Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 480: I Can Afford to Support You

Niu Niu felt that it would be just as well not to attend this class.

But she didn’t dare say that, fearing her grandpa would scold her.

So she responded with an "oh" and said to Yi Chichi, "Aunt Chichi, should I take it apart now?!"

"Go ahead."

Since it wasn’t embroidered well, there was no difference whether it was taken apart early or late.

Yu Ritang and Tang Ruoqing chatted casually with the team leader, while keeping their eyes fixed on Niu Niu’s fingers, which moved like a butterfly as she took apart the stitches, leaving them bewildered.

Soon, she removed a thread, and Yu Ritang blinked, "The stitches are so fine, how did she take it apart?"

"Follow the stitch direction."

Niu Niu, having gained experience in unraveling, continued without looking up, her hands moving briskly.

Seeing the two were interested, Yi Chichi suggested, "Why not let Niu Niu try it for you?"

"No, no, no!"

The two waved their hands wildly; they’re fine with sewing a patch or a button, but unraveling stitches was something they couldn’t manage.

The stitches were too dense, they wouldn’t know where to start, and they might end up breaking the thread or making a mess for the child.

"Let her do it herself; this job we can’t handle."

"What can’t be handled?"

Aunt Ma’s loud voice came from the doorway, and Yu Ritang happily rushed over, "Aunt, I’ve come to bum a meal and a bed again."

"Hello Aunt!"

Tang Ruoqing greeted as well, and Aunt Ma laughed heartily, "Alright, alright, aunt will make you some stewed chicken."

As soon as she said this, she looked at Yi Chichi and said, "Chichi, don’t leave, stay for dinner."

"No way!"

Yi Chichi refused decisively, stood up, and headed out, "My mom will cook, so there’s no need to trouble you."

Each household’s food was rationed, and her staying meant someone in the team leader’s house would have one less portion. Don’t underestimate that portion; it could be vital at a critical moment.

It was normal for Yu Ritang and the others to stay for dinner, but not for her.

So, she ignored Aunt Ma’s attempts to stop her and insisted on leaving, not forgetting to remind Niu Niu to practice well.

Aunt Ma and the others, unable to stop her, could only let her go.

Soon after leaving the team leader’s house, Yi Chichi encountered Wen’s mother, who was holding a thick, thousand-layered sole, her shoe size.

"Mom, why are you making shoe soles again?"

Yi Chichi was quite opposed to her manually making shoe soles, it was tiring and troublesome.

Wen’s mother gave a guilty smile, "I was just a bit bored."

"Then why not use the sewing machine, or knit a sweater? If not, you could cut fabric and make clothes, why insist on hand-making shoe soles?"

Regarding this, Wen’s mother defensively said, "You wouldn’t understand, chatting with idle hands doesn’t feel right."

Yi Chichi was speechless, and after a long silence, she managed to say, "Take care of your eyes."

"I know."

Then, the mother-in-law pair returned home, Wen’s mother went to the kitchen to cook while Yi Chichi swept the living room, then wandered around the cowshed at the back, returning only after hearing Qin Jiu’s voice.

"Aunt, I got an award certificate!"

Qin Jiu excitedly took out the certificate to show her, Yi Chichi looked it over seriously; Qin Jiu’s was a hand-drawn certificate, and unlike when she saw Niu Niu’s, she was so overjoyed she couldn’t stop smiling.

"Well done, our Xiao Jiu is amazing!"

Patting his shoulder in approval, she looked at Qin Jiu, who held his head high with a smile, and said, "What reward would you like?"

Qin Jiu thought for a moment, "Aunt, I want a book in English, is that okay?"

This was a bit difficult.

In the Three Eastern Provinces, finding a Russian book was easy, but an English one...

"I’ll try!"

"Okay."

"What kind do you want?"

"The Principles of Natural Philosophy."

He answered without hesitation, leaving Yi Chichi stunned for a moment, "Recommended by Mr. Ouyang?"

"No, recommended by Grandmaster Song."

She said, "It might take some time."

This book was quite challenging to find in Baoshan, as the community library didn’t have it, and there weren’t any connections in the county for it.

Yangcheng had some connections, but sending original books by mail was risky.

She didn’t try to hide the difficulty and directly told Qin Jiu how hard it was to get this book, "You can have it only after your aunt visits your uncle, and brings it back for you."

"Okay."

Qin Jiu nodded and added, "Aunt, if it’s too troublesome, forget it."

"It’s not as troublesome as you think."

Given the current complex situation, apart from the main direction, the small policies varied widely.

What’s allowed in Baoshan might not be tolerated outside, and vice versa.

Therefore, she laughed, "Don’t worry too much, aunt knows what to do."

Her gaze fell on his feet, seeing the shoes somewhat wet, she urged, "Quickly change your shoes, if your feet are cold, soak them first."

Once mentioned, Qin Jiu did feel cold, and without a word, grabbed his backpack and basin to soak his feet.

Yi Chichi went to light the kang stove.

If not lit early, it would be too cold to lie on the kang after dinner and cleanup.

As the kang warmed up, Wen’s mother finished cooking.

Supper was dumplings, stuffed with cabbage and oil residue; the skin was thin, and the filling was plump, and in large portions, enough to fill a young boy.

With such big dumplings, Yi Chichi was full after eight, while Qin Jiu directly ate twenty.

The mother-in-law pair looked at each other.

After a while, Wen’s mother hesitantly asked, "Is Xiao Jiu’s appetite getting bigger?"

Before, it was usually bread or rice with noodles, rarely dumplings, so there was no direct comparison.

Now that Qin Jiu ate twenty dumplings, the comparison was clear.

Yi Chichi stared at him for a while and asked, "Do you feel too full?"

"No."

Qin Jiu shook his head honestly, "Just right."

Saying this, he looked worried, "Am I eating too much?"

"Not at all."

The mother-in-law pair shook their heads quickly. Kids eating well, why not at a growing age?

"Eat to your fill, tell granny if you’re not full. Your aunt is good at making money, she can support you."

To ease Qin Jiu’s concerns, Wen’s mother gently reassured, "If it ever becomes an issue, you have your uncle; his income can keep you well-fed too."

Yi Chichi nodded in agreement.

"Don’t foolishly starve yourself; eat well and dress warmly to grow tall, your great-grandpa is old yet so tall, you must eat well to grow taller than him, or you might not find a wife in the future."

Qin Jiu felt embarrassed, worried about not finding a wife...

"Aunt, let me remind you, there’s a long time before I get married."

"Start worrying now."

Yi Chichi was uninterested in such concerns, caring only about one thing, "In any case, you need to eat well."

"Okay, I will eat well."

Eat well to grow tall and strong, to work in the future and support his aunt, uncle, granny, and great-grandparents.

It was surprising to realize, but when counted, there are six mouths to feed.

Qin Jiu felt the pressure mount, "I have to study now."

To study hard, hoping to skip to the second year of junior high by spring, to graduate early and get a job, that’s the decision!