Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 307

She was also afraid that this beautiful dress would become fuzzy after being washed a few times, and that the cotton would not be as warm after getting wet. So Wang Shi was reluctant to wear it. She would only wear it when she was in a good mood, and she would even take it off when eating, for fear of getting it dirty. But taking it off and putting it on and off like this made her extremely susceptible to catching a cold.

Under normal circumstances, Wang rarely wore this nice cotton coat.

"Yes, yes, Grandma, I'll put it on you right away!" Zhou Chunwen took the clothes and helped Wang Shi put them on, then personally buttoned them up for her.

"Chunwen, bring me a mirror. I want to see what I look like now," Wang called out.

Zhou Chunwen immediately went to get the mirror and handed it to Wang Shi to look at.

With trembling hands, Wang took the mirror and looked at herself in it. Her hair was completely white, her skin was loose, and her lips were pale.

She looked haggard and old, which perfectly describes Wang's current state.

The light in Wang's eyes dimmed again, and she couldn't help but say, "I'm getting old... I'm getting old... I wasn't this haggard four or five years ago, but after a few years of illness, I've become like this."

Before becoming paralyzed, Wang was just a middle-aged woman with gray hair. She was capable and could earn some money on her own. But after her health deteriorated, she could no longer stand up and spent most of her time in bed. Wang had complained to God about why He treated her this way, but as time went on, she resigned herself to her fate.

"Grandma, you don't look haggard at all. You're full of energy, at least better than before. Before Auntie came home, you always looked melancholy, but after Auntie came back, you started to smile from time to time. You look so beautiful. Grandma, you should smile more."

Zhou Chunwen offered words of comfort, feeling distressed to see Wang Shi so heartbroken.

Sure enough, after hearing Zhou Chunwen's words, Wang laughed and said, "You silly girl, you're good at comforting me. Grandma is old and not as energetic as you young people. I don't know how much longer I can live. Right now, I just want to take as many photos as I can still move, so that I won't be too weak to take them when I want to later."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Chunwen immediately spat a few times, "Grandma, what are you saying? I won't allow you to say such unlucky things. You will definitely live to be a hundred years old, and you may even live until Da'e gets married and has children."

Wang smiled chuckled. "You, I hope I can be as you say."

Zhou Chunwen felt uncomfortable after hearing this. She held Wang's hand, her eyes firm, and said again, "This is not just wishful thinking, it's a certainty! Grandma, you can't say such unlucky things anymore, it makes me unhappy."

Wang was somewhat dazed. Afterwards, she gave a few bitter laughs and said nothing more, lest Chunwen start muttering something again.

A short while later, Zhu Yufeng came in; she had come to tell Wang Shi some good news.

"Mom, Da'e has brought a photographer. Let's hurry up and get ready. We'll start taking pictures in an hour or two. Da'e and the others will take the photographer back to the county town before evening."

As they were talking, Zhu Yufeng had already taken out several sets of clothes from the wardrobe, intending to dress Wang Shi in them.

In the blink of an eye, Wang was already wearing a red cotton coat, and Zhou Chunwen was sitting next to her.

Seeing this, Zhu Yufeng said helplessly, "I was wondering why Mom didn't react and wasn't excited at all. It turns out that Chunwen told you the good news."

Zhou Chunwen scratched his head and chuckled.

Wang smiled, touched Zhou Chunwen's hand, and said with satisfaction, "Chunwen is a filial child. As soon as she found out the photographer was coming, she immediately ran over to tell this old woman. Then I told her to take out this red cotton coat and put it on. You know, I like to wear this coat. Whenever something good happens, I like to wear this coat."

"You guys are really something. You went to find a photographer today without even telling me so I could be prepared. Didn't you say yesterday that you were going to hire a photographer to take a family photo for me in the spring? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

After hearing this, Zhou Chunwen covered her mouth and laughed, "Grandma, this is to prepare a surprise for you, to make you happy."

Wang rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "There's been both joy and sorrow. Yesterday, when your mother and the others were discussing inviting a photographer over in the spring, I was sad for a while. But today the photographer came to our house. This sudden shift from sadness to joy is making me worried that my body can't handle such emotional fluctuations."

Hearing what Wang said, Zhu Yufeng felt a little guilty. She hadn't expected her mother to be so upset yesterday. When she first heard that Wang was going to hire a photographer, her first thought was that it was unnecessary to waste money.

She knew this would be a bit unfair to Wang Shi, but taking a family photo was really unnecessary. It was expensive and troublesome, not to mention the trouble. She had a problem with Jin Xiao, and the group couldn't reach a consensus.

At this moment, she knew that her mother had misunderstood. Anyway, her mother would find out in the end. Without thinking, Zhu Yufeng explained, "Mom, the photographer was found by Da'e. I only found out recently. It wasn't arranged by me and Jinxiang."

"Your granddaughter, Da'e, is far more capable than you imagine. Not only can she afford to hire a photographer, but she can also boss Xiangzi around."

Zhu Yufeng said this with a hint of bitterness. She was going to ask Zhao Da'e how he did it, and why her own son couldn't do it.

After hearing what Zhu Yufeng said, Wang finally realized that Zhou Chunwen had said several times that the photographer was found by Da'e. This was true; it wasn't someone Jinxiang and the others had ordered, but someone Da'e had found himself.

How could a seven-year-old child do that?

Wang was puzzled, and Zhu Yufeng was also somewhat suspicious. Zhou Chunwen, standing nearby, said, "It was Da'e who approached Xiangzi and asked him to help find a photographer in the county town. As for the money, it was definitely Da'e's own money. It wasn't given to her by her second aunt; it was money Da'e earned herself. Didn't Da'e bring her little aunt back a few days ago? Da'e and her older brother made several hundred yuan selling boxed lunches on the train. Da'e definitely had the money."

Zhou Chunwen spoke to himself, clearing up the doubts of Zhu Yufeng and Wang Shi.

Zhu Yufeng suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. That goose is clever; it actually came up with a way to make money by selling boxed meals on the train. These few hundred yuan are a month's income for an ordinary person like us."

This sum of a few hundred yuan is neither a small amount nor a large sum. Zhu Yufeng has several thousand yuan in savings, so she naturally looks down on the small amount of money Zhao Da'e has. Besides, the money might already be gone. Originally, she wanted to find out how much money Zhao Da'e had, but now it seems unnecessary.

If she, as the aunt, were to embezzle money from her niece, where would she put her face if word got out?

Wang was quite happy. "So that's how it is. This girl, Da'e, really has the ability to make money. When Da'e grows up, she might actually make a lot of money or marry into a good family. Jinxiang's future will definitely be very good."

Zhu Yufeng pursed her lips, wanting to say something about how good her son was and how he could provide her with a good life, but she held back for a long time before finally saying it. After all, her two sons were no match for Zhao Da'e, who was already earning money at the age of seven.

Zhu Yufeng helped Wang Shi tidy up and then helped her out the door. Chairs had already been set up in the courtyard, seven chairs in a row. Cheng Ran and Cheng Yu were already wearing their handsome black coats, while Zhao Da'e was wearing a red overcoat.

Zhao Da'e acted as a little commander, directing Zhou Chunhong to move chairs, rearranging them here and there, until they were arranged into a neat row of chairs.

Old Gai placed the camera on the stand and adjusted its position facing the empty chair. The weather was great today, and based on Old Gai's experience, the photos he took would be very clear.

Zhu Yufeng had just changed into a nice outfit in her room, but she changed into a vest. It was a bit cold, but it looked good, and she would only wear it for a short while before changing out.

When Zhao Da'e saw Wang Shishi, his eyes lit up. He waved and called out, "Grandma, you're here! Come sit here, this very middle seat is reserved for you."

There were seven chairs, the one in the very middle was reserved for Mrs. Wang.

Zhu Yufeng helped Wang Shi up, and Cheng Jinxi quickly came over to support Wang Shi's arm as well. Her face was full of smiles, but she still scolded, "Big Goose, you're too impatient. I was cooking perfectly fine, and then you called me over to take pictures. I wonder how the ribs I'm stewing are doing."

Zhao Da'e laughed and said, "Auntie, the ribs taste better if they are stewed for a little longer. Let's take pictures now. I finally found a photographer, but he has to rush back to the county town tonight to go home for dinner. The sooner we finish taking these pictures, the better."

Zhu Yufeng and Cheng Jinxi helped Wang Shi sit in the middle chair.

Zhu Yufeng asked curiously, "Big Goose, how are you supposed to sit on this chair?"

There are only seven chairs, not enough to seat the whole family.

Zhao Da'e smiled and replied, "Auntie, these seven chairs are for you elders. Grandma, as the eldest, will sit in the middle chair, and then you, Uncle, Aunt, Uncle, Auntie, and my mom will sit next to her. There are only seven chairs in total. We younger generation will stand, with the shorter ones in front and the taller ones in the back, so that everyone can get a picture."

Zhao Da'e's arrangement was reasonable. Wang listened from the side, her smile never stopping. She couldn't help but say, "Da'e, how did you think of finding a photographer for me today? I, your grandma, never imagined that we would be able to take a family photo today."

Cheng Jinxiao chimed in with a laugh, "Mom, Da'e is so filial. Didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to take a family photo during the New Year? Da'e took that to heart and found one for you."

Zhao Da'e also said, "Grandma, it's better to take this family photo earlier, so everyone can get together. And since you're still in good health, the sooner we can take it, the better. Then we can hang the family photo on the wall."

Wang felt a surge of joy at the thought of hanging a family photo on the wall so she could see it every morning.

Auntie couldn't help but shake her head and smile. She said to Zhou Tianfu, "Tianfu, look how filial your cousin is. When will you be able to be as considerate as Da'e is of me and your dad, and prepare some surprises for me too?"

Zhou Tianfu scratched his head a little embarrassedly, "Mom, how can I compare to a goose?"

Cheng Jinxi sighed, feigning a sigh, "How can you not compare? You're more than ten years older than Da'e. I think you just don't want to. It really breaks my heart."

Zhou Tianfu panicked upon hearing this. He said, "Mom, no, no, it's not that I don't want to. I'm just afraid that I won't do as well as my cousin Big Goose. I'm thinking of renovating our house again in the future so that you can live in a bigger and more luxurious house. I'll also get you a complete set of furniture so that you won't have to envy others!"

Zhou Tianfu's words made Cheng Jinxi laugh. "Okay, okay, then I'll be counting on you from now on."

Hearing Zhou Tianfu say these words, Zhu Yufeng felt a little jealous. She couldn't help but nudge Cheng Ran and Cheng Yu, "Look at Tianfu, why don't you say these things to make me happy?"

Cheng Ran felt somewhat innocent. He said helplessly, "Mom, you don't need to envy others. Think about this morning, Cheng Yu and I brought you clothes we bought in town, as well as some food. Don't you think we're filial enough?"

Zhu Yufeng smiled after hearing this, and the bitterness in her heart dissipated a lot. She wanted to say that Zhou Tianfu was all talk and no action, unlike her son who actually showed filial piety. He had even brought her clothes from town that morning.

Zhu Yufeng didn't say these words aloud, lest Cheng Jinxi be unhappy later.

"Mom, Aunt, Uncle, Uncle, don't just stand there, sit down. Aunt, sit next to Aunt, Uncle, sit next to Aunt, Mom, sit next to Aunt, Uncle, sit next to Aunt."

Zhao Da'e began giving instructions, and eventually Cheng Jinxiang and Cheng Jinxiao sat on either side of Wang Shi. Next, Zhu Yufeng sat next to Cheng Jinxiang, and Cheng Rongguo sat next to Zhu Yufeng.

Cheng Jinxi sat next to Cheng Jinxiao, and Zhou Yuren sat next to Cheng Jinxi.

The Cheng brothers, Cheng Ran and Cheng Yu, stood behind Zhu Yufeng and Cheng Rongguo, while Zhou Tianfu stood behind Cheng Jinxi. Zhou Chunwen, who was taller, also stood behind them, but Zhou Chunhong, who was shorter, stood in front of them, as long as she didn't cover her face.

After looking around, Wang smiled and said, "Our family is still too small. When will Tianfu, Chengyu, and Chengran find partners and have more children? That would make it more lively."

Cheng Jinxi laughed from the side, "Mom, Tianfu got engaged, and he'll have a wife soon. I think you might have a great-grandson next year!"

Wang was delighted to hear this, and then sighed, "Time flies! In my memory, Tianfu was a naughty boy who always made you worry. I had to spank him a few times every day before he would behave. Now he has reached the age to get married and have children."

And I am getting old, reaching my twilight years, and I don't know how many more days I can live.