Although Wei Nian is a conceited person who cares about his reputation, he is a very clear-headed person. A few days later, Wei Nian brought back a pile of old newspapers for Chen Xuan. He called them old newspapers because they were all expired. Wei Nian said, "You don't subscribe to newspapers at home. Although this is expired, you don't want to use white paper to practice calligraphy. You don't worry about wasting it if you use this to practice calligraphy, right? This is free."
Chen Xuan asked with shining eyes, "No money?"
"No, I have a friend who works at a newspaper. They have a lot of these. I thought you might find them useful, so I asked for some."
Chen Xuan happily surrounded Wei Nian and said, "Brother Nian, if you have something like this for free in the future, just bring it home!" Chen Xuan liked this free thing. Wei Nian thought of Chen Xuan's personality and couldn't help but shook his head and smiled. But even this old newspaper, Chen Xuan was reluctant to use it directly. She would read the text on both sides during the day and write on it at night. Chen Xuan found that newspapers were really great things. There were many new things on them. Sometimes, Chen Xuan would talk about them with Wei Nian. Chen Xuan sighed, "It's really a new era. I saw many divorces of new-school people in the newspaper. Many of them were proposed by the women."
Chen Xuan said in an incredible tone, "In the past, in the countryside, if a woman was divorced by her husband, her life would be difficult. I think in Beijing, this is not a big deal."
Wei Nian coughed, "It's not that it's not a big deal. As long as the couple can get along, it's better not to get divorced. Since you are husband and wife, it shows that you are destined to be husband and wife. Since you have this fate, you should cherish it. Nowadays, many modern people outside want to break up regardless of whether they are good or not. I don't agree with that either."
"Yes, there are many things that didn't exist before, such as cars, trams, salons, and many new clothes. However, it is difficult for people nowadays to live together for a lifetime. In the past, people would be together for life after getting married." Chen Xuan said, and worried that Wei Nian would misunderstand her, she quickly explained, "I was just talking nonsense, but what you said before was also reasonable, Brother Nian. For example, for people like us who are not a good match from head to toe, and for those who really can't live together, it's not good to force it. Brother Nian, if you have a girl you like in the future, just tell me, and I won't delay in getting a divorce with you."
"I didn't say we." Really, I just read the old newspaper three and a half days ago, and I even know the divorce procedures. Wei Nian is also strange. In the past, when he heard Chen Xuan say that as long as he had a girl he liked, she would not rely on him at all, Wei Nian was always happy. But today, he felt uncomfortable no matter how he heard it. Wei Nian said, "You are too good at making associations. We are not unmatched. Xuan, you are going to be a first-class professor in the future. Even if we talk about matching, I am not worthy of you! Xuan, when you become successful in the future, you will not look down on Brother Nian, right?" Wei Nian was a little confused, so he changed the subject.
Chen Xuan's eyes widened. "Brother Anian, how can you think like that? Not to mention that it will be a long time before you can become a first-class professor, someone like Professor Chu has to study for more than 20 years to become a first-class professor. Even if I study every day now and become as smart as Professor Chu, it will take 20 years. By that time, Brother Anian, you will definitely be a very successful person. Besides, Brother Anian, you are so good to me, and I will repay you in any way I can in the future. How can I look down on you? I am not a person who looks down on others. I know what it feels like to be looked down upon. I will never be that kind of person in the future. I want to learn from people like Brother Anian, Mr. Wen, Professor Chu, and Professor Wu. I don't want to learn from those bad people."
Wei Nian couldn't help but laugh, "Okay." Seeing Chen Xuan's round eyes and serious look, Wei Nian's fingers moved uncontrollably, and for a moment, he had an urge to touch Chen Xuan's face.
After teaching Chen Xuan the foreign language of the day, Wei Nian rolled up a foreign language novel and continued to read. However, he was not as focused as before. Wei Nian did not sit upright like Chen Xuan when reading. He always leaned lazily against the back of the chair and rolled up his head. Therefore, it was very convenient for him to glance at Chen Xuan from time to time. However, Chen Xuan was so focused on her study that even if Wei Nian blinded her eyes, Chen Xuan would not notice it at all.
So, this night passed just like the others, somewhat ordinary, yet somewhat extraordinary.
Chen's uncle and aunt came in early November. Chen Xuan has been very busy since she came to the Wei family. She is busy learning to read and write, and she was lucky enough to attend Mr. Wen's salon and found her ideal. In addition, the cleaning, meals, and sewing of the Wei family are mostly done by Chen Xuan and Li. Therefore, Chen Xuan really forgot that her uncle and aunt also came this time in her previous life.
Chen Xuan was discussing with Wei Yin how to cut their newly bought woolen fabric. They both wanted to make coats, but they hadn't decided on a style yet. They were flipping through a clothing album when they heard someone talking loudly outside. Old Mrs. Wei always sat on the warm kang in winter, so she stayed close to the window. She peeked through the window and said, "Who is this?"
Chen Xuan also looked through the window. Her heart skipped a beat and her face became a little stiff. "My second uncle and second aunt are here."
"What are you standing there for? Go out and greet them." Wei Jin said loudly, pulling Chen Xuan out of the memories of her past life. Chen Xuan lifted the cotton door curtain and went out. Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen were both wearing thick cotton clothes. When they saw a young wife wearing a half-worn rouge-red cheongsam and a slicked-back hair, they didn't dare to recognize her. If Chen Xuan hadn't called them "Uncle and Aunt," they wouldn't have recognized Chen Xuan even if they saw her on the street.
When Aunt Chen arrived at Old Madam Wei's room, she said, "Oh my, this place near the imperial city is really different. The climate and soil of Beijing nurture people. Look at our Xuan'er. She has become so beautiful after just a few days of not seeing her! Old Madam, our Xuan'er is in a blessed place now that she is at your house."
Chen Xuan went outside to pay Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen for the taxi fare, and brought tea. Aunt Chen hurriedly took a cup, opened the lid of the teacup and took two sips, praising it repeatedly, "The tea in Beijing is also special, it tastes good. In our countryside, we gather a handful of willow leaves in the spring and dry them in the sun, and use them as tea in the winter. The tea in this city is different, it's very fragrant."
Mrs. Wei leaned one hand on the locked snack box and smiled, "If you think it smells good, drink two more bowls."
"No, it's a blessing to be able to eat this bowl." Aunt Chen smiled with her eyes curved, revealing intimacy, "We have finished our busy autumn work, and there is nothing to do at home, so I am worried about Xuan'er. This child has never left us since her parents passed away. Hey, we know that she will enjoy good clothes and good food after marrying into your family, but I will always be worried if I don't come to take a look. These are peanuts picked from our own fields. Her second uncle and I carried half a bag here. They are new peanuts this year. Auntie, please try them. They are all the best." As she said that, she opened the cloth bag, took out a big handful, and put it on the head of the kang for Mrs. Wei, who had half of the kang mattress lifted up and only the kang mat was left to dissipate heat. Mrs. Wei was disgusted at the moment, and she kept shouting, "Xuan, quickly bring a dustpan, my dear sister-in-law, you can't put food on the kang!"
Aunt Chen felt a little embarrassed to be called by Old Lady Wei, and her face turned red. Chen Xuan hurried to the kitchen to get a small dustpan made of wicker, which was half a foot square, and picked up the peanuts on Old Lady Wei's kang. She then used a white cloth to wipe the place where the peanuts had just been placed, along with the half bag of peanuts brought by Uncle Chen. Chen Xuan said, "I'll take it to the kitchen. These peanuts will be more fragrant if they are fried. When they are done, I'll bring them back for Old Lady to taste."
"That's right, that's right." Aunt Chen boasted that she was the smartest person in Chenjia Village. She added, "The road is long. It's winter, and we were afraid that we might encounter snow on the way. The peanuts would peel if they were wet, so we brought them here without frying. Let Xuan'er fry them. Xuan'er's skill in frying peanuts is one of the best in our village."
"That's great." Mrs. Wei's face regained its smiling look, and the wrinkles on her face bloomed like chrysanthemums. "My uncle and aunt remembered to come and see me, it's your kindness. You can rest assured, Xuan is in our home, I treat her like my own daughter. Look at what she is wearing now, they are all newly made." It was not the two sets of tattered cotton clothes that came as a dowry. Thinking of Chen Xuan's two sets of clothes as a dowry, Mrs. Wei was full of dissatisfaction. It was really the uncle and aunt who did it, and now they have the nerve to come! It's just that their Wei family is kind, try changing to another family, who would give twenty dollars in betrothal silver in exchange for only two sets of cotton-padded clothes for their daughter-in-law! If it were a mean family, Chen Xuan would not know how to bear the torture!
Chen Xuan went to the kitchen to put down the peanuts. When she returned to the room, she heard Old Mrs. Wei speaking in a shrill voice. Chen Xuan stood silently at the door and said nothing.
Second Aunt Chen was worthy of being the aunt who gave Chen Xuan two sets of homespun clothes as a dowry. She just flattered Mrs. Wei with a smile, "Yes, everyone knows that you are a good mother-in-law. Even when we saw Xuan'er just now, we didn't recognize her. She has only been in your house for a year, and she is like a completely different person." As she spoke, she glanced at Chen Xuan who was standing at the door and called out to her, "Xuan'er, come here and let your aunt take a good look. Without you at home, I don't know how your uncle and I have been living this past year. Your uncle missed you so much that he cried. I couldn't sleep for half the night, and even your brother and sister dream about you every now and then. Xuan'er, the marriage your grandfather arranged for you is the best. You have finally fallen into a lucky nest." In such a short period of time, Second Aunt Chen has mentioned "lucky nest" twice, which shows how much she envies Chen Xuan's marriage.
Chen Xuan listened to Aunt Chen's words calmly, just lowered her head and still said nothing.
Wei Jin rolled his eyes, and in his heart he already looked down upon Uncle and Aunt Chen, and said to Old Madam Wei, "Mom, Uncle and Aunt Chen have come all the way here, quickly clean up the west annex room, light up the kang, and let Uncle and Aunt Chen have a rest. Second sister-in-law, don't just stand there, go clean up. Big sister-in-law, go to the kitchen and prepare some good dishes for Uncle and Aunt Chen at noon."
Aunt Chen smiled and said politely, "Don't be like that, Auntie is so polite."
Chen Xuan whispered, "Old lady, I'm going to clean up the house."
Old Mrs. Wei nodded. Seeing that the uncle and aunt of the Chen family were in a bad mood, the old lady wanted to teach Chen Xuan a lesson, but seeing Chen Xuan's submissive look, Old Mrs. Wei felt that after all, they were not her biological parents, so it was not Chen Xuan's fault. She waved her hand and let Chen Xuan go to work.
Chen Xuan was not in a hurry to clean up the west room. Her second uncle and second aunt came over suddenly. Chen Xuan did not expect this and her mind was confused. Now that she came to her senses, Chen Xuan went back to her room first and took out the wallet that Wei Nian often put in the pocket of his coat in the closet. She locked the wallet and the change inside in the small cabinet where she kept Wei Nian's private money.
Then, Chen Xuan looked at the small round mirror with a copper base on the square table. It reflected a face that was unfamiliar to Chen Xuan herself. Chen Xuan always thought that she had a big face, but she didn't know if it was because she lost weight after coming to the Wei family. Her face seemed to have become smaller. Especially since she got married last year, Chen Xuan had not twisted her face again. Fine hair grew on her forehead. As it grew slowly, Chen Xuan would use some hair oil to comb the fine hair up. Her forehead was no longer square and became gradually fuller. After all, in the Wei family, she didn't have to work in the wind and rain every day. Her hands and face became delicate. Although her uncle and aunt still came to the Wei family to play lottery as in the previous life, the person in the mirror was no longer the miserable and conservative Chen Xuan in the previous life.
Chen Xuan looked at herself in the mirror, and her silent gaze slowly became firm.
The author has something to say: ps: The second update is here, good night everyone~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~