The battle of wits and wills within the old Jiang Family, with each harboring their own thoughts, will be set aside for now. No matter how much these people rack their brains, they absolutely cannot guess the true owner of that money and ration tickets.

Besides, don’t be fooled by Old Li Shi’s loud complaints everywhere, acting as if she can’t survive. As the mastermind behind it all, An Ning knows very well. This person, always accustomed to having multiple escape routes, still has at least a little under a hundred in her hands right now!

Even the occasional meat buns haven’t stopped, only the frequency has changed, from eating them every other day before to now sneaking a taste once a month.

This further convinced Jiang the Second and his wife, who had been secretly tailing her lately, swearing to clear their family’s name!

Indeed, they guessed right! This was all their mother’s scheme to control them!

Hah, no money in your pocket? With no money, you can still eat big meat buns!

Li Xiu’e, vaguely sensing the behavior of the second son and his wife: Well, well, the second son’s family truly doesn’t have good intentions. Otherwise, what are they sneaking around, acting all furtive and shifty for!

That money was definitely taken by the second son’s wife!

Old Li Shi, who had circled around stealthily like a thief before finally managing to take a difficult bite of a big meat bun, was filled with hatred in her heart.

An Ning, with nothing better to do, secretly watching the drama: “…”

But soon, even these big meat buns became hard to come by.

In 1955, along with the various ration tickets distributed to workers in major factories, the entire nation gradually and officially entered the era of the ticket system.

In short, from now on, to buy meat, cloth, and even most basic daily necessities at the various supply and marketing cooperatives, one not only needs money but also requires ration tickets.

However, for now, this doesn’t have much to do with An Ning and the others.

On the other hand, Ms. Wei, carefully feeling the wages just issued in her hand along with a small stack of ration tickets, felt an indescribable sense of relief wash over her flower-like face at this moment.

Especially as she looked at the two little sisters not far away, wearing newly bought little dresses, happily sharing osmanthus cakes piece by piece.

Thank goodness, thank goodness!

Wei Qiao simply couldn’t imagine how difficult life would have been for the three of them without this job, if they were still like before.

That would truly be walking on thin ice!

Thinking of that dead old woman’s lost eight hundred yuan earlier, while gloating, the beautiful Ms. Wei couldn’t help but feel hatred rise in her heart, even cursing the long-dead dog of a man!

Pah! That dog of a man, that brain-dead trash, she wouldn’t even bother burning a single piece of spirit paper for him even after he died!

Of course, after cursing and grumbling internally, life still had to go on. The newly implemented ration ticket system didn’t have much impact on city dwellers with permanent jobs, especially dual-income households. But for country folk who couldn’t save much money all year, let alone have ration tickets, it was completely different.

Sure enough, not long after the system was implemented, while An Ning was still outside playing with her little friends, someone came knocking at the old Wang Family’s door.

It was none other than the long-absent old Wei Family members!

“Ah Yun, Ning Ning, come over quickly, look, it’s your maternal grandparents! And your eldest uncle…”

“Mom, Dad, don’t mind them. After all, it’s been almost a year since we last met. The kids are just shy around strangers!”

Early August was the hottest time of the year.

In the living room, pretending not to notice the slight awkwardness on the family’s faces, Wei Qiao still smiled brightly as she brought out the freshly brewed tea. Her voice remained as gentle and soft as ever.

It’s just that the words she spoke sounded rather awkward!

Wei Da He, the head of the group, subconsciously rubbed his dark, rough hands.

Especially when he thought about how the family indeed hadn’t come to the city much over the past year. They only found out this time after hearing from Da Ni’er, who came to the city to buy things, that his youngest daughter had quietly remarried in the city without a word.

And this second marriage was even better than some people’s first marriages! Not only was her new husband a city dweller with a proper job, but he was also a leader in the machinery factory!

Even his youngest daughter herself now had an iron rice bowl.

Knowing that his son-in-law wasn’t home at the moment, Wei Da He straightened his back almost imperceptibly. Ignoring the precious tea in front of him, he began to stare wide-eyed, taking in everything before him.

The living room looked clean and bright at first glance. Underneath them, the wooden sofa was covered with a layer of knitted fabric, which obviously matched the set on the tea table. The Wei family members subconsciously reached out to touch it, feeling it was even softer than the fine cotton cloth they had bought for their eldest grandson earlier.

Looking at his youngest daughter now, who he hadn’t seen for less than a year, she seemed to have completely transformed.

Not only had she become fairer, looking younger and more energetic, but what was she wearing? It’s called a dress in the city, right? Look, it even has flowers printed on it!

She looked even prettier than the girls in the movies shown in the village!

And those two little ones, their clothes and accessories, just the little leather shoes on their feet probably cost several yuan!

The more he thought about it, the more regretful Wei Da He felt. If he had known his youngest daughter had such luck, he would have definitely urged the family to visit more often earlier, at least sending more food.

Then it wouldn’t be so hard to bring things up now.

Sigh, over the years, he had come to see that, unlike his honest eldest daughter, his youngest daughter had a sweet mouth since childhood, but her personality was the most vindictive. Just look at something as big as marriage; she didn’t even inform the family…

While the Wei family was still thinking about how to broach the subject.

Several grandsons at home were grown up now, and the eldest even had children of his own. What future is there in just digging in the dirt all the time? If they could find a job in the city, forget about permanent positions, even temporary work would do…

On the other side, pretending not to notice the awkwardness of the elders, after dutifully greeting everyone, An Ning simply took her eldest sister to sit on a small stool nearby and started playing Chinese checkers!

While playing, she chattered about this and that, occasionally pulling her mother, Ms. Wei, over. In short, she fully embodied the essence of a mischievous child.

She simply didn’t give these people a chance to play the emotional card.

Even the Little Wang Brat, who happened to pass by, couldn’t help but snort, then immediately scampered back to his room, pricking up his ears.

Based on his experience over the past half-year, this little sister of his definitely had something up her sleeve right now!

Anyway, he wouldn’t be the one suffering later. Just quietly watch the show!

Sure enough, just as Wei Da He, An Ning’s maternal grandfather, was about to speak:

“San Ni’er, it’s not that the family didn’t want to come earlier. It’s just that your two nephews each had another child recently. With two more mouths to feed, the family was stretched thin for a while…”

Over here, An Ning quickly started “whispering super quietly” to her little sister:

“Wow, I know about this! It’s like Da Zhuang from Auntie Fatty’s house next door, right? He can really eat! I heard Auntie Fatty say the older he gets, the more he eats, and he grows super fast too! It was okay earlier, but especially after his first birthday, Auntie Fatty said before that the family could barely afford to raise him!”

As soon as the words fell, the entire front hall became even more awkward.

They say children’s words are harmless, but it’s precisely children’s words that are the most “honest” and “piercing.” Earlier, they couldn’t manage, but now the children are barely a year old, right when they consume money like gold, and suddenly they can manage?

Especially looking at the basket containing corn, eggs, and even a freshly slaughtered old hen. That one time they managed to come around New Year’s, what they brought was just half a small bag of sweet potatoes!

And after two or three times like that, they disappeared without a trace.

Looking at the obviously substantial gifts before her, Wei Qiao just gently held her tea mug, her voice still steady and gentle, but from beginning to end, not a single word of hers truly landed.

Coupled with the mischievous child An Ning stirring the pot with her innocent chatter.

With this delay, it was time for Old Wang at home to return. Seeing the situation at home, Wang Ming De instinctively raised an eyebrow, exchanging a particularly tacit glance with his wife, who kept sending him soft, meaningful looks from the side.

Well, seeing this scene, An Ning clicked her tongue lightly in her heart. Now there was definitely no chance for her to take the stage!

With this delay, it was time for Old Wang at home to return. Seeing the situation at home, Wang Ming De instinctively raised an eyebrow, exchanging a particularly meaningful glance with his wife, who kept sending him soft, meaningful looks from the side.

In short, right up until they left with a few pieces of flawed cloth, the Wei family was still in a daze!

Just before leaving, Ms. Wei didn’t forget to secretly slip a spare meat ration ticket from home to her eldest nephew nearby:

“Quick, take this to nourish your wife! Don’t let the family find out!” She ended with a sigh:

“Ah, Da Zhi, you know your aunt has loved you most since you were little. Today’s matter isn’t that your aunt doesn’t want to help you. It’s just that city jobs are always one hole, one peg. To get a position, the money required is no small sum.

The main thing is… ahem… your grandfather’s intention seems to be to let your younger brother go, so he can marry a city girl later…”

This wasn’t entirely false. Being married was one aspect, but more importantly, although he was the eldest grandson, compared to the second son, the eldest grandson just wasn’t clever enough.

Satisfied, looking at her obviously shaken and preoccupied good nephew, Wei Qiao figured the old Wei Family probably wouldn’t have time to come again anytime soon. She then hummed a little tune contentedly.

Really, impressive!

Not far away, An Ning silently raised a little paw in applause.

Excellent. Ms. Wei’s combat effectiveness has earned the organization’s great appreciation.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep