Reborn in the 70s: The Fiery Daughter-in-law CH4
Chapter 4: Hard to Believe This is Sheng Anning
Sheng Anning was still sitting in front of the small dining table, holding a bowl of hot water. When she saw the envelope suddenly appearing in front of her, she was momentarily stunned. She thought about reaching out to take it but then remembered the original owner's persona and coldly snorted, continuing to lower her head to drink water, intending to ignore Zhou Shixun.
Zhou Shixun sat down opposite Sheng Anning, placed the envelope on the table, and pushed it towards her, saying, "Here are some food coupons and some money. I was too hasty earlier, I'm sorry."
Sheng Anning was somewhat surprised. It was said that in this era, especially in places like the Northwest, patriarchy was very severe.
The fact that Zhou Shixun was willing to apologize was rare. She kept a straight face and spoke indifferently, "I just can't stand to see children suffer. If it were an adult, who cares whether they live or die."
She wanted to proudly say, take back the money and food coupons, I don't want them.
But then she thought about how the original owner only left behind a few coins and ten kilograms of province-wide food coupons. The words she was about to say were swallowed back down. She wanted to establish herself and live well in this era; she needed both money and food coupons!
Seeing that Sheng Anning did not refuse, Zhou Shixun thanked her, then silently started to clear the dishes from the table, taking them to wash.
It wasn't until Zhou Shixun went to work and left that Sheng Anning picked up the envelope, pouring out the food coupons and money inside. There were twenty-five yuan and fifty kilograms of food coupons, and a thin booklet.
Sheng Anning examined it and realized the booklet seemed to be Zhou Shixun's food ration book, which could be used at designated stores to get wheat flour and cooking oil, although supplies were limited each month.
She was somewhat excited to see that there were still twenty-five kilograms of wheat flour not yet claimed for the month. If she could bring the flour home, could she eat wheat buns?
Sheng Anning carefully examined these food coupons, which were very unfamiliar to her, and the old currency, then carefully stored them away, thinking that once she had saved enough money, she would divorce Zhou Shixun and leave this place.
Although using Zhou Shixun felt somewhat despicable, she rationalized that she would give him half of the money she earned. After all, binding two people who had no feelings for each other for life was also holding Zhou Shixun back.
Sheng Anning found an excuse for her actions, then, without any burden in her heart, stood up to go back to her room to start sorting through the original owner's belongings.
The original owner's family was well-off and seemed not to have suffered much. She didn’t love studying but was obsessed with love, even leaving behind a diary that recorded her love for a boy, written in childish handwriting like that of a primary school student.
The last page read: Cheng Gang, wait for me, you are the one I want to spend my life with.
After reading a few pages and feeling somewhat headache, Sheng Anning stuffed the diary into a box, simply tidied up the room, and noted that the only good point of the original owner might have been her love for cleanliness and beauty.
After tidying up the room, Sheng Anning put on a red cotton coat, ready to go to the grain station to collect wheat flour and to familiarize herself with the surroundings.
She wanted to see if there was any way to make a living and, if possible, Sheng Anning still hoped to go to school to do what she liked.
Wearing a white long scarf and stepping out, she saw several women chatting by the roadside not far away. As soon as they saw Sheng Anning come out, they immediately stopped talking and looked over.
Sheng Anning knew that these people, having nothing better to do, would definitely gossip about her, and she did not intend to greet them, as changing too much would easily arouse suspicion.
She pulled the scarf over her nose and mouth and walked past the group of women with an expressionless face.
As soon as Sheng Anning walked away, the women immediately gathered to gossip, "I heard that it was Sheng Anning who saved Shanzi at noon?"
"Yes, I saw it from my window."
"She has a kind heart to save someone? Wasn't she always looking down on everyone before? Is she planning to cause trouble with Chief Zhou again?"
"Chief Zhou shouldn't have married this woman. Marrying Doctor Xiao would have been better than her. Look how well Doctor Xiao and Chief Zhou match."
"That’s for sure. I heard from my husband that Chief Zhou had a girlfriend before. This time, he married Sheng Anning to repay some kind of favor."
"I heard too. The two were from the same village, and their relationship was very good. That girl used to send Chief Zhou shoes and sweaters every year."
As Sheng Anning walked back after remembering she needed a bag for the flour, she overheard this and couldn’t help but retort, "So, Zhou Shixun is basically Chen Shimei?" (TL: Chen Shimei has become synonymous with betrayal, unfaithfulness, and ingratitude towards one's roots and loved ones in Chinese culture.)
The women were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice Sheng Anning had come back.
Suddenly, a voice emerged, startling everyone. They turned around to see Sheng Anning standing behind them with a smile, immediately feeling awkward.
Sheng Anning took a deep look at them and left again after going home to get a flour bag.
The gossiping capability of these women truly opened her eyes. She thought to herself that these women would become the backbone of vital information at the village entrance or the neighborhood gate in the future.
The family compound wasn't too far from the town, requiring about a half-hour walk.
Looking at the fields still covered in unthawed snow and the desolate hills in the distance, Sheng Anning felt the desolation seep into her heart as she sighed and walked towards the town.
The town was busier than Sheng Anning had expected. The afternoon sun was warm, and there were many people on the streets, including those pushing carts selling goods.
After looking around, Sheng Anning noticed the town was small, with only a state-owned restaurant and some noodle and pancake stalls on the street side, which weren't doing much business. The owners were dozing off in front of their stalls.
There were no snack shops, only carts selling sunflower seeds, sugar cubes, and snacks. The colors of the snacks made it unclear how long they had been there.
Next to the post office, there were buses to the city and the county town. The bus to the county town ran once a day, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon, while the bus to the city ran every three days.
After observing everything, Sheng Anning felt even colder inside, wondering how she could possibly change her current life situation in such an environment.
Feeling dejected, she went to the grain station to get flour, fearing she couldn't carry 25 kilograms on her own, so she only took 10 kilograms.
As she left the grain station with 10 kilograms of flour, she thought about finding a way to visit the county town.
Not paying attention, she was bumped on the shoulder. Sheng Anning frowned, walked a few steps, felt something was wrong, and quickly checked her pocket.
Her grain coupon and five yuan were gone!
Sheng Anning immediately became angry. She was already so poor, and someone dared to steal her money. She carried the flour bag and chased after the person who had bumped into her.
She remembered a young man wearing a gray hat and a dark blue jacket had bumped into her.
The thief, feeling guilty when he noticed someone chasing him, started to run.
Sheng Anning wasn't sure at first, but now, seeing his panicked escape, she was certain he was the thief.
Thinking of the significant amount of five yuan, she found extra speed and strength in her steps.
"Captain, isn't that sister-in-law?" Zhou Shixun and Ge Dazhuang had come to the post office to pick up items for their unit. Just as they left the post office, they saw a red figure running past them.
Without needing a reminder from his companion, he recognized her as Sheng Anning.
Yet, he could hardly believe that the woman running like the wind with a flour bag was indeed Sheng Anning.
Zhou Shixun sat down opposite Sheng Anning, placed the envelope on the table, and pushed it towards her, saying, "Here are some food coupons and some money. I was too hasty earlier, I'm sorry."
Sheng Anning was somewhat surprised. It was said that in this era, especially in places like the Northwest, patriarchy was very severe.
The fact that Zhou Shixun was willing to apologize was rare. She kept a straight face and spoke indifferently, "I just can't stand to see children suffer. If it were an adult, who cares whether they live or die."
She wanted to proudly say, take back the money and food coupons, I don't want them.
But then she thought about how the original owner only left behind a few coins and ten kilograms of province-wide food coupons. The words she was about to say were swallowed back down. She wanted to establish herself and live well in this era; she needed both money and food coupons!
Seeing that Sheng Anning did not refuse, Zhou Shixun thanked her, then silently started to clear the dishes from the table, taking them to wash.
It wasn't until Zhou Shixun went to work and left that Sheng Anning picked up the envelope, pouring out the food coupons and money inside. There were twenty-five yuan and fifty kilograms of food coupons, and a thin booklet.
Sheng Anning examined it and realized the booklet seemed to be Zhou Shixun's food ration book, which could be used at designated stores to get wheat flour and cooking oil, although supplies were limited each month.
She was somewhat excited to see that there were still twenty-five kilograms of wheat flour not yet claimed for the month. If she could bring the flour home, could she eat wheat buns?
Sheng Anning carefully examined these food coupons, which were very unfamiliar to her, and the old currency, then carefully stored them away, thinking that once she had saved enough money, she would divorce Zhou Shixun and leave this place.
Although using Zhou Shixun felt somewhat despicable, she rationalized that she would give him half of the money she earned. After all, binding two people who had no feelings for each other for life was also holding Zhou Shixun back.
Sheng Anning found an excuse for her actions, then, without any burden in her heart, stood up to go back to her room to start sorting through the original owner's belongings.
The original owner's family was well-off and seemed not to have suffered much. She didn’t love studying but was obsessed with love, even leaving behind a diary that recorded her love for a boy, written in childish handwriting like that of a primary school student.
The last page read: Cheng Gang, wait for me, you are the one I want to spend my life with.
After reading a few pages and feeling somewhat headache, Sheng Anning stuffed the diary into a box, simply tidied up the room, and noted that the only good point of the original owner might have been her love for cleanliness and beauty.
After tidying up the room, Sheng Anning put on a red cotton coat, ready to go to the grain station to collect wheat flour and to familiarize herself with the surroundings.
She wanted to see if there was any way to make a living and, if possible, Sheng Anning still hoped to go to school to do what she liked.
Wearing a white long scarf and stepping out, she saw several women chatting by the roadside not far away. As soon as they saw Sheng Anning come out, they immediately stopped talking and looked over.
Sheng Anning knew that these people, having nothing better to do, would definitely gossip about her, and she did not intend to greet them, as changing too much would easily arouse suspicion.
She pulled the scarf over her nose and mouth and walked past the group of women with an expressionless face.
As soon as Sheng Anning walked away, the women immediately gathered to gossip, "I heard that it was Sheng Anning who saved Shanzi at noon?"
"Yes, I saw it from my window."
"She has a kind heart to save someone? Wasn't she always looking down on everyone before? Is she planning to cause trouble with Chief Zhou again?"
"Chief Zhou shouldn't have married this woman. Marrying Doctor Xiao would have been better than her. Look how well Doctor Xiao and Chief Zhou match."
"That’s for sure. I heard from my husband that Chief Zhou had a girlfriend before. This time, he married Sheng Anning to repay some kind of favor."
"I heard too. The two were from the same village, and their relationship was very good. That girl used to send Chief Zhou shoes and sweaters every year."
As Sheng Anning walked back after remembering she needed a bag for the flour, she overheard this and couldn’t help but retort, "So, Zhou Shixun is basically Chen Shimei?" (TL: Chen Shimei has become synonymous with betrayal, unfaithfulness, and ingratitude towards one's roots and loved ones in Chinese culture.)
The women were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice Sheng Anning had come back.
Suddenly, a voice emerged, startling everyone. They turned around to see Sheng Anning standing behind them with a smile, immediately feeling awkward.
Sheng Anning took a deep look at them and left again after going home to get a flour bag.
The gossiping capability of these women truly opened her eyes. She thought to herself that these women would become the backbone of vital information at the village entrance or the neighborhood gate in the future.
The family compound wasn't too far from the town, requiring about a half-hour walk.
Looking at the fields still covered in unthawed snow and the desolate hills in the distance, Sheng Anning felt the desolation seep into her heart as she sighed and walked towards the town.
The town was busier than Sheng Anning had expected. The afternoon sun was warm, and there were many people on the streets, including those pushing carts selling goods.
After looking around, Sheng Anning noticed the town was small, with only a state-owned restaurant and some noodle and pancake stalls on the street side, which weren't doing much business. The owners were dozing off in front of their stalls.
There were no snack shops, only carts selling sunflower seeds, sugar cubes, and snacks. The colors of the snacks made it unclear how long they had been there.
Next to the post office, there were buses to the city and the county town. The bus to the county town ran once a day, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon, while the bus to the city ran every three days.
After observing everything, Sheng Anning felt even colder inside, wondering how she could possibly change her current life situation in such an environment.
Feeling dejected, she went to the grain station to get flour, fearing she couldn't carry 25 kilograms on her own, so she only took 10 kilograms.
As she left the grain station with 10 kilograms of flour, she thought about finding a way to visit the county town.
Not paying attention, she was bumped on the shoulder. Sheng Anning frowned, walked a few steps, felt something was wrong, and quickly checked her pocket.
Her grain coupon and five yuan were gone!
Sheng Anning immediately became angry. She was already so poor, and someone dared to steal her money. She carried the flour bag and chased after the person who had bumped into her.
She remembered a young man wearing a gray hat and a dark blue jacket had bumped into her.
The thief, feeling guilty when he noticed someone chasing him, started to run.
Sheng Anning wasn't sure at first, but now, seeing his panicked escape, she was certain he was the thief.
Thinking of the significant amount of five yuan, she found extra speed and strength in her steps.
"Captain, isn't that sister-in-law?" Zhou Shixun and Ge Dazhuang had come to the post office to pick up items for their unit. Just as they left the post office, they saw a red figure running past them.
Without needing a reminder from his companion, he recognized her as Sheng Anning.
Yet, he could hardly believe that the woman running like the wind with a flour bag was indeed Sheng Anning.
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