Chapter 143: After Binding the Childbirth System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 144: Seventies Hutong Daily Life (42)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Over all these years, Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan's identities have changed again and again, but the one thing that never changes is the heart they share for joking and roughhousing with each other.

The two cracked their own little jokes, then turned around and dragged Shen Yao along to the kitchen to help.

The several men of the household weren't idle either; all of them were ordered about by Tian Na to do chores.

Today the family finally has a chance to gather together, so we absolutely have to make it lively.

After finishing the pork and white radish meatballs, Tian Na straightened her back and rubbed her waist with her hands.

Beside her were three daughters-in-law and Duoduo; as for her daughter Xie Aihua, she had already set off from Hainan and would arrive home in two more days.

"This Mid-Autumn the family can be more complete; then we'll celebrate a reunion festival right in the courtyard."

Tian Na remarked with emotion, thinking that in previous years during holidays someone was always missing, and although every household now had expensive telephones and they could occasionally call to report they were safe, that kind of communication obviously still had a huge gap compared to face-to-face talking and chatting.

This year is different; everyone in the family has definite word they're coming back to spend the festival together.

Daughter Xie Aihua's family of four has even been directly transferred back to work and live in the north, so the two of them, mother and daughter, won't need to be separated by thousands of miles and find it hard to meet anymore; everything is developing in a good direction.

Tian Na was born in 1918 and grew up amid famine and war from childhood.

She married early, and together with Xie Shangjin they supported each other through thick and thin, raising several children while dragging the family along, then in her later years she burst forth with a second spring in her career.

If this world were a book, Tian Na would certainly count as a late-bloomer heroine of a storybook.

From childhood to adulthood, from nothing to something, everything before her eyes is the gratifying fruit Tian Na struggled for bit by bit.

Now Tian Na has already reached her twilight years, her life undergoing a countdown, yet she has no regrets to speak of. Heaven has treated her well; Tian Na is very content nowadays.

"Mom, then I'll have to clear my schedule before and after Mid-Autumn; we won't just celebrate the festival, we can also go out together for fun — what's it called, cultivating feelings?"

Wu Zhaodi chimed in, but at the end she couldn't quite recall how that term was supposed to be said.

Anyway it's a trendy word; those young factory girls and young wives all love to tease with it.

"Cultivating feelings is for young couples, isn't it? But our whole big family going out together, lively and bustling, beats anything."

Wang Yanyan added with a laugh, then started picking destinations around Jing Shi.

Hearing this, Shen Yao hurriedly suggested a travel spot: "We can go to Inner Mongolia, ride horses on the grassland, and eat genuine whole roast lamb."

"Grandma, listen to my little aunt, let's go to Inner Mongolia," Duoduo poked out her little head and kept acting spoiled toward Tian Na.

Duoduo became a primary school teacher right after graduation; over the years her temperament hasn't changed — even though she's already married, she's still like a child.

"Inner Mongolia, then the whole family goes together; everyone hurry up and clear that period."

Tian Na waved her hand decisively, and the settled plan admitted no refutation.

Because Mid-Autumn isn't just a festival; the days before and after are also Xie Shangjin and Tian Na's birthdays.

A proper eighty-eighth birthday; with their age there, how many more years can they live? As juniors, the first thing they consider is making the family elders happy.

Outside the gate in the courtyard, Xie Shangjin held a freshly plucked chicken and directed his eldest son to clean the feathers.

Xie Aidang looked up at the room door: "What are Mom and them saying that's so happy?"

Xie Aimin gave him a slap: "Mind so much? Hurry up and clean the chicken feathers; the duck hasn't been plucked yet."

Xie Aidang was speechless: "Isn't it because I'm afraid Mom and them will get another whim?" With a wife who can stir up trouble already hard to bear, plus his mother, how can he still live?

Xie Aimin patted his eldest brother's shoulder sympathetically; whose family isn't like this?

But whatever the wife wants, let it be, as long as she doesn't go out of her way to torment him.

【38】 Xie Shangjin looked down on these two brothers, rolling his eyes at Xie Aidang and Xie Aimin exchanging pleasantries, and opened his mouth to urge them loudly to hurry up and work.

Xie Shangjin despised the two brothers, gave a white eye to Xie Aidang and Xie Aimin, who were exchanging sweet words with one another, and opened his mouth, full of vigor, to urge them to hurry up and get to work.

"Dawdling around doing what? Watch out, if your mom and them see you they'll scold you again."

No ability to speak of, yet all day they just drag things down; Xie Shangjin was so angry his beard bristled and eyes bulged.

The old man may be the same age as Tian Na, but his physical robustness surpasses both sons.

Xie Aidang and Xie Aimin answered meekly, lowered their heads, and continued with the work in their hands.

No help for it; used to being oppressed in the Xie Family, the two of them feel uncomfortable all over if they aren't scolded.

Everyone clamored and bustled until evening when Xie Ci'an returned; the not-quite-complete family ran into each other and ate a dinner together.

The dinner table naturally couldn't do without business talk; nowadays the biggest businesses in the family belong to Tian Na and Shen Yao.

Tian Na is busy opening chain supermarkets all over the country; Shen Yao is busy opening traditional Chinese medicine clinics all over the country.

As for Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan, who have taken a step back, both their factories are in an expansion phase; being able to manage the stall around Jing Shi is already a victory; for the time being they have no intention of coveting larger territory.

"Mom, you still have to fly to Haishi in two days; why not let Stone's dad accompany you?"

"Mom, finding Duoduo's dad works too; anyway Aimin is just staying at home staying at home."

Tian Na glanced at them at those words: "No need, Little Huang will go with me."

Turning her head, Tian Na asked Shen Yao about some local arrangements for the summer vacation.

Because establishing Chinese medicine clinics has some similarities to supermarkets, currently the selectable cities are all economically developed ones, because both of these need money.

Economically underdeveloped regions aren't impossible to build in; it's just that capital recovery would be slightly inferior.

Shen Yao's ultimate goal is certainly to open Chinese medicine clinics across the entire motherland, and incidentally ride the wind and sail far, facing overseas to earn foreigners' money.

Only the follow-up plans need time to realize; right now she is focusing on some preliminary construction.

"Mom, I plan to first tour the coastal surrounding areas, then slowly push inland."

This relates to the national economic development situation: the rich get rich first and drive the later rich.

In the early stage Shen Yao needs massive investment; returns are far less than the input phase, so she will definitely do her utmost to secure some customer sources.

Tian Na nodded: "You look first; if it works, I'll tour a circle too."

Starting from nothing is hard, but going from something to more is comparatively easier.

Although Tian Na was old in years, she was unwilling to concede; her essence, Qi, and spirit were more abundant than those of ordinary young people.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged words back and forth; at the dining table, apart from their conversation, everyone else maintained a tacit understanding and stayed silent.

Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan could not deny harboring some other petty thoughts, but these are only human nature — problems no one can avoid.

It is still the greedy heart everyone carries; with Tian Na's such a large estate, who would not want a share of the pie, even if their own family no longer lacked money.

"Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law's thoughts, Mother understands them all; I reckon this matter will eventually blow up."

While the elder lives, things will surely be harmonious; once the elder closes her eyes for the last time, the descendants will certainly tear off the veneer and settle accounts.

Xie Ci'an had always worked at the Research Institute, but that did not mean he did not understand these things.

On the contrary, where there are many people there are many disputes; the Research Institute is no sanctuary from the world either.

One can only say most people are very pure, devoting all their thoughts to scientific research.

But there are still a few special individuals whose pursued goals are completely different from everyone else's.

The family ate dinner lively and boisterously, then simply stayed to spend the night in the courtyard.

Shen Yao and Xie Ci'an still lodged in the ear room; behind closed doors they spoke, and even the two children next door could not hear.

"It won't blow up; Mother knows perfectly well in her heart — she probably already hired a lawyer to settle the property division."

In this regard, Tian Na is quite ahead of the curve; Shen Yao only knows thanks to the System dropping hints every now and then.

Xie Ci'an put one arm around Shen Yao, the two heads touching as they leaned together, "Mother really is — farsighted enough."

Guarding against the family's moves in advance — one must say, beautifully done.

"Go on, talking nonsense."

Shen Yao reached out and lightly punched Xie Ci'an's chest, then asked about his professional title evaluation.

Xie Ci'an smiled, "No big problem, just a bit sorry toward you."

Married to him, I haven't had several years of comfortable days; instead I still have to worry about him from time to time.

"Comrade Xie, I think you have some misunderstanding," Shen Yao felt Xie Ci'an was really overthinking.

Could it be that men at a certain age also get menopause? How come this person's decadent air suddenly flared up lately — looks like he still needs to drink more Chinese medicine to regulate himself.

"Living with you, I feel very relaxed and at ease; no matter what we do, we are progressing together."

No one has left the other behind; decades of life, though plain, are also filled with warmth.

Besides, they still have four lovely children; Shen Yao has always rejoiced that she chose the right person.

Back then she wasn't unable to choose better, but better doesn't necessarily mean things will go as one wishes.

Resting her head against Xie Ci'an's neck, Shen Yao spoke softly of the bits and pieces of these years.

"... So don't keep doubting yourself; if Comrade Xie has this little confidence, what will you do in the next life?"

Shen Yao's tone was teasing, then she seriously mentioned that Aunt Da Xie Aihua would return to the capital in a couple of days.

"In a flash it's been over a decade since we met; don't know how her appearance has changed."

Summer of '84, Xie Aihua once brought two children back for a brief visit.

At the time it was to send the two children to the capital for military academy; coming and going in a rush, no one really got to gather.

This time is different: "They say Brother-in-law got promoted and transferred back to work in the North; from now on there'll be more chances to meet."

Xie Ci'an listened and pursed his lips, "Third Sister has suffered, following the army is exhausting, and she still had to daily care for children and the elderly; now that she can return to live in her later years, Mother's heart must be happy."

Tian Na had always disagreed with Xie Aihua's marriage; helplessly, Xie Aihua herself was willing.

Mother and daughter had a very unpleasant falling out over the marriage back then.

Even when Shen Yao married in, she rarely heard Tian Na mention Xie Aihua.

But not mentioning doesn't mean not caring; every year Tian Na mailed no small amount of New Year gifts to the sea island.

Mother and daughter — a classic case of saying one thing but meaning another; even the chain supermarket Tian Na opened impatiently built a small branch right next to the sea island, even if it didn't make money.

Maternal love sometimes isn't shown by words but by deeds; from Tian Na, Shen Yao could see her love for her children — a feeling of total selflessness yet patient restraint, contradictory yet moving.

"Hmph! You dead girl, finally willing to come back; I thought you'd stay on the sea island for a lifetime."

Three days later, Xie Aihua returned to Fengshou Hutong carrying large and small bundles.

First words upon meeting, mother and daughter — it was Tian Na scolding Xie Aihua.

"Mother, I know I was wrong; this time I'm back, I won't leave again."

Xie Aihua wore her hair long; even meticulously groomed, dense traces of white hair could still be seen within.

Tian Na pursed her mouth, pulled Xie Aihua inside to chat; as for the others, Xie Shangjin and them would attend to them.

Shen Yao stood at the doorway watching the Zhao father and son being led away by Xie Shangjin.

"Sister-in-law, the ordered food has arrived; let's go over and prepare it."

Wang Yanyan poked Shen Yao; the two sisters-in-law turned the corner into the kitchen.

"You're here, quick quick quick, put those cooked chickens and ducks into the pot to heat up; we'll be eating in a bit."

Wu Zhaodi directed the family's children bustling back and forth, sweating a forehead full of sweat.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, rest a bit; I'll handle the rest," Wang Yanyan rolled up her sleeves, neatly arranging everything.

Shen Yao reached out to pick up bowls and chopsticks and set plates; the conversation unconsciously turned to the returned Aunt Da.

The trio of sisters-in-law talked most about how Xie Aihua looked older than her peers.

Not to mention compared to Shen Yao, even Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan couldn't compare; Xie Aihua's age clearly wasn't great, but she looked like a face full of hardship and fatigue.

These few years life improved and it eased considerably; placed in the previous years it was even more pronounced.

The three of them and Xie Aihua's relationship was neither good nor bad; some words definitely couldn't be spoken aloud.

But Shen Yao could see the pity in Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan's expressions.

Shen Yao rather felt this kind of thing is known only to the one experiencing it; as long as Xie Aihua herself has no regrets, that's fine.

To return to the matter at hand, given the same choice, Shen Yao would absolutely not choose it.

She knows the title of "military dependent family member" is very glorious, but that doesn't mean Shen Yao is willing.

"I've said it all, I'm just a vulgar person, living each day in a vulgar way; other matters have nothing to do with me."

"Host, I hope we can continue to cooperate happily going forward."

"That's for certain," before she completely loses interest in life, she will absolutely not choose to end it.

Being alive is so good, able to experience all kinds of different scenery along the way.

……

Xie Aihua's family returning from the sea island made the Xie Family's population step up a level.

Upon learning Xie Aihua was temporarily without work, Tian Na decisively used her authority to send her to work at the supermarket.

Not only that, Tian Na would also bring Xie Aihua along on her daily business trips.

The explanation given to the family was that she wanted a bit more companionship time with her daughter.

After all, the two of them, mother and daughter, had been separated for decades; now that they finally had an opportunity, Tian Na, an elderly person with one foot in the grave, no longer stood on ceremony about anything.

This matter was settled decisively and cleanly; apart from Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan feeling a bit displeased, no one else thought anything of it.

Soon, June arrived, and Jing Shi gradually grew hot.

Meimei and Manman, the two of them, participated in the city-wide unified high school entrance exam; after smoothly testing into high school, they packed up their things and, bundles in hand, followed Tian Na and the others onto a plane to go play in the south.

At the same time, Xie Ci'an worked overtime, while Shen Yao boarded a train and ran all over according to the set plan.

By the time Shen Yao smoothly secured several target cities, the land for that circle was patted down, and the construction company was arranged to build, the weather had already turned cool.

Autumn day, high sky and crisp air, fallen leaves fluttering down in profusion, just like a rain of leaves.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, the two of them, finally managed to arrive home smoothly on the day before Mid-Autumn Festival.

Exhausted to the point they couldn't open their eyes, they fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow; fortunately the final result was good, and they didn't miss this family trip.