“Why didn’t you wait for me to come back and do it?”
Zhang Aihua said with concern as she went over to help.
With her joining in, the cooking went even faster.
By the time Daduizhang returned with his three sons, the aroma of the food had already filled the courtyard.
When everyone learned that Lin Jiaojiao had made the meal, they were deeply moved.
So this was what it felt like to have a girl in the family.
Everyone had a great appetite, eating two more bowls of rice than usual.
The food made at noon was completely wiped out.
This filled Lin Jiaojiao, who had been the cook, with a sense of accomplishment.
Sure enough, food always tasted better when eaten with a crowd.
Even she herself had eaten two bowls of mixed grain rice.
The mixed grain rice used red adzuki beans from her Space—the kind that cooks quickly and has a soft, sweet, and glutinous texture that goes down very easily.
After the meal, the Lin family needed to rest a while before heading to work.
But Lin Guozhi returned at this time.
He had brought Lin Jiaojiao’s belongings back on his bicycle.
“Didn’t you say it would be at night? Why are you back at noon?”
Lin Jiaojiao asked as she went over to pick up the things.
“It just so happened that a colleague was on duty with me, so I borrowed his bicycle to bring the things back first.”
“These things have been in transit for so long, they probably need a good airing out.”
“I figured since the sun is nice today, bringing them back early would be just right for you to air out the bedding.”
Hearing Lin Guozhi’s explanation, Lin Jiaojiao sighed inwardly once again.
So this was what it felt like to have an older brother in the family!
Always thinking about you at every moment—this must be what normal family interactions between siblings are like!
“Give me this bundle. I’ll help Jiaojiao air out the bedding.”
“Have you eaten lunch yet? If not, go to the kitchen and fix yourself something.”
Zhang Aihua came over, took a large bundle, carried it inside to open it, and brought the bedding out to air in the sun.
One of the quilts belonged to the original owner. It was very thin and extremely stiff.
It was clearly a quilt that had been used for many years and provided no warmth at all.
The original owner had only this one worn-out quilt for all four seasons.
Who knew how she had managed to endure it.
The other quilt was one Lin Jiaojiao had taken out from her Space—a mattress pad made just a couple of years ago, warmer to sleep on.
Though it was also an old quilt, hers was almost as good as new.
As for the original owner’s old quilt…
It probably wouldn’t even keep you warm as a mattress pad.
Having personally aired both quilts, Zhang Aihua naturally noticed the difference.
Thinking of what Lin Jiaojiao had said about the things prepared by her uncle’s family, this must be the better quilt.
It seemed that before winter arrived, she would need to find a way to get some cotton.
Then she could make Jiaojiao a new quilt so she wouldn’t freeze in the winter.
These two thin quilts wouldn’t be enough to get through winter in the Northeast.
Meanwhile, Lin Jiaojiao was inside the room, taking out the clothes she had prepared.
Most were the original owner’s patched clothes, many of them like beggar’s rags, patched beyond patching.
But she had also put in two decent ones—old clothes she had taken from her Space.
She didn’t dare take out anything too nice, afraid of attracting attention.
This was an era where being poor was glorious—the poorer, the more glorious.
Anyone who wore gold and silver would invite suspicion, and might even be dragged off for struggle sessions.
So Lin Jiaojiao was very careful and didn’t take out a single new piece of clothing.
“Jiaojiao, you really suffered in the past.”
Looking at those patched clothes, Zhang Aihua’s tears streamed down her face.
Was this the kind of life her daughter had been living in someone else’s home?
Those damn human traffickers—they stole her precious child and then didn’t even treat her well.
Their consciences had truly been eaten by dogs.
Once her eldest nephew finished investigating and came back, if they confirmed that Jiaojiao was indeed her biological daughter, she would definitely go settle the score with that couple.
They stole someone else’s child, and then when they had their own, they treated the stolen child like a beast of burden.
Those ungrateful people deserved to remain childless for the rest of their lives.
Zhang Aihua cursed that couple in her heart, but the anger inside her just wouldn’t dissipate.
She could only quietly help tidy things up.
Before long, the room had gained quite a few of Lin Jiaojiao’s personal belongings, making it look more like a young woman’s boudoir.
“I still have some fabric in my room. I’ll make you two new outfits later.”
“Don’t wear these ones with too many patches anymore. Leave them with me—I’ll use them to make shoe insoles.”
In these times, all the shoes in every household were made by the women of the house.
Zhang Aihua naturally knew how to make shoes too.
The thousand-layer soles she stitched were extremely sturdy—all the men’s shoes in her family came from her hands.
These old clothes didn’t even have a single decent piece of fabric, so aside from being used for shoe soles, they had no other purpose.
“No need for new clothes. But if you can use them for shoe insoles, please feel free to take them.”
Lin Jiaojiao had never actually intended to wear those clothes. She had only brought them along to put on a show, to let people know she came from a decent family.
She didn’t want to be associated with anyone of questionable background.
Zhang Aihua took all the patched clothes away, then came back shortly after with a measuring tape to take Lin Jiaojiao’s measurements.
She didn’t even give her a chance to refuse, and soon left with the numbers in hand.
Clearly, she was planning to rush making new clothes for her.
Lin Jiaojiao was deeply moved by this.
But at the same time, she felt a little afraid. This family was too good to her—so good it made her panic.
What if all their kindness was fake… When the time came, she didn’t know if she could bear it.
If only she could see through it sooner, she could wake up sooner.
Watching herself sink into the embrace of familial affection gave her a feeling of dread.
In the afternoon, Zhang Jiyao came to find her, saying they should go buy a large trunk for storing clothes.
But Lin Jiaojiao already had everything she needed—even the washbasins and foot basins had been prepared by the Daduizhang’s family.
She didn’t need to buy any of that.
Still, she went along with Zhang Jiyao to learn where the shop was, so that if she ever needed anything in the future, she could come and purchase it.
The carpenter, Old Lin, was actually related to the Daduizhang’s family. He knew she was the girl staying at the captain’s house and took a look at her appearance.
Even though Lin Jiaojiao had only come to learn the location, she still walked away with two wooden basins and a basket as gifts.
He firmly refused to accept any money, telling her to come back for more if they ever wore out.
Lin Jiaojiao felt that all the villagers of Qingshan Production Brigade were good people.
Only Zhang Jiyao, following behind her, silently hid his envious gaze.
Were female Zhiqing really this popular in Qingshan Production Brigade? Everyone who saw her had to give her something.
Just look at Comrade Lin Jiaojiao—walking along this road, she got a radish from one household and a cucumber from another.
By the time she returned to the Daduizhang’s house, the basket in her arms was already full.
The villagers’ warmth infected Lin Jiaojiao as well.
She felt that if possible, when she eventually made her fortune, she would definitely bring these lovely people along with her.
She liked the atmosphere of Qingshan Production Brigade, and she also liked these kind-hearted people.
“Comrade Lin Jiaojiao, I’ll be heading back now.”
After seeing Lin Jiaojiao to the entrance of the courtyard, Zhang Jiyao said his goodbyes.
“Tomorrow is a day off. The Zhiqing in the Zhiqingyuan have agreed to go to the county town.”
“If you want to go, we’ll gather at the village entrance at 7 a.m.”
“We set off at exactly 7:10. If you’re not there by then, the ox cart won’t wait.”
Zhang Jiyao took two steps out, then thought of something and turned back to add one more reminder.
Lin Jiaojiao had just been to the town today, so originally there was nothing she needed to buy.
But then she thought, she was always taking food out of the Space, and it wouldn’t do to have no excuse at all. She might as well go along for the trip!