country bumpkin

In the end, Gao Qingzhi looked at her nephew with gratitude. If he were a greedy person, he would never have given her this money.

After all, her mother didn't tell anyone about this; only Sun Zitao knew. If he had ruthlessly hidden the money, who would have known?

Sun Zitao then took out 100 yuan from another pocket and said, "Auntie, this is a little something from me, please take it."

Gao Qingzhi declined for a while, but seeing that she couldn't refuse, she finally accepted it. She said, "Thank you, Auntie."

Kong Xiujuan held her aunt's hand and said, "Auntie, we are all family, don't be so polite with us."

Gao Qingzhi added, "After a few more years, once the old woman passes away, our lives will be much better!"

She had planned to save some money so she could live with her mother when she had more. But her mother passed away, and her life lost all hope. She could only live a better life after her mother-in-law passed away.

Kong Xiujuan said, "Auntie, why didn't you think about getting a divorce and finding a good family when the child was still young?"

Gao Qingzhi smiled and said, "It's not that easy. Who would take in a woman with a child? It's better to let the child stay with her biological father to survive. If even their own grandmother treats them like this, how much better can others be? How many old women like their granddaughters? This society is full of old women who favor sons over daughters."

Kong Xiujuan felt deep sympathy; yes, wasn't her mother-in-law the same way?

After taking the money, Gao Qingzhi went to Tuanjie Village School, a village a bit further away. She planned to get Er Ya's school enrollment sorted out in the next few days.

Once she registers, she'll be able to start school on September 1st. Although she's a bit too old for first grade, she can still attend.

Daya, however, could not go to school. The school did not agree to allow someone with such a large age gap to attend first grade. She could go to night school to learn to read with the adults.

Gao Qingzhi was delighted to hear from the school teacher that there was also a night school; it would be good if Daya could learn to read.

I don't want her to go to school, but at least she can read, which will make it easier for her to find a job later.

She then took a ride to the night school, which was located in the south of Yicheng, while the primary school was in the far north.

Even a day isn't enough time to make the round trip. So by the time I arrived at night school, it was almost dark.

It just so happens that the night school is open at night and closed during the day.

She went into the office and explained the situation to the principal, who was a 60-year-old white-haired woman.

The old lady's surname was Bai. She was of average appearance, with her silver hair tied up in a bun. She wore gold-rimmed glasses. Her face always had a kind and approachable smile.

"Principal Bai, thank you so much, thank you for taking our Daya in." Gao Qingzhi held the principal's hand, tears streaming down her face.

Principal Bai smiled and said, "Don't worry, once she comes to our school, I will personally guide her. It's such a pity to waste such a young child's precious youth."

After registering and paying her tuition, Gao Qingzhi went home. She needed to prepare her schoolbag so she could personally take Daya to school the next day.

Er Ya has to wait until after summer vacation to go to school, so night school is more flexible. It's a proper, official school, and you can't just transfer in anywhere.

After getting off the bus, I walked home. It was very late when I got home, and my mother-in-law, husband, and children were already asleep.

Her son sleeps with his grandmother, while her eldest and second daughters share a room.

After returning home, he hid the remaining money, went to his room, took off his clothes, lay down on the bed, and prepared to sleep.

Just then, Li Dani woke up and asked his wife, "I haven't seen you all afternoon. Where have you been running around? You haven't done anything to betray me, have you?"

Gao Qingzhi, too lazy to pay attention to him, said impatiently, "At this age, where would I go to do something that would betray you? Stop talking and go to sleep! We can talk about it tomorrow."

Li Daniu was also extremely sleepy, so he put his arm around his wife and fell asleep.

He had to get up early the next day to slaughter a pig, so he didn't have time to take care of things at home.

His mother was in charge of the household, his wife took care of the housework, and he only needed to earn money by selling meat.

Gao Qingzhi woke up in the morning, made him breakfast, and delivered it to his stall. He had already separated the bones and meat.

Women who had already started shopping for groceries began buying meat. Gao Qingzhi helped cut and weigh the meat, while Li Daniu chopped ribs and large bones.

After being busy for a while, Li Daniu started eating breakfast.

He asked his wife where she had been yesterday.

Seeing that there were people around, Gao Qingzhi whispered, "I'm going to register Daya for school."

Li Daniu's eyes widened. "What? What's the point of a girl going to school? She'll belong to someone else sooner or later. It's a waste of money."

Gao Qingzhi became anxious upon hearing this, "How is it a waste of money? Daya is smart, she will definitely do well in her studies, and she will be able to find a job and a husband in the future. We will also be proud of her."

Li Daniu snorted, "Stop dreaming. Girls should stay at home and do housework. Finding someone to marry as soon as possible is the most important thing."

Gao Qingzhi argued forcefully, "We live in a new era now, and men and women are equal. Er Ya will be going to school soon too."

Li Daniu put down his bowl and chopsticks, "Anyway, I don't agree, Da Ya is not allowed to go."

Several women who were buying groceries nearby heard their argument and tried to persuade them, saying, "Da Niu, Qingzhi is right. It's normal for girls to go to school these days."

Li Daniu felt embarrassed, but seeing his wife's determined look, he knew he couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he could only mutter, "Fine, fine, do whatever you want. I'm not paying for it anyway."

Gao Qingzhi was both disappointed and relieved. She breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that she had her own ways of getting him to pay even if he didn't. It was good that he didn't care. As long as the child could go to school, she couldn't let this opportunity go to waste.

When the mother-in-law found out that her two granddaughters had gone to school, she went on a rampage and started making trouble for Gao Qingzhi.

Whenever she sees her mother-in-law Gao Qingzhi at home, she starts cursing and chasing after her wherever she goes. Luckily, her mother-in-law is already 60 years old and has difficulty walking, otherwise she would be driven crazy by her.

Gao Qingzhi is no longer afraid of her mother-in-law; she can make the most of an old lady who is about to die.

As long as she can't ruin her child's schooling, she doesn't care about her mother-in-law's scolding. Let her scold all she wants; it's not like she's the one who's tired.

She continues to secretly hide money every day. Now she's become bolder; before, she would hide five or ten yuan at a time, but now that she has two daughters who need tuition fees and is short of money, she hides 50 yuan at a time.

She didn't dare take a whole 50-yuan note; she took five 10-yuan notes, or a mix of 5-yuan and 10-yuan notes.

There were only a few 50-yuan and 100-yuan bills in the money box, so taking one would be conspicuous. Taking them out separately would make it less noticeable.

Li Daniu never noticed that the amount of money he made from selling them every day was almost the same, and he couldn't tell the difference.

When Li Daniu got home that evening, he asked Gao Qingzhi, "Wife, where did the money for our daughter's school come from?"

Gao Qingzhi's heart skipped a beat, but she calmly said, "It was given to me by my mother. Before she left, she left the money at Zitao's house, saying that I could get it when I needed it."

Li Daniu asked excitedly, "Wife, how much money did your mother give you? Are you bringing it all back?"

Gao Qingzhi glared at him. "Don't even think about this money. My mother said it's for my granddaughter and can't be spent recklessly."

Li Daniu said with greedy eyes, "What's given to our daughter is ours. Go ask tomorrow if there's any left. Take it all back."

Gao Qingzhi said with red eyes, "How dare you say such a thing? How much money have you ever given my mother? How much money could she possibly have raised us all by herself? You don't care about your daughters' lives and you still want to take their little bit of hope money. Don't you feel any remorse? If you take this money, then when you get old, none of your daughters will recognize you as their father."

After saying this, Gao Qingzhi turned around and fell asleep, crying her heart out. She hated herself for being blind to have chosen such a husband, who could clearly support the children but insisted on treating them differently.

Her son wasn't close to her either; since he was weaned, he'd stayed with his mother, eating and sleeping with her just like her son.

Her mother-in-law would also instruct her son to be filial to his parents, but never mentioned her, the mother.

The mother-in-law would also speak ill of her, letting the grandson know that his mother didn't want to care for him, didn't like him, and only liked his sisters.

Gao Qingzhi was heartbroken that her child had been spoiled by her mother-in-law.

Tears soaked the pillow, painting a heartbreaking picture. Her heart was completely cold.

In my dream, my son came back, still so adorable and affectionate...