Chapter 27 - 10: Jealous My Mom Has Money to Spend?

Chapter 27: Chapter 10: Jealous My Mom Has Money to Spend?

"There’s no need to be so formal." Wang Chunhua tried to push the items back to Lin Zhao, but Lin Zhao pressed her hand down.

"This is a thank-you gift. Please accept it, Auntie. You’ve looked after Da Zai and the others so much, this is really nothing." Lin Zhao disliked the customary back-and-forth, her stunning face set in a serious expression.

When she smiled, her entire presence seemed sweet. But once her expression turned cold, she was like a white plum blossom on a winter branch, exuding a chill that kept others at a distance.

Wang Chunhua looked dumbfounded. Before she could say another word, she only saw the back of Lin Zhao striding quickly away.

"Da Zai’s mother—"

Hearing her voice, the figure only walked faster.

Wang Chunhua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’What a strange way Chenghuai’s wife has of doing things.’

’You wouldn’t find another person like her in the entire brigade.’

"Grandma, I want some candy," the Wang Family’s young grandson whined, tugging on the hem of her clothes.

Wang Chunhua swatted his hand away. "Gently, gently! You’re going to rip my clothes. You little rascal, I’ll spank you if you tear them."

The bratty kid immediately let go. When his grandma threatened to spank him, she meant it.

"Grandma, candy," the little boy pleaded pitifully.

Wang Chunhua was reluctant. ’Candy is such a rare treat. It should be saved for the New Year.’

"Shoo, shoo. Why do you need candy for no reason? Go on, get out of here."

Taking advantage of his young age, the little boy clung to her leg and howled, "Grandma, I want candy!"

The other children stood frozen, their eyes glued to the candy, burning with anticipation.

Pestered beyond endurance, Wang Chunhua pried out a single piece of candy and gave it to her oldest grandson. "Dissolve this in water so you can all share the drink."

With that, afraid of being worn down any further, she hurried into the house to hide the candy.

News that Lin Zhao had brought a gift to the Wang Family’s door quickly spread throughout the village.

A gaggle of gossiping aunties gathered once more, their tongues wagging as they traded remarks.

"I heard Chenghuai’s wife took something over to the Wang Family. Anyone know what it was?" the brigade’s biggest gossip, a woman who loved nothing more than to stir up trouble, asked in a low voice.

"How would anyone know? Wang Chunhua hasn’t been out to flaunt it, and nobody dares go ask Da Zai’s mother directly," the second-biggest gossip chimed in.

Just then, Changsheng’s mother snorted, her face a mask of contempt, and offered her take: "Everyone knows she’s a cheapskate. She won’t even make a single new outfit for her own kids. What kind of good gift could she possibly give the Wang Family? A few rotten sweet potatoes?"

Yuanbao’s mother looked at her in surprise. "You haven’t heard?"

"Heard what?" Changsheng’s mother asked, looking puzzled.

"Lin Zhao bought meat buns for Da Zai and Er Zai, and she made them dumplings yesterday. Oh, and Tie Chui ate at the Gu Family’s house, too," said Yuanbao’s mother.

Changsheng’s mother rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with jealousy. "Who knows what act she’s putting on. She’ll probably be back to her old self in a couple of days. A leopard can’t change its spots. I refuse to believe someone so selfish can change for the better."

Yuanbao’s mother was about to say more when she saw Da Zai and Er Zai approaching with the twins.

The two older boys weren’t running and jumping around like little terrors as usual. Instead, they were walking at a slow, leisurely pace. It was oddly civilized.

Yuanbao’s mother immediately spotted the new shoes on Da Zai and Er Zai. She shot to her feet in shock. "Da Zai, Er Zai, did your mother buy you new shoes?"

Da Zai gave a bashful smile, but Er Zai puffed out his chest and declared loudly, "She did! Mom says they’re Warrior shoes!"

The crowd of onlookers subtly glanced toward Changsheng’s mother, and just as they’d hoped, saw her face twist into a colorful mask of emotions.

Their eyes glinting with amusement at the drama, the women all got up and crowded around Da Zai and Er Zai to get a better look at their shoes.

"Store-bought shoes really are different. They look so smart!" Yuanbao’s mother praised with a smile. "Da Zai, Er Zai, these shoes must have cost a few yuan, huh?"

Da Zai was shy and timid, and being surrounded by people made his little ears burn red with embarrassment.

Er Zai lifted his right leg, tilting his foot from side to side to give everyone a 360-degree view of his new shoe. "Nice, aren’t they?" he said happily. "My mom didn’t say how much they cost. She’s so good to us."

Yuanbao’s mother watched Er Zai’s energetic display and laughed. "Yes, she is. Your mother is very good to you."

’Buying two pairs of shoes that cost several yuan each... how could that not be considered good?’

Changsheng’s mother muttered sourly, "She really has no idea how to run a household. Buying shoes for her kids... Must have too much money and nowhere to spend it. What a spendthrift."

The other women, who pinched every penny so hard they wished they could split it in two, nodded in agreement.

’It really is wasteful.’

But some of them were more clear-headed.

"The Gu Family’s third son gets a subsidy every month, and we’ve never seen Lin Zhao splurge on anything these past few years. She must have saved up a lot of money. So what if she buys her children a pair of shoes? If I had the money, I’d buy them for my kids too," Yuanbao’s mother retorted.

She was envious, but not resentful.

A woman who was friendly with Yuanbao’s mother added, "That’s right. If you have the money in your pocket, who wouldn’t want to buy things?"

Whether you’re willing to spend it is one thing; whether you have it to spend is another matter entirely.