chsdbacks Chapter 235 Expenses
Chapter 235 Expenses
Xu Sui sighed and stopped paying attention to Qin Yunzhou.
It's good for a man to have ambition; it's better than not having any.
Now that she's unemployed, her whole family relies on Qin Yunzhou's allowance to support them. Even though he sends back 100 yuan a month, 100 yuan is definitely a considerable sum of money in this day and age.
However, aside from Xiaomei's monthly salary of twenty yuan, the cost of milk powder for the two children, and household expenses such as food and vegetables for the family, etc.
There won't be much left.
Especially the cost of baby formula. In this day and age, it's a considerable expense for ordinary families to give their children good quality formula.
A can of imported milk powder costs more than ten yuan at the Overseas Chinese Store in Beijing. With two children and two mouths to feed, they consume quite a lot each month. If it weren't for the fact that the children's father is a good earner, how could an ordinary working-class family afford to feed their children milk powder with an income of only a few dozen yuan a month?
She is usually busy with classes and doesn't have time to come home to breastfeed her children. Both children at home usually drink formula.
Fortunately, the child is getting older and will soon be one year old, and is gradually starting to be weaned.
After leaving the post office.
Xu Sui returned to Guihua Hutong carrying the clothes she had just bought at the supply and marketing cooperative.
She only realized after moving in that most of the families in Guihua Hutong were locals and very xenophobic, especially the local old ladies, who looked down on people from other places.
During the initial period after I arrived.
Grandma Qin went out to play with others happily in the morning, but returned home in the evening looking depressed and unhappy. She even grumbled and complained throughout the night.
Upon asking, I learned that he had been ostracized by the locals.
People looked down on her because she wasn't a local, had a heavy accent, dressed in a rustic way, spoke rudely, and even looked down on her because she used to be a street sweeper in a small county.
Nobody wanted to talk to her.
Xu Sui originally wanted to offer some words of comfort to the old lady.
Who would have thought that the person went out with a sullen face the next day, but came back happily, and even managed to blend into the local old ladies' circle, visit them, and go to eat at a high-end restaurant with them.
Since then, the old lady has gone out more often, is happy every day, and even dresses up and becomes more hygienic.
Xu Sui was also happy to see the changes in the old lady. The clothes she picked out for her today were the kind of fashionable clothes that old ladies in Beijing wear now. She also bought a blue dress for Du Mei, which was also a popular style at the moment.
They quickly returned home.
She saw Du Mei making dumplings in front of the stove. Today was different from usual; there was meat in them too.
Xu Sui was somewhat surprised.
Just then, Du Mei looked up and saw her, and immediately smiled, "Sister-in-law, Grandma said you're back today, so we're having dumplings at home."
"I made two kinds of dumplings: pork and scallion dumplings, and cabbage and pork dumplings."
In the past, it was almost impossible for her to eat a meal of fine grains and meat in the countryside, but since moving to the city, especially after coming to Beijing with her cousin-in-law, the family's food rations have improved significantly.
Now we can eat meat once a month at home, and occasionally we can eat refined grains. Although it's not much, it's still a rare treat.
Upon hearing that there were dumplings to eat, Xu Sui also felt a little hungry. "Let me put my things down, wash my hands, and then we'll make some together."
"Oh, right, I also bought you and Grandma a set of clothes. I left them in your room. You can try them on and see if they fit."
Du Mei was taken aback. "I have one too?"
For the past six months, my monthly salary has been paid on time at the end of each month, never late, only early.
Because the room and board are provided, and she is usually busy taking care of her child and doesn't have many expenses, she can save almost all of her 20 yuan monthly salary. Now she has saved more than 100 yuan.
You know, those were the years I spent in the countryside.
In their brigade, any family with a few dozen yuan in savings was considered wealthy.
"Of course, you and Grandma both have them." Xu Sui smiled. "The New Year is just two weeks away, and we definitely need to wear new clothes for the New Year."
"When your cousin comes back from the army, our family will go on a trip for a few days during the Chinese New Year, and then we'll give you a few more days off."
Du Mei's job basically means she has no time to rest.
The old lady is too old to be relied on, so she stays at home almost every step of the way to take care of the children. She can't go anywhere else, and she also has to feed the two children, wash their clothes, and change their diapers...
This job is actually not easy at all.
If someone does a good job, it's no big deal to buy them gifts during holidays.
Du Mei was somewhat surprised, "Your cousin is coming back for the Chinese New Year?"
To be honest, she had almost forgotten that there was a male head of the household.
It was mentioned in a daze, and some people didn't quite catch on.
"Yes, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he'll be coming here to celebrate the New Year with us this year." After being apart for so long, Xu Sui still missed Qin Yunzhou a little.
These days will last for several more years.
He can't take a vacation and come back every Spring Festival.
After talking for a while, Xu Sui went back inside, put the clothes she had just bought for the two girls in their respective rooms, washed her hands, and went out to make dumplings with Du Mei.
Grandma Qin stayed inside the house watching the children.
It was a rare treat to have pork dumplings, and everyone enjoyed the meal quite a bit that evening.
At the dinner table, Grandma Qin started talking about her hometown.
"Judging by the dates, your sister-in-law should have given birth by now. I wonder if it's a boy or a girl. I'm thinking of buying some things and sending them back to them. Sui Sui, what do you think we should buy?"
They were doing quite well in Beijing, and sometimes they couldn't help but miss home, maintaining regular contact with their families.
Every month, money would be sent to her from her hometown. The money was sent by Xiao Fen and her husband, as well as by her daughter-in-law and her husband.
Although she no longer works, she still has money in her pocket every month.
Xu Sui was slightly taken aback. After calculating the time, she realized that it was indeed almost time for her to give birth.
"I still have half a jin of brown sugar coupons and a few milk powder coupons. Why don't I buy some brown sugar and milk powder from Beijing and send them over? Oh, and I'll also buy a jar of face cream for my sister-in-law."
She remembered that Xiao Fen quite liked to apply face cream.
Perfect timing! Now that I've finished my postpartum confinement period, I can finally dress myself up nicely.
When she gave birth, they gave her a red envelope. Although it wasn't much, Xiao Fen and her husband didn't have much money at the time, so she appreciated the gesture.
Grandma Qin thought for a moment, "Half a pound of brown sugar is too much, just give her two ounces."
These brown sugar coupons are not easy to obtain; such valuable items cannot all be given away.
Xu Sui picked up a dumpling and put it in her mouth to eat. "I'm on vacation right now, so I'll buy some and send it back tomorrow."