Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying were both relieved.
Neither of them wanted to cause any unrest at home over a small matter.
Although Wang Xianghua wasn't the type to nitpick, she was often careless.
But when it came to things like this, it was best to avoid them if possible!
The next morning, Grandma Su indeed prepared gifts.
The gifts for the two daughters-in-law were identical, even the baskets holding the gifts were similar.
"Each of you will get eight steamed white flour buns, ten eggs, and one jin of brown sugar."
Grandma Su handed the two baskets to her daughters-in-law separately. At this moment, Grandma Su showed no reluctance, but rather a look of pride and triumph.
Such gifts were considered quite generous in the countryside.
Although there was no meat, there were white flour buns, eggs, and brown sugar. Weren't all of these good things?
The two sisters-in-law had not expected their mother-in-law to prepare such generous gifts.
To visit their maiden homes without a festival or holiday, bringing such substantial gifts was more than enough!
"Mom, aren't these too much? These white flour buns are for the children at home," Qi Liangying's fingers gripping the basket turned a little pale.
The heavy basket pressed on her hand, as if pressing on her heart.
Grandma Su smiled and said, "You two have been married for over ten years, and you've never had a glorious return to your maiden homes. The family's conditions were not good before, and it's our old Su family's fault."
She had always known that her daughters-in-law had suffered grievances over the years, but the family's conditions were just like that. Even if she wanted to give her daughters-in-law face, she couldn't.
Now that conditions had improved, Grandma Su also hoped that her daughters-in-law could be glorious when they returned home.
It would also show their maiden families that they were living well now.
Qi Liangying's eyes reddened, and she turned to leave with the basket, not letting Grandma Su see the tears that had slipped from the corner of her eyes.
Qi Liangying's maiden home was in the Hongqi Brigade of the same commune. It was about an hour's walk from the Hongxin Brigade.
She planned to make a quick visit and then return to help with chores.
Liang Xiu watched Qi Liangying leave, and then prepared to go out herself.
Before leaving, she suddenly saw her own little daughter, who was as delicate as a porcelain doll.
"Tian'er, Mom is taking you to see Grandma and Grandpa. Do you want to go?" Liang Xiu beckoned to her daughter and asked.
Su Xiaotian was at that moment silently recalling the content she had read earlier to strengthen her memory. Unexpectedly, her mother proposed taking her to her maternal grandparents' house, and she instinctively wanted to refuse.
She didn't like going to her maternal grandparents' house.
Her maternal grandparents treated her poorly. In their eyes, only their nephews and cousins from her uncle's family mattered.
Su Xiaotian was the only daughter in the old Su family and had been doted on by the entire family since childhood, which naturally made her a little spoiled.
But at her maternal grandparents' house, she had no status at all.
Even when she went to pay respects during the New Year, her maternal grandfather and grandmother wouldn't even look at her, and they wouldn't give her any of the delicious food on the table.
In the eyes of her maternal grandparents, a girl was just a "money-losing item," not even worth an extra bite of food!
But seeing her mother's hopeful gaze, she finally nodded in agreement.
"Mom, I'll go with you!"
Liang Xiu knew that none of her children were willing to go to her maiden home.
In fact, every time she went, seeing the disdainful looks from her parents and siblings, she also felt embarrassed.
Let alone the children at home, who were doted on in the old Su family, how could they tolerate such grievances?
But she felt that her parents looked down on her because her family's life was not good, and they hated that she hadn't achieved more.
It was different now. Her life was better, and her parents would surely be relieved. They should treat her differently than before, right?
Su Xiaotian didn't know about her mother's thoughts, but since she had agreed, she would do her best.
"Mom, wait for me!"
The little girl ran towards her room with her short legs, pitter-patter.
"Tian'er, what are you going to do?" Grandma Su asked, seeing her little granddaughter like this, "Be careful, don't fall!"
"Grandma, I'm going to change into new clothes," Su Xiaotian said, her small figure already inside the room.
Grandma Su quickly followed her in and saw that Su Xiaotian had already taken out the new padded jacket made just two days ago from the chest.
This was made by Grandma Su for her, using red floral cotton fabric specially brought back from the county town, filled with new cotton. It was thick and very beautiful. Especially when worn by the fair-skinned Su Xiaotian, it made her look even more spirited and attractive.
When it was finished, Grandma Su had asked her granddaughter to wear it, but Su Xiaotian said she wanted to wait until the New Year.
"You were reluctant to wear it the other day, why do you want to wear it today?" Grandma Su looked at her little granddaughter with amusement.
Su Xiaotian said coquettishly, "We're visiting relatives today, so we must wear new clothes!"
She didn't explicitly state that her maternal grandparents were not only patriarchal but also snobbish.
For so many years, they looked down on her mother not just because she was a daughter, but also because the old Su family was poor.
Her mother felt she could finally hold her head high today, which was why she decided to take her back to her maiden home.
She naturally had to do things that would bring face to her mother.
Seeing her daughter go out wearing a brand-new padded jacket, Liang Xiu was momentarily stunned.
"We're just going to Grandma's house, why are you wearing new clothes?" Liang Xiu looked at her daughter with amusement.
Su Xiaotian just smiled and didn't say anything.
Liang Xiu's maiden home was far from the old Su family, in the neighboring commune.
It would take nearly two hours to walk there.
Su Xiaowu heard that his mother was taking his little sister to their maternal grandparents' house. Fearing that Xiaotian would be wronged, Su Xiaowu quickly said, "Mom, take me too!"
Liang Xiu hadn't expected Su Xiaowu to volunteer, but since her son had spoken, she agreed.
Then Xiaoba also asked to go along. Liang Xiu was really taken aback. What was going on today?
They usually didn't want to go with her, so why were they all asking to go today?
She didn't know that her two sons were willing to go to protect their little sister.
If it weren't inconvenient to go to Liang Xiu's maiden home, the other male children of the Su family would have wished they could go too.
"Third daughter-in-law, go borrow a bicycle from the team leader and take the children!"
Grandma Su couldn't bear to see her little granddaughter walking in the cold weather, so she suggested.
Liang Xiu thought for a moment, looked at her little daughter wearing the new padded jacket, and also thought that walking would be too far, so she agreed.
"Mom, I'll go borrow the bike from the team leader," Liang Xiu nodded and went out.
There were only two families in the brigade who owned bicycles, one of which was the team leader's family.
The team leader had a good relationship with the old Su family, so when the old Su family really needed to borrow a bicycle, they usually went to the team leader's family.
Soon, Liang Xiu borrowed a bicycle and returned home.
The "Er Ba Da Gang" bicycle was powerful for carrying people. Su Xiaoba sat sideways on the front crossbar, while Su Xiaowu sat on the back seat holding Su Xiaotian.
As for the basket prepared by Grandma Su, it was hung on the front of the bicycle, swaying back and forth.
"Tian'er, be careful, lift your feet, don't get your feet caught!"
After Liang Xiu's reminder, she forcefully pedaled the bicycle. The bicycle wobbled precariously before finally stabilizing after a short distance.
The current family conditions of the old Su family made buying a bicycle feasible.
However, everyone in the family felt that they should be low-key, so they hadn't purchased a bicycle yet.
At times like this, it was inconvenient, and they had to borrow bicycles from others.
"Grandma, when will our family be able to buy a bicycle?" Xiao Jiu looked enviously at the departing bicycle.
"Before the New Year, our family will also buy a bicycle, and it will be more convenient in the future," Grandma Su murmured.
It wasn't good to always borrow bicycles from others. Since they could afford it, they should buy one first!
"Really, Grandma?" Su Ciliang asked.
The young man's eyes sparkled.
"Really, really, really!" Grandma Su said happily, "You are all grown up now, and having a bicycle will make it easier for you to go out!"
Su Ciliang was only happy that the family was going to buy a bicycle and didn't consider issues like needing a permit for a bicycle.
Anyway, as long as they could ride a bicycle, it was fine.
"Grandma, when our family buys a bicycle, I'll take you to the town," Su Ciliang immediately tried to please his grandmother.
Grandma Su had bound feet and found it inconvenient to walk, so she hadn't been to town for several years. That's why Su Ciliang said this.
"Forget it. With your mischievous nature, I'm afraid you'll drag me into a ditch!" Grandma Su said dismissively.
The other children couldn't help but laugh when they heard Grandma Su's words.
When Chi Yiyuan arrived at the old Su family with the roasted sweet potatoes, he couldn't help but smile upon hearing the laughter from the old Su family.
However, after entering and asking, he learned that Su Xiaotian was not at home today and had gone to her maternal grandparents' house.
Looking at the roasted sweet potato in his hand, Chi Yiyuan felt quite disappointed.
Why couldn't he have come a little earlier? If he had come a little earlier, he could have given the roasted sweet potato to Xiaotian.
"Just right, I want to eat sweet potatoes. This roasted sweet potato is mine!"
Su Ciliang unceremoniously snatched the hot roasted sweet potato from Chi Yiyuan's hand, acting as if he had every right to do so.
"You brat, how can you be like this? It's not easy for Xiao Yuan to roast a sweet potato!" Grandma Su immediately scolded.
Although life in the cowshed was a bit better now, it was still worse than their family!
Grandma Su didn't want her grandson to take advantage of others.
But Su Ciliang didn't care. He peeled the roasted sweet potato, took a bite, and praised it as well-roasted.
He even gave Chi Yiyuan a triumphant smile, his eyes filled with provocation.
He had grown up, and he could see through Chi Yiyuan's little intentions.
That kid had bad intentions and always wanted to snatch his family's little sister!
They only had one little treasure in their family, and they couldn't let someone with such ulterior motives snatch her away.
Hmph, someone always wanted to snatch his little sister!
Chi Yiyuan didn't pay any attention to Su Ciliang's childish behavior.
He just returned to the cowshed with regret.
The young man actually didn't know what his feelings were, why he always wanted to see Xiaotian?
At first, he thought he was treating Xiaotian as his deceased sister, but now, he felt it was more than just a sister!
Meanwhile, Su Xiaotian and her mother, along with the others, were chatting happily as they walked.
Riding a bicycle was much faster than walking. The mother and children chatted and laughed, and soon covered half the distance.
Su Xiaotian had walked these roads more than once before.
But she had only walked the remaining roads a few times, and they were still somewhat unfamiliar.
This made her a little more interested.
Although it was winter, Su Xiaotian was still interested in conversing with the trees along the way.
This conversation led to an astonishing discovery. Su Xiaotian unexpectedly received news.
In a tree hollow under a large locust tree in the forest ahead, there was a hidden treasure.
Su Xiaotian was eager to get this treasure.
But now was not the time. After all, they still had to go to her maternal grandparents' house, and it would be too inconvenient to carry such a thing!
Su Xiaotian's eyes darted around as she thought about how to find a suitable reason to take this great treasure back on their return journey.
As Su Xiaotian was thinking, they soon arrived at Liangjiawan.
Liangjiawan was inhabited by people from the Liang family, hence the name.
Liangjiawan was now a production team of the Chaoyang Brigade, which was why the name had not been changed.
The land in Liangjiawan was better, and the harvest was good throughout the year, so the people in Liangjiawan were all in relatively good condition, at least better than the people in Hongxin Brigade.
Because of this slight improvement, the people of Liangjiawan had a bit more pride!
"Oh, isn't this Xiu'er, the fourth daughter-in-law?"
Two women standing by the roadside chatting saw Liang Xiu, and one of them, a woman in her forties, immediately greeted her.
"Hello, Auntie!" Liang Xiu quickly stopped the bicycle and propped it up with one leg while asking.
"It's not a festival or holiday, why are you bringing the children back to your maiden home?"
Another young woman glanced up and down at Liang Xiu, speaking with a nasal tone.
This person was none other than the younger sister of Liang Xiu's sister-in-law, who had also married into Liangjiawan.
She also looked down on Liang Xiu's family for their poor living conditions, so she had often made sarcastic remarks, both openly and implicitly.
If one didn't know better, they would think that Liang Xiu had brought her children back to eat their family's rice!
"We just had some free time, so we brought the children to see Mom and Dad!" Liang Xiu said, suppressing her temper.
She knew she couldn't argue with the woman in front of her, otherwise, this woman would tell her sister-in-law, and she wouldn't have peace when she got to her maiden home.
Her sister-in-law had a temper and wouldn't leave any face for anyone. It was a rare visit, and she didn't want to cause any trouble.
"I think you're out of food and came back to eat at your maiden home! What a pity for my elder sister, who works hard all year round and gives the good things to outsiders!" the young woman said sarcastically.
The middle-aged woman felt that what she said was inappropriate, so she tugged at her clothes and gestured for her to stop talking.
But the young woman was not one to be easily persuaded. Not only did she not listen to the advice, but she also said even more unpleasant things.
Liang Xiu's face was filled with embarrassment. Even though the three children were not old, they were old enough to know right from wrong, and their faces were all flushed with shame.
Seeing Liang Xiu's embarrassed expression, the young woman became even more smug.
"Auntie, you don't know, my sister is a hardworking and honest person, and she's not good at talking. If it were any other family, they wouldn't allow a married daughter to bring her family back to eat."
The middle-aged woman's expression became quite interesting. Everyone in Liangjiawan knew that the two Li sisters were sharp-tongued and sharp-hearted. Yet now, she had the nerve to say she was close to her sister in personality!
If the two sisters had good personalities, then Liangjiawan would have no one with bad personalities!
It was just that Liang Sidao and his wife were both spineless. Otherwise, such daughters-in-law would have been kicked out long ago.
Married daughters returning home were not even offered hot water, let alone a meal. It was fortunate that Liang Xiu had a good temper and didn't mind.
Su Xiaotian jumped down from Su Xiaowu's arms and hopped twice on the spot, stretching her numb legs and feet.
In this weather, sitting on a bicycle all the way was freezing to death!
Her movement did, however, draw the young woman's attention to her.
Seeing the little girl wearing a bright red new padded jacket with floral patterns, the young woman's mouth was agape for a moment.
Wasn't the old Su family so poor that they were desperate for money? How could they afford a new padded jacket? And for a girl, a "money-losing item"?
Had the people of the old Su family gone mad!
"Mom, it's too cold. Let me check the eggs in the basket to see if they're frozen!"
Su Xiaotian felt her legs had regained some sensation, so she immediately stepped forward to the front of the bicycle and, with a swish, pulled back the coarse cloth covering the basket.
With this action, the contents of the basket were all revealed.
Several white, fluffy steamed white flour buns caught the middle-aged woman's eyes, almost sticking to them.
What married daughter would return to her maiden home with so many large white flour buns?
But just as she focused all her attention on the white flour buns, she noticed that there were also eggs in the basket.
Most importantly, there was a paper packet, which looked like brown sugar.
The reason she was sure it was brown sugar was that a little bit of brown sugar was still stuck to the paper packet.
"Xiuer, why are you bringing such heavy gifts without a festival or holiday?" the middle-aged woman said with great envy.
How could the people of the old Su family bear to let their daughter-in-law bring such heavy gifts back to her maiden home?
They were truly too generous. If it were her, she wouldn't be so generous.
At this point, she also wondered if the people of the old Su family had gone mad!
"Xiuer, your family's life is clearly getting better! Someone said before that your old Su family's life was getting better and better, and I didn't believe it. Now that I see it, it's true!"
The middle-aged woman said everything she wanted to say without regard for anything else.
Instead, the young woman was speechless. Just now she had said they were bringing their family to eat at their maiden home, and now she had been proven wrong.
They had brought so many good things! Those white flour buns were made of pure white flour, with no corn flour or bean flour added.
And there were eggs, several of them, such precious things!
"Grandma, it's not that. Mom went to work in the city and finally came back for a visit, so Grandma asked Mom to come see Grandma and Grandpa!" Su Xiaotian said articulately, emphasizing that Liang Xiu had gone to work in the city.
Liangjiawan had also heard some rumors about Liang Xiu going to work in the city, but no one believed it.
Even if the old Su family had the ability to find a job in the city, they would surely give it to the men and children who were old enough first. How could they give it to a daughter-in-law?
But hearing Su Xiaotian say this now, the middle-aged woman's gaze immediately fixed on Liang Xiu, her fiery gaze almost melting Liang Xiu.
"Auntie, I'm going to see my parents first!" Liang Xiu, feeling embarrassed by the stare, made an excuse and turned to push the bicycle away.