Today was lucky; a passing carriage gave her a ride for part of the journey, so she arrived home earlier than usual, around three o'clock.
"This, why did you even buy meat?" Li Xiulan was surprised to see what she was holding. "And why so much candy?"
"I was thinking it's almost New Year's, and there are many children in both families. The adults don't need much, but the children should have something to celebrate the season and be happy."
"Third sister-in-law, you actually bought meat and candy? Are we eating meat tonight? Linlin and I have never eaten candy in our lives. We really have to thank his third aunt this time."
Liu Yuemin, hearing the commotion, came out of the house. Upon seeing the items in Chen Lishu's hands, her eyes lit up, and she reached into the bag, unceremoniously grabbing a large handful and stuffing it into her pocket.
The two jin of candy weren't much to begin with. If each family could only get one jin, with her grabbing that much, the bag was instantly reduced by nearly a third.
Chen Lishu's intention when she first entered the house was to divide the items equally between her maternal and paternal families. Seeing her second daughter-in-law's actions, Li Xiulan opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't scold her.
After all, she was in her twenties. It wasn't worth it to reprimand her so harshly over a bit of food.
However, she still couldn't stand it and said with a scowl, "Hurry up and cook when it's time!"
Liu Yuemin was reluctant. "Mom, there are three daughters-in-law, why should it be me?"
"It's because I'm your mom, and if I tell you to do it, you do it. Stop with the nonsense! If you don't want to cook, I won't cook it for you later."
Seeing her mother-in-law get angry, Liu Yuemin, though unwilling, pouted and went.
"You've also had a long day, go back to the room and rest. I'll call you when it's time to eat."
"Thank you, Mom."
Chen Lishu said, then went back to her room to divide the items she brought from her parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year. The rest she handed over to Li Xiulan.
Li Xiulan had intended to put the candy in the炕柜 (kang cabinet), but when she turned around and saw the little ones standing by the炕 (kang) looking expectantly, she hesitated for a moment. She took out a handful of candy and gave each child two pieces. The little ones immediately ran off happily.
"Mom, eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, little sister, this is the money for you helping to make the hair ornaments. I've always kept track of the quantities in my notebook."
After dinner, Chen Lishu took out a grid notebook that she had borrowed from her younger sister, Gu Xingping.
It detailed her income and expenses, as well as the number of hair ornaments each of them made this time.
"You child, I was just helping, why do you need to give me money?" Li Xiulan waved her hands repeatedly. "Your father and I can still work, we shouldn't be taking your money."
"Yes, third sister-in-law, I was just helping too." Gu Xingping, receiving her mother's look, spoke up despite her disappointment.
"Mom, little sister, this is where you two are wrong. If third sister-in-law wants to give you money, just accept it. What are you being polite for? After deducting our share, she's earned the lion's share."
Liu Yuemin felt she was making a lot of sense and turned to Gu Xingmin. "Husband, am I right?"
Gu Xingmin immediately nodded in agreement. "Wife, you're right. If it's free, take it."
"What business do you have interfering in women's matters? If you don't want to be here, get back to your room!"
"If it's free, take it." Was that even human language?
Gu Shoufu couldn't stand it. He couldn't scold his daughter-in-law, so he directly cursed his son.
"Mom, a total of fifty-six were made. Rounding up to sixty, it should be one dollar and eighty cents, so let's make it two dollars." Chen Lishu said, placing two dollars in front of Li Xiulan.
"Eldest sister-in-law made the most, a total of one hundred and ninety-seven. Rounding up to two hundred, that's six dollars."
Zhang Qin looked at the six dollars in front of her, her palms sweating with excitement. She had earned six dollars in just a few days. A work point in the production team was only a few cents, and this was much easier work than that.
Next were Liu Yuemin and Gu Xingping, both rounded up to three dollars each.
Gu Xingping clutched the three dollars in her hand, extremely happy. She felt so light she could almost fly.
She had only done needlework for a few days and earned three dollars. Normally, the pocket money her mother gave her wouldn't even add up to three dollars in a year.
"I've already spoken to them today. We'll rush out another five hundred hair ornaments before the fifteenth of the New Year. If we wait until after the production team starts working, everyone might not have time."
"Third sister-in-law, we can still earn more?"
Gu Xingping heard that she could earn a few more dollars before the fifteenth. Then, when school started, she might be able to buy the dress she had long coveted. Chen Lishu smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Zhang Qin was also very happy. "Third sister-in-law, I'll come to your room later to get some more fabric and elastic to make them."
"Third sister-in-law, I'll go too." Gu Xingping, not to be outdone, immediately chimed in.
Liu Yuemin looked at their reactions with a hint of disdain. They were getting the big share, and these two were only getting a little. What was there to be so happy about.
However, as she thought this, seeing the others get up, she immediately followed. "Since there's nothing else to do, why don't I go and get some too?"
...
Soon it was New Year's Eve. The continuously overcast sky finally cleared. The Gu family woke up early. They washed themselves clean and found clean, tidy clothes for the children.
After breakfast, the children, with two pieces of candy and a handful of sunflower seeds in their pockets, ran out to play wildly. The remaining adults began preparing a sumptuous dinner.
Li Xiulan took out the frozen meat, frozen tofu, and frozen fish to thaw, and also the pickled cabbage from the water vat. Chen Lishu and her two sisters-in-law peeled potatoes, washed cabbage, and soaked black fungus. They also had to knead dough and chop filling to prepare for making dumplings.
After a period of busyness, by late afternoon, they had prepared six dishes. Fried Grass Carp with Bean Paste, Scrambled Eggs with Black Fungus, Cabbage and Potato with Frozen Tofu, Pickled Cabbage Stewed with Meat, Braised Pig Head Meat, and a plate of peanuts.
Among them, the Fried Grass Carp with Bean Paste was made by Chen Lishu. The fish was caught by the villagers earlier when they went to the river to break the ice and cast nets. The Gu family received a grass carp. They had Li Xiulan's homemade bean paste, so she used it.
To their surprise, everyone who ate it loved it.
"Third sister-in-law, this fish is so fragrant. When they go ice fishing again, I'll go with them, and you can make it like this again," said Gu Xingye.
The Gu family, especially Gu Xingye, had never liked fish much. They found too many bones, making it not very satisfying to eat. Furthermore, with limited seasonings, if not cooked well, it would have a fishy smell. Therefore, the Gu family generally did not cook fish.
But it was different for New Year's. Having fish and meat symbolized abundance year after year. So, every family had to make a fish.
"Okay, third brother. As long as you can catch a big fish, I'll make boiled fish and sour fish soup for everyone."
"Third sister-in-law, what is boiled fish? Is it boiled in water? Can it be delicious? And how can you stew fish with pickled cabbage in sour fish soup?" Gu Xingping asked in confusion.
The others also looked over curiously. Having lived for so many years, they had never eaten the two types of fish she mentioned.