient and sternly refused, but then he actually accepted.

He didn’t just accept one, but several at once, which made Yi Chichi so angry that she jolted awake, feeling like a fire ignited in her chest, keeping her from falling back to sleep. So she got up and wrote him a very detailed letter.

She mailed it the next day when she went with Qin Jiu to the commune.