When Mrs. Sun came out of the silk shop, Yu Xiaolian could clearly feel that Mrs. Sun's mood had improved.
"The shop owner has given us some work to make loop buttons, which we can do for a month, and she didn't even charge a deposit." Mrs. Sun happily put the things used for making buttons into Yu Xiaolian's bamboo basket.
"Is it heavy? How about I carry it?" Mrs. Sun, seeing Yu Xiaolian's small bamboo basket was almost full, reached out to take it.
Yu Xiaolian shook her head, "No need, Mom, I can carry it. You still have to carry the iron pot later, so save your strength!"
Mrs. Sun, hearing Yu Xiaolian say this, did not insist, grabbed Yu Xiaolian's hand, and went back into the market.
Iron pot, three new sets of bowls and chopsticks, two medium-sized ceramic jars, one pound of salt and a bottle of soy sauce, as well as a piece of pork lard, Mrs. Sun skillfully navigated the market and soon bought everything.
Finally, Mrs. Sun also went to the general store to buy lamp oil and red paper, then took Yu Xiaolian home.
The iron pot was tied to Mrs. Sun's back with a rope brought from home, and she carried the heavy ceramic jars in her hands, which contained some miscellaneous items.
As for the bowls and chopsticks, Yu Xiaolian put them in her own small backpack.
Mrs. Sun carried several tens of pounds, but she walked faster than Yu Xiaolian.
She would quickly walk a long distance, then put the jars on the ground, put her hands on her hips, and wait for Yu Xiaolian who was falling behind.
Yu Xiaolian really admired Mrs. Sun, she carried so many things yet walked briskly, almost like special forces training with heavy loads.
Yu Xiaolian couldn't do it, she felt the two ropes on her shoulders were digging into her, making her shoulder ache, forcing her to put her hands under the ropes.
Stopping and starting, the two finally returned to River Bay Village, just entering the village they saw under the big willow tree at the entrance, a few women chatting idly.
Some held shoe soles, sewing them, while others held embroidery hoops, doing embroidery work.
Working with their hands, their mouths weren't idle, talking about recent events in the village.
The biggest news in the village recently was that Yu Xiaolian, who never fell ill, got seriously sick but didn't die and recovered.
Another was that Yu Changhe was separated by his mother and living on his own.
Yu Xiaolian and Mrs. Sun hadn't walked closer yet but heard them talking about their family affairs.
"Oh, Yu Changhe separated and moved away from his family, but hasn't planned to pay back the money he owes me?"
"Will he? I guess they will even have problems eating in the future!"
"Can't be, I lent them money out of goodwill, money doesn't fall from the sky, wanting to not pay me back, that won't do."
"He owes my family too, when borrowing they said would return it in a few days, but how many days have passed now, I think after a while, we should go to his house to ask for money?"
"Right, let's go together, surely he won't dare not pay us back."
"That's not good, they are having a hard time now, when Changhe worked as a government official, he helped us a lot, you guys go, I won't go, my family isn't in urgent need, waiting a while is fine."
Mrs. Sun heard their conversation from afar, and when she and Yu Xiaolian got closer, Mrs. Sun cleared her throat and said, "Aunties, sisters, I just brought some embroidery work back from town, once I finish this batch, I'll have money in hand, then I'll be sure to pay you back first. If anyone is worried, come to my house now, let Changhe write you an IOU, so you can rest assured."
Although Yu Changhe didn't study much, he could write an IOU.
The young wives and old ladies, hearing Mrs. Sun's words, immediately stopped their work and looked up at her.
The Yu family's neighbor, the young wife Feng, who usually got along well with Mrs. Sun, seeing Mrs. Sun carrying a pot and such heavy items, immediately said, "Why carry so much? Put it down and rest a bit, I'm going home too, give it to me, I'll help you carry some."
Mrs. Sun put down the two jars in her hands, panting heavily, saying, "Everyone lent us money because they trust us, helping us, both Changhe and I remember this kindness.
I will surely repay the money, but it will be a few days late. If anyone urgently needs it, I have a couple of dozen coins in hand that I can pay back first."
"No hurry... no hurry... just pay us back whenever you have it."
"Same for me, pay us back when you have it."
The women, seeing Mrs. Sun's frankness, all said they wouldn't go to the Yu house to urge debt repayment.
Someone curiously asked, "You split from the family, leaving only a few dozen coins in hand, how much did your mother-in-law give you?"
Mrs. Sun picked up the two jars again, "Not much, went to town today, almost nothing left, need a pot at home, so I'm going back!"
Mrs. Sun and Yu Xiaolian went past, Feng also came up from behind, took a jar from Mrs. Sun's hand, held it in her arms, and said while walking, "Actually, splitting from your mother-in-law is not necessarily a bad thing. Heard your future sister-in-law is not easy to get along with, quite a formidable character, splitting could be good.
If there's any difficulty at home, come to me, my husband told me to keep an eye on your family, afraid you would have issues yet be shy about coming over."
Feng's husband is Zhao Kuo, a childhood playmate of Yu Changhe.
Yu Changhe went to town to be a helper, years later got promoted to a government official, then helped his childhood friend Zhao Kuo also become a government official, over the years their relationship grew stronger.
But wool can't be plucked from one sheep, borrowing frequently, Yu Changhe was embarrassed to keep visiting Zhao family, so owed other families too, but still owed Zhao family the most.
Mrs. Sun pointed to the things Yu Xiaolian was carrying, indicating once they finished these embroidery works they could repay some debts to other families, but would delay repaying Zhao family.
Feng naturally didn't mind whether Mrs. Sun repaid the money or not, her husband's job of two silver a month was arranged by Yu Changhe, she had always wanted a chance to repay.
At the Yu family's gate, Yu Changhe was already waiting there.
First took the backpack off Yu Xiaolian, who walked ahead, then took off the big pot from Mrs. Sun's back.
Feng also placed the jar on the ground and smiled, "While doing embroidery work don't forget to call me, I want to learn new patterns, we can work together and chat."
Mrs. Sun nodded, "Tomorrow I'll bring these things and go to your house to do the work."
Mrs. Sun and Yu Changhe together carried the big pot to the backyard, Yu Changhe dragged a lame leg, walking with difficulty, but no other Yu family member came to help.
In the backyard, Yu Changhe pointed to the wooden frame above the stove and said, "I need to build a shed, or when it rains, we can't cook, without the shed winter won't work either, too cold."
Mrs. Sun glanced at the half-built shed and said, "In a while, I'll help you build it, let's first fix the pot and see if it burns well?"