Watching Third Brother and his daughter sit there as if glued to their seats—completely unmoving while others worked and even having the leisure to chat idly—made the scene all the more irritating.
Chen Shi and Sun Xiaoyun were already fuming. As the sun climbed higher and the temperature rose, sweat beaded on their foreheads, and seeing Lin Yongshun’s behavior only made them more irritable.
“Third Brother, look at your elder brother and sister-in-law running around busy. Don’t you know to help out? Instead you’re just chatting there. If you don’t come help, then get lost and go to work!”
Sun Xiaoyun, who happened to pass by, also shot disapproving looks at Lin Yongshun and his daughter.
Lin Yongshun, however, remained completely unbothered. It was already past working hours, the old man had gone to the fields, and only a few of them were left at home—aside from his elder brother’s family of three and their mother. With that, he had nothing to fear.
With a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, swaying back and forth, he said lazily,
“Oh come on, if you don’t want to work so hard, just leave half the stuff behind. Why make things so complicated? If you don’t know how to throw things away, I can do it for you.”
His words made even Sun Xiaoyun unable to hold back.
“Third Brother, this is Zhuer’s first time living away from home. She’s not strong and definitely won’t adapt easily. If we don’t prepare everything properly, she’ll suffer. Besides, we can afford it, and her elder brother isn’t at ease, so he prepared a lot on purpose.”
“Oh, so you’re just making things hard for yourselves then. Sister-in-law, stop standing there talking and hurry up and carry things. We still have to return the donkey cart to the village, and the commune bus won’t wait for anyone.
“And besides, it’s getting hotter. My dear niece will only feel worse. As her mother, you’ll end up worrying yourself sick.”
When it came to sarcasm, Sun Xiaoyun was no match for Lin Yongshun. Even Uncle Lin Ercheng, who was driving the donkey cart, couldn’t help but chuckle.
Sun Xiaoyun was seething, but when she glanced at the smiling Lin Erxia, a thought crossed her mind. Suppressing her anger, she forced a smile.
“Erxia, you’re the older sister. When you’re at school, take good care of Zhuer. She’s never done much work and is rather naïve. If she doesn’t understand something in daily life, help her out more. When you come back, I’ll save up enough cloth coupons to make you a new outfit.”
Lin Erxia looked at her curiously. “Auntie, you probably won’t even save up enough cloth coupons. You should keep them for yourself.”
So Sun Xiaoyun wanted to find a nanny for Lin Zhuer? They were only two months apart in age, and yet she was dangling such an empty promise. Erxia had seen far bigger, better “pies” than this—this kind of small, broken promise didn’t impress her at all.
Sun Xiaoyun’s stomach nearly swelled with anger. This father and daughter pair were simply her nemeses—completely impervious to persuasion.
Just then, Lin Zhuer came out and took hold of Sun Xiaoyun.
“Mom, I can handle my own matters. If there’s something I don’t understand, I’ll ask Sister Erxia. I’ll have to trouble Sister Erxia to guide me when the time comes.”
Now that sounded reasonable.
Lin Erxia waved her hand generously. “We’re family, after all. If you need anything, just come to me. I can’t promise to help with everything, but I won’t refuse entirely either.”
Lin Zhuer felt something odd about those words, but still smiled and said, “Thank you, Sister Erxia.”
“No need, no need.”
Beside them, Lin Yongshun pondered for a moment, then gave his daughter a thumbs-up. Look at that—she spoke in such a refined way. It sounded like she said something, yet also nothing at all. Educated people really did speak differently.
Finally, Lin Yongfeng carried over the last of the items. The luggage alone took up a third of the donkey cart, leaving space for four people to sit.
Uncle Lin Ercheng, who was driving, mentioned that two more people would be getting on. It would be a squeeze, but still manageable. Lin Yongfeng immediately had Lin Zhuer sit on top of the bedding so she wouldn’t be jolted too much.
At the village entrance, they picked up two more passengers—Aunt Cui’e and Aunt Dahua. Each carried a basket filled with eggs, heading to the commune to exchange them for household goods.
At designated places in the commune, small-scale trading was allowed—not exactly buying and selling, but bartering goods.
Aunt Cui’e and Aunt Dahua were both thin, like most people of this era. After all, being overweight back then would make one stand out—a “promising stock,” not just in potential but in actual substance.
The donkey cart swayed along, carrying nine people and a heap of luggage at a leisurely pace. Lin Yongfeng sat beside Lin Ercheng at the front, chatting with him.
Meanwhile, Lin Yongshun lounged across Lin Erxia’s luggage, one leg propped against the cart frame and the other resting over his knee, eyes closed—who knew if he was actually asleep.
Seated next to Lin Erxia, Aunt Cui’e clutched her basket tightly and asked in a low voice,
“Erxia, Zhuer is going to school—but what about you?”
News of Lin Zhuer getting into high school had already spread throughout the village, thanks to Chen Shi and Sun Xiaoyun. With her grades, they practically wanted to hold a commendation ceremony for her.
There wasn’t much entertainment in the village, so this counted as major good news. Naturally, everyone knew about it, though some couldn’t help but feel a little envious.
Lin Erxia smiled. “I’m going to high school too. I got in, so of course I’m going.”
Aunt Cui’e’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh? We only heard that Zhuer got in—we didn’t hear about you. How strange. Your grandmother too—such double happiness, yet she left you out when talking about it.”
She shook her head regretfully while secretly watching Erxia’s expression.
But Lin Erxia didn’t mind at all.
“Auntie, no need to fuss over such details. In our village, not many even go to middle school, let alone high school. Maybe they were worried people would get jealous if they said too much.
“Even if it wasn’t mentioned before, once I start attending high school, everyone will know in a few days anyway. Whether it was said or not doesn’t really matter.”
Just like that, she broadened the perspective—and even subtly cleared Chen Shi’s name. Erxia wouldn’t casually speak ill of her family in public.
After all, they hadn’t split the household yet—when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. She understood that well.
Hearing this, Lin Yongfeng felt relieved. He had worried that Erxia’s temper might cause trouble, but instead she spoke up for his mother. This girl really wasn’t bad.
Lin Zhuer, who had been silent, also nodded.
“My Fifth Sister and I both got into high school through our own results. We each have admission letters.”
Aunt Cui’e and Aunt Dahua exchanged a glance, then smiled.
“That’s wonderful news! Your grandmother really kept things tight-lipped. She’ll be enjoying good fortune from now on—two granddaughters admitted to high school!”
Whether Chen Shi had deliberately kept quiet or simply feared jealousy, they didn’t know. But one thing was certain—this news hadn’t spread through the village yet.
Which meant they were among the first to know.
Once it spread, it would definitely become a hot topic—and they would have plenty to talk about.
The fire of gossip was already blazing in their eyes.
They tried to probe for more, but Lin Erxia skillfully answered what she could and deflected what she couldn’t, changing the subject with ease.
After an hour of swaying along the road, with the sun already high in the sky, they finally reached the commune.
Aunt Cui’e and Aunt Dahua got off early, and Uncle Ercheng continued on, taking the rest of them to the bus station.
Provided by Zhu Lin Luoyu,