Chapter 1577: Daily Life in the Family Compound

Xiao Mu's intentions needed no guessing; Liu Chuxue knew them too.

She wanted people to say her, the aunt, was generous, yet couldn't bear to part with the money and coupons in her own hands; calling the sisters back was nothing but a ploy to make them pay up.

Though she looked down on such behavior, Dujuan was indeed special to Liu Chuxue.

Even knowing her own mother's schemes, she was too lazy to argue; even if she didn't speak up, she would still do her utmost to help her cousin anyway.

Besides, though the cousin was young, she was very calculating; having received compensation from her own mother before, and given her nature, she probably wouldn't accept too much.

Early in the morning, Tao Saozi came over: "Liu Chuxue, I see you still have some bean seedlings left from your nursery; are you planting more?"

Liu Chuxue pointed to a pool on one side of the yard: "Only this little bit remains; this morning the sister-in-law from Vice-Regiment Commander Gong's family came and asked for a few seeds. See if this is enough?"

Tao Saozi glanced over there: "Enough, enough, enough! The bean seedlings I nurtured today didn't turn out well; I transplanted them the day before yesterday, but when I went to check today, several had already failed. It's too late to nurture more now."

Liu Chuxue fetched a shovel for her: "Dig them all up and take them. My seedlings are guaranteed to survive. This will free up the pool, and I can sow some spinach. With the weather warming up, it'll be ready to eat in just a few days."

Tao Saozi was delighted: "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Taking the shovel Liu Chuxue handed her, she worked while saying: "It's truly strange; no matter what seedlings you nurture, they always turn out wonderfully. These seedlings look so robust. Yesterday, by the field edge, we were saying that if things get really tough, we'll just latch onto you. We'll provide the seeds, and you help us nurture the seedlings."

Liu Chuxue laughed: "Sure, it's no big deal. If you trust me, I'll help nurture them for you next year."

As the two were talking, they heard someone shouting outside the main gate: "Sister-in-law Fu!"

Both turned to look and saw Hao Sulan, the wife of the newly promoted Vice-Battalion Commander Su, standing outside. Liu Chuxue smiled: "Sulan, is something the matter?"

She waved her hand: "Come in quickly."

Hao Sulan looked a bit embarrassed: "Sister-in-law Fu, I have something to ask you."

Actually, Hao Sulan was older than her, but because of Fu Yan Cheng's high rank, when Battalion Commander Su made the introduction, he directly told his wife to call her "Sister-in-law," so it stuck. Since they weren't much different in age anyway, Liu Chuxue simply called her by her name.

Seeing there was an outsider present, Hao Sulan said: "Um, I, I..."

Tao Saozi had already dug up all the seedlings: "I must hurry and transplant them. You two chat."

After Tao Saozi left, Hao Sulan finally spoke: "Sister-in-law Fu, I heard your sister-in-law works at the train station?"

Liu Chuxue didn't know why she was asking: "Yes."

Hao Sulan coughed lightly: "Here's the situation. My mother came to stay with me for a short while a few days ago. We had agreed she wouldn't return until next month, but just now I received a call from my eldest brother saying my fourth uncle's son is getting married in a few days.

As soon as my mother heard this, she couldn't wait another day. She insisted on returning tomorrow, saying she must go back to help my aunt sew the quilts for the wedding.

My mother's back was injured; she can't sit for long periods. I wanted to buy her a sleeper berth ticket, but my husband went on a mission. When I went to buy the ticket today, they said without an introduction letter, I couldn't get a sleeper berth. I was thinking, perhaps Sister-in-law could help?"

They were both military wives, so it was just a matter of asking, but she didn't promise everything outright: "I can make a phone call to ask, but I can't guarantee it will work."

Hearing this, Hao Sulan hurriedly thanked her: "Then it's trouble for you, Sister-in-law."

Liu Chuxue told Aunt Wei, and the two of them went out, heading toward the public telephone at the main gate.