Spring comes to the desperate place

Chapter 164 Junior 2

Song Amuo actually had selfish motives in saying this. Song Chunlin would pour some spiritual spring water into the water tank at home every day. Drinking it often is good for the body. Song Dahao has been wandering outside for so many years, not having enough to eat or wear, and he has been sick all the time. Song Amuo feels sorry for her youngest son, so naturally she hopes that he can drink more spiritual spring water to improve his physical condition.

As for Chen Yuer and her son, they have not been in good health after all these years of wandering and sleeping in the open. Only when they have recovered their health can Song Amao hope to have a grandson.

Song Daha and Chen Yuer didn't know the secret of the water tank at home. They just thought that the old man was worried about their family of three, and they hurriedly promised to come back for dinner often in the future.

After the family finished exchanging greetings, it was already half past midnight. The old people and children really couldn't hold on any longer, so everyone dispersed and went back to their homes to rest.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the whole family got up late without exception. It was almost noon when the Song family members got up one after another. They had leftover dumplings from last night for breakfast. As soon as the dumplings were taken out, there was a knock on the door. It was Song Dahao and his family of three. Song Dahao was holding a basin in his hand with the cold dishes that Chen Yuer had prepared that morning. The ingredients were cucumber, black fungus and lotus root given by Song Chunlin.

"This cold dish is delicious. Yesterday, Chunming said that the cold dish was delicious, refreshing and greasy."

"Yes, this melon called cucumber is delicious when eaten raw. This is the first time I've seen a melon that can be eaten raw."

Upon hearing this, Song Qin smiled and didn't respond. She just asked them to sit in the main room first and the dumplings would be ready soon.

We are a little tired of the rich fish and meat in the New Year’s Eve dinner, so today Aunt Song specially cooked a big pot of thin millet porridge to clear everyone’s stomach.

No relatives were visited on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and on the second day, except for Zhou Ning who could visit her parents' home, no one else could go back. Therefore, early in the morning on the second day, Song Chunsheng got up, harnessed the carriage, and loaded the gifts prepared in the warehouse into the carriage.

Few members of the Song family like the Zhou family. Even Zhou Ning himself doesn't really want to go back. But for the sake of face, they still have to make this trip. However, this year's New Year gifts are much less than last year.

The two did not get married last year. It was the first time that Song Chunsheng came to Zhou's house to pay New Year's greetings. The New Year's gift was very grand. This year he returned to his parents' home after the New Year. They prepared the best gifts based on those of other people in the village, which were just a whole pig's hind leg, a jar of old wine, a piece of navy blue linen, and four kinds of cakes. Even this gift was extremely valuable for an ordinary farmer's family.

However, there are always some people who are greedy and never stop trying to get what they want. When they saw Song Chunsheng taking the New Year gifts off the carriage, they started to sneer at him.

"I thought she was marrying a rich man, but now it seems that she is just like this. She only gave me a pig's leg and was reluctant to give me even half a pig. There was only a little wine. Her own family wears silk and satin, but she bought a piece of fine linen for her daughter-in-law's elders. She is really generous." The speaker was Aunt Zhou. From the beginning to the end, she firmly believed that it was Zhou Ning who caused her husband to go to jail. She found fault with Zhou Ning's return to her parents' home, but Zhou Ning didn't bother to pay attention to her.

Seeing that Zhou Ning didn't respond, Aunt Zhou didn't stop talking. She kept talking about how well her daughter had married. The other party's family had countless fields and shops, and Zhou Daya could become a lady directly after marrying him.

"For some people, what is destined to happen will happen eventually, and what is not destined to happen should not be forced. Unlike us, Daya, we are just lucky, and there are many people rushing to marry us. Who would care about a peasant like you?"

Aunt Zhou looked as smug as a rooster at this moment, with her head held high and her chest puffed out, looking down on everyone equally, including Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Zhou.

The two old people were a little unhappy at this moment and couldn't help but interrupt Aunt Zhou's showing off.

"Okay, stop talking and go check at the door. Why haven't Daya and the others arrived yet?"

Aunt Zhou was a little unhappy about being ordered around to do the work, but then she thought that her good daughter would be back with her good son-in-law soon. With her son-in-law's wealth, she could surpass the Song family with just a little bit of it. Who would care about the Song family's wealth?

Aunt Zhou felt confident and hurried to the door to greet her good daughter.

However, Aunt Zhou waited and waited, but her good daughter and son-in-law never showed up, and Zhou Ning inside already wanted to leave, but Grandpa Zhou kept asking them to wait a little longer until Song Chunsheng could meet his brother-in-law.

"Although Miss Zhou has a sharp tongue and is lazy, her husband is still a handsome man. What her mother said is right. She is indeed lucky, haha." Although Grandpa Zhou doesn't like Aunt Zhou bragging about her son-in-law everywhere, he actually approves of his grandson-in-law in his heart, and even likes him more than Song Chunsheng.

This aroused Zhou Ning and his wife's curiosity, so they sat down and waited to see what kind of good husband Zhou Daya would marry.

"Speaking of Sister Daya's marriage, why didn't Grandpa send someone to invite Aunt back for a drink?" Zhou Ning asked casually. Grandpa Zhou's face suddenly stiffened and he turned away uncomfortably.

Grandma Zhou came over to smooth things over: "It's too hasty. The man hopes that your eldest sister will marry him as soon as possible so that they can have more children, so the wedding is not a big deal."

This is even more strange. Given Aunt Zhou's ostentatious personality, how could she not make a big fuss about it? And would Zhou Daya agree to this?

Zhou Daya's character is even worse than her mother's. Will she be willing if the man doesn't invite everyone related to the Zhou family within a hundred miles?

Now even Song Chunsheng was very curious about what kind of immortal figure the other party was that could make Zhou Daya willing to marry in such a low-key manner.

Fortunately, they had not been sitting there for long when Zhou Daya finally came back. However, she was the only one who came back, and her good husband did not come with her.

Aunt Zhou followed her daughter with a sullen look on her face. She wanted to say something several times, but because Song Chunsheng and Zhou Ning were still there, she held her words back.

Zhou Daya didn't react much when she saw Song Chunsheng and Zhou Ning, but she did look much more impressive this time when she came back. She was followed by maids and servants. Several servants came in carrying New Year gifts, and like Song Chunsheng, they brought a whole pig's hind leg and a whole box of fine linen. When Aunt Zhou saw the fine linen, her face turned green.

They did carry down two large jars of wine, which was much more than Song Chunsheng's. However, the smell of the wine told everyone that the wine was very cheap. These two jars of wine were not as valuable as the small jar of the Song family.

There were quite a lot of boxes of cakes at the end, about seven or eight boxes. Zhou Daya took one out and handed it to Zhou Ning: "Here, this is a return gift."

Zhou Ning was speechless. Song Chunsheng took the gift box and weighed it in his hand. It felt very light. Zhou Daya probably understood why he picked it out for them on purpose.

Song Chunsheng remained calm on the surface and thanked Zhou Daya lightly. Zhou Daya still had that cold expression on her face, so cold that Zhou Ning could hardly recognize her.

Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Zhou also noticed it. After all, they watched Zhou Daya grow up, and now seeing her going back to her parents' home alone, they couldn't help but worry about their granddaughter.

The New Year gift that a daughter-in-law brings back to her parents' home has always represented whether she is valued by her husband's family. As for Zhou Daya's New Year gift, although it seems quite valuable at first glance, if the man really has countless fields and shops as Aunt Zhou said, then this New Year gift is not worthy of the man's family background.

The simple New Year gifts and the son-in-law who never showed up all indicated that Zhou Daya was not favored.

Zhou Ning and Song Chunsheng looked at each other and shook their heads silently.

Song Chunsheng cleared his throat and said, "Grandpa, grandma, we won't have lunch. Ning Ge'er and I have to go home to pay respect to our parents."

Paying homage to ancestors is a serious matter, and the two old men could not stop them. They could only ask them to come over for a simple meal when they are free after the worship.

After sending Zhou Ning and his wife away, Zhou Daya said disdainfully: "They are so rich now, but they look down on our simple food and drink."

Grandma Zhou spat at her, "What nonsense are you talking about? I haven't said anything to you yet. Today is the second day of the Chinese New Year, and your husband is going to let you come back alone?"

When it comes to Zhou Daya, she shuts up. No matter how the three tried to pry her open, she refuses to say a word.

Aunt Zhou was so helpless that she could only hold her chest and cry: "You really want to piss off your mother to death. How could I give birth to such an ungrateful person like you? You turned your face away and didn't recognize me as soon as I got married. Ouch, ouch~"

Zhou Daya knew her mother's character very well, so she would not panic because of her moans. She simply sat on the chair, crossed her arms and watched her mother's performance.

Aunt Zhou acted for a while and found that not only her daughter was unmoved, but even her parents-in-law had a hint of contempt in their eyes. So she stopped crying and wiped away her non-existent tears with a handkerchief.

Zhou Daya snorted coldly: "Have you cried enough? If you have, go and cook. I will come back after dinner."

Aunt Zhou was somewhat reluctant, but her daughter's laziness was spoiled by her and her husband, so it was absolutely impossible to ask her to cook. So she had to do it herself. Not only did she have to do it herself, she even had to cook for the maids and servants that Zhou Daya brought back.

The meal that Aunt Zhou cooked was pathetic and aggrieved. When the food was finally served, she was not hungry at all and was full from anger.

However, Zhou Daya enjoyed her mother's service with a clear conscience, and even Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Zhou felt a little uncomfortable with her attitude.

"That's enough. Those who know you think you're showing off by going back to your parents' home. Those who don't know think you married some weird person. Sit up and eat your meal."

Zhou Daya was somewhat obedient to the elders' words, so she immediately quieted down and ate the meat slowly.

This was the third time Zhou Ning had returned home since she got married. The first two times were during the Cold Food Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. The home was still decorated the same as before, with only some bulky furniture left in the room. The tablets of Zhou Ning's parents were placed on the altar. Song Chunsheng removed the previous offerings and replaced them with fresh fruits. He burned paper money for his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and kowtowed a few times to complete the worship.

Looking at the deserted home, Zhou Ning still felt a little uncomfortable. This was where he had lived since he was a child. Every tree and blade of grass, every brick and tile were extremely familiar. His parents' voices and smiles were still there, as if he had just seen them. But now there were only two cold tablets left.

Song Chunsheng walked over, hugged his wife, and kissed her cheek: "Don't be sad, now you have me, and your father-in-law and mother-in-law in heaven will be happier and happier in the future, because our lives will get better and better."

After paying homage to Zhou's father and mother, Song Chunsheng helped clean the room inside and out. The house had been uninhabited for many years, and Zhou Ning wanted to rent it out. He didn't ask for much money, but just hoped that the house would be popular. A popular house would be less likely to break down easily.

He had to report this matter to the village chief, but it was New Year's Day, and Zhou Ning planned to go after the New Year, so Song Chunsheng naturally had no objection.

There was only a thin layer of dust in the house, and the couple cleaned it up in no time. They went out, locked the house, and returned to the Song family.

Song Qin expected that they would not have lunch at Zhou's house, so she deliberately postponed lunch and waited for the couple to come back for dinner.

After lunch, there was nothing to do in the afternoon, so Song Chunlin simply got out a large basket of cotton seeds and everyone picked the seeds together.

"It needs to be fuller, and the cotton on top needs to be cleaner." This is the first time Song Chunlin has planted cotton in the field. This year he plans to plant a few more acres because the family currently does not have enough cotton to provide each person with a quilt.

Everyone was very excited to think about being able to cover the cotton they had grown themselves after the New Year and said they would definitely complete the task.

There is strength in numbers. In one afternoon, the Song family peeled a small basket of cotton seeds. Song Chunlin personally picked out the rotten and shriveled ones, and put the remaining plump seeds into a basket, which needed to be dried in the sun.

The new member Chen Yuer was very interested in the plant in her hand that could be used as a quilt and for weaving cloth. Song Qin even demonstrated to her how to pick the cotton seeds out of the cotton.

Chen Yuer was also a very dexterous person. After Song Qinshi demonstrated it once, she completely understood it. She tried it herself and found that the most challenging thing about this thing was not the difficulty, but the patience.

There was a large basket of cotton, and the seeds that were peeled out just filled the bottom of the basket, which was still far from the amount Song Chunlin wanted to plant.

"Although this cotton is good, it's too troublesome to pick. I heard that it has to grow in land that gets a lot of sun. The land in the surrounding villages that gets the most sun is wasteland. Can they all grow it in wasteland?"

"Of course not all of them. We have other things to grow in the wasteland."

Chen Yuer was puzzled. What could be grown in this wasteland?

Song Dahe knew that cotton was a good thing, so he asked Song Dazhuang for some seeds. He also planned to plant some so that he could get a few new quilts for his family next year.