Silently, he arrived at the pig farm. The goods they needed were already loaded and ready to go.
Just as Zhou Yueshen stepped into the truck, Yu Dong walked over carrying a few pounds of tied-up pig intestines and kidneys.
“Boss, you’re here!” Yu Dong greeted him.
Zhou Yueshen’s gaze briefly flicked to the items in his hands.
Withdrawing his eyes, he nodded slightly. “Mm.”
He casually stuffed the note from Aunt Zhang into his pocket.
The workers nearby all greeted Zhou Yueshen in turn.
Seeing the things Yu Dong was carrying, everyone exchanged knowing smiles.
One of them teased, “I’m just saying, Yu Dong, when did you develop a taste for this? You don’t even have a wife, and you’re already starting to nourish your body. You’re hopeless.”
Yu Dong jumped up in a panic at the remark. “Bullshit! This isn’t mine, it’s for my old...” He didn’t finish the sentence, suddenly realizing he almost let slip that his own mighty, brilliant boss wasn’t doing so well. A shiver ran down his spine as he quickly looked at Zhou Yueshen’s expression.
Zhou Yueshen stared at him.
Under that imposing gaze, Yu Dong lowered his voice. “Alright, fine. Actually, it’s for me.”
Everyone around burst out laughing. “You little rascal.”
Zhou Yueshen shot him a glance, then withdrew his eyes.
He walked into the office and sat down. Looking at the bills on the desk, he suddenly let out a low chuckle.
Frustrating.
**
Si Nian had just arrived in the city when she suddenly sneezed twice in quick succession.
Lin’s mother looked at her worriedly. “What’s wrong, Nian Nian? Are you catching a cold?”
Seeing her daughter’s fair, tender arms, Lin’s mother grew more concerned.
The temperature difference between morning and evening in the village was large, and the mornings were still a bit chilly.
Si Nian rubbed her nose and shook her head. “No.”
From past experience, she figured this kind of thing always meant someone was cursing her behind her back.
Si Nian took the two of them to the wholesale market. The market had all kinds of goods and was much cheaper.
Not only could they buy osmanthus flowers there, but also various kinds of dried flowers. Honey was sold wholesale too, and it kept for a long time.
Si Nian also made floral honey, adding a bit to osmanthus cakes to make them more fragrant.
Of course, no matter how cheap these things were, they still weren’t exactly cheap.
Moreover, making a trip to the city was especially troublesome for people from the countryside.
Especially in this era, when transportation was still inconvenient, a single trip could take an entire day.
As a result, many villagers never set foot in the city even once in their lifetime.
For Zhou Suisui, this was her first time visiting the city. She was introverted by nature and, like Lin’s mother, timidly followed behind Si Nian, not daring to glance around.
Her hands and feet seemed unsure where to rest.
The looks people cast their way made her overthink everything.
Though Zhou Suisui wasn’t much younger than Si Nian, the gap between them was vast. Years of hard labor had left her skin dark and rough, devoid of any luster. Her hair was dry and brittle, and she wore a plain gray cloth outfit, making her look at least ten years older.
Scenes like this were common in the countryside.
Nothing unusual.
Si Nian dressed fashionably and beautifully, but since she was the only one in the village who dressed like that, people found her strange and often stared at her with curious eyes.
But once she arrived in the city, the strange one suddenly became herself.
Very few people around wore simple cloth clothes; everyone was dressed in little leather boots, fitted shirts, skirts, their hair uniformly styled in waves, faces made up with makeup, carrying small leather bags, radiating confidence.
The pressure of this environment made her feel completely out of place with everything around her.
Lin's mother was a bit better but still hesitant and timid.
It was as if she had lost the ability to communicate.
Si Nian noticed the situation between the two but didn’t say anything.
The saying goes, “Once a stranger, twice a friend.” Coming here a few more times would help them adapt.
The wholesale market’s prices weren’t as expensive as they had imagined. In fact, they were much cheaper than the loose goods back in the town.
Lin's mother and Zhou Suisui were both surprised to hear prices they could actually afford.
Si Nian was beautiful and sweet-voiced; with just a few words, she had the shop owner laughing heartily. Even though she didn’t buy much, he gave her a discount.
So, city people really weren’t as scary as they seemed. There were some snobs, sure, but whether from the countryside or the city, the majority were good people.
Zhou Suisui and Lin's mother instantly felt that this place wasn’t so hard to stay in after all.
After buying what they needed, Si Nian made another trip to the department store.
She planned to buy some toiletries.
Zhou Yueshen barely used these things. What she had bought before was already used up.
Si Nian wasn’t used to washing with soap; she preferred shower gel.
She wouldn’t skimp on shampoo either—she cherished her beautiful hair.
Though the price was much higher, in this era, you get what you pay for—quality and effectiveness.
Since she had the means, there was no reason to compromise.
After picking out her own products, Si Nian’s gaze shifted to Zhou Suisui behind her.
Seeing the envy in her eyes, she hesitated for a moment.
Zhou Suisui had decent features, but her skin was rough and somewhat dark, making her look rustic.
Both her skin and hair were dry.
Si Nian chose a more affordable product and said, “Sister-in-law, you should use this to wash your hair and body. It’s good for your skin and hair.”
Though she might not be able to afford fancy skincare, these simple toiletries were still doable.
Zhou Suisui didn’t expect Si Nian to ask her and quickly waved her off, refusing. “No, no, I don’t need it. It’s too expensive.”
“It’s not expensive. This big bottle, if you use it sparingly, can last for months. It costs just a few bucks. Besides, isn’t the point of earning money to spend it? Now that you’re earning on your own, why not invest in yourself? Mom, what do you think?”
Lin's mother didn’t see her daughter using these as a waste of money; on the contrary, she was supportive. Hearing Si Nian’s question, she agreed, “Si Nian’s right. Suisui, just buy it. Look how good Si Nian’s hair is, how fair and tender her skin is. You’re beautiful too; if you use it, you’ll definitely look better!”
Lin's mother praised her beautiful daughter with pride, feeling honored.
Lin Sisi had grown up at home, and whenever conditions allowed, Lin's mother spared no expense on her.
So compared to others in the village, Lin Sisi’s skin was relatively fair and tender.
Of course, every place has its own people, and sometimes it’s just impossible to compare with city folks.
If circumstances allow, who wouldn’t want to be beautiful and elegant?
Zhou Suisui came from a large family—five sisters in total—and she was the eldest.
From a young age, she bore all the hardships. Her family favored boys over girls, giving all the best to the youngest brother. Her parents often scolded her, and she had to eat only the leftovers.
Perhaps because she had suffered so much in the first half of her life, marrying Lin Xiao and joining the Lin family brought Zhou Suisui a happiness she had never known before.
Understanding in-laws, a considerate husband—her days were finally filled with warmth and kindness.
