I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel-Chapter 116 - 113: Children Who Love to Work Hard the Most

Chapter 116: Chapter 113: Children Who Love to Work Hard the Most

Jiang Zhenmei was only twenty years old. Upon seeing such novel and pretty little trinkets, she couldn’t help but reveal a young girl’s delight and charm.

Jiang Mingyue laughed, that’s how it should be!

"Yueyue, these are too beautiful. How is there an earring shaped like a little dog? Oh my, look at this, is it a hair tie? It’s actually adorned with so many flowers, just like the real thing. And this... is it worn around the neck?"

"It’s a necklace, let me help you try it on."

"It’s so pretty. Sister, you can go back inside and get a mirror to look at yourself, it’s gorgeous!"

"You little girl, why do you speak so directly?"

"But I’m just speaking from the heart! This necklace really suits third sister."

"What are you whispering about in there?"

"Mom, are you awake too? Come quickly and see, Yueyue brought back so many little trinkets. I’ve never seen them before, they’re so beautiful. Mom, you should pick a few you like too."

"Oh, they are indeed pretty, but for someone my age, I’ll pass. These things are all too flashy. Yueyue and Zhenmei can choose. If there are any extras, you can give them to Xiao Hui and Xiao Meng."

"By the way, while you were away those days, Gouwa delivered small fish twice for you. I fed him those days, he didn’t go hungry."

"Yueyue, mom and I tried to coat those small fish in egg whites and flour like you did before frying. They didn’t taste as good as yours, but the people from the village who helped really liked them."

Jiang Mingyue: "..." Who wouldn’t like them? Oil! Egg flavor! Flour!

"And that Li Xiaowei, he came again with Wu Tiantian to snatch Xiao Ran’s food, but Xiao Hui beat them back, and they cried terribly!"

"Old Mrs. Li and Wu Cuilan didn’t come knocking?"

"Hmph! They’re too occupied with their own affairs. Old Mrs. Li’s third daughter who got married away came back to borrow money, saying her husband fell from the mountain and broke his leg. If they don’t get money to treat him in the city, he’ll be crippled for life. But Old Mrs. Li’s second son and daughter-in-law didn’t agree, feeling that the third daughter is just eyeing the thirty yuan that the eldest brings back every month, refusing to give anything, they even secretly went to the third daughter’s village at night to investigate.

Upon investigation, they found out that the son-in-law was perfectly fine. It wasn’t him who fell from the mountain. The second son was so angry that he broke down the door and, upon entering the house, saw meat and bones on the table uncleaned, and got so mad that he picked up the sleeping brother-in-law and beat him up.

Now? They demand that Old Mrs. Li sever ties with the third daughter, never to contact again, or they wouldn’t provide for her old age."

Jiang Mingyue wanted to say: What a grand play within a play!

"As for that Wu Cuilan, haha! She’s so used to being lazy and greedy, suddenly having a daughter-in-law delivered up to her, she’s naturally exploiting it to the fullest. Poor Hehua not only has to work in the fields but also needs to cook, do laundry, and clean the yard under the mother-in-law’s watchful eye when she returns home.

Let me tell you, Hehua got a raw deal marrying into that family. I see Wu Cuilan only treats her as a maid. It’s said that Hehua had to take out all her savings to help with the family expenses, and they even made her go back to her family home to scrounge, but that Li Xiaocui is not someone who would relent easily. Anyway, that whole family is a complete mess."

Jiang Mingyue: I want to secretly laugh, but it’s still not enough!

Mrs. Jiang chimed in: "So, as women, we must keep our eyes open. Don’t be so easily swayed by a few sweet words from men and lose our senses. Moreover, I warn both of you, don’t do that sort of thing before marriage. Whoever doesn’t cherish themselves, I’ll kick them out of this house."

Jiang Zhenmei and Jiang Mingyue exchanged a glance: When it really comes to it, Mrs. Jiang would be reluctant to truly kick us out.

Jiang Mingyue understood in her heart that Mrs. Jiang feared they would end up like those people, that a woman who presents herself too easily is undervalued.

To marry as a wife, to run as a concubine. Thousands of years of tradition are deeply rooted.

"Yes, yes, yes, my sister and I promise to listen to mom’s words."

Mrs. Jiang was satisfied. Although she knew both of her daughters’ character well and knew they weren’t likely to do such things, she still had to say the harsh words first.

She hoped they wouldn’t end up unhappy.

"Mom, what kind of person is dad really?"

"Don’t ask anymore. Today we still need to go to the rice field and pull up the weeds, those things grow too well, they look similar to the rice too, if you’re not careful, you’ll miss them. If it grows seeded, drops the seeds into the field, it’s a weed that will never be eradicated."

Weeds?

Jiang Mingyue often heard her third sister mention it before. It seems after planting the seedlings, most of the time is spent on this.

Jiang Mingyue thought: I wonder if the pharmacy has some miraculous herbicide.

But actually, she was overthinking it, there was none!

In the morning, Jiang Mingyue checked everyone’s academic progress, Xiao Ran surprised her again. The third-grade language textbook posed no difficulty for him, he could recite the whole book, not to mention listening, speaking, reading, writing, and even summarizing the main idea and understanding. His math was even more advanced.

Jiang Mingyue pondered whether she could establish an elementary school in the village. As for the diploma, she’d take care of it later, but the school must be established first.

But now Sun Heqing is the village head, Jiang Mingyue didn’t want to deal with that person.

That man’s character is really lacking. She once probed into his mind and even saw Mrs. Jiang there. However, he never succeeded. Mrs. Jiang was fierce, breaking the broom to stop him from daring to show up. Mrs. Jiang was more than ten years older than him, yet he shamelessly made a move on an auntie.

Tired from studying, Jiang Mingyue let the little ones rest, distributing previously selected little trinkets to Xiao Hui and Xiao Meng. After all, they’re little girls, their eyes can’t pull out when seeing beautiful things.

Additionally, Jiang Mingyue gave Xiao Hui a bottle of Pan Zhoucong’s scar cream.

She hadn’t given it before as she was observing and waiting for a suitable opportunity. Constantly taking out good medicine in succession would be troublesome if anyone took notice and started snooping around.

"Xiao Hui, don’t let anyone see this thing. Apply a layer on your birthmark every night before bed, persist for a few days, and you’ll see good results."

For the sister who grew up in the city, Xiao Hui believed in her unconditionally like a deity: "I understand, sister."

Jiang Mingyue: "..." That’s so plain?

But considering this girl usually doesn’t talk much, she didn’t say more. After all, everyone has their personality, and this kind of thing is stubborn, not easily changed unless something significant happens.

Moreover, she didn’t think being less talkative was bad, on the contrary, she believed people who talked less were steadfast and reliable.

In the morning, if there was time, Jiang Mingyue would go into the space to harvest rice, plant sweet potato vines again, it was another day of planting sweet potatoes.

The jam was almost done, and the white sugar was almost finished. After harvesting this batch of sweet potatoes, she’ll grow a batch of sugarcane for sugar production.

The chicken farm and rabbit farm on the mountain were almost emptied last night. Now it’s a bit sparse and quiet. It’ll take a while to be bustling like before again.

Looking at the fish pond, the big ones were already over a pound each, but Jiang Mingyue couldn’t bear to eat them yet, perhaps wait a little longer.

Gouwa brought fish again, Jiang Mingyue suspected he came upon hearing the news.

Looking at the little guy’s face getting some flesh, becoming more energetic lately thanks to the secret feeding by Jiang Family, but for that outfit he’s wearing.

Jiang Mingyue asked him to wait, and picked a set of army green clothes for him from the space. Though a bit large, villagers liked them bigger; they could wear them for several years without wasting them.

Little Gouwa’s tears fell as Jiang Mingyue rubbed his now very clean head: "Men don’t easily shed tears. If you want to learn to read, you can come and ask me."

"Really can?"

"Of course. Do you want to learn?"

Gouwa nodded, and Jiang Mingyue immediately asked for his full name, surprisingly, there was none, so they’ll use "Gouwa".

"Gouwa, if you want to succeed, learn more things. Once you’re capable, you might want to change that name."

Gouwa seemed to understand, yet not entirely, but from that day onwards, Gouwa would always pass by the Jiang Family, and whenever he saw Jiang Mingyue, he’d run over to learn.