Hearing the notification sound, Li Shulan stumbled slightly.
“Oh my goodness!”
One hundred yuan!
A jade bracelet!
And a sewing machine voucher!
This reward was way too generous!
Meng Yue and Su Xiao, thinking their mother-in-law might fall, quickly reached out to steady her.
“Mom, are you okay?”
Meng Yue even took the items from her hands: “Mom, let me hold these for you.”
Li Shulan shook her head with a smile. “I’m fine, I can carry them myself. You two go back!”
She truly loved this “Good Mother-in-Law System”! Whatever she wished for, it appeared.
In the morning, her daughters-in-law wanted sanitary pads, and the system rewarded her with two packs. In the afternoon, she wanted a sewing machine voucher, and voilà! Here it was.
She was genuinely delighted.
And the jade bracelet—she had only seen something like it when she was a young girl. These were treasures!
After the commotion at the old secretary’s house, she had received so many rewards.
Both Li Shulan and her daughters-in-law were thrilled, finishing the entire seven-pound old hen she had stewed that afternoon!
After dinner, the daughters-in-law washed the dishes, bathed, and did laundry, while Li Shulan returned to her room to examine the jade bracelet carefully—it was a top-quality, bright green piece.
Li Shulan thought to herself: when she cooked for her daughters-in-law, she only got ten yuan and some ordinary items. But when she stood up for them, she got a hundred yuan and even valuable items!
It seemed that to get better rewards, she had to look out for her daughters-in-law more.
Li Shulan had made up her mind: with her around, no one—not even her sons—could ever bully her daughters-in-law again.
After examining the bracelet, she stored it in her space for her eldest daughter-in-law.
It wasn’t the right time to carry it around, and besides, she only had one bracelet. If she gave it to the eldest daughter-in-law now, what would the second daughter-in-law think? She didn’t worry about having too few items—she worried about fairness.
In her previous life, she had done many cruel things, but toward her two sons, she had been completely fair, sparing no effort.
Even after her death, when her two sons fell out, neither had blamed her for that.
Next time she obtained another bracelet, she would give one to each daughter-in-law.
She also took out a few industrial vouchers from her space. Today’s dinner reward had given her four more vouchers.
At this rate, she would soon have enough to buy two watches for her daughters-in-law!
And money—her space had gained 200 yuan in just a day and a half!
Two hundred yuan! Previously, even taking both sons’ wages, she could only save three or four hundred a year. Now, in just a day and a half…
Li Shulan even dreamed happily that night.
After the commotion at the old secretary’s house, no one dared cause trouble for her daughters-in-law in the brigade. Li Shulan’s relationship with them became increasingly harmonious; mealtimes were lively, full of chatting.
At lunch that day, Su Xiao suddenly mentioned the brigade school.
“Sis, have you heard? The arithmetic teacher at our brigade school is apparently getting married.”
Meng Yue picked up a piece of hollow vegetable with her chopsticks. “I don’t know the teacher. Whether she marries or not, what does it have to do with us?”
“Of course it matters!” Su Xiao continued. “Our brigade’s arithmetic teacher is from the county. After marrying, she’ll be transferred back there. Once she leaves, the position in our brigade is vacant! The educated youths are all fighting hard for it!”
Meng Yue’s expression remained calm.
“We’ve only been in the countryside a short while. Even if they pick from the educated youths, it’s not our turn yet. Don’t think too much. Just eat!”
“True,” Su Xiao said.
She had only overheard it that morning, and was just bringing it up at home—she had no real expectations, though she did allow herself to fantasize a bit.
“But if we could get this teaching position, I could wear the blouse-and-skirt you made, Mom! I hope we have a holiday soon—I must show it off!”
Li Shulan took the cue.
“Speaking of which, I have something to discuss with you.”
The two looked up. “What is it, Mom?”
Li Shulan set down her bowl and rested her right hand on the table. “I plan to talk to the brigade leader and secretary about having the second daughter-in-law take this teaching position.”
“For me?” Su Xiao quickly said, “Mom, I didn’t mean anything before. I just heard this morning. I don’t want to be a teacher. If anyone should, it should be sister-in-law. My health is much better than hers!”
Meng Yue also spoke up. “Mom, I have no objections. Xiaoxiao is lively and good with kids. Besides, after you went to the old secretary’s house, the brigade leader won’t bother me. I can manage it.”
“Sis, you should take this teacher position. You’re more suitable. These days, I’ve been getting along with the ladies in the brigade. They even taught me how to cut wheat less painfully. I can earn five or six work points a day now!”
“I’m not suited to be a teacher. You should go…”
Li Shulan had her own plans, but seeing no jealousy or dissatisfaction between the daughters-in-law, she was pleased.
There was no need to hide anything. Harmony between sisters-in-law was good, but it was better to clarify things early, or small misunderstandings could accumulate over time.
She had twin sons; they got along well, and she naturally wanted her daughters-in-law to remain harmonious forever.
“Enough, stop pushing. I’ve arranged for the second daughter-in-law to take the teacher position.” She looked at Meng Yue. “As for you, elder sister-in-law, I plan to recruit you into my sewing group. I saw the embroidery you did at work—it’s very pretty. You can do it, right?”
Meng Yue nodded. “My grandmother was an embroiderer. When I was in school, my parents were too busy, so my grandmother taught me. I learned a bit.”
“That’s settled! But now joining the sewing group requires a sewing machine. I’ll need to get a sewing machine voucher and buy one. Also, if the second daughter-in-law becomes a teacher, I can’t immediately pull you into the sewing group; otherwise, people in the brigade might object.”
“Mom, let’s first secure the teacher position for the second daughter-in-law, since it’s urgent for her. As for me, I can wait a bit longer, right?”
Meng Yue smiled and nodded. “I’ll listen to you, Mom.”
Su Xiao also smiled happily. “I’ll listen to Mom too!”
“All right, eat properly before the dishes get cold. By the way, have you finished your letters? I plan to go to town in a couple of days and send them for you.”
Of course, that wasn’t the main thing—her top priority was still her flush toilet! She had called days ago and still hadn’t heard back. Her eldest son was really inefficient!