CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 404: DIDN’T SPEND MUCH MONEY

"Mom, it didn’t cost much, just some worthless stuff. Besides, I’m used to buying things for the family, and if you tell me not to buy anything now, I’d feel uneasy. The Postal Service ladies even say that not seeing me for a month makes them miss me!" Xu Xiuxiu’s personality was actually quite endearing to the elderly, and if she was willing, she could certainly charm them with just her words.

At first, Mrs. Song rattled on about how Xu Xiuxiu was spending too much money and felt sorry for her, but after Xu Xiuxiu made a joke, Mrs. Song’s nitpicking thoughts immediately dissipated. "You frequent the Postal Service, getting to know each other, so of course they’d miss you if you mail something every month! It’s no different from us getting deliveries at home. You’re so consistent with sending things every month that the young man from our county’s Postal Service has also gotten familiar with me. Last time, oh! There was so much stuff I couldn’t carry it alone! That young man rode his bike and even brought them all the way to our house, and then stayed for a meal!" Mrs. Song happily shared how accustomed they had become to the monthly mailing routine with Xu Xiuxiu.

Hearing this, Xu Xiuxiu also felt it was indeed true; frequent postal visits certainly made one become familiar. She chuckled, made a little chit-chat, and then eagerly inquired about the health of the elderly couple. "Mom, how has everything been at home recently? You and Dad have been drinking your calcium for the middle-aged and elderly, right? Are you both still in good health?" Xu Xiuxiu was concerned about her family back home over the phone.

"Everything’s good at home, and your dad and I are both very healthy," Mrs. Song, now considering Xu Xiuxiu as her own daughter, replied softly and then, like a typical elder worrying about her children, turned the conversation to care about Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuanhuan’s well-being. "Xiuxiu, you are doing well in the Imperial City, right? You mentioned before that Yuanhuan’s assignment notice came, saying he was assigned to the Imperial Capital Military District. We’re too far away to know the exact situation. How is everything? Is Yuanhuan doing well?" Mrs. Song didn’t know much about Song Yuanhuan’s situation, but she was delighted to hear he was assigned to the Imperial Capital Military District and understood that her second son’s family would be staying in the Imperial City for a long time.

Although she had never been to the Imperial City, Z city seemed bustling enough in her view, but the Imperial City held a different status in the eyes of the elderly, so Mrs. Song was genuinely happy for her son and daughter-in-law. Being in the army in the Imperial City felt like an honor just to think about it.

"Smoothly."

"That’s good, that’s good," Mrs. Song seemed at ease, then, as if suddenly recalling something, her tone became a bit strange over the phone. "By the way, Xiuxiu, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about." It sounded as though she was being careful, perhaps worried about making Xu Xiuxiu uncomfortable.

"What is it?"

"It’s nothing serious, just that... your uncle Yuantao and Wang Qinghua have been divorced for a few years now, right? Previously, that woman used to come to our house and make trouble frequently, making life uneasy. Later on, Wang family’s brothers found her a widower from a neighboring village to marry, so these disturbances at our house became less frequent." Mrs. Song said, trying to keep her tone controlled. "I was thinking, Yuantao has been divorced for a few years now and isn’t getting any younger. It isn’t right for him to always be alone, you know! A man needs a woman’s close care. Although I, as his mother, can occasionally look after him, it’s not the same as having a wife to care for him. So, I was thinking of finding someone to accompany your uncle and share his life..."

"That’s wonderful news! Uncle has indeed had a hard time these past couple of years being alone. It would be great for him to find someone suitable and start a new family. That way, he wouldn’t have to handle the stationery business matters alone anymore," Xu Xiuxiu replied, laughing.

If Uncle could find someone suitable to spend his life with, that would indeed be a good thing. Although in these past two years, when she returned to her hometown, she felt that the atmosphere at home was quite pleasant and didn’t really want any changes, Song Tianxin was becoming more and more twisted in character. Song Yuantao, being a man, wasn’t meticulous enough, and it seemed pitiful for him to be alone during the festive season. Since Mrs. Song mentioned it, the idea must be for Song Yuantao to find someone, and as such, Xu Xiuxiu naturally wouldn’t object.

"Yeah! But Yuantao has been concerned about the medical expenses you helped him with before, for the past two years. He’s not really capable, and it was only with your help last year that he managed to open a stationery store at the entrance of the county primary school. Now that he has saved some money, he wants to pay you back as soon as possible..."

"Mom, I’m not short of money. As for paying me back, you tell Uncle not to worry. Plus, Yuanhuan and he are brothers, and when I, as his sister-in-law, was capable of giving that money, I never thought about having Uncle repay it." Xu Xiuxiu spoke from her heart.

"How could Mom not know how you think? I know you’re good." Mrs. Song had known this for so many years, how could she not see through this: "I told him the same, to put the money issue aside for now, to take good care of the stationery store, and when I have time, I’ll also slowly start looking for a match for him. He’s not young anymore, and having been divorced, it’s not easy to find a suitable match. If he can find the right one, he should settle down quickly..."

"Hmm! You tell Uncle that if he has any difficulty with money, you can bring it up with me, and I will surely not stand idly by." Xu Xiuxiu assured Mrs. Song, knowing that Mrs. Song would definitely convey her words to Song Yuantao.

"Okay! I’ll tell Yuantao, but Xiuxiu! There’s another matter I want to trouble you with," Mrs. Song brought up the troubling matter with a tense tone.

"What is it?" Xu Xiuxiu had a bad feeling for no apparent reason.

"It’s about Niuniu." Mrs. Song sighed softly, her voice seemingly filled with helplessness: "Actually, a few days ago, I had someone introduce Yuantao to a suitable person. She’s from a nearby village, has been married and now has a daughter over three years old. Her husband passed away the year before last, said to have died from an incurable disease. The deceased husband also had no one to rely on, his parents passed away years ago, and now she lives alone with her daughter, life is quite difficult. She wanted to find a man to partner with so her life would improve a bit. Although the woman isn’t well-educated, her temperament is quite good. I was worried about judging a book by its cover so I asked around in detail, and her reputation is indeed good. I think she and Yuantao are quite suitable for each other, and after seeing each other, they were both quite satisfied with one another."

"Isn’t that a good thing then?"

"But Niuniu, that girl, somehow found out about this and made a huge fuss, nearly messing up the whole thing. She even clamored that she would absolutely not allow her dad to find another woman to live with. I figured I can’t just let her continue to be willful, so I thought I’d ask you, to see if you could let Niuniu stay in the Imperial City for a while?" Mrs. Song’s question was tentative.