Why does she seem like she's dreaming today?
"You've paid for it, do you want to try it on?"
Li Xiangqin looked at her daughter's uneasy expression, her heart aching. She reached out and stroked her hair,
"Once you start your job, you'll be an adult; you need to look presentable."
Fourth Child nodded dazedly. Mom was being too generous today, like the devils entering the village; she felt a bit panicked.
"...Mom, this is too much."
She looked at the moon white Luo fabric in the Cloth Bag. Mom was actually going to make her a dress? She had never worn a dress since she was little, how could she not be excited?
Li Xiangqin smiled, "It's not much, just two sets to alternate wearing."
What Fourth Child was wearing was too short and too worn out; it was long overdue for replacement.
As the two walked to the home appliance section, Li Xiangqin spotted a Model 26 ladies' Bicycle displayed on a stand. It cost one hundred and fifty yuan and required Industrial coupons to purchase.
"Do you like this bike?"
Fourth Child was beyond shocked at this point. She looked at the gleaming Bicycle on display, then pointed at her own nose.
"For me?"
"Of course. A new job calls for a new look. You need something to get to and from work. Take good care of it; it will be your Dowry later."
Li Xiangqin chuckled; the girl was so happy she was stunned.
Looking at her mother's Loving kindness smile, Fourth Child clutched her chest, her heart pounding so fast it felt like it might jump out.
Mom was actually going to buy her a big item!!
She had misunderstood before; Mom had never ignored her from beginning to end.
"Mom, it's too expensive. The Machinery Factory isn't that far; it only takes me forty minutes to walk there. There's no need to waste money." She had Took over the job from Dad and even got new clothes; she couldn't let Mom spend more.
She still had three Elder brothers and their wives above her. If they argued with Mom, there would be no peaceful days left at home.
"If it's useful, it's not a waste. These are the Industrial coupons your dad managed to save up; it would be a waste not to use them." Li Xiangqin comforted her and asked the Waiter to write up the bill.
This made Fourth Child truly anxious. She leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Mom, letting me take Dad's Job was already a huge favor; buying so many things will surely cause trouble with my Elder brothers and their wives."
"You just worry too much about other people."
Li Xiangqin patted her hand,
"Rest assured. If they dare to cause trouble, I dare to scold them. At worst, I'll Sweep out the door all of them. Each of them spent more than you when they got married and started their Job.
People shouldn't be Spoiled too much. Otherwise, they'll think the entire household belongs to them. This is the New Society; we advocate for Gender equality. Although I haven't treated everyone perfectly equally, I haven't mistreated them based on their individual circumstances."
"But..."
"No 'buts.' If they were reasonable, they wouldn't fuss over this little bit of stuff. If they are unreasonable, they would throw a fit even if I bought you a single needle."
Her sons and their wives weren't fools. As long as she held the purse strings, they wouldn't dare to cause too much trouble. Otherwise, they wouldn't get a single thing.
Although she hadn't planned on leaving anything for those Ungrateful wretches, they didn't know that yet.
They were hesitant to act rashly because of the money in her hands, so they had to grit their teeth and endure it for now.
When the two of them pushed the Bicycle out of the Department Store, a gust of hot wind hit them, and Fourth Child finally snapped back to reality.
"Get on. Mom will take you home." Li Xiangqin patted the back seat, signaling Fourth Child to sit.
"Mom, why don't I take you?" Fourth Child swallowed, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling like the river of stars in the night sky.
"I'm heavier than you. You need to gain some weight first." Li Xiangqin watched her daughter obediently sit on the back seat holding the small bundle, then mounted the bike and headed straight home.
As soon as the Bicycle entered the courtyard, it attracted the attention of the Family Courtyard.
"Auntie, where did that new bike come from?"
"Just bought it, for my Fourth Child to use for her Job." Li Xiangqin pushed the bike while Fourth Child walked behind, carrying the Cloth Bag. Her entire demeanor had changed.
"Oh my, you truly dote on your daughter. I thought you only cared about your sons and grandsons, but it turns out your daughter is also close to your heart." The person paused for a moment, then laughed and Teased her.
"My daughter was young before, so I didn't pay much attention, but it's different now that she's grown up." Li Xiangqin wasn't angry and gave a casual reply.
She had indeed focused all her energy on her sons and grandsons before; she admitted she had failed her daughter.
Hadn't she received her retribution too?
"Oh, my dear sister, I really didn't realize you could be so astonishing when you decide to act! This style is perfect for our daughter to ride."
Wang Erying said, reaching out to touch the gleaming handlebar, clicking her tongue.
"That's right. I can't let my daughter suffer. Once she's settled in her Job for a year, Er Ying Jie will help Look for an ambitious young man to introduce a good match for her."
Li Xiangqin chuckled lightly. In this Family Courtyard, she had the best relationship with Wang Erying; usually, if one had something tasty, they would share a bite with the other.
"Rest assured, I'll take care of that. We can't be careless about our daughter's match."
Wang Erying looked at Fourth Child, whose cheeks were flushed, and reached out to Pinch her cheek.
"This girl is shy. I'll tell San Jiang later to take good care of you. If you have any trouble, just go find him. That boy might be useless at everything else, but looking after someone is no problem for him."
"Thank you, Aunt Wang,"
Fourth Child nodded. Their family had a good relationship with the Wang Family, especially with San Jiang Ge, the Fifth Child of the Wang Family. Before he got a Job, he was quite a figure around this area.
"How is the match your San Jiang is seeing? When are they getting married?"
Both of her sister's couple were dual-income Employees at the Machinery Factory. They had two daughters and three sons, all married with children, only the Fifth Child, San Jiang, remained single.
Because he was the youngest child in the family, he was indulged, spending his days with a group of idle youths.
Seeing that he was about to become an unemployed loafer, Wang Erying Retired a year early and let her Younger Son Take over the job, which finally curbed San Jiang's wild and unrestrained heart.
Wang Sanjiang was someone she watched grow up—a truly ambitious young man. In seven years, he went from a Level 1 worker to a Workshop Team Leader, then joined the Party, and eventually became the Party Branch Secretary.
At the critical juncture of the factory's transformation, many Employees were Laid off or became unemployed, but because the Machinery Factory was vital to national heavy industry, it remained standing firm.
Wang Sanjiang, relying on his sharp mind and Courage, leaped to become the Sales Department Section Chief, primarily managing external business, and his life was flourishing.
In contrast, Third Brother, from Apprentice to Level 3 worker, worked the same way his entire Lifetime.
When mentioning her son, the smile on Wang Erying's face couldn't be hidden.
"I can't really tell about young people's matters. That boy San Jiang has his own ideas and doesn't let us interfere blindly. He said he'll let us know when he gets married."
"It's really different once you have a Job, Er Ying Jie. You are blessed." Speaking of raising children, the Wang Family's children were the ones Li Xiangqin envied.