Daily Life in the 70s
Chapter 93 Start

Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Start

After the two men of the house returned, they found that the atmosphere was somewhat different, though they couldn’t quite put their finger on where exactly it differed, but dinner felt quieter than usual.

Chen Guizhi picked up a chopstick full of food for Yang PeiMin, "You’ve been busy these past few days and must be exhausted, eat more."

The onlookers were somewhat stunned by her action. Usually, it was common to see daughters-in-law showing filial piety to their mothers-in-law, but to see a mother-in-law treating a daughter-in-law like a daughter was rare. Actions like those of Chen Guizhi were not nonexistent, but they were not as abrupt as hers.

Chen Guizhi had a gentle nature and was amiable to everyone; she rarely quarreled with people. When the new bride entered the family, Chen Guizhi was also very good to her; not assigning work nor nitpicking, showing only the protective love an elder has for a junior. This had once made Shen Yidong jealous, but today, Chen Guizhi’s actions even carried a hint of guilt and eagerness to please, which was puzzling.

What’s going on?

Yang PeiMin, too, was startled and hurriedly reached out with her bowl to receive it, laughing as she said, "Mother dotes on me the most, how did you know I like this fried egg? I was just about to pick some."

This family was currently gathered around the kang table for the meal, with Chen Guizhi sitting opposite Yang PeiMin, and the plate of fried eggs with dried white radish just in front of Chen Guizhi. What Yang PeiMin said seemed natural and considerate.

Shen Yiguang raised an eyebrow.

He turned his head and said to Shen PeiMin, "See how well my mother treats you, be sure to show more filial piety to our parents from now on."

Yang PeiMin nodded with a smile.

Chen Guizhi waved her non-chopstick-holding hand cheerfully, "As long as you all are doing well, that’s enough. With the few days left, Yiguang, spend more time with your wife."

Yang PeiMin, moved, called out, "Mother," what an open-minded mother-in-law she was.

Shen Yiguang sighed with a smile, "Our home is so nice, I really hate to leave."

Suddenly, Chen Guizhi’s eyes reddened, "In the future, don’t worry about home, everything will be fine. You just focus on doing your job well, and write home often."

Everyone rushed to comfort her, holding back the tears that threatened to fall, and she ended up laughing instead.

After dinner, Shen Yiguang ground some mixed grain flour for Yang PeiMin. They had made a small mill at home, so they didn’t need to use the communal one at the brigade, which was much more convenient.

"Wife, what’s with your mother today? Did you do something to move her?" Shen Yiguang asked with interest.

Yang PeiMin tidied up some jam jars and portioned out the fried mung beans, sesame, soybeans, and peanuts into separate containers, instructing him, "When you’re at the unit, just eat whatever you like from these. Spoon some into a bowl, add some sugar, and mix with boiling water to drink. Adjust the consistency to your liking."

Then she recounted the argument she had with Shen Yidong in the afternoon.

Shen Yiguang nodded with a smile, "That’s exactly what you should do. If she does that again, just call the fourth brother-in-law straight away and have her taken back. The two of them, I don’t know what they’re bickering about, but they’re both proud. They’re just waiting, as if neither wants to be the first to back down. So, when you mention getting the fourth brother-in-law involved, she gets scared."

Yang PeiMin nodded in sudden understanding; so that’s how it was.

She squinted at him with curiosity, "Aren’t you going to intervene?"

Shen Yiguang used her own words to tease her, "Didn’t you say that matters between husband and wife are for them to deal with? Outsiders don’t need to interfere, right?"

While speaking, his eyes looked at her with delight.

Yang Peimin nodded at him, "That’s for sure, it’s just common sense."

Shen Yiguang was strong and quick, and soon had ground nearly ten jin of various grains. Watching her neatly pack and arrange them, the tenderness in his eyes couldn’t be hidden, "How did you come up with this, you smart little head of yours?"

Yang Peimin didn’t even look up, "Of course, because I’m smart."

As Shen Yiguang was about to return to the military, these past few days the family had been hastily preparing things for him, as if whatever they did was still not enough, and Yang Peimin was also infected with that sentiment of reluctance to let go.

Back in the room, Shen Yiguang handed her a stack of money, "This is a thousand. Over the years, I’ve saved up since there isn’t much to spend in the army, and my parents also don’t want to take much. Besides Yiyue and their tuition fees, most of it has been saved. How should we handle my future salary? How much do you think is appropriate to give to my parents?"

"Yiyue and the others need only a few yuan a year, but we should also save a bit for them each month towards their dowry. My parents get a grain subsidy, so let’s start by giving them ten yuan a month, what do you think?"

Yang Peimin nodded, "I’ll listen to you, but you should also keep some for yourself so you won’t be caught off guard if anything comes up. You haven’t given it all to me, have you?"

Shen Yiguang stroked her head, smiling contentedly, "Don’t worry, I’ve kept some for myself. In the future, I’ll send you fifty yuan back each month by mail, which you can also manage for my parents."

Yang Peimin disagreed, "You’re only keeping six yuan for yourself? How will that be enough? Before, it didn’t matter that you weren’t married, but now it’s different. You have a family. You can’t evade activities, dining out, social obligations, and all that; you might even have to give more. With all these things, how will the money suffice? A man needs some emergency cash, don’t let others look down on you."

Shen Yiguang’s eyes burned with passion as he pulled her into his embrace, moved, "Wife, you’re really wonderful."

Then naturally, he wanted to proceed, but Yang Peimin quickly stopped him, "Not now, we still haven’t sorted everything out. We need to figure out if we have to acquire anything for the house, what your expenses will be like; all of it needs to be clearly organized."

Shen Yiguang immediately felt as if he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own feet.

The next day, Yang Peimin was going to Gong Chenglan’s house.

She got up early and tidied herself up, wearing that trench coat. Married women’s hair shouldn’t be in two big braids anymore, so she styled it into a loose ponytail, pinning up her bangs at the forehead, and touched up the color on her lips – image was crucial. To do something well, you start with the details.

She then packed up the Universal Relief ointment in the empty metal tin, placing it with the rest of her makeup items.

Gong Chenglan’s wedding feast was bustling with activity, with her family filling up the large courtyard.

Gong Chenglan had someone wait for Yang Peimin at the courtyard gate early on, and as soon as she arrived, she was pulled into Gong Chenglan’s room.

By now, a group of sisters had already gathered in the room, filling up her not-so-small room, seemingly eager to watch her put on makeup.

She couldn’t help but glance at Gong Chenglan with questioning eyes.

Gong Chenglan blinked at her and whispered, "Don’t mind them, they all came running over to see, and I couldn’t stop them."

Indeed, that was the case. Once Yang Peimin knew this, she smiled instead – it wasn’t bad to have so many people helping spread the word.

Today, she was already well prepared.

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