With a flick of Yuan Chun’s hand, four dishes, a soup, and four large meat buns appeared on the table.
Yuan Chun said, "Take your time eating, I’m heading out."
jumped onto the table and said, "Host, can you grab me a few bags of spicy strips? I’ll munch on them while watching TV later."
With another flick of Yuan Chun’s hand, a heap of snacks appeared on the sofa: spicy strips, chocolate, hawthorn slices, biscuits, pistachios...
When Yuan Chun reappeared in the room, Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei had already gone out to work in the fields.
Following the original owner’s habits, Yuan Chun diligently cleaned the house inside and out, filled the water tank, fed the chickens, then went to the vegetable garden with a basket and picked it full of vegetables.
By the time Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei returned from work, Yuan Chun had already prepared the meal.
A sizzling cabbage dish, stir-fried potatoes with green peppers, and tomato egg soup were served, along with sorghum rice. For this era, it was quite a sumptuous meal.
Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei had particularly good appetites today, each ate half a bowl more than usual.
Mrs. Wei smiled happily and said, "Yuan Chun, you wouldn’t believe it. When the news got out that you were going to work in the provincial city, the women in the village looked at me with envy. They spoke with sarcasm and sourness. Hahaha, back then when your dad and I insisted on supporting your education, they ridiculed us for wasting money, said there’s no use for girls to study much, they would only become someone else’s wife. But now, my daughter has become a worker at the provincial steel factory, while their daughters have married village men and become country people for life."
"Mom, don’t worry. Once I earn money, I’ll definitely take good care of you. After I buy a house in the city, I’ll bring you and Dad there to enjoy your retirement. Since both my brother and I will be in the city, I wouldn’t feel safe leaving you two in the village when you get older."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei felt comforted.
Yet they said, "We have a son, how could we rely on just you, a daughter, for our retirement? You just need to marry a good man and live your own life well. Your brother will take care of our retirement."
After dinner, Yuan Chun went to boil another pot of hot water for Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei to wash up.
Yuan Chun sweetly said, "Dad, Mom, you raised me and supported my education, so it’s my responsibility to take care of your retirement. Even the leaders say that women hold up half the sky, men and women are the same. My brother has the responsibility to support your retirement, and so do I."
"Alright, alright, you support our retirement."
Mrs. Wei’s smile was almost reaching her ears.
Her daughter-in-law wasn’t very filial, and she feared her son might not be either... Thankfully, they had a loving daughter.
Mrs. Wei smiled and asked, "Yuan Chun, when are you starting your job?"
"The factory gave me two days off, I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon."
"So soon."
"Mom, it’s because my residency hasn’t been transferred there yet. The personnel department kindly gave me this time off, otherwise, I’d be starting work today."
"Then, Mom will go to the village and get you some eggs to take with you." Mrs. Wei felt restless.
She hurried to finish her meal.
Yuan Chun said, "Mom, I’m not staying at my brother and sister-in-law’s place. I’ll be living alone in a single dorm room. When you and Dad come to the provincial city, you can stay at my place, and you won’t have to face my sister-in-law’s attitude."
Mrs. Wei snorted angrily, "I’m her mother-in-law. I’m staying at my own son’s house, she can’t possibly chase me out."