Daily Life in the 70s
Chapter 84 Helping Out

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Helping Out

The family was in the middle of dinner.

Seeing them come in, Shen Yixiang quickly put down her bowl and went to greet them, "Brother, you came back just in time, let me serve you some rice."

"No need, you all eat, we’ve already eaten."

"Oh, then what good dishes did the Yang Family have?" asked Shen Yixiang, glancing at Yang PeiMin.

Shen Yiguang looked at her, half-joking and half-teaching, "Yixiang, what kind of question is that? I’m their son-in-law, wouldn’t they treat me well? We had chicken and stewed meat, it was so plentiful that I’m still full."

Yang PeiMin ignored her and sat down by the kang, softly talking to Chen Guizhi about her visit back home, "...I brought back some meatballs and sticky dumplings I made myself, and my mom said they might not be as good as yours, so you and dad can just snack on them..."

Chen Guizhi laughed heartily after hearing this, "My mother-in-law is too polite, why didn’t they come over for a visit too?"

"They wanted to, it’s just that there’s a newborn nephew at home, she couldn’t leave for the moment. She’ll find some time later to come over for a chat, said she could get along well with you..."

Chen Guizhi was very pleased and slowed down her eating pace, couldn’t help chatting with her, "Your mom is straightforward...she knows how to talk..."

"Mom, eat faster or the food is going to get cold," Shen Yidong couldn’t stand to see the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law getting along so intimately.

"I’m not a child, I don’t need you to tell me," said Chen Guizhi, looking at her reproachfully.

Shen Yidong looked at her mom with some frustration.

But her mother didn’t pay attention to her.

While they were talking, someone came looking for them at the entrance.

Before the person arrived, the voice came in, "Shen family Uncle Er’s wife, I’ve come to see you two elders."

Yang PeiMin was startled by this slightly exaggerated expression of emotion, it was Zhao ManCang.

He walked in with Pan Shuiqin.

It was as if they hadn’t expected them to still be eating at this time, "Are you eating?"

"Have you eaten yet? Sit down and join us?"

"No, we’ve already eaten."

Yang PeiMin moved some chairs for them to sit on.

"ManCang, what brings you here so late?" asked Shen Erniu, "If it’s not urgent, sit down and have a couple of drinks with Uncle Er."

"No urgent matter, I was busy with the kitchen during the day, lots of things to handle, so I didn’t get to come over for a visit, just a casual chat," Zhao ManCang said smoothly.

"That’s right, your wife and Yiguang’s wife are first cousins," Chen Guizhi slapped her thigh and said, "Look at that, we really are kin on top of kin now."

Everyone laughed at her way of putting things.

Pan Shuiqin also chimed in with a few clever words, which made Chen Guizhi unable to stop smiling.

Shen Yidong glanced at Pan Shuiqin and laughed as well, "Are you guys cousins? You don’t look much alike, especially when standing together—it’s like you’re from two different generations. Isn’t that right, Mom?"

Pan Shuiqin, as if she hadn’t quite understood, smiled and nodded, "My sister here has always looked different from others since she was young—her skin doesn’t even tan. I’m so jealous. Plus, she looks young for her age. Not only do you seem like you’re from a different generation when standing next to me, but even if you stood with our mother or your daughters like Xiao Fen, someone would believe it if you said you were sisters."

In a roundabout way, she complimented Shen Yidong at every opportunity.

Shen Yidong’s face immediately turned dark.

Chen Guizhi could sense the undercurrents and smiled at Yang PeiMin, "Have a heart-to-heart with your cousin. I don’t need to be here for that."

Yang PeiMin readily agreed.

She took Pan Shuiqin back to the room.

"As for your mother-in-law, she’s not bad, but that fourth sister-in-law of yours is a real troublemaker. Has she been like this the whole time?" As soon as the door was closed, Pan Shuiqin couldn’t help but ask.

Yang PeiMin shared a bit with her.

Then Pan Shuiqin passed on a set of sister-in-law relationship tips.

Her theoretical knowledge went one step further than Zhang Minghua’s key point, "That key is, you’ve got to hold tight to your man and tie his heart to you, so he doesn’t lean towards his own family."

"Don’t be so foolish as to do all the work at home by yourself. You’re no iron woman, and there are two younger sisters-in-law at home too. If you spoil them, you’ll wear yourself out, and if anything is less than perfect, you’ll also be the one to bear the complaints. What is this? Being unappreciated for your hard work, right? Simply working hard won’t do—you need to be tactful with your words too. Say a few nice things to please the elders. Fortunately, your mother-in-law is kind and won’t pick on you over every little thing."

No wonder Zhang Minghua always wanted her to learn from this cousin. With her series of tricks, she was barely a few days older than herself as a married woman.

Yang PeiMin listened carefully and nodded in agreement.

After Pan Shuiqin had talked for a while, she finally mentioned the reason for her visit today.

"Your brother-in-law has a cousin who is getting married soon. She’s fortunate, marrying into the county where because her man has been married before, his side promised to get her a job in a department store as a sales clerk."

"Although this cousin is lucky, managing to find an opportunity to marry a city dweller through some family connections, she feels unconfident as the wedding approaches."

"Never mind that her man has been married before, but his family is well-off, with both parents working in the textile factory, and he himself is quite presentable—a high school graduate and an officer in the same textile factory. There are two children from his previous marriage, but the man is only a bit over twenty-six, tall and strong, looking upright and energetic. If it wasn’t for him being a second-time husband, he wouldn’t have considered marrying your brother-in-law’s cousin."

"The cousin is capable, skilled in both fieldwork and housework, eloquent and persuasive. She used to work as a seamstress at a sewing society in the town, and her sewing skills are beyond reproach. The man appreciated her for her capabilities."

"However, the cousin has average looks, scarred from smallpox in her youth, some even left brown spots, and her eyes are small, so her appearance isn’t very lively. It’s true she’s competent, but considering her marriage into a better status, she’s somewhat concerned about her looks. She saw the significant change before and after my makeup at my wedding and was both astonished and delighted."

"She’s been pestering me about how it was done, and brought over canned goods a few days ago asking me to pass on the word, to see if you could teach her or help her with it, and she would also give a red envelope as thanks. What do you say? She’s quite close to us usually, and she’s a good person. Would it be convenient for you to help her out?"

Yang PeiMin smiled, "That’s not a problem. When is she getting married?"

"Day after tomorrow, but we’d better go tomorrow to check her makeup supplies and see if everything is prepared. She has connections, so I assume she has more resources."

Yang PeiMin thought for a moment and nodded, confirmed the time again, and after a few more words, she walked Pan Shuiqin out.

In the main room, the Shen family father and sons were sitting at the kang table drinking tea and chatting with Zhao ManCang, while Chen Guizhi and the other women were inside the room doing needlework.

Seeing them come out, Shen Yiguang finally let out a sigh of relief and nudged Zhao ManCang, "Go home, we’re all tired."

Zhao ManCang, however, smiled with understanding, "Got it, I’m leaving."

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