Chen Lishu’s sharp eyes caught a slight tremor in Old Mrs. Chen’s body.
Wu Chunmei said urgently, "What are you talking about, child? Your father's strength isn't less than yours! Don't waste any more time, let your father go to the team to get the cart."
"Yes, Lishu, don't delay the treatment." An aunt beside them also chimed in, "Yes, Lishu, don't delay the treatment."
"Mom, Auntie, you don't know, I'm just saying this because I'm anxious to save Grandma. Xingdong learned first aid in the army. I heard him say that if a person is unconscious and not woken up in time, they might never wake up again due to prolonged unconsciousness," Chen Lishu said, fabricating the story.
When they heard that she heard it from Gu Xingdong, they believed more than half of it. He was an officer and could even kill wild boars; he was very capable.
"Lishu, what can you do?"
Chen Lishu’s gaze fell on Old Mrs. Chen. "Some people have such thick skin that pinching doesn't work. You have to use a needle."
Old Mrs. Chen’s body visibly twitched at the word "needle."
The others still hadn't reacted, and they asked curiously, "Use a needle? Does it really work?"
Chen Lishu smiled, "Why don't we try and see if it works?"
Wu Chunmei didn't suspect anything and hurriedly stood up, "We have a needle for sewing soles at home. I'll go get it."
"You poisonous woman, you believe everything that little brat says! I think you two mother and daughter are in cahoots to kill me!"
Upon hearing the word "needle," Old Mrs. Chen could still remember the pain when Chen Lishu had used a needle on her. She scrambled up from the ground, pointed at Wu Chunmei and Chen Lishu, and started to curse.
Chen Mandun was stunned, "Mom, you, you're alright?"
Everyone else also realized what was happening, some indignant, some disdainful. "What kind of a scene is this!"
"How old are you to joke around by pretending to faint? You were just trying to scare Mandun because he wasn't listening, making everyone worry for nothing. Isn't this senile?"
Hearing the accusations from everyone, Old Mrs. Chen’s gaze fell on Chen Lishu’s half-smile, knowing she had been tricked. She felt both ashamed and hateful.
"All of you have too much free time and nothing better to do. Who asked you to mind my business!" Old Mrs. Chen glared at them, didn't even bother to brush off the dust on her, and fled guiltily.
Chen Lishu looked at Zhang Chunhua and the others in the yard. The former reacted first, chasing after Old Mrs. Chen while shouting, "Mom, why are you still pretending to be unconscious?"
"What do you three, mother and daughters, mean? Haven't you had enough beatings and want more?"
Zhang Chunyan and her two sons flinched, and quickly ran after Zhang Chunhua.
When everyone had dispersed, Chen Lishu looked at Chen Mandun, who was still standing with his head down, and called out worriedly, "Dad."
Chen Mandun looked up and forced a smile, "I'm fine."
Chen Lishu knew that he might not be able to accept what happened today immediately. Seeing that Wu Chunmei was also more stable and knowing that nothing else would happen, she said, "Dad, Mom, this is the wages your dad earned before. If there's nothing else, you should go inside. I'm leaving now." After telling them, Chen Lishu turned and left.
Back at the Gu family's home, seeing that it was almost time, Chen Lishu fed the pigs and chickens first, then started washing her hands to cook.
When Li Xiulan and the others returned and had dinner, Chen Lishu paid Gu Shoufu and the others their wages, as well as the money for the clothes Li Xiulan and the others made.
After settling the accounts, Chen Lishu also took the money for the other people to Zhang Changhe.
"Uncle, I really have to thank you for your help this time. My friend said there's nothing much to thank you with, but he heard you smoke and specifically asked me to give you two packs of Da Qian Men to try." The cigarettes were prepared by Chen Lishu herself, she just used someone else’s name to present them.
"Oh my, it's 'two thin mustaches'! This is a rare item."
Zhang Changhe’s eyes lit up when he saw the Da Qian Men cigarettes. He could only get his hands on this brand occasionally when he went to the township for meetings.
Chen Lishu chatted with Zhang Changhe for a few more words before getting up to leave.
The next morning, Chen Lishu rode her bike back to the town with some finished clothes.
Soon, Nan Haitao’s one hundred pieces of clothing were delivered smoothly, and the gauze fabric ordered from Jiang Weiguo was also almost used up.
Including the money earned from the purchasing station, Chen Lishu had already saved over six thousand yuan.
For a period afterward, Chen Lishu significantly reduced her workload and stayed at home to study peacefully. She occasionally exchanged letters with Gu Xingdong, and her days were quite fulfilling.
Time flew by, and it was Gu Xingping’s graduation exam day. Chen Lishu woke up early to make noodles for Gu Xingping and boiled two eggs.
"Wishing you a good result," Chen Lishu smiled and pushed the bowl in front of her.
"Third sister-in-law, what if I still can't get in?" Gu Xingping, due to nervousness, had no appetite at all.
As the college entrance examination had not yet been resumed, the current middle school entrance examination system was somewhat different from later on. One first had to participate in the school’s graduation examination. Only if the school deemed one’s grades excellent would they recommend you to apply for a secondary vocational school. Each school could only admit one or two students each year. The rest, only a small portion, could enter high school.
"We've reviewed everything we should have. You just need to try your best, and you'll be fine," Chen Lishu smiled. "Don't worry, whether you get in or not, Third sister-in-law will take you to Beijing and Shanghai."
"Really?"
Seeing her nod, Gu Xingping’s face finally showed a hint of a smile. "Third sister-in-law, you must keep your word."
After breakfast, Gu Xingping went for her exam. After seeing her off, Chen Lishu also felt a little uneasy and couldn't calm down. She simply stopped reading and took out the leftover scraps of fabric from making clothes to start making cloth shoes for Gu Xingdong.
When Gu Xingping returned in the afternoon, her face was smiling. Chen Lishu knew she had probably done well and finally felt a little relieved.
However, the next day, after the exam, Gu Xingping practically cried her way home.
"What's wrong? Did you not do well, or did someone bully you?" Chen Lishu nervously put down what she was holding and quickly went to meet her.
Gu Xingping took her hand, her voice choked with sobs, "Third sister-in-law, it's over. I really can't get in this time."
"The results aren't out yet, how can you be sure you can't get in? Didn't you do well yesterday?"
"There's a classmate in our class who is very good at studying, always in the top three in the grade. I just compared answers with her and found out I got several questions wrong..." Gu Xingping became more and more upset as she spoke, and threw herself into Chen Lishu’s arms to cry.
Chen Lishu didn't know what to say, so she could only pat her back and comfort her, "Let's think on the bright side. Your grades have been good for the past six months. After all, the final answer hasn't been announced yet. What if she's wrong?"
Although she said that, Gu Xingping remained dejected for the next few days.
Seeing her like this, Chen Lishu also felt bad. So, she began to quietly pack her things, preparing to take Gu Xingping out to relax once the results were out.