Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 484: Good Kid, Not-So-Good Parent

Upon learning that the embroidery for Tang Ruoqing hadn’t started yet and the Friendship Store commission wasn’t finished, Wen’s mother was a bit worried.

"Is there still time?"

"Yes, there’s still time!"

However, Wen’s mother was still uneasy. To free up more of her time to work, she took over Yi Chichi’s task of stewing bird’s nest and picking up and dropping off Qin Jiu for school.

Yi Chichi, "..."

It’s fine, she should appreciate her mother-in-law’s goodwill.

Thus, she began a routine of starting work after having a good breakfast, resting from lunch until two-thirty, working again until four-thirty, and then wrapping up.

Due to coming over to work with her, Liu Lan was also influenced and began following a similar schedule.

Time swiftly moved into ’76, a significant year.

On the eighth day of January, the beloved Premier passed away.

The moment the broadcast from the team announced this, the world fell silent.

Having just returned from the island a few days before the New Year, Yi Chichi’s eyes reddened as that day finally came.

Wen’s mother, who had been sitting cross-legged on the kang mending clothes, paused and choked up, saying, "The sky has collapsed halfway."

Yi Chichi understood her meaning; the towering mountain had toppled with a crash, and the pain and confusion were something only those living in this era could truly feel.

The world seemed to fall into a hush.

The old man’s emotions were even more sorrowful; in public, they dared not reveal their grief and had to pretend to be unaffected.

Wen Shi also felt lost, but fortunately, Yi Chichi had given him a warning before leaving and had conducted several psychological counseling sessions.

Still, he sent back a few telegraphs.

After interpreting the telegraphs he sent from different angles repeatedly, Yi Chichi didn’t say much but replied with a telegraph saying, "Endure, and you’ll see the light of the moon through the clouds."

She believed Wen Shi would understand.

As the weather gradually heated up, time moved into mid-June, and Yi Chichi showed obvious signs of restlessness.

Her mood swings were so apparent that even if Wen’s mother pretended not to notice, she couldn’t fool herself.

After dinner and washing up, Wen’s mother came to Yi Chichi’s room.

"Chichi, have you encountered any problems?"

The distracted Yi Chichi immediately perked up at these words, "No, I’m just sitting at home doing embroidery every day; what could I possibly run into?"

Wen’s mother twitched the corner of her mouth, "Do you think I’m too old, deaf, and blind to sense your emotional changes?"

Yi Chichi fell silent.

Looking at Wen’s mother’s eyes full of worry, she took a deep breath and said with a bitter smile, "Mom, am I that obvious?"

"Very obvious."

Wen’s mother held her hand and gently asked, "What are you really worried about?"

What could she be worried about?

Nothing but the fear of that impending earthquake.

But there was nothing she could do; the tide of history couldn’t be stopped by individual power.

She trusted Wen’s mother as a person, but this was a matter she couldn’t disclose. The reason a secret is a secret is that it must be kept hidden.

She didn’t want to take risks, so she said with a troubled expression, "I’m a bit worried..."

"Worried about what?"

"Worried that I might not be able to have children!"

Wen’s mother’s eyes suddenly widened, "Why would you have such a worry?"

"I’m almost about to bring you to where Wen Shi is."

Unless something unexpected happens, by the latest end of the year, the old man and they should return to Beijing.

If things go smoothly, they might leave in August or September.

Wen’s mother’s eyes lit up, "Your grandfather and the others are going back?"

Yi Chichi, "..."

Wow, Wen’s mother’s mind was sharp.

"The changes have become very apparent."

That was true.

Someone increasingly acted out, giving it a feeling of indulgence before dawn.

"Don’t think about all those chaotic things, you definitely can have children."

Wen’s mother had confidence in her health, "Aunt Mu said you’re in good health, and besides, you and Wen Shi are still young. Once you’re no longer living apart, conceiving will be easy enough."

It’s just that, "How many do you plan to have?"

"...I don’t even have one yet, thinking about having several is too soon."

Yi Chichi was embarrassed, and then there was the looming shadow of the one-child policy.

On a different note, the implementation time for the one-child policy varied from place to place. We’ll see when the time comes.

However, "If possible, I’d like to have two."

Wen’s mother, of course, would love to have more, preferably seven or eight, given their small family; if Wen Shi wasn’t so competent, they wouldn’t even know what their life would be like now.

But since her daughter-in-law would be the one giving birth, not her, and considering that the pain of pregnancy and childbirth would also have to be borne by her daughter-in-law, she had no right or position to demand more children.

Thus, "You guys will figure it out when the time comes."

"Anyway, I’m only responsible for helping take care of the baby once it’s born; you’ll have to handle the upbringing and education yourselves."

Yi Chichi was satisfied with Wen’s mother’s response but still feigned discontent, "Mom, you’re not responsible for education?"

"I can’t manage that."

Wen’s mother had a dreamy look, "I’m worried that after the child is born, I’ll be so focused on coddling the child that I’ll end up spoiling them."

She sighed, "I could hit Wen Shi, but if I thought about hitting my misbehaving granddaughter or grandson out of anger, I’d feel so sorry that I’d rather hit Wen Shi."

Yi Chichi, "So, in your mind, Mom, the child’s well-being depends on the parents’ ability to educate, right?!"

"Yes."

She nodded, leaving Yi Chichi speechless.

Given her mother-in-law’s mindset, she really couldn’t be trusted with the children’s education.

There was a chance of leading them astray.

"Then in the future, Wen Shi and I will handle teaching."

"Of course, I’ve gotten old, how could I be trusted with such an important job?"

Wen’s mother was justified, and Yi Chichi nodded in agreement, meaning whatever you say goes.

Then, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law smiled at each other.

Seeing her brow relax and her face no longer creased with worry, Wen’s mother felt relieved that her mood had returned to normal.

Now she could sleep peacefully.

"Go to bed early, tomorrow you still have to help with Dong Mei’s makeup."

Liu Dongmei had finally found a match she was satisfied with and was getting married.

With Liu Lan and the others having had their makeup done by Yi Chichi, Liu Dongmei came calling, asking for her help with makeup once her wedding date was set.

Since she had helped with Liu Xiaocao’s makeup, she naturally wouldn’t refuse Liu Dongmei’s.

Although her relationship with Dongmei wasn’t as close as with Liu Lan, it wasn’t that far off either.

So, she responded and went to bed early. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The next morning, she woke up and, carrying her gear, went to Liu Dongmei’s house. Under the watchful eyes of Liu Lan and the others, she crafted a festive makeup look for Liu Dongmei.

She also styled her hair, adorning it with a red camellia.

Admiring onlookers Liu Lan and the others clicked their tongues in appreciation, marveling that it was prettier than the makeup for their weddings.

Hearing this, Liu Dongmei was overjoyed and kept asking if it was true.

When Yi Chichi finished and saw herself in the mirror, she grinned widely.

"It’s prettier than the makeup for your weddings."

Liu Lan rolled her eyes, "You show-off! If you had gotten married a year earlier, there’d be no way for Yi Chichi to give you such a beautiful makeup."

That was the truth because her cosmetic supplies were limited back then.

It wasn’t until last year when she replenished her stock at the Yangcheng Friendship Store that Liu Dongmei could have today’s look.

"Be happy, but hurry and change into your clothes, or it won’t be good if the groom arrives to take you and you’re not ready."