Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Over time, people got bored and stopped paying special attention to her. Gradually, they started assigning her more important tasks.

Once Lin Qin's situation stabilized, Xu Jian's middle school entrance exam results were released.

That day, Lin Qin had just gotten home from get off work when she saw Lin Yi rushing up to her, excitedly slapping his thigh and laughing and shouting, "Ah Jian is amazing! He barely made it past the cutoff score for No. 1 High School, exceeding it by five points!"

"Really?" Lin Qin rushed into the house, calling Xu Jian down at the top of her lungs, "Are you sure?"

Xu Jian nodded happily, "Auntie, Grandpa asked three times, so it can't be wrong!"

Lin Qin's mouth almost stretched to her ears in a wide grin. "Then we need to call your parents right away and let them be happy too."

"I called them a long time ago. They said they'd come first thing tomorrow morning. I need to find Wenjun and ask him to bring back some expensive seafood so our family can have a proper celebration." Lin Yi ran out happily.

Lin Qin went back to her room to put her bag away, then came down to help with the chores.

Meanwhile, after picking her daughter up from school by bicycle, Lin Ying took the child back to Xujia Village.

As soon as I reached the village entrance, I saw Zhang Guizhi eating sunflower seeds with a group of women.

She frowned instinctively, not intending to pay any attention to Zhang Guizhi.

Zhang Guizhi, however, acted as if nothing had happened and stepped forward to stop Lin Ying. "Oh! Second sister-in-law, didn't you move away? Why are you coming back to the village? Did you hear that your eldest sister-in-law's son, A-Jie, got into the No. 5 Middle School in the city and came back to give him gifts? Didn't you say you had broken off all ties with him a long time ago? Why are you still trying to join in our family's troubles!"

Lin Ying looked at Zhang Guizhi with an expression as if she were an idiot, "A good dog doesn't block the way! What's it to you if I go home!"

Just as Zhang Guizhi was about to retort, an older woman next to her raised her voice and asked Lin Ying, "Your son, A-Jian, also took the high school entrance exam this year. Have the results come out yet?"

Zhang Guizhi curled her lip in disdain. "Third Aunt, Xu Jian and Xu Kang have always been tough and not cut out for studying. Asking this is just hitting a sore spot! Unlike our A-Jie, who went to the city to study for a year and passed the exam! Hehehe."

Zhang Guizhi covered her mouth and laughed, her smug expression making it seem as if Xu Jie were her own son.

Auntie looked embarrassed and apologetically at Lin Ying, "It's okay, we can do other things even if we don't study. It's not like not studying means we're doomed!"

Lin Ying looked at Zhang Guizhi, who was acting like a clown, cleared her throat, nodded with a smile, and said loudly, "Third Aunt is right. I thought so too before. But my Ajian is so promising! He got into the No. 1 High School in the city, the best high school in Anshi!"

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone stared in surprise, and Zhang Guizhi looked incredulous and doubtful.

"You said A-Jian got into the top high school in the city? Is it the best one in the city?" Auntie was very excited and stepped forward to grab Lin Ying's hand tightly.

Lin Ying nodded emphatically, beaming from ear to ear, "That's right, it's that No. 1 Middle School. My dad confirmed it three times before notifying us. I came back to pick up some things, and I'm going to the city to see the kids tomorrow."

Everyone gave a thumbs up and surrounded Lin Ying, praising the child.

Zhang Guizhi was thus pushed aside. Because of what she had just said, she was too ashamed to stay any longer and could only go home dejectedly.

When I arrived at my doorstep, I saw Wang Fengying and Wang Ximei discussing how to hold a celebration for their children's college admission.

"Mom, I think we need to have five tables. My brother and sister-in-law will be at one table, people from your side will also be coming, and we'll have to notify my third brother's wife's side as well. My colleagues and Dashan's colleagues will also be coming, and all the relatives and friends in the village. If we count them all, five tables probably won't be enough."

Wang Ximei nodded solemnly, "If there aren't enough seats, we'll set up two more tables. This is a big celebration for our family, and we must inform everyone."

Zhang Guizhi interjected, "Sister-in-law, this graduation banquet must cost a lot of money!" Wang Fengying immediately looked at Wang Ximei and hesitated before saying, "Mom, what my third sister-in-law said is right. We've spent all our money on buying a house in the city to support A-Jie's studies, and we're short on cash. How about we have fewer guests?"

“What do you mean by ‘less’? This kind of glorious event isn’t something every family gets to experience! We have to make a big deal out of it! Third son’s wife, I’ve already let it go that you’re always so petty, but you can’t mess around with this kind of thing! If A-Jie gets into high school, you’ll be proud as his aunt, won’t you?” Wang Ximei scolded Zhang Guizhi, shutting her up.

Zhang Guizhi looked dejected and scoffed, "Mom, if we're talking about bringing honor to the family, it should be A-Jian. He got into the No. 1 High School in the city! The best high school in our An City!"

"What?" Wang Ximei's smile vanished, and she became extremely agitated. "What nonsense are you spouting? Him? He's not worthy! Are you stupid or out of your mind to believe such nonsense!"

Wang Fengying nodded in agreement, "Yes, Third Sister-in-law! Even if you don't want to spend the money, you don't need to make up such lies! No. 1 High School! Haha, if Xu Jian can get into No. 1 High School, I could be a city leader!"

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law didn't believe it at all, and even made sarcastic remarks about Zhang Guizhi.

Zhang Guizhi was seething with anger. She couldn't take on two people by herself, but that didn't mean she would give up so easily.

Early the next morning.

Lin Ying and her husband took their daughter on the early morning bus to the city.

The couple laughed the whole way, attracting the attention of passersby.

Upon finally arriving at Nanyu, Lin Ying rushed to Xu Jian the moment she saw him, exclaiming, "My good son, you're truly amazing! You've made your mother so proud! Mmm!"

Lin Ying kissed Xu Jian several times, making the young boy shy. He quickly hugged his sister and ran away.

Lin Ying laughed and scolded, "You brat! It's rare for me to express my motherly love, and you just run away!"

Xu Dahai muttered and shook his head, "Who could resist this kind of motherly love!"

Lin Ying shot Xu Dahai a sharp look, and he immediately shut up.

Lin Yi was exasperated to see his eldest daughter and her husband bickering. “You two are really something! Come and help us out. Wenjun and Aqin have invited some friends over tonight. Let’s have a good family celebration.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Xinyi immediately ran over, "Grandpa, I'll help too."

The six-year-old girl was well taken care of. Her chubby face had a pair of bright and lively eyes that made her look cheerful. I don’t know if it was because she was related to Lin Ying by blood or because she was raised by Lin Ying, but she looked about five parts like Lin Ying and also had a bit of Xu Dahai’s shadow.

If we take her out now, people who don't know the situation certainly won't suspect that she's not the couple's biological daughter.

Looking at his little granddaughter, Lin Yi seemed to see Ya Ya from back then, except that six-year-old Ya Ya had a particularly pitiful life, which made him even more heartbreaking and lovable.

"Okay, okay! Xinyi, you can play on the side and sit on the little stool to help Grandpa pick vegetables, okay?" Lin Yi said lovingly.

Xu Xinyi nodded obediently.

Seeing her obedient nature, Lin Yi teased her, "Xinyi, why don't you come to the city to study and stay with your brothers?"

Xu Xinyi shook her head frantically, "No, no, I want to stay with my mom and dad." (End of Chapter)