Chapter 148 – Renren’s Godmother
After Ji Jianyun told Lao Qin about the mountain, he went back to make arrangements.
There are already three workers from the village. One was Xu Jianguo, the other was Yang Aisen. Both of them were good workers. There was also Uncle Ji, who was responsible for overseeing the work, but won’t try to stop Ji Jianyun.
However, the ones mainly doing the work were Xu Jianguo and Yang Aisen. In addition to them, Ji Jianyun also asked someone else from the village, Wang Dagang.
He was also a good and steady worker. He had been trying to work in the orchard. Wang Dagang and Ji Jianyun were playmates when they were young, and their friendship was still strong.
Before, there was no shortage of people, so even though they were friends, Ji Jianyun didn’t go to him.
Now that there was a spot, he went directly to Wang Dagang.
Wang Dagang agreed without saying anything else.
On the third day, Wang Dagang, Yang Aisen and Xu Jianguo came over. Ji Jianyun assigned them the task of digging up the saplings on the mountain.
These saplings didn’t look well, and it was clear that it was not suitable for replanting.
Uncle Ji was very reluctant to do it, but he didn’t say anything. Those fruit saplings were really good at first, but later, slowly, they didn’t grow well.
When the saplings were dug up, he wanted to plant new ones. After that, the holes from the previous trees could be buried.
Uncle Ji took the three of them to work. Ji Jianyun was at ease. He and Lao Qin went to buy fruit saplings.
Since the work had already begun, it’s natural to finish it all at once. They didn’t do it bit by bit. It’s tiring to do it slowly.
Su Danhong cleaned up her home that day and pushed Qiqi to the orchard.
“Mommy.” Renren was very happy to see her arrive.
“Did you listen to your grandma?” Su Danhong smiled and touched his face.
“Yes, I am very good, and my sister is also very good.” Renren nodded and asked, “Has my brother been good?”
“Your brother has been good.” Su Danhong smiled.
Renren and Yan’er often followed Mother Ji on the mountain. Many children on the mountain came to help pick strawberries, so it was very busy. Moreover, the iron gate was locked, so the orchard was very safe.
“Third aunt.” Yan’er also came over.
Su Danhong asked, “Yan’er, how are you living with your grandmother?”
“It’s okay. The strawberries are delicious. Would you like to eat them, third aunt?” Yan’er said brightly.
“Yes. Go and help me wash them,” Su Danhong chuckled.
“Okay,” Yan’er replied. ⭑
She then went to wash a plate of strawberries. It was very clean.
“How is everyone doing with picking strawberries?” Su Danhong asked.
Renren had no idea about this. He was now at the age where he followed what others did. When everyone picked strawberries, he picked them too. But really, he was picking them and putting them into his mouth. Don’t expect anything else. It was good if he didn’t make any trouble.
Yan’er had some kind of idea about this. She could tell Su Danhong who picked the fastest, who cried, and so on.
Renren laughed when he heard the crying part. Obviously, he understood that part and remembered the crying little fatty. He gave him a strawberry to comfort him. Now the little fatty had a very strong relationship with him.
Renren had expressed that he wanted to play with the fatty, and occasionally he would help the little fatty pick strawberries.
Su Danhong asked him with a smile, “What is Renren laughing at?”
“The fatty.” Renren smiled.
Recently, he had learned a lot of new words. He was only one and a half years old, so he was still a little slow in conveying what he meant.
Yan’er understood what her brother’s meant and explained, “We all call that crying kid fatty. He is four years old this year and has become friends with younger brother. Brother often helps him pick strawberries together.”
Su Danhong understood. She smiled and touched his eldest son’s face. “Renren has made a friend.”
Renren smiled shyly.
“Come with me to see your grandma,” Su Danhong said.
“I’ll lead you,” Renren said.
Su Danhong allowed him to lead the way.
The paths on the mountain were easy to walk on and were marked. The signs were very clear. Even Renren could recognize them.
Mother Ji was busy in the strawberry garden. It is currently the peak season for strawberries. She was busy every day. She planted more this year after having a taste of success with it.
In fact, Mother Ji recruited a lot of little children to help pick strawberries. She rewarded them with eggs or money. They could eat strawberries every day, too.
Next door, there was also the watermelon garden. There were many people working there.
But even with so much help, Mother Ji was busy running around everywhere.
Su Danhong could not bear it anymore and said, “Mother, you don’t have to be that busy. It won’t cost you much to recruit a temporary worker to help, and it’ll save you a lot of trouble.”
“No, I don’t mind. Don’t worry,” Mother Ji said.
A long term worker costs 30 yuan a month, and a short term worker costs just as much. It hurt her to think about the 30 yuan a month, so she would rather be busy working than hire someone else.
Su Danhong also understood Mother Ji’s personality. Although she was busy, she was also in a good mood. Thus, Su Danhong didn’t mention it again.
“Does your family have enough money?” Mother Ji asked.
In the past, Mother Ji would not have asked this. It would have been useless to ask back then because she had no money, so how could she ask?
But now it’s different. Last year she made a lot of money, and this year she also made a lot of money. She was not going to talk about last year, but this year, she focused on selling strawberries. After splitting with Su Danhong, she had her own money. It was a little less than 100 yuan, but she had the confidence now to ask this question.
If they didn’t have enough, she would take some out for them.
“Mother, don’t worry. There’s enough money.” Su Danhong smiled.
“If you don’t have enough, tell me, and I’ll lend you some,” Mother Ji said with a smile.
“If we really don’t have enough, then I’ll be sure to ask you.” Su Danhong nodded.
Mother Ji had collected all of the ripe strawberries picked by the children. Some of them were ugly and small. She would pick them out and give them to the children. As for those that look good, she would sell them.
While sorting the strawberries, Mother Ji said, “I do have something I’m a little worried about. I don’t know if you can plant anything on your uncle’s mountain over there.”
“Things can grow,” Su Danhong stated.
When Mother Ji heard this, she smiled and looked at her daughter-in-law with total satisfaction. She said, “If you can really make it successful, Renren and Qiqi will each have a mountain.”
She was relieved when her daughter-in-law said that it could grow. She would definitely make it happen.
Jianyun’s orchard was successful because of Danhong. The magic powers of the Great Fox Immortal were definitely very strong!
“That’s thinking too far. What will they do in the future? Jianyun and I plan to keep this orchard to support ourselves when we’re old,” Su Danhong explained.
She had seen what the world outside was like with Sister Hong, but she was not very interested in it. She just wanted to live in the village with Jianyun as he guarded the mountain. It was simple.
Mother Ji smiled and said, “Now that you’re no longer in confinement, you can walk more. You can also visit Renren’s godmother. I think she’s a very insightful person. It’s better to make your relationship with her better.”
Renren’s godmother was Zhen Miaohong. This time, she went to visit Su Danhong after Qiqi’s birth. She brought a lot of things from the college town, including milk powder, diapers, malt extract, and so on. More importantly, Zhen Miaohong drove here by herself. She learned to drive last year, got her certificate, and now went everywhere.
“Sister Hong, you are really a strong woman.” Su Danhong nodded.
Zhen Miaohong’s embroidery shop in the town was still open, but she didn’t embroider much now. She only did it once in a while. Zhen Miaohong hired someone to look after the shop. She said that she only went there a few times a month.
Su Danhong wanted to visit, but she didn’t know if she would see her there tomorrow. The last time Zhen Miaohong visited, she told her that her husband had been promoted, and was being transferred to a nearby province.
The next day, Su Danhong went to town with Renren and Qiqi.
Zhen Miaohong really wasn’t there. Su Danhong left a few catties of strawberries she had brought with her. She gave them to the little girl who was looking after the shop, and asked her to take them back to her family to eat. Then, she brought Renren and Qiqi to her second brother’s shop.
“Danhong?”
As soon as second Su sister-in-law took care of a customer, she saw her sister-in-law come in with a stroller. Renren was sitting at the front and Qiqi was behind him sleeping.
Second Su sister-in-law had a great impression of Su Danhong. She watched over the shop every day and had not seen Su Danhong for a long time. Second Su sister-in-law was very happy to see her.
“Second sister-in-law.”
Su Danhong smiled and nodded. Her second sister-in-law seemed to have changed since moving into the town.
“When did you become free to come to town?” Second Su sister-in-law asked happily and picked up Renren. “Renren, do you still remember second aunt?”
“Second aunt,” Renren called out.
He didn’t remember her, but it didn’t stop him from remembering his second uncle and his eldest uncle. Sometimes he would forget about his eldest uncle, but his second uncle had a special impression on him. His second uncle will also mention second aunt and his cousin Shitou in front of him, so he knew of them.
“Oh, you’re so good. I will wash some strawberries for you,” Second Su sister-in-law said and smiled.