ushernet Chapter 87: 87 Going Shopping
Chapter 87: 87 Going Shopping
Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Going Shopping
“Eat up and then change,” Xu Ying said, watching her mother with a sense of urgency that was even greater than her own. She found it quite endearing. Was this really about taking her out shopping, or was it more about showing off a bit?
Xu Ying finished her last bite of steamed bun, took a sip of watery rice porridge, belched contentedly, and then turned and went back to her room.
Opening her wardrobe revealed a closet full of dresses hanging neatly in place.
Xu Ying eventually chose a light blue long-sleeved dress with lace trim, slipped on some stockings, and put on a pair of little leather shoes.
She looked in the mirror at the pretty girl reflected back at her and smiled with satisfaction. Xu Ying’s greatest pride was her face, which had inherited all of the best features from both her father and her mother.
“Wow, my daughter looks so beautiful,” Mrs. Xu said as she watched her daughter head out, her eyes dumbfounded with pride.
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Shitou and Hu Zi were equally amazed as they stared at Xu Ying with their mouths agape. Shortly after, the little guy shouted and ran over, “Little aunt, you look so pretty, I’m gonna marry a wife as beautiful as you when I grow big.”
Hu Zi didn’t understand what pretty meant, but somehow his little aunt just made him feel happy. He followed the lead of his big brother with his robust head and shouted naively, “Little aunt, pretty, pretty, Hu Zi wants pretty, too.”
The Xu family was obsessed with appearances, and upon hearing her grandson’s ambitious words, Mrs. Xu laughed and said, “When you grow up, don’t forget what you said. If you dare marry an ugly duckling, I’ll thrash you both.”
Shitou promptly shook his head; he certainly didn’t want to marry an ugly duckling that would annoy him.
“Mom, shall I ride the bike and take you for a spin in the county town?” Xu Ying tentatively asked, not fooled for a moment into thinking her mother wasn’t itching to visit where she worked.
Mrs. Xu’s eyes sparkled with joy when she heard this, “Yes, I haven’t seen your Sister Qiu Ye for a long time. It’s a perfect chance to go see her.”
“Little aunt, we’d like to go too,” Shitou said, looking pitifully at Xu Ying.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t skilled enough to take more than two passengers. If Shitou were to go, Hu Zi would insist on joining too.
Eventually, under Mrs. Xu’s unequivocal gaze, Shitou obediently stayed at home with his little brother.
Sitting on the back seat of the bike, Mrs. Xu rode with her back straight, a look of pride on her face as they moved along the little paths in the village.
Every now and then, they would pass a familiar face, to whom Mrs. Xu cheerfully said, “Have you eaten? My daughter has the day off today; she insisted on taking me for a spin in the county town.”
“I have grandsons already, two of them,” Mrs. Xu said, lifting her head in disdain.
Sun Dcao stamped her foot in anger, “My son will also be marrying a wife soon, don’t be smug, I’ll have grandsons by next year.”
“Heh,” Mrs. Xu turned to her daughter, “Daughter, let’s go to the county to see your Sister Qiu Ye, and stop by your workplace for a look.”
“Okay, Mom. At the restaurant, I’ll make you some braised pork. It’s really delicious!” Xu Ying spoke sensibly.
Sun Dcao was even more infuriated.
A bystander laughed heartily, enjoying the drama, “Da Cao, I’ve told you you’re no match for Guiying, but you just have to go looking for trouble.
You’d better go check on your precious son; we’ve heard he’s off helping Chen Zhiqing with her work again.”
When Sun Dcao heard this, she felt a lump of frustration stuck in her chest.
Not doing the chores at home and running off to work for others, it was outright treacherous.
“Mom, don’t hang around Aunt Da Cao too much, she’s just jealous of you,” Xu Ying advised, her mother was getting on in years and shouldn’t be getting angry all the time.
Mrs. Xu waved her hand in dismissal, “When has she ever bested me? Each time, I leave her half dead with rage.”
“Yes, yes, yes, my mom is the strongest!”
Mrs. Xu walked away, head held high, full of pride and defiance.
Just as the two of them left the village entrance, a figure emerged from beside the big tree, watching them leave, eyes seething with venom.
“Yanran, if you ever feel uncomfortable, just tell me. I’m a man, I can take the hardships. Next time, I’ll do the work for you; don’t just tough it out,” Xu Xiangdong said, looking at her with eager care.
Chen Yanran’s disdain flashed momentarily in her eyes, but soon she spoke in a delicate voice, “Xiangdong, that won’t do. The work in the fields is too exhausting, and I know you want to help me.
But I can’t just watch you suffer so much on my behalf.” As she spoke, her eyes reddened, giving Xu Xiangdong a pitiful, dependent look.
This only unsettled Xu Xiangdong more, sparking a protective desire in him, “It’s alright, Yanran. As long as you’re not tired, I don’t mind suffering a bit.”