Chapter 11
For several days, there had been no new orders from the embroidery workshop, and Wang Chunhua didn't want Li Mingwei to do any heavy work. With idle time on her hands, Li Mingwei focused on helping Dong Lei with his studies.
Dong Lei was just starting to learn from books and was still a bit confused. Fortunately, he was obedient and willing to learn whatever he was taught. After a few days, his handwriting had improved significantly.
At this moment, Yun Sister from the next door had already taught Li Mingwei how to make insoles. Winter was approaching, so Li Mingwei spent her days preparing her winter attire.
With needle and thread in hand, Li Mingwei continuously worked on the insoles, occasionally stealing a glance at the bored Wang Chunhua and smiling.
"Chunhua, if you're bored, you can go out for a walk. You don't have to keep me company. I'll look after Xiao Yan for you," Li Mingwei suggested.
Wang Chunhua yawned and waved her hand dismissively, "There's nothing much to do. I don't feel like going out."
She glanced at the door and couldn't help but feel a bit worried, "Normally, your eldest brother should have come back by now. Why haven't we received any news from him?"
Ever since he left on the day Li Mingwei arrived, Dong Shan hadn't returned for nearly ten days. Hearing Wang Chunhua's words, Li Mingwei also grew concerned, "Has he never been away for this long before?"
"No," Wang Chunhua paused for a moment, then added, "But it's not much longer this year. Maybe he's just busy. With his skills, he shouldn't encounter any major troubles."
"Big sister, big sister!"
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of knocking came from the front yard. Wang Chunhua stood up excitedly and hurried towards the front, saying, "It sounds like my brother."
Li Mingwei listened attentively and heard the voice of an unfamiliar man. However, since Wang Chunhua referred to him as her brother, she put down the insoles and went to welcome them.
Wang Dazhuang looked at the opened gate and immediately broke into a big smile, "Little sister!"
Wang Chunhua was overjoyed, "Brother! Sister-in-law!"
Wang Dazhuang saw his sister and wife embracing affectionately and turned his head to push the cart into the yard. Then he noticed Li Mingwei, who had just come out of the house.
"Who is this?"
Wang Chunhua hesitated for a moment, then pulled Li Mingwei over and said with a smile, "This is our auntie's daughter. Brother, you haven't met her before."
"Auntie? Which auntie?"
"The one who lived next door to our paternal uncle's house when we were young and married a businessman," Wang Chunhua explained.
This wasn't a baseless rumor to Wang Chunhua. After thinking for a moment, Wang Dazhuang recalled the incident and widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Our auntie can have such a beautiful daughter?"
Wang Chunhua...
She gave her brother a firm pat, "What are you saying? Don't you know that daughters resemble their fathers?"
Mrs. Wang sensed that something was amiss but didn't inquire further in the presence of others. She simply nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, people say that this son takes after his mother, but the daughter takes after her father. That's why she's so good-looking."
With both his younger sister and wife saying so, Wang Dazhuang believed it. He looked at Li Mingwei with a smile, "Auntie left many years ago without a trace. How did you find your way back?"
Wang Chunhua didn't want to discuss this in front of others, so she instructed Li Mingwei, "Go and make some tea for my brother and sister-in-law."
Wang Chunhua's brother-in-law, Wang Dazhuang, turned to her and said, "Let's push the cart inside. You've traveled a long way, and we can chat over tea later."
Only then did Wang Dazhuang turn around and push the large cart into the courtyard.
Seeing the cart full of things, the people around couldn't help but touch and inquire about them.
"Chunhua, what good things have your relatives brought for you from your maiden family this time?"
Wang Dazhuang was not stingy. He lifted the bamboo curtain that provided shade and rain cover to show them. There were two large burlap bags and some vegetables, most of which were long-lasting.
He handed her a radish and said, "It's nothing much, just two bags of grain and some vegetables. They don't have much space, so I stored them in the cellar for the winter."
"Wow, Chunhua, your relatives from your maiden family are so generous. When will my brothers ever bring me something?"
"So much, how generous."
They took a radish from Wang's hand. Only those who spoke well received one. Wang Chunhua smiled and kept herself busy, not engaging in conversation, but her hands were never idle.
Having been married for so many years, if her brother didn't bring anything, these women wouldn't have gathered like this. They approached, just for the sake of those few things, but Wang Chunhua couldn't be bothered with them.
Wang's sister-in-law smiled and chatted with them for a while, but they didn't linger after receiving their benefits. They each went home.
Once they were gone, Wang's sister-in-law whispered, "On the way here, I told your brother that these women would gather around as soon as we pushed the cart to your doorstep."
Wang Chunhua shrugged, "It's always them."
Wang Dazhuang also laughed, "The people in this town are not as genuine as the people in our village. They took the things, but did they bully you?"
"No, they wouldn't dare!"
"That's good then. It's just a few vegetables, not worth much. If they take them, they shouldn't cause you any trouble."
Wang's sister-in-law nodded in agreement, "You've married far away, and we can't take care of you on a daily basis. You still need to maintain good relationships with your neighbors, unlike before, when you offended everyone with a few words."
Even before Wang Chunhua left her home, she was impulsive and had a hot temper. Wang's mother-in-law and father-in-law were most worried about her offending people outside.
In the Wang household, she was their only daughter. Originally, they didn't want to marry her so far away, but she insisted on marrying Dong Shan after seeing him at the market.
"I know, I know. I'm not a newlywed. It's been so many years. I have a pretty good idea of what's going on," Wang Chunhua sighed and responded. She was already the mother of two children and still had to endure lectures from her sister-in-law. Sigh.
Li Mingwei stifled a laugh, feeling warm-hearted. The Wang family was just like her own. Their daughters were all married off, but they still worried just the same.
She poured them water and offered it to them, saying, "Brother, sister-in-law, have some water first. Rest a bit before we do anything else."
"Okay, okay."
Wang Dazhuang took the water, drank it all in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and asked, "We were just talking about you. How did you find your way back? And where's your mother?"
Wang Chunhua cleared her throat, closed the courtyard gate tightly, and then told her brother and sister-in-law about Li Mingwei's background.
Mrs. Wang appeared uneasy as she scrutinized Li Mingwei and said, "Can you handle it like this?"
"Why not? Since Auntie left and never returned, who knows what's going on," Li Mingwei replied.
"No, that's not what I mean. I..."
Mrs. Wang had many things to say, but she couldn't say them in front of Li Mingwei. Looking at the perplexed face of the young girl, Mrs. Wang sighed, not knowing where to begin.
Li Mingwei understood to some extent. She stood up and voluntarily excused herself, saying, "Sister Chunhua, Brother and Sister-in-law have arrived. Should I go buy some meat for lunch?"
Wang Chunhua nodded, gave her some money, and watched her leave.
"Sister-in-law, what exactly do you mean?" asked Mrs. Wang, gathering her courage.
Mrs. Wang finally spoke up, cautioning, "Aren't you afraid she might have done something wrong and escaped?"
Wang Chunhua was taken aback. "No way!" she exclaimed.