"This place is quite nice. We can even grow some vegetables here and keep raising the chickens. It's just that there aren't enough rooms. In the future, I'll sleep in the main hall, and you can still sleep in the inner room."
Yang Yufen directly started making arrangements. Hearing this, Qin Nian didn't dare to object.
"Um, Mom, you've had a long journey and must be tired. I'll go to the canteen to get some food. Here are the keys to the house."
Qin Nian said.
"No need. I'm not tired. You take a rest. If you have something to do, you can go ahead. There's still some time until dinner. I'll handle it."
Yang Yufen put down the carrying pole and took out the three hens from the bamboo basket on her back. She gave them some water and vegetable leaves, then carried a basket of eggs and went out.
Qin Nian watched Yang Yufen go out. After thinking for a while, she decided to follow her.
Yang Yufen knocked on the doors of the neighbors. A woman of about the same age came out.
"Hello, sister. I'm Yang Yufen, Qin Nian's mother - in - law. My son has gone on a mission, and I've come to see my daughter - in - law. I'm not used to sleeping next to others, and there aren't enough beds at home. I was wondering if I could borrow some benches for a couple of days. These are the eggs laid by my own chickens."
"So you're from the family of Researcher Qin. It's just a few benches. I'll go and get them for you right away. I really have some spare ones at home."
The family members in the research institute generally had good qualities. At least, when Yang Yufen knocked on the doors of the two neighboring families to borrow things, they all lent them to her.
Qin Nian rarely interacted with others on weekdays. She would just nod and say hello when meeting someone. Seeing that her mother - in - law could borrow things from others and have a warm conversation as soon as she arrived, she felt that it was different from what her husband had said.
"Mom, how about I sleep on the benches?"
Qin Nian watched as Yang Yufen quickly made the bedding on the makeshift bed made of the benches. Her mother - in - law was much taller than her, and the benches were a bit short. How could she sleep comfortably? Even if she stretched out her feet, they would dangle on the ground.
"Just make do for a couple of days. Tomorrow, I'll go and buy some planks. I can make a bed right away, and then just hang a curtain. Do you like spicy food?"
Yang Yufen suddenly changed the topic.
"I don't like spicy food."
Qin Nian answered subconsciously. Then she saw Yang Yufen turn around and go into the kitchen.
"Let's have something simple today."
As Yang Yufen said, she started the fire, cleaned the pot, and quickly poured oil into the pot and cracked two eggs.
Qin Nian looked at the full bowl of egg noodles. Although the noodles were dried noodles, the eggs smelled really good. They were fried with lard, and her mother - in - law had exchanged some green vegetables and scallions with the neighbor and put them in the noodles.
Qin Nian tried hard to eat, but her appetite had always been small, and there was still some left in the bowl.
"You only eat such a small amount?"
Yang Yufen looked at the remaining noodles in Qin Nian's bowl. No wonder she was so thin. She frowned involuntarily.
"Mom, I don't move around much on weekdays, so I don't eat much. I'll finish the rest later."
Qin Nian also felt embarrassed. Her mother - in - law had come for the first time, and she hadn't prepared anything. Not only did her mother - in - law have to sleep on the benches, but she also cooked for her, and she even left so much food.
"Finish this egg. The noodles won't taste good if they're left for too long. Cook some more later if you're hungry."
After Yang Yufen said that, she poured the noodles from Qin Nian's bowl into her own, picked up the untouched egg from her own bowl and put it into Qin Nian's, then lowered her head and started eating.
Qin Nian looked at the egg in the bowl. Her mother - in - law had only cracked two eggs, and she had already eaten one.
"Quickly finish your meal. It's getting late. Go to bed early. Don't you have work tomorrow? Remember to find some time to collect your husband's allowance."
Yang Yufen finished her meal in just a few bites. Country folks were always busy with work, so they ate rather quickly.
"Okay."
Qin Nian came back to her senses, ate the egg, and then rushed to wash the bowls.
Since her mother - in - law had cooked the meal, it would be too much if she didn't even wash the bowls.
After Qin Nian washed the bowls, Yang Yufen had previously boiled some water on the coal stove while cooking the noodles, which was just right for washing up.
In the room, Qin Nian thought for a while and took out her salary and various vouchers from the trunk.
Since her mother - in - law had come, she couldn't just drive her away. Judging from the way her mother - in - law behaved, she definitely wouldn't leave soon. She would probably wait until her husband came back.
However, her husband had been raised by his mother alone. She couldn't go back to the village to live with her mother - in - law. So, it was just a matter of time before she took her mother - in - law in to support her.
Qin Nian took out fifty yuan. Shen Xianjun, as a platoon leader, got an allowance of only fifty - two yuan a month.
When they got married, Shen Xianjun gave five hundred yuan and a watch as the betrothal gifts, and the money was in Qin Nian's hands.
Qin Nian didn't dare to give too much, nor could she give too little. After all, they had just started getting along. Fifty yuan plus various vouchers was enough for an ordinary family to last for three to five months.
"Mom, Xianjun is on a mission. I might not have time to collect Xianjun's allowance tomorrow. But here, you can take these for now."
Yang Yufen took a look, reached out and took the money. She counted out twenty yuan and stuffed the remaining thirty back.
"These are enough. Go to rest. I'm also sleepy."
After Yang Yufen said that, she put the money down and really lay down to sleep. Qin Nian turned off the light and went back to her own room.
Yang Yufen had money in hand. She was a capable woman. Otherwise, she couldn't have raised her son alone and sent him to the army. Although she had never asked Shen Xianjun for his allowance, Shen Xianjun wasn't the kind of person who never sent money home.
Over the years, especially since the implementation of the household contract responsibility system, Yang Yufen had saved up more than one thousand six hundred yuan, which was intended to be used as the betrothal gift for her son to marry a wife.
However, her son had quietly gotten married without asking for her money, so the money was still in her hands.
Early the next morning, when Qin Nian got up, she smelled a fragrant aroma.
"Get up. Have this bowl of egg porridge before going to work."
"Okay, Mom. I'll bring lunch back from the canteen at noon. You don't need to cook."
Qin Nian was a bit annoyed that she had gotten up late. She had thought too much last night and gone to bed late as a result.
"Okay."
This time, Yang Yufen didn't say it was unnecessary. Yang Yufen ate the pancakes dipped in sauce with the porridge. By the time she finished, Qin Nian had already rushed to the research institute.
Yang Yufen knocked on the door of the Liu family, who had lent her a bench the day before.
"Sister Liu, are you all packed?"
"Coming, coming."
Aunt Liu came out carrying a vegetable basket. The two of them had made an appointment the previous day to go to the market together today.
"Come and taste my cooking. I'll have to trouble you to show me the way today, Sister Liu."
"Oh, I'm also going to the market. It's all on the way. This sauce in here smells so good. Did you make it yourself?"
Aunt Liu took the pancake with a smile.
"Yes, the skill of making soy sauce has been passed down in my family for generations. I make two big jars of it every year. I'll give you some later. It's a pity I can't take much with me. When I make some more later, I'll invite you over."
Meanwhile, Qin Nian went to the tutor's office.
"Didn't I approve your leave? Why are you here today?"
"My mother-in-law is fine, so I came back. It's a crucial time now, and I don't want to miss it."
"Are you sure there's no problem with your mother-in-law?"
"Yes."
Qin Nian nodded seriously.
