The Feng family never spoils their children, whether grandchildren or granddaughters. Once they reach five years old, they have to go to the foot of the mountain to cut pigweed and earn work points.
Feng Yuangling cuts a basket of pigweed in a day, which earns two work points.
One work point equals three cents, so Feng Yuangling earns six cents a day.
With fruit candy costing two for a penny, Grandma Feng would occasionally have her eldest son exchange a handful to give the kids a sweet treat, encouraging them to work harder cutting pigweed.
"Grandma, you're the best. Yu Ling loves Grandma, oh oh oh, I get candy again." Feng Yuangling dropped the vine stick and happily jumped and danced around the yard.
Ding Xiaotao teased, "You little glutton, all you think about is eating candy. That's not eating candy; that's spending money."
Then she said to her mother-in-law, "Mom, don't spoil that little girl. Once she gets used to it, she'll keep asking you next time."
"Then we'll have the eldest exchange it next time. We'll just weave a few more baskets," Grandma Feng said as she wove a sieve, her hands as quick as any of the Feng family's brothers. "These baskets and sieves can't be sold, so we might as well trade them for some candy to make the kids happy. It'll give them energy to cut pigweed."
Grandma Feng is the most reasonable mother-in-law in Feng Family Village.
She treats her three daughters-in-law better than their own mothers.
Yet in a previous life, after the Feng family got into trouble, Third Feng and Ding Xiaotao could leave with their children without looking back, not even returning when Grandma Feng died.
Although the original owner's wish didn't include leaving Third Feng's family out, Yuan Chun didn't like this couple; they were too cold and unfeeling.
On Yuan Chun's first day with the family, she spoke little, wove a small basket, and then went to sleep.
The original owner shared a room with her sister Feng Yuanzhen.
The sisters, taught by Liu Qingqiu, were very clean. They often washed and aired their bedding, so it was free from odors. Yuan Chun crawled in and slept soundly until morning.
The next day, Yuan Chun ate a bowl of wild vegetable porridge and a wild vegetable bun, then went with the Feng family women to the brigade office to collect farm tools.
The one distributing tools was the village chief's little daughter, named Feng Caihua, who was a good friend of Feng Yuanchun.
When it was Feng Yuanchun's turn, Feng Caihua took out a new hoe, grinning as she whispered, "Yuanchun, I saved this especially for you."
"Caihua, I was here first, so this new hoe is for me and the old one for Yuan Chun."
Suddenly, an old hand reached out, trying to snatch the new hoe.
Feng Yuanchun was quick, grabbing the new hoe first, and said to the old lady, "Aunt Chen, the brigade has rules, you get what tools you're given. If everyone swapped like you, how would anyone get their work done?"
That's right, the one trying to snatch the new hoe was none other than Granny Chen.
If it were someone else, perhaps Feng Yuanchun might have been kind enough to trade, but not with Granny Chen. Heh... even if she didn't use it, she wouldn't trade it.
In a past life, the one who spread rumors that the original owner wasn't a proper unmarried girl was Granny Chen.
If Chen Shengjun was one of the main culprits who led to her death, then Granny Chen was an accomplice.
She was Yuan Chun's enemy.
Yuan Chun never went easy on her enemies.
Granny Chen's face turned ugly, "You little girl, why are you so stubborn? Rules are dead, people are alive. If you're willing to trade, who will say anything?"
"Look, I'm so old and have no strength to work. Why don't you trade with me? You're young and strong; using an old hoe isn't tiring for you."
Yesterday, Granny Chen received this old hoe. It was too hard to weed with, and she didn't weed properly, losing a work point, which made her heart ache terribly.