Chapter 4: Are they good people or bad people
When Chunying turned around and saw her, she let out a dry laugh and said, "It's nothing, just fetching water." However, she felt truly unfortunate in her heart
Chunying quickly reacted and hurried to catch up: "I can handle it."
Mother Lu's affection is naturally a hundred times thicker: "Oh dear, my little darling, how come you've lost so much weight after just a few days? It must be that your aunt didn't feed you well! Hmph, I knew that woman would skimp on the money! Don't worry, my sweetheart, Mother will soon feed you well." As she spoke, she also opened her collar, ready to nurse.
The girl from the Cui family meticulously demonstrated the method of rinsing and washing rice, seemingly treating Chunying as someone who had forgotten everything and understood nothing, repeatedly asking her if there was anything she did not understand
Although there is a hint of makeup scent, the milk fragrance emanating from my mother is truly familiar, as if I had once encountered it in a distant past
Mother Lu, seeing her daughter's expression of doubt, couldn't help but sigh and slowly began to speak
Chunying hurriedly turned around to tidy up the bucket and pulley at the well. Upon entering the kitchen, she discovered that the girl from the Cui family had already started a fire. Turning back to see her, she smiled gently and handed over a bamboo tube, saying, "Sister, could you please blow the fire a bit stronger?"
Chunying was so captivated that her eyes widened, and she hurriedly turned her head away, focusing her thoughts on something else
Although she had seen something similar back in her hometown, she was still young at that time and was sent out of the house by the adults early on. By the time she grew older, the stove in her hometown had been replaced with a gas stove, and she hardly remembered how to use this thing
There is a pile of firewood by the door, and there is a pot as well. She hurriedly turned around to fetch water
Although he is somewhat smaller and darker, his distinct features resemble those of my cousin Xiao Hu at around one year old. However, when I think of the chubby, fair-skinned little tiger from my memories and compare it to the one before me, Chun Ying still feels a twinge of affection in her heart. Of course, it is only a twinge.
Chunying pouted her lips and made a face at Xiao Hu, who was completely unafraid and just giggled. Mama Lu continued to take pictures of her daughter, and Chunying had no choice but to get up awkwardly. She then heard her mother remind her: "Put on that cotton jacket before you go out." She followed the instruction and only then stepped outside
By the way, the girl from the Cui family only comes over when her mother is not around. After saying so much, is it to test me, or is there another intention? ... Why does she feel that the "concern" expressed by the other party later seems to carry another meaning
In a state of urgency, the young lady of the Cui family gracefully stepped out of the door with a basket in hand, and upon seeing this, she blinked and asked, "Sister Chun'er, what are you doing?"
That girl from the Cui family must have told you that she and her mother fell asleep that day and did not hear you fall, right? Hmph, there are no men in their household, and to make a living, they spend all day sewing. When would they have the time to sleep during the day? Don't talk about headaches or anything like that. Ever since that Cui widow's husband died, she has had headaches a few times every month, charming those men into giving her things. How could she really be sick? Even if she were truly ill and asleep, the well where you fell is right in front of her window; she could see it as soon as she looked up. You are not mute; could you not call for help after falling? There is no reason for not being able to hear!
Upon reflection, she gradually began to understand. After her recovery, rumors of her "amnesia" and "dullness" spread widely, and everyone in the vicinity was aware of it, including the Cui family in the same courtyard. The Cui girl had just displayed such surprise that it seemed rather unnatural, and would someone who genuinely wanted to help so clearly suggest that others should be grateful
Looking back at the girl from the Cui family, Chunying felt somewhat confused. Is this girl a good person or a bad person? If she truly harmed herself in order to seize the job, then why is she being so kind to me now?
Little Tiger was originally nursing, but for some unknown reason, before he was full, he turned his head away. Even when Mother Lu wanted to feed him again, he ignored her, merely opening his round, bright eyes and making a "puff puff" sound, blowing out a small white bubble. Upon seeing his sister, he broke into a smile, waved his arms, and lunged towards her.
Chunying certainly understood everything. Feeling somewhat uneasy, she expressed her thanks and hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking: "Sister Cui, my mother said that my original position was designated by higher authorities, and you were able to take it over. Is there a connection? My mother just complained that ever since she gave birth to my younger brother, she hasn't been assigned any duties. If you have a connection, could you possibly help my mother inquire as well?"
The girl from the Cui family did not know what she was thinking, but she chuckled softly: "Sister must have forgotten to bring the water container again." She gently set down the basket and went into the kitchen to fetch a small bucket, placing it in front of Chunying. Chunying felt a bit awkward and said, "Thank you." After saying this, she intended to pour the water into the bucket, but then remembered that she could not let go. How could she pour the water? She had no choice but to hold onto the winch handle with one hand while reaching for the bucket with the other. However, the bucket filled with water was quite heavy, and she found she could not hold it.
She gently opened the floral quilt that wrapped around her son, carefully inspected it, and then tenderly coaxed him awake
As the bucket was about to fall back into the well, the girl from the Cui family hurriedly reached out to grasp the handle and unknowingly activated a mechanism on the winch, causing it to stop. She pulled the water bucket over, poured water into a smaller bucket, and smiled as she carried it into the kitchen
Chunying bit her lip. She did not want to take any position in the mansion, but it seemed that the situation at home was not very good. Her mother appeared to hope that she would have a job. What should she do? She turned her head and glanced around the room, then thought about how, in the bitter cold, only one kang hole was heated, and it was the half she slept on. She also recalled that her mother had to light a dim vegetable oil lamp at night to do needlework for money. She felt somewhat hesitant.
She is truly too careless! Although she is still somewhat confused and lacks a sense of reality, it is indeed quite embarrassing to be deceived by a girl of middle school age! Even if one were to travel through time, one shouldn't lose their wits, right!
If her family in this world is fundamentally the same as the original, then how could her aunt withhold money and not feed her younger brother? She remembers her aunt as a very generous and cheerful woman, who would readily give away a bonus of 3,000 yuan. Could it be that the aunt here is different? She silently reminded herself not to apply the original family situation to this one, and to be cautious in gathering information to avoid revealing her true identity. She had no interest in becoming a monster or being treated as a creature by parents who looked just like her biological ones. She silently reminded herself not to apply the original family situation to this one, and to be cautious in gathering information to avoid revealing her true identity. She had no interest in becoming a monster or being treated as a creature by parents who looked just like her biological ones.
Chunying took the bamboo tube and began to blow into the stove hole, but was nearly overwhelmed by a cloud of black smoke. The girl from the Cui family smiled slightly and patiently taught her the technique. Before long, Chunying had mastered the skill of blowing the fire without being choked by the smoke.
Indeed, it is a small bomb
It is probably just a matter of placing a pot filled with water on the stove, then adding firewood into the stove opening, and lighting it, right? Let's go find some firewood first
Sister, please organize the things on the well first; I will handle this side.
Chunying was racking her brains, while over there, Mother Lu continued to scold: "... Every day claiming her innocence, and saying how much she used to save you... Nonsense! That blanket was clearly sent by your father two months ago! And the coal was given by Manager Liu! What’s wrong with using it? Did it cost her family any money?" In her anger, she unconsciously slapped her hand down, causing her son in her arms to cry out in pain. Only then did she remember she was still holding one, and hurriedly placed him on the kang: "Look, I almost forgot, my dear son, are you hurt?"
Chun Ying felt somewhat sad, as she did not expect that a girl who appeared so gentle on the surface, like Tu Shu, was not a good person. She heard from her parents that she had not sustained a serious injury that day; although she had a cut on her forehead, as long as she took good care of herself, there would not be any major issues. The reason she had been ill for so many days was actually due to excessive blood loss followed by fainting, and then lying in the cold for over half an hour, which led to a cold infection. Over half an hour means more than an hour, and at that time it was in the twelfth month, almost the coldest period of the year. It was indeed fortunate that she did not freeze to death in her own yard.
Mother Lu sneered: "I originally thought it was like this, so I specifically inquired about it. Do you remember Aunt Zhou from the next courtyard? She made you sugar fire cakes when you were young. She is older now and partially blind, but her hearing is still quite good. That day, she was burning a stove in the yard and heard you calling for help. At first, she thought she misheard, but later learned that you were in trouble, and that’s when she mentioned it to me. You said that the old woman from the next courtyard heard it, and the Cui family mother and daughter are not deaf, how could they not hear it? That day, she was burning a stove in the yard and heard you calling for help. At first, she thought she misheard, but later learned that you were in trouble, and that’s when she mentioned it to me. You said that the old woman from the next courtyard heard it, and the Cui family mother and daughter are not deaf, how could they not hear it?"
Mother Lu shot her daughter a sideways glance and said, "Why are you suddenly so clingy?"
I know, but I just can't swallow this anger! Mother Lu gritted her teeth, "Originally, it was just a matter of taking a sick leave and entering the residence later, which is not without precedent. Yet that housekeeper's wife has lost her mind and actually said that your illness seems unlikely to improve significantly. To avoid delaying the task, they decided to let Cui girl take your place! Hmph, your position was hard-earned by your sister, and it was specifically designated by the upper house! What is Cui girl even worth? How dare she take your place? It must be some scheme by those two women!"
Chunying whispered: "I will help with the work..."
Chunying hurriedly supported him, and he just chuckled, extending his arms towards her as if wanting to play. Mother Lu became anxious: "My little ancestor, quickly settle down and eat well; I still need to cook!" Seeing her daughter making faces at her son, she gently patted her: "Go! Don't scare him. You go to the kitchen to boil some water first, then wash the rice."
Upon arriving at the kitchen on the other side, she looked at the ancient stove before her, feeling somewhat at a loss.
Arriving at the well, she circled the one-foot-wide well opening twice, recalling scenes from the historical dramas she had watched. Estimating the principle of drawing water, she picked up the bucket tied with a rope that was resting by the well and tossed it into the well, then began to turn the winch to raise the bucket. Upon inspection, she found that the bucket contained only a little more than half a bucket of water. She thought it would be a hassle to draw water again, but suddenly realized that she had not brought a pot with her, and since the bucket could not be taken away, she could not let go of it. What should she do?
Mother Lu hummed a song while feeding her son. Chunying did not understand the lyrics, but the melody felt quite familiar, as if she had heard it in her childhood. Unable to help herself, her heart softened, and she slowly walked to the edge of the kang, sat down beside her mother, and gently embraced her.
Chunying opened her mouth and whispered, "Perhaps I fainted right after the fall and didn't have time to call for help?" She knew this reasoning was somewhat forced; even if she didn't have time to call for help, she would at least have exclaimed, "Oh dear." Could it be that the gentle kindness of the Cui family girl just now was all a facade?
Chun Ying gazed at the one-year-old baby with a somewhat complicated expression, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over her
Chunying remained silent, merely twisting her body and acting coy. Mother Lu couldn't help but laugh: "Look at you! You're already so grown up, yet you still act like a child. Your younger brother is more well-behaved than you!" After a pause, she sighed: "In order to focus on taking care of you, I sent your brother back to his in-laws, but I never expected him to suffer so much! If it weren't for my pregnancy with him, I would not have stopped working, and our family wouldn't be in such dire straits, nor would I be looked down upon by my sister-in-law. I had hoped that with you entering the household, our situation would improve, but now that that Cui girl has taken over the work, you have to see a doctor and take medicine, and I don't know what we will do in the future! I originally wanted to wean your brother off milk early, but now I can only feed him for a while longer.