Lin Wanwan felt a little guilty. She had been so caught up playing with Xie Sui that she had forgotten about her son.
Xie Sui was quick-witted. "I'll go buy it right away. Let's go together. Are you happy to see Mommy back?"
"Happy, Mommy, I even dreamed about you."
"Mommy, my poop looks like you."
Lin Wanwan: Poop is not necessary.
She kissed them both. "You are truly Mommy's good boy."
"Mommy, can you not go out for so long next time? We miss you so much we can't sleep."
"Yeah, we miss Mommy and want to cry."
Lin Wanwan's eyes welled up. How could she not miss her sons?
"Okay, Mommy will spend more time with you from now on. Will you go to school?"
Dou Dou said, "Yes, the teacher praises us!"
Ding Ding said, "The kids in class bullied us, so my brother and I beat him up. Now he's our little follower. Mommy, don't worry, we won't be bullied."
Xie Sui was proud. "As expected of my son. Fight well. If anyone dares to bully you, beat them back hard. We won't be pushed around. Daddy will support you."
Lin Wanwan shot him a glare. "Don't corrupt the children. Fighting is wrong. You should tell the teacher and reason with them. No fighting next time."
Dou Dou and Ding Ding looked at Xie Sui, unsure who to listen to. Xie Sui winked at them, and they understood. They nodded and said, "Understood, Mommy."
Promises were made, but how they acted was their own business.
The family was reunited, and they had a lavish dinner, staying up late before going to bed.
The next day was the weekend, so there was no school. The children slept until they woke up naturally.
Xie Min was going to set up a stall to sell jeans and batwing shirts to earn some money for Xie Sui's daughters' living expenses.
She chose a spot outside the residential building of the Cotton Mill, not the supply and marketing cooperative this time. The cotton mill had good performance, and the workers had money.
Lin Wanwan stayed home with the children, while Xie Min brought her two daughters to the stall. They talked and helped, deepening the bond between the three.
Simple clothes racks were set up, and the clothes had been ironed flat with a soldering iron and hung on the racks.
The jeans were easy to handle, but the batwing shirts came in three colors: blue, white, and red. Hung on the racks, they looked exceptionally beautiful.
Without any shouting, people quickly gathered. "These batwing shirts are really beautiful. How much are they? And the jeans, how much?"
"Batwing shirts are ten yuan, and jeans are six yuan. First come, first served. There are only these two hundred pieces, and they'll be gone once sold. These are from the city's number one garment factory, with excellent workmanship and material."
The tags were still on, so Xie Min wasn't lying. They were indeed from the number one garment factory, and the most popular styles.
"I want a red batwing shirt and a pair of jeans. Can you give me a discount?"
"If you buy a set, it's fifteen yuan. Are you wearing a small size?"
Xie Min found the right size. The girl inspected them, paid once she was satisfied there were no flaws, and left happily.
Clothes of this quality would cost two yuan more at the supply and marketing cooperative, and they were often out of stock. She had gotten a good deal.
The girl went to the factory and spread the word. Her sisters and friends came to buy clothes, as if they had found a bargain. The stall was instantly surrounded.
Her two daughters also helped. In just over two hours, more than half the clothes were sold, leaving only larger sizes and batwing shirts in less desirable colors. Xie Min could finally catch her breath.
"Mommy, drink water."
Qingqing handed her a cup of water. Xie Min took a few sips, feeling parched, her throat dry.
"Mommy will take you to eat something delicious later!"
Qingqing said, "Mommy works hard to make money. Uncle's family has meat every day. We're not craving meat. We won't eat it."
Wenwen said, "And we have milk to drink. I like Uncle's family. Mommy, don't we have to go back to Grandma's house?"
Wenwen remembered the life they had lived before, and a hint of fear appeared on her small face. She was truly afraid.
Xie Min's heart ached. "We're not going back. Mommy won't let you suffer anymore."
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. "Xie Min, you're here? I've been looking all over for you. Damn it, have you forgotten you have a home and a man?"
It was He Liang.
He had come to the county town to wander around and happened to see the three of them. He rushed over angrily.
Xie Min shielded her children and picked up the clothes rack, adopting a stance. She said coldly, "What do you want?"
He Liang was startled by her. He calmed down a bit and said, "I'm your man. You have to come home with me. You're bringing our daughters out in public. Are you trying to pick up some wild man?
You've disgraced me completely. If you don't want to go home, how long do you plan to run wild?"
A crowd of onlookers gathered. The couple was fighting in the street!
Xie Min: "You don't farm, you don't make money. Are you going back with you to eat the northwest wind? He Liang, I'm warning you, watch your mouth. I'm working hard to make money to support my daughters, and you have the nerve to scold me?
If I were to pick up men, it would be because you are useless, and you would be the one losing face.
What era is this? Even the leaders say women can hold up half the sky. Are you still talking about feudal remnants of 'showing your face' and wanting to be arrested and educated?"
Xie Min was naturally sharp-tongued. After seeing the world with Lin Wanwan in the city, she was adept at arguing and left He Liang speechless.
"You, you're still my wife. What are you doing? I've come to pick up our daughters. Are you going to hit me?"
Xie Min propped the clothes rack beside her. "You rushed over aggressively and scared the children. If you dare to touch my daughters without my permission, I'll hit you. You deserve it."
He Liang was at a loss for words and became even more determined to have Xie Min return home. If she continued to run, she would become even wilder.
Since force wouldn't work, he resorted to gentleness. He Liang forced a smile. "A'min, why must we, husband and wife, make things so ugly? I came to help you. Don't treat me like an enemy."
An aunt among the onlookers advised, "That's right. What can't be discussed between a couple? If women are too strong, men have no dignity!"
"Speak properly. Go home with your man. You still have two children. Don't scare them."
This was advice for reconciliation, not separation. He Liang smiled. "Xiao Min, look, everyone is urging you to go home. Come back with me."
Xie Min scanned the crowd and put her hands on her hips, spraying them. "You don't know anything. Don't offer unsolicited advice. Why do we, mother and daughters, have to work so hard to earn money? It's because he gambles, drinks, and prostitutes, and doesn't support the family!
For the sake of the children, why should I go back and continue to be bullied by him?
If you think it's good, go to his house and see if that's a life for humans!"
The crowd's faces turned green. "You, comrade woman, we meant well."
"Good intentions can also lead to bad deeds. If I were any softer, your whole family would have drained me dry. He Liang, your whole family dislikes me for having two daughters. You want me to go back, fine, unless you can prove you've repented, can support a family, and act like a father."