Ling Chengyan stopped and looked back at the three young men.
Her expression was calm, without much criticism or disdain, but just looking over was enough to make the three of them feel ashamed, instinctively bowing their heads.
"You don't need to follow," Ling Chengyan's gentle voice came through. The three raised their heads sharply, wanting to plead a bit, but Ling Chengyan continued, "You're familiar with the county town, so make sure to inquire well. Once you've caught fish or something, you'll naturally be useful."
The three people's eyes lit up, and they said, "Sister, we'll listen to you."
Ling Chengyan nodded, turned, and left together with Wang Lianfa.
After walking a bit, Wang Lianfa asked, "We're asking for such a big favor..."
Wang Lianfa didn't finish his sentence, as Ling Chengyan already shook her head, "These guys owe me a favor, it's nothing."
Although Ling Chengyan had married into the Wang Family for several years, the first and second branches didn't get along, and they didn't interact much on regular days, especially with the young uncles and sister-in-laws, who avoided suspicion. Wang Lianfa didn't really know much about this fourth sister-in-law, other than that she seemed gentle, diligent, and polite.
Having interacted more these past few days, he realized that this person's personality appeared calm, yet was definitely not gentle. She had her temper and ideas and could handle matters, not inferior to any man.
Hearing Ling Chengyan say this, Wang Lianfa had no doubts and didn't pursue the matter further, continuing to drive the cart home.
Halfway through, they met Wang Lianqi and learned that the fish had been sold. He didn't even ask about the price and felt relieved, repeatedly saying good.
Upon learning the price was also good, Wang Lianqi became even more pleased, "The county's aquatic company offers such high prices. It's worth traveling a few extra miles to sell fish in the county again."
Wang Lianfa's smile froze, and he said softly, "It's not the county's aquatic."
"Huh?" Wang Lianqi was drinking water and nearly choked.
Wang Lianfa glanced at Ling Chengyan behind him, saw her hugging her knees as if asleep, and instinctively lowered his voice, "It was Liansheng's wife who found someone to help sell them, supposedly some cafeteria..."
Wang Lianqi instinctively wanted to ask how she knew them but remembered that Liansheng had also worked in the county before. He held his words back, simply nodding.
The three returned to the village by midnight, with Xiao Xing and Shi Tou already asleep.
Ling Chengyan didn't disturb the two children, cleaned up, and went to sleep herself.
Due to the setback from selling fish the previous day, coupled with the beginning of spring plowing, asking for leave from the production team was difficult, and fishing was temporarily paused.
However, after two days of fishing and splitting the earnings fifty-fifty between the families, Ling Chengyan still ended up with more than a hundred yuan, so she roughly had five hundred yuan now.
The next day was Ling Chengyan's first day joining the production team for work. Xiao Xing and Shi Tou were entrusted to the eldest aunt for care.
At the start of spring, it was time to transport fertilizer to the fields, and then spread piles of farmyard manure evenly across the land. The women were responsible for spreading the fertilizer.
This task required relatively less physical strength, but the wind was chaotic, and there was an odor. Ling Chengyan, just starting, had some difficulty adjusting.
Fortunately, she had personally washed horses and cleaned stables before, so she had no mental barrier to the fertilizer. She wrapped her head and face with a square scarf, especially covering mouth and nose, which helped to block the odor and maintain cleanliness.
After a few days of adequate food and drink, this body had become much stronger, and she found handling the large iron shovel to scoop dung was not strenuous. Ling Chengyan followed along with her two sister-in-laws, pacing herself and even having some minor ease.
By the end of the day, what Ling Chengyan couldn't tolerate was the dirt all over her face and hair, even though she had wrapped her head. Everywhere felt like it had the smell of dung.
She boiled some water, washed her face and hair, and wiped herself clean before changing into clean clothes.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Xing had already cooked the meal. Seeing her come out, she quickly said with a smile, "Mother, are you going to eat now?"
Looking at the little girl who had a smudge of black dirt on her chin, Ling Chengyan reached over and wiped the dirt off her face. "Go wash your hands and face, I'll handle the meal."
"Okay." Xiao Xing answered cheerfully, but didn't move.
Ling Chengyan chuckled, picked up the plate of pickles, and took it into the house for her.
Opening the pot, inside was a bowl of steamed fish, a bowl of egg steamed with pickles, and four or five golden corn pancakes. Through the pot rack, you could see corn porridge below.
Most families cooked in a single pot; many put steaming dishes or buns on top while simmering soups or porridge below, saving effort and firewood.
As Ling Chengyan prepared the meal, Xiao Xing finished washing her hands and face, ran out, helped bring dry food, picked up chopsticks, and ran several trips.
Ling Chengyan glanced at the dining shed outside; after the weather got warmer, it would be best to move the dining shed outside to cook meals and maybe even build a canopy to eat under, cooling off in the evenings.
After dinner, Ling Chengyan coaxed Shi Tou to sleep, opting not to do needlework, but instead picked up a book and sat at the kang table with Xiao Xing.
During her two trips to the county town, she bought the pencils and notebooks currently used, as well as ink, paper, and a set of inkstones. She also bought a dictionary, learning from Xiao Juan, finding the index for characters quite useful. For unfamiliar simplified characters, they consulted the dictionary.
They hadn't read for long when the elder sister-in-law, Zhao Erni, arrived with her eldest daughter, Hongling.
"Hey, mother and daughter are learning characters?" Zhao Erni said in surprise.
Ling Chengyan was teaching Xiao Xing to write with a brush pen. Upon hearing the voice, she put down the pen, welcomed the mother and daughter to sit, and asked Xiao Xing to fetch sweets and biscuits for Hongling to enjoy.
"I don't eat those," Hongling said shyly.
Zhao Erni said, "She's old enough to not eat children's snacks..." Even though she said that, seeing Ling Chengyan warmly treating her daughter, she felt quite pleased.
Ling Chengyan laughed, "No matter how old, she's still a child. If you don't cherish her while she's at home, once she marries, you'll wish you could reach her, but you won't be able to."
At this, Hongling blushed and bowed her head, while Zhao Erni sighed deeply, "Isn't that right? At home, you often find fault with her. But thinking about the day she'll be married off, it's like your heart's being plucked out... Ah, that's why no one wants to have daughters, sigh!"
Ling Chengyan poured two cups of tea, handing one to the elder sister-in-law and asking Xiao Xing to take the other to Hongling.
"Don't worry too much, sister-in-law. Have some water," Ling Chengyan suggested.
This topic, unchanging through thousands of years, wasn't one Ling Chengyan was adept at comforting others on, so she simply changed the subject.
After accepting the water, the elder sister-in-law indeed moved on to the purpose of her visit that day, "Hongling's been learning to use the sewing machine, and she made a little apron for Xiao Xing. I had nothing to do, so I came along for a chat."
Ling Chengyan smiled, taking the apron Hongling offered, holding it up to gauge for Xiao Xing, then admiring the little pocket in front with several praises.
The elder sister-in-law glowed from the compliments, though modestly said, "I've just started learning, the stitching isn't smooth yet, but you don't mind."
Ling Chengyan smiled and folded the apron, handing it to Xiao Xing to put away herself, adding, "It's better than what I can do."
The elder sister-in-law laughed, "Don't let me stop you two from writing. Go ahead; we're not outsiders."
Ling Chengyan didn't stand on ceremony, inviting both Xiao Xing and Hongling to learn characters together, writing Hongling's name for her, and then Hong Zhi's name for her to take home to her sister. Hongling, fascinated, gently blew the ink, whispering, "This ink smells nice too."