After sitting for a short while, Lin Xiaoguai was urged to go rest in the room.
Shen Chi had bought a spacious house for grandpa and grandma, although it only had three rooms, each one wasn't small. According to the layout of later times, it was no smaller than those three-bedroom, two-hall mansions. After buying it, he had a craftsman partition it into smaller rooms, and there was ample space for the five of them to live comfortably.
Lin Xiaoguai was now staying in the room Shen Chi used to occupy. It wasn't big, but it was well-positioned, facing the sun and well-ventilated. Opening the window, she could see the persimmon tree in the courtyard. She checked around, the room was clearly recently cleaned, the bedding seemed freshly sunned, filled with the scent of sunshine.
"Sister-in-law, aren't you going to sleep?" At this time, Shen Xiu entered carrying a thermos flask.
"I'm not sleepy, keep me company and chat," Lin Xiaoguai said with a slight smile, her eyes were typical almond-shaped, clear, shallow, and warm, especially intoxicatingly warm when she smiled.
Shen Xiu stared blankly and blurted out, "Sister-in-law, you're really beautiful."
Lin Xiaoguai was momentarily taken aback by the compliment and smiled even more heartily, "Xiuxiu is very pretty too." As a woman, it's impossible not to care about looks, but having lived to that age in her previous life, and facing numerous unwanted troubles due to her appearance as a single woman, she'd somewhat cooled off regarding this.
Yet, such heartfelt praise from Shen Xiu inevitably made her feel pleased both physically and mentally.
"Sister-in-law, don't comfort me, the boys in my class all say I am ugly," Shen Xiu said unhappily, pursing her lips.
"Boys in class?" Lin Xiaoguai raised her eyebrows slightly, quickly sizing up Shen Xiu.
Her little aunt, although only considered pretty, had somewhat sallow skin, but her bright, spirited eyes were enough to offset these minor issues. Together with her student hairstyle reminiscent of mushroom cuts from later times and her introverted and quiet demeanor, she definitely formed a captivating scenery in school.
Considering how open Xiuxiu was with her, Lin Xiaoguai could well imagine what Xiuxiu must be like at school.
At fifteen or sixteen, a confusing and restless age, it was easy to guess why those boys would say such things.
However, people from this era were truly naive, with kindergarten children in later times having higher EQ than those boys.
Shen Xiu, unaware of her sister-in-law's thoughts, nodded somberly, "I don't seem very likable. The boys always tease me, and other than Yaya and Meiling, other girls don't really talk to me."
Lin Xiaoguai thought it was funny, but seriously said, "I think the problem might be with you. Xiuxiu, you are too shy. Maybe you could try to be more proactive. If you just wait for others to speak to you, it might be difficult."
Her little aunt was still young, and even though Lin Xiaoguai knew the reasons, she felt it inappropriate to tell her, to avoid adding worry. However, her advice wasn't without consideration. She really liked Xiuxiu's nature, but it was too passive and could lead to disadvantages in society.
As the era developed, societal competition grew fiercer, and only those proactive and striving characters could live better.
"Is that so?" Shen Xiu hesitated.
"Of course." Lin Xiaoguai lifted her hand to stroke Shen Xiu's bangs, speaking calmly, "People have limited energy, they might not even be able to handle their own matters, let alone others. Think about it, if your deskmate forgot his eraser at home, and didn't tell you, would you think to lend him yours while you were concentrating in class?"
"...No," Shen Xiu was an honest person.
"See," Lin Xiaoguai smiled, "Xiuxiu, you have things you're focused on, and so does everyone else. Because they are too focused, they don't hear your wish to make friends with them."
"So that's how it is," Shen Xiu was somewhat bewildered.
Lin Xiaoguai reached out and patted her head, smiling warmly, "So, Xiuxiu, why don't you go tell them? Tell them you want to be friends."
She didn't expect a few conversations to change Shen Xiu's nature immediately, but everything has a beginning. Taking the first step was crucial for further steps.
Outside the door, Shen Chi carefully withdrew his leg that was about to step forward and retreated to the kitchen laughing lightly, "Grandma, let me help you wash the vegetables."
"Weren't you going to stay with Wanwan, why did you come out?" Luo Yufang threw a piece of firewood into the stove and turned around to ask curiously.
Shen Chi smiled as he crouched beside the vegetable wash basin, "They were having a good talk, so I didn't want to disturb them."
With that, he recalled the words Wanwan had said to Xiuxiu.
As for the woman he had fallen in love with at first sight, Shen Chi never denied that his infatuation was initially due to her delicate and beautiful face.
Perhaps, that was why he had been so negligent toward his new bride, his superficial affection was too shallow, as a man's true feelings always closely tied to his actions.
But to say he held no fantasies about his wife would be a lie. After all, Lin Xiaoguai's reputation was indeed excellent, and he couldn't help but have expectations.
Pure and aloof, that was his initial impression of her.
If she hadn't been pure, she wouldn't have been so immersed in grief, and wouldn't have been sold by relatives to such an extent; aloofness was typical of scholars.
He couldn't say whether he liked or disliked it, purity wasn't bad, but his circumstances required a wife who wasn't naïve about the world. An aloof personality wasn't bad either, but such people usually didn't blend well with others and often encountered obstacles in social interactions.
Yet, it was only when he met such a woman, who stirred his mind and heart, that all his rationality couldn't suppress the throbbing in his heart. Once he found the opportunity, he quickly seized it and caught her.
This time, his wife had been bullied to the point she nearly miscarried. Although he felt guilty and remorseful, he couldn't deny feeling a tinge of disappointment—not because he thought she was weak, but rather a subtle sensation of "so she is just like this."
Men, no matter how cool and rational, always idealize their beloved in their hearts, and Shen Chi was no exception.
Even though he clearly recognized what kind of person his wife was, he couldn't help but feel that the person he found special must have something extraordinary, and he couldn't help expecting her to surprise him.
This psychology was very cryptic, something even Shen Chi only realized at this moment—
Lin Xiaoguai's words seemed like mere encouragement for Shen Xiu to be more cheerful, but they subtly revealed some clues.
First, Shen Chi confirmed his wife was not just a naïve person.
As a girl only a year older than Xiu'er, if she were naïve, she wouldn't have noticed the psychological tactics of Xiu'er's male classmates from her faint smile, Shen Chi was sure this girl understood the childish strategies these boys used to chase girls.
Likewise, if she were naïve, she wouldn't have kept the male classmates' intentions from Xiu'er but would instead tease Xiu'er about it, given the playful nature of youth; nor would she know how to guide Xiu'er to change her personality so subtly.
Despite her youthful appearance, her calm and restrained eyes already possessed a captivating charm.
Given time, she would surely dazzle brilliantly.
A full sense of surprise filled Shen Chi's heart; it was then he finally realized the cryptic thoughts he had been harboring without even being aware of it.
His emotions were undoubtedly complex, yet the majority was an excitement from fulfilled expectations. He wished he could rush out of the yard and run a couple of laps to vent the fervent emotion brewing inside him.
In his previous life, it was only after Lin Xiaoguai moved to Shanghai and began to make her mark in the workplace that Shen Chi slowly fell for her and truly became a captive of love. Now, a single inadvertent act from Lin Xiaoguai had accelerated this process.
At this moment, she was still unaware of this, smiling and talking with Shen Xiu.
"Tomorrow I want to sell the shoelaces I've been saving up at the market. Sister, is there anything you want to eat? I'll buy it for you with the money I get," Shen Xiu said while she sorted Lin Xiaoguai's clothes.
Lin Xiaoguai was aware of the shoelaces; during this time, the clothes people wore were mostly homemade or tailored from bought fabrics, and shoes were no different.
This era wasn't like the future. Villagers almost all engaged in physical labor, and if shoes weren't durable, not only would it hinder work, but it would also be painfully expensive.
Therefore, layered soles had become the most popular. However, making layered soles was a complex and time-consuming task, and housewives usually didn't have enough time or energy, and some lacked the skills for it. Thus, selling layered soles became a way for unmarried girls and energetic older women to earn extra money.
Though it appeared to be minor work, earnest effort could earn a decent amount, a pair of soles could sell for ten cents, and well-made ones could even go for 20 cents. Even slower workers could make five or six pairs a month, enough for a family's basic needs.
Lin Xiaoguai used to make these too, and since she was skilled and quick, she could make more than ten pairs a month during school breaks, selling them at a higher price. The most she ever earned in a month was 2.8 yuan.
But back then, her father and mother doted on her, and she never short on pocket money. The money she earned from selling soles was occasionally spent on buying some meat or vegetables to make dishes to honor her father, with the rest usually spent on her nieces and nephews.
Her four brothers lived tightly, affecting her nieces and nephews who had less than their peers. Lin Xiaoguai, mature and sensible, although not much older than her nieces and nephews, had started learning how to be an elder.
Because of this, her four sisters-in-law were always grateful to her, plus having watched her grow up, they frequently looked after her.
But what she thought was brotherly harmony and amicable sister-in-law relations now seem...
"Save the money you earn for yourself, why buy things for me?" Masking the turmoil in her eyes, Lin Xiaoguai said helplessly.
"I have money but nowhere to spend it, what's wrong with using it to give my nephew a little boost?" Shen Xiu responded with discontent.
"Your kind intention is enough. Currently, I'm lacking nothing," Lin Xiaoguai said with a smile.
Shen Xiu nodded, yet in her heart, she planned to see how things went and buy something for her sister-in-law anyway.