After that, Yang PeiMin dared not speak anymore.
The person's gaze, in this era of restricted behavior, could be considered overly brazen.
Luckily, Director Huang gave a few instructions and quickly left.
The shop assistant also brought over the items Zhang Minghua wanted to purchase.
"Minmin, I noticed there are new types of rubber bands. Should I buy a couple for you?" This had always been the original purpose of following along to the shop, always pestering Zhang Minghua to buy things; she was well aware of this. Moreover, today Yang PeiMin was behaving exceptionally well, so she proactively asked.
Yang PeiMin shook her head, she was not interested in these dyed rubber bands.
Before leaving home, she had brought all of her personal savings, "Mom, I want to replace my toothbrush and towel."
"Alright, the ones you have have been used for quite a while; it's about time for new ones. Take a look and see which kind you want, then ask the shop assistant to bring them over."
The shop assistant, who was recently forced to apologize, did not self-reflect, but instead seemed even more disgruntled, he did not repeat the words about rushing them out but coldly sat at the counter, ignoring them. Now, a square-faced shop assistant was helping them with the items.
"They're choosing so carefully, acting so picky even though they're poor!" This square-faced shop assistant also muttered disdainfully.
"Comrade, I want to ask if you have any better quality toilet paper here?"
"No!"
Yang PeiMin frowned slightly.
Zhang Minghua pulled her aside and whispered softly, "Don't you still have some of your own?"
Yang PeiMin found it difficult to explain outright that the paper they had was too rough, and that area was too delicate for it. How could she use it?
This person was clearly retaliating with malice.
As she left the Cooperative Society, she still felt some dissatisfaction.
"Mom, didn't I say that you acted impulsively? Isn't it always like this when we come shopping? Only you would not endure even a little bit; how are you supposed to find a husband's family later?" Zhang Minghua couldn't help but lightly poke her on the head, "These scarce goods are first reserved for their own relatives and friends, so sometimes you can't buy them without connections, not to mention when you've offended them."
Yang PeiMin genuinely didn't know these underhand dealings. She blinked at Zhang Minghua, "I'm sorry, Mom, I was impulsive, but there was nothing I could do. Who made me your 'precious little troublemaker'? I just can't stand them treating you that way."
"You," Zhang Minghua said with a helpless smile, "Alright, alright. My Minmin can also stand up for Mom. I should be comforted by that, but let me see if I can ask someone about the items you want."
Then, Yang Peijun gave Yang PeiMin a look, "Big sister, I've noticed that you've gotten much thicker-skinned after being sick."
Yang PeiMin gave him a sidelong glance, not bothering to engage in his conversation.
"Thank you, Mom." Perhaps only a mother like Zhang Minghua would tolerate her whims unconditionally? She affectionately linked arms with her, leaving all the items for Yang Peijun to carry. They were a close-knit mother and daughter duo.
In her previous life, her parents had divorced when she was just over a year old, then they both remarried and sent her to her grandfather's house. Both her mother and father would only come to see her once a month or every other month, she had never walked down the street arm in arm with her mother like this. There was a time when she secretly envied others for such closeness.
Zhang Minghua squinted her eyes and smiled, completely ignoring her son filled with resentment.
Yang Peijun drove the ox cart to the entrance of the hospital, where Zhang Minghua and her daughter went in to notify Yang Peihua and her husband.
It was not yet mealtime, but this couple was eating again.
"Mom, Minmin…" Yang Peihua got a shock, with a bun still in her mouth, uncertain whether to spit it out or swallow it.
"Is she reincarnated from a starving ghost or what? It hasn't been long since she ate this morning!" Zhang Minghua started scolding as soon as she opened her mouth.
"It's not Peihua's fault, Mother. It's me who's not strong enough. The baby needs to breastfeed; he gets hungry quickly. Peihua hasn't been sleeping well these past nights either, taking care of both of us—it's been really tough for him. I felt sorry for him, so I let him have some extra food with me. Please don't blame Peihua," Bai Hehua was quite articulate and quickly came up with a lofty excuse for the craving.
"Mother must be hungry after being out with Minmin for most of the day. Why don't you join us and have something to eat too? There's still one left."
Zhang Minghua had also brought some dry food with her, thinking that it might not be possible to get back before noon when coming to town, and she didn't want to spend money. So, she had asked her eldest daughter-in-law to prepare some corn pancakes for her to bring along in the morning.
But right now, she would not let this wasteful woman eat alone. She called for Yang PeiMin, "Hurry and get the steamed buns over here. You're still not fully recovered, and these precious foods... otherwise, we wouldn't be able to have a proper meal right now after coming all this way."
There was more than one woman in labor in the delivery room, and Zhang Minghua didn't hesitate to scorn her son and daughter-in-law openly, causing onlookers to glance over, and some who could not stand it also spoke up to criticize.
This made Bai Hehua start to feel uncomfortable.
But Yang Peihua just brought over the half he hadn't finished, "Mother, it's still warm. Here, have a taste..."
"Leave it. Your brother is still out there in the cold wind. Save it for him. Let's get things wrapped up here quickly."
"Alright, alright."
Zhang Minghua went to pick up the baby, "Has the child been fed?"
"He has," replied the voice of Yang Peihua.
"Let's go."
Yang PeiMin also helped carry clothes, quilts, basins, bowls, and other stuff.
But it was too much for her to carry; even the quilt alone weighed over a dozen pounds.
Yang Peihua, supporting Bai Hehua, turned back to look at Yang PeiMin, "Minmin, carry the quilt on your back, and you can hold other things in your hands."
Carry on the back?
She almost burst out swearing.
Yang Peihua certainly wasn't shy about asking for help.
"Minmin, come hold the baby, and I'll help the second daughter-in-law. Peihua can carry the stuff," Zhang Minghua reorganized the tasks.
Zhang Minghua stuffed the baby into her arms, and she stiffened immediately, holding him cautiously. Yang PeiMin had never held such a small baby and was terrified that he might fall.
Fortunately, they managed to get onto the ox cart without incident.
"What's taking so long?" Yang Peihua was also getting impatient.
Keep in mind that it was still a snowy white world, bone-chillingly cold. Yang PeiMin wrapped her scarf around her head tightly, the ox cart had a thick layer of straw on it, and they used a quilt to wrap around the mother and baby. Everyone held on tight to the cart handles, swaying their way homeward.
Yang PeiMin tore a big half of the steamed bun for Zhang Minghua. The cold weather really made you hungry quickly, and the millet porridge eaten in the morning had already been digested.
Zhang Minghua tried to refuse, but Yang PeiMin just picked up the corn pancakes she had brought and started eating.
Bai Hehua also wanted to eat the corn pancakes, but Zhang Minghua didn't even glance at her, as Zhang Ming, Yang Peijun, and the third finished the pancakes.
After eating the pancakes, Yang PeiMin leaned against Zhang Minghua, feeling somewhat sleepy. Ah, it seemed like it was nap time again...
Before she could close her eyes, the cart jolted, threw them for a second, tilted to one side, and then stopped moving. Yang PeiMin, who had nearly plunged headfirst to the ground, was now wide awake.