"Your grandmother is so old, how many more years can she live? Back then, the family conditions were not good. Moreover, my stomach was uncooperative and I gave birth to several of you, but never gave the Chen family a grandson. Everyone outside spread rumors that I gave birth to a 'Seven Fairies'..."
As Wu Chunmei spoke, her eyes reddened.
Because of this matter, she always felt she had let the Chen family down, leaving Chen Mantun without a male heir. Therefore, the couple always felt ashamed in front of Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Mancang.
Chen Lishu said helplessly, "Mom, didn't the people from the propaganda department say that it's the same whether you have a boy or a girl? Women can also hold up half the sky."
The tears in Wu Chunmei's eyes slid down silently, "How can it be the same? They say that sons can support you in your old age. You'll all get married sooner or later. What will your father and I do when we get old?"
Chen Lishu replied, "I'll support you and Dad when you get old."
Chen Liyuan looked up, "I won't get married. I'll support Mom and Dad too."
Wu Chunmei dismissed it, "Those are childish words. Which girl doesn't get married? A married daughter is like spilled water. Wherever your father and I go, it won't be proper or justified."
"Mom, have you ever thought about it? No matter how much you and Dad try to please my grandmother and my uncle, has their attitude towards you changed at all? You know in your heart that not only has it not changed, but they've actually become even more unreasonable and demanding, right? Instead of thinking about pleasing others, why not think about how to live your own life better."
Chen Lishu glanced at her younger sisters below. In her past life, the fifth daughter, Chen Liru, had married a man who came to live with them. Moreover, the couple lived well and were very filial.
With this thought, Chen Lishu began to persuade, "Mom, if you and Dad feel uncomfortable living in anyone's house in the future, why not choose a suitable daughter among your sisters and find a son-in-law to marry into the family? If the family's conditions improve, you won't have trouble finding a desirable son-in-law."
Wu Chunmei stopped crying when she heard Chen Lishu's words. She genuinely began to ponder it seriously.
She was forty years old this year and it was unlikely she could have more children. Marrying a son-in-law into the family wasn't a bad idea.
Previously, she had only thought about having her own child, and the couple hadn't considered this matter at all. Now, the more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Seeing that she had taken her words to heart, Chen Lishu didn't linger. As it was getting dark, she got up to leave.
Not long after she left, Chen Mantun came in from outside with his head hanging low.
"What's wrong?"
Wu Chunmei asked with concern. Actually, she knew the reason even without asking; he must have been scolded by Old Mrs. Chen again.
Chen Mantun glanced at the younger children already dozing on the heated brick bed and sighed, "What else could it be? Mother still wants money."
If they didn't give her money, she would keep scolding them, saying all sorts of nasty things. They still had to provide rabbits and pheasants as usual.
Hearing his words, Wu Chunmei felt a pang of self-reproach again. She hadn't given her husband a son, so her mother-in-law was determined to get money to support the elder branch of the family. She always believed that whatever they earned belonged to the eldest grandson of the Chen family.
Chen Mantun took off his shoes and got onto the heated brick bed.
"Lishu was here earlier."
Remembering Chen Lishu's words, Wu Chunmei repeated them.
Chen Mantun lay on the bed, staring at the roof beams, and pondered for a long time after hearing Wu Chunmei's account.
"The secretary of the Yuejin Brigade, not far from us, seems to have three daughters. Their family is well-off, and families with many sons are eager to marry into their family as sons-in-law. How about it? They're already holding their second grandson. Their lives are incredibly prosperous."
Wu Chunmei was tempted. She couldn't help but give him examples by his ear.
Chen Mantun felt that marrying a son-in-law into the family was indeed a good idea. He used to think that with only daughters, life had no future, and they were even looked down upon in the village.
Now, the thought of being able to have a son-in-law brought a spark to his heart.
"You can't attract a golden phoenix without a paulownia tree. Starting tomorrow, let's work harder and finish building the house as soon as possible. I'll talk to Mother again properly."
...
Chen Lishu returned home, sat at the table, took out some stationery, and began to write a letter to Gu Xingdong with utmost seriousness.
Xingdong:
It's been over half a month since we last saw each other, and I miss you dearly. You must be very busy in the army, right? Health is the foundation of revolution. You must take good care of yourself.
Everything is fine at home, please don't worry.
I await your reply.
With deepest regards!
Your wife, Chen Lishu
After finishing the letter, Chen Lishu remembered that Gu Xingdong seemed to quite like the stir-fried pork with mushrooms she made the last time he was back. With the weather warming up, Chen Lishu decided to make some mushroom and meat sauce, which was easy to store, and mail it to Gu Xingdong.
The next morning, Chen Lishu shared her plan with Li Xiulan, who strongly agreed. Zhang Qin also promised to help look for and collect some mushrooms.
After work that day, the three women managed to gather more than half a basket of mushrooms. Chen Lishu then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy two catties of meat.
"I see you coming to buy meat every day. Where does your family get the money?"
Coincidentally, Liu Widow was also at the store to buy things today.
Chen Lishu immediately sneered, "Aunt Liu, you have a lot of nerve."
"Two catties of the good stuff, please."
The saleswoman was the village secretary's daughter, named Zhang Xiaoju. She was the same age as Chen Lishu, and they used to be classmates. Zhang Xiaoju was kind, with a pair of smiling eyes on her round face. She had a good relationship with Chen Lishu.
Zhang Xiaoju handed the weighed meat to Chen Lishu across the counter.
Chen Lishu handed her the one yuan and fifty cents in her hand.
Liu Widow's eyes immediately widened when she saw that Chen Lishu was paying in cash.
Most people didn't have much cash on hand at this time. They usually bought things on credit at the supply and marketing cooperative, only settling their accounts at the end of the year after the production team distributed their earnings.
Some families had fewer laborers and more people eating from the production team. At the end of the year, they might even owe the production team money.
Not only did Chen Lishu buy meat frequently, but she also paid in cash. Liu Widow's small, rat-like eyes immediately began to gleam with malice.
"I see you running to town every day. You must be doing something unspeakable. Otherwise, how do you explain eating meat every day!"
Seeing that more people were coming in to buy things, Liu Widow shouted loudly.
She had clearly only bought meat a few times, but in her mouth, it had become eating meat every day.
"I think I've seen her buy meat a couple of times too." A woman who had come to buy matches and kerosene whispered to another woman who came with her.
"We don't even eat meat twice a year. She's probably bought up all the meat in the supply and marketing cooperative."
Seeing everyone staring at Chen Lishu, Zhang Xiaoju smiled and tried to ease the situation, "What would you婶子s like to buy?"
The two women's attention was indeed diverted.
Only Liu Widow was persistent, "Gu's third son is always away, leaving you, a young and beautiful daughter-in-law. Don't tell me you've hooked up with someone and are using ill-gotten gains to buy meat?"
"Aunt Liu, you're really funny." Chen Lishu was amused by her, "If I'm unclean, do you have concrete proof? Spreading rumors and slandering others indiscriminately, do you want to go to the Public Security Bureau?"