Chapter 65: Family Ambitions

When Xie Zhao first arrived in Shishui Village, it happened to be the busy farming season.

As he passed by a house, he saw a baby who had just learned to sit up, sitting on the dirt ground in front of the door. Free-range chickens wandered all around, and the little baby was reaching around, stuffing whatever they grabbed into their mouth.

This had deeply shocked him.

“The eldest won’t be going to the mines this year,”

Xie Youzhen said, squatting under the eaves with a bowl of noodles. “When the busy season starts, I’ll handle the field work. You and your second brother just focus on running the business.”

Xie Cheng froze for a moment, then nodded.

Xie Zhao, who was just scooping a bowl of noodles as he walked over, felt a wave of relief at these words.

In truth, even if Xie Youzhen hadn’t brought it up, he would have spoken up to help Xie Cheng refuse.

Working in the mines was no good job these days. If your luck was bad enough, it could cost you your life.

In his past life, Xie Cheng had lost his life this way.

By the time Xie Zhao returned, not even his body could be found.

“Dad, when the school in Xiangyang Town starts its new term, let’s send Little Sister to school,”

Xie Zhao said.

Instantly, everyone turned their eyes toward him.

Xie Tian, who was reading a book, froze. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she stood up almost instinctively. Yet she didn’t dare to speak, only staring at Xie Zhao with a mix of hope and anxiety.

She had never expected that Xie Zhao would actually speak up for her!

Go to school?

Xie Tian had been forced to drop out after the fifth grade.

The family was simply too poor. Just to support Chen Qiming, they had to scrape together ten yuan a month for his living expenses. The entire family had to tighten their belts, practically digging into the dirt for money.

Xie Tian was sensible.

The next day, she had wiped away her tears and returned home.

Since then, she had been working at home. Though she was only fourteen years old, her hands were rougher than those of many adults.

“Mom, Little Sister always came in first in her exams. When she dropped out, the teachers from Xiangyang Town came by several times, proving she really is cut out for studying.”

Xie Cheng pondered for a moment, then looked at Tian Xiufen.

They all knew that the one who truly had the final say in this family was still Tian Xiufen.

Xie Tian grew anxious too.

She turned to look at Tian Xiufen with a pitiful expression.

“Mom, I’ll come straight home after school to help with the laundry! Leave my little niece’s diapers for me, I’ll wash them as soon as I wake up in the morning. I definitely won’t let it get in the way of my chores!”

she pleaded, her voice tinged with grievance.

How could Tian Xiufen not see that Xie Tian truly loved studying?

She reached out, wiped her hands on her clothes, and scooped a bowl of noodles to hand to her.

“If you want to study, then study, but you have to promise me one thing.”

Tian Xiufen stared at Xie Tian and said, “Since you’re going to study, you must work hard and put your all into it. You must get into university! Do you hear me?!”

As a mother, she knew her children’s little thoughts better than anyone.

But Tian Xiufen was a rural woman after all.

Under the weight of thousands of years of traditional thinking, she favored boys over girls to some extent.

Especially when it came to schooling.

Why should a girl go to school?

She’ll just marry into another family eventually. As long as her brothers did well, her in-laws wouldn’t dare mistreat her.

But ever since Lin Muyu gave birth, Tian Xiufen had gradually changed her mind.

She saw how her educated second son had led the family out of poverty and into a life she had never dared to dream of.

He would even whisper in her ear from time to time about how wonderful it was for a girl to be educated.

At the very least, there was one thing.

She could test into a school elsewhere, see the outside world, and not have to live a hard life like Tian Xiufen did.

Tian Xiufen had been swayed.

If possible, she wanted her girl to see the outside world too.

“Mom! I will definitely get into university!”

Xie Tian squealed, jumping up in joy to hug Tian Xiufen.

“Mom! You’re the best!”

Feeling a mix of helplessness and heartache, Tian Xiufen smiled and patted Xie Tian on the back.

“Hurry up and eat your noodles. Once you’re done, I’ll measure you to make a new set of clothes for school.”

*

The next day.

At five in the morning, Xie Zhao got up.

He took out his cashmere vest, put it on, and threw a cotton-padded coat over it. Instantly, his entire body warmed up, feeling nice and cozy.

As soon as he got out of bed, he heard a rustling sound from the mattress.

A little figure squirmed twice, whimpered, and then burst into loud wails.

Lin Muyu was still asleep.

He quickly scooped up the baby.

It was Xi Bao’er.

Over the past few days, Xie Zhao had gained some experience; she was either hungry or had soiled herself.

He gently touched the lips under Xi Bao’er’s nose. Sure enough, the baby immediately puckered her lips, whimpering as she leaned in to suck on his finger.

She was hungry!

Xie Zhao quickly prepared to make some formula.

But before he could stand up, Lin Muyu woke up.

She rolled over, reached out to grab Xie Zhao, and whispered, “Give her to me. Xi Bao’er can nurse.”

Xie Zhao handed the baby to her.

After nursing to her heart’s content, the little one kept her eyes wide open. Instead of sleeping, she babbled and waved her tiny hands, looking curiously at the faint glow of light appearing outside the window.

Xie Zhao took Xi Bao’er back, supporting her bottom with one hand as he held her against his chest, gently patting her back to burp her.

This was something he had learned from scrolling through Douyin in his past life.

Babies swallowed a lot of air while feeding. By holding them gently against your chest and cupping your hand to slowly pat their backs, you could prevent colic.

This would prevent the dreaded “second-month fussiness.”

Which was the nighttime crying caused by gas.

“I’ll watch Xi Bao’er,” Xie Zhao said. “Go back to sleep. Once she falls asleep, I’ll put her back on the bed.”

Lin Muyu nodded.

To her ears came the sound of Xie Zhao’s gentle pats on Xi Bao’er’s back and the baby’s soft, contented smacking noises, blending together in a strange, comforting rhythm.

She suddenly remembered their kiss from yesterday.

Xie Zhao had gently kissed her on the lips.

It had been incredibly tender.

Lin Muyu couldn’t help but turn her head to look.

In the dim, hazy light, the young man’s jawline was sharp, his expression bright and spirited.

His expression was gentle and focused, as if he were cradling the most precious treasure in his hands. Sensing her gaze, he turned his head to look back at her.

Their eyes met, and the corners of his mouth curved up into a faint smile.

“Go to sleep, wife,” he murmured.

Lin Muyu immediately felt at ease.

*

Today’s net profit from selling river snails was the highest yet.

The two handcarts had carried over sixteen hundred jin of river snails to the county seat, leaving both draft animals completely exhausted.

Those sixteen hundred jin of river snails had been gathered by the villagers staying up late under lamplight, with entire families turning out to collect them!

All for the sake of earning some money!

Xie Zhao turned no one away.

He kept the books, accepted the river snails, and even took in quite a few wild rabbits and pheasants.

As the two fully loaded carts passed through the county seat, they drew curious stares from many passersby.

“That’s a total of 1,654 jin, which comes to 1,819.4 yuan.”

Zhao Wuyi had the accountant settle the bill. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he smiled and said, “Young Xie, you’re so young yet so capable. I wonder if you have any other plans?”