Unlike later generations who enjoyed five workdays and two rest days, with a proper weekend, this era followed a standard single-day rest system, where only Sundays were off.
Because of this, everyone was extremely busy on Sundays. Washing and drying clothes, visiting relatives, shopping, and all sorts of tasks piled up into a single day, making it hardly any less hectic than weekdays.
Given this, the Qiao family didn’t keep their guests for too long. By around two o’clock, most of the guests had left, leaving only Father He and Mother He behind.
Since the in-laws rarely visited, they naturally had to be treated well. With all the other guests around earlier, there hadn’t been much chance for conversation. Now that the guests were gone, it was time to chat a bit more.
The last time He Yingying returned to her parents’ home, it was to discuss Jiajia’s first birthday. Since she went after work, around five in the afternoon, time was tight. By the time she reached He Family Village, it was already dark. After discussing the matter, she barely had time to sit down before heading back, leaving no opportunity for a private mother-daughter conversation.
Today, with Father He and Mother He in no hurry to leave, mother and daughter naturally had more time to talk.
Qiao Zhufang knew that Mother He, as a mother, must have a lot to say to her daughter. So, she told Yingying to take Jiajia and Mother He into the room for a proper chat, leaving the cleanup outside to her son.
He Yingying had always gotten along well with her mother-in-law. Following her suggestion, she naturally took her daughter’s hand, ignoring the mess outside, and led her mother into the room, ready to close the door for some private talk.
Father He stayed outside, entertained by his in-laws Qiao Qiusheng and Qiao Zhufang, while Qiao Heping tidied up the tables and chairs and dismantled the borrowed large round table to return it.
Mother He had initially wanted to help her son-in-law with the cleanup, but her daughter pulled her straight into the room to sit down.
Fortunately, seeing that Yingying’s in-laws didn’t seem to mind, she felt at ease sitting down.
He Yingying was very close to Mother He, much more so than to Father He. Many heartfelt words were only shared with her mother.
And Mother He doted on her daughter. Even though her daughter was now married, had her own family, and was already a mother, she still worried about her as if she were a child, afraid she wasn’t living well.
Every time she saw her daughter, she couldn’t help but ask a series of questions, such as: How is life with the in-laws? How does her husband treat her? How do her in-laws treat her?
He Yingying was used to her mother’s questions, as they were always similar. She replied skillfully, “Mom, just set your mind at ease. I’m really living well. We’re from the same village, and you’ve watched Heping grow up. Don’t you know his temperament? He’s never changed toward me. At home, he doesn’t even let me do any heavy chores.
My in-laws treat me well too, truly like their own daughter. I’ve been married for almost seven years now. Look at my energy and spirit—do I seem like I’m not doing well?”
“You only gave birth to a daughter. Did your in-laws say anything about it?” Mother He asked cautiously.
He Yingying understood her mother’s concern and patiently explained, “Heping and his parents aren’t the type who favor sons over daughters. They adored Jiajia from the moment she was born and never once complained about her being a girl. They’ve never pressured me to have a son either, so Mom, you really don’t need to worry about this.”
Mother He feared her daughter might be sugarcoating things. She spoke earnestly, “Your in-laws are good people, and even if they don’t say it outright, they surely want a grandson in their hearts. Yingying, since you can give birth to a daughter, it means your body is healthy and capable of bearing children. You’re only twenty-four, still young. Work harder with Heping and try for a son. Once you have a son, you’ll stand firm in the Qiao family, and I won’t have to worry about you anymore.”
Mother He genuinely loved her granddaughter Qiao Jiajia, and her urging her daughter to have a son was also sincere—not for any other reason but because she feared her daughter might suffer in her husband’s family for not bearing a son. In these times, a woman who didn’t have a son couldn’t hold her head high at home.
He Yingying knew her mother meant well and spoke out of concern for her. Moreover, in the countryside, the belief that having a son was necessary to continue the family line was widespread. Given such an environment, it was nearly impossible to change her mother’s mindset.
At this moment, He Yingying didn’t mention the agreement she and Heping had made to only have one daughter. Otherwise, her mother would surely worry even more.
Although she had no intention of trying for a son, He Yingying still went along with her mother’s words. “Yes, Mom, don’t worry. I understand. I’ll work harder.”
Hearing this, Mother He nodded in relief. After a while, her expression shifted several times before she whispered, “Yingying, it took you nearly six years of marriage to have Jiajia. Who knows when the second child will come? But no matter what, promise me you won’t take any random medicines, okay? Promise me, do you hear? If you can’t have a son… then, then, then let it be. You mustn’t ruin your health.”
Mother He had seen women in the village take medicines or drink talisman water in their desperation for a son, only to ruin their health and die from massive hemorrhages during childbirth.
In her heart, her daughter’s health came first. Although she hoped her daughter would have a son, she didn’t want her to take such great risks for the sake of a child that might never come.
Touched by these words, He Yingying knew she was her mother’s top priority. She hugged her mother, resting her head on her shoulder, and said with a smile, “Yes, Mom, don’t worry. I’m not a child anymore. I know my limits. I won’t take any random medicines.”
“That’s good. You and Heping live well together. As long as you’re happy, I’ll be at ease. Also, from now on, don’t bring so many things when you come home. Don’t listen to your father’s talk about helping the family. We don’t lack these things at home. Before you got married, didn’t our family get by just fine? Now that the country is established and we’re in a new society, life is even better than before. Why would a married daughter need to support her family?”
“And this business of ‘marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog’—you’re with Heping now, you have a daughter, you have your own little family. There’s really no need for you to worry about your parents’ home. Every time you come back, you bring loads of things. Over time, your in-laws will start to feel resentful.
You still have a long life ahead of you, no need to make things unpleasant at home over such small matters.” Mother He held her daughter’s hand as she advised her.
He Yingying felt a pang of sadness hearing her mother’s words. How could she not know what life was like at home?
Five nephews, one niece, and her sister-in-law was said to be pregnant again. With so many children, there were naturally many expenses, especially since the two oldest nephews would soon be of marriageable age in a couple of years. They needed to save up for betrothal gifts and weddings, and the family’s money was stretched thin, every penny counted.
And the things she brought back each time weren’t much—just a few pounds of meat and some pastries, worth maybe two or three yuan altogether. She only visited once every month or two, and with just these things, how could it be considered supporting her parents’ home?
Since ancient times, most in-laws would be unhappy if a married daughter sent things back to her parents. Her mother said all this because she was afraid Yingying would have a hard time at her in-laws’ because of it. Yingying knew her mother said it out of love for her.
He Yingying didn’t want her mother to feel burdened, so she said, “Mom, why worry about this? Your daughter has a salary too—almost forty yuan a month including subsidies. How much are the things I bring home worth?
And I’ve told you before, my in-laws are really good people. Every time Heping and I are about to visit, they actually remind me to bring more things back. It’s not easy to visit home, so we only bring more during holidays. Other times, it’s just a few pounds of meat and some pastries. Those things really don’t mean much to my in-laws—they even think I bring too little!
So just put your mind at ease, Mom. I know what I’m doing.”
He Yingying wasn’t lying. Sometimes when she visited her parents, the things she brought back were even packed by her mother-in-law, Qiao Zhufang. If she hadn’t stopped her, the things her mother-in-law wanted her to bring wouldn’t even fit on the bicycle.
Her mother-in-law often said to Heping, “We’ve married their daughter, whom they raised well for over a decade, and now she’s even moved to the city with us, unlike those in the village who can visit home often. When she finally gets to go back, it’s only right to bring more things to show her filial piety.
Besides, your wife’s salary is her own hard-earned money. There’s no reason it should all be spent on our family and none on her parents.
Your wife stays with us every day, helping you take care of me and your dad. When you go to your in-laws, you should also help your wife do her part—show more filial respect to your father-in-law and mother-in-law, bring more things, and help out with chores when you’re there.”
After several years of marriage, He Yingying knew exactly what kind of person her mother-in-law was. Her words were absolutely sincere.
Seeing her mother still looking doubtful, He Yingying said bluntly, “How about I go ask my mother-in-law to tell you herself? Then you’ll believe it.”
Mother He quickly stopped her daughter, chiding, “What kind of idea is that! I believe you, I believe you.”
To divert her mother’s attention, He Yingying picked up her daughter and said, “Mom, talk more with Jiajia. She can already speak now and can say shorter sentences quite fluently.
The last time you saw Jiajia was half a year ago. If you don’t talk more now, by the next time you meet, Jiajia might forget what her grandma looks like!”
Qiao Jiajia was no ordinary child. She had naturally taken in every word of the conversation between her mother and grandmother.
She loved her mother dearly, and from what she had just heard, her grandmother clearly doted on her mother, He Yingying, as well. Thinking of this, she grew even fonder of her grandmother and, to show her affection, reached out her little arms, asking to be held.
“Mom, look, Jiajia really likes you, her grandma!” He Yingying said with a smile.
“Come here, let Grandma hold you!” Mother He was quite fond of her beautiful granddaughter and immediately picked her up, adding, “Jiajia looks so much like you did when you were little, though she’s a bit fairer and plumper than you were back then.”
He Yingying stroked her daughter’s hair as she replied, “Yes, my mother-in-law even says she inherited all the best features from both me and Heping—every part of her is just perfect.
Mom, look at Jiajia’s hair—it’s so dark and shiny. She must have gotten that from Heping. When I was little, my hair was thin and yellowish. Even though it darkened later, it was never as thick as hers. Jiajia’s different—she’s only one year old, but her hair is already long enough to tie into two little braids.”
Listening to this, Qiao Jiajia felt delighted. Having thick, lush hair was truly a joy!
Baldness is a pain for everyone, no matter the era! In her previous life, she had worked in finance, achieving an annual salary of a million right after graduation—and that was definitely not due to luck.
To avoid losing everything in the schemes of financial tycoons, pulling all-nighters was practically routine. She spent her days monitoring stocks, and during times of high stress, her hair would fall out in clumps when she combed it. Fortunately, her hair had been thick even back then, or she might have had to consider hair transplants.
In this life, she had many loved ones. Their family’s life wasn’t wealthy, but it was comfortable enough—not rich, but certainly not poor. She had already experienced a life of luxury in her previous life, though it had been exhausting. To protect her hair this time, she decided to take things easier. Stocks could just be a side hustle!
However, it was only the 1950s now, and stock trading wasn’t allowed domestically at the time. Perhaps after the reform and opening-up, she could head to Hong Kong and make a big score. She was quite familiar with the stock markets of the 1970s and 1980s, having studied countless cases. There was no way she’d lose money. With the profits, she could invest further and then simply relax.
But trading stocks required capital. Qiao Jiajia looked at her tiny, three-heads-tall body, rested her chin in her hands, and sighed.
Author’s Note:
Check out my upcoming novel:
“Marrying a Rough Man in the Seventies”
Mei Yu was beautiful and had been pursued and pampered since childhood. Though her family was poor, she developed a proud and aloof personality.
Hearing that being a celebrity could make money, she happily planned to become one right after high school, only to find herself transported to the late 1970s.
Not long after arriving, Mei Yu, like her original self, became the village’s notorious cautionary tale—greedy, lazy, spoiled rotten by her parents, the epitome of a difficult younger sister.
Mei Yu: The original host was so clever. Getting scolded a few times was no big deal—how comfortable it was not having to work! She wasn’t foolish at all; she simply couldn’t be bothered to change.
The villagers whispered among themselves: someone so unreliable, with such a seductive appearance, clearly wasn’t cut out for a proper life. Which family would be willing to marry their son to such a demanding figure? She was surely destined to remain unmarried.
Yet the most capable man in the village, ignoring all the hardworking young women available, took a fancy to this lazy, pleasure-seeking Mei Yu.
Recalling the memories of the original host, Mei Yu noted that the man had a stern, rugged appearance, obeyed the original host in every way, never fought back or talked back when scolded, and most importantly—he was strong, earning full work points every day and had money to spare.
To continue living a life of indulgence and idleness, where everything was handed to her, Mei Yu agreed without a second thought and married him.
Only, Mei Yu had no idea she had transmigrated into a book.
The female lead was her second sister-in-law, and she herself was the female lead’s troublesome, petty sister-in-law.