novelraw Chapter 532: The 1950s Cannon-Fodder Tagalong (11)
Chapter 532: The 1950s Cannon-Fodder Tagalong (11)
A brand-new floral blouse, a warm red corduroy jumper dress over it, a delicate little hairpin in her hair, and the new little leather shoes kept clicking a crisp dada on the ground.
Early April, the capital was finally warm.
From the alley entrance, a group of children’s giggles and playing could be heard every so often.
“Eight, seven, nine, ten, ten…”
“Wow, A-Ning is so good, she can kick ten!” From the crowd, a little girl in a white dress with two buns clapped first.
The other kids gradually began to clap too.
An Ning, who had actually kicked nearly twenty in a row, said nothing: “…”
Ah, never mind, a bunch of kids who haven’t even started school yet — don’t expect too much.
Maybe because of An Ning’s “good performance,” after more than half an hour the children had exchanged names and happily agreed to meet at the same place in a few days to play together again.
What to do with An Ning, whose personality was clearly more outgoing in this life?Heh, of course she happily agreed!
As for whether it was childish—what else are five- or six-year-olds going to do?
When the sun finally set and she waved goodbye to her new little friends, An Ning only then bounced along toward home with the pink shuttlecock she had just bought.
It had already been three days since An Ning’s family moved in. Aside from the slightly shy An Yun, An Ning herself had clearly adapted well.
As for the Wang family, their food was obviously a few levels better than what they had before. Especially since Little Wang Brat needed delicate nourishment now. Meat and eggs were never lacking at their table.
Occasionally Manager Yang over at the factory would even send cans and various nutritional supplements.
But Wei Shi and An Ning both knew better and usually avoided those extras; most of it ended up in Little Wang Brat’s mouth.
With money in hand, Ms. Wei was also willing to spend on her two daughters. After all, most families in this courtyard were mechanical factory cadres, and they feared the newcomers might be excluded, so they paid extra attention to the girls’ appearances.
In short, under the obvious good taste of the great beauty Wei, the An sisters — who were already pretty — now looked like lively, fashionable little girls when they went out!
And their beauty of a mother was even more striking.
Look at the neighbor — now this Household Wang’s face has clearly been enjoying the spring breeze these past few days, tsk!
If there was one annoyance about the house, it was the poor soundproofing. With An Ning’s senses unusually sharp, she often had to stuff cotton in her ears at night.
Aside from that annoyance, life for the whole family was acceptable.
Wang Ming De was clever; as a director, the factory manager’s son-in-law, the family had never lacked money. Two daughters were just two daughters — raising them well might pay off in the future.
No need to be petty and end up raising resentment!
Especially after observing for a few days, Wang the director thought the elder daughter was fine and the younger one clearly clever and quick; both took after their wives’ looks.
Mm… overall, they had investment value!
Of course, that was assuming An Ning and the others kept proper boundaries.
In any case, whatever their motives, the newly formed five-person household got along decently for now, with no major conflicts in the short term.
As for the troublemaker Little Wang Brat, maybe his loss had felt so great this time, and now being ill, the formerly rowdy child had lost all his energy.
No choice, a tantrum gives him a headache!
Enough!
Sitting solemnly in the small yard and listening to the continuous sounds of play outside, Wang Yong Hua sighed with difficulty. Fine, the anger today didn’t have to be fatal!
After dinner that night, until just before bed, it was only under the excited reminders from the system in her spiritual sea that An Ning paid attention.
Whoa! The show she’d been looking forward to was starting!
Watching the scene on the screen — Old Li Shi in a panic, clearly annoyed by Second Uncle and Second Aunt, rummaging through the house and flipping things over by herself — An Ning instantly perked up and instinctively pulled out most of a pack of salted melon seeds she had stashed earlier.
Hey, why sleep? Time to hype up!
An Ning guessed right: the original owner’s grandmother was miserly as could be. Going two or three days without checking her little money stash was practically unheard of.
If she wasn’t afraid of being found out — especially by her son, daughter-in-law, or grandchildren — this original grandmother would probably rummage through her little cash box several times a day.
But today was different. After secretly swallowing a large meat bun she had just bought and making sure her mouth was clear, Li Xiu’e slowly returned home with her vegetable basket. The first thing she did when she got back was the usual “talk” to her “treasure” big grandson.
In the west wing, in a slightly drafty little room, the energetic little old woman, over fifty but still spry and solid for her age, now wore an expression of sorrow:
“Sigh, Wei Guo, your mother hasn’t had it easy. Your two younger sisters are still little. Your mother is used to pampering them. Besides, the Wang family has sons. Your mother already has a new son now. Not wanting to raise you is normal.”
“Hmph, two useless losers, I was really stupid!”
Just wait, when he doesn’t look after her, she’ll have her time to cry.
Satisfied as she watched the anger and occasional vicious glint on her eldest grandson’s face, Old Li Shi squinted in satisfaction and “comforted” him:
“It’s fine, Wei Guo, don’t worry. Your grandmother may not be capable, and I don’t have much money right now, but in the future, when Grandma has a bite to eat, she will never shortchange her big grandson!”
As she spoke, she sneaked glances left and right like a thief, and after a moment she took from the patched gray-blue jacket pocket a small candy that looked like it might melt.
Reluctantly she unwrapped the candy:
“Here, Wei Guo, eat it quickly. This is Grandma’s special treat for her good grandson. Don’t let your Second Uncle and Second Aunt or your cousins find out…”
“Grandma is the best! When I grow up and succeed, I’ll buy Grandma lots and lots of candies, only for Grandma!”
Jiang Wei Guo’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude, and his hands moved quickly, shoving the candy into his mouth.
Hmm, this candy tastes just like the ones his mother gave at her wedding back then!
Whatever, if it’s tasty, that’s fine!
After the day’s ideological session ended and she watched her grandson’s retreating figure with satisfaction, in the next second, seeing her empty money pouch, Li Xiu’e’s face went black and she nearly fell over.
Reacting immediately, she shouted angrily, “Where’s the money, my money! Which damn thief with a rotten arse stole my money!”
This was her future hope, her life!
With Li Xiu’e’s ear-piercing howl in the middle of the night while everyone else nearby was asleep, the Jiang household courtyard suddenly became completely lively. Seeing his mother still yelling and berating everyone and the various thinly veiled accusations, the equally money-worried Jiang Second Brother lost his patience.
What does Mom mean? She won’t say how much was lost, and what’s with that look—could it be they stole it?
But that wasn’t even the worst part. Hearing the commotion, the arriving big grandson Jiang Wei Guo tilted his head in confusion:
“But Grandma, didn’t you just say you didn’t have money?”
At those words, in the middle of the night, the wailing Li Xiu’e instantly choked.