NOVPUB
Chapter 527: Chapter 517: Pulling Off a Big Job
After the fifteenth of the first lunar month, Elder Sister Li’s family and Dashuan’s family packed their luggage, ready to return to their hometown. As March was approaching, they had been in the Capital for more than a month, and with their home left unattended, they were a bit worried. Additionally, with the onset of spring, they needed to go back to farm, and the children had to return to school.
Shen Yunfang bought train tickets for both families and then took Dashuan’s wife and Elder Sister Li to stroll through the department stores.
"No, I won’t buy it, I don’t like it, I’m not buying," Li Xianglian shook her head like a rattle-drum and absolutely refused to let the salesperson issue her a receipt.
"Elder Sister, it looks pretty on you, you can ask sister-in-law if you don’t believe me," Shen Yunfang pulled her hands away, signaling the salesperson not to listen to her and to issue the receipt.
Dashuan’s wife was also in a dilemma, preoccupied with her own troubles to meddle in this quarrel.
"Ah, Yunfang, I’m just an old farmer, why would I buy such nice clothes, when would I ever wear them? Surely I can’t wear something like this to work in the fields," Li Xianglian tried to persuade her sister-in-law, who, once she set her mind to something, was as stubborn as an ox.
"Do you want it or not? Hurry up and decide, who has time to play with you guys here?" The salesperson urged them impatiently. To her, they were obviously poor and merely putting on airs.
Shen Yunfang was already accustomed to such haughty attitudes from department store staff, so she didn’t get angry at all.
"Sorry, we won’t take it," Li Xianglian quickly pulled Yunfang aside to discuss.
"If you say you can’t wear this one, then let’s buy the Lenin suit we saw earlier, how about that? You can wear that when you come to our hometown or when paying a visit," Shen Yunfang suggested with an expression that indicated if you don’t buy this, you have to buy that, and you must buy something either way.
Li Xianglian looked at the woolen coat priced at eighty-four yuan, then glanced at the navy-blue Lenin suit priced at twenty-five yuan, and gritted her teeth, "Fine, let’s buy the Lenin suit. But let’s agree, this is the last item, we can’t buy anything more."
"Agreed," Shen Yunfang replied briskly.
Then came issuing the receipt, paying, and collecting the items, and when the three of them emerged from the department store, each was carrying several bags.
"Why buy so much stuff? We won’t be able to fit it all in our travel bags," Li Xianglian looked at the clothes and other items, still feeling a pinch.
Her sister-in-law was spending recklessly. Just from this outing, she had easily spent three hundred yuan. No wonder she was always looking to make money year after year. With her rate of spending, she needed to earn more; otherwise, they wouldn’t even have enough for food.
"True, we already packed four bags last night, and with today’s additions, I think we’ll need six bags," Dashuan’s wife juggled the bags in her hands. There were clothes for every family member inside.
"That’s great, we came with only two or three bags, and now you’ve doubled our load," Li Xianglian continued to grumble.
"Haha, you’ve helped me so much, how can I not show my appreciation and make sure you all leave happily? If not, how would I have the face to ask you to come over again?" Shen Yunfang replied nonchalantly. She was always willing to spend a little for those who treated her well. Besides, Dashuan and Elder Sister did indeed lend her a great hand. Well, it was a mutually beneficial relationship, but after the New Year, Dashuan and his brother-in-law practically volunteered to help her sell goods. They were busy every day, and she felt it was appropriate to give back.
"Cut it out. If it were as you say, we should be buying these things for you. Without your help, how could we have made so much money?" Dashuan’s wife whispered, glancing around nervously as if afraid someone might overhear their conversation about earning money.
Indeed, coming here, eating and living at your expense, and then earning a good sum of money—Elder Sister Li won’t say thanks, but she has taken note of it. You shouldn’t be the one buying these things," Li Xianglian added.
"Enough, don’t say any more; the more you talk, the more it sounds off. As your aunt, what’s wrong with buying Elder Sister and the kids some clothes, and you too, sister-in-law. When you and Dashuan helped me back then, is it not okay for me to buy clothes for Xiaojuan and Huzi? Don’t turn every issue into that, or I might not bring you along next time," Shen Yunfang spoke with a hint of annoyance.
Dashuan’s wife and Li Xianglian exchanged a glance and burst into laughter, "Alright, alright, you better take us with you. We’re counting on you." This person’s already got two kids, how can they still be so childish?
Once back home, there’s no need to mention how excited the kids were. Wang Daniao and Dashuan’s wife, as well as Li Xianglian, complained about Shen Yunfang’s reckless spending. She’s already of such an old age, why buy new clothes? The money could have been saved to buy something for the children instead.
At these words, Dashuan’s wife dared not agree.
Shen Yunfang coaxed Wang Daniao with a chuckle until she also tried on the new clothes, and only then was the matter settled.
When Mu Huazhen came over in the evening, she was very insightful in flattering Wang Daniao, making her so happy she couldn’t stop smiling.
That’s just the way the old lady is, always saying one thing and meaning another. She might say there’s no need to buy anything, but if you buy it for her, she’s actually delighted.
In the evening, all four families gathered together for a meal, which served as a farewell dinner.
At the dinner table, the three tipsy men made a pact that next year when Dashuan and Liu Jianjun come back to the Capital, they would pull off something big together.
The next morning, Shen Yunfang took the children to see everyone off to the train, and Ma Liguo also took a half-day off to come to the station.
"Auntie, can I come over again after summer vacation?" Shuanzi tugged at his aunt’s sleeve, reluctant to leave. Next to him, Shitou and Jiajia also looked on with longing eyes.
"You little rascal, you’re getting too cheeky, thinking of pestering your aunt again, aren’t you? I’m telling you, you’re not allowed to come," Li Xianglian said, slapping her son on the back, sending the young boy stumbling forward.
Liu Jianjun frowned and pulled his wife aside, feeling a bit displeased. There was no need to resort to hitting the child.
"I’m not listening to you. My aunt and I are on good terms, right, Auntie?" The young boy wasn’t about to give in so easily.
"Right, Shuanzi has been a big help to me. When summer vacation comes, you and your brother and sister come over to play, Auntie welcomes you," Shen Yunfang said, directly undermining her niece’s authority.
"You just keep spoiling them, they’re all getting too full of themselves," Li Xianglian said, shaking her head in exasperation.
Elsewhere, Huzi was holding Pangpang’s hand, sadly saying goodbye, "Pangpang, come over to my place when you’re free, I’ll take you to catch grasshoppers. Skewering and roasting them is so delicious."
Pangpang swallowed his saliva and nodded vigorously, "Okay, I’ll come play at your place when I’m free. Wait for me."
"Then come over soon."
"Yeah, yeah, my mom, my sister and I will come over really soon."
Without the adults knowing, the two little boys had made a private agreement.
