TL: Etude
"Wanqiu, don't rush off just yet! The village has invited a troupe over these past few days, there's a play to watch in the evening. Stay and watch it before you go!"
Lin Jianguo had already received Xue Chunli's instructions and joined in persuading them.
A troupe, also known as "Sanjiaoban" in the countryside, is similar to Peking Opera. However, the performances are usually in the local dialect and possess distinct regional characteristics.
Lin Wanqiu's eyes lit up slightly at the mention of the play.
In these times, entertainment activities weren't abundant, and opportunities to listen to plays were rare.
"Wanqiu, I rarely come back, why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Lin Wanqing also chimed in.
At this point, Lin Wanqiu looked at Chen Jianghai with a conflicted expression, clearly in a dilemma.
Chen Jianghai, of course, understood his wife's thoughts and smiled slightly, "Then let's stay for a couple of days. There's nothing urgent at home anyway."
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu's eyes filled with love as she looked at Chen Jianghai.
This man truly considered her feelings.
Although Chen Jianghai did not want to stay any longer, he was still willing to compromise for the woman he loved.
In the room, Lin Wanqiu had a face full of smiles, the worries from before gone, and she asked Chen Jianghai.
"Jianghai, how do you know so much? You made that Boss Jin and my sister pause in surprise."
Just earlier, her sister Lin Wanqing had mentioned to her that with Chen Jianghai's extensive knowledge, following him would definitely not be a mistake.
Chen Jianghai laughed, "These past few years I haven't been working. First, I learned some crafts, and second, I read more books, newspapers, and listened to the radio. That's how I came to understand quite a few things."
"Really?" Lin Wanqiu blinked.
"Of course. When you're at home watching TV dramas, I'm watching the news."
Chen Jianghai spoke with conviction.
Lin Wanqiu pondered: It seemed to be true.
...
In the courtyard, Xue Chunli still couldn't believe that Chen Jianghai had seemingly become a different person. She nagged, "Old Lin, what in the world is going on?"
Lin Jianguo frowned, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"About Chen Jianghai!"
Xue Chunli exclaimed with furrowed brows, "I've been telling you for so long, don't you know what I'm talking about?"
Lin Jianguo looked aggrieved and said with a pained expression, "You didn't say anything just now!"
"Do you think Chen Jianghai really has some skills now?" Xue Chunli asked again.
Lin Jianguo quickly responded, "He must, haven't you seen how Boss Jin and Wanqing respect him?"
"But I just don't believe it!"
Xue Chunli voiced her dissatisfaction, "Could someone who's a complete write-off really have such talent?"
Lin Jianguo was at a loss for words with his wife's skeptical attitude, and could only say, "Could the matchmaker Mrs. Sun and Boss Jin be lying?"
"No way!"
Xue Chunli stood up, "They said Chen Jianghai is good at fixing electrical appliances, didn't they? I have to test him myself."
"How will you test? It sounds as if you know how to fix them yourself." Lin Jianguo couldn't help but say.
Xue Chunli immediately flared up.
Her eyes widened as she placed her hands on her hips, glaring at Lin Jianguo with anger, "What do you mean? Are you trying to disagree with me?"
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant." Lin Jianguo hurriedly explained.
Xue Chunli glared at him threateningly and demanded, "Then what do you mean?"
"Well..."
Lin Jianguo, knowing his wife was about to explode, his eyes darting around, said, "Electrical appliances are delicate things. We don't understand them. Even if Chen Jianghai were spouting nonsense, we wouldn't know!"
Hearing his explanation, Xue Chunli was momentarily stumped.
...
Lin Wanqing sat in her own room, looking at the bed sheets and quilt, and couldn't help shaking her head.
Before returning home, Lin Wanqing had specifically transferred a sum of money, thinking to improve the living conditions of her family.
But now it seemed that her parents had no intention of using this money for that purpose.
Perhaps what they really wanted to do now was to let her younger sister get divorced.
That money, they probably planned to use it as a dowry to return directly to Chen Jianghai when he married her sister.
Lin Wanqing also felt a deep sense of guilt towards this sister.
If her parents really used the money for this, she had no objections at all.
But now it appeared that this Chen Jianghai was not a simple man, and he also cared a great deal about his wife, her sister.
With her sister Wanqiu by his side, she might not necessarily suffer.
Subsequently, Lin Wanqing thought of the words Chen Jianghai had said, and her eyebrows knitted together immediately.
After pondering for a moment, Lin Wanqing decided to make a phone call later to discuss with her husband.
Regardless of whether what Chen Jianghai said was true or false, it was always right to take precautions before an event.
Just then, a series of exclamations came from outside.
"Lin's family has bought a color TV!"
"Yes, yes, everyone come and see!"
Hearing the shouts outside, Xue Chunli's face looked a bit ugly in the courtyard.
Once upon a time, Lin's family was not much different from hers, belonging to the kind of impoverished households that had nothing to their name.
But look at them now, they even had a color TV, while her own home?
Didn't even have a black-and-white TV set!
It really was true that comparisons between people could be infuriating!
With her temper flaring, Xue Chunli naturally had no interest in joining the excitement.
Lin Jianguo, however, went to take a look first, but seeing his wife's mood, he could only stay at home obediently.
With all the commotion outside, Chen Jianghai and Lin Wanqiu in the room heard it too.
"What's going on outside?" Lin Wanqiu glanced out the window and asked.
Chen Jianghai laughed and said, "It must be Boss Jin's color TV that has arrived."
Hearing about the color TV, a trace of envy flashed in Lin Wanqiu's eyes, "Meifeng is really lucky."
"Don't worry, in another month, I'll get all the appliances for you," Chen Jianghai said earnestly, wrapping his arms around his wife.
Hearing Chen Jianghai say this, Lin Wanqiu's face was filled with smiles, but she said, "How much will that cost? Don't waste it, it's better to save up."
Lin Wanqiu's thinking was still not liberated, considering that earning money meant saving it.
Perhaps only seeing the figures in the savings book could put her at ease.
As for how exactly to use the money, and where to use it, she might not have a clear idea.
It was only because the rate of inflation was not fast enough now that if this money were kept in the bank, it would only depreciate.
Chen Jianghai understood these principles, but Lin Wanqiu, with her limited experience, obviously did not.
Chen Jianghai then smiled and said, "The earlier you buy, the sooner you enjoy! Besides, it won't cost much."
But Lin Wanqiu insisted, "We already have a TV at home, there's no need to buy a color TV."
"Don't worry, this is just for you to look forward to. Once I've earned the money, color TV, refrigerator, washing machine—none of them will be missing."
Chen Jianghai declared with a grand gesture, speaking with great assurance.
He felt a profound sense of indebtedness to his good wife.
So, whatever he did for her, to Chen Jianghai, it was only right.
Lin Wanqiu looked at the man in front of her, her eyes brimming with sweetness.
Just at that moment, a voice suddenly came from outside.