Chapter 4 - 4

Chapter 4 Before Going to the CountrysideYun Ting smiled, unconcerned. "What's wrong? Don't be like that! I'm just going to the countryside, it's not like I'm not coming back. Don't we have family visit leave during the Lunar New Year?""Daughter, when you get to the countryside, be clever and don't get lost. Don't work too hard, just get by. We'll send you money and coupons from home, so don't worry about going hungry…"Mother Yun said, holding her hand and giving her instructions."Second sister, how about I quit school and go to the countryside with you?" Yun Xu had barely finished speaking when she was slapped by her father."What nonsense... If you go with me, your sister will have to take care of you.""I can take care of my second sister," Yun Xu said matter-of-factly."Little brother, you must study. Do you want to be illiterate? Your second sister hopes you will study hard." Yun Ting said earnestly. She knew that the college entrance examination would be reinstated, but her family did not know, and she could not tell them."Alright, your sister is right. No matter what, ourchild will finish high school."After lunch and a short rest, everyone in the family went to work or school.Before leaving, Mother Yun slipped ten dollars and some tickets to Yun Ting.Just as Yun Ting was about to refuse, Mother Yun seemed to guess what she was going to say, "Don't refuse, just take it. You must have spent a lot this morning, right?""Mom, I still have some."Mother Yun waved her hand and hurried out the door. Yun Ting watched her retreating figure, feeling a warmth in her heart.In the afternoon, having nothing to do, she went into her space to grow crops, repeatedly usingWood Element Ability to accelerate the ripening of rice and some vegetables.Perhaps because she drank too much of the spiritual spring water from the space, her mental energy isn't being depleted as quicklywhen using Supernatural Ability.Right now, all we have is rice, but she also likes to eat noodles, so we need to get some wheat seeds.She went out for a walk in the afternoon and went to call her sister to bring her brother-in-law home for dinner that evening.She then slipped away to the black market, but couldn't find any wheat seeds. Instead, she saw a woman selling tofu and bought some.——In the evening, she steamed some mixed rice and sorghum, which was already considered quite good. Some families could only drink corn porridge, so thin that you could see your reflection in it.She originally wanted to steam white rice, but with so many people, and having already seen her mother sobbing with worry at lunchtime, she dared not challenge her again.The dinner I made for dinner wasn't very lavish:braised pork, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, smashed cucumber, Mapo tofu, and a big bowl of green beans and eggplant.There was nothing she could do; these were the only vegetables available this season. Aside from cucumbers, Yun Ting didn't dare bring out any other kinds—it wouldn't make sense! She didn't plan to tell anyone about her personal space for the time being.When Yun Shu and Jiang Dong arrived, they were carrying a snakeskin bag. When they encountered some gossipy looks from older women, they smiled and explained, "My younger sister is going to the countryside soon, and these are some things that my parents asked me to prepare for her.""Oh! No wonder! Xiaoting is going to the countryside? Then we need to prepare more.""Oh dear, this girl has such delicate skin, how can she possibly endure going to the countryside!"The older women continued gossiping, but Yun Shu didn't want to pay attention. She quickly walked home with Jiang Dong, her face looking rather unwell."What's wrong? Are you worried about your little sister?" Jiang Dong asked with concern."Well, Xiaoting has never done any work since she was a child. Seeing those people who came back from the countryside, worn out and unrecognizable, I'm worried…" Yun Shu choked up."We'll send her more food and money so she can have a better life. Don't cry, or she'll be sad again," Jiang Dong comforted her.Yun Shu had already composed herself before entering the house."Xiao Shu, Jiang Dong, you're here," Father Yungreeted."dad…""Big sister, brother-in-law...""Little sister, these are the things I prepared for you. Take a look and see if there's anything else you need. Your brother-in-law will prepare it for you." Jiang Dong put the things down and said to Yun Ting with a smile."Thank you, brother-in-law and sister. No need to prepare too much. The journey is long and taking the train will be inconvenient.""Yes, if it really doesn't work, I'll mail it to you when it arrives."Yun Ting felt the kindness of everyone in her family, something she had never experienced as an orphan in the apocalypse."This way of cooking cucumbers is really delicious!""And this tofu, young lady's cooking skills are superb!"The family enjoyed a happy dinner together.After finishing their meal and chatting for a while, Yun Shu and Jiang Dong prepared to leave. Before leaving, Yun Shu slipped Yun Tingfifty yuan, saying, "Little sister, this is from your brother-in-law and me. Don't think it's too little!"After saying that, she turned and left, afraid thatYun Ting would shove it back at her."Hey, sis..."Yun Ting held the money and watched helplessly as her sister ran away."Take it! It's a token of your sister and brother-in-law's appreciation.""This is from your parents. Take it safe. There are a lot of pickpockets on the train."Mother Yun took out a wad of cash, a total of five hundred yuan, along with some loose receipts."Having money to rely on while you're out is better than anything else, but remember, don't flaunt your wealth...""Also, whatever you do, don't date there. If you have the chance, your parents will find a way to get you back to the city. Remember what your mother said.""Okay, I've got it."Mother Yun gave a long, rambling lecture, whichYun Ting listened to obediently. She didn't find it annoying at all; on the contrary, she enjoyed it.A mother worries when her son travels far! No matter how far we go, her concern is like a kite string, forever tied to her heart.The older brother also gave her fifty yuan, saying, "Little sister, I'll send it to you next month when I get my salary.""That's enough, brother. I'll talk to you when I'm out of money. It's not safe to carry too much money around."Actually, she has her own space, so how could she be unsafe? It's just that she doesn't want her family to give her too much money; how could she possibly accept that?"Okay, don't be so polite with your older brother." Yun Zhao patted his younger sister's hair."Yes, yes, my brother is my own brother, you're welcome." She winked playfully."Ha ha…"Yun Xu strolled over slowly. "Second sister, this is my pocket money. That's all I have. Please don't mind."Yun Ting looked at the money he was given; it was crumpled and made of loose change, totaling five yuan, which showed that he had been saving it for a long time."I don't mind, but you should keep it! Your second sister has money to spend, and she'll give it to me when you grow up and start working." Yun Ting pretended to shove it back at him, but he immediately jumped away."Second sister, you can't be biased and accept theirs but not mine.""Haha. You little rascal, is that how you use idioms? Fine! I'll keep it, but don't regret it and come looking for it back tomorrow."A gentleman's word is as good as his bond..."Alright, you call yourself a gentleman? Go wash up and go to bed." Mother Yun patted him and scolded him with a laugh.She felt gratified to see the deep bond between her children.Back in her room, Yun Ting opened the snakeskin bag her sister had brought. Inside were an enamel basin, an enamel mug, a piece of floral fabric, a piece of dark blue fabric, a thermos, a towel, and a packet of brown sugar. She took them out one by one, and a piece of paper fell out. She picked it up and looked at it…"The floral print fabric can be used to make clothes; it will look good on you. The dark blue piece is a flawed fabric; we can use it to make bed curtains or sheets. Keep the brown sugar for yourself; you can make it into hot water to drink during your period..."Yun Ting's eyes welled up with tears as she read her sister's careful words of advice. She felt so lucky to have come to this family!